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l>artiarti  College  library 


BRIGHT  LEGACY 


One  half  tke  Income  front  this  Legacy, 
ceived  la  1880  aader  tke  will  of 


rhlch  was  re- 


JONATHAN  BROWN  BRIGHT 
of  Waltham,  Massachusetts,  is  to  be  expended  for  books 
for  tke  College  Library.    The  other  half  of  tke  Income 
b  devoted  to  scholarships  la  Harvard  University  for  the 
benefit  of  desceadants  of 

HINRT  BRIGHT,  JR., 

who  died  at  Watertown.  Massachusetts,  ia  1686.  la  the 
absence  of  toch  descendants,  other  persons  are  eligible 
to  the  scholarships.  The  will  requires  that  this  aaaovneo- 
aent  shall  be  smade  la  every  book  added  to  tke  Library 
endcrits  provisions. 


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HISTORY 


.   OF 


Bath  and  Environs, 


SAGADAHOC  COUNTY,  MAINE. 


1607-1894. 


WITH   ILLUSTRATIONS. 


BY 

PARKER  McCOBB  REED. 


PORTLAND,  ME: 

Lakeside  Press,  Printers, 

1894 


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PREFACE. 


The  author  has  devoted  much  time  and  labor  for  some  years  to 
the  object  of  placing  on  permanent  record,  so  far  as  he  has  been 
enabled  to  do  so,  the  important  history  of  this  city  of  commerce 
and  navigation.  In  preparing  this  work  for  the  press,  the  truths  of 
history  have  been  sought  for,  official  records,  and  researches  have 
been  patiently  and  perseveringly  instituted  among  the  voluminous 
documents  in  the  Massachusetts  and  the  Maine  archives,  as  also 
among  the  records  of  Old  York  and  Old  Lincoln  Counties,  the 
Maine  Historical  Society,  and  the  Sagadahoc  Society.  Valuable - 
assistance  has  also  been  courteously  rendered  by  such  historians  of 
repute  as  the  Rev.  S.  F.  Dike,  I).  D.,  the  Rev.  H.  O.  Thayer,  also 
from  Gen.  Thomas  W.  Hyde,  Hon.  John  Hayden;  the  Hon.  J.  P. 
Baxter  and  the  Hon.  H.  W.  Bryant  of  Portland,  in  the  tender  of 
invaluable  maps,  papers,  and  other  documents.  The  "  Dates "  of 
Mr.  Levi  P.  Lemont,  the  brief  historical  sketch  of  Gen.  Joseph 
Smith  of  1833,  and  the  newspaper  writings  of  Judge  Nathaniel 
Groton  have  been  of  much  value,  and  there  have  been  many  others 
who  have  rendered  courtesies  that  have  been  appreciated.  Special 
acknowledgments  are  due  to  Mr.  John  O.  Patten  and  Capt.  Charles 
E.  Patten  for  valuable  assistance. 

It  has  also  been  the  pleasure  of  the  author  to  record  traditions 
given  him  by  the  few  aged  people  now  living,  and  their  number  is 


6  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

growing  less  year  by  year,  who  have  remembrance  of  local  events 
and  historic  men  of  the  past. 

As  in  all  historical  works  errors  are  found,  it  is  not  claimed  that 
this  history  will  be  faultless  in  this  respect;  there  has  been  no  end 
to  difficulties  found  in  verifying  names,  dates,  and  data  which  were 
not  matters  of  official  record,  within  reach  of  patient  and  perse- 
vering research. 

P.  M.  R. 

,   Bath,  Maine,  1894. 


CORRECTIONS. 


Schools. — The  list  of  principals  of  the  high  school,  as  given  on  pages 
206  and  22i,  was  from  the  recollection  of  high  authority,  the  city  records 
not  giving  a  full  list  of  teachers.  All  records  of  the  High  street  academy 
and  the  earlier  years  of  the  high  school  have  been  lost,  and  the  memories 
of  those  who  were  students  in  those  schools  in  years  past  differ  as  to  their 
recollection  of  the  full  list  of  teachers.  Some  of  these  old  pupils  confound 
the  principals  of  the  academy  and  high  school  on  the  basis  that  as  the 
academy  was  merged  into  the  high  school  they  were  essentially  one  and  the 
same.  Combining  the  principals  of  both  schools,  verbal  authorities  give 
the  list  as  Jonas  Burnham,  F.  Yeaton,  Hawes,  Granger,  Blanchard,  A.  B. 
Wiggin,  J.  T.  Huston,  J.  L.  Newton,  L.  Dunton,  S.  B.  Goodnow,  Wood- 
bury, Crosby,  Galen  Allen,  George  E.  Hughes,  H.  E.  Cole,  which,  as  far 
as  can  be  gathered,  includes  all  those  who  have  been  the  teachers  without 
regard  to  order  of  dates  of  their  employment  or  in  which  school  they 
taught.  The  most  reliable  list  of  principals  of  the  high  school  alone,  as 
obtained  from  the  recollection  of  several  who  have  been  students,  is: 
Goodnow,  Woodbury,  Wiggin,  Crosby,  Newton,  Dunton,  Allen,  Hughes, 
Cole. 

In  1892  a  fifth  grade  was  instituted  in  the  grammar  department,  making 
one  year's  additional  drill  and  adding  book-keeping  and  geometry,  to  the 
better  prepare  pupils  to  enter  the  high  school. 

Ship-builders.  —  In  the  list  of  prominent  builders,  on  pages  177-8, 
should  have  been  added  William  D.  Crocker,  Charles  Crocker  (C.  &  W.  D. 
Crocker,  1826  to  1854),  Stephen  I^arrabec,  James  Hall,  John  Lowell,  Har- 
rison Springer. 

In  this  book,  where  appears  the  name  of  G.  C.  Deering,  it  should  be  G. 
G.  Deering. 

Tage  12,  third  line  from  bottom  of  the  page,  fifteen  acres  should  be 
fifteen  miles. 

Page  20,  sixth  line  from  top,  it  was  Simon  Lines  from  whom  "Lines 
Islands  "  at  North  Bath  takes  its  name. 

Page  34,  fifth  line  from  top,  at  the  battle  of  Arrowsic  of  Sept.  10,  1722, 
there  were  eighty  soldiers  and  men,  instead  of  seventy,  that  left  the  fort  to 
attack  the  Indians  encamped  a  short  distance  to  the  north. 


8  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

Page  37,  in  the  account  of  the  supposed  formation  of  a  town  of  "  George- 
town on  Arrowsic  Island  "  in  1716,  and  the  record  book  of  the  town  having 
been  lost,  documentary  evidence  has  since  come  to  light  from  Massachusetts 
archives  that  an  organized  town  did  exist  at  that  period  which  comprised 
only  the  island  of  Arrowsic,  "Georgetown  on  Arrowsic  Island."  The 
re-organization  of  the  town,  in  1738,  was  for  the  purpose  of  comprising  in 
its  territory  what  afterwards  became  Georgetown  (Parkers  Island),  Phips- 
burg,  Bath,  West  Bath,  and  Woolwich.  These  documents  show  that  there 
were  town  officers  of  the  town  that  was  incorporated  in  17 16,  and  that 
Samuel  Denny  had  been  one  of  its  selectmen.  It  has  been  the  belief  of  his 
descendants  that  Samuel  Denny  came  to  ancient  Georgetown  in  1719, 
whereas  there  has  been  found  in  Massachusetts  archives  a  document  signed 
and  testified  to  by  Denny  that  he  was  living  at  Arrowsic  in  1717. 

Pages  120  and  121,  Chandiere  should  be  Chaudiere. 

Page  156,  2,500  tons  burden  should  read.  1,500  tons  burden. 

Page  182,  Collector  Snow  should  be  Berry. 

Page  204,  High  street  academy  should  read  North  street  academy,  in 
connection  with  Anderson,  who  was  not  a  professor. 

Page  205,  Martin  Anderson  did  not  teach  in  the  High  street  academy, 
and  it  was  his  son,  Martin  B.  Anderson,  who  became  president  of  Rochester 
University. 

Page  208,  J.  W.  Hayes  should  be  J.  M.  Hayes. 

Page  209,  Charles  O.  Bryant  should  read  Curtis  Bryant;  Thomas  T.  Moses 
should  be  Thomas  F.  Moses. 

Page  257,  Mayor  Putnam  should  read  Mayor  Bailey. 

Page  273,  Governor  Strong  should  be  Governor  Brooks. 

Page  285,  John  W.  McLellan  should  be  James  A.  McLellan. 

Page  376,  Olive  Moses  should  be  Oliver  Moses. 

Page  383,  Samuel  Eaton  Duncan  should  be  Samuel  Duncan. 

Page  384,  Josiah  Prescott  should  be  Benjamin  Prescott. 

Page  487,  Pastors,  F.  Winter  settled  1767  instead  of  1766. 


BATH   AND   ITS   ENVIRONS. 


Many  years  ago  the  city  of  Bristol,  situated  on  the  river  Avon, 
was  the  great  sea-port  town  of  England.  Long  Reach,  then  as  now 
active  in  the  shipping  interest,  sent  her  vessels  constantly  to  that 
mart  of  trade  and  commerce. 

Bath,  twelve  miles  from  Bristol,  was  a  favorite  resort  for  the  bene- 
fit of  its  medicinal  waters,  healthful  climate,  and  fine  scenery.  Its 
fame  was  carried  to  the  banks  of  the  Kennebec  by  its  sea-faring  cit- 
izens, and  when  the  "  Reach  "  was  to  be  incorported  as  a  town  and 
a  name  more  acceptable  to  the  inhabitants  was  sought,  Bath  was 
suggested  and  accepted  as  most  desirable  and  appropriate,  and  was 
adopted. 

The  city  is  situated  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Kennebec  River, 
twelve  miles  from  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  two  miles  south  of  Merry 
Meeting  Bay,  fronting  a  two-mile,  direct  stretch  of  water,  termed  by 
the  Indians  a  Long  Reach  over  which  to  paddle  their  canoes. 

There  are  few  if  any  towns  or  cities  in  the  entire  width  and 
length  of  New  England,  of  the  like  number  of  inhabitants,  whose 
men  of  business  have  acquired  larger  estates  in  the  same  length  of 
time  than  those  who  have  made  Bath  the  scene  of  their  operations; 
and  their  best  acquisitions  have  been  not  in  lines  of  speculative 
ventures,  but  notably  in  legitimate  undertakings.  The  basis  of  this 
prosperity  has  been  the  building  and  sailing  of  vessels,  and  these  of 
all  descriptions  from  a  yacht  to  the  largest  wood  constructed  ship 
afloat,  and  which  has  led  to  the  building  of  United  States  govern- 
ment naval  vessels. 

Absent  Native8* — Bath  has  been  a  place  from  which  many 
young  men  have  believed  it  their  interest  to  leave  on  their  out-start 
in  life  for  broader  fields,  in  which  to  achieve  fame  and  fortune.  As 
a  general  rule  these  absent  sons  of  this  pleasant  city  have  met  with 
the  success  they  sought,  and  the  exceptions  are  few  wherein  these 


IO  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

sons  of  noble  ancestry  have  not  made  careers  creditable  to  them- 
selves and  reflecting  honor  upon  the  place  of  their  nativity.  And 
yet  it  is  only  justice  to  believe  that  these  sons  and  daughters  of 
Bath  cherish  fond  memories  of  the  place  of  their  birth  and  early 
manhood  and  womanhood.     Many  of  them  may  say  with  the  poets: 

Often  I  think  of  the  dear  old  town 

That  is  seated  near  the  sea ; 
Often  in  thought  go  up  and  down 
The  pleasant  streets  of  that  dear  old  town, 

And  my  youth  conies  back  to  me. 

Where'er  I  roam,  whatever  realms  to  see, 
My  heart  untraveled  fondly  turns  to  thee. 

Bath  can  be  said  to  be  a  good  city  in  which  to  live,  as  well  as 
from  which  to  emigrate.  There  are  those  who,  long  absent,  have 
returned  to  it  to  pass  their  later  life,  while  others  seek  it  as  a  most 
desirable  place  to  pass  a  summer.  It  is  a  place  of  great  longevity; 
it  is  not  unusual  for  its  residents  of  both  sexes  to  live  from  eighty  to 
ninety,  and  in  some  instances  over  one  hundred  years. 

Immediately  after  the  discovery  of  the  mainland  of  the  New 
World,  England,  France,  Spain,  and  Holland  became  rivals  for  the 
establishment  of  title  to  this  unexplored  dominion.  To  accomplish 
their  purposes  each  sent  exploring  expeditions  to  our  coast,  which 
set  up  crosses  at  prominent  points  to  indicate  possession  by  the  as- 
sumed right  of  discovery. 

Of  these  early  voyages  that  of  Waymouth  is  distinctive  as  relating 
to  the  subject  matter  of  this  volume.  In  1605,  some  noblemen  of 
England  fitted  out  the  ship  Archangel  of  sixty  tons,  placing  in  com- 
mand George  WayillOlltll,  the  most  notable  navigator  of  that 
day.  Taking  his  departure  from  Bristol  he  took  his  course  direct  to 
the  shores  of  Maine,  with  orders  to  find  a  place  "  fit  for  any  man  to 
inhabit." 

Anchoring  his  ship  among  the  islands  of  Booth  Bay,  he  manned  a 
boat  for  exploration  and  came  into  the  Kennebec  through  the  Sasa- 
noa  River.  Believing  that  he  had  then  found  the  sought-for  Eldora- 
do, he  returned  to  the  ship  and  reported  that  he  had  discovered  a 
great   river   trending  along  into  the  main  forty  miles,  and  by  the 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  ,  II 

breadth,  depth,  and  strong  tide  he  believed  it  to  run  far  up  into  the 
land.  He  then  brought  his  ship  by  the  outward  passage  into  the 
Kennebec  and  anchored  in  the  long  reach  of  water  fronting  the 
coming  city  of  Bath. 

First  Footsteps  on  Bath  Territory.— He  immediately  sent 
a  boat  ashore  with  seventeen  men  to  explore  the  adjacent  territory, 
the  description  of  which,  as  given  by  them,  quite  exactly  corre- 
sponds to  the  little  stream  (at  Hath)  they  entered  and  the  territory 
they  traversed  as  far  to  the  north  as  the  Whizgig  River  (whizzgigg, 
a  whirling  stream).  It  was  in  the  month  of  June,  when  nature  was 
at  its  best,  and  they  were  charmed  with  the  view  of  the  land  in  its- 
primeval  beauty,  pronouncing  it  equal  in  attractiveness  to  the 
"  stately  parks "  of  England,  with  arable  land,  magnificent  trees, 
and  "  runs  of  fresh  water  at  the  foot  of  every  hill." 

Captive  Natives. — Before  leaving  his  anchorage  in  Booth  Bay, 
Waymouth  had  abducted  five  natives,  together  with  their  canoes 
and  bows  and  arrows,  to  carry  in  his  vessel  to  England  as  vouchers 
for  the  truth  of  the  report  he  should  render  of  his  discoveries.  Con- 
sequently, just  before  leaving  this  river  for  home,  Waymouth  was 
confronted  with  the  appearance  of  an  Indian  canoe  that  had  come 
up  through  the  Sasanoa  passage  from  the  "  Islands"  to  attempt  the 
recovery  of  their  captive  brethren. 

It  contained  a  body  of  savages  gorgeous  in  all  the  glory  of  new 
paint  and  gaudy  mantles,  with  the  white-feathered  skin  of  some  wild 
fowl  bound  around  their  heads.  They  approached  the  ship  with  be- 
coming dignity,  and  earnestly  entreated  that  their  people  be  released, 
begging  that,  at  least,  one  of  the  ship's  company  be  surrendered  to 
their  keeping  as  a  pawn  for  the  assured  safety  and  return  of  their 
brethren. 

Waymonth  Home. — But  Captain  Waymouth  was  inexorable, 
refused  the  request,  and  the  savages  had  no  recourse  but  to  return 
to  their  tribes  in  sadness.     He  then  set  sail  for  home. 

Waymouth  called  the  river  he  had  discovered  the  Sagadahoc. 
He  gave  a  glowing  account  of  it.     By  his  report  it  wanted  nothing 


12  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

to  render  it  a  most  desirable  place  to  settle  a  colony.  A  bold  coast, 
a  harbor  in  which  the  royal  navy  might  safely  ride,  fresh  water 
springs,  fine  timber  trees,  fish  and  game  in  great  abundance,  with  a 
navigable  river  stretching  a  highway  for  commerce  with  the  natives 
far  into  the  interior,  were  the  features  of  Sagadahoc  as  Waymouth 
described  them. 

Upon  his  return  to  England  and  making  such  glowing  accounts  of 
this  region  .of  country,  vouched  for  by  his  captive  natives  and  sub- 
sequent explorers,  induced  Sir  Ferdinand  Gorges  to  organize  a  com- 
pany to  plant  a  colony  upon  the  shore  of  Sagadahoc,  which  resulted 
in  securing  to  the  English  crown  title  by  possession  of  the  New 
World. 

Bath  is  identified  with  the  early  settlements  of  the  Lower  Kenne- 
bec, as  at  1607  its  territory  was  comprised  within  that  of  the  an- 
cient Sagadahoc.  The  first  attempt  to  make  a  settlement  on  this 
river  was  by  the  famous  Popham  Colony  that  came  from  England 
and  made  a  landing  in  August,  1607,  at  Hunniwells  Point,  occupy- 
ing Horse-catch  Point  on  the  south  side  of  Atkins  Bay.  They  came 
in  the  ships  Mary  and  John,  Captain  Raleigh  Gilbert,  and  the  Gift, 
Captain  George  Popham,  and  comprised  one  hundred  men  strong. 
Their  settlement  was  included  in  a  palisaded  and  intrenched  fort 
which  they  named  St.  George.  Here  they  built  the  ship  Virginia  of 
thirty  tons,  which  was  the  first  English  vessel  that  was  built  in 
America.  At  that  time  any  deep  sea-going  vessel  was  termed  a 
ship,  popham,  who  was  president  of  the  colony,  died  the  next  win- 
ter, and  other  misfortunes  following  this  event,  the  colonists  became 
disheartened,  broke  up,  and  returned  to  England  the  next  season, 
1608. 

TIlO  Plymouth  Company.  After  the  departure  of  the  I'op- 
ham  Colony,  the  next  attempt  at  settlement  on  the  Kennebec 
River  was  on  the  southwest  extremity  of  Arrowsic  Island.  A  com- 
pany formed  from  the  Plymouth  Colony  procured  a  grant  on  the 
Kennebec  in  1630  that  secured  the  valuable  trade  of  the  river  in 
fish  and  furs  with  the  Indians.  This  grant  covered  fifteen  acres  on 
both  sides  of  the  river  to  the  distance  of  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  inland  from  its  mouth  as  was  claimed. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  1 3 

In  1633,  the  company  selected  the  southwesterly  section  of  this 
island  as  the  chief  point  for  their  business,  which  was  prosecuted 
some  years,  and  were  succeeded  by  the  historic  firm  of  Clark  & 
Lake,  who  established  a  vast  business  for  the  time  over  the  entire 
island,  in  trade,  mills,  building  and  running  vessels,  with  its  nucleus 
at  "  Rowsick  'I  own."  In  1670,  there  were  thirty  families  on  the 
east  side  and  twenty  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sagadahoc,  not  count- 
ing Woolwich.  When  the  Indians  first  became  openly  hostile  to  the 
white  settlers  in  1676,  their  first  attack  entirely  destroyed  this  set- 
tlement, as  they  did  subsequently  "  New  Town  "  the  first  town  or- 
ganized on  the  Kennebec  River  in  1679. 

The  first  titles  to  the  territory  on  which  Bath  stands  were  ob- 
tained from  the  aboriginal  inhabitants.  The  great  sachem  whose 
rule  extended  over  many  tribes  of  Indians  inhabiting  the  region  of 
country  on  and  adjacent  to  the  Lower  Kennebec  was  Robin  Hood, 
whose  residence  was  at  Nequasset.  From  him  and  subordinate 
sagamores  Robert  Gutch  obtained  title  to  territory  that  mainly 
comprised  what  is  now  the  city  of  Bath,  as  is  shown  in  the  following 
deed: 

The  Glitch  Deed. — "This  Indenture  made  this  twenty  ninth 
of  May  1660  Between  Robin  Hoode  alias  Rawmeagon  Terrumquin 
Wescomonascoa  Seawque  Abumheanencon  y*  0ne  party  &  Robert 
Gutch  alias  Rawmeagon  Wesomonascoe  &  Terumquin  Sagamores 
and  we  y*  Rest  above  mentioned  for  divers  consideration  to  their- 
unto  moveing  have  given  granted  &  delivered  over  &  by  these  pres- 
ents Do  give  grant  &  deliver  over  &  forever  alinese  quit  Claime 
from  unto  ye  sd  Robert  Gutch  his  heirs  Exec:  administrators  &  as- 
signes  to  ourselves — our  heirs  Exec  administrators  &  assignes  all 
y«  tract  of  Land  lying  and  being  in  Kenebecke  River  and  Right  over 
against  tuessickc  ye  Beginning  of  ye  Lower  part  of  ye  Bounds 
Thereof.  Being  a  Cove  Running  by  y*  upper  Side  of  a  point  hav- 
ing Som  Rocks  lying  a  little  from  y«  sd  point  into  y*  sd  River  & 
from  y9  sd  Cove  to  run  upwards  by  y*  waters  Side — towards  James 
Smiths  unto  a  point  and  Being  Right  over  against  Winslows  Rock 
Commonly  known  and  called  by  y«  name  together  with  all  y*  woods 
underwood  &  all  other  previledges  their  unto  beloning  as  also  y*  one 


14  HISTORY   OK    HATH. 

half  of  all  y*  meadow  y  Either  is  on  may  be  made  and  lyeth  within 
y  Land  from  y  waters  side  part  behind  y  aboves  tract  of  Land  & 
a  part  Behind  a  tract  of  Land  granted  unto  Alexander  Thwait  & 
lyeth  near  a  Little  pond  &  further  y  aboves  Sagamores  and  we  y 
meadow  y1  is  and  may  be  made  by  y  River  Sides  commonly  known 
and  called  by  y  name  of  Wennigansege  all  w**  aboves  tract  of  Land 
to  Run  into  y  Land  Three  Miles,  lb  have  &  To  hold  to  him  y  sd 
Robert  Gutch  his  heirs  Exec"  &  administrators  &  assignes  y*  aboves 
tract  of  Land  with  y*  privileges  aboves  as  also  all  hawking  hunting 
fishing  &c.  forever  without  any  mollestations  or  futer  demand  what- 
soever and  hereby  do  bind  ourselves  our  heirs  Exec™  Administrators 
&  assignes  forever  any  more  from  this  day  forward  to  make  any 
more  Claime  Challinge  or  pretence  of  tittle  unto  y*  aboves  Tract  of 
Land  and  to  maintain  this  against  all  other  Claimes  Tittles  Chal- 
lenges and  Interests  whatsoever.  In  witness  whereof  we  y*  abovesd 
parties  Sagamores  and  we  y  rest  of  y*  abovesd  Indians  have  here- 
unto set  our  hands  &  Seals  y  day  above  written. 

"  Sealed  signed  &  Delivered  in 
y  presence  of  us  Alexander  Thwat  X 
Mary  Webber  X  John  Verine  X 
Alexander  Tressell. 

"  The  Marke  X  Robin  Hoode 
"  The  Marke  X  Terrumquin 
"The  Marke  X  Weasomanascoe 
"  The  Marke  X  Scawque 
"  The  Marke  X  Abunhamen 

"Robin  Hoode  and  Terrumquin  acknowledged  this  to  be  their 
Act  and  Deed  before  me  Nicholas  Rewallds  Jus.  Peace. 

A  true  copy  of  this  deede  above  written  transcribed  out  of  y  orig- 
inal and  therewith  compared  this  27  October  67  P  Edw:  Richworth 
Recorder. 

"Vera  Copia  as  of  Record  Exm:  Jos.  Hammond  Reg." 

In  various  deeds  of  land  the  name  of  the  above  grantee  is  written 
Gutch,  Gouch,  and  Goutch;  the  former  seems  to  have  been  the  most 
correct. 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  15 

Boundaries  of  the  Gutch  Tract. — Like    all    Indian    deeds 

the  boundaries  of  the  Gutch  deed  of  the  territory  largely  compris- 
ing Hath  are  loosely  defined.  The  starting  bound  as  described 
would  indicate  at  or  near  some  rocks,  that  have  sometimes  been 
termed  the  "  Jiggles,"  that  exist  in  the  river  near  the  western  shore, 
opposite  the  foot  of  Pine  Street. 

There  is  no  "  cove  "  as  named  in  the  deed  now  in  sight  touching 
these  "  rocks,"  whatever  cove  there  may  have  been  nearly  two  and 
a  half  centuries  since.  There  is,  however,  a  cove  immediately 
above  these  rocks,  into  which  Trufants  Creek  empties — now  the 
Ropewalk  Creek — which  may  comport  with  the  indefinite  wording 
of  the  deed  in  locating  bounds.  But  the  "  rocks "  are  there  and 
possibly  define  the  southern  extremity  of  the  "  cove  "  as  named  in 
the  deed. 

"  From  this  lower  part  of  the  bounds  "  the  line  "  runs  upwards  by 
the  water's  side "  to  what  is  undoubtedly  the  "  point "  on  which 
stands  the  old  Peterson  house,  which  is  "  right  over  against  Wins- 
lows  rock "  that  lies  in  the  river  nearest  the  eastern  shore.  This 
would  make  Harward  Street  the  north  boundary  of  the  Gutch  tract. 
This  streert  is  the  dividing  line  between  the  Peterson  and  the  Har- 
ward farms. 

The  James  Smith  named  in  the  deed  in  connection  with  the  north- 
ern limit  of  the  tract  owned  land  on  the  Woolwich  side  of  the  river 
and  lived  at  or  near  the  locality  known  as  Days  Ferry  of  later  years. 

The  south  boundary  apparently  connects  with  Alexander  Thwaits* 
territory,  wherever  that  may  have  been,  he  having  had  two  Indian 
deeds.  It  seems  to  touch  Winnegance  Creek  somewhere,  apparent- 
ly south  of  Hospital  Point,  and  there  is  no  pond  to  which  the  deed 
alludes  now  in  existence  but  the  Lilly  Pond;  if  another  pond  is 
meant  it  may  have  filled  up  by  the  operations  of  nature  in  the 
course  of  230  years.  This  entire  tract,  as  stated  in  the  deed,  runs 
westerly  from  the  Kennebec  River  three  miles,  which  it  was  evi- 
dently calculated,  would  extend  to  the  New  Meadows  River. 

Titles  to  lands  composing  the  heart  of  the  city  of  Bath  are  found- 
ed upon  the  Gutch  deed.     Th waits  claimed  to  have  had  an   Indian 


t 


> 


l6  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

deed  covering  about  the  same  territory,  but  it  appears  that   the 
Gutch  title  took  precedence. 

Glitch. — The  Reverend  Robert  Gutch  was  the  first  white  man 
who  settled  the  central  portion  of  what  became  the  city  of  Hath. 
He  was  the  first  clergyman  subsequent  to  the  Popham  Colony,  who 
preached  on  the  Kennebec  and  its  contiguous  territory,  of  which 
there  is  definite  account.  His  antecedents  trace  his  coining  to  this 
country  from  Wincanto,  England,  where  there  is  a  Church  of  Eng- 
land, to  Salem,  where  he  became  a  member  of  the  first  Congre- 
gational church  of  that  town  March  21,  1641.  As  was  the  rule 
at  those  days,  a  man  must  be  admitted  a  freeman  to  be  allowed  to 
vote,  and  he  was  admitted  as  such  the  following  year.  It  is  stated 
''that  becoming  involved  in  debt  induced  him  to  come  down  to  this 
then  wilderness  country  to  locate.  He  seems  to  have  entered  upon 
missionary  work,  but  under  what  ecclesiastical  auspices  is  not 
known. 

The  location  of  his  residence  has  been  placed  by  Lemont  as  the 
present  site  of  the  second  house  on  the  west  side  of  Washington 
Street,  immediately  south  of  the  railroad  track,  now  the  residence  of 
Dr.  A.  J.  Fuller,  formerly  the  George  Marston  house.  Joseph 
Sewall  names  the  Levi  Houghton  homestead  as  the  spot  where 
Gutch  planted  his  dwelling.  He  little  thought,  probably,  that  com- 
ing down  to  the  Kennebec  was  to  bring  him  fame,  if  not  wealth. 

There  is  nothing  on  record  to  show  to  what  localities  his  mission- 
ary duties  extended.  Traditions  hand  down  the  stories  that  he 
preached  somewhere  on  Merry  Meeting  Hay,  at  Prebles  Point,  and 
Spring  Cove,  where  Clark  &  Lake  had  a  settlement.  As  this  firm 
had,  also,  a  settlement  on  the  lower  extremity  of  Arrowsic  it  may,  in 
reason,  be  inferred  that  he  preached  at  that  locality.  Together, 
these  places  would  compose  a  round  of  ministerial  duties. 

Traditional  accounts  state  that  he  was  accustomed  to  cross  the 
Kennebec  in  a  canoe  to  Prebles  Point  to  preach.  Some  people 
have  believed  that  there  was  a  church  building  there  in  which  Gutch 
preached.  "  There  is  evidence  in  black  and  white  that  there  was  a 
church  somewhere  on  Long  Reach  in  Gutch's  day,  and  good  tradi- 
tion tells  where  "  (vide  Thayer). 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  1 7 

At  the  JcfTries-Donnell  trial  in  1766  to  determine  the  ownership 
of  the  land  composing  the  larger  part  of  Bath,  as  detailed  in  Vol.  I. 
of  Williamson's  History  of  Maine  : — "  It  was  testified  by  old  Mr. 
Preble,  living  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river  opposite,  that  he 
'  could  remember  to  have  seen  Mr.  Gutch's  meeting-house '  and  that 
he  was  often  told  •  he  was  a  preacher  to  the  fishermen  and  drowned 
nearly  100  years  ago.'  " 

It  is  generally  conceded  that  there  was  a  garrison  house  at 
Trebles  Point  occupied  by  the  elder  Jonathan  Preble,  "who  died 
therein  about  the  year  1769"  (7'ide  Sullivan).  Documentary  evi- 
dence showing  where  it  was  built  is  quoted  by  Sullivan  as  in 
"  Preble's  deposition,  on  supreme  court  files,  and  Dunning's  evi- 
dence." Lemont  records  in  his  profuse  manuscript  books  that  the 
Preble  garrison  house  was  occupied  as  late  as  1800,  and  that  it  was 
sold  to  a  Mr.  Wiggins  in  1804  or  1805,  and  that  it  was  taken  down 
and  its  materials  of  wood  and  bricks  transported  to  Abagadasset, 
where  they  were  utilized,  the  timbers  proving  to  be  perfectly  sound. 
In  connection  wilh  this  account  there  is  a  pen  drawing  purporting 
to  be  that  of  this  old  garrison  house  with  two  stories,  not  showing 
the  two  flankers  originally  attached  to  it.  Williamson  says  that 
Preble  Garrison  was  built  contemporaneous  with  that  of  the  Watts 
house,  which  was  in  17 14  or  17 15. 

According  to  statements  of  past  historians,  this  clergyman  lost  his 
life  by  drowning  in  1666  or  1667  (i*itie  Mr.  Thayer).  One  account 
places  the  scene  of  this  fatality  in  the  Kennebec  River  while  he  was 
crossing  in  a  canoe  to  preach  at  Prebles  Point  (7>/V/<?  Lemont  and  J. 
Sewall).  Another  story  relates  that  the  accident  occurred  while  he 
was  attempting  to  cross  the  lower  Back  River  from  Spring  Cove  on 
horseback,  where,  getting  into  quicksands,  the  rush  of  the  tide  • 
swamped  him.  This  last  version  comes  down,  it  has  been  said, 
from  Jonathan  Preble  and  the  White  family,  both  early  residents  of 
Arrowsic.     This  is  the  most  reliable  account. 

He  was  a  man  of  family,  having  one  son  and  six  daughters.  This 
son  was  named  John  and  was  the  eldest  of  the  children.  It  is  stated 
that  a  portion  of  the  Gutch  farm  was  given  to  this  son  by  his  father 


1 8  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

in  1663,  at  which  time  he  was  about  twenty-five  years  of  age;  and 
that  the  daughter  Lydia  married  William  Rogers;  Magdalen,  John 
Tilman;  and  Sarah,  Thomas  Elkins;  the  other  daughters  were  Eliza, 
Deborah,  and  Patience 

Mr.  Gutch  was  evidently  a  thrifty  man.  He  seems  to  have  culti- 
vated a  few  acres  of  land  and  had  a  comfortable  home.  After  his 
death  his  estate  was  administered  upon,  and  as  a  part  of  the  invent- 
ory of  the  property  there  were  entered: — Six  acres  of  land,  dwelling 
house  and  out-buildings  valued  at  thirty  pounds  sterling,  four  cows, 
one  bull,  two  steers,  two  pigs,  one  chair,  one  table,  two  milk  pans, 
and  one  kettle.  These  with  many  other  articles  were  valued  in 
total  at  £5 1.  Mrs.  Lydia  Gutch  administered  upon  the  estate. 
Sept.  25,  1667,  Mr.  Gutch  was  authorized  to  administer  oaths  and 
sell  whiskey.  It  is  on  record  that  he  served  on  a  jury  at  Casco  in 
July,  1666. 

Christopher  Lawson. — The  first  settler  of  North  Hath  was  this 
Lawson,  who  came  from  Boston  and  purchased  of  the  natives  one 
thousand  acres  of  land  bordering  north  on  Merry  Meeting  Bay  and 
known  as  the  Lawson  Plantation.  He  also  purchased  land  on  Swan 
Island  (vide  Thayer).  His  deed  was  from  "  Kennebis  and  Abbaga- 
dasset  in  1667  "  (tnde  Mass.  Archives)  and  Lawson  to  Humphrey 
Davis  in  1668. 

At  the  same  time  Thomas  Purchas  owned  territory  and  lived  west 
of  Lawson's  possessions  at  the  head  of  New  Meadows  River.  To- 
gether these  men  engaged  in  fisheries  on  the  New  Meadows  and 
Androscoggin  Rivers,  which  was  a  leading  industry  at  their  time; 
packing  the  fish  for  distant  markets.  He  met  with  financial  troubles, 
as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  on  November  1,  1665,  he  was  arrested 
for  debt  under  the  laws  then  existing  in  Sagadahoc  County,  which 
was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Duke  of  York.  He  was  placed 
under  bonds  of  £120  for  his  personal  appearance  at  a  special  court 
to  be  held  at  "Arrowsike  before  Nicholas  Raynal,  Justice  Peace." 
His  family  relations  were  also  unhappy,  both  himself  and  his  wife 
being  put  under  bonds  to  keep  the  peace.  They  had  parted  and  he 
subsequently  desired  to  come  back  to  live  with  her,  which  she  re- 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  19 

fused,  saying  she  "  hoped  God  would  consume  him."  Finally  he 
left  for  England  in  1670,  where  he  sued  for  divorce,  with  what  result 
is  not  known.     "  He  died  in  1697  "  (vide  J.  Sewall). 

North  Bath  had  the  local  name  of  Ireland  in  common  parlance 
before  the  designation  of  North  Bath  was  given  it.  The  origin  of 
the  name  has  been  a  matter  of  doubt,  but  the  best  evidence  goes  to 
show  that  at  an  early  day  a  settlement  from  Ireland  inhabited 
that  locality,  and  it  is  known  that  "  one  of  the  men  had  the  name 
of  Bean.  As  he  belonged  to  the  '  training  band '  he  would  appear 
on  parade  with  an  enormously  long  barreled  gun,  which  he  was 
allowed  to  carry,  for  the  militia  law  did  not  specify  the  style  of 
gun  every  enrolled  soldier  was  compelled  to  be  armed  with  at  his 
own  cost "  {vide  Hayden).  Cork,  that  years  ago  was  spoken  of  as  an 
appellation  of  North  Bath,  has  since  been  ascertained  to  apply  to 
territory  on  the  east  side  of  the  Kennebec  above  the  Chops,  where 
Robert  Temple  established  a  colony  from  Ireland  soon  after  17 17 
{vide  Thayer). 

"  Christopher  Lawson  was  one,  among  others,  who  considered 
himself  persecuted  by  the  government  of  Massachusetts.  There- 
fore he  left  Exeter,  N.  H.,  with  John  Wheelwright  in  1643,  an^  after 
a  short  stay  at  Wells,  moved  to  Sagadahoc.  On  account  of  his  con- 
tinued hostility  and  speaking  disrespectful  of  Massachusetts  as  a 
persecutor  and  usurper,  he  was  arrested  and  tried  in  1669  for  con- 
tempt and  sentenced  to  sit  an  hour  in  the  stocks  "  (vide  Williamson). 

Whizgig. — The  locality  is  also  called  Whizgig  for  the  reason 
that  there  is  a  stream  there  of  that  name.  According  to  ancient 
accounts,  whizz  means  rapidly  running  water  and  gigg  a  stream.  In 
ancient  documents  the  manner  of  spelling  words  greatly  differed 
often  in  the  same  document,  and  some  of  the  Indian  deeds  spell  the 
word  "geag";  hence  the  most  accepted  way  of  spelling  the  word  at 
the  present  day  is  Whizgeag.  From  time  immemorial  there  has 
been  a  saw  mill  on  the  Whizgig  stream  and  is  in  operation  to  the 
present  day. 

The  people  early  inhabiting  this  section  were  few  and  dwelt  far 
apart.     Edward  Cammel  (Campbell)  lived  it  is  stated  at  Whizgig  in 


20  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

1679  {vide  Lemont).  Lawrence  Dennis,  one  of  the  "New  Town" 
corporators  under  Governor  Andros,  purchased  of  the  Indians  in 
August,  1685,  a  tract  in  Woolwich  opposite  Bath,  and  also  a  large 
tract  at  North  Bath  of  Durumkin,  the  "  Sagamore  west  of  the  Ken- 
nebec River  "  {vide  Thayer).  Lyndes  Island  derives  its  name  from 
Simon  or  Joseph  Lynde,  a  merchant  of  Boston,  who  purchased  the 
island  of  Edward  Camer,  the  title  of  the  latter  having  been  de- 
rived from  Christopher  Lawson  in  about  1661.  Camer  occupied  it 
until  1676,  when  he  was  driven  off  by  the  Indians  {vide  Lemont). 

South  Bath. — From  Lemont  Street  and  Hospital  Point,  that 
portion  of  the  city  bordering  upon  Winnegance  Creek  is  locally  de- 
nominated Winnegance.  In  ancient  documents  the  name  is  various- 
ly written  Winnegansege  in  1665,  Wingahssek,  Winnigans,  Winne- 
ganseek,  Winegans  in  1650,  and  Winnegance,  the  Indian  meaning 
of  which  is  a  river  boundary  of  lands,  for  which  it  was  used  in 
many  ancient  deeds,  and  has  always  been  the  boundary  line  between 
Bath  and  Phipsburg.  This  small  stream  was  much  used  by  the  In- 
dians for  a  short  route  between  the  Sagadahoc  River  and  Casco 
Bay,  the  distance  between  the  two  waters  being  about  half  a  mile* 
and  known  as  "  the  old  Indian  carrying  place."  There  was  also  an- 
other Indian  carrying  place  between  the  Whizgig  Stream  and  the 
head  of  New  Meadows  River  of  longer  distance  than  that  at  Win- 
negance. There  is  authority  for  the  statement  that  when  in  May, 
1690,  a  force  of  500  Indians  with  French  leaders  met  at  Merry- 
meeting  Bay  to  plan  an  attack  upon  the  important  Fort  Loyal  at 
Casco,  which  they  took  and  massacred  its  defenders,  the  route  they 
took  to  reach  their  destination  with  their  canoes  was  by  the  way  of 
the  Winnegance  carrying  place. 

Its  Early  Settlers. — The  house  of  Alexander  Thwaits  stood 
near  Winnegance.  The  accounts  of  his  coming  to  this  country  are 
that  a  man  of  the  same  name,  about  twenty  years  of  age,  arrived  in 
the  ship  Hopewell,  commanded  by  a  Captain  Burdict  from  London 
in  1635.  His  first  settlement  was  at  or  near  North  Bath,  and  in 
1660  he  purchased  of  Mox  Dorumby,  an  Indian,  a  tract  of  land  at 
Winnegance,  having  been  a  squatter  on  it  since  about   1656  {vide 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  .  21 

Sewall).  This  land  comprised  the  territory  from  the  south  b6unda- 
ry  of  the  Gutch  estate  down  to  Winnegance  Creek,  including  both 
sides  of  the  stream.  In  different  ancient  documents  this  name  is 
written  Thwait,  Thwayt,  Thoyt,  Thoit,  Thwaits,  Thwat. 

He  became  involved  in  debt  to  Richard  Patishall  of  the  island  of 
that  name,  now  Lees  Island,  to  the  amount  of  ;£ioo.  In  Decem- 
ber, 1665,  Patishall  came  up  to  Winnegance  Creek  in  his  sloop  and 
attached  all  the  property  owned  by  Thwaits,  who,  in  his  anger  at  the 
summary  proceedings,  at  once  made  over  to  his  creditor  his  land, 
house,  barn,  two  oxen,  four  cows,  and  one  male  animal.  He  then 
purchased  a  farm  near  Abagadasset  Pond,  making  the  deed  run  to 
his  wife.  His  family  comprised  nine  children.  It  is  understood 
that  the  Indian  deed  to  Thwaits  has  not  been  found. 

From  Mass.  "  Book  of  Claims  "of  17 18: — 

"  Widow  of  Richd  Patishall  claims  on  behalf  of  herself  Mrs  Hum- 
phrey Davis  and  Robert  Patishall,  Land  lying  in  Kennebeck  the 
upper  part  of  the  bounds  beginning  at  the  cove  wch  is  the  lower 
Part  of  Robert  Goods  (Hood  undoubtedly)  bounds,  to  run  down 
along  the  Water-side  to  the  River  called  Winneganseek  with  Marsh 
and  meadows,  said  Land  bought  of  Alexander  Thwaits,  Deeds  dated 
the  7  Dec  1665  &  half  the  whole  belonged  to  Humphrey  Davis,  the 
rest  equally  between  said  Rob't  Patishall  &  Rich'd  Patishall. 

"  Rich'd  Patishall  claims  a  Tract  of  Land  in  Kennebeck  called 
Thwaites  Plantation  being  in  the  Long  Reach,  and  on  both  sides  of 
Winnegansetts  River,  the  Winnegans  on  the  South  &  winslows 
Rocks  to  the  North  &  from  thence  to  extend  six  miles  back  into  the 
country,  and  thence  South  &  by  west  to  the  Winnegans,  bought  of 
Moses  Didramby,  Weeguinquiet  &  Wegenemit  Deed  dated  3  Aug* 
1685." 

As  Thwaits'  purchase  from  the  Indians  is  stated  to  be  in  1660  by 
prior  historians,,  and  that  of  Gutch  the  same  year,  it  is  obvious  that 
their  titles  overlapped  each  other  more  or  less.  This  may  be  ac- 
counted for  by  the  fact  that  Indian  conveyances  at  that  early  day 
often  duplicated  the  same  territory,  and  it  is  well  understood  that 
the  Indians  in  these  deeds  believed  they  were  disposing  of  the  right 


22  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

of  occupancy  only,  in  common  with  themselves,  not  intending  to 
convey  fee  simple  title  to  the  land.  Yet  their  deeds  did  convey  the 
land. 

The  two  deeds  to  Patishall,  given  at  different  dates  by  Thwaits, 
were  based  upon  the  title  conveyed  in  the  Indian  deeds  to  him.  It 
will  be  noticed  that  the  deed  of  Thwaits  to  Patishall  of  1685  cov- 
ered the  identical  tract  that  the  Indians  conveyed  to  Gutch.  The 
deed  of  1665  of  Thwaits  to  Patishall  evidently  overlaps  the  south- 
ern portion  of  the  Gutch  estate.  The  writer  has  found  no  recorded 
dividing  line  between  the  Gutch  and  the  Thwaits-Patishall  claim. 
The  destroying  of  records  by  the  Indian  raids  during  and  after 
1676  may  account  for  this  failure. 

The  question  might  arise  why  the  chief  part  of  Hath  has  been 
held  under  the  title  derived  from  the  Indian  deed  to  Gutch,  and  not 
under  the  Thwaits  Indian  deed,  and  may  be  solved  in  the  believed 
fact  that  the  Thwaits  deeds  have  never  been  found,  while  the  Gutch 
deed  is  in  existence,  and  the  property  named  in  it  claimed  and  title 
legally  held  by  his  heirs. 

Nor  has  there  been  found  any  record  of  what  became  of  the  Pat- 
ishall titles  derived  from  Thwaits,  while  those  from  Gutch  were 
held  valid.  Some  historical  writer  has  said  that  "  squatters  "  sub- 
sequently settled  on  the  Thwaits-Patishall  tract  and  held  title  by 
virtue  of  "possession  and  improvement."  This  version  may,  in 
part,  be  sustained  by  the  fact  that  no  deed  to  Edward  Pettengill  of 
the  large  farm  he  occupied — now  the  McHutchin — is  found  in  the 
records  of  old  York  deeds  {yule  Register  of  Deeds,  Dec,  1892). 
Patishall  was  killed  at  Pemaquid  in  battle  with  the  Indians. 

Relations  With  the  Tiidiaiis. — Until  1676  the  white  settlers 
and  the  natives  lived  in  apparent  harmony,  excepting  perhaps  some 
isolated  cases,  and  there  was  considerable  trade  between  them,  the 
Indians  having  abundance  of  fish  and  furs  to  exchange  for  goods 
furnished  by  the  settlers. 

When  King  Philip's  war  broke  out  the  Norridgewock  Indians  in 
1676  came  down  the  river  in  a  Meet  of  canoes  and  massacred  in- 
mates of  the  Hammond  and  the   Clark  &   Lake  forts  on   Arrowsic 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  23 

Island.  How  much  those  living  at  Long  Reach  suffered  at  the 
period  of  these  hostilities  we  have  no  specific  account.  The  Rev- 
erend Gutch  having  died  some  years  previously,  his  family,  if  still 
remaining  at  the  homestead,  may  have  been  spared  molestation;  for, 
according  to  historian  Penhallow:  "It  was  remarkably  observable 
that,  among  all  the  settlements  and  towns  of  figure  and  distinction, 
not  one  of  them  has  been  utterly  destroyed  wherever  a  church  was 
gathered."  Possibly  all  the  other  settlers  were  driven  off  and  re- 
turned after  apparent  danger  was  past,  after  17 13. 

After  the  first  hostile  attack  of  the  savages  upon  the  English  set- 
tlements on  the  Sagadahoc  in  1676,  breaking  them  up,  there  were 
frequent  attempts  to  inhabit  the  territory,  relying  upon  various  treat- 
ies with  the  Indians,  which  invariably  proved  worthless,  the  returned 
inhabitants  finding  neither  peace  nor  safety  in  their  habitations  for 
many  years. 

A  scrap  of  written  history  may  indicate  the  thinness  of  inhabit- 
ants of  Bath  at  the  date  named  below.  It  is  well  known  that  the 
Plymouth  Company  claimed  territory  on  the  Kennebec  that  covered 
Hath,  and  {vide  Me.  His.  Soc.  Cols.,  Vol.  2)  "from  depositions  pre- 
served in  the  company's  records  it  appears  that  in  1728  there  was 
only  one  family  remaining  at  Long  Reach,  and  in  1749  there  were  / 
but  two  families  above  the  Chops  of  Merry  Meeting  Bay;  all  the 
rest  had  been  driven  off  by  the  Indians."  Thomas  Williams  lived, 
at  Winnegance  in  1729,  and  remaining  there  became  the  first  per- 
manent settler  of  Bath  {vide  Thayer). 

Ancient  Georgetown. — The  coming  generations,  if  not  the 
younger  of  the  present  day,  may  with  good  reason  wonder  what 
municipal  connection  Bath  could  ever  have  had  with  old  George- 
town. Upon  the  "Re-settlement"  on  the  lower  Kennebec  in  1714, 
the  southwest  extremity  of  Arrowsic  Island  was  chosen  as  the  chief  . 
point,  which  position  it  held  for  half  a  century.  According  to  au- 
thorities, the  name  of  this  notable  island  was  written  Arroseag; 
according  to  Sullivan's  History  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  it  was 
written  Arrowsicke;  an  ancient  deed  records  it  Arrozeek;  also  writ- 
ten Arroseg,  Arrosic,  Arrowsick,  Rowsic,  Rowsik,  and  Rowsick. 


\\\- 


\ 


24  HISTORY   OK    BATH. 

This  point  on  Arrowsic  Island  was,  for  that  early  day,  well  situ- 
ated for  trade,  as  it  was  near  the  ocean  and  in  close  proximity  to 
the  best  anchoring  grounds  on  the  lower  Kennebec — that  of  Par- 
kers Flats  and  at  Jones  Eddy  immediately  above.  It  was  believed 
that  it  would  not  be  safe  to  attempt  to  sail  vessels  of  sixty  tons  up 
through  Fiddlers  Reach.  When  Arnold's  expedition  to  Quebec 
passed  up  the  river  in  1775,  the  conspicuousness  and  attractive- 
ness of  this  elevated  location  were  remarked  upon.  From  the  time 
when  a  town  was  incorporated  as  "Georgetown  on  Arrowsic 
Island "  to  that  when  Long  Reach  was  severed  from  the  parent 
stem  and  became  the  town  of  Bath,  the  Kennebec  side  of  that 
island  was  the  center  of  population  and  business  of  the  Sagadahoc. 
Hence  there  are  given  in  these  pages  a  brief  relation  of  important 
public  events  and  town-meeting  proceedings  in  which  the  people  of 
Long  Reach  participated,  and  which  comport  with  the  scope  of  this 
work. 

Permanent  Re-settlement  of  Georgetown.— From   1690  to 

18 14,  the  settlers  on  the  section  of  Maine  east  of  Portland  had  been 
either  massacred  or  driven  off  by  hostile  natives,  and  the  whole  ter- 
ritory along  the  coast  for  one  hundred  miles  was  during  that  time  in 
a  state  of  desolation  in  the  hands  of  the  savages.  Finally,  at  the 
close  of  Queen  Anne's  war  in  17 13,  a  treaty  of  peace  was  made 
with  the  Indians  at  Portsmouth.  Then  commenced  the  era  of  re- 
settlement of  the  deserted  country.  The  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts enacted  that  settlements  should  be  compact,  a  garrison 
house  constructed  for  mutual  safety,  and  a  specified  quantity  of  land 
allotted  to  each  settler,  according  to  his  needs. 

Under  the  auspices  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  who  claimed  a 
tract  covering  this  section,  John  Watts,  a  member  of  the  company, 
established  in  17 14  a  settlement  on  the  lower  Kennebec  at  Arrow- 
Sic  Island,  an  important,  central  point  for  the  valuable  trade  in  fish 
and  furs  for  which  that  river  was  notable  at  that  day.  He  made  a 
commencement  with  twenty  families,  which  were  rapidly  augmented. 
It  was  here  that  the  first  permanent  settlement  on  the  Sagadahoc 
River  was  made.  In  17 17,  the  Indians  having  become  troublesome, 
Governor  Shute  of  Massachusetts  came  down  to  Arrowsic  in  the 


SAMUEL    DENNV    RESIDENCE. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  25 

government  ship  Squirrel,  and  after  many  difficulties  succeeded  in 
renewing  the  Indian  treaty  of  17 13.  This  ship  got  ashore  on  a 
point  south  of  "  Butlers  Cove,"  which  gave  it  the  name  of  Squirrel 
Point. 

When  the  Watts  settlement  became  permanently  established,  by 
1720,  there  was  an  accession  of  fifteen  families  to  the  settlers,  prin- 
cipally of  the  Scotch  Irish  class.  The  ten-acre  lots  into  which  the 
land  had  been  laid  out  for  the  distance  of  nearly  two  miles  had  a 
house  upon  them  to  the  number  of  twenty-six.  They  were  arranged 
on  each  side  of  the  main  road  trending  northerly.  There  was  one 
man  above  all  others  who  was  identified  with  this  locality,  who  for 
fifty  years  devoted  himself  to  the  interests  of  church  and  state,  and 
made  "  Butlers  Cove "  a  center  of  interest  to  the  surrounding 
towns.     This  was 

Samuel  Denny. — No  one  perhaps  contributed  more  to  the 
peace,  prosperity,  and  safety  of  the  lower  Kennebec  during  the 
eighteenth  century  than  Major  Samuel  Denny.  He  was  descended 
from  an  English  family  that  had  figured  conspicuously  in  cabinet 
and  field.  The  original  home  of  the  Denny  family  was  in  Hunting- 
donshire, England,  where  the  historian  Fuller  says:  "  I  find  the 
name  very  ancient  and  where  the  heir-general  was  long  since  mar- 
ried into  the  worshipful  and  ancient  family  of  Bevils." 

John  Denny  served  in  France  under  Henry  V.,  and  he  and  one 
son  were  slain  at  the  battle  of  Agincourt  and  were  buried  in  the 
chapel  of  St.  Dionys.  Fuller  says :  "  Their  interment  in  so  noble 
a  place  speaks  of  their  worthy  performances.' ' 

Sir  Anthony  Denny,  a  grandson  of  John,  was  a  friend  and  Privy 
Councillor  to  Henry  VIII.  and  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  learning 
and  discretion;  a  valiant  man  and  the  only  one  of  the  courtiers  who 
dared  apprise  the  King  of  his  approaching  death.  King  Henry 
left  him  a  legacy  of  £1,500  and  made  him  one  of  the  executors  of 
his  will  and  guardian  of  his  son,  Edward  VI.  Sir  Edward  Denny, 
his  son,  received  the  Castle  Tralee,  county  of  Kerry,  Ireland,  and 
40,000  acres  of  land  for  a  brave  act  in  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  while 
the  Queen  herself  gave  him  a  beautiful  scarf  embroidered  with  gold 


26  HISTORY    OK    BATH. 

and  pearls  and  a  pair  of  gloves  taken  from  her  own  hands.     He 
founded  the  Irish  branch  of  the  family. 

Samuel  Denny  was  descended  from  John  Denny,  who  came  from 
Huntingdonshire  to  Combs,  Suffolk  County,  in  1495,  where  he  built 
a  manor  house  which  still  stands  and  is  in  possession  of  the  English 
branch.  Samuel  was  the  third  son  of  Thomas  and  Grace  Denny 
and  was  born  in  this  house  in  1689.  He  and  his  sister  Deborah 
came  to  this  country  in  1717,  to  Boston,  with  Rev.  Thomas  Prince, 
who  had  pursued  his  theological  studies  in  England  and  preached 
some  years  in  Combs.  Samuel  and  Deborah  went  directly  to  Leices- 
ter, where  their  brother  Daniel  had  settled  two  years  previously,  and 
had  assigned  land  to  Samuel  as  a  homestead,  but  on  the  marriage  of 
Deborah  to  Rev.  Mr.  Prince  in  17 19,  Samuel  came  to  Arrowsic, 
where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robinson,  also  from  Combs,  had  already  made 
a  home  at  Newtown,  opposite  the  present  village  of  Phipsburg.  They 
came  over  in  the  same  vessel. 

The  tenacity  and  perseverance  of  these  early  settlers,  who  were 
continually  undergoing  deprivations  and  in  constant  danger  from 
hostile  Indians,  are  well  illustrated  in  the 'case  of  Major  Denny, 
who  left  a  comfortable  English  home  and  who  also  rejected  the  ear- 
nest solicitations  of  his  relations  in  Massachusetts  to  relinquish  his 
hazardous  life  and  come  to  live  with  them  where  he  would  be  free 
from  anxiety,  but  who  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  their  entreaties  and 
preferred  to  throw  in  his  lot  with  the  hardy  pioneers  of  this  the  ex- 
treme frontier. 

Newtown,  like  all  frontier  settlements,  had  experienced  many 
vicissitudes,  and  the  first  care  of  a  new  settler  was  to  build  for  him- 
self a  fortified  house.  Mr.  Robinson  and  Samuel  Denny  entered 
into  business  partnership  and  built  a  block-house  consisting  of  two 
stories,  one  projecting  over  the  other  and  surmounted  by  a  watch 
tower.  While  a  man  was  shingling  the  roof,  an  Indian  came  up  in 
the  rear,  shot  him,  and  his  body  fell  to  the  ground. 

His  house  was  of  great  usefulness  in  the  attacks  of  the  Indians 
which  were  frequent  during  the  earliest  years  of  the  occupancy  of 
land   by   Denny.       Having   completed  this  work  of  defence,  they 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  2*] 

next  built  a  wind  grist  mill,  which  was  the  first  and  only  one  of  the 
kind  in  that  section  of  the  country,  and  people  came  from  long  dis- 
tances to  avail  themselves  of  its  usefulness. 

The  principal  business  of  the  firm,  like  that  of  most  of  the  set- 
tlers in  those  early  days,  was  the  salmon  fisheries,  which  combined 
with  trading  in  furs  with  the  Indians  they  pursued  with  great  suc- 
cess. After  Mr.  Robinson's  early  decease  Mr.  Denny  married  his 
widow,  Sarah,  and  carried  on  the  business  alone.  Mrs.  Denny  died 
in  1750,  and  in  1751  he  married  Mrs.  Rachel  Loring  White  at  the 
house  of  her  brother,  the  Rev.  Nicholas  Loring  of  North  Yarmouth. 
She  was  born  in  Hull  in  17 17  and  died  in  1752,  leaving  an  infant 
daughter,  Major  Denny's  only  child,  who  afterwards,  in  1768,  mar- 
ried Gen.  Samuel  McCobb  of  subsequent  Revolutionary  fame. 

Though  Major  Denny  married  a  third  time,  this  child  remained 
his  only  heir,  and  having  no  son  to  continue  his  name,  he  was  large- 
ly known  in  after  years  through  his  daughter  and  her  posterity.  At 
the  time  of  Major  Denny's  second  marriage  his  wife  had  one  son, 
John  White,  the  eldest  and  only  surviving  of  four  by  her  former 
husband.  This  lad  became  a  member  of  the  Denny  household,  and 
here  remained  until  his  manhood. 

Upon  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  Rachel  to  Samuel  McCobb,  he 
gave  her  a  farm  lying  near  Jones  Eddy,  upon  which  he  built  a  house 
for  her,  and  when  she  became  a  widow  this  John  White  came  into 
possession  of  this  farm  in  18 12,  lived  on  it,  his  descendants  occupy- 
ing it  to  the  present  day. 

Rachel,  the  daughter  of  Major  Denny,  was  a  lady  well  educated  • 
and  of  some  literary  taste;  sketches  of  the  products  of  her  pen  may 
be  found  in  the  Panoplist  and  some  other  periodicals  of  her  time. 
She  had  the  misfortune  of  being  a  cripple  during  the  latter  portion 
of  her  life.  She  had  dressed,  of  a  Sabbath  morning,  to  go  to 
church.  Very  high-heeled  shoes  of  English  make  were  the  style, 
and  as  she  was  coming  down  stairs  she  tripped  and  fell  to  the  bot- 
tom of  the  stairs,  breaking  her  hip-bone.  Confined  to  her  room  the 
rest  of  her  life,  her  big  Bible  was  her  constant  companion.  Besides 
reading  it  through  time  and  again,  she  whiled  away  the  monotony  of 


28  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

her  time  by  counting  and  noting  the  number  of  books,  chapters, 
verses,  words,  and  letters  contained  in  it,  computing  the  words  in 
each  chapter,  and  making  other  statistics.  There  were  no  circulating 
libraries  within  her  reach  and  books  of  all  kinds  were  scarce.  The 
last  years  of  her  life  were  passed  at  the  house  of  her  son-in-law, 
Deacon  Andrew  Reed,  Phipsburg,  in  every  possible  comfort,  dying 
in   1825.     She  was  interred  at  Arrowsic  by  the  side  of  her  husband. 

As  was  the  custom  of  that  day  Major  Denny  owned  a  few  slaves, 
which  he  treated  with  every  kindness.  Among  these  was  a  boy 
Richard  whom  he  gave  in  1752  to  his  brother  Daniel  in  Leicester 
by  written  contract,  carefully  securing  the  right  of  the  boy  until 
thirty  years  of  age,  when  he  reverted  back  to  Major  Denny,  speci- 
fying that  he  "  deal  kindly  with  the  boy,  to  look  upon  him  as  an 
orphan,  to  bring  him  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  as  possessor  of  a 
soul  as  well  as  we."  The  young  negro  died  before  the  expiration  of 
the  thirty  years. 

Sewall  in  his  Ancient  Dominions  says:  "  Samuel  Denny  was  an 
English  immigrant  distinguished  for  his  remarkable  decision  of  char- 
acter and  the  superiorty  of  his  attainments.  He  was  a  magistrate 
and  the  stocks  in  which  were  executed  many  of  his  own  sentences, 
perhaps  by  his  own  hand,  were  long  remembered  as  a  terror  to  evil- 
doers.11 Another  historical  writer  describes  Samuel  Denny  as  "  tall, 
straight,  dignified,  and  a  strong  Calvinist";  that  "education  could 
not  make  nor  unmake  such  a  man  "  {vide  Thayer). 

His  family  had  been  non-conformists  in  England  and  he  was  im- 
bued with  all  the  religious  fervor  of  the  period.  His  letters  to  rela- 
tives in  England  and  Massachusetts  abound  not  only  in  graphic  de- 
scriptions of  his  life  on  the  Kennebec  and  detailed  accounts  of  pub- 
lic events,  but  a  large  space  was  given  to  religious  exhortations 
which  strike  rather  monotonously  on  the  dulled  ear  of  the  present 
generation.  In  the  absence  of  a  regular  minister,  Major  Denny 
wrote  and  delivered  his  own  sermons  at  Sabbath  meetings.  His 
tombstone  records  that  uhe  lived  a  pious  and  useful  life,"  and  his 
Bible,  his  greatest  treasure,  is  still  in  existence  with  the  Apocrypha 
tied  up  by  his  own  hand. 


HISTORY  OF    BATH-  29 

His  name  on  the  Kennebec  died  with  him.  The  church  which  he 
helped  to  build,  which  was  a  prominent  object  on  the  river  bank 
and  remarked  by  Arnold's  expedition  for  its  beautiful  situation,  has 
left  no  trace  behind.  The  garrisons,  the  timber  houses  and  other 
dwellings  have  passed  away,  until  two  houses  and  rows  of  grave- 
stones are  all  that  are  left  to  mark  a  spot  which  was  a  center  of  in- 
terest to  a  wide-spreading  district  during  the  whole  of  the  eight- 
eenth century. 

He  was  in  command  of  the  militia.  To  be  in  the  "training 
bands  "  at  that  feudal  time  was  no  "  pride,  pomp,  and  circumstance  " 
of  dress  parade.  It  meant  business.  High  and  low,  rich  and  poor, 
were  in  the  ranks,  and  those  worthy  to  be  chiefs  only  were  in  com- 
mand. From  the  date  of  the  legal  organization  of  the  town  of 
Georgetown  in  1738  to  his  extreme  old  age,  to  near  his  demise, 
Samuel  Denny  was  town  clerk  and  treasurer,  and  he  often  read 
legal  notices  at  the  head  of  his  military  company.  A  book  is  ex- 
tant in  which  his  own  hand  recorded  his  own  "  intentions  of  mar- 
riage "  to  three  different  women  whom  he  successively  married,  all 
widows. 

Samuel  Denny  filled  many  and  sometimes  all  the  important  offices 
in  Georgetown,  which  then  comprised  a  much  larger  district  than  at 
present  For  many  years  he  was  surveyor  in  the  District  of  Maine. 
He  was  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  and 
president  of  the  court  of  sessions  for  Lincoln  County,  which  com- 
prised the  section  east  of  Cumberland.  He  continued  to  hold  these 
offices  until  his  death. 

Major  Denny  was  a  thrifty  man,  having  acquired  extensive  real 
estate  on  both  sides  of  the  river,  as  well  as  much  personal  property, 
all  of  which  he  left  to  his  wife  and  his  only  child,  Mrs.  Rachel  Den- 
ny McCobb,  then  living  at  Arrowsic.  He  died  at  the  ripe  old  age 
of  eighty-three  years,  June  2,  1772,  in  the  full  possession  of  all  his 
faculties,  and  is  buried  alongside  of  his  wives  in  the  "  old  George- 
town cemetery  "  on  Arrowsic  Island. 

Reminiscences  of  the  Settlement. — Mrs.  Susan  Spinney  of 

Georgetown,  now  eighty  years  old,  lived  on  Arrowsic  Island  until 


/• 


30  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

her  eighteenth  year  with  an  aged  couple  whose  parents  had  also 
lived  there;  consequently  her  traditions  come  down  from  two  pre- 
ceding generations.  She  says:  "The  old  gentleman  with  whom  I 
lived  would  relate  the  events  he  remembered  in  his  childhood,  youth, 
and  early  manhood.  He  was  seven  years  old  when  the  French  and 
Indian  war  broke  out.  His  family  at  that  time  lived  on  the  south 
end  of  Arrowsic,  his  father  having  one  of  the  ten-acre  lots  originally 
laid  out  there.  Major  Denny  lived  there  at  the  same  time,  their  lot 
joining  his.  There  were  many  Indians  living  then  near  the  white 
settlers,  and  .they  came  in  and  out  among  the  whites  familiarly  and 
peaceably  until  the  war  broke  out,  when  they  went  east  to  join  the 
other  tribes.  He  said  they  knew  of  the  war  long  before  the  white 
people  did.  It  seems  that  they  had  a  sort  of  telegraphic  communi- 
cation from  the  head  of  one  river  to  another,  that  the  white  people 
of  that  generation  never  knew  about. 

"There  was  one  Indian  that  was  particularly  friendly  with  his 
father's  family,  who  came  in  and  out  and  told  his  mother  that  he 
was  going  away  not  to  come  back,  but  did  not  tell  her  where  he  was 
going.  He  brought  some  birch-bark  boxes  (small  ones)  and  gave 
each  of  the  children  one  for  a  present  or  keepsake.  The  old  gentle- 
man kept  his  as  long  as  he  lived.  After  the  Indians  had  been  gone 
some  time,  news  came  of  their  uprising.  Then  came  the  dreadful 
events  of  that  savage  war. 

"  Major  Denny  was  a  prominent  character;  he  had  the  adminis- 
tration of  all  the  law  and  gospel  in  those  days  in  town.  As  inci- 
dental to  new  settled  places,  disputes  and  quarrels  were  many  and 
varied,  which  were  all  brought  up  to  be  settled  before  the  Major. 
This  was  so  habitual,  and  such  a  terror  had  he  become  to  them,  that 
in  their  disputes  they  would  threaten  to  have  each  other  up  before 
the  Major  even  after  he  was  dead.  The  original  settlers  on  Arrow- 
sic,  who  were  nearly  all  from  the  north  of  Ireland  and  Scotland, 
observed  the  keeping  of  the  Sabbath  strictly,  and  tithing  men  were 
appointed  here  and  there  to  enforce  obedience  to  the  Sunday  laws. 
And  woe  to  the  unlucky  wight  who  should  be  caught  walking  out  on 
the  Sabbath,  except  he  was  going  to  meeting  or  to  care  for  the  sick. 


SAMUEL   DENNY    BLOCK   HOUSE. 


'jUOC.E    SAMUEL    DENNY    [ 


HISTORY  OF   BATH-  3 1 

If  for  anything  else,  he  was  arraigned  before  the  Major,  who  put 
him  in  the  stocks  for  so  long  or  short  a  time  as  he  saw  fit  I  believe 
they  considered  the  punishment  of  sitting  in  the  stocks  rather  more 
of  ignominy  and  disgrace  than  painful,  though  I  don't  know  but 
what  it  was  also  painful. 

"  Swearing  was  another  thing  punishable  in  the  stocks.  It  seemed 
that  somebody,  out  of  ill-will,  as  was  often  the  case  when  complaints 
were  entered,  had  accused  a  young  sailor  of  swearing.  He  stoutly 
denied  it,  saying  he  could  prove  he  never  was  in  the  habit  of  using 
profane  language;  but  he  could  not  prove  that  he  did  not  swear  at 
that  particular  time,  so  the  Major  put  him  in  the  stocks,  from  which 
he  was  afterwards  released  and  returned  to  his  vessel.  The  next 
morning  the  vessel  that  the  young  fellow  belonged  to  sailed  away 
out  of  the  Kennebec  River  with  a  fair  wind,  carrying  the  Major's 
stocks  at  the  mast  head  in  triumph  "  in  full  view  of  the  justice. 

"  The  Major  owned  slaves,  and  he  had  a  slave  by  the  name  of 
Sandy  Mill  who  was  married;  his  wife's  name  was  Peggy,  and  they 
had  quite  a  large  family  of  children.  The  Major,  who  was  a  kind 
master,  bought  a  pew  in  the  Congregational ist  meeting-house  on 
Arrowsic  for  Sandy,  where  the  Major  and  his  family  also  worshiped. 
Sandy  was  always  in  his  pew  on  the  Sabbath,  looking  around  on  his 
family  with  smiling  satisfaction  to  see  them  all  in  the  house  of  God. 
The  Major  and  Sandy  were  both  members  of  the  church."  The  in- 
stitution of  slavery  was  not  abolished  in  the  state  of  Massachusetts 
until  eleven  years  after  the  death  of  Samuel  Denny. 

Attacking  SavagCS. — Notwithstanding  their  treaty  of  peace, 
the  Indians  continued  hostile  and  the  Denny  block-house  was  often 
attacked  by  them.  On  one  of  these  occasions,  when  the  settlers 
had  lied  to  his  garrison  for  safety,  a  party  of  savages  surrounded 
the  building  and  the  chief  called  out,  "  We  got  you  now,"  when  at 
that  instant  the  boom  of  a  cannon  was  heard  down  the  river,  at 
which  the  savages  fled  in  terror.  It  proved  to  be  the  signal  of  a 
vessel  arriving  with  supplies  for  the  settlers  {vide  Andrew  Reed). 


32  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

From  Massachusetts  Archives: — 

Georgetown,  July  4,  1722. 

May  it  please  your  Excellency. 

I  reed.  yr.  Ex0**  Letter  of  Express  of  ye  20th  ult.  but  last  night, 
this  morning  I  Dispatched  away  my  whale  boat  up  the  river  & 
Called  in  the  Inhabitants.  I  also  order'd  ye  Boat  to  Richmond  to 
direct  the  officer  there  to  keep  good  Guards  inasmuch  as  I  had  but 
just  heard  of  Capt.  Wecstbrooks  being  attacked  at  St.  Georges  & 
the  Damage  that  was  done  there,  but  as  soon  as  the  Boat  had  got  as 
far  as  Merrymeeting  Bay  they  saw  about  30  of  the  Indians,  who  as 
soon  as  they  found  themselves  Discovered  man'd  out  their  Canoos 
in  chase  of  the  Boat  w**  was  then  obliged  to  return  &  soon  got 
Clear  of  them,  the  Houses  in  the  Bay  were  Just  then  Sat  on  fire,  & 
after  the  Boat  returned  to  me,  wlh  the  above  ac1  ,  we  observed 
smokes  to  rise  in  Long  Reach  &  mr ,  Allen  ye  bearer  being  at  his 
own  House  about  three  mile  of,  I  was  willing  to  try  to  Save  him,  & 
Immediately  man'd  out  ye  Boat  wKh  fresh  hands  &  releaved  him, 
who  had  been  in  defence  of  his  House  about  two  hours,  it  happened 
we  did  not  Loose  a  man,  tho  they  fought  the  Indians  about  half  an 
hour  before  they  could  get  mr ,  Allen  away,  it's  probable  our  men 
wounded  if  not  killed  Some  of  the  Indians. 

There  is  five  Garrisons  in  this  Town  but  can  keep  but  three  wch 
will  Defend  one  another  &  we  are  in  a  good  Posture  of  Defence. 

I  am  further  strengthening  in  according  to  yr  Excy« ,  order,  they 
are  within  Shot  of  one  another  &  some  good  Houses  between  that 
we  are  able  to  receive  and  Entertain  a  good  number  of  men.  Mr. 
Allen  who  now  comes  up  will  give  your  Ex0*,  a  more  particular  ac1  , 
of  his  Loss  &  what  happened  to  him  this  day.  I  have  divided  my 
half  Com*8,  that  are  here,  among  the  three  Garrisons  for  their  better 
Defence,  am  fortifying  for  the  Security  of  the  Stores,  would  pray  yr 
Excy  to  order  me  two  Swivil  Guns  to  fix  in  the  flankers  for  the  Secu- 
rity of  the  Same,  there  and  here  Several  Smart  Lusty  Young  men 
that  have  been  robbed  of  all  they  had  by  the  indians,  who  would  be 
glad  to  be  in  the  Service  if  yr  Ex**  would  be  pleased  to  admit  of  it, 
they  Cannot  possibly  Subsist  here  without,  I  have  detained  ein  till 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  33 

yr.  Excy,  order  inasmuch  as  their  going  oft  now  will  weaken  the 
Coutry. 

I  am  yr.  Excy.  most  Dutiful  &  most  Obt.  Servt. 

(signed)  John  Penhallow's 

Letter  to  His  Excy, 
July  4,  1722. 

Penhallow  commanded  at  the  forts  on  lower  end  of  Arrowsic. 

July  4,  1722,  the  inhabitants  had  left  their  dwellings  to  attend 
public  worship  in  Denny's  fort,  when  the  Indians  surprised  the  fort 
but  were  repulsed,  the  only  casualty  being  their  killing  a  child.  On 
their  retreat  they  burned  twenty-six  houses  and  killed  fifty  head  of 
cattle.  The  houses  were  never  rebuilt.  This  author,  as  well  as 
other  people  now  living,  has  distinctly  seen  the  old  cellars  on  either 
side  of  the  road,  fifty  or  more  years  ago,  and  at  this  day  one  only  of 
them  is  indistinctly  seen  by  the  road  side.  "  Seventy  years  ago  there 
were  also  to  be  seen  vestiges  of  potato  beds  on  the  farm  then  owned 
by  Judge  Mark  L.  Hill,  together  with  fifteen  of  the  old  cellars." 
(wVfcM.  L.  Hill,  18 19). 

Battle  of  Arrowsic. — At  the  time  of  the  Watts  settlement  at 
Butlers  Cove,  the  garrison  and  its  forces  were  made  the  command 
of  Penhallow.  In  1720,  there  were  twenty  dwelling-houses  occupied 
by  farmers.  On  Sept.  10,  1722,  at  dawn  of  day,  an  armed  force 
was  sent  out  from  the  garrison  to  protect  the  farmers  in  gathering 
their  crops.  This  escort  discovered  a  large  number  of  Indians 
prowling  about  in  the  adjoining  woods.  They  immediately  attacked 
the  Indians,  killing  one  and  wounding  three.  The  whites  then  re- 
treated to  the  fort.  The  villagers,  alarmed  at  the  firing,  fled  at  once 
to  the  garrison-house,  taking  with  them  all  they  could  carry.  The 
savages  surrounded  the  house  and  with  hideous  cries  poured  shot 
from  every  possible  approach,  but  the  fort  proved  impregnable  and 
the  only  casualty  to  the  defenders  was  the  killing  of  Samuel  Broaking 
through  a  port-hole.  Defeated  in  their  undertaking,  the  foe  with- 
drew and  encamped  in  the  woods.  Tidings  of  the  battle  spread  and 
reinforcements  arrived  from  other  settlements.  Colonel  Walton  and 
Captain  Harmon  arrived  in  whale  boats  with  thirty  men,  and  Col. 


y- 


34  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Robert  Temple  at  his  settlement  on  the  river  above  Bath  heard  the 
report  of  the  guns  below  and  hastened  with  a  force  to  render  ser- 
vice. Colonel  Temple,  who  had  seen  active  service  in  the  Irish 
army,  proved  himself  very  serviceable  on  this  occasion.  He  and 
Penhallow  formed  a  party  of  seventy  men  and  made  a  night  attack 
upon  the  savages  around  their  camp-fires,  but  they  were  driven  back 
to  the  garrison  overpowered  by  the  numbers  of  the  foe.  The  Indi- 
ans, however,  took  to  their  canoes  and  returned  to  Norridgewock. 
On  their  passage  they  captured  a  government  sloop,  mortally  wound- 
ing the  captain.  Thus,  after  six  years  of  prosperity,  this  portion  of 
Georgetown  was  again  made  desolate;  but  the  inhabitants,  notwith- 
standing all  these  adverse  influences,  rebuilt  their  homes,  and  But- 
lers Cove  continued  to  be  prominent  to  the  close  of  the  eighteenth 
century  {vide  Williamson). 

Sullivan  says  that  in  1756  "a  strong  party  of  Indians  appeared 
before  the  fort  on  the  lower  end  of  Arrowsike  Island,  but  could  not 
take  it.  The  people  within  were  not  able  to  go  out  of  the  garrison 
to  attack  the  enemy.  This  gave  the  savages  an  opportunity  to  kill 
all  the  cattle  on  the  island  and  to  enjoy  the  spoil  at  pleasure/' 

Under  the  guidance  of  Father  Ralle,  the  Jesuit  priest  who  had  a 
mission  settlement  at  Norridgewock,  the  Indians  continued  very 
troublesome  to  the  English  settlers  until  in  1724,  when  a  military 
expedition  was  organized  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Moulton 
and  Major  Harmon,  who  surprised  Norridgewock,  killed  Ralle,  mas- 
sacred the  Indians,  and  destroyed  the  settlement.  The  tribe  was  so 
badly  crippled  that  they  ever  after  ceased  to  be  formidable. 

Formation  of  a  Town. — When  the  settlement  had  become 
sufficiently  strong,  the  matter  of  incorporating  a  town  was  under- 
taken, as  the  under-written  documents  will  show.  Long  Reach  was 
identified  with  the  formation  of  a  town,  its  people  joined  in  the 
movement  to  effect  this  desirable  object,  and  continued  to  compose 
a  portion  of  old  Georgetown,  taking  part  in  its  organized  proceed- 
ings until  set  off  in  1781  to  form  the  town  of  Bath. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  35 

Mass.  Gen.  Court  Records,  Vol.  IX,  page  426: — 

Friday  Oct.  29,  17 14. 

Upon  reading  a  petition  of  John  Higginson  Esq.  &  John  Watts  in 
behalf  of  themselves  &  Sir  Biby  Lake  Barronet,  Proposing  to  settle 
or  cause  to  be  settled  a  town  in  a  regular  manner  according  to  the 
directions  of  this  Court  upon  arrowsic  Island  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Kenncbeck  River,  Praying  the  assistance  of  this  Court  in  allowing 
them  a  company  of  men  to  be  a  security  for  the  people  in  their  set- 
tlement of  a  Town  of  Forty  Families  there  the  next  summer  in  a 
defensible  manner  &c. 

Voted:  a  concurrence  with  the  vote  passed  thereon  by  the  Repre- 
sentatives. That  is  to  say  that  the  town  proposed  in  this  Petition 
to  be  settled  being  in  the  place  the  furthest  of  the  Five  directed  by 
this  Court  &  so  will  in  some  measure  be  a  Barrier  &  security  to  the 
other  Four  when  they  shall  be  brought  forward. 

Voted:  that  his  Excellency  the  Governor  be  humbly  requested  to 
order  a  Sergeant  with  nineteen  centinels  from  the  Fort  at  Casco  Bay 
to  Arrowsic  Island  to  continue  there  for  the  space  of  six  months  to 
cover  and  defend  the  designed  settlement,  when  the  undertakers 
shall  have  provided  convenient  Barracks  for  their  entertainment  & 
ten  families  or  more  shall  offer  to  proceed  with  them  thither;  which 
it  is  supposed  may  be  now  done  with  safety  to  the  Fort,  Peace  being 
now  happily  established. 

Extract  from  the  Records  of  the  General  Court  of  Mass.,  Vol.  X: — 
June  13,  1 7 16. 

"The  following  order  passed  in  the  house  of  Representatives, 

11  read  &  concurred.     Upon  reading  a  Petition  of  Edward  Hutchin- 

"son  Esq.,  John  Gerrish  and  others,  the  first  settlers  on  Arrowsic 

"  Island,  praying  that  an  addition  may  be  made  to  their  number  of 

"  men,  or  at  least  to  continue  the  twenty  six  men  now  there,  for  fur- 

11  ther  time  as  the  Court  shall  see  meet,  to  cover  the  new  settlements, 

"and  that  the  Island  of  Arrowsic  may  be  granted  and  made  in  a 

"  township  and  have  the  privelege  of  a  town  by  the  name  of  George- 

"  town. 

Consented  to,  William  Tailer. 


36  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

"  The  Board  are  of  opinion  that  it  will  be  much  for  his  Majesty's 
"  service,  the  intirest  of  this  Goverment  &  for  promoting  the  new 
"  settlements  (which  is  of  great  consequence).  That  a  suitable  num- 
"  ber  of  men  be  continued  at  Arrowsick  for  some  time  and  desire 
"  the  house  would  reconsider  it ". 

The  following  order  passed  in  the  House  of  Representatives,  viz : 
Upon  further  consideration  of  this  Petition,  Ordered,  that  sixteen 
men  in  the  publick  pay  be  allowed  to  cover  the  Settlement  at  Arrow- 
sic  Island  now  denominated  Georgetown  for  the  space  of  six  months 
&  no  longer.  Agreed  to  by  the  Councill. 

Consented  to  Wm.  Tailer. 

No  record  of  such  organization  of  a  town  has  been  found  to  the 
knowledge  of  this  author.  There  is,  however,  in  the  records  of  the 
town  which  was  organized  in  1738  this  vote: — "That  James  McFad- 
den  be  an  agent  to  demand,  require,  and  recover  the  town  book 
from  any  person  or  persons  with  whom  the  same  may  found  " ;  but 
no  report  was  made  of  his  success  or  the  want  of  it. 

Old  Georgetown  Records. — The  records  of  the  town  organized 
in  1738  have  been  preserved  as  kept  in  three  books  of  large  size  in 
the  office  of  the  town  clerk  of  Georgetown.  One  of  these  books 
contains  the  proceedings  of  town  meetings,  with  supplementary  en- 
tries of  the  accounts  of  town  treasurer  while  Samuel  Denny  held 
that  office,  from  1738  to  his  death  in  1772,  and  reports  of  laying  out 
of  highways.  Another  book  contains  family  records,  and  the  third 
volume  records  the  legal  marks  of  cattle,  sheep,  and  swine.  These 
books  are  in  good  condition,  the  entries  perfectly  legible,  and  the 
penmanship  of  a  large  portion  of  them  in  plain  handwriting. 

The  Town  Comprised  what  is  now  Arrowsic,  Georgetown, 
Phipsburg,  Bath,  Woolwich,  and  West  Bath.  Town  meetings  were 
held  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Samuel  Denny  until  they  were  held  in 
the  "  meeting-house  at  Pleasant  Cove,"  which  was  at  the  Noble  and 
afterwards  Lithgow  and  later  the  Morse  farm,  immediately  south  of 
Fiddlers  Reach,  March  8,  1742.  When  the  meeting-house  on  Ar- 
rowsic Island  was  built  and  completed  in  1763,  the  town  meetings 
were  held  in  that  house.     If  meetings  were  called  in  winter,  there 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  37 

being  no  heating  apparatus  in  the  meeting-house,  the  meetings  were 
often  adjourned  to  the  house  of  William  Butler,  who  kept  something 
like  an  inn. 

Town  Records. — The  scope  of  this  work  can  only  admit  a  tran- 
script of  the  records  of  old  Georgetown  and  confined  to  proceedings 
that  relate  to  the  history  of  Bath  while  comprising  a  part  of  the 
town.  Following  are  some  of  the  quaint  and  interesting  entries  to 
be  found  therein. 

"At  a  grate  and  general  Court  or  assembly  for  the  province  of  the 
massachusets  bay  held  at  Boston  the  30th  day  of  may  17 16  the  fol- 
lowing order  passed  in  the  Hous  of  Representatives  Red  and  Con- 
cured  vix  upon  Reading  a  petition  of  Edward  Hutchinson  Esqr , 
John  Watts  and  others  first  settlers  of  arousick  Island  praying  that 
an  addition  may  be  made  to  their  number  of  men  or  at  least  comprise 
the  twenty  men  now  there  for  farther  time  as  this  court  shall  see  meat 
to  cover  the  new  inhabitant  and  that  the  Island  of  arousick  may  be 
granted  and  made  a  township  and  have  the  privileges  of  a  town  by 
the  name  of  georgetown 

Ordered  that  the  prayer  of  the  petition  be  so  far  granted  that  the 
Island  of  arowsick  be  constituted  a  town  by  the  name  of  george- 
town. Consented  to  Wm  tailer  Copy  examied  pr  simon  frost  Dept 
secretary,  A  true  entry  attest  Samuell  Denny  Town  Clerk  of  George- 
ton" 

"  In  the  hous  of  Representatives  June  16,  1738,  voted  that  samuel 
Denny  Esqr  a  princepal  Inhabitant  of  the  Island  of  arowsick  alias 
georgetown  so  called  in  the  county  of  york  be  and  hereby  is  fully 
authorised  and  directed  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  there 
as  soon  as  may  be  with  convenience  for  the  chosing  select  men  con- 
stables collectors  and  other  ordinary  town  officers  who  shall  stand 
till  the  time  of  anaversary  meeting  by  Law  for  the  choice  of  town 
officers  in  March  next  and  that  the  said  collectors  be  and  hereby  are 
as  fully  authorised  and  Impowered  to  gather  and  collect  all  rates 
and  taxes  to  them  committed  with  warrant  therefor  -  -  any  of  the 
collectors  within  any  of  the  towns  of  this  province  are  by  Law  im- 
poured  unto  and  to  pay  the  same  according  to  directions  in  the  war- 


38  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

rant  annexed  to  the  sales  conformable  to  the  law  in  such  Cases 
made  and  provided,  sent  up  for  concerrance  I  quinsey  spk  In  coun- 
sel June  1 6,  1738  Red  and  concured  I  willard  secry  Consented  to  I 
Belcher  secy  Examined  I  willard  secy  A  true  entry  Samuel  Denny 
T»  Clk." 

Whereas  the  Honorable  House  of  Representatives  on  June  16, 
1738  passed  a  vote,  and  on  the  17th  of  the  same  was  concurred  in 
by  his  Majesty's  Council  and  which  was  consented  to  by  his  Eycel- 
lency  the  Governor,  a  paragraph  of  which  is  in  the  words  following 
viz. :  Voted  that  Samuel  Denny  Esq.  a  principal  inhabitant  of  the 
Island  of  Arowsick  alias  Georgetown,  so  called,  in  the  County  of 
York,  be  and  hereby  is  fully  authorized  and  directed  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  inhabitants  thereof  as  soon  as  may  be  with  convenience, 
for  the  choosing  selectmen,  constables,  collectors,  and  other  ordinary 
town  officers,  who  shall  stand  till  the  time  of  the  anniversary  meet- 
ing in  March  next  &c, 

These  are  therefore  to  warn  the  above  mentioned  inhabitants  to 
meet  at  my  dwelling  house  in  Georgetown  aforesaid  on  Tuesday  the 
twenty-sixth  day  of  this  instant  December,  at  ten  of  the  clock  be- 
fore noon,  for  the  ends  and  purposes  aforesaid.  Dated  at  George- 
town December  8,  1738.  Samuel  Denny. 

Georgetown  December  8.  1738 

I  warned  the  within  mentioned  inhabitants  to  meet  according  to 
the  tenure  of  the  within  instrument  by  reading  the  same  publicly  at 
the  head  of  the  company  whereof  I  am  Captain,  at  said  Georgetown 
on  the  day  of  the  date  hereof.  Samuel  Denny 

December  26,  1738 
At  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  Georgetown  so  called,  legally 
warned  by  virtue  of  a  vote  of  the  General  Assembly,  for  the  choice 
of  selectmen,  constables,  collectors  and  other  ordinary  town  officers 
to  stand  till  the  anniversary  meeting  in  March  next: 

1.  Voted  that  Samuel  Denny  be  moderator, 

2.  Voted  Johnathin  Preble,  Michael  Malcom,  Arthur  Noble,  Daniel 

Farnham,  Patrick  Drummond  selectmen. 

3.  Voted  Samuel  Denny  Town  Clerk. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  39 

4.  Voted  the  above  mentioned  selectmen  to  be  assessors  till  the  an- 

niversary meeting  in  March  next. 

5.  Voted,  no  surveyors  till  March  next. 

6.  Voted  John  Parker,  Thomas  Stinson,  constables. 

7.  Voted  Benjamin  Pattee,  David  Gilmore,  Fence  Viewers. 

8.  Voted,  John  Parker,  Thomas  Stinson  be  collectors. 

9.  Voted  James  Stinson  Senr ,  and  Thomas  Mothewell,  Tithingmen. 

December  26,  1738  as  attest  Samuel  Denny  Moderator. 

A  true  entry  Samuel  Denny  Town  Clerk. 

The  second  town  meeting  was  called  for  the  twenty-second  day  of 
March  1739  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Denny  on  the  war- 
rant of  the  selectmen  and  served  by  the  constables,  John  Parker 
and  Thomas  Stinson  within  their  respective  "  wards  or  districts." 

As  John  Parker  lived  on  the  west  side  of  the  Kennebec  and 
Thomas  Stinson  on  the  east  side,  their  districts  were  probably  di- 
vided by  the  river. 

At  this  meeting  Samuel  Denny  was  made  moderator,  town  clerk 
and  treasurer.  Jonathan  Preble,  Daniel  Farnham,  Michael  Mai  com, 
Patrick  Drummond,  and  Thomas  Motherwell,  selectmen.  Samuel 
Denny,  Jonathan  Preble,  and  James  Stinson  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  procure  a  minister  or  ministers;  and  "that  the  persons  that  paid 
money  for  supplies  "  (ministry)  "  since  the  twenty-sixth  of  December 
last  be  re-embursed  " ;  "that  the  above  committee  procure  a  school- 
master to  teach  the  children  of  said  town  to  read,  write,  and  cipher"; 
"  that  James  McFadden  be  an  agent  to  demand,  require,  and  recover 
the  town  book  from  any  person  or  persons  with  whom  the  same  may 
be  found." 

1744.  Voted  address  to  the  General  Court  to  erect  a  breastwork 
at  Hunniwells  Point  instead  of  Arrowsick  Island,  for  which  purpose 
$400  had  been  appropriated  by  the  General  Court. 

1745.  Address  to  the  Governor  and  General  Court  to  take  off 
the  province  tax  of  this  year  and  exempt  the  town  from  further  tax 
during  the  present  war,  and  that  Edward  Hutchinson  be  employed 
to  prosecute  the  objects  mentioned  in  the  address. 


40   •  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

1746.  James  McCobb  was  empowered  to  obtain  from  the  Gener- 
al Court  men  for  garrison  duty  and  guards  to  the  inhabitants  while 
getting  lumber. 

1745.  The  General  Court  was  petitioned  to  grant  the  one  hun- 
dred pounds  formally  voted  by  them,  for  a  breastwork  to  be  laid  out 
in  ammunition  for  a  town  stock  or  otherwise  for  the  benefit  of  the 
town,  also  for  "  supplies  of  men  to  cover  us." 

Samuel  Denny  was  requested  and  empowered  to  procure  from  the 
governor  and  council  some  cover  and  defence  against  the  enemy  ; 
also  that  he  labor  to  procure  a  minister,  conforming  to  former  in- 
structions given  him  except  the  requiring  the  recommendations  of 
six  ministers. 

1756.  A  road  three  rods  wide  was  made  from  Small  Point  to 
Capt.  McCobb's,  and  the  road  from  Bryant  Robinson's  to  Sandy 
Cove  be  altered  and  approbated  according  to  a  plan  made  by  James 
Springer,  Jonathan  Philbrook,  and  Isaiah  Crocker.  [This  was  at 
South  Bath  undoubtedly.] 

1759.  The  town  voted  not  to  object  to  Nequasset  being  organized 
into  a  town. 

1760.  Road  made  from  Daniel  Brown's  house  to  the  landing  at 
the  New  Meadows  river,  opposite  the  house  of  Captain  James 
Thompson,  three  perches  wide.  The  roads  were  part  bridle  and  part 
open  roads,  and  where  gates  were  necessary  persons  owning  the 
property  must  put  up  gates  and  keep  them  in  repair. 

1 76 1.  Road  three  perches  wide  "approbated"  from  Sheepscot 
River  across  Arrowsick  Island  to  a  landing  at  Long  Reach. 

1762.  That  Samuel  Denny  be  allowed  to  keep  gates  and  bars 
across  a  road  leading  through  his  premises. 

1764.  That  road  on  Rousick  Island,  and  that  from  the  Basin  to 
Small  Point,  and  that  from  David  Oliver's  to  the  grist  mill  at  Robin 
Hoods  Cove  be  "  approbated." 

1765.  Road  on  eastern  side  of  Robin  Hoods  Cove,  three  perches 
wide,  be  approbated. 

1767.     Road  "  approbated  "  from  Long  Reach  meeting-house  to 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  4 1 

Browns  Ferry.  [Browns  Ferry  was  about  where  is  now  Bull  Bridge. 
Bull  Bridge  takes  its  name  from  a  rock  in  the  river  there  called  Bull 
rock.] 

1762.  Last  town  meeting  in  the  "  old  meeting-house  in  George- 
town at  Pleasant  Cove." 

1763.  First  town  meeting  in  the  "new  meeting-house  on  Arrow- 
sick." 

Formation  of  the  Second  Parish,  Long  Reach. — More  set- 
tlers came  to  the  Reach,  obtained  land,  and  the  population  soon  be- 
came sufficiently  numerous  to  ask  to  be  incorporated  into  a  parish 
by  the  General  Court  at  Boston.  At  a  town  meeting  of  Georgetown, 
July  10,  1753,  "Voted  to  make  no  objection  against  the  inhabitants  X 
on  the  west  side  of  the  Long  Reach  being  taken  off,  persuiant  to 
their  petition  to  y*  General  Court."  When  Long  Reach  became  the 
Second  Parish  of  Georgetown  it  contained  twenty  families  represent- 
ing a  population  of  two  hundred  people  (vide  Lemont). 

PETITION   TO    FORM    A  SECOND   PARISH. 

Province  of  the  Massachusetts  Bay 

To  the  Honourable  Spencer  Phipps  Esq  Lieut  Govern'  &  Com- 
mander in  chief  of  his  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Mass"  Bay  afore- 
said, The  Honb,e  His  Majesty's  Council,  and  the  Honb,e  House  of 
Representatives  in  Gener1  Court  assembled  May  30th  1753.  The 
Subscribers  most  humbly  Shew 

That  they  are  Inhabitants  of  those  Lands  on  Kennebeck  River 
bounded  Southerly  on  Winniganie  River,  Easterly  on  Kennebeck, 
Westerly  on  Steven's  Rivr  and  Northerly  on  Merry  Meeting  Bay,  in 
length  about  nine  Miles  and  in  breadth  about  Three;  which  about 
Fourteen  Years  since  being  Inhabited  but  by  about  Six  or  Seven 
Families,  were  annex'd  by  this  Court  to  George  town,  since  which 
they  have  increased  to  the  Numr  of  about  Forty  Families  and  made 
very  considerable  Improvements.  That  they  Labour  under  the 
Greatest  Difficulties  in  attending  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  at 
George  Town,  in  that  they  not  only  Live  remote  from  thence  but  are 
obliged  to  cross  Winniganee  River  at  least  three  quarters  of  a  Mile 


42  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

where  the  Tide  is  very  rapid  and  the  Ice  in  cold  season's  in  very 
Large  quantities  by  means  whereof  the  Ancient  People,  Women  & 
Children  can  scarce  ever  Attend  the  Publick  Worship  of  God  so 
necessary  to  their  wellbeing. 

Wherefore  Your  Petitioners  most  humbly  pray  this  Honourable 
Court  to  take  the  Premises  into  Consideration  and  of  their  wonted 
goodness  and  Paternal  care  for  such  infant  settlements  Grant  and 
order  them  a  Distinct  Precinct  or  Parish  to  be  set  off  by  the  afore- 
said bounds  and  Grant  them  such  Powers  and  Priviledges  as  have 
been  usual  for  such  or  provide  such  other  ways  and  Methods  for 
the  redress  of  their  Inconveniences  aforesaid  as  this  Court  in  their 
Wisdom  shall  Judge  most  fit  and  reasonable. 

And  Your  Petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray. 

Jonathon  Philbrook,  Seig°,  John  Wise,  Joseph  Berry,  Phillip 
Hodgkins,  John  Lammon,  Humphrey  Purinton,  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, Shubel  Hinkley,  John  Tarp,  James  Thomson,  William  Johnson, 
William  Philbrook,  Benja.  Ring,  Job  Philbrook,  Moses  Hodgkins, 
Joshua  Philbrook,  Abel  Eaten,  Josear  Weber,  Joseph  Gray,  Benja- 
min Brown,  Hezekiah  Purinton,  Humphrey  Purinton,  junr ,  Mikel 
Thornton,  Jonathon  Philbrook,  junr,  Thomas  Joy,  Bryant  Robert- 
son, Samuel  Brown,  Daniel  Brown,  James  Brown,  Thomas  Foot, 
Simon  Burton,  David  Purinton,  James  Mecib,  Benj.  Lemons, 
Ebenezer  Hinkley,  Isaiah  Crooker,  John  Soliven,  William  Marshall, 
N.  Donnell,  George  Williams,  Joshua  Coomes,  John  O'Neal,  Samuel 
Meloon,  junr,  Nathanel  Berrey,  David  trufant,  Samuel  Meloon, 
Sener. 

In  the  House  of  Repvm,  June  12,  1753. 

Read  and  Ordered  that  the  Pet™  serve  the  Town  Clerk  of  the 

Town  of  George  Town  with  a  copy  of  this   Petn  that  so  the  said 

Town  shew  cause  if  any  they  have  on  the  Second  Wednesday  of 

the  next  Sitting  of  this  Court  why  the  Prayer  thereof  should  not  be 

Granted. 

Sent  up  for  concurrence. 

T.  Hubbard,  Spkr. 
In  Council,  June  12,  1753. 

Read  and  Concur'd. 

Thos  Clarke,  Dpty  Secry. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  43 

In  Council,  Sept.  7,  1753. 

Read  again  with  a  copy  of  the  vote  of  the  Inhabitants  of  George 
Town  passed  at  a  Meeting  held  the  10th  of  July  last  And  it 
appearing  that  they  had  no  Objections  to  make  thereunto. 

Ordered  that  the  Petitioners  &  their  Lands  as  bounded  in  the 
Petition  be  set  off  as  a  separate  &  distinct  Parish  or  Precinct,  And 
that  the  Inhabitants  enjoy  &  be  vested  with  the  Powers  &  Privileges 
of  other  Precincts  in  this  Province. 

Sent  down  for  Concurrence. 


In  the  House  of  Repves,  Sept.  7,  1753. 

Read  and  Concurd. 


I.  Willard,  Secry. 


T.  Hubbard,  Spk'. 


Consented  to. 

W.  Shirley. 

The  Act.  —  Anno  Regni  Regis  George  II  Viressimo  Septimo 
an  act  for  erecting  Part  of  Georgetown  in  the  County  of  york  into 
A  Presinct  whereas  it  hath  been  represented  to  this  Court,  that  the 
rest  of  the  Inhabatants  of  Georg  Town  aforesaid,  living  on  the 
Westerly  side  of  Long  reach  in  sd  Town,  Labor  under  Difficulties 
by  reason  of  their  not  being  set  of!  as  a  Sepperate  Presinct.  Be  it 
Enacted  by  the  Governore,  Council  and  House  of  Representatives, 
that  part  of  the  Said  George  Town  with  the  inhabitants  thereon  be 
and  hereby  is  Erected  into  A  Presinct. 

Bounding  of  following,  Southerly  on  winnigance  River,  Easterly 
on  Kenebeck  River,  westerly  on  Stevens  .  River,  and  Northerly  on 
merrymecting  Bay,  in  Length  about  Nine  miles,  and  in  Breadth 
about  three  miles,  and  that  the  Said  Presinct,  be  and  hereby  is 
inested  with  all  Privilidges,  Powers  and  immunities  that  Presincts 
in  this  Province  by  Law  do  or  may  enjoy. 

In  the  House  of  Representatives,  September  10,  1753. 
Read  a  first,  Second  &  Third  Time  &  passed  to  be  Engrossed. 

T.  Hubbard,  Spkr. 
In  Council,  September  11,  1753. 

Read  a  first  and  second  time  &  Pased  a  Currince  to  be  Engrossed. 

Thos  Cearke,  Dpty  Secry. 


44  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Organization.  —  Samuel  Denny,  a  magistrate  of  Georgetown, 
was  empowered  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  new 
parish,  which  was  held  April  2,  1754,  at  the  residence  of  Jonathan 
Philbrook,  Jr.  Humphrey  Purrington  was  chosen  Moderator; 
Samuel  Brown,  Clerk;  Jonathan  Philbrook,  Sen.,  John  Lemont,  and 
James  Springer,  Parish  Committee;  and  Jonathan  Philbrook,  Jr.,  a 
committee  to  obtain  a  minister,  for  whose  support  it  was  voted  to 
raise  £26,  18s.  4d.  Jonathan  Philbrook,  Sen.,  John  Lemont, 
Nathaniel  Donnell,  and  Joseph  Berry  were  chosen  as  committee  to 
select  a  place  for  the  meeting-house  which  it  was  voted  to  build. 
In  1759,  the  assessors  were  Joseph  Berry,  Samuel  Brown,  and. 
Joshua  Philbrook;  the  treasurer  was  Benjamin  Thompson;  consta- 
ble, Joseph  White.  This  year  there  were  sixty  ratable  polls  {vide 
Lemont). 

Prior  to  the  construction  of  the  first  meeting-house,  the  parish 
meetings  were  held  in  the  dwelling-houses  of  the  Philbrooks,  James 
Springer,  Isaiah  Crooker,  and  Joseph  Berry  at  Mill  Cove.  The 
organization  of  this  parish  was  for  municipal  purposes  only;  it  still 
comprising  a  part  of  the  town  of  Georgetown,  with  a  voice  in  its 
public  affairs,  until  the  parish  became  an  incorporated  town  in  1781. 
In  the  second  parish  tax  of  personal  property  were  twenty  cows; 
hence  it  was  called  the  "twenty  cow  parish."  The  cows  corresponded 
with  the  number  of  families.  At  that  date  the  parish  took  in  West 
Bath,  where  in  fact  lived  the  larger  portion  of  its  inhabitants;  on 
the  New  Meadows  the  greater  business  was  pursued  in  building 
vessels  and  running  mills. 

Revolutionary  Era.  —  When  this  country  became  agitated  over 
the  persistent  acts  of  British  oppression,  the  people  of  old  George- 
town promptly  arrayed  themselves  solidly  on  the  side  of  resistance, 
and  mantained  their  patriotism  throughout  the  long  contest  that 
followed.     There  was  not  a  known  tory  in  all  the  town.     When  the 
authorities  of  the  state   issued  a  call  to  all  the  towns  within    its 
jurisdiction  to  respond  to  the  aggressive  step  that  had  been  taken, 
the  citizens  of  the  town  enthusiastically  adopted  the  patriotic  senti- 
ments that  had  been  boldly  avowed  by  the  authorities  at  Boston. 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  45 

At  a  town  meeting,  March  16,  1773,  Samuel  McCobb,  John 
Stinson,  William  Swanton,  Dummer  Sewall,  and  Thomas  Moulton 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  take  into  consideration  a  letter  of 
correspondence  from  the  town  of  Boston  and  prepare  an  answer  to 
the  same.     Attest  Samuel  McCobb,  Town  Clerk.     The  answer  was: 

We  have  considered  the  rights  of  the  colonies  with  the  list  of 
infringements  and  violations  of  those  rights  as  exhibited  to  us  by 
you.  We  think  the  rights  of  the  colonies  justly  stated,  and  the 
violations  and  infringements  really  alarming  and  bode  the  most 
shaking  consequences  to  ourselves  and  posterity.  It  is  but  a  few 
years  since  we  have  felt  the  effects  of  the  most  inhuman  cruelty 
from  the  savage  natives  of  this  country.  We  have  had  many  of 
our  friends  and  relatives  cruelly  slain  by  them.  The  idea  is  shock- 
ing, but  of  losing  our  freedom  and  becoming  slaves  is  much  more 
so.  We  are  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  river  Sagadahock,  where 
some  of  our  forefathers  who  left  their  native  country  for  the  sake  of 
their  liberty  first  landed,  many  of  whom  fell  a  sacrifice  to  savage 
barbarity  rather  than  endure  oppression;  their  grave?  are  with  us 
and  we  would  by  no  means  affront  their  relics  by  a  tame  submission 
to  oppression  and  slavery.  We  are  embarked  on  the  same  bottom 
with  you  and  are  proportionably  concerned  in  the  event,  and  are, 
therefore,  willing  to  join  with  you  and  the  other  towns  in  this 
Province  in  adopting  such  measures  as  shall  be  most  proper  for  our 
peaceably  having  and  enjoying  our  invaluable  rights  and  privileges. ' 

The  Committee. 

Georgetown,  March  16,  1773. 

It  was  voted  that  the  thanks  of  this  town  be  returned  to  the 
town  of  Boston  for  their  vigilant  care  of  the  public  rights  and 
liberties,  and  that  the  aforesaid  committee  transmit  a  copy  of  their 
letter,  which  is  agreeable  to  the  minds  of  this  town,  to  the  commit- 
tee of  correspondence  for  the  town  of  Boston,  and  that  the  same  be 
recorded  in  the  records  of  this  town. 

1774,  December  6,  William  Butler  and  John  White  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  examine  into  the  town  stock  of  ammunition  and 
make  return  of  their  doings  at  the  next  annual  meeting. 


46  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

In  1775,  John  Wood,  Philip  Higgins,  Theophilus  Batchelder,  Elijah 
Drummond,  Samuel  McCobb,  Jordan  Parker,  John  Stinson  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  see  that  the  resolves  of  the  Continental 
Congress  be  complied  with.  [  This  was  in  relation  to  resistance  to 
the  "  Force  Act "  of  the  English  parliament.] 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  voted  uThat  the  inhabitants  of 
Georgetown  have  leave  to  join  with  Brunswick  in  building  a  bridge 
over  Stephens  River  somewhere  against  Dr.  Duncan's  land." 

As  town  clerk,  Samuel  McCobb  certified  to  the  call  for  the  annual 
town  meeting  of  March,  1775,  and  did  not  make  record  in  the  town 
book  of  the  proceedings  of  that  meeting  until  August  2,  1775.  In 
the  interum  he  had  been  to  the  Provincial  Congress  as  a  delegate 
and  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill;  and  was  at  home  in  August 
raising  men  to  join  Arnold's  expedition  in  September.  He  was  not 
town  clerk  again,  as  he  was  in  the  military  service  during  the  entire 
Revolutionary  war.  Dummer  Sewall  was  moderator  of  the  March 
town  meeting  of  1775,  which  was  prior  to  his  entering  the  public 
service,  civil  and  military;  yet  during  the  war  both  he  and  Samuel 
McCobb  appear  on  record  as  taking  part  in  town  meetings  at  times 
during  the  war,  especially  as  selectmen  and  in  war  measures. 

In  1776,  James  McCobb,  John  Stinson,  and  John  Wood  were 
chosen  in  March  a  committee  of  correspondence  in  connection  with 
war  measures;  and  on  July  8th,  same  year,  James  McCobb,  William 
Butler,  Samuel  McCobb,  Philip  Higgins,  and  Benjamin  Lemont 
were  appointed  "  a  committee  of  safety,  inspection,  and  correspond- 
ence." 

Some  of  the  earlier  town  meetings  had  been  called  in  the  name 
of  His  Majesty,  but  in  November,  1776,  one  was  called  in  the 
name  of  the  United  States  of  America;  in  subsequent  years  of  the 
State  of  Massachusetts  Bay. 

In  1776  and  1777  there  was  provision  made  for  a  town  stock  of 
ammunition,  which  was  distributed  by  localities:  "Thirty-three 
pounds  of  powder  and  thirty-three  ditto  of  ball  be  left  with  John 
Wood,  and  thirty-three  pounds  of  powder  and  thirty-three  ditto  of 
ball  be  left  with  James  Lemont  at  Long  Reach;  forty-four  pounds 


Q^mCn^'&Mi^ 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  47 

of  powder  and  forty-four  ditto  of  ball  be  left  with  William  Butler; 
forty-four  pounds  of  powder  and  forty-four  ditto  of  ball  be  left  with 
David  Oliver;  and  forty-four  pounds  of  powder  and  forty-four  ditto 
of  ball  be  left  with  James  McCobb,  and  the  flints  be  divided 
according  to  the  above  proportion.  Money  was  hired  to  pay  for  the 
same." 

"  John  Stinson  and  Samuel  McCobb  are  the  persons  appointed 
to  fetch  the  said  powder,  balls,  and  flints  from  Samuel  Nichols,  to 
pay  him  for  the  same,  and  deliver  them  to  William  Butler." 

"James  McCobb,  Benjamin  Lemont,  William  Butler,  Samuel 
McCobb,  and  Dummer  Sewall  were  chosen  a  committee  of  inspec- 
tion, safety,  and  correspondence." 

Nathaniel  Wyman  was  authorized  to  "recall  the  money  he 
borrowed  for  ammunition,  and  return  the  same  to  those  he  hired  of." 

"  The  town  of  Georgetown  allow  the  selectmen  to  give  Colonel 
Samuel  McCobb  an  order  on  the  town  treasurer  for  the  sum  of  nine 
pounds,  f\ve   shillings,  for  travel  and  attendance  twenty  days  to  ' 
represent  the  town  at  the  Provincial  Congress  held  at  Watertown 
in  May  and  June,  1775." 

At  the  same  meeting  there  was  a  vote  on  "  the  form  of  constitu- 
tion, forty-five  voters  present.  After  having  read  distinctly  and 
then  by  paragraphs,  debated  on  every  article,  unanimously  rejected  " 
four  articles,  one  of  which  was  for  the  reason  that  "a  man  being 
born  in  Africa,  India,  or  ancient  America,  or  even  being  much 
sunburnt,  deprived  him  of  having  a  vote  for  representative";  and 
another  was  because  "a  foundation  is  laid  for  persecution,  and 
the  rights  of  conscience  destroyed";  other  objections  were  the 
inequaliy  in  voting  for  choice  of  senators,  and  of  "  civil  and  field 
officers  not  being  nominated  by  the  corporations  in  which  they  are 
to  serve." 

The  men  that  went  to  Fish  Kill  and  staid  their  time  out  were 
allowed  the  rebate  of  "  their  poll  taxes  for  the  last  three  years." 
[These  men  went  as  soldiers.] 

1780,  May  23.  "Voted  that  the  town  is  willing  that  the  second 
parish  in  Georgetown,  which  is  now  a  part  of  said  town,  may  be 


48  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

set  off  into  a  separate  town  by  itself,  said  second  parish  being 
bounded  southerly  on  Winnegance  Creek,  and  from  said  creek  by 
the  carrying  place  as  said  path  goes  to  Casco  Bay." 

June  13.  On  a  vote  on  the  adoption  of  "the  new  form  of  a 
constitution  proposed  by  the  honorable  convention  of  this  state,"  it 
was  "  voted  unanimously  that  the  frame  of  government  in  general 
be  established,  and  that  the  word  Protestant  be  in  the  stead  of 
Christian  in  the  specification,  for  the  same  reasons  made  use  of  in 
the  address;  against  any  man  of  the  Popish  religion  holding  any 
office;  that  the  Protestant  churches  be  instead  of  Congregational 
churches,  for  the  reasons  that  are  mentioned  in  the  Bill  of  Rights; 
that  no  subordination  of  any  one  sect  or  denomination  to  another." 

September  4,  the  votes  for  Governor  were  twenty-four  for  John 
Hancock,  and  twenty-two  for  James  Warren  for  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor; for  Senator,  James  McCobb,  eight  votes,  Nathaniel  Thwing, 
six  votes,  William  Lithgow,  one  vote. 

November  29.  "Voted  that  Capt.  Jordan  Parker  be  agent  for 
the  town  to  purchase  eight  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  fifty  pound 
weight  of  beef  for  the  use  of  the  state  on  account  of  said  town." 

"  That  the  town  treasurer  be  empowered  to  hire  the  sum  of  eleven 
thousand  pounds  for  the  use  of  the  town." 

1781,  March  13.  "Voted  that  the  town  of  Bath  be  allowed  to 
raise  their  quota  of  men  that  the  whole  town  of  Georgetown  was, 
by  the  order  of  the  General  Court,  to  raise  in  said  Georgetown." 

April  2.  "Voted  that  the  sum  of  fourteen  thousand  pounds  be 
assessed  upon  the  polls  and  estates  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  towns 
of  Georgetown  and  Bath  to  pay  the  debts  contracted  by  them  when 
one  town." 

August  13.  "Voted  that  the  assessors  of  Georgetown  shall  call 
on  one  of  the  assessors  of  Bath  town  to  assist  in  making  rates 
to  supply  the  clothing  for  the  Continental  army." 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  49 


TOWN    OFFICERS. 


Moderators.  —  Samuel  Denny,  from  the  organization  of  the 
town  in  1738  to  1771  (the  year  before  his  death),  presided  at  annual 
and  special  meetings  excepting  at  one  meeting  each;  James  McCobb, 
William  Lithgow,  James  Farnham,  Dummer  Sewall,  six  times;  Jona- 
than Philbrook,  Thomas  Stinson,  once  each  at  special  meetings; 
also  John  White,  Daniel  McFadden,  William  Butler,  William 
Lithgow,  Jr.  After  Samuel  Denny's  time,  James  McCobb  many 
times;  Francis  Wyman,  William  Lithgow,  Jr.,  Jordan  Parker,  several 
times;  William  Lee,  Lewis  Thorp,  Greenleaf  Snow,  Mark  L.  Hill, 
many  times;  Andrew  Reed,  Benjamin  Riggs,  Gideon  Snow,  James 
N.  Lithgow. 

Town  Clerks.  —  Samuel  Denny,  from  1738  to  177 1 ;  Thomas 
Moulton,  1772;  Samuel  McCobb,  1773  to  1775;  Jordan  Parker, 
1776  to  1777;  William  Butler,  1778  to  1789;  William  Lee,  Jr.,  1790 
to  1791;  Denny  McCobb,  1792  to  1805;  John  Pattee,  1806  to  181 1; 
Nathaniel  S.  Todd,  John  Hinkley,  William  G.  Emmons,  William 
Lithgow,  Jr. 

Town  Treasurers.  —  Samuel  Denny,  1738  to  1772;  William 
Lithgow,  1772  to  1777;  Samuel  McCobb,  1778  to  1779;  William 
Butler,  1780  to  1787;  Nathaniel  Wyman,  1788;  John  White,  1789 
to  1792;  William  Lee,  Jr.,  1794;  William  Lee,  1795  to  1806;  Benja- 
min Riggs,  1807  to  1808;  William  Butler,  1809  to  181 1. 

Selectmen  and  oilier  Important  Oillees  held  by:    James 

McCobb,  Dummer  Sewall,  Thomas  Moulton,  William  Lithgow, 
David  Trufant,  Henry  Sewall,  Samuel  McCobb,  John  Rogers, 
John  Parker,  Jacob  Parker,  Joshua  Coombs,  Isaiah  Crooker,  Joseph 
Berry,  William  Swanton,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Philbrook,  John  Stinson, 
William  Butler,  Thomas  Percy,  John  Lemont,  Daniel  Morse,  William 
Lee,  Francis  Winter,  Alexander  Drummond,  Francis  Wyman,  Mark 


50  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

L.  Hill,  Andrew  Reed,  Benjamin  Emmons,  Benjamin  Riggs,  John 
Lee,  Michael  Fisher,  Gordon  Snipe,  Noah  Webber,  Andrew 
Whitmore,  James  Lemont,  Charles  (Jouillard,  Elisha  Shaw,  Joseph 
Bowker,  William  S wanton,  Theophilus  Batchelder,  John  White, 
Thomas  Williams,  John  Hinkley,  Nathaniel  Wyman,  John  Fisher, 
Seth  Tarr,  Jonathan  Preble,  Joseph  Preble,  Philip  Higgins,  Charles 
Snype,  Benjamin  Pattee,  Timothy  Batchelder,  John  Carleton, 
Alexander  Nichols,  Solomon  Page,  Hugh  Rogers,  David  Ring,  John 
Kelley,  Patrick  Drummond,  Daniel  McFadden,  Michael  Malcom, 
Samuel  Hinkley,  George  Rogers,  David  Gil  more,  Benjamin  Ring, 
Edward  Pettengill,  James  Springer,  William  Campbell,  Benjamin 
Lemont,  Hosea  Morrison,  Lawrence  Humphreys,  Francis  Wyman, 
Jr.,  John  Parker,  Jr.,  Nathaniel  Sprague,  Elijah  Drummond,  James 
Drummond,  Jordan  Parker,  Benjamin  Brown,  Arthur  Percy,  Robin 
Hood,  Ebenezer  Holbrook,  Moses  Hodgkins,  Samuel  Harnden, 
James  Savage,  Samuel  Brown,  Thomas  Motherwell,  Edmund 
Hinkley,  William  Lee,  Jr.,  John  Watts,  William  Stinson,  Alexander 
Clary,  Alexander  Drummond,  Jr.,  Parker  McCobb,  Robert  P. 
Manson,  Jonathan  Morse,  Henry  Cutting,  Collins  Pattee,  John 
Snipe,  John  Parsons,  Levi  Leathers,  James  Riggs,  Ezekiel  Cushing, 
Isaiah  Wyman,  James  Bowker,  Thprnas  Lennan,  Silas  Lee,  Jacob 
Powers,  Lazarus  Bowker,  Daniel  Morse. 

Samuel  Denny  was  yearly  chosen  town  treasurer  from  the  organi- 
zation of  the  town  to  the  year  of  his  death,  making  out  his  final 
account  in  his  own  handwriting  in  the  town  records  when  eighty- 
three  years  of  age. 

1794.     Andrew  Reed  excused  from  acting  as  constable. 

Tlie  King's  Timber  Ships.  —  An  incident  in  the  action  the 
men  of  Bath  took,  when  Massachusetts  sounded  the  tocsin  of  war 
in  1775,  g°es  *°  snow  that  they  were  inspired  with  a  double  portion 
of  the  spirit  of  patriotism  and  opposition  to  the  King  and  Parlia- 
ment and  all  their  officers  and  agents.  At  the  parish  meeting  that 
was  immediately  called  at  their  meeting-house  at  Witch  Spring  they 
by  acclamation  decided  to  stand  by  their  countrymen  in  resisting 
the  power  of  England;  and  resolved  that  all  his  Majesty's  officers 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  5 1 

and  agents  within  their  reach  were  enemies  and  that  they  would 
arrest  them  and  send  them  out  of  the  country.  At  this  time  two  of 
the  King's  ships  lay  in  the  river,  waiting  for  cargoes  of  masts. 
About  forty  of  his  Majesty's  carpenters  and  men  were  at  work 
hewing  and  preparing  masts  and  spars  for  these  ships  at  what  was 
then  called  the  King's  dock,  afterwards  the  Petersons  dock. 

The  inhabitants,  at  this  meeting,  unanimously  voted  that  the 
spars  and  masts  should  not  be  carried  away.  They  chose  Dummer 
Sewall  a  committee  of  one  to  wait  on  the  King's  agent,  with  whom 
he  was  acquainted,  announce  to  him  their  determination,  and  at 
once  put  a  stop  to  their  further  proceedings.  Years  afterwards 
Sewall  said  that  this  was  a  trying  time  to  him.  The  people  assured 
him  that  they  would  sustain  him,  and  immediately  about  fifty  of 
them,  armed,  proceeded  to  near  the  scene  of  action  by  a  back  route, 
and  hid  themselves  in  the  thicket  on  the  bank  of  the  dock.  The 
leader  went  by  the  highway,  "  solitary  and  alone."  He  said  he  was 
perplexed  as  to  what  language  to  use  in  the  discharge  of  his  mission 
as  our  independence  had  not  been  declared.  He  still  advanced 
within  speaking  distance  to  the  agent  and  men  who  were  all  engaged 
with  their  axes  in  hewing.  He  entertained  no  fears  for  his  safety, 
as  his  sharp-shooters,  then  within  gunshot,  were  his  guaranty.  He 
stood  up  on  a  mast,  and  at  once,  with  a  loud  voice,  proclaimed 
to  them:  "In  the  name  of  the  people  of  America,  I  command  you 
not  to  strike  another  blow!  "  He  said  they  all  seemed  amazed  and 
dropped  their  axes  and  tools  and  immediately  retreated  to  their 
ships.  He  said  this  gave  him  great  relief,  for  had  they  disobeyed 
his  orders  or  offered  any  insult  or  violence  to  him  they  would  have 
atoned  for  it  with  their  lives,  as  the  guns  of  his  men  were  loaded 
with  powder  and  ball,  and  willing  and  ready  to  let  slip  the  dogs  of 
war.  These  citizens  having  successfully  finished  this  day's  work, 
and  that  too  without  the  shedding  of  blood  {itidc  Groton). 

Among  those  who  formed  a  company  to  drive  away  the  English 
carpenters  were  Dummer  Sewall,  David  Trufant,  John  Lemont, 
Capt.  Wood,  Isaiah  Crooker,  Sen.,  Joshua  Shaw,  William  Swanton, 
H.  Foster,  Joshua  Philbrook,  Ed.  H.  Page,  Patrick  Grace,  T.  Craw- 


52  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

ford,  J.  Osgood,  David  Lemont,  J.  Sergant,  John  Weeks,  Joseph 
White,  J.  M.  Mitchell,  Nathaniel  Donnell,  S.  Turner,  Luke  Lambert, 
Sen.,  Nathaniel  Springer,  and  Joseph  Lambert.  They  were  all 
powerful  men. 

Arrest  Of  the  King's  Agent.  —  The  British  carpenters,  enter- 
ing their  boats,  joined  their  ships  that  lay  at  Jones  Eddy,  which 
immediately  joined  the  Meet  then  on  the  coast  under  the  Mowatt 
who  bombarded  and  destroyed  Falmouth.  Mr.  Parry,  the  King's 
agent,  immediately  surrendered  himself  prisoner  of  war.  The 
committee  of  safety  for  the  district,  at  the  head  of  which  was 
Brigadier  General  Samuel  Thompson  of  Topsham,  was  immedi- 
ately notified  of  these  proceedings,  and  they  convened  at  the  tavern 
of  Joseph  Lambert  for  the  trial  of  the  prisoner.  This  house  is 
still  in  existence  and  occupied,  at  the  north  end  of  High  Street. 

Of  the  five  members  of  the  committee  no  one  appeared  to  doubt 
their  authority  to  take  action  on  t-he  case.  Two  of  them  were  in 
favor  of  having  the  prisoner  dealt  with  as  a  spy,  but  the  majority 
came  to  the  conclusion  to  send  him  to  the  Provincial  Congress  then 
in  session  at  Watertown.  He  was  kept  in  custody  in  a  room  in  the 
tavern  a  few  days,  when  Luke  Lambert,  a  son  of  Joseph  above 
named,  conducted  him  to  Watertown,  where  he  was  ordered  to  jail. 
While  in  custody  in  Bath,  Dummer  Sewall  and  Jordan  Parker  gave 
their  bond  of  $10,000  for  his  good  behavior,  and  when  he  was 
removed  to  Watertown  they  asked  to  be  released  from  their  respon- 
sibility on  the  ground  that  the  Provincial  authorities  had  taken  him 
in  charge. 

To  the  Honourable  Congress  now  setting  for  the  Province 
of  Massachusetts  Bay. 
The  petition  of  Timothy  Langdon  humbly  sheweth:  That  upon 
the  second  day  of  May  instant  a  committee  of  safety  for  ten  towns 
in  the  County  of  Lincoln  met  at  Pownalborough,  and  amongst  other 
matters  took  under  consideration  the  expediency  of  removing  the 
King's  masts,  being  in  the  dock  in  Georgetown,  when  it  was  unani. 
mously  voted  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  remove  them. 

That  on  the  fourth  day  of  May  instant  a  meeting  of  the  commit- 
tee of  inspection  for  a  number  of  towns  in  the  County  of  Lincoln 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  53 

was  held  in  Georgetown,  and  after  duly  considering  of  all  matter 
respecting  the  King's  masts  were  of  opinion  that  all  persons  be 
forbid  to  work  upon  said  masts,  or  aid  in  any  manner  in  fitting  them 
for  the  King's  use.  That  Edw.  Parry,  Esq.,  who  had  procured 
those  masts  more  than  a  year  since,  had  promised  the  committee 
that  no  person  should  ship  those  masts  for  him,  but  that  they  should 
remain  in  the  dock  in  Georgetown.  The  committee  of  inspection 
were  then  of  opinion  that  it  was  inexpedient  to  remove  the  masts 
from  the  dock.  # 

That  while  the  committee  of  inspection  were  met,  Col.  Samuel 
Thompson  of  Brunswick,  in  the  County  of  Cumberland,  appeared 
with  twenty  armed  men,  and  when  he  had  heard  of  the  result  of  the 
committee  he  seized  on  the  body  of  Edw.  Parry,  Esq.,  and  kept  him 
in  custody  till  he  gave  bonds  in  ,£2,000  to  tarry  in  the  town  till  the 
pleasure  of  the  Congress  shall  be  known  respecting  him,  and  also 
obliged  said  Edw.  Parry  to  pay  for  the  victuals  and  drink  of  him, 
the  said  Thompson,  and  his  men,  amounting  to  the  sum  of  42s.  Lm. 
That  the  said  Parry  has  ever  behaved  himself  as  a  peaceable  mem- 
ber of  society,  and  he  declared  to  the  committee  that  had  he  have 
known  there  was  an  order  of  Congress  respecting  the  matter  he 
would  not  have  concerned  himself  with  them.  Wherefore  your 
petitioner,  at  the  request  of  and  as  clerk  to  the  committee  of  inspec- 
tion, humbly  prays  the  Honorable  Congress  that  they  would  take 
the  matter  of  fact  above  stated  under  consideration,  and  that  orders 
be  sent  to  Messrs.  Dummer  Sewall  and  Jordan  Parker,  the  bonds-i 
men  of  Parry,  that  the  said  Parry  may  be  released  from  his 
confinement,  and  the  said  Dummer  and  Jordan  released  from  their 
bonds,  and  your  petitioner  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever  pray,  etc. 

Timo.  Langdon. 
Georgetown,  May  5,   1778. 

Parry  also  petitioned  for  release.  He  remained  in  jail  a  year, 
when  he  was  released  on  exchange  and  immediately  returned  to 
England. 

Preparations  for  til©  War.  —  The  Provincial  Congress  of 
Massachusetts  was  in  session  at  Watertown  in  May,  1775,  in  a 


54  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

meeting-house,  and  of  which  John  Hancock  was  president.  It 
issued  an  appeal  to  the  patriotism  of  the  men  of  this  Province,  and 
to  adopt  measures  to  aid  the  cause  of  liberty,  resolving  that  "  the 
preservation  of  our  country  depends,  under  God,  on  an  effectual 
execution  of  continental  and  provincial  measures  for  that  purpose." 
This  vigorous  action  of  Congress  was  immediately  transmitted  by 
letter  to  all  the  towns  and  parishes  of  the  Province. 

• 

Upon  receiving  a  copy,  the  Second  Parish,  comprising  Bath, 
immediately  assembled  at  the  meeting-house  to  take  the  subject  into 
consideration,  and  in  the  simple  but  strong  language  of  the  times,  it 
was  unanimously  "  voted  to  abide  by  the  resolves  of  Congress  now 
before  us." 

They  forthwith  divided  the  parish  into  two  wards  and  elected 
military  officers:  for  the  west  ward,  Benjamin  Lemon t,  Captain, 
Stephen  Coombs,  Lieutenant,  and  Jesse  Holbrook,  Ensign;  for  the 
east  ward,  Dummer  Sewall,  Captain,  John  Berry,  Lieutenant,  and 
John  Wood,  Ensign.  They  also  chose  a  committee  to  unite  with 
Woolwich  and  Bowdoinham  to  elect  a  member  to  represent  these 
three  precincts  in  the  Provincial  Congress.  The  committee  of  the 
parish  were  John  Lemont,  Jonathan  Mitchel,  John  Wood,  Henry 
Sewall,  William  Swanton,  and  Dummer  Sewall.  At  the  same  meeting 
a  committee  of  safety,  consisting  of  Philip  Higgins,  Zodack  Lincoln, 
William  Swanton,  James  Lemont,  and  David  Ring,  was  chosen. 
The  two  militia  companies  were  immediately  organized  and  armed 
for  service.  They  assembled  every  week  for  drill  and  discipline, 
and  as  often  as  a  draft  was  required  for  the  continental  army  or  a 
detachment  ordered  for  guard  duty,  the  detailed  men  were  marched 
to  the  point  required.  The  coast  was  soon  infested  with  the  cruisers 
and  privateers  of  the  enemy,  but  the  British  troops  did  not  land  on 
the  coast  at  any  place  near  the  Kennebec.  Occasional  depredations, 
however,  were  committed  on  the  property  of  the  inhabitants  by 
crews  of  privateers,  which  required  guard  duty  from  the  soldiery. 

Samuel  McCobb  was  chosen  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
from  Arrowsic,  and  Dummer  Sewall  from  Bath.  They  traveled  to 
Watertown  on  horseback  with  saddle  bags  for  their  baggage,  and  in 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  55 

six  days  reached  their  destination.  They  had  no  stated  pay  for 
either  travel  or  attendance,  but  subsequently  the  parishes  provided 
for  their  compensation  (vide  Groton). 

A  Detachment  Sent  to  the  Army.  —  News  of  the  battle  of 

Lexington  on  April  19,  1775,  reached  Bath  in  eight  days,  and 
immediate  steps  were  taken  to  raise  a  volunteer  company  to  proceed 
to  the  scene  of  hostilities.  In  this  movement  Samuel  McCobb  of 
Georgetown  took  the  lead,  aided  by  the  "committee  of  safety." 
Seventy  men  from  Long  Reach,  Georgetown,  Newcastle,  Winthrop, 
Pownalboro,  Haverhill,  Hallowell,  Bristol,  Pleasant  Point,  St. 
Georges,  and  Winslow  were  speedily  obtained.  Without  commission 
McCobb  led  them  by  forced  marches  to  Cambridge,  arriving  there, 
it  is  said,  in  six  days,  the  route  then  being  very  circuitous  to  what  it 
is  now. 

A  petition  was  forwarded  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  then  in  ses- 
sion at  Watertown,  to  commission  officers  of  the  company,  and 
Samuel  McCobb  of  Georgetown  was  commissioned  captain  May  17, 
1775;  Benjamin  Pattee  of  Georgetown  and  John  Riggs  of  Falmouth, 
lieutenants,  May  19,  1775.  These  names  and  dates  are  taken  from 
the  original  pay-roll  of  the  company  in  the  Massachusetts  archives. 
The  date  of  the  enlistment  of  the  rank  and  file  was  commenced 
June  1.     They  were  eight  months'  men. 

The  company  was  assigned  to  Colonel  John  Nixon's  Vermont 
regiment,  of  General  Putnam's  Brigade,  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill  at  the  rail  fence.  After  this  they  were  encamped 
during  the  summer  on  Winter  Hill,  which  is  north  of  Bunker  Hill. 
The  pay-roll  of  this  company  is  made  up  from  May  to  August  1, 
1775,  allowing  the  captain  two  months  and  nineteen  days  service, 
and  the  men  a  few  days  less. 


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HISTORY  OF   BATH.  57 

Arnold 'r  Qnobcc  Expedition.  —  Captain  McCobb's  company 
was  detailed  to  join  Arnold's  expedition  to  Quebec,  which  left  early 
in  September.  As  each  company  detailed  on  that  expedition  was 
to  be  constituted  of  sixty-four  men,  Capt.  McCobb  must  have  raised 
the  additional  number  of  twenty  men  at  Georgetown,  for  it  was 
known  for  a  certainty  that  when  the  transports  passed  up  the  Ken- 
nebec Capt.  McCobb  joined  the  fleet  with  a  company  of  soldiers 
(yitte  Col.  Andrew  Reed ).  As  he  was  in  Col.  Enos*  command  he 
returned  to  Cambridge  with  that  officer,  arriving  prior  to  Oct.  30, 
as  at  that  date  it  is  recorded  that  steps  were  taken  for  the  payment 
of  these  troops  (  Mass.  Archives  ). 

Hilitia  Join  General  Washington. — The  troops  of   Long 

Reach  were  attached  to  a  regiment  of  the  brigade  commanded  by 
Brigadier  General  Charles  Cushing  of  Pownalboro.  One  regiment ' 
was  detached  from  this  brigade  with  orders  to  join  the  American 
army  then  under  General  Washington  at  Cambridge.  The  regiment 
was  commanded  by  Col.  Samuel  McCobb,  Lieut.  Col.  Dummer  Sew- 
all  of  Hath,  and  Major  George  White  of  Topsham,  commissioned 
Feb.  14,  1776,  and  arrived  at  the  headquarters  of  the  commander- 
in-chief  in  1776,  and  was  immediately  ordered  to  Rhode  Island, 
where  Lieut.  Col.  Sewall  was  appointed  muster  master  for  the 
province  of  Maine,  returned  to  perform  the  duties  of  that  appoint- 
ment, and  was  engaged  in  this  service  during  the  remainder  of  the 
war. 

The  regiment  operated  with  the  army  during  the  campaign,  and 
when  the  time  of  service  of  the  detachment  expired  many  enlisted 
in  the  Continental  army.  Of  the  officers,  Capt.  Benjamin  Lemont 
and  Capt.  John  Lemont  of  Bath  were  among  those  who  remained. 

Of  the  soldiers  who  re-enlisted  and  were  living  in  Bath  in  1833 
were:  William  Brown,  John  Sampson,  John  Farrin,  Joseph  White, 
Thomas  Crawford,  John  Holbrook,  Philip  Higgins,  David  Lemont, 
David  Clifford,  James  M.  Mitchell,  and  Thomas  Lemont  {vide  Gen. 
Sewall). 

Attached  to  this  regiment  was  an  artillery  company  commanded 
by  Jordan  Parker,  Phipsburg,  Captain;  James  Pattee,  Arrowsic,  1st 


5» 


HISTORY  OF   BATH. 


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Lieut.;  Theophilus  Batchelder,  Phipsburg,  2d  Lieut;  commissioned 
Aug.  21,  1777.  There  was  a  total  enrollment  in  the  regiment  of 
701  men  and  officers,  of  which  129  were  in  the  Continental  army  in 
active  service  together  with  one  major,  three  captains,  and  three 
subalterns;  there  were  two  of  the  men  in  the  navy  and  twenty-one 
in  private  vessels  serving  as  Lettres  of  Marque.  On  Aug.  1,  1777, 
420  men  are  borne  on  the  train — band  left  in  Georgetown. 

Regimental  Muster  Roll,  Georgetown,  Nov.  19,  1778. 

Colonel,  Samuel  McCobb,  com'd  Feb.  14,  1776,  Georgetown. 

Lieut.  Colonel,  Dummer  Sewall, 
First  Major,  John  Hews, 
Second  Major,  James  Hunter, 
1  st  Co.,  Captain,  John  White, 

1  st  Lieut.,  John  Potter, 

2d  Lt.,  Jas.  Drummond, 
2d  Co.,  Captain,  Jas.  Mustard, 

1st  Lieut.,  David  Reed, 

2d  Lieut,  Robert  Hunter,  " 
3d  Co.,  Captain,  John  Perry,  " 

1st  Lieut,  (vacancy). 

2d  Lieut.,  Hetherly  Foster  " 
4th  Co.,  Captain,  James  McCobb, 

1st  Lieut.,  Win.  Sprague, 

2d  Lieut,  Wm.  Lee, 
5  th  Co.,  Captain,  Elijah  Grant, 

1st  Lieut.,  Nath'l  Tibbets, 

2d  Lieut.,  Elemuel  Trot, 
6th  Co.,  Captain  (vacancy). 

1st  Lt,  Gab'l  Hambleton, 

2d  Lieut,  John  Hilton, 
7  th  Co.,  Captain  (vacancy). 

1st  Lt,  Thos.  McFadden, 

2d  Lieut.,  Seth  Tarr, 


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First  Regiment  Militia,  County  of  Lincoln,  August,  1771.  Colonel.  William  I.ithgow;  Lieut. 
Colonel,  Charles  Cushing;  Major,  Samuel  Goodwin.  First  Company,  Georgetown,  Captain,  John 
Parker;  Lieut.,  Thomas  Williams;  Ensign,  George  Rogers.  Second  Company,  Captain,  Ihoma* 
Moulton;  Lieut.,  Samuel  McCobb;  Ensign,  John  White. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  59 

8th  Co.,  Captain,  Actor  Patten,    com'd  July  i,  1776,  Topsham. 

"        1  st  Lieut.,  Jas.  Purington,  "  "          "             " 

2d  Lieut,  Sam'l  Tibbets,    "  "          "             " 

9th  Co.,  Captain,  Benj.  Lemont,      "  "          "      Georgetown. 

"        1  st  Lieut,  Benj.  Ham,        "  "          "              " 

2d  Lieut,  John  Mereen,      "  "          "              " 

10th  Co.,  Captain,  Robert  Patten,      "  "          "    Bowdoinham. 

"        1st  Lieut,  Geo.  Thomas,    "  "          "              " 

"        2d  Lieut.,  Alex.  Potter,       "  "          u              " 

nth  Co.,  Captain,  Solomon ,      "  Sept.  17,  1776,  Woolwich. 

"         1st  Lieut,  Moses  Hilton,    "  "          "      Pownalboro. 

"        2d  Lt,  Sam'l  Sylvester,       "  "          "              " 

Capt.,  Jordan  Parker,  of  Artillery  Staff,  Aug.  21,  1777,  Georgetown. 

1st  Lieut,  James  Pettee,               "  "          "              " 

2d  Lt,  Theophilus  Batchelder,     "  "          "              " 

Field  and  Staff  Officers  of  Col.  Sam'l  McCobb's  Regiment. 

Gen.  Lovell's  Brigade,  Sept.  17,  1779. 

Lieut.  Col.,  William  Howard,         Adjutant,  William  Stinson, 
1st  Major,  James  Hunter,  Quartermaster,  Arthur  Lithgow. 

2d  Major,  Ezekiel  Pattee,  Surgeon,  Zacheus  Flitner. 

{vide  Mass.  Archives.) 

At  SicgO  of  CastillC.  —  In  June,  1779,  an  expedition  was 
ordered  by  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  to  dislodge  the 
enemy  from  Castine,  or  as  it  was  then  called  "  Biguyduce."  In  this 
campaign  we  again  find  Col.  Samuel  McCobb  at  the  head  of  his 
regiment,  from  which  were  detached  for  the  attack  on  Biguyduce 
one  hundred  and  twenty  men,  who  were  to  rendezvous  at  Townsend 
and  join  the  army  under  Gen.  Lovell,  the  transports  having  been 
ordered  to  touch  there  to  receive  the  Kennebec  forces.  The  balance 
of  men  to  fill  up  the  regiment  were  raised  at  towns  east  of  the 
Kennebec  while  the  troops  were  on  their  way  to  Castine.  Of  Col. 
McCobb's  detachment  there  were  killed  in  the  attack  Capt.  John 
Hinkley  of  Georgetown  and  Miller  Hinkley  of  Bath.  The  troops 
detailed  from  the  Kennebec  for  this  expedition  were  transported  by 
Capt.  Benjamin  Donnel  in  his  own  vessel  from  Bath  to  Boothbay. 


60  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

It  is  well  known  by  historians  that  the  siege  of  Castine  proved  a 
failure  from  obvious  causes:  —  the  commodore  of  the  fleet  acting  in 
conjunction  with  the  land  forces  did  not  promptly  co-operate,  and 
the  delay  enabled  a  reinforcement  from  Halifax  of  armed  vessels  of 
the  enemy  to  arrive  in  sufficient  force  to  destroy  our  transports  and 
break  up  the  siege. 

At  an  early  stage  of  the  siege  if  the  general  in  command  had 
demanded  surrender  of  the  enemy's  fort,  it  would  have  been 
accepted,  according  to  a  statement  made  by  the  British  commander 
subsequent  to  the  battle. 

Upon  the  breaking  up  of  the  siege  the  soldiers  had  to  find  their 
way  home  the  best  they  could,  through  forests  and  swamps  and 
across  rivers,  because  their  transports  were  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

While  at  his  own  home  at  Thomaston,  after  the  retreat  of  his 
forces,  General  Wadsworth  was  surprised,  while  in  bed  in  the  night, 
and  captured  by  a  party  of  the  enemy  after  valiantly  defending 
himself  with  his  sword,  musket,  and  other  weapons  until  wounded. 
Subsequently,  Col.  Samuel  McCobb  was  appointed  in  his  place 
Brigadier  General  for  the  Eastern  Division  of  the  District  of  Maine. 

Subsequent  to  the  return  of  the  army  from  Castine,  a  court  mar- 
tial was  held  upon  the  conduct  of  Col.  Paul  Revere  in  the  attack 
upon  the  fort  at  Biguyduce,  and  the  testimony  at  the  trial  given  by 
Col.  Samuel  McCobb  is  of  sufficient  interest  to  print  it  in  full  as 
below,  as  Bath  officers  and  men  took  part  in  the  expedition. 

A  true  relation  of  facts  concerning  the  Penobscot  expedition: 
July  23,  1779,  by  order  of  Gen.  Lovell,  I  embarked  my  regiment  on 
board  the  transport  detailed  to  convey  us  to  Penobscot,  and  the 
next  morning  set  sail  for  that  place. 

July  24.  Arrived  at  Fox  Islands  in  the  bay  of  Penobscot,  where 
we  remained  that  night  without  any  particular  annoyances. 

July  25.  Arrived  off  Majabagaduce ;  attempted  to  land,  but 
the  wind  blowing  hard  it  could  not  be  effected. 

July  26.  The  marines  took  a  battery  on  Banks  Island  and  landed 
two  eighteen  pound  cannon,  which  caused  the  enemy's  ships  to 
move  farther  up  the  river. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  6l 

July  28.  We  landed  early  in  the  morning  in  opposition  to  a 
severe  firing  of  musketry  from  the  enemy,  where  some  were  killed 
and  wounded  on  both  sides.  The  remainder  of  the  day  was  spent 
in  throwing  up  a  breastwork  and  getting  up  cannon. 

July  29.     This  day  was  passed  in  fortifying  and  reconnoitering. 

July  30.  This  day  opened  a  battery  of  two  eighteen  pounders, 
one  twelve,  also  one  howitz. 

July  3 1 .     Continued  cannonading  all  this  day. 

Aug.  1.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  stormed  a  battery, 
bunting  three  six  pounders  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  main  fort, 
bordering  on  Majabagaduce  River,  supposed  to  have  had  fifty  men 
in  it;  found  five  of  the  enemy  dead  and  took  fourteen  prisoners. 
This  was  effected  by  a  detachment  of  militia  and  marines  under 
command  of  Gen.  Wadsworth. 

Aug.  2.     Nothing  remarkable. 

Aug.  3.  This  day  began  a  battery  on  the  main  to  annoy  the 
enemy's  shipping.  Next  day  opened  said  battery,  but  to  no  great 
purpose,  being  too  great  a  distance. 

Aug.  5.  A  party  was  ordered  on  the  left  of  the  enemy's  main 
fort  in  order  to  draw  them  out;  at  the  same  time  a  party  lay  in 
ambush  to  cut  them  off  from  their  fort,  which  took,  agreeable  to 
the  general  expectation,  but  the  party  ambushed  not  pushing  with 
vigor  failed  in  the  attempt. 

Aug.  6.  A  council  of  war  held  to  inquire  if  it  would  be  expedi- 
ent to  storm  the  enemy's  main  fort,  the  result  of  which  lays  before 
the  court. 

Aug.  7.  Held  a  council  of  war  with  the  officers  of  the  navy, 
the  result  of  which  is  also  before  the  council. 

Aug.  8,  9,  10.  Frequent  skirmishing  in  order  to  bring  the  enemy 
to  general  action,  which  they  carefully  avoided. 

Aug.  11.  Two  hundred  men  under  the  command  of  Majors 
Brown  and  Branville  were  ordered  to  take  post  on  the  enemy's  left, 
near  the  battery  we  had  stormed  Aug.  1,  there  to  remain  until  a 
signal  for  retreat  was  made;  said  order  was  punctually  obeyed,  a 


62  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

party  of  the  enemy  lying  concealed  behind  a  barn,  not  daring  to 
appear  until  our  troops  were  on  their  retreat,  then  rushing  into 
the  battery  began  a  smart  lire  which  caused  our  troops  to  retreat 
in  some  confusion,  notwithstanding  the  activity  of  the  officers  to 
keep  them  in  good  order. 

Aug.  12.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  the  purport  of  which  is 
before  the  court. 

Aug.  13.  The  General  declared  that  this  day  he  would  take  post  in 
rear  of  the  enemy  and  endeavor  to  bring  them  to  a  general  action, 
for  that  he  would  rather  die  in  the  attempt  than  raise  the  siege  or 
leave  the  Commodore  any  further  excuse  not  to  co-operate  with  him, 
for  which  purpose  he  drew  up  his  troops,  and  after  taking  necessary 
measures  he  marched  off  at  the  head  of  two  hundred  men  and  took 
the  rear  of  the  enemy's  main  fort.  Capt.  Burke  then  being  with 
him,  he  requested  him  to  go  on  board  of  the  Commodore  and 
inform  him  that  he  had  taken  post  in  the  rear  of  the  enemy,  and 
also  to  request  him  to  come  up  the  river  and  destroy  or  take  the 
enemy's  shipping.  This  desire  of  the  General  to  Capt.  Burke  he 
told  me  of  soon  after  he  was  gone  off  the  ground.  Immediately 
after  a  signal  appeared  on  board  the  Commodore  for  the  shipping  to 
get  under  way,  which  being  complied  with  gave  us  to  hope  the 
Commodore  intended  to  comply  with  the  General's  request;  but  the 
enemy's  fleet  appearing  in  sight  at  the  same  time  prevented  any- 
thing being  done.  At  about  sunset  the  General  marched  in  with 
his  troops.  At  12  o'clock  at  night  the  General  sent  for  me  and 
gave  me  orders  to  have  my  regiment  in  readiness  to  leave  the  post 
at  a  minute's  warning.  At  three  in  the  morning  I  marched  down  to 
the  water  side  with  my  regiment,  carrying  all  the  shot  and  every 
other  article  with  us  that  then  remained  on  the  ground.  At  five  the 
whole  of  the  troops  were  embarked  on  board  the  transports,  which 
immediately  began  to  tow  off  from  the  shore,  it  being  eight  when  I 
went  on  board  the  General's  sloop  and  received  orders  to  go  up  the 
river,  for  there  he  intended  to  erect  a  fort  to  cover  the  shipping.  A 
small  breeze  of  wind  springing  up,  the  transports  got  under  way 
and  stood  up  the  river  till  the  ebb  tide  met  them  opposite  Fort 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  63 

Point,  when  the  whole  of  them  came  to  anchor.  Our  ships  at  this 
time  lay  below  in  a  line  of  battle,  waiting  for  the  enemy  to  come  up. 
About  one  o'clock  I  saw  to  my  great  surprise  the  whole  of  our  ships 
bear  away  before  the  wind  and  stand  up  the  river,  the  enemy's  ships 
following  them.  A  small  breeze  springing  up  to  the  southward,  the 
whole  of  the  transports  were  ordered  under  way  and  proceeded  up 
river.  Hut  before  our  transports  got  up  the  river  as  far  as  the 
ledge,  so  called,  a  very  rapid  place  of  tide,  some  of  the  armed  ves- 
sels began  to  pass  them,  hailing  to  the  transports  as  they  came 
up  with  them  to  clear  the  way  and  let  them  pass,  by  which  means 
many  of  the  transports  were  run  ashore,  and  the  whole  of  the 
armed  vessels  got  past.  Finding  ourselves  in  this  situation  with 
the  enemy's  ships  within  shot,  we  began  to  land  our  troops  about  6 
p.m.,  and  at  7  had  the  whole  of  them  on  shore,  the  enemy's  ships  at 
this  time  being  within  reach  of  us  with  grape  shot.  While  we  were 
in  this  scene  of  confusion,  I  saw  a  sloop  not  far  from  me  with  some 
men  on  board  her  very  busy  cutting  off  her  sails  and  heaving  them 
into  a  Hat-bottomed  boat.  At  the  same  time  two  sloops  who  lay 
nearest  the  enemy  had  on  board  two  companies  of  men  each,  and 
no  boat  to  either  of  them,  the  men  crying  out  for  assistance.  I 
hailed  the  sloop  and  ordered  them  to  send  the  boat  off  or  I  would 
fire  on  them,  but  they  paid  no  regard  to  it  until  they  got  off  their 
sails.  By  inquiry  for  the  master  of  her,  I  found  that  one  Drink- 
water  commanded  her,  and  Col.  Mitchell  was  aboard,  but  gave  no 
order  to  the  master  of  the  sloop  to  send  off  the  boat  to  the  assist- 
ance of  the  troops,  though  exposed  to  the  enemy's  shot. 

Samuel  McCobb,  Colonel. 

Question.  Whether  there  was  any  general  order  given  at  the 
time  of  retreat,  and  what  place  to  retreat  to  ? 

Ansiver,  I  saw  no  general  orders,  but  received  a  verbal  order  to 
repair  to  the  General's  tent,  where  he  gave  me  verbal  order  to  get 
my  men  ready  to  march  at  a  minute's  warning,  and  afterward  to 
embark  and  go  up  the  river,  where  he  said  he  intended  to  fortify 
and  secure  the  ships.  Accordingly  I  proceeded  up  the  river  till  the 
enemy  came  within  point  blank  shot  before  1  landed  my  men. 

Samuel  McCobb,  Colotul. 


64  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

The  above  deposition  with  the  answers  to  the  above  questions 
sworn  to  in  court  Sept.  28,  1779. 

Attest,  O.  Peabody,  Clerk. 

I  remember  receiving  the  order   I  issued  on  the  30th  of  July, 

contained  in  the  adjutant  general's  copy  before  the  court,  in  which 

Col.  Revere  and  his  corps  are  particularly  ordered  to  encamp  on 

shore. 

Samuel  McCoijb,  Colonel. 

Sworn  to  as  above,  O.  Peabody,  Clerk. 

Field  and  Staff  Officers  of  Eastern  Department. 

Discharged  Dec.  i,  1781. 

Colonel,  Samuel  McCobb,  Adjutant,  George  Ulmer, 

Surgeon,  Samuel  Duncan,  Quartermaster,  George  White. 

Surgeon js  Mate,  Moses  Wing,        Colonel's  Clerk,  Joseph  Heath. 

Deprivations  During  the  War.  —  During  the  continuance  of 
the  Revolutionary  war,  the  people  were  compelled  to  sacrifice  not 
only  ordinary  comforts,  but  often  the  necessities  of  life.  This  was 
done  cheerfuly  and  hopefully.  Multitudes  of  people  who  had  lived 
in  affluence  were  at  times  destitute  of  bread,  and  many  of  them 
would  flock  from  a  distance  of  twenty  miles  to  the  clam  banks  of 
the  sea  coast  to  obtain  food  for  their  families.  So  large  a  number 
of  the  able  bodied  men  were  in  the  army,  that  farms  could  be  culti- 
vated only  to  a  limited  extent.  Their  absence  bore  heavily  upon 
the  women  at  home.  These  sacrifices  were  borne  with  cheerful- 
ness. Their  patriotism  never  wavered;  they  encouraged  their  hus- 
bands, sons,  and  brothers  to  answer  to  the  calls  of  their  country, 
fitted  them  out  with  necessary  clothing,  helped  them  "  run  bullets/1 
and  filled  their  knapsacks  with  provisions  for  their  march  to  the 
front.  All  through  the  long  war,  the  American  soldier  felt  that  he 
had  this  powerful  backing.  In  fine  the  women  were  the  power 
behind  the  patriot  cause. 

At  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  for  a  quarter  of  a 
century  after,  "  cocked  hats  "  were  worn  to  some  extent  by  civilians 
as  well  as  soldiers.  The  idea  of  the  shape  was  to  have  three  side 
flaps  to  turn  up  and  tied  together  at  the  apex  to  turn  down  to  protect 


HISTORY  OF  BAT.Y.  65 

the  neck  and  shoulders  in  rainv  weather.  The  military  chapeaus  of 
officers  of  the  nvL'i\ftM»;;;ftKf  similar  in  shape,  with  two  turned  up  flaps 
andj>rnaranted  with  a  round  feather  of  considerable  height;  usually 
for  the  infantry  feather  of  white  tipped  with  red,  and  artillery  black; 
the  flaps  not  to  let  down.  The  "  independent "  company  officers 
had  a  different  style  of  hat,  such  as  suited  the  taste  of  those 
wearing  them. 

The  soldier  of  the  militia  companies  wore  on  duty  his  •  ordinary 
clothing,  of  dark  jacket  and  trousers,  and  the  independent  compa- 
nies had  each  their  own  showy  style  of  dress  uniform. 

The  uniforms  and  trappings  of  the  horses  of  field  officers,  espec- 
ially of  the  generals  and  their  staffs,  were  very  much  more  showy 
and  glittering  than  is  the  style  of  this  day. 

With  light  colored  buckskin  breeches,  shiny  red  top  boots,  gold 
laced  coat,  glittering  epaulets,  white  buckskin  gloves,  gold  enamelled 
sword,  handle  and  sheath,  red  sash  around  the  waist,  and  a  magni- 
ficent beaver  chapeau  with  a  flowing  feather  waving  in  the  air, 
mounted  on  a  richly  caparisoned  and  spirited  charger  with 
gilded  bits,  the  general  officer  was  a  conspicuous  figure  on  dress 
parade  and  review  with  his  equally  gay  staff  behind  him  —  riding 
down  the  front  of  the  line,  chapeau  in  hand,  returning  in  its  rear, 
taking  positions  on  a  rise  of  ground  at  the  front  and  center  of  the 
line,  while  the  regiment  or  brigade  marched  in  column  of  platoons 
before  him  and  his  staff.  The  muster  field  was  in  those  days  the 
scene  of  magnificent  display,  greatly  enjoyed  by  a  crowd  of  lookers 
on.  The  grounds  were  invariably  surrounded  by  booths  and  tents 
furnishing  refreshment  supplies  for  the  multitude. 

The  pay  the  soldiers  and  officers  received  for  yearly  military 
duties  was  a  half  dollar  on  muster  day  to  buy  his  dinner,  the 
money  furnished  by  the  treasurer  of  the  towns  to  which  each  com- 
pany belonged. 

Bath    Men   Active  in  the    Revolution.  —  Francis   Winter, 

Dummcr  Sewall,  Capt.  Nath'l  Springer,  John  Weeks,  John  Lemont, 
Joseph  White,  David  Trufant,  Nath'l  Donncll,  Capt.  Jacob  Low, 
Simeon  Turner,    Capt.    J.    M.    Mitchell,  Luke  Lambert,  Sr.,   Capt. 


66  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

Joseph  Stockbridge,  Capt.  lte.v^mjn  Lemont,  Joseph  Lambert, 
Capt.  James  Lemont,  Dummcr  Sewall,  Ji.,  V:^.vJ/^n  Wood,  George 
Philbrook,  Major  £.  H.  Page,  Elisha  Shaw,  Major  joibua  ohaw, 
John  Sanford,  Capt.  Win.  Swanton,  Samuel  Bean,  Isaiah  Crocker, 
Sr.,  John  1).  Sewall,  Hatherly  Foster,  Wm.  Brown,  Joshua  Philhrook, 
John  Farrier,  Patrick  Grace,  John  Holbrook,  Thos.  Crawford,  Philip 
Higgins,  Jesse  Osgood,  David  CHITord,  David  Lemont,  David  King, 
Samuel  Lemont  (first  man  killed  at  Saratoga),  Joshua  Raynes,  Jesse 
Holbrook,  Thos.  Lemont,  John  Berry,  Mr.  Jones,  Jonathan  Sargent, 
(  vide  Lemont.) 

Among  the  citizens  of  the  town  who  served  in  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  at  different  periods  were  William  Swanton,  Joshua  Shaw, 
Isaiah  Crocker,  Jr.,  Luke  Lambert,  Patrick  Grace,  Joshua  Raynes, 
Edward  H.  Page,  Nathaniel  Springer,  Joseph  Stockbridge,  John 
Holbrook.  Joseph  Stockbridge  was  at  the  siege  of  Yorktown  and 
served  as  sergeant  in  the  corps  of  light  infantry,  under  General  La 
Fayette. 

Peleg  Tallman  was  a  sailor  of  the  Revolution,  having  served  in 
several  privateers,  and  was  first  taken  prisoner  by  the  British  at 
the  age  of  n  years,  from  the  second  vessel  in  which  he  served. 
Capt.  Tallman  afterward  lost  an  arm  at  the  shoulder  in  the  action 
between  the  privateer  Trumbull  and  the  English  letter-of-marque 
Watt.  Later  he  was  captured  again  by  the  British  and  confined 
about  two  years  in  English  prisons,  until  peace  was  declared,  when 
he  made  his  way  to  the  United  States  where  he  accumulated  a  com- 
fortable fortune,  serving  meanwhile  in  the  Legislatures  of  Massachu- 
setts and  Maine,  and  Representative  to  Congress.  He  died  at 
Bath,  March  8,  1841,  at  the  age  of  77. 

Privateers  cruising  along  our  coasts  during  the  war  of  the  Rev- 
olution entered  harbors,  rivers,  and  even  coves,  committing  all  kinds 
of  depredations  on  the  land,  burning  vessels  found  in  port,  and  out 
to  sea  capturing  coasters  as  prizes.  In  these  expeditions  they  were 
often  aided  by  tories  on  shore.  The  most  annoying  of  these  pri- 
vateers were  the  Nova  Scotia  craft,  termed  shaving  mills,  having 
open  decks,  with  sails  and  sweeps,  and  manned  by  six  or  eight  arm'"1 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  67 

men.  With  their  light  draught  they  could  easily  dodge  in  and  out 
of  a  creek  or  river,  capture  coasters  and  fishing  craft.  They  were 
difficult  to  provide  against  or  capture. 

Incidents  of  the  War. —  In  1775  there  lived  in  Wiscasset  a 
radical  tory,  also  an  officer  of  the  British  army  under  the  patronage 
of  this  tory;  both  very  arrogant  and  obnoxious  to  "Young  America." 
The  young  men  of  Bath  and  Wiscasset  joined  forces  to  humiliate 
these  individuals  by  giving  the  officer  a  coat  of  "  tar  and  feathers  " 
and  a  night  airing  on  a  rail  through  the  streets  of  Wiscasset.  The 
Bath  boys  took  advantage  of  the  excitement  and  were  active  in 
confiscating  a  quantity  of  the  lead  pumps  and  hawse-pipes  that  had 
been  brought  from  England  for  a  ship  of  the  aforesaid  tory,  and 
before  daylight  they  had  seen  the  result  of  their  work  under  the 
brush  and  bushes  at  the  head  of  Philbrook's  Cove.  This  lead  was 
contributed  to  every  new  recruit  for  the  army,  a  pound  and  a  half  to 
each  man.  This  supposed  700  pounds  of  lead  was  an  item  for  the 
good  cause,  as  lead  was  scarce  and  high.  Many  a  hugh  pewter 
platter  on  which  baked  beans  and  brown  bread  were  served  had 
been  melted  and  cast  into  balls  for  the  use  of  the  army  in  defend- 
ing the  country. 

In  August  1770,  two  British  private  armed  vessels  came  up  the 
Kennebec  as  far  as  Jones  Eddy,  in  pursuit  of  an  American  schooner 
that  they  had  chased  into  the  river,  and  outsailing  the  privates 
passed  up  to  Bath.  They  anchored  in  the  Eddy  at  night,  and  the 
alarm  was  immediately  given.  A  detachment  from  Long  Reach 
companies,  under  command  of  Capt.  Nathaniel  Springer,  took  post 
on  Bluff  Head,  and  with  two  field  pieces,  one  of  which  was  com- 
manded by  Sergt.  Edward  H.  Page,  cannonaded  and  severely 
annoyed  the  enemy  during  the  night.  Several  on  board  the  ship 
were  killed,  and  at  daylight  the  next  morning  they  slipped  their 
cables  and  went  to  sea.  On  their  way  down  the  river  they  were 
pursued  by  the  Americans  in  boats,  in  one  of  which  was  Capt. 
Springer.  On  the  point  at  Butlers  Cove,  some  of  the  Georgetown 
soldiers,  supposing  the  pursuers  to  be  a  part  of  the  enemy,  fired 
on  them,  and  killed  Capt.  Springer. 


68  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Arnold  in  the  Kennebec.  —  In  September,  1775,  when  Gen 

Arnold  with  11 00  men  passed  up  the  Kennebec  on  their  expedition 
to  Canada,  his  flotilla  came  to  anchor  at  Parkers  Flats.  It  was 
told  by  the  deacon  himself  that  Parson  Emerson  with  Deacon 
Parker  went  on  board  Arnold's  vessel  and  the  parson  prayed  one 
hour  and  three-quarters  for  the  success  of  the  expedition.  Parker 
was  a  captain  during  the  Revolutionary  war;  a  lion  to  the  enemies 
of  liberty,  a  lamb  in  the  church.  The  deacon  gave  a  particular 
description  of  Colonel  Daniel  Morgan,  with  whom  at  that  time  he 
had  some  conversation.  He  said  that  he  was  a  giant  in  size  and  of 
great  physical  strength.  He  had  the  motto  on  his  cocked  hat  in 
large  letters,  "  Liberty  or  Death." 

John  Parker.  —  During  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  British  men 
of  war  often  came  into  the  Kennebec  and  anchored  at  Parkers  Flats 
opposite  Captain  John  Parker's  farm,  and  would  send  boats  ashore 
and  carry  off  cattle  and  sheep.  They  would  also  obtain  supplies  of 
dairy  products  from  the  house,  promising  to  pay  for  them,  which 
they  usually  did  do.  It  is  related  that,  on  one  occasion,  sailors 
from  one  of  these  ships  having  made  some  purchases  of  the  kind 
went  away  without  paying,  but  promising  to  return  in  the  morning 
and  make  payment.  But  the  next  morning  the  old  gentleman  dis- 
covered the  ship  getting  "  under  weigh  "  to  go  to  sea.  He  imme- 
diately proceeded  to  the  shore,  mounted  a  high  ledge,  and  angrily 
hailed  the  ship,  loudly  calling  out,  "  You  Englishmen,  you  ! 
You  Englishmen,  you  !  Come  ashore  and  pay  what  you  owe  me. 
The  man  of  war  replied  by  sending  a  cannon  ball  at  the  enraged 
man.  It  struck  a  smooth,  perpendicular  ledge  immediately  below 
where  he  was  standing,  and  the  round  print  of  the  ball  remains  in 
the  rock  to  this  day.  The  ball  was  afterwards  picked  up  on  the 
flats  at  low  tide,  and  was  kept  in  the  old  timber  house  of  John 
Parker  until  it  was  taken  down  and  the  ball  lost.  In  his  youthful 
days  this  author  often  saw  this  ball  in  this  house  and  the  indenture 
in  the  ledge. 

Philbrook. —  In  May,  1766,  Job  Philbrook  and  an  Irishman  by 
the   name   of    Maloon   were   at   work  plowing  where  John  Shaw's 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  69 

garden  afterwards  was,  and  both  were  captured  by  Indians  and 
marched  off  towards  Canada,  leaving  their  yoke  of  oxen  hitched  to 
the  plow.  As  they  moved  away  and  had  crossed  Whizgig  and  were 
hurried  on  by  the  Indians,  Maloon  exclaimed  to  Philbrook,  "And 
who  do  you  think  will  take  care  of  the  oxen  to-night  ?  "  The  owner 
of  the  oxen  was  so  incensed  at  the  Irishman's  levity  that  he  was 
about  to  strike  him,  when  Pat  quickly  added,  "  Never  mind,  I'll 
soon  do  it  myself,"  which  was  nearly  verified.  Reaching  the  St. 
Lawrence,  Maloon  was  sold  to  a  gentleman  just  embarking  for 
Europe,  and  when  near  the  mouth  of  that  river  the  ship  was  cap- 
tured and  taken  to  Boston,  where  Maloon  was  released,  and  returned 
to  Bath  after  an  absence  of  six  weeks.  In  October  following  Phil- 
brook  was  exchanged  and  returned  home. 


•  ♦• 


0r6ai)i^abior)   of   bt>e   Towp   of    BabI). 


Petition  to  the  General  Court. 

to  the  honorahle  senate  and  house  of  representatives  in 
General  Court  Assembled. 

The  petition  of  the  second  parish  of  Georgetown,  in  the  County 
of  Lincoln,  by  their  committee  duly  appointed  for  the  purpose  here- 
after mentioned,  humbly  showeth  that  the  second  parish  is  situated 
on  the  western  side  of  the  Kennebec  River,  a  place  called  Long 
Reach,  and  forms  the  upper  division  of  said  town  of  Georgetown, 
and  is  bounded  as  follows,  viz.  :  Northwesterly  by  New  Meadows 
River,  so  called;  northerly  and  easterly  by  Merry  meeting  Bay; 
southerly  by  Kennebec  River;  and  southerly  and  westerly  by  a 
large  creek  called  Winnegance;  and  by  said  creek  by  an  old  Indian 
camping  place  in  the  line  which  separates  the  second  parish. 

The  committee  flatter  themselves  that  your  honors  will  easily  per- 
ceive its  detached  situation  from  the  lower  division  of  said  town, 
which,  together  with  the  badness  of  traveling  in  this  part  of  the 


70  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

country,  and  the  great  distance  the  said  parish  is  from  the  center  of 
said  town,  where  public  town  meetings  are  usually  held,  conspire  to 
prevent  the  inhabitants  from  attending  said  meetings,  however  nec- 
essary or  important  the  occasion  may  be,  unless  with  the  greatest 
difficulty,  fatigue,  and  loss  of  time,  the  consequence  of  which  is 
that  a  large  portion  of  said  inhabitants,  discouraged  by  such  com- 
plicated difficulties,  seldom  give  their  attendance  at  all,  and  town 
meetings  are  frequently  held  and  affairs  of  the  greatest  public 
importance  usually  transacted  and  decided  upon  without  the  said 
inhabitants  having  any  voice  in  the  matter;  and  the  people  of  the 
lower  part  of  the  town,  sensible  of  the  peculiar  hardships  which  the 
inhabitants  of  said  second  parish  labor  under  on  other  accounts,  at 
a  meeting  of  said  town,  legally  held  on  the  23d  day  of  May  last,  a 
unanimous  vote  of  the  said  town  was  passed,  signifying  its  consent 
that  the  said  second  parish  might  be  incorporated  into  a  separate 
town  by  itself.  A  copy  of  which  vote  the  committee  beg  leave  to 
lay  before  your  honors. 

The  said  inhabitants,  influenced  by  motives  of  public  utility  and 

an  ardent  wish  to  be  supported  in  the  enjoyment  of  those  privileges 

which  every  freeman  ought  to  hold  sacred,  the  privilege  of  having  a 

vote  in  all  matters  which  concern  themselves  or  the  communities  of 

which  they  are  a  part,  humbly  pray  (  by  the  communities  aforesaid  ) 

that  your  honors  will  be  pleased  to  take  the  case  into  consideration 

and  grant  that  the  said  second  parish  may  be  set  off  into  a  separate 

town  by  the  name  of  Bath,  with  all  the  powers,  privileges,  and  im 

munities  of  incorporated  towns,  and  your  petitioners  will  ever  pray. 

dummer   sewall, 

Benj.  Lemont, 

J  no.  Wood. 
Georgetown,  29th  October,  1780. 

At  this  date  there  were  forty  families  in  the  parish. 

The  Act  of  Incorporation.  —  An  act  for  incorporating  the 
second  parish  in  Georgetown,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  into  a 
separate  town  by  the  name  of  Bath. 

Whereas,  The  inhabitants  of  the  second  parish  of  Georgetown, 
in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  have  petitioned  the  legislature  of  this 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  7 1 

commonwealth,  setting  forth  that  great  inconvenience  accrues  to 
them  by  their  being  continued  a  part  of  said  town,  on  account  of 
the  detached  situation  of  the  said  second  parish  from  the  lower 
division  of  said  town;  and  whereas  it  appears  that  the  representa- 
tion of  the  said  inhabitants  as  stated  in  their  petition  is  founded  on 
facts;  Therefore, 

Skction  i.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
same,  that  the  said  second  parish  be,  and  it  hereby  is,  incorporated 
into  a  separate  town  by  the  name  of  Bath,  with  all  the  powers, 
privileges,  and  immunities  of  incorporated  towns. 

Section'  2.  And  be  it  further  enacted  by  the  authority  aforesaid 
that  the  bounds  of  the  said  town  of  Bath  be,  and  they  are  hereby, 
as  follows,  viz.:  Northwardly  and  westwardly  by  New  Meadows 
River,  so  called;  northwardly  and  eastwardly  by  Merrymeeting  Bay; 
southwardly  by  Kennebec  River;  southwardly  and  westwardly  by 
Winnegance  Creek,  so  called;  and  from  said  creek  by  a  path,  which 
was  formerly  an  Indian  carrying  place,  as  said  path  runs  to  the 
nearest  part  of  Casco  Bay. 

Provided,  notwithstanding,  that  the  said  inhabitants  be  held  to 
pay  their  proportion  of  the  public  tax,  which  is  now  assessed  on 
said  Georgetown  and  remaining  unpaid;  and  also  that  they  be  held 
to  comply  with  all  other  requisitions  of  government  on  the  said 
town  of  Georgetown  prior  to  this  act,  as  though  the  same  had  never 
been  made. 

Section  3.  And  be  it  further  enacted,  that  Samuel  Harnden, 
Esq.,  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  empowered  and  directed  to  issue  his 
warrant  to  some  principal  inhabitant  of  said  town,  requiring  him  to 
warn  the  inhabitants  thereof  to  meet  at  such  time  and  place  as  he 
shall  therein  set  forth,  to  choose  all  such  officers  as  towns  are  by 
law  required  and  empowered  to  choose  in  the  month  of  March 
annually;  at  which  meeting  all  the  then  present  male  inhabitants 
upwards  of  twenty-one  years  of  age  shall  be  admitted  to  vote. 

This  act  was  passed  February  17,  1781. 


72  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

The  people  petitioned  to  have  the  town  named  Reach;  but  it  was 
finally  decided  to  adopt  the  name  of  Bath. 

March  19,  1781,  Samuel  Harnden  of  Woolwich  called  the  first 
town  meeting,  at  which  he  presided,  in  the  old  meeting-house.  John 
Wood  was  chosen  town  clerk;  William  S wanton,  Benjamin  Lemont, 
and  Joseph  Berry,  selectmen.  Ten  thousand  dollars  were  raised  to 
pay  for  the  enlistment  of  soldiers  for  the  Continental  army.  This 
being  in  the  depreciated  Continental  paper  money,  it  would  be  only 
equal  to  five  hundred  dollars  of  coin.  For  current  expenses  of  the 
town,  the  sum  of  four  thousand  dollars  was  voted.  William  Lith- 
gow  was  chosen  representative  to  General  Court,  and  his  pay  was 
two  shillings  and  sixpence  a  day,  sterling  money. 

Bath  was  the  first  town  incorporated  under  the  constitution  of  the 
State  of  Maine  after  the  organization  of  its  government  in  1820. 

Town  Clerks.  — 1781,  John  Wood;  1782,  Dummer  Sewall  was 
chosen  and  held  the  office  until  1793;  when  Francis  Winter  was 
chosen  and  served  until  Christopher  Cushing  was  elected  in  1801; 
and  the  next  year  Francis  Winter  was  again  elected;  Major  David 
Shaw  was  elected  in  1803  and  was  continued  in  the  office  forty 
years.  # 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  town  no  representative  was  sent  to 
the  General  Court  for  the  first  three  years.  Francis  Winter  was 
elected  to  the  office  in  1784,  and  re-elected  until  1799,  when  David 
Shaw  was  chosen  by  a  majority  of  two  votes  over  James  Davidson. 
The  town  voted  not  to  send  in  1800.  Joshua  Shaw  was  elected  for 
1 80 1  and  1802;  Samuel  Davis  for  1803;  William  King  for  1804  and 
1805;  William  King  and  Peleg  Tallman  for  1806,  the  representation 
having  been  increased  to  two  members  from  Bath  (vide  Joseph 
Sewall ). 

In  1787,  Bath  sent  Dummer  Sewall  a  delegate  to  the  convention 
held  at  Boston  to  act  upon  the  constitution  submitted  to  the  states 
for  ratification,  and  the  delegate  voted  for  its  acceptance. 

In  1792  and  1793  small  pox  raged  in  Bath  to  the  extent  that  a 
special  hospital  was  built  at  Donnell's  Pond  in  which  to  place  vic- 
tims to  its  ravages. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  73 

In  the  earliest  days  of  its  business  career  Bath  had  a  formidable 
rival  as  a  mart  of  trade  and  commerce  for  the  Kennebec  in  a  point 
farther  down  the  river. 

JoilCS  Eddy.  —  About  four  miles  below  Bath  Bluff  Head  juts 
out  as  the  south  point  of  the  narrows  on  the  east  side  of  the  river, 
where  the  waters  suddenly  expand,  forming  a  wide  cove.  With 
either  the  flood  or  ebb  tide  there  is  always  slack  water  for  a  consid- 
erable distance.  The  early  settlers  used  this  cove  for  booming 
timber  designed  for  shipment.  At  the  Eddy  is  good  anchoring 
ground.  Trading  craft  on  the  river  in  ancient  times  often  made  it 
their  trading  point.  Before  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  English 
ships  coming  into  the  river  to  load  with  timber  usually  came  up  as 
far  as  the  Eddy  and  remained  there  to  load.  It  was  considered  the 
head  of  navigation  on  the  river,  as  the  sharp  bend  of  Fiddlers 
Reach  was  difficult  to  navigate.  Besides,  Bath  was  then  a  place  of 
inconsiderable  importance;  the  lower  end  of  Arrowsic  was  more  so. 

The  Eddy  was  brought  into  prominence  by  Charles  Vaughn,  of 
Boston,  who  was  a  merchant  of  wealth  and  a  brother  of  Dr.  Benj. 
Vaughn,  of  Hallowell,  the  founder  of  the  large  Vaughn  estate  there. 
His  attention  seems  to  have  been  called  to  the  business  capabilities 
of  the  Kennebec  from  the  circumstance  that  he  had  some  collateral 
interest  in  the  famous  Kennebec  Purchase.  In  1793,  Bath  had  not 
become  a  commercial  center,  and  Wiscass'et  was  the  metropolis  for 
all  this  section  of  country.  It  was  the  great  maratime  port.  The 
export  and  import  of  merchandise  of  Bath  and  the  entire  river  was 
through  Wiscasset.  Mr.  Vaughn,  in  connection  with  some  English 
merchants,  undertook  to  make  Hallowell  the  central  point  for  the 
Upper  Kennebec  and  Jones  Eddy  for  the  Lower  Kennebec.  The 
Jones  map  was  prepared  at  Vaughn's  expense  and  designed  for  the 
use  of  navigators  of  the  numerous  vessels  that  might  frequent  the 
river.  Vaughn  employed  a  salaried  agent  from  Boston  to  conduct 
the  business,  built  a  house,  a  store,  a  large  wharf,  a  close  dock  and 
booms  for  masts  and  spars,  with  other  conveniences  for  trade.  But 
the  ships  never  came;  the  enterprise  failed  and  so  did  Mr.  Vaughn. 
Yet  the  tide  ebbs  and  flows  at  Jones  Eddy  all  the  same.  It  had 
been  found  that  ships  could  safely  sail  to  Long  Reach,  that  the 


74  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

'  Eddy  was  on  the  wrong  side  of  the  river  for  country  trade,  and  that 
Bath  was  the  natural  center  for  the  commercial  business  of  the 
Kennebec  River  and  Valley.  Energetic  and  able  men  saw  this, 
settled  at  Bath,  and  made  it  the  commercial  mart  of  the  river. 

This  Eddy  derived  its  name  from  John  Jones.  From  a  peculiarity 
in  his  complexion  he  was  denominated  Mahogany  Jones.  He  made 
a  map  of  the  river  in  1793  from  Seguin  up  through  Fiddlers  Reach. 
That  the  map  contains  a  minute  description  of  the  Eddy  is  the 
possible  reason  that  it  took  the  name  of  Jones.  He  did  not  reside 
nor  have  any  interest  there,  but  lived  at  Pownalboro,  where  he  had 
been  in  the  employ  of  the  Plymouth  Company  as  surveyor,  and 
finally  became  a  resident  of  Augusta.  At  the  time  of  the  Revolu- 
tion he  was  a  violent  tory,  and  was  one  of  a  small  party  who  seized 
Brigadier  General  Cushing  in  his  house  at  Pownalboro,  while  in  his 
bed,  and  delivered  him  to  the  British  forces  at  Castine. 

Fiddlers  Beach  is  an  elbow  bend  in  the  Kennebec  at  the  lower 
extremity  of  Long  Reach,  and,  according  to  well-authenticated 
tradition,  derives  its  name  from  the  drowning  of  a  fiddler  from  a 
sloop  sailing  up  the  river  at  an  early  date.  When  she  was  passing 
through  the  bend  of  the  river,  the  people  on  board  of  her  on  coming 
in  view  of  a  reach  of  water  four  miles  long  became  greatly  elated, 
and  a  fiddler  who  was  on  board  went  out  on  the  bowsprit  to  play 
a  tune,  when  just  at  that  time  the  wind  slat  the  jib  and  knocked  him 
overboard  and  he  was  drowned. 

The  northeastern  bend  of  the  two  reaches  is  termed  Doubling 
Point,  for  the  reason  that  upon  entering  or  leaving  the  reach  this 
point  has  to  be  doubled. 

Reminiscences.  —  The  Hon.  Jonathan  Hyde,  who  first  came  to 
Bath  in  1792  as  a  trader  during  the  summer  months,  returning 
to  his  home  in  Connecticut  in  the  fall,  and  permanently 
located  here  as  a  merchant  in  general  trade  in  1799,  wrote  out  in 
1846,  for  the  use  of  his  children,  some  of  his  early  experiences  in 
this  section,  of  which  the  under-written  extracts  may  be  of  general 
interest  in  this  volume,  as  showing  the  state  of  society  and  business 
and  the  appearance  of  the  country  in  its  state  of  nature. 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  75 

"In  1792,  all  below  Bath  on  the  river  and  seaboard,  the  islands, 
were  all  covered  with  trees;  Seguin  was  like  a  dark  forest  standing 
high  in  the  ocean,  and  as  we  first  approached  it  from  the  sea,  it 
being  a  little  hollow  in  the  middle,  always  appeared  like  a  very  great 
saddle;  Wood  Island  was  thickly  covered,  but  there  is  not  a  tree 
remaining  on  it;  and  the  same  of  Stag  and  Pond  Islands.  There 
were  but  few  houses;  they  were  scattered  along  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  in  little  green  openings;  could  see  a  good  many  single  deck 
schooners  and  sloops  passing  up  and  down,  deeply  loaded  with 
lumber,  all  which,  on  coming  in  from  sea,  had  a  very  romantic 
appearance.  Bath  did  not  appear  much  like  a  village;  a  few  stores 
and  a  very  few  houses  were  near  the  river,  and  a  few  houses  were 
scattered  along  on  the  country  road  which  is  now  High  Street;  there 
were  no  roads,  streets,  or  buildings  between  that  road  and  the  river; 
it  was  chiefly  pasture  where  the  city  now  is,  considerably  covered 
with  trees  and  bushes. 

I  was  present  at  a  review  of  a  regiment  of  infantry;  two  officers 
were  present,  I  believe  as  spectators,  who  had  been  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary service.  The  colonel  who  commanded  the  regiment  seemed 
to  be  very  much  vexed  at  the  awkwardness  of  his  men,  and  the 
distinguished  gentlemen  and  other  spectators  were  much  amused 
with  his  awkwardness;  he  was  mounted  on  a  black  steed  that  had 
survived  many  hard  winters;  he  was  in  no  danger  from  enemies; 
the  crows  would  not  peck  his  bones,  for  he  had  no  flesh  on  them. 
The  brave  colonel  had  on  a  black  coat  made  in  a  peculiar  style,  an 
old  cocked  hat,  small  clothes  coming  down  to  his  knees  or  nearly 
so,  blue  yarn  stockings,  cowhide  shoes,  and  great  iron  spurs  not 
very  bright;  had  a  great  broadsword  which  may  have  been  the  one 
formerly  used  by  Goliath;  if  it  was  so,  its  age  will  account  for  its 
being  very  rusty.  He  would  frequently  get  very  angry  with  his 
soldiers  and  would  attempt  to  ride  in  among  them  to  chastise  them, 
but  before  he  could  get  his  nag  to  move  he  had  to  put  in  his  spurs, 
making  his  legs  and  arms  go,  flourishing  his  sword,  yerking  his 
bridle,  using  very  great  words,  but  before  the  horse  would  carry  him 
to  where  he  could  cut  off  heads  his  wrath  would  abate  and  no  one 
was  killed.  [  Muster  at  that  time  was  a  little  south  of  where  is  now 
the  Phoenix  Hotel.] 


76  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

There  were  a  number  of  log  forts  on  the  banks  of  the  river;  one 
on  the  southern  end  of  Arrowsic  Island,  and  one  at  the  northern 
end  opposite  Bath.  There  were  but  three  wharves  at  Bath.  The 
meeting-house  was  one  and  a  half  miles  back  from  the  river;  meet- 
ings were  not  very  frequent;  we  sometimes  went  to  Georgetown  to 
hear  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson.  I  frequently  saw  old  Sabattis,  the 
Indian  who  piloted  Arnold  and  his  men  through  the  wilderness  to 
Quebec;  also  saw  Capt.  Coburn,  who  built  the  bateaux  at  Pittston 
to  carry  them  up  the  river. 

The  appearance  along  on  the  main  river  above  Bath  and  also  on 
the  Eastern  river  was  quite  interesting.  A  few  farms  having  been 
cleared,  mills  and  vessels  were  building;  several  villages  were  begin- 
ning to  grow;  and  then  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Kennebec  was 
the  Pownalboro  court  house,  the  seat  of  justice  for  this  region  of 
country  comprising  Lincoln  county,  which  was  all  east  of  Cumber- 
land county. 

The  great  store  owned  by  the  elder  Jonathan  Davis  (now  Levi 
Houghton's,  1849,)  nad  been  lately  built,  and  a  large  trade  was 
carried  on  by  him  and  his  sons,  Jonathan  and  Samuel.  I  occupied 
a  store  near  there. 

The  inhabitants  at  and  near  Bath  were  generally  industrious, 
rather  rough  in  their  manners,  though  kind,  civil,  and  hospitable, 
fond  of  getting  together  and  having  a  row;  a  great  proportion  would 
work  hard  through  the  day  and  be  drunk  at  night;  a  few  were 
reputable,  and  some  were  very  pious.  The  females  were  civil  to 
strangers;  were  kind  and  somewhat  agreeable;  not  generally  very 
handsome  and  not  overstocked  with  neatness;  a  few  were  quite 
accomplished;  such  were  generally  from  other  parts.  There  were 
but  few  schools  and  little  preaching,  mostly  Methodist." 

The  Great  Embargo.  —  When  the  war  between  Napoleon  and 
England  was  in  progress,  it  marked  an  important  era  in  the  business 
interests  of  Bath.  France,  England,  and  the  West  Indies  were 
more  important  to  us  than  all  the  rest  of  the  world.  Pine  and  hard 
wood,  lumber,  provisions,  and  fish  were  our  staple  products.  The 
immediate  neighborhood  had   little   agriculture,  and  the  town   no 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  77 

manufactories.  Merchants  were  largely  engaged  in  the  West  India 
trade  with  brigs  and  topsail  schooners,  doing  carrying  trade  for  both 
belligerent  nations.  Bath  had  never  seen  such  days  of  prosperity 
as  those  at  the  opening  of  this  nineteenth  century.*  Real  estate 
rose  in  value  in  all  parts  of  the  town.  The  building  of  vessels  and 
its  collateral  industries  were  in  full  activity  and  profit. 

In  building  vessels  no  ready  money  was  required  except  to  pay 
for  labor.  Materials  could  be  had  on  easy  credit.  Frequently  one 
voyage  of  a  vessel  would  pay  its  entire  cost.  The  bulk  of  outward 
cargoes  was  lumber.  This  was  bought  here  for  $8.00  a  thousand 
and  sold  in  the  West  Indies  for  $60.00.  The  return  cargoes  would 
chiefly  consist  of  rum,  sugar,  and  molasses,  on  which  the  profits 
would  equal  those  of  the  outward  cargo.  They  brought  also  bags 
of  specie.     People  grew  rich  and  extravagant. 

All  at  once  this  prosperity  was  struck  dead  by  the  embargo  act. 
Many  merchants,  heretofore  of  high  standing,  failed.  Improve- 
ments in  progress  in  the  town  then  ceased.  The  embargo,  as  will 
be  remembered,  was  during  the  Jefferson  administration.  Napoleon 
and  England  were  in  deadly  conflict.  The  former  issued  his  famous 
Berlin  and  Milan  decrees,  declaring  that  vessels  of  neutral  nations 
trading  with  the  ports  of  Great  Britain,  or  carrying  English  goods, 
would  be  subject  to  seizure  and  confiscation.  England  retaliated 
with  Orders  in  Council  against  neutral  vessels  trading  with  French 
ports  or  loaded  with  French  merchandise.  Thus  our  foreign  com- 
merce was  between  two  fires. 

Dec.  22,  1807,  authorized  by  act  of  Congress,  President  Jefferson 
issued  an  embargo  proclamation,  shutting  up  our  foreign  going 
shipping  in  every  port  in  the  country.  The  object  of  this  act  was 
twofold:  First,  to  coerce  both  of  the  belligerent  powers  by  retalia- 
tion; and  second,  apprehension  that  the  persistency  of  our  vessels 
in  keeping  up  trade  to  the  interdicted  ports  would  involve  this 
country  in  war. 

Ve88els  Laid  Up.  —  Forthwith  in  January,  1808,  there  were 
hauled  up  at  the  wharves  in  Bath  sixteen  ships,  twenty-seven  brigs, 
of  a  total  of  9,070  tons,  besides  some  fore  and  aft  schooners  and 


78  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

sloops.  There  was  also  prospect  of  war  with  either  France  or 
England,  and  commercial  affairs  presented  a  gloomy  aspect.  A 
meeting  of  citizens  passed  spirited  resolutions  "  condemning  the 
insolent  manner  in  which  the  embargo  was  enforced."  "  The  reso- 
lutions were  highly  applauded  in  Boston."  Thus  crushed  between 
foreign  and  our  own  government,  can  it  be  wondered  at  that  owners 
of  American  shipping  should  feel  themselves  justified  in  endeavoring 
to  save  themselves  from  absolute  ruin  by  sending  their  ships  to  sea 
and  taking  their  chances  in  illegal  trade?  Consequently  it  was 
attempted. 

Hazardous  Voyages. —  The  ship  Sally  of  380  tons,  owned  by 
John  Richardson,  sailed  from  Bath  in  February,  1809,  with  two 
commanders,  Captain  Rowe,  of  Bath,  and  Captain  Mackey,  a 
Scotchman.  She  was  laden  with  lumber  for  London.  William 
Richardson,  a  brother  of  the  owner,  went  in  her  as  supercargo.  She 
was  compelled  to  run  the  fort  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec,  from 
which  she  was  fired  upon.  Some  of  her  rigging  was  cut  away  and 
a  cannon  ball  went  through  a  topsail,  but  she  got  safely  to  sea.  The 
voyage  to  London  was  made  successfully  and  her  cargo  was  sold 
there  at  great  profit.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  successful 
career  of  William  Richardson,  who  subsequently  became  one  of 
Bath's  prominent  and  wealthy  shipbuilders  and  owners. 

On  the  voyage  out  this  ship  had  an  adventure.  The  crew  be- 
longed to  Bath  and  vicinity  and  were  intelligent  men  compared  with 
what  sailors  are  at  the  present  day.  When  fairly  at  sea,  knowing 
the  ship  had  no  papers  and  was  in  illicit  trade,  they  calculated  that 
they  could  take  charge  and  did  so,  confining  the  officers  below. 
Finally  a  compromise  was  entered  into  by  which  notes  were  given  to 
the  men  for  fifty  dollars  each,  payable  when  the  vessel  shall  have 
arrived  at  the  port  of  her  destination.  When  arriving,  however,  on 
the  English  coast  William  Richardson,  on  the  pretext  of  being  sick 
or  for  some  other  plausible  reason,  was  set  ashore  at  a  remote  place 
and  was  landed  at  some  peril  in  the  high  surf.  From  thence  he 
made  his  way  to  London,  and  when  the  ship  arrived  he  was  all 
ready  with  officers  of  the  law  to  arrest  the  crew  for  mutiny,  which 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  79 

could  be  done  under  a  special  English  law  applying  to  vessels  com- 
ing from  a  foreign  port  without  legal  papers.  The  men  were  let  off 
by  giving  up  the  notes;  some  of  them,  after  returning  to  Bath,  did 
not  felish  being  jeered  about  their  unsuccessful  escapade. 

Brig  Mary  Jane.  —  Mark  Langdon  Hill  and  Thomas  McCobb 
were  partners  under  the  firm  of  Hill  &  McCobb,  doing  business  at 
Phipsburg  Center,  keeping  a  store,  building  and  sailing  ships.  Hill 
married  a  sister  of  McCobb,  and  lived  at  their  house  while  he 
was  a  single  man  and  went  to  sea,  commanding  ships  owned  by  the 
firm.  They  built  at  Hallowell  and  owned  the  brig  Mary  Jane.  She 
was  a  low-decked  vessel,  square-rigged,  and  156  tons  burthen  She 
was  Built  expressly  for  the  West  India  trade,  to  carry  out  boards, 
shingles,  and  scantling,  and  in  exchange  to  bring  back  molasses, 
sugar,  and  rum.  When  the  embargo  law  went  into  operation,  the 
latter  part  of  December,  1807,  the  Mary  Jane  was  absent  at  sea  and 
did  not  return  till  the  spring  of  1808,  when  she  was  put  in  full 
repair.  She  had  brought  home  a  West  India  cargo,  was  met  by 
the  embargo,  and  was  laid  up  all  that  season.  In  November,  1808, 
Capt.  McCobb  made  up  his  mind  that  the  Mary  Jane  should  go  to 
sea.  He  communicated  this  to  Judge  Hill,  who  owned  one-half  of 
the  brig.  The  Judge  left  the  whole  matter  to  Capt.  McCobb.  He 
proceeded  to  load  the  Mary  Jane  with  a  cargo  for  the  West  India 
market,  and  fitted  her  for  sea. 

To  command  her  needed  a  man  of  nerve  and  activity.  He  knew 
the  sea  captains  of  Bristol;  his  eldest  sister  was  married  to  Capt. 
William  Nichols  and  was  living  there.  He  sent  for  Capt.  Thomas 
H.  Nelson  of  that  town  and  he  came.  He  was  about  thirty  years 
of  age,  sharp  and  quick  of  action.  The  firm  of  Hill  &  McCobb 
transferred  to  him  the  vessel  and  cargo  for  $5,500,  for  which  Nelson 
gave  two  notes,  and  the  bill  of  sale  was  filed  in  the  custom  house 
in  presence  of  Capt.  Rowe  and  Parker  McCobb,  nephew  of  Thomas 
McCobb.  Capt.  Nelson  took  immediate  command  of  the  brig,  had 
her  sails  brought  from  the  warehouse  and  bent,  and  shipped  a  crew 
of  home  men.  James  Percy  was  mate,  and  James  Cushing,  Jr., 
second  mate;  both  of  these  men  afterwards  became  masters  of  West 


80  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Indiamen.  Capt.  Robert  P.  Manson,  Sr.,  of  Parkers  Island,  was 
engaged  as  pilot,  for  which  service  he  was  paid  fifty  dollars,  ten 
times  the  regular  fee. 

McCobb  directed  everything  on  shore.  William  Owen,  a  boat 
maker,  made  the  gun  carriages  for  her  four  cannon,  and  Joseph 
Morse,  the  village  blacksmith,  made  the  bolts  for  them.  Six  or 
eight  pitchforks,  gathered  up  in  the  neighborhood,  were  put  on 
board  to  be  used  in  case  an  attempt  should  be  made  to  board  the 
brig  as  she  moved  down  the  river.  At  that  time  towns  were,  by 
law,  compelled  to  keep  a  certain  amount  of  ammunition  in  store  to 
be  used  in  case  of  emergency.  In  Phipsburg  it  was  stored  in  the 
basement  of  the  meeting-house  at  the  Center.  It  is  in  tradition  that 
a  supply  for  the  brig  was  taken  from  this  deposit. 

The  brick  store  at  the  Center  at  this  day  is  the  same  that  was 
built  by  McCobb  in  1806  and  occupied  by  Hill  &  McCobb. 
The  brig  was  moored  at  the  end  of  the  wharf  that  stood  where  is 
the  present  wharf.  Although  effort  was  made  to  keep  the  movement 
secret,  it  became  known,  and  at  night-fall  there  was  quite  a  gather- 
ing of  people  at  the  store.  To  prevent  the  curious  from  going  on 
board  the  vessel,  guards  were  stationed  at  the  head  of  the  wharf. 
Parker  McCobb  afterwards  said  that  as  many  as  thirty  men  stood 
ready  to  aid  and  assist  if  called  upon. 

As  there  was  universal  dissatisfaction  all  along  the  New  England 
coast  at  the  restrictions  of  the  embargo  act,  the  general  government 
had  made  preparations  to  enforce  it.  Accordingly  special  officers 
were  employed  by  the  collector  at  Bath  to  prevent  breaches  of  the 
law  during  the  embargo  and  non-intercourse,  and  particularly  at  the 
time  the  Mary  Jane  sailed.  Among  these  officers  was  Col.  Andrew 
Reed,  whose  residence  was  about  a  mile  below  the  Center.  He  had 
in  use  a  custom  house  boat,  which  was  lying  at  his  wharf  on  that 
eventful  night,  and  men  were  sent  down  to  cut  a  hole  in  her  bottom 
to  prevent  her  being  used  against  the  movements  of  the  brig. 

After  the  fort  had  failed  in  preventing  the  ship  Sally  from  going 
to  sea,  Gen.  Wingate,  the  collector  of  Bath,  had  fitted  up  a  cutter, 
mounting  six  6  pounders.     He  appointed  Capt.  John  Lane,  a  Bath 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  8 1 

man,  commander  of  this  vessel,  who  with  necessary  officers  and 
twenty-nine  men  had  taken  charge  of  the  same  and  anchored  her  in 
a  position  to  command  the  passage  of  the  river,  at  the  upper  end  of 
Parkers  Plats  on  the  west  side  and  opposite  the  house  of  Custom 
House  Officer  Andrew  Reed,  about  one  mile  below  the  place  where 
the  Mary  Jane  lay  at  the  wharf.  Capt.  Lane  being  acquainted  with 
Capt.  McCobb,  and  knowing  his  intrepidity  and  daring,  kept  a  sharp 
lookout  for  the  Mary  Jane  should  she  attempt  to  go  to  sea. 

In  December,  1808,  the  Mary  Jane  was  loaded.  Capt.  McCobb 
asked  for  no  clearance  at  the  custom  house.  He  armed  the  brig 
with  four  four  pounders,  two  on  each  side.  He  also  fitted  up  small 
spars  on  each  quarter  and  along  the  sides  and  bows  of  the  brig  to 
obstruct  boarders.  He  enlisted  twelve  daring  and  bold  men,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  crew,  to  convey  the  brig  to  sea.  Capt.  McCobb  was  the 
chief  and  leader.  Parker  McCobb  was  second  in  command.  The 
men  were  all  residents  of  the  town.  Not  one  of  them  weighed  less 
than  two  hundred  pounds.  They  were  armed  with  guns  and  bayonets. 

When  these  men  arrived  at  the  Center,  according  to  appointment, 
they  proceeded  to  the  house  of  M.  L.  Hill,  where  McCobb  boarded, 
and  were  invited  to  go  in  and  take  "  something  to  drink,1'  according 
to  the  custom  of  the  times,  and  to  eat  supper,  to  which  all  sat  down. 

It  had  been  arranged  that  as  soon  as  the  Mary  Jane  had  got 
outside,  the  twelve  men  were  to  leave  her  and  land,  and  for  this 
purpose  a  reach  boat,  pulled  by  six  oars,  had  been  provided  to  make 
their  way  from  the  brig  to  the  land. 

It  was  determined  that  the  brig  should  pass  down  the  river  to  the 
sea  at  night,  and  everything  was  got  in  readiness.  The  extra  crew, 
before  they  went  on  board,  disguised  themselves  by  blacking  their 
faces,  with  the  exception  of  Peter  Carey,  who  was  a  mulatto  of 
gigantic  size  and  strength.  Capt.  McCobb  said  to  Peter  that  he 
need  not  use  the  blacking  brush  on  his  face,  as  his  natural  color 
needed  no  paint.  The  night  on  which  the  Mary  Jane  left  the  wharf 
for  sea  was  dark  and  gloomy,  the  wind  blowing  heavily  from  the 
north.  Every  man  was  on  board  and  at  his  quarters.  The  guns 
were  loaded  and  shotted. 


82  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

The  account  of  the  passage  of  the  brig  down  the  river  is  given  in 
the  language  of  men  on  board  of  her:  "At  midnight,  on  January  2, 
1 809,  the  brig  was  cast  off  from  the  wharf,  made  sail,  every  man  at 
his  post,  and  passed  down  the  river.  As  the  brig  came  near  the 
cutter,  an  officer  hailed  the  brig,  and  receiving  no  answer  tired 
across  her  bows  without  effect.  The  cutter  then  opened  fire  on  the 
brig.  Capt.  McCobb  returned  the  fire,  and  so  for  a  mile  or  more 
the  two  vessels  kept  up  a  running  fire  with  their  great  guns,  the  brig 
firing  two  shot  to  the  cutter's  one.  No  small  arms  were  used  on 
either  side,  and  no  attempt  was  made  to  board  the  Mary  Jane  by 
the  crew  of  the  cutter.  Capt.  Parker  McCobb  said  afterwards  that 
it  was  his  opinion  that  no  fifty  men  could  have  carried  the  Mary 
Jane,  on  her  passage  to  sea.  Notwithstanding  the  efforts  of  Capt. 
Lane,  the  brig  safely  passed  down  the  river  without  any  material 
injury.  One  of  her  round  shot  struck  the  cutter.  No  one  was 
killed  or  wounded  on  either  side.'1 

When  the  brig  came  opposite  the  fort,  the  cannon  not  being  in 
position,  she  was  fired  into  with  small  arms,  which  did  no  damage 
excepting  a  little  to  sails  and  rigging.  The  brig  returned  the  fire 
with  cannon  and  muskets.  The  brig  took  passage  between  Seguin 
and  Parkers  Island,  hauled  her  wind  as  near  the  land  as  was  con- 
venient, and  Capt.  McCobb,  with  his  gallant  volunteers,  took  to  their 
boat,  with  their  arms,  and  landed  safely  below  Harmons  Harbor,  in 
Georgetown,  early  in  the  morning.  Here  the  volunteers  partially 
washed  their  faced  at  the  house  of  James  Williams.  They  crossed 
the  island  on  foot  to  Butlers  Cove,  opposite  the  residence  of  Judge 
Hill,  where  boats  were  ready  to  receive  them  and  carry  them  over 
the  river.  When  they  arrived,  it  took  much  warm  water  to  restore 
their  faces  to  their  natural  color.  A  warm  breakfast  awaited  them 
at  the  house,  and  they  were  paid  for  their  services. 

The  brig  arrived  safely  at  Demerara,  where  the  vessel  and  cargo 
were  sold  at  a  high  price.     Capt.  Nelson  died  there. 

Ever  after  this  event  the  McCobbs  freely  acknowledged  the 
running  of  the  Mary  Jane  out  of  the  river  as  an  illicit  voyage,  and 
believed  themselves  justified  in  the  act,  on  the  ground  that  the  gov- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  83 

ernment  had  no  right  to  institute  a  measure  that,  in  its  effect,  would 
sequester  their  property  without  just  compensation. 

The  Sloop  Adonirailt.  —  During  the  summer  of  1808,  while 
the  embargo  was  in  force,  Mark  L.  Hill  and  Thomas  McCobb  char- 
tered of  Benjamin  Emmons  of  Parkers  Island  the  fifty  ton  sloop 
Adoniram  for  a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies,  and  Thomas  Oliver  of 
i'hipsburg  was  placed  in  command.  A  quantity  of  cured  fish  was 
sent  across  the  river  from  the  warehouse  of  Hill  &  McCobb  to 
where  the  sloop  lay  at  Emmons  wharf,  and  placed  on  flakes  there 
to  be  thoroughly  aired  before  being  put  on  board  the  vessel. 

The  small  schooner  Washington  was  employed  to  take  one  hun- 
dred barrels  of  flour  from  the  store  of  Hill  &  McCobb,  in  the  night 
time,  and  proceed  to  the  mouth  of  the  river  on  a  Sunday  morning, 
where  she  lay  off  and  on  until  the  succeeding  Sunday,  when  the 
Adoniram,  having  taken  the  fish  aboard  at  Emmons*  Wharf,  came 
out  of  the  river,  and  lying  alongside  of  the  schooner  the  flour  was 
transferred  on  board  of  her.  The  sloop  lay  of!  and  on  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  waiting  for  the  schooner  Washington  to  bring  out  to 
her  additional  freight,  but  there  was  such  an  excitement  on  shore 
that  it  was  rendered  difficult  to  bring  anything  more  to  the  sloop, 
and  the  effort  was  abandoned.  Capt.  Oliver  then  received  a  letter 
from  his  employers,  directing  "  me  to  lay  off  south  five  leagues  from 
the  island  of  Monhegan,  and  wear  an  ensign  at  the  peak,  in  order 
that  the  Adoniram  might  be  known  by  those  who  were  to  bring  out 
to  her  in  boats  from  Boothbay  the  remainder  of  the  cargo.  We 
accordingly  lay  there  about  one  week,  and  in  the  course  of  that 
time  about  two  hundred  quintals  of  fish  were  brought  to  us  in  two 
small  vessels,  when  we  sailed  for  Demerara.  We  accordingly 
arrived  at  that  port  and  sold  both  vessel  and  cargo  for  cash,  and 
after  remaining  there1  thirty  days,  I  received  the  pay  in  British  and 
other  gold,"  which  was  brought  home  by  the  captain  in  a  bag, 
delivered  to  its  owners,  and  weighed  at  Hill  &  McCobb's  store 
(Capt.  Oliver's  affidavit). 

The  Schooner  Three  Friends.  —  During  the  winter  of  18 10 
and  181 1,  the  non-intercourse  act  then  being  in  force,  Capt.  John 


84  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Mereen  of  Phipsburg  was  employed  by  Hill  &  McCobb  to  take 
command  of  the  schooner  Three  Friends,  which  had  been  chartered 
of  Gilmore  Percy  and  others,  and  "take  a  cargo  of  lumber  to 
Demerara,  dispose  of  "it  there,  and  collect  the  proceeds  of  the  sales 
of  the  brig  Mary  Jane  and  her  cargo,  which  had  been  sold  in  that 
port  in  1809."  Having  received  verbal  orders  and  instructions, 
Capt.  Mereen  sailed  on  the  voyage,  sold  his  cargo,  and  made  the 
collection  required,  and  returned  with  a  cargo  of  rum  and  molasses, 
which  was  entered  at  the  custom  house  as  from  an  unprohibited 
port,  and  landed  at  Hill  &  McCobb's  wharf  in  Phipsburg  Center  in 
May,  181 1  (Mereen's  affidavit). 

It  appears  that  Nathaniel  Green,  managing  owner,  with  Simeon 
Colby,  Humphrey  Purington,  William  Frost,  and  Daniel  Baker,  all 
of  Topsham,  the  other  owners  of  the  schooner  Tobias,  William 
Farrin,  captain,  was  on  a  voyage  from  Bath  to  Bermuda,  ostensibly 
cleared  for  St.  Bartholomew's,  a  neutral  port. 

Joseph  F.  Wingate  was  collector  of  the  port  of  Bath  from  1820 
to  1824.  He  appears  to  have  been  interested  in  a  voyage  of  the 
schooner  Abigail,  James  Merryman,  captain,  in  company  with 
Abraham  Hammett,  chartered  from  Thomas  Skolfield  of  Harps  well, 
in  November,  18 13,  to  take  a  cargo  of  merchandise  from  Bath  to 
the  West  Indies  and  return.  The  port  made  having  been  Bermuda, 
it  was  an  enemy's  port  and  was  illicit  trade.  The  schooner  made  a 
successful  voyage,  and  on  her  arrival  home  must  have  been  entered 
as  coming  from  a  neutral  port  {vide  Wm.  King). 

Joseph  F.  Wingate  was  also  interested  with  others  in  a  voyage  of 
the  brig  Leander  on  an  illicit  West  India  voyage  in  1813,  going  to 
Antiqua,  a  British  port.  On  her  arrival  home  she  was  made  to  hail 
from  a  neutral  Spanish  port. 

Feb.  14,  18 14.  "A  number  of  vessels  were  complained  of  for 
having  traded  at  Bermuda,  an  English  port,  they  having  recently 
arrived  with  sugars;  Messrs.  Green,  J.  F.  Wingate,  Benjamin  Ames, 
Robinson,  K — g,  and  others  interested  "  {vide  Zina  Hyde). 

The  Adjustment.  —  "Jan.  16,  1809.  News  of  a  law  requiring 
bonds  for  every  loaded  vessel,  coastwise  as  well  as  foreign  voyages. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  85 

March  15.  News  of  the  partial  repeal  of  the  embargo,  and  vessels 
begin  to  sail  for  foreign  ports,  England  and  France  excepted  "  {vide 
Zina  Hyde). 

April  27,  1809.  News  of  the  amicable  adjustment  of  differences 
between  this  country  and  England  and  France,  giving  us  the  same 
advantages  we  might  have  had  before  the  commencement  of  the 
seventeen  months'  embargo.  Hut  in  July  of  the  same  year  a  vessel 
arrived  at  Boston,  bringing  the  news  that  the  English  government 
had  repudiated  that  adjustment,  declaring  that  her  Orders  in  Coun- 
cil were  to  be  in  force  as  before,  with  the  understanding  that 
American  vessels  that  had  sailed  on  voyages  relying  upon  the 
certainty  of  the  adjustment  would  not  be  molested.  To  this  trouble 
with  England  there  was  added  the  persistent  impressment  of  Amer- 
ican seamen  by  Great  Britain  for  use  in  its  navy. 

Then  followed  the  Non-Itlterconrse  Act  of  May,  1809,  of 
Congress,  interdicting  all  commercial  relations  with  English  ports. 
As  trade  with  the  West  India  ports  of  that  nation  was  of  vital 
importance  to  our  commercial  marine,  this  restriction  bore  heavily 
upon  the  owners  of  Bath  vessels.  It  continued  until  the  com- 
mencement of  the  war  with  Great  Britain,  June  2,  18 12. 

"July  13,  18 1 2.  This  day  receive  a  decree  of  Napoleon  Bona- 
parte that  the  Berlin  and  Milan  decrees  are  repealed,  which  decree 
is  dated  181 1,  but  has  never  before  come  to  the  public  knowledge; 
at  the  same  time  have  a  rumor  of  a  change  of  the  British  ministry 
and  the  repeal  of  the  Orders  in  Council "  (yuU  Zina  Hyde). 

To  the  disadvantage  of  having  all  legitimate  trade  with  English 
ports  cut  off  during  the  war,  were  added  two  embargoes  of  limited 
duration  placed  upon  not  only  foreign  but  coastwise  vessels. 

King  and  Antes  Controversy. —  In  connection  with  illicit 
voyages  of  Bath  vessels  during  the  existence  of  restriction  measures 
put  in  force  by  the  general  government,  a  notable  controversy  took 
place  in  1824  between  some  leading  men  of  Bath.  Nathan  Ames 
and  Joseph  F.  Wingate  were  nominated  to  the  United  States  Senate 
for  appointment  to  government  offices  by  President  Monroe  in  1823. 
They  calculated   upon  the  aid  of  General   King  to  secure  their 


86  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

confirmations,  but  failed  to  obtain  his  influence.  The  rejection  of 
Ames  by  the  Senate  was  unanimous.  Wingate  received  only  one 
vote.  It  was  said  by  General  King  that  their  defeat  was  occasioned 
"  for  their  having  been  engaged  in  trade  with  the  enemy  during  the 
war,  as  well  as  for  other  reasons.1' 

Ames  determined  on  revenge  upon  King,  and  was  seconded  by 
Wingate.  Soon  after  reaching  home  from  Washington  they  entered 
upon  the  crusade.  It  was  the  age  of  pamphlets;  newspapers  were 
few  and  small  in  size.  In  1824,  an  anonymous  pamphlet  appeared 
that  was  known  to  be  the  joint  work  of  Ames  and  Wingate.  In  it 
King  was  charged  with  having  been  concerned  in  illicit  trade  during 
the  time  of  the  embargo,  non-intercourse,  and  war  of  1812.  These 
men  had  obtained  affidavits  from  captains  who  had  sailed  on  these 
voyages  in  vessels  belonging  in  whole  or  part  to  King.  These 
documents  strongly  implicated  King  as  having  been  engaged  in 
illegitimate  trade.  These  were  printed  together  with  copies  of 
letters  to  his  captains,  and  consequently  gave  color  to  the  state- 
ments of  the  captains.  It  was  charged  that  vessels  would  clear  for 
a  neutral  port,  but  went  direct  to  a  prohibited  port,  when,  having 
sold  and  discharged  cargo,  proceeded  to  one  of  these  neutral  ports 
and  took  out  clearance  papers  for  Bath,  or  in  some  instances  pur- 
chase at  the  port  of  discharge  clearance  papers  purporting  to  have 
been  granted  at  a  port  not  interdicted.  In  some  instances  a  vessel 
would  have  on  board  Swedish  papers  and  flags  of  different  nations 
to  use  in  emergencies. 

On  these  voyages  the  vessels  took  out  cargoes  of  boards,  spars, 
staves,  shingles,  potatoes,  and  live  stock,  returning  with  West  India 
products  and  coin.  Boards  were  bought  at  Bath  for  about  $8.00  a 
thousand  and  sold  at  the  West  Indies  for  from  $60  to  $100  a  thou- 
sand, and  potatoes  about  $7.50  a  barrel;  large  quantities  of  these 
latter  were  raised  on  the  King  farm,  450  barrels  being  shipped  at 
one  time.  The  rum  and  molasses  brought  the  high  prices  prevailing 
during  the  embargo,  non-intercourse,  and  war. 

The  pamphlet  stated  that  one  of  the  vessels  was  the  brig  Two 
Sisters,  owned  by   Samuel   Veazie,  Humphrey   Purington,   Daniel 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  87 

Baker,  Jonathan  Baker,  and  Nathaniel  Green  of  Topsham,  Peter  H. 
Green  of  Bath,  and  Clement  Martin  of  Harps  well,  loaded  at  Kings 
wharf,  and  took  on  board  a  large  quantity  of  potatoes  in  18 13  for 
a  West  India  port.  These  potatoes  came  from  Gen.  King's  farm, 
and  as  he  assisted  in  putting  them  on  board  the  vessel,  as  well  as 
the  other  portions  of  her  cargo,  and  directing  matters  generally,  it 
was  charged  that  the  vessel  was  loaded  on  his  account.  The  brig 
cleared  for  a  neutral  port,  but  according  to  testimony  of  her  captain 
sold  her  cargo  at  a  British  port. 

General  King  rejoined  in  1825  with  a  pamphlet  that  was  both 
vigorous  and  plausible.  In  this  he  proceeded  to  show  the  unrelia- 
bility of  the  statements  made  by  masters  who  had  been  in  his 
employ,  two  of  whom,  he  averred,  stole  both  vessels  and  cargoes, 
having  sold  them  and  kept  the  proceeds.  He  made  a  point  in  the 
fact  that  the  captains  of  these  vessels  took  oath  at  the  custom  house 
on  arrival  home  that  the  vessels  had  been  to  neutral  ports,  and  in 
their  affidavits  testified  that  their  voyages  had  been  to  interdicted 
ports,  and  that,  if  their  employer  was  guilty,  they  were  equally  or 
more  so,  as  it  was  they  who  took  the  false  oaths.  A  number  of 
these  captains,  whose  affidavits,  criminating  Gen.  King,  had  been 
published  in  the  Ames  pamphlet,  gave  subsequently  affidavits  to 
King  retracting  their  previous  statements. 

General  King  in  his  pamphlet  states  that:  "Among  his  other 
enterprises  during  the  war  Nathan  Ames,  his  accuser,  made  a 
voyage  to  Bermuda  in  the  schooner  Ovarian;  on  his  return,  his  ves- 
sel and  part  of  the  cargo  were  seized.  Ames  stated  that  Joseph  F. 
Wingate  and  Samuel  Winter  were  equally  interested  with  him. 
Ames  obtained  witnesses  to  swear  that  he  went  to  St.  Bartholomew's, 
and  on  this  evidence  the  vessel  was  restored.  Years  subsequently, 
during  the  investigation  of  this  business,  Harold  and  others  testified 
that  they  saw  Ames  at  Bermuda  on  this  same  voyage." 

General  King  states  in  his  rejoinder  that :  "  For  several  months 
previous  to  the  embargo,  presuming  that  the  country  would  be  en- 
gaged in  war  either  with  France  or  Great  Britain,  I  did  not  send 
any  of  my  vessels  to  sea,  so  that  when  the  embargo  commenced  I 


88  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

had  at  the  port  of  Hath,  loaded  for  foreign  voyages,  the  following 
vessels:  Ships,  Reserve,  Resolution,  Vigilant,  Reunion,  United 
States;  brigs,  Ann,  Huron,  Valerius  (not  loaded),  Harmony;  in  all, 
2,475  tons.  These  vessels  remained  in  port  during  the  whole  of 
the  embargo,  as  it  was  a  measure  of  our  government  to  coerce  the 
several  nations  of  Europe  who  were  violating  our  neutral  rights;  no 
one  ever  heard  any  complaint  from  me,  although  the  actual  loss,  at 
the  most  moderate  calculation  of  charter,  was  $5,558  per  month, 
being  more  than  $185  a  day,  exclusive  of  interest  on  money  on  the 
amount  of  cargoes  from  Dec.  22,  1807,  to  May,  1809. 

"  When  the  war  commenced  in  June,  18 12,  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain,  1  had  at  the  port  of  Bath,  and  which 
arrived  there  within  sixty  days  of  that  time,  four  ships  and  three 
brigs.  These  were  all  the  vessels  which  I  had  at  the  time,  and  they 
all  remained  in  port  during  the  war,  with  the  exception  of  the  brigs 
Huron  and  Valerius,  and  they  were  all  the  vessels  which  I  was 
owner  of  during  the  war." 

General  King's  general  defence  was:  "In  conducting  my 
mercantile  business  I  was  influenced,  by  the  advice  of  the  best 
informed  political  men,  that,  as  soon  as  Congress  assembled,  the 
non-intercourse  system  would  be  abandoned  by  a  declaration  of  war 
against  France  or  England,  or  by  adopting  some  other  measure. 
Availing  myself  of  this  information,  I  gave  my  vessels  a  direction 
accordingly.  The  information  in  regard  to  a  declaration  of  war 
proved  correct,  with  the  exception  of  its  not  having  been  declared 
as  soon  as  was  contemplated.  The  Reunion,  which  returned  before 
the  war,  was  seized  and  condemned  for  having  been  to  a  prohibited 
port;  no  claim  was  made  on  my  part;  the  vessel  was  sold  and  I  was 
the  purchaser.11 

That  the  General  was  not  injured  by  these  assaults  upon  his  con- 
spicuous career  is  shown  in  that,  four  years  later,  he  was  appointed 
collector  of  customs  for  the  port  of  Bath,  which  office  he  held  the 
regular  term  of  four  years,  to  1834. 

In  Ames'  pamphlet  a  like  assault  was  made  on  the  then  collector, 
M.  L.  Hill,  as  was  that  upon  General  King,  to  which  he  replied  in 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  89 

about  the  same  manner  as  did  King.  Ames  published  affidavits  of 
captains  who  had  been  in  Hill  &  McCobb's  employ,  implicating  Hill 
as  having  been  engaged  in  illicit  voyages  of  the  ships  of  the  firm,  to 
which  Hill  rejoined,  publishing  affidavits  of  retraction  by  these 
captains,  together  with  explanations.  But  he  was  then  collector  of 
the  port,  and  his  enemies  succeeded  in  inducing  the  United  States 
government  to  order  an  investigation,  which  was  held  at  the  Bath 
hotel,  resulting  in  his  losing  his  office  and  the  appointment  of  John 
B.  Swanton.  The  change  in  no  way  affected  the  standing  of  Judge 
Hill  in  the  community  in  which  he  was  always  a  conspicuous  and 
esteemed  member. 

The  subsequent  career  of  Nathan  Ames  proved  him  unworthy  of 
the  government  office  he  sought  to  obtain,  and  that  he  was  capable 
of  resorting  to  crooked  ways  to  compass  his  ends,  for  it  is  on 
reliable  record  that  it  was  only  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  accom- 
plished wife  was  held  by  all  who  knew  her  that  saved  him  from 
state  prison.  It  was  he  who  recklessly  shot  Lieut.  Baker  on  "  Meet- 
ing-house Hill "  when  aiding  in  the  inspection  of  a  company  of 
cavalry  during  the  war  of  181 2,  and  there  were  not  a  few  in  Bath 
who  at  the  time  believed  him  guilty  of  something  more  than  mere 
carelessness. 


90  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 


BATH  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1812. 


When  the  war  with  Great  Britain  commenced  in  June,  1812,  the 
military  composing  the  Bath  contingent  was  in  a  state  of  good 
efficiency.  There  were  two  companies  of  infantry,  an  independent 
light  infantry,  a  rifle  company,  and  one  of  artillery.  They  were  not 
called  into  actual  service  until  early  in  18 14,  when  movements  of 
English  cruisers  began  to  threaten  the  seacoast  of  Maine.  Fortifi- 
cations at  the  salient  points  were  not  plentiful.  At  the  mouth  of  the 
Kennebec  River  there  was  a  small  fort  garrisoned  by  a  company  of 
United  States  troops. 

The  first  war  ship  which  appeared  off  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec 
was  the  Bulwark,  afterwards  replaced  by  the  La  Hogue,  both  of 
large  armament.  Bath  was  justly  alarmed.  These  large  ships 
could  not  ascend  the  river,  but  they  might  land  troops  to  march  on 
the  town,  or  send  armed  barges  up  the  river.  In  undertaking  either 
mode  of  attack  they  would  have  met  with  a  warm  reception.  Eng- 
lish war  ships  made  a  rendezvous  at  Castine,  and  some  of  them  had 
been  sent  up  the  Penobscot,  destroyed  the  village  of  Hampden,  and 
sacked  Bangor;  had  molested  Machias  and  given  battle  to  one  of 
our  armed  vessels  off  that  port,  and  had  threatened  Wiscasset  with 
bombardment. 

Along  in  the  first  weeks  of  June,  18 14,  Major  General  William 
King  was  on  an  official  tour  to  the  east,  and  learned  that  seven  of 
the  English  fleet  had  sailed  from  Castine,  heading  along  shore  to 
the  westward.  He  hastened  to  Bath,  and,  anticipating  danger  from 
these  ships,  immediately  ordered  out  an  entire  brigade  of  1500  men 
to  assemble  at  Bath  on  the  20th  of  June.  According  to  the  best 
information  attainable,  two  companies  of  the  Bath  regiment  were 
stationed  at  the  mouth  of  the  river  under  Col.  Andrew  Reed. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  9 1 

The  Great  Alarm.  —  It  was  then  that  what  has  been  termed 
"the  great  alarm"  took  place  at  Bath  and  along  the  lower  Kennebec. 
The  cause  was  that,  during  the  night,  the  Bulwark  had  arrived  off 
Seguin.  Early  in  the  morning  it  was  seen  from  the  shore  that 
barges  were  at  her  side,  into  which  armed  men  were  placed.  They 
soon  put  off  from  the  ship,  heading  towards  the  river.  But  instead 
of  entering  it,  they  suddenly  turned  and  made  for  Sheepscot  and 
Arrowsic.  Samuel  Sewall,  then  the  Phipsburg  Congregational  min- 
ister, thus  speaks  of  their  movements  in  his  diary: 

"June  20,  18 1 4.  From  Stage  Island  I  saw  a  British  ship  of  war 
at  anchor  off  Seguin;  send  seven  boats  with  men;  take  two  sloops 
and  six  boats;  went  up  Sheepscot  River. 

June  22.     Great  alarm  by  the  British  and  some  skirmishing. 

June  23.  Strong  wind  from  the  N.  E.;  many  small  boats  a  fish- 
ing; understand  have  gone  to  sea;  mercy  on  them." 

At  this  time  the  colonel  of  the  regiment  happened  to  be  at 
Phipsburg  Center.  He  was  entirely  destitute  of  field  officers.  A 
supply  of  new  muskets  had  arrived  in  a  vessel  from  Boston  at  a 
wharf  in  that  village,  and  he  rode  up  there  in  the  night  time  to 
receive  and  give  a  receipt  for  them,  as  officially  obliged  to  do;  and 
while  thus  engaged,  early  in  the  morning,  a  courier  came  up  from 
Cox's  Head  notifying  him  that  the  Bulwark  had  anchored  off  Seguin 
and  was  sending  barges  into  the  river.  Col.  Reed  ordered  an  alarm 
to  be  fired  by  the  cannon  on  "  Meeting-house  Hill "  at  the  Center, 
in  doing  which  one  of  the  hands  of  Peter  Carey,  a  mulatto,  was 
badly  wounded  while  ramming  home  a  charge,  and  for  which  he  was 
afterwards  allowed  a  pension  by  the  Massachusetts  government. 
The  colonel  immediately  dispatched  John  Langdon  Hill,  then  a 
youth,  on  horseback  to  Bath  to  notify  Gen.  King  of  the  word 
that  had  been  received  from  the  mouth  of  the  river.  On  his  way  to 
Bath,  young  Hill,  obeying  instructions,  notified  all  at  home  on  the 
line  of  the  road,  capable  of  firing  a  gun,  to  come  at  once  to  the 
front,  and  they  came,  young  men  and  old. 

The  courier  found  Gen.  King  in  his  office.  As  related  by  Col. 
Reed  in  after  years,  upon  reading  the  dispatch,  the  general  put  his 


92  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

head  out  of  a  window  and  called  out  in  his  stentorian  voice,  "  The 
enemy  is  coming,  every  man  arm  and  to  his  alarm  post  instantly." 
Col.  Reed  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  rapidly  down  to  the  "  seat  of 
war."  In  haste  to  have  his  troops  in  every  possible  readiness  for 
action,  he  did  not  stop  at  his  headquarters  to  put  on  his  uniform,  so 
that  when  Gen.  King  and  his  staff,  who  immediately  came  down, 
arrived,  the  general  said  to  him,  "  What  1  not  yet  in  uniform  ? " 
"  It  will  not  take  long  to  do  that,11  was  the  reply,  and  the  uniform 
was  quickly  donned. 

Major  Zina  Hyde,  then  adjutant  of  the  Bath  regiment,  records 
the  situation  in  Bath  on  that  memorable  day  in  his  diary,  and 
extracts  from  it  speak  for  itself: 

"  Monday,  May  9,  18 14.  Colonel  McCobb's  men  stationed  at  this 
place,  having  received  their  uniforms,  were  mustered  to  a  consider- 
able number  for  inspection,  and  marched  about  town. 

Tuesday,  June  7,  18 14.  A  part  of  Colonel  McCobb's  regiment 
encamped  for  a  few  days  past  near  the  South  meeting-house  com- 
menced their  march  for  Burlington,  Vt. 

Wednesday,  June  15.  Issued  order  for  a  meeting  of  officers  at 
General  King's  to  consult  on  measures  of  defence  in  case  of  the 
appearance  of  an  enemy  on  our  waters. 

Friday,  17.  Spent  from  half-past  to  1  o'clock  at  General  King's 
deliberating  and  agreeing  on  alarm  posts,  signals,  &c,  for  the  several 
companies  of  the  regiment. 

Afternoon.  The  citizens  met  at  Captain  Stockbridge's,  when  the 
exempts  agreed  to  form  themselves  into  a  company  for  the  defence 
of  the  town.  Much  engaged  on  Saturday  in  preparing  orders  for 
the  commanding  officers  of  the  regiment. 

Monday,  June  20,  18 14.  The  company  of  exempts,  having  on 
Saturday  night  elected  Capt.  H.  G.  Allen  for  their  captain,  Capt. 
James  McLellan,  lieutenant,  and  Capt.  C.  Waterman,  ensign,  met 
at  8  o'clock  for  the  first  time  under  them,  and  while  in  the  act  of 
choosing  their  corporals,  an  express  arrived  from  Phipsburg  to  Gen. 
King  with  information  that  a  British  ship  of  war  was  at  the  mouth 
of  the  river,  and  that  a  number  of  barges  were  on  their  way  up  the 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  93 

river.  I  was  in  the  act  of  delivering  some  artillery  ammunition  to 
Capt.  Sprague  and  Lieut.  Noble  when  the  message  arrived.  Capt. 
S.  and  myself  proceeded  to  Center  Street,  while  Mr.  Noble  went  to 
the  gun  house  to  be  prepared  to  give  the  alarm  guns.  Here  met 
Gen.  King,  who  ordered  me  mounted  and  every  man  to  his  alarm 
post,  the  report  being  that  a  number  of  barges  had  passed  the  fort 
from  a  British  ship  for  this  place;  was  mounted  on  the  first  horse  to 
be  found  and  vigorously  engaged  in  seeing  to  the  preparation  of 
munitions  of  war  for  the  defence  of  the  town.  Gen.  King  pro- 
ceeded almost  immediately  to  Phipsburg,  leaving  Gen.  McCobb  in 
command  here. 

About  noon  received  information  that  the  barges  had  gone  up 
Sheepscot  Bay,  not  having  attempted  to  enter  the  Kennebec,  from 
which  fact  Gen.  McCobb  sent  a  boat  through  the  gut  to  give  us  the 
alarm  in  case  of  enemy's  approach  in  that  direction. 

Evening,  hearing  that  the  barges  had  returned  to  the  ship,  which 
proved  to  be  the  Bulwark,  74  guns,  having  attempted  nothing  but  a 
landing  on  Squam,  from  which  they  were  driven  by  the  militia  after 
a  small  stay,  and  having  met  with  a  sharp  ftre  from  the  militia  on 
Pond  Island.  It  was  considered  necessary  to  be  no  less  on  the 
guard  during  the  night  than  for  the  day.  Colonels  Merrill  and 
Thomas  with  about  600  men,  including  those  of  Col.  Reed's  regi- 
ment, had  now  assembled.  Called  on  by  Major  Clap  for  return  of 
troops  for  the  purpose  of  detaching  guard,  making  requisition  for 
rations,  which  having  been  made,  I  made  the  necessary  detachments 
for  the  night. 

Tuesday,  2 1 .  Obtained  an  order  for  dismissing  the  companies  of 
our  regiment  for  a  short  time.  Troops  mustered  for  inspection. 
Gen.  King  departed  for  Phipsburg.  On  his  return  he  discharged 
Colonels  Thomas  and  Merrill's  regiments;  detached  guards  for  the 
night. 

Wednesday,  22.  By  orders,  discharged  troops  from  1st  regiment 
(Col.  Reed's);  much  engaged  copying  and  distributing  orders. 

Friday  morning,  24.  At  9  o'clock  a  number  of  citizens  met  at 
the  Lincoln  Bank  and  petitioned  Gen.  King  to  detach  100  militia 
for  the  defence  of  the  place,  which  he  accordingly  did. 


94  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

Monday,  June  27,  18 14.  A  court  of  inquiry  held  in  consequence 
of  a  scandalous  petition  to  Gen.  King  for  an  inquiry  into  the  cir- 
cumstances of  Mr.  Jenks  and  others  having  prepared  to  go  to  the 
British  with  a  flag  of  truce,  &c,  on  Monday  last.  The  real  fact 
being  this:  Mr.  Jenks  having  been  consulted  by  some  private 
gentlemen  as  to  the  expediency  of  having  preparations  made  for 
sending  a  flag  of  truce  in  case  of  the  British  appearing  in  force, 
decided  by  sufficient  vote  to  bear  down  all  opposition,  that  by  giving 
up  the  vessels  would  save  the  effusion  of  blood  and  destruction  of 
the  town.  Towards  which  Mr.  Jenks  expressed  his  approbation  and 
willingness  to  assist  in  so  far  as  his  services  might  be  of  use,  and 
also  the  pleasure  it  would  afford  him  to  be  made  a  messenger  of 
peace,  not  considering  his  situation  as  an  officer.  The  petition  was 
from  Weld,  Robinson,  Boynton,  and  others,  and  the  result  was 
honorable  to  Mr.  Jenks." 

"  The  Rev.  William  Jenks,  pastor  of  the  South  church  and  regi- 
mental chaplain,  procured  a  boat  to  proceed  down  river,  and  with  a 
white  flag  flying  attempt  to  make  terms  with  the  enemy  and  prevent 
the  effusion  of  blood.  He  was  arrested  before  he  was  out  of  sight 
by  a  force  sent  after  him,  and  came  near  being  court  martialed  for 
such  a  gross  violation  of  the  laws  of  war  in  sending  to  treat  with 
the  enemy  without  any  order  from  his  commanding  officer.  So 
nearly  was  the  fright  universal  that  it  was,  for  a  long  time  afterwards, 
remarked  that  the  only  two  men  who  appeared  to  have  their  wits 
about  them  were  Gen.  Denny  McCobb  and  Capt.  Horatio  G.  Allen. 
Gen.  McCobb  resided  on  the  southeast  corner  of  Washington  and 
Union  Streets,  in  the  house  since  removed  east  to  Front  Street,  on 
the  southwest  corner  of  Union  Street,  in  order  to  make  room  for  a 
more  modern  mansion"  (Jno.  Hayden). 

Other  Account  of  the  Alarm.  —  It  may  be  of  interest  to 
insert  what  was  written  fifty  years  after  the  event  by  a  citizen  who 
participated  in  those  stirring  scenes  of  June  20,  18 14,  that  are  des- 
tined to  be  ever  memorable  to  the  people  of  Bath.  In  this  personal 
narrative  there  are  errors,  some  of  which  this  author  has  corrected 
in  the  copy,  while  others  have   been   allowed   to   remain   to   add 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  95 

piquancy  to  the  story.  Gen.  King  did  not  ride  through  the  streets 
calling  to  arms;  it  was  Adjutant  Zina  Hyde  who  did  this  alarm  duty 
by  request  of  Gen.  King,  as  named  in  the  account  of  Maj.  Hyde 
himself  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  No  such  word  was  officially  sent 
to  Gen.  King  on  the  morning  of  the  alarm  as  named  in  this  story. 
The  general  did  not  start  for  Brunswick,  but  did  for  the  mouth  of 
the  river  at  once,  as  was  told  by  the  commanding  officer  there  to 
this  author.     This  sketch  thus  reads :  — 

"  During  the  first  half  of  the  war  the  seaboard  defences  of  New 
England   were  sadly,  if  not  purposely,  neglected  by  the  national 
administration.     There  was  a  fort  at  Hunniwells  Point  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Kennebec;  it  had,  however,  but  a  few  guns,  and  these  were 
manned  only  by  a  handful  of  men.     Bath  was  an  important  town, 
fifteen  miles  above  the  fort.     Much  shipping,  as  now,  was  built  and 
owned  there;  but  the  ships  were  rotting  at  the  wharves,  or  had  been 
taken  by  British  cruisers.     The  business  of  the  place,  of  course,  was 
prostrate;  and  the  enemy,  if  he  could  not  take  all  their  vessels  at 
sea,  was  resolved  to  burn  them  up  in  port,  and  if  possible,  burn  the 
town  with  them.     The  fort  was  only  a  temptation  —  no  terror  —  to 
the  foe.     The   Bath  people  were  aware  of  their  exposed  situation; 
and   their   military   companies,  consisting   of   an  artillery,  a  light 
infantry,  and  three  of  militia,  were  tolerably  drilled  and  kept   in 
readiness.     There  was  no  knowing  the  day  when  the  avowed  design 
of  the  enemy  would  be  attempted  upon  the  town;    but  that  the 
assault  would  ere  long  come,  all  believed.     To  be  prepared  for  the 
emergency,  and  to  increase  the  requisite  force  to  the  greatest  extent 
possible,  an  exempt  company  was  formed  and  put,  voluntarily,  on 
duty.     By  the  law  of  Massachusetts,  none  were  obliged  to  bear 
arms  but  able  bodied  men  between  the  ages  of  eighteen  and  forty- 
five  who  had  not  held   military  commissions  and  been   honorably 
discharged.     All  such,  together  with  men  above  forty-five  and  young 
men  under  eighteen,  were  exempt  from  duty.     The  company  alluded 
to  was  formed  of  such  men,  and  it  was  a  very  large  one,  almost  a 
regiment   of    itself,  embracing,  indeed,  nearly  every  man  or  boy 
capable  of  defending  his  home  and  fireside  with  a  musket.     All 
wore   citizen's  dress,   the   officers  being   distinguished  from  their 


g6  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

"  fellow  soldiers  "  only  by  a  cockade  on  the  hat,  an  epaulette  upon 
the  shoulder,  and  a  crimson  sash  about  the  waist.  The  command 
of  this  excellent  and  truly  patriotic  company  was  given  to  Capt. 
Horatio  G.  Allen,  who  had  formerly  commanded  the  Hath  Light 
Infantry  and  been  honorably  discharged.  He  was  an  admirable 
officer,  calm,  ready,  active,  and  thoroughly  skilled  in  military  tactics. 
The  lieutenant  was  William  Torrey,  and  the  ensign  J.  McLellan. 
We  recollect  the  officers  and  many  of  the  company  well;  for  we 
were,  at  that  time,  clerk  in  a  store  at  the  "Corner,"  where  the 
company  met  almost  daily  for  parade  and  drill,  and,  of  course,  we 
were  in  the  midst.  Indeed,  at  the  order  of  our  uncle,  the  captain, 
we  must  needs  join  the  company  ourself,  as  we  did,  in  the  last 
emergency,  and  "  went  to  war  "  with  them.  We  suppose  this  com- 
pany never  was  known  to  the  government,  as  such,  it  being  purely  a 
volunteer  corps,  and  that,  therefore,  no  records  may  now  be  in 
existence  of  its  proceedings.  It  asked  no  compensation;  it  drew 
no  pay;  no  Land  Warrant  ever  turned  up  for  the  benefit  of  one  of 
its  members. 

Did  you  ever  hear  an  alarm  of  fire !  fire !  given  by  a  hundred 
voices  in  the  dead  hour  of  midnight,  when  the  wild  winds  of  heaven, 
in  hurricane  fury,  were  threatening  to  envelope  whole  ranges  of 
buildings  in  flame  ?  But  what  was  that,  pray,  to  the  more  deadly 
shriek,  threatening  the  massacre  of  men,  women,  and  children, 
which  suddenly  rang  through  the  streets  of  Bath,  as  the  awful  roar 
of  cannon,  peal  upon  peal,  was  heard  below,  and  the  war  cry  was 
loud  before  every  man's  door,  —  To  Arms  /  To  Anns  I  The  etiany  is 
coming/  Every  man  to  his  alarm-post ! !  Every  man  to  his  alarm- 
post \  instantly/// 

In  the  "  Bath  Alarm "  the  conscious  terrors  of  a  deadly  strife 
were  as  real  to  those  who  armed  themselves  for  the  defence  of  home 
as  ever  they  were  to  the  more  highly  disciplined  ranks  upon  the 
Canadian  lines. 

It  was  early  on  the  morning  of  a  summer's  day  in  1814,  whilst 
many  of  the  villagers  were  yet  locked  in  the  peaceful  arms  of  sleep, 
that  the  reports  of  heavy  cannonading,  broadside  upon  broadside, 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  97 

suddenly  broke  the  spell,  and  aroused  the  people  of  Bath  to  a 
consciousness  of  impending  danger.  The  heavens  were  calm,  and 
the  earth  was  still;  and  the  gentle  airs  that  drew  up  river  with  the 
(lowing  tide  brought  the  fearful  reverberations  with  great  distinct- 
ness, and  rendered  it  certain  that  the  enemy  was  attempting  to  pass 
the  fort,  in  which  case  no  doubt  could  remain  that  he  would  proceed 
to  execute  his  long  threatened  work  of  demolishing  the  town  and 
destroying  its  extensive  and  valuable  shipping  in  port. 

Anon,  a  courier  on  the  line  that  had  for  some  time  been  kept  up 
between  Bath  and  Phipsburg  came  running  into  town  upon  a  fleet 
horse,  and  proceeded  directly  to  the  mansion  of  Maj.  Gen.  William 
King  (afterwards  Maine's  first  governor),  and  reported  to  these 
head-quarters  that  the  British  had  engaged  and  silenced  the  fort  and 
were  advancing  up  river  in  force.  The  news  flew  like  lightning. 
Forthwith  the  general  himself,  mounted  on  horseback,  in  citizen's 
dress,  was  seen  galloping  through  the  streets,  flourishing  a  drawn 
broadsword,  and  exclaiming,  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  the  fearful 
words,  "  Kvery  man  to  his  alarm-post !  Every  man  to  his  alarm-post, 
instantly  !  1"  It  was  an  awful  cry.  Instantly  the  whole  population 
were  in  commotion;  the  streets  were  full  of  people  —  children 
crying,  women  screaming,  men  running  to  and  fro,  and  not  a  few 
looking  as  if  the  day  of  doom  had  fully  come.  The  most  frightful 
alarm  of  "  fire  ! "  that  we  ever  heard  was  nothing  to  it;  in  that  case, 
property  Jilone  is  generally  endangered;  in  this,  life,  dear  life  itself, 
was  imperiled.  The  prospect  was,  that  some  who  left  their  houses 
that  morning  would  return  no  more  alive.  Meanwhile,  families  were 
engaged  in  removing  their  effects  into  the  woods;  and  some,  that 
had  not  been  into  the  country  for  years,  found  themselves  under 
special  engagements,  just  at  this  time,  to  visit  their  friends  in 
Brunswick  and  elsewhere.  Gen.  Wingate,  who  was  collector  of  the 
port  and  district,  a  wealthy  gentleman,  was  the  owner  of  valuable 
services  of  silver  plate,  and  this,  it  was  said,  at  the  happy  sugges- 
tion of  his  accomplished  lady,  was  thrown  into  the  well.  The 
treasure  of  other  families  was  concealed  in  equally  safe  depositories. 
The  business  of  the  old  turnpike  was  good  that  day,  and  SewalPs 
woods  were  honored  with  larger  whortleberry  parties  than  usual. 


98  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

In  a  short  time  the  major-general,  having  made  his  first  circuit  in 
citizen's  dress,  appeared  in  more  dignity,  mounted  in  military 
costume,  and  visited  the  several  alarm-posts,  where  the  military 
companies  were  rapidly  assembling.  We  dare  say,  his  directions 
were  judicious;  but  soon  he  disappeared,  and  it  was  said  had 
proceeded  to  Brunswick  to  call  out  the  troops  in  that  and  the  neigh- 
boring towns  and  send  them  in  to  the  point  of  danger  as  soon  as 
possible.  We  heard  the  suggestion  made  that  he  should  rather 
have  sent  his  aid-de-camp  on  this  business  and  remained  at  home 
himself  as  the  head  in  command;  we  know  not  how  this  is,  but  as 
it  happened  during  his  absence  the  command  fell  upon  one  who 
had  been  in  actual  service  —  the  best  officer  we  ever  saw  without 
exception  —  Gen.  Denny  McCobb,  who,  at  that  time,  sustained  the 
offices  of  brigadier-general  of  the  local  militia  and  the  colonelcy  of 
a  regiment  of  United  States  infantry,  which  he  was  then  raising  for 
the  Canadian  frontier,  and  which,  happily,  he  had  quartered  then  on 
the  hill  near  the  South  meeting-house.  Gen.  McCobb  had  recently 
returned  from  the  main  army  on  the  lines,  where  he  had  commanded 
a  regiment  in  the  bloody  battle  of  Shattagee  Woods.  He  manifested 
no  excitement;  on  the  contrary,  he  quieted  it  wherever  he  went. 
He  was  cool  and  calm  as  if  at  his  every  day's  work.  The  people 
and  the  troops  he  inspired  with  confidence  and  courage.  A  friendly 
pat  upon  the  shoulder  of  this  one,  a  smile  in  the  face  of  another,  a 
cheering  word  in  the  ear  of  a  third,  and  his  perfect  self-command  in 
the  presence  of  all,  soon  made  the  gathering  troops  feci  that  if  they 
were  to  fight  and  die  under  the  lead  of  any  one,  his  was  the  pres- 
ence in  which  they  would  prefer  to  stand  or  fall.  He  passed  rapidly 
from  company  to  company,  gave  directions  as  to  what  must  be  done 
and  how  to  do  it;  nay,  we  recollect  how  he  set  even  our  young 
hands  at  work  making  ball  cartridges  for  the  cartouches  of  the 
exempt  company  that  had  its  head-quarters  at  our  store.  We  have 
said  above,  and  have  often  told  him  so  to  his  face,  and  we  insist 
upon  it  now,  that  (Jen.  Denny  McCobb  was  the  most  perfect  officer, 
for  actual  service,  we  ever  saw.  His  regiment  of  United  States 
troops  was  not  yet  quite  full;  but  it  was  in  town  and  ready  for 
service.     Gen.  McCobb  had,  therefore,  rightfully  a  double  command 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  99 


— one  as  cofood  of  the  United  States  arar.  and  the  other  as 
brigadier-general  of  the  Massachusetts  militia.  We  knew  severs] 
of  his  subordinate  officers,  one  of  whom,  it  beliere.  is  vet  lrring  is 
Path,  good  Orderly  Sergeant  Hayes,  who  serred  faithfuTJy  tiumugh 
the  war,  returned  to  Bath,  ■hue  he  has  long  lived  is  the  affections 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  has  done  more  good  as  the  apostle  of 
temperance  than  perhaps  anr  other  mas  on  the  Kennebec  Rh"er. 
lie  will  recollect  the  scenes  of  winch  we  speak:  we  should  be  right 
glad  to  have  a  long  **  srt  down  "*  -milt  the  old  apostle,  and  revive  the 
history  of  his  battles  with  King  George  «^  King  AlcohoL 

Never  did  fiieinen  gather  at  their  engine  houses  at  as  alarm  of 
u  fire  !  **  more  rapidly  than  did  tbt  members  of  the  several  mi&tary 
companies  of  Bath  assemble  at  their  usual  placet  of  parade.  It 
seemed  hardly  half  as  hour  before  troop*  w*re  marching  tinough 
the  streets  to  the  spint-strring  nmsk  of  fie  and  drum.  a£  ready  for 
action.  The  corps  to  which  we.  though  but  2  youth  of  six&cen 
years,  belonged  was  the  exempt  compary.  and  wbidb  had  its  rendez- 
vous at  the  store  in  whick  w*:  were  'Sierk-  Or  the  first  alarm,  we 
hastened  to  the  spot,  where  w*  5om»c  our  owr  company  assembling, 
and  saw  the  soldiers  of  other  corps  also  hastening  through  that 
central  point  to  their  sevcra'  armories.  Our  company  was  the 
largest,  and  being  vyiinTneer  was  entitied  v.  ti»e  special  gratitude 
and  attention  of  Gen.  Mc^obt  tiioujrt-  re*!*}  iie  ixad  vj  right  of 
command  over  h.  farther  thai,  at  tint  was  most  cheerfully  and  gfedry 
accorded  to  him.  W*  recoliec!  at  came  iiitt/  our  store,  which  was 
opened  for  convenience  ot  tiie  occasion,  and  oxj  his  own  responsi- 
bility purchased  every  keg  and  pound  of  ponder  it  h.  furnished  the 
balls  himself,  and  set  our  ntmoie  hands,  witi  others,  tc  tlie  work  of 
making  cartridges  as  fast  at  possible-  Meanwhile,  witii  f^ol  Koed 
of  Georgetown  or  Fhipsburg.  vbc  coirffluasidec  the  home  regiment, 
and  other  officers.  lie  was  prttiminj;  tue  *cheine  of  defence,  if  we 
recoDect  aright.  rJapt  Nooie  s  company  of  artillery  was  it,  take 
position  on  King  *  wixarl  atrc  al  the  oid  cannot  and  amtvcit  that 
could  lie  found  re  towr.  were  t^  b*  orougift  tc  tit*  docks  and  placed 
upon  the  decks  *^  censiii  snip*  ttsa*  *er*:  dfMicaiftJed  7  "he  ejfaempt 
company  and  light  rniaufy  w**t  iv  v»  marched  to   th*  lowest   potut 


IOO  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

of  defence,  on  the  shore,  towards  Winnegance,  and  near  an  old 
windmill;  the  United  States  regiment  was  to  support  these  com- 
panies; the  militia  were  to  have  other  stations  above  us,  on  the  shore, 
and  the  troops  from  adjacent  towns,  as  fast  as  they  should  arrive, 
were  to  complete  the  arrangements  for  the  battle.  Meanwhile  the 
English  were  advancing.  They  had  but  fifteen  miles  to  come,  and 
no  time  was  to  be  lost. 

We  do  not  think  it  was  much  over  an  hour,  from  the  time  the  first 
alarm  rang  through  the  streets,  before  the  exempt  company,  which 
had  its  head-quarters  at  our  store,  was  ready  to  march  to  the  post 
assigned  it.  When  we  had  finished  off  the  last  cartridges,  and  the 
soldiers  had  stuffed  their  cartouches  with  them,  and  made  them- 
selves otherwise  ready  for  the  patriotic  duties  before  them,  the 
drums  beat  "  to  arms  ! "  the  roll  was  called,  and  our  uncle,  Capt. 
Allen,  who  had  command,  stepped  into  the  store  where  our  duties 
hitherto  had  kept  us  at  work  for  the  company,  and  gently  placing 
his  hand  upon  our  shoulder  said,  in  his  usually  paternal  mode  of 
address  to  us,  but  not  without  some  emotions  of  anxiety,  "  Come, 
William,  we  must  go;  God  only  knows  the  result,  we  must  do  our 
duty  and  leave  events  to  him;  are  you  ready?"  "All  ready,  uncle." 
"  Well,  then,"  said  he,  putting  the  gun  into  our  hands,  "  step  into 
the  ranks."  We  did  so.  He  gave  orders,  "Music;  come  in  time! 
Company  / — forward  march  /"  and  we  were  on  the  way  to  what  was, 
to  us,  the  supposed  scene  of  action.  Nor  were  we  alone.  The 
sounds  of  martial  music  came  up  from  the  streets,  and  other 
companies  were  crossing  our  path  for  their  allotted  posts  of  duty. 
Meanwhile  Gen.  McCobb  met  us  on  the  march,  complimented  us 
for  our  activity  in  preparation,  and  inspired  us  with  his  own  calm 
and  fearless  spirit. 

In  less,  we  should  think,  than  two  hours,  there  were  five  com- 
panies of  home  troops,  and  what  there  was  of  a  regiment  of  United 
States  infantry,  in  position  to  receive  the  enemy.  And  it  was 
wonderful  with  what  alacrity  the  troops  came  in  from  Brunswick 
and  the  adjacent  towns.  They  came,  it  seemed  to  us,  sooner  than 
fire  companies  would  have  collected  had  Bath  been  in  Haines. 
Before  noon,  our  ears  and  eyes  were  cheered  with  the  sound  and 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  IOI 

sight  of  co-patriot  forces  marching  over  the  hill  to  our  assistance. 
In  such  time,  one  feels  the  benefit  of  a  common  government,  a 
common  brotherhood,  and  a  common  cause. 

Our  position  was  the  lowest  on  the  river,  and  must  be  the  first  to 
salute  the  enemy  when  he  should  appear.     Word,  from  time  to  time, 
was  received  by  boats  and  persons  from  below  that  the   British, 
after  passing  the  fort,  had  embarked  in  a  great  number  of  barges, 
and  in  this  shape  would  approach  for  a  landing  in  the  town.     How 
much  truth  there  was  in  the  varying  reports  that  reached  us  we  do 
not  now  know,  but  we  do  recollect  very  well   that  there  was  no 
moment  after  we  reached  our  station  in  which  we  were  not  looking 
with  strained  eyes  for  the  fleet  of  barges  to  round  the  point  and 
become  the  objects  of  our  sharp  shooting.     It  is  said  that  a  Yankee 
in  battle  has  no  fear  if  he  can  fire  through  the  crevices  of  a  board 
fence.     We  were  better  protected  than  that.     Fortunately  a  large 
mill  log  laid  upon  the  shore,  abreast  of  where  we  stood,  and  after 
reconnoitcring  that  to  advantage,  we  found  how  securely  we  could 
crouch  behind  that  fortunate  bulwark,  and,  resting  our  gun  over  the 
upper  surface  of  it  long  enough  to  take  sight  and  pull  trigger,  dodge 
down  again  to  prime  and  load,  and  then  take  new  sight  and  give  the 
enemy  "  a  little  more  grape."     Our  courage  was  more  in  the  log, 
however,    than  in  our  heart,  for   that,  at   times,  we  confess,  was 
inclined  to  be  faint.     At  one  moment  —  we  have  no  concealment 
now  to  make  —  we  looked  over  the  plain  very  wishfully,  and  if  no 
eye  but  God's  had  seen  us,  most  probably  we  should  have  fulfilled 
our  desire  to  leave  the  open  ranks  and  take  a  better  position  in  the 
old  windmill  not  far  hence. 

The  alarm  of  that  day  spread  through  the  country  and  the  state, 
whereupon  Gov.  Strong  ordered  out  the  militia  by  heavy  drafts. 
The  troops  of  Gen.  King's  and  Gen.  Sewall's  divisions  were  ordered 
to  Bath  and  Wiscasset,  and  were  on  duty  fortifying  Cox's  Head  and 
Edgecomb  Point  all  that  autumn.  The  events  of  that  campaign  are 
now  matters  of  history." 

By  John  Hayden. 

Our  military  force  took  a  position  on  Davis  wharf,  now  owned  by 
Houghton  Brothers,  where  they  placed  some  old  cannon,  which  they 


102  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

found  lying  on  the  wharf,  on  a  pile  of  timber  and  calmly  awaited 
the  enemy.  The  supply  of  muskets  proving  short,  the  colonel 
called  for  volunteers  to  go  and  search  for  more,  which  was  readily 
responded  to  and  by  "one  in  particular"  who  obtained  an  unen- 
viable notoriety  by  his  part  of  the  performance,  but  who  shall  be 
nameless  as  he  has  long  since  gone  to  rest.  Peace  to  his  ashes  1 
Being  firmly  convinced,  no  doubt,  that  the  better  part  of  valor  was 
discretion,  he  placed  himself  in  the  attic  of  Robert  Lemont's  house, 
afterwards  owned  and  occupied  by  John  Smith,  where  he  could 
descry  the  enemy  on  his  emergence  from  Fiddlers  Reach  and  be  in 
a  good  position  himself  to  notify  his  fellow  citizens  of  that  event,  or 
to  remove  still  further  from  danger.  His  whereabouts  was  made 
known,  and  a  corporal's  guard  sent  to  arrest  the  deserter,  which 
they  accordingly  did  and  brought  him  to  head-quarters.  Luckily  for 
him  the  scare  was  over  (it  was  late  in  the  afternoon),  and  he  was  let 
off  by  standing  treat  all  round,  which  he  responded  to  by  procuring 
a  barrel  of  rum,  soon  making  lively  times  among  the  brave 
defenders. 

I  well  remember  being  at  Miss  Henrietta  Holmes'  school  on  the 
forenoon  of  that  day,  in  the  old  conference  rooms  of  the  North 
church,  which  was  in  the  second  story  of  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Capt.  Work,  then  owned  and  occupied  by  Deacon  Nicholas  L. 
Mitchell,  when  Thomas  Marsh,  son  of  Deacon  Caleb  Marsh,  rushed 
in  hastily,  informed  Miss  Holmes  that  the  enemy  might  be  upon  us 
at  any  moment,  and  advised  the  immediate  dismissal  of  the  school 
that  the  children  might  be  under  the  care  of  their  parents.  Some 
of  the  six-year-olds  made  valorous  remarks  on  that  occasion,  declar- 
ing they  would  shoot  all  the  Britishers  that  came  near  them  ! 

Many  of  the  inhabitants  left  Bath  at  that  time,  taking  their  most 
valuable  effects  with  them  away  from  the  sea-board,  out  of  reach  of 
the  enemy.  Some  companies  of  militia  were  quartered  here  for  a 
time,  part  occupying  a  long  store-house  which  stood  on  King's  wharf 
where  the  landing  of  Knox  &  Lincoln  Railroad  now  is;  another 
party  being  quartered  in  a  house  on  Western  Avenue  which  long 
retained  the  appellation  of  Barracks. 

In  that  year  the  fort  on  Cocks  Head  was  built  —  an  earthwork — 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  IO3 

the  earth  for  which  was  carried  up  on  hand-barrows.  1  well  remem- 
ber the  sad  complaints  of  a  neighbor's  son,  several  years  my  senior, 
who  was  employed  there,  of  the  hardness  of  the  task  ascending  that 
steep  hill  with  a  load  of  dirt.  A  large  part  of  that  earth  has  since 
been  washed  down  the  hill  through  neglect,  it  not  having  been 
deemed  of  sufficient  importance;  but  as  that  hill  dominates  all 
around,  and  guns  have  a  long  range  in  these  modern  times,  the 
possession  of  that  hill  may  be  of  great  importance  at  some  future 
time. 

During  the  war  of  18 12,  the  sufferings  of  the  people  in  this 
vicinity  were  very  severe.  Not  only  was  our  foreign  commerce 
annihilated,  but  our  coastwise  trade  was  almost  completely  sus- 
pended by  the  constant  blockade  kept  up  by  English  cruisers,  which 
entailed  great  hardship  on  the  inhabitants  by  cutting  off  their 
supplies,  and  also  kept  them  in  constant  fear  of  a  descent  by  the 
enemy  on  our  coast  and  the  plundering  and  burning  of  our  towns. 

When  that  cruel  war  was  over  and  the  news  of  peace  arrived,  the 
people  were  wild  with  joy.  On  the  afternoon  of  that  day,  February 
*5>  18 1 5,  —  a  bright  and  beautiful,  day  but  very  cold,  —  the  citizens 
marched  through  the  principal  streets  with  a  white  flag,  on  which 
the  word  "  Peace  *'  was  displayed  in  large  letters,  while  everything 
indicative  of  war  was  discarded.  The  bells  on  the  old  North  and 
South  rang  out  a  merry  peal.  Everybody  was  elated;  some  of  the 
boys  who  had  been  promised  a  new  hat  when  peace  came,  so  much 
so  that  they  immediately  tore  their  old  hats  to  pieces  and  threw 
them  away,  going  bare-headed  the  rest  of  the  day  notwithstanding 
the  inclemency  of  the  weather.  In  the  entry  of  the  North  meeting- 
house (and  the  South  may  have  been  the  same  for  aught  I  know)  a 
table  was  placed  near  one  end,  a  board  resting  on  two  barrels  at  the 
other,  over  which  liquors  were  passed  in  a  lively  manner  to  thirsty 
souls.  When  I  arrived  there,  sundry  of  those  souls  were  in  an 
oblivious  state,  lying  rolled  up  against  the  partition  dead  drunk;  the 
rest  were  fast  coming  to  that  state,  but  in  the  meantime  constituted 
the  most  boisterous  and  noisy  crowd  I  have  ever  been  in  the  vicinity 
of,  far  exceeding  that  at  Davis  wharf  on  Alarm  day.  The  noise  in 
the  entry  of  the  North  meeting-house  was  so  tremendous  that  the 


104  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

bell  could  not  be  heard,  notwithstanding  one  of  the  doors  was 
constantly  open;  this  circumstance  gave  rise  to  a  question  which 
was  much  debated  by  the  boys  the  ensuing  week.  The  question 
was,  "  Can  the  bell  on  a  meeting-house  ever  be  heard  inside  the 
building  ? "  Opinions  were  strong  in  the  negative,  and  several  of 
us  made  it  a  point  the  next  Sunday  to  get  inside  before  the  ringing 
of  the  bell  ceased;  the  result  was  most  satisfactory  and  decisive. 

On  the  day  of  the  "  great  alarm "  several  cannon  were  in  the 
town,  but  there  were  no  carriages  attached  to  them;  consequently 
they  were  taken  to  Davis  wharf  and  mounted  on  a  pile  of  boards 
that  happened  to  be  on  the  wharf  at  the  time,  and  pointed  towards 
the  entrance  to  Fiddlers  Reach,  all  shotted  to  sink  the  English 
barges  when  they  should  emerge  into  Long  Reach.  After  the  war 
these  cannon  remained  many  years  on  Houghton  wharf,  which  was 
formerly  Davis  wharf.  After  all  alarm  was  over,  a  barrel  of  liquor 
was  taken  to  the  wharf  and  a  grand  good  time  was  indulged  in  by 
the  brave  defenders." 

Military  on  Duty.  —  The  brigade  was  called  out  again  Sept. 
10,  1 8 14,  on  account  of  the  British  war  ship  La  Hogue  anchoring 
off  Seguin.  The  full  Bath  regiment  was  stationed  at  Cocks  Head, 
Col.  Andrew  Reed  in  command,  from  Sept.  10  to  Oct.  1.  It  was 
the  harvest  season  of  the  year,  making  it  very  inconvenient  for 
farmers  on  military  duty  to  be  away  from  home.  The  officers  of 
companies  and  the  men  became  restive.  The  colonel  in  command 
was  greatly  annoyed  by  applications  for  furloughs,  which  he  was 
unable  to  grant  by  orders  from  the  general  officers  that  only  one- 
tenth  of  a  company  should  be  off  on  furlough  at  the  same  time. 
The  companies  were  from  Bath,  Woolwich,  Arrowsic,  Georgetown, 
and  Phipsburg.  The  selectmen  of  each  town  were  required  to 
supply  commissaries  for  the  men  from  their  respective  towns 

Maj.-Gen.  William  King  and  Brig.-Gen.  Denny  McCobb,  who 
had  returned  on  furlough  from  the  United  States  army,  had  their 
head-quarters  at  Bath,  and  only  occasionally  visited  this  regiment, 
as  other  regiments  were  out  on  duty  at  Bath  and  at  eastern  towns, 
thus  imposing  greater  responsibilities  upon  the  colonel  in  command 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  105 

at  the  mouth  of  the  river.  In  the  foit  at  Hunniwells  Point,  Capt. 
Wilson  was  in  command  of  a  company  of  United  States  troops. 
Capt.  Wilson  was  very  unpopular  with  the  militia. 

The  Fort.  —  It  was  built  of  brick,  on  a  solid  ledge,  on  the 
extreme  of  Hunniwells  Point,  exactly  the  site  of  the  present  fort. 
It  was  mounted  with  a  few  cannon  of  no  great  consequence,  Pond 
Island  being  barely  within  range  of  the  cannon  that  were  mounted 
at  its  port-holes.  Four  cannon  were  taken  from  this  fort  and 
mounted  on  Cocks  Head  when  a  fortification  was  built  there  in  18 14. 

The  highest  field  officers  of  a  regiment  were  a  "  lieutenant-colonel 
commanding"  with  two  majors.  The  only  major  on  duty  was 
William  Burke  of  15ath,  and  while  on  parade  his  horse  reared  and 
plunged,  throwing  him  to  the  ground,  when  he  was  so  badly  injured 
that  he  was  afterwards  unable  to  be  on  duty,  thus  leaving  the 
colonel  increased  field  duties.  It  was  no  small  matter  for  an  officer 
having  the  entire  responsibility  of  the  situation,  in  face  of  an  enemy 
that  might  attempt  a  landing  at  any  time,  to  conform  to  all  of  the 
strict  rules  of  war  with  which  he  could  not  be  expected  to  be 
familiar,  and  an  investigation  held  after  the  close  of  the  war  into 
the  military  management  of  the  Cocks  Head  campaign  unanimously 
sanctioned  everything  done  by  the  colonel  in  command,  and  his 
course  was  fully  approved  by  the  governor  of  Massachusetts,  under 
whose  orders  the  militia  was  called  out,  and  that  officer  was  subse- 
quently promoted  to  a  higher  grade.  Maj.-Gen.  King  and  Brig.- 
Gen.  McCobb  united  in  testimony  approving  the  manner  in  which 
the  colonel  commanding  had  acquitted  himself  in  performance  of 
the  duties  that  devolved  upon  him. 

Some  fifty  years  later  Congress  conferred  pensions  on  the  surviv- 
ing officers  and  soldiers,  or  their  widows,  of  the  war  of  181 2,  which 
proved  a  boon  to  many  worthy  people. 

"Andrew  Reed  was  promoted  to  full  colonel  by  commission  of 
Governor  Strong  of  Massachusetts  in  18 16." 

One  Sunday  while  at  Cocks  Head,  no  vessel  of  the  enemy  being 
in  sight,  the  colonel,  leaving  a  rear  guard,  marched  the  regiment  to 


106  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

the  Center  to  attend  church,  the  distance  being  about  three  miles. 
It  gave  a  change  for  the  men  whose  life  in  camp  had  become 
irksome. 

Battle  With  the  Barges.  —  One  clear  day,  about  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  some  large  barges  put  out  from  the  La  Hogue 
loaded  with  armed  men  and  rowed  directly  for  Sheepscot  River. 
They  made  a  landing  on  Sprout's  Point,  where  our  people  had  four 
guns,  which  the  enemy  seized  and  spiked.  It  is  said  they  took 
some  sheep.  This  point  is  on  the  inside  of  Bartols  Island.  Col. 
Andrew  Reed,  in  command  at  Cocks  Head,  detailed  one  Phipsburg 
company  and  the  Parkers  Island  company,  the  latter  under  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Richard  Hagan,  the  former  under  Capt.  Ellis  Percy, 
to  cross  the  river  to  the  island.  The  troops  crossed  in  gondolas. 
The  two  companies  landed  at  Rogers  Point;  the  tide  was  down  and 
the  men  waded  across  the  flats  to  Parkers  Island,  across  which  they 
immediately  proceeded.  When  the  military  force  reached  the  east 
shore  of  Parkers  Island,  the  barges  had  commenced  their  return 
voyage  as  far  as  Sand  Beach  Cove,  a  strong  south-cast  wind  driving 
them  near  the  shore.  An  advance  of  twenty  men  reached  the  cove 
to  reconnoiter.  Finding  the  barges,  they  immediately  commenced 
firing,  while  the  main  body  of  troops  was  stationed  farther  south. 
The  barges  were  within  200  or  300  yards  of  the  shore  where  the 
main  body  had  concealed  themselves  behind  what  is  termed  "  high 
rock.11  As  soon  as  they  were  abreast  this  point,  the  men  arose  and 
gave  them  a  sharp  volley.  This  caused  the  barges  to  shove  off,  the 
rowers  pulling  to  their  utmost,  while  the  men  on  shore  loaded  and 
fired  as  fast  as  possible.  The  barges  replied  with  small  arms,  the 
balls  whizzing  over  the  heads  of  our  men.  One  barge  had  a  swivel 
cannon  on  board,  which  was  put  in  action  as  soon  as  practicable, 
but  the  shots  did  no  damage,  going  over  the  heads  of  our  men, 
being  aimed  too  high.  A  musket  ball  struck  the  barrel  of  a  musket 
held  by  John  Hunt,  shattered  it,  and  glancing  upwards  went  through 
his  hat.  No  man  on  shore  was  injured.  During  the  contest  the 
colonel  finding  one  detachment  missing,  and  having  no  aid,  went 
himself  and  quickly  brought  them  under  fire  while  the  enemy  was 
within  range. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  IO7 

Cannon  balls  that  had  been  fired  from  the  barges  were  afterwards 
picked  up,  and  one  of  them  was  kept  a  long  time  in  the  dwelling- 
house  of  Capt.  Geo.  F.  Manson  at  Bath.  His  early  days  were 
passed  near  where  the  battle  took  place.  It  is  a  tradition  that 
when  the  barges  were  aiming  for  the  Sheepscot  River  they  were  kept 
close  in  shore,  and  a  voice  could  be  heard  on  shore  giving  direc- 
tions for  steering,  which  led  those  hearing  it  to  say,  "  Tories  on 
board."  It  is  also  said  that  the  British  ships  in  the  offing  were 
supplied  with  mutton  and  provisions  from  Wiscasset,  where  there 
was  at  the  time  a  lively  demand  for  sheep. 

As  Gen.  King  was  not  that  day  with  the  regiment,  the  colonel 
took  the  responsibility  of  detailing  these  companies  for  the  service 
without  orders,  and  his  action  was  afterwards  approved  by  the 
major-general. 

More  Barges*  —  A  detachment  of  militia  of  Georgetown  was 
stationed  near  Riggsville  while  the  old  La  Hogue  lay  off  Seguin 
and  was  sending  barges  to  the  Sheepscot  for  supplies.  At  one  time 
a  barge  landed  at  a  cove  near  Fire  Islands,  and  while  there  and  the 
men  on  shore  depredating,  the  tide  ran  out  and  left  the  barge 
aground.  The  detachment  became  aware  of  the  enemy's  presence 
and  made  a  movement  to  capture  them,  but  before  they  reached  the 
vicinity  of  the  barge  the  tide  had  risen  and  floated  her  off,  when 
with  her  crew  aboard  she  was  headed  for  the  ship.  The  militia, 
however,  got  near  enough  to  give  her  one  full  volley,  and  before  the 
muskets  could  be  reloaded  the  barge  had  been  rowed  beyond  range. 
They  were  certain  that  a  number  of  the  English  were  killed,  and 
drums  and  fifes  on  board  the  barge  struck  up  apparently  to  drown 
the  cries  of  the  wounded.  Cannon  shot  were  fired  from  the  barge, 
one  of  which  was  picked  up  on  the  land  and  was  kept  for  years  in 
the  house  of  a  Mr.  McKinney.  At  one  subsequent  time,  when  a 
barge  had  been  up  and  was  returning  from  the  Little  Sheepscot, 
Mr.  McKinney  being  alone  and  in  ambush  had  three  well-aimed 
shots  at  the  barge,  picking  out  a  lieutenant  who  was  walking  back 
and  forth  on  the  barge,  and  as  he  suddenly  disappeared  there  was 
reason  to  infer  he  had  been  struck  by  one  of  these  shots. 


108  HISTORY  OF    BATH. 

There  were  several  alarms.  One  was  occasioned  at  Hath  by  the 
coming  up  ship,  Mount  Hope,  belonging  to  Hill  &  McCobb,  which 
had  been  lying  at  their  wharf  in  Phipsburg,  but  which  they  sent  up 
the  river  for  safety,  the  appearance  of  which  alarmed  the  Hath 
people. 

Major  Harward  was  a  private  in  a  cavalry  company,  afterwards 
promoted  to  major.  He  says:  "When  the  English  men  of  war 
were  stationed  off  the  mouth  of  the  river,  the  Bowdoinham  com- 
panies were  ordered  to  Bath,  and  his  company  detached  to  reconnoitre 
at  Hunni wells  Point.  They  approached  the  fort  by  the  way  of  the 
beach.  Their  plumes  were  seen  before  the  horses  came  in  sight, 
and  a  cannon  was  pointed  towards  them,  shotted,  and  match  ready 
to  fire,  fearing  they  were  from  the  war  ship,  but  the  sight  of  the 
horses  soon  dispelled  that  idea.  Returning  to  Hath,  the  cavalry 
detachment  were  ordered  to  keep  their  horses  ready  to  mount  at  a 
moment's  notice,  though  it  seemed  ridiculous  to  suppose  that  the 
enemy  would  face  so  large  an  opposing  force.11 

The  colonel  commanding  at  Cocks  Head  had  his  headquarters  at 
the  large,  two-story,  square  house  of  Capt.  Ellis  Percy.  His  orderly 
was  his  second  son,  Samuel  Denny  Reed,  who  at  one  time  was 
acting  adjutant.  The  companies  were  encamped  apart  for  want  of 
a  convenient  place  to  camp  as  a  regiment.  In  building  the  fortifica- 
tions on  Cocks  Head,  a  large  portion  of  the  sods  were  brought  in 
gondolas  from  the  foot  of  Reed's  Neck,  taken  from  the  property 
owned  by  the  colonel,  for  which  he  never  received  pay.  The  troops 
disliked  their  labor,  especially  carrying  the  sods  on  hand-barrows  to 
the  top  of  the  Head,  which  is  very  steep  on  the  river  side.  It  was 
impossible  for  their  officers  to  keep  them  under  discipline,  as  they 
insisted  that  they  were  called  out  to  handle  muskets,  and  not  to  do 
such  work.  Desertions  were  frequent,  and  subordinate  officers  were 
continually  detailed  to  bring  them  back.  The  rules  of  war  made 
desertion  punishable  with  death,  but  these  delinquents  were  only 
kept  in  a  dark  room  for  a  time.  Capt.  Patrick  Drummond,  living 
near  the  Center  Village,  had  several  sons  in  the  ranks.  Finding 
them  one  day  all  at  home,  he  asked  if  they  had  leave  of  absence; 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  IO9 

when  they  said  they  had  not,  he  exclaimed,  "  Run  back,  boys,  run 
for  your  lives,"  and  they  ran. 

The  stationing  of  this  regiment  at  the  entrance  to  the  river  saved 
Bath  from  pillage  and  the  destruction  of  the  large  amount  of  ship- 
ping then  lying  at  this  port.  The  British  war  vessels  that  at  times 
anchored  off  Seguin,  threatening  Bath,  were  provided  with  large 
barges  for  sending  into  rivers  on  this  coast,  each  capable  of  carrying 
a  company  of  armed  men  and  a  swivel  cannon,  to  go  where  war 
ships  could  not  enter.  These  barges  had  done  great  damage  in 
rivers  east  of  the  Kennebec.  With  a  regiment  occupying  so  advan- 
tageous a  position  as  was  that  of  Cocks  Head,  commanding  as  it 
does  the  entrance  of  the  river,  a  narrow  passage  of  it  at  the  Head 
and  an  extended  stretch  of  the  river  on  the  north,  no  flotilla  of 
barges  could  have  passed  or  re-passed  that  strategetical  point 
without  entire  destruction  of  the  men  on  board  of  them.  This 
condition  of  the  situation  the  commanders  of  the  English  war  ships 
well  knew.  Besides,  the  improvised  fort  that  was  constructed  on 
the  summit  of  Cocks  Head,  and  on  which  cannon  were  mounted, 
gave  them  full  range  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  and  a  long  reach 
above.  At  the  same  time  the  natural  elevation  of  the  Head  itself 
was  a  natural  fortress,  so  elevated  that  shots  from  an  approaching 
foe  discharged  from  the  water  would  either  be  embedded  in  the 
earth  of  its  sides  or  go  far  over  the  heads  of  the  artillery  men 
stationed  on  its  top.  Thus  it  was  that  the  service  these  soldiers 
rendered  was  not  in  repelling  invasion  of  hostile  forces  by  actual 
conflict,  but  their  presence  in  front  of  the  enemy  prevented  the 
possible  shedding  of  blood,  the  sacking  of  a  town,  and  the  burning 
of  its  valuable  shipping. 

The  men  who  composed  the  rank  and  file  of  this  regiment  may 
have  been,  and  afterwards  were,  jeered  at  as  mere  "  soldiering " 
down  there.  They  were  mostly  fanners,  who  had  to  leave  their 
unprotected  families,  their  flocks  and  their  herds,  and  their  fields, 
at  the  harvest  season  of  the  year,  and  that  on  the  small  pay  of  eight 
dollars  a  month  receivable  in  the  distant  future.  Instead  of  making 
a  series  of  holidays  of  their  encampment,  they  seriously  grumbled 
at  the  personal  sacrifices  they  were  compelled  to  make,  and  largely 


IIO  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

rebelled  at  their  enforced  retention  for  duty  when  no  fighting  was  to 
be  done,  but  no  end  of  the  drudgery  of  carrying  sods  up  a  long 
ascent  in  the  heat  of  dog  days,  when  they  had  supposed  to  have 
been  called  out  to  handle  muskets  and  not  sods.  Consequently, 
strict  military  discipline  was  impossible  to  be  enforced  with  men 
who  had  been  all  their  lives  accustomed  to  the  largest  individual 
liberty  of  action,  and  were  the  neighbors  and  friends  of  the  officers, 
and  many  of  whom  believed  themselves  their  equals  in  social  life. 
The  officers  and  soldiers  were  simply  citizens,  unused  to  military 
discipline  in  actual  service,  yet  there  were,  even  at  such  a  time  as 
this,  lookers-on,  chiefly  young  men  disappointed  in  their  ambitious 
aspirations,  who  became  self-appointed  critics  of  this  hastily  gath- 
ered little  army  on  the  Kennebec.     They  ivcrc  not  there! 

Major  Zhiii  HyuVn  Record  of  Wur  Time*.      Perhaps  the 

readiest  means  of  relating  the  part  that  Hath  took  in  this  contest 
with  Great  Britain  is  to  insert  extracts  from  a  diary  kept  by  Major 
Zina  Hyde,  relating  the  events  in  which  he  had  a  very  active  and 
prominent  part,  at  first  as  adjutant  of  the  Bath  regiment,  and  later 
as  brigade-major,  to  which  office  he  was  appointed  Sept.  9,  18 14,  by 
Brig.-Gen.  Denny  McCobb. 

"Aug.  28,  181 1.  Was  called  on  by  Maj.  Andrew  Reed  to  know  if 
I  will  accept  the  appointment  of  adjutant  of  the  1st  Reg.,  1st  Brig., 
nth  Div.  At  first  my  feelings  very  strongly  opposed  the  idea  of 
leaving  the  Bath  Light  Infantry,  which  impowers  me  almost  to  make 
a  positive  refusal,  and  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  Maj.  Clap 
called  and  proposed  the  same  subject,  at  which  I  agreed  to  take  it 
into  consideration.  (  He  was  sergeant  in  the  light  infantry.)  In  a 
few  days  Col.  Denny  McCobb  proposed  the  subject  to  me,  when  I 
agreed  to  take  upon  me  the  adjutancy  as  above. 

Sept.  13.  Maj.  Jos.  F.  Wingate  newly  appointed  aid-de-camp  to 
Gen.  King.     His  uniform  and  equipments  are  truly  elegant. 

Oct.  28.  Zina  Hyde  became  adjutant  of  1st  Reg.,  1st  Brig.,  nth 
Div.,  and  on  duty  on  that  day  of  muster  for  first  time.  The  regi- 
ment is  reviewed  by  Maj.-Gen.  King,  Col.  McCobb  acting  as  briga- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  Ill 

dier-general,  and  Maj.  Nath'l  Coffin  as  inspector.  (  Maj.  Reed  in 
command  of  the  regiment.)  The  day  being  uncommonly  fine,  we 
got  through  and  dismissed  in  good  season,  after  which  the  officers 
were  all  invited  to  partake  of  a  generous  entertainment  at  Gen. 
King's,  where  about  forty  of  us  met  and  spent  a  part  of  the  evening 
very  pleasantly. 

Oct.  29.  Very  pleasant.  Accompanied  Gen.  King,  Col.  McCobb, 
and  about  fourteen  other  officers  to  Brunswick,  where  we  attended 
the  reviewing  of  one  regiment  of  infantry,  one  battalion  of  cavalry, 
and  one  battalion  of  artillery,  after  which  forty  officers  partook,  at 
Washington  Hall,  of  a  sumptuous  entertainment  provided  by  Gen. 
King,  and  returned  to  Bath  between  8  and  9  o'clock. 

Dec.  25.  During  the  past  year  had  my  military  situation  changed 
from  that  of  sergeant  in  light  infantry  to  the  adjutancy  of  the  regi- 
ment, a  berth  which  was  unsought  by  me,  but  urged  upon  me  by 
the  field  officers  of  the  regiment. 

July  4,  18 1 2.     Capt.  Clap  elected  major. 

July  25,  H.  G.  Allen  elected  captain  of  Bath  Light  Infantry  in 
room  of  Capt.  Clap,  promoted  to  major;  Wm.  Stevens,  1st  lieu- 
tenant, and  Wm.  Torrey,  ensign. 

Sept.  3.  Major  Andrew  Reed  promoted  to  the  command  of  the 
first  regiment  of  the  first  brigade  and  eleventh  division,  and  Capt. 
William  Bouck  and  Capt.  Joseph  Trott  elected  majors. 

Oct.  5.  Regimental  muster  was  at  Arrowsic,  opposite  Phipsburg 
Center. 

Thursday,  Sept.  16,  18 13.  Collected  the  companies  of  the 
regiment  with  artillery  and  band  at  the  South  meeting-house  and 
marched  them  out  to  the  common,  where  paraded  and  formed  the 
regiment  after  going  through  the  inspection  (Col.  A.  Reed  com- 
manding); great  improvement  having  been  made  in  the  equipment 
of  the  regiment  since  the  last  year.  (Jen.  Dearborn  appeared  on 
the  parade  on  foot.  The  regiment  marched  down  town,  where  they 
were  dismissed;  after  which  accompanied  the  field  officers  to  Gen. 


112  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Ring's,  where  we  partook  of  an  excellent  dinner  with  the  general 
officers,  Gen.  Dearborn,  Mr.  Jenks,  and  a  number  of  other  officers 
and  private  gentlemen. 

Jan.  19,  1814.  Dined  at  Maj.  Joseph  F.  Wingatc's  with  Hrig.- 
Gen.  Denny  McCobb,  lately  returned  from  the  Northern  army. 
Maj.  Clap  and  Capt.  Wm.  Torry  consulted  on  the  subject  of  uniting 
the  two  militia  companies  in  this  town  for  the  purpose  of  preserving 
the  independent  companies. 

Thursday.  Conversed  with  Capt.  Low  on  the  subject  of  uniting 
his  company  with  Capt.  Davenport's  company,  with  regard  to  which 
he  appeared  very  accommodating  and  expressed  a  willingness  to 
take  a  lieutenant's  commission  under  Capt.  Davenport  should  the 
thing  be  effected  and  he  be  chosen. 

Sept.  9,  181 4.  Inspecting  troops.  P.M.  called  on  Maj.  Clap, 
who  proposed  the  subject  of  my  being  appointed  brigade-major  and 
inspector,  to  which  proposition,  after  some  hesitation,  I  consented. 
Evening.  Employed  in  packing  a  part  of  our  goods  to  send  them 
to  the  back  part  of  the  town  out  of  the  way  of  the  British  should 
they  land.     (  Major  Hyde  kept  a  store.) 

Sept.  10.  Received  an  order  from  Gen.  McCobb,  at  10  o'clock, 
to.be  distributed  to  the  several  colonels  of  his  brigade,  containing 
my  appointment  as  acting  brigade-major,  which  duty  I  continued  to 
perform  with  increased  interest;  Capt.  Nathan  Ames  also  appointed 
aid  to  Gen.  McCobb.  At  1  o'clock  Gen.  King  returned  from  the 
east  with  intelligence  that  the  British  had  left  Castine  with  seven 
ships  and  were  proceeding  westward.  Continued  packing  and  send- 
ing off  goods.  Gen.  Denny  McCobb,  who  had  been  in  the  regular 
army  under  Gen.  Hampton,  was  determined  to  have  the  troops, 
about  1500,  under  complete  duty  and  order,  and  had  now  brought  it 
about;  and  the  notions  of  our  duty  being  once  settled  and  under- 
stood became  pleasant,  though  laborious  for  some  officers. 

19th.  Maj.  Clap  returned  partly  to  his  duty;  informed  of  some 
dissatisfaction  expressed  by  Col.  Thomas  Merrill  and  Maj.  Esta- 
brook  on  account  of  it. 


f.g./ZP+xaz, 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  113 

Saturday,  Sept.  11,  1814.  On  the  return  of  Gen.  King  (from 
Wiscasset),  he  ordered  out  the  entire  brigade,  which  being  now 
arriving  I  was  occupied  the  whole  day  most  actively  in  viewing, 
inspecting,  and  ordering  to  their  quarters  the  different  corps  of 
militia  as  they  arrived. 

Killing  of  Lieut.  Baker. 

Monday.     Completed  the  inspection  of  Col.  Thomas'  regiment 
and  attended  to  other  military  duty.     P.M.     An  alarm  having  re- 
quired the  cavalry  to  be  ordered  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec 
before  being  inspected  and  they  having  returned,  ordered  to  proceed 
in  the  inspection  of  this  corps  under  command  of  Maj.  Benj.  Ames; 
and  Aid-de-camp   N.  Ames  ordered  to  assist  me  for  dispatch,  he 
having  once  commanded  a  company  of  cavalry.     The  battalion  was 
accordingly  paraded  near  the  South  meeting-house,  and  with  the 
rolls  of  the  two  respective  companies  in  my  hand,  I  took  a  stand 
with  Mr.  Ames  in  front  of  the  line  and  a  little  to  the  left  of  the 
commanding   officers,    lieutenants,   &c.     On   calling  the  individual 
troopers,  they  advanced  to  us  for  inspection,  when  I  thought  the 
pistols  were  charged,  but  on  my  objecting  to  inspect  them  in  that 
condition   was  informed  that,  having  returned  with  them  so,  they 
had  orders  not  to  discharge  them,  and  that  the  captains  had  just 
inspected  them  in  that  condition;  concluded  to  proceed.     In   exam- 
ining the  pistols  I  turned  the  muzzle  to  the  ground,  but  Capt.  Ames 
turned  those  he  took  in  hand  up.     In  this  way  we  had  nearly  com- 
pleted the  inspection  when  one  of  the  pistols  in  Capt.  Ames'  hands 
went  off  and  the  ball  passed  through  the  head  of  Lieut.  Baker,  who 
was  seated  on  his  horse  behind  Capt.  Ames.     This  was  an  awful 
moment.     On  turning  I  saw  one  of  our  finest  officers  and  a  highly 
valued  citizen  fall  upon  the  ground  with  no  sign  of  life  but  a  slight 
muscular  quivering.     I  was  hardly  more  than  conscious  of  the  report 
when  all  was  over,  and  nothing  to  be  done  but  to  remove  the  body 
lifeless  from  the  parade,  which  was  done  by  the  other  officers,  N. 
Ames  accompanying  them  in  deep  distress  to  the  house  of  C.  A. 
Green,  brother-in-law  of  Lieut.  Baker.     My  duty  requiring  me  not 
to  leave  my  post  until  the  completion  of  the  inspection,  which  done 


114  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

all,  retired  in  silent  gloom,  more  depressed  Jhan  if  many  had  fallen 
from  an  attack  of  the  enemy.  On  leaving  the  ground  for  the  Gen- 
eral's quarters  I  met  Maj.  Ames  and  Capt.  Winter,  his  adjutant,  in 
a  state  of  agitation,  and  both  were  struck  dumb  on  knowing  that 
Capt.  Ames  was  the  unfortunate  medium  of  the  accident. 

Wednesday.  Attended  funeral  of  Lieut.  Baker  ^a$  Topsham,  an 
affecting  duty  and  scene.     A  widow  and  two  little  children  left. 

17  th.  Meeting  of  officers  at  Gen.  King's,  and  it  appeared  that 
no  blame  was  to  be  attached  to  any  one  for  the  death  of  Lieut. 
Baker." 

Lieut.  Baker  had  been  major  in  an  infantry  regiment;  was  young 
and  highly  esteemed  as  a  man  and  officer.  He  was  father  of  Daniel 
F.  Baker,  who  was  for  many  years  cashier  of  the  Sagadahoc  Bank. 
Opinions  differed  in  regard  to  the  innocence  of  Capt.  Ames.  He 
had  at  the  time  a  standing  in  the  community,  and  it  was  believed 
that  he  and  Lieut.  Baker  were  on  friendly  terms.  The  matter  was 
brought  into  a  court  of  investigation  at  Gen.  King's  house,  where' it 
was  decided  that  the  net  was  done  "  through  carelessness."  Ames 
put  on  the  semblance  of  sorrow,  appearing  on  the  streets  in  a  new 
suit  of  black,  with  his  head  down,  handkerchief  to  eyes  red  with 
weeping,  which  led  to  the  belief  of  the  greater  portion  of  the  people 
that  he  was  a  sincere  mourner;  but  the  boys  one  and  all  declared 
he  was  "  shamming  it  all,  the  old  hypocrite."  Ames'  subsequent 
career  proved  that  the  boys  were  not  far  from  right,  for  he  became 
so  despicable  by  dishonesty  and  crooked  ways  that  he  was,  as  it  was 
said  at  the  time,  only  kept  out  of  prison  by  the  high  esteem  in 
which  his  accomplished  wife  was  held. 

Maj.  Hyde  Continues.  —  "Gen.  King  and  Maj.  Clap  return 
with  alarming  news  from  Wiscasset;  the  major  sick. 

25th.  By  orders  the  troops  attend  worship,  and  continue  to  do 
so  on  Sundays. 

Sept.  20,  18 1 4.  Maj.  Clap  went  to  Wiscasset,  having  informed 
Capt.  N.  Ames  that  he  must  return  the  uniform  which  he  borrowed 
of  Maj.  Clap.  Maj.  Clap  returned  in  the  evening  and  brought 
news  of  the  appearing  of  seven  ships  off  Booth  Bay,  which  induced 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  115 

the  expectation  of  an  immediate  attack.  Many  severe  remarks 
made  on  Maj.  Clap,  both  on  account  of  his  leaving  his  duty  at  the 
time  he  did  and  on  account  of  his  returning  to  his  office.  This 
circumstance  drew  forth  many  remarks  highly  flattering  to  myself, 
particularly  from  Cols.  Thomas  and  Merrill  and  Maj.  Eastabrook, 
who  expressed  themselves  perfectly  satisfied  with  my  proceedings 
and  regret  at  Clap's  returning. 

Assisted  Capt.  Ames  in  turning  off  the  guards  at  9  o'clock  a.m., 
which  is  a  very  pleasant  performance  when  well  executed.  Accom- 
panied Gen.  McCobb  on  the  drill  of  infantry  in  the  forenoon  and 
cavalry  in  the  afternoon.  Mr.  Marsh  arrived  from  Coxs  Head  with 
his  report  as  acting  adjutant.  Mr.  M.  declined  continuing  in  his 
present  capacity,  alleging  that  his  pay  in  the  lines  would  not  sup- 
port him.  Gen.  McCobb,  however,  requested  me  to  endeavor  to 
conciliate  Mr.  M.'s  feelings  and  induce  him  to  return  to  the  regi- 
mental duty,  assuring  me  that  he  expected  that  Maj.  Clap*  would 
resign  on  the  close  of  the  campaign,  in  which  event  the  adjutancy 
would  be  vacant  and  he  might  depend  on  a  recommendation  to  the 
office.  Accordingly  Capt.  Ames  and  myself  waited  on  friend 
Marsh  and  induced  him  to  consent  to  return  to  the  duty  of  adjutant. 
On  returning  to  Gen.  McCobb  alone,  met  Quartermaster  Clap,  who 
stopped  me  for  the  purpose  of  inquiring  with  regard  to  Maj.  Clap's 
wishes  in  returning  to  his  office  and  to  express  his  conviction  of  his 
cowardice.  On  my  arrival  at  Gen.  McCobb's,  he  received  a  despatch 
from  Gen.  King  at  Wiscasset,  informing  that  seven  ships  were  off 
Boothbay  about  2  o'clock.  Therefore  was  ordered  to  procure 
dragoons  to  send  to  Gen.  Richardson  at  Portland  and  to  Col.  Reed 
at  Coxs  Head,  to  call  in  the  guards,  to  have  the  regiments  and 
brigade  in  readiness  to  be  assembled  at  a  given  point  at  the  shortest 
notice,  and  send  for  those  officers  who  were  on  furlough  from  Phips- 
burg  to  join  their  regiment. 

Wednesday,  Sept.  21,  18 14.     Inspected  and  turned  off  the  guards 
to  Maj.  Eastabrook  (off  of  duty)  for  the  first  time,  in  which  suc- 

Cocks  Head  was  originally  owned  by  John  Cocks  and  was  written  in  ancient  documents  "  Cocks 
High  Head."  The  modern  spelling  of  Coxs  Head  is  adopted  in  this  volume,  and  when  otherwise 
written  is  an  inadvertency. 


Il6  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

ceeded  much  to  my  satisfaction;  Capt.  Ames  assisted  me.  Gen. 
McCobb  ordered  a  general  court  martial,  which  was  immediately 
organized  with  Col.  Thomas,  president;  Maj.  Ames,  judge  advocate, 
and  Adjutant  Winter,  marshal.  Maj.  R.  K.  Porter  came  by  order 
into  our  department  to  assist  in  writing,  which  relieved  me  consid- 
erably. Dispensed  with  the  drilling  on  account  of  rain.  Received 
information  that  two  regiments  embarked  from  Castine  day  before 
yesterday.  The  artillery  and  cavalry  with  the  3d  regiment  attended 
prayers  for  the  first  time  on  a  week  day,  for  which  we  assembled  at 
the  hotel  at  5  o'clock  and  the  procession  proceeded  to  the  South 
meeting-house  marshaled  by  myself.  In  the  evening  a  countryman 
reported  to  Gen.  McCobb  that  he  met  about  fifteen  soldiers  on  the 
turnpike  after  dark  going  west,  which  the  General  presumed  to  be 
deserters,  there  not  having  been  any  furloughs  granted  in  the  after 
part  of  the  day;  he,  therefore,  ordered  the  companies  all  mustered 
and  rolls  called,  and  nine  men  were  found  to  have  left  a  Harpswell 
company  and  four  or  five  from  some  other  companies. 

Thursday,  Sept.  22,  18 14.  A  detachment  sent  off  after  the  de- 
serters of  last  night,  to  which  was  promised  as  a  reward  the  whole 
amount  of  wages  due  to  those  deserted  and  the  first  furloughs 
granted  if  they  secured  the  deserters.  Dispensed  with  the  drills. 
Gen.  King  returned  from  Wiscasset,  having  left  here  on  Monday 
with  Col.  Sumner,  aid  to  Gov.  Strong  and  agent  for  the  committees 
of  defence." 

"  Turning  off  the  guards "  was  considerable  of  a  perfonnance. 
There  was  a  large  company  of  them  on  duty  during  the  night  time. 
In  the  morning  they  would  be  mustered  on  Meeting-house  hill,  and 
in  discharging  them  a  military  ceremony  had  to  be  gone  through 
with,  which  was  somewhat  imposing,  at  which  time  numerous  spec- 
tators were  usually  present.  Maj.  Hyde  was  chief  of  staff  and 
officer  of  the  day  on  nearly  all  these  occasions. 

"Friday,  23,  18 14.  Turned  off  the  guards.  Lieut.  S.  II.  Rogers 
of  Phipsburg,  having  been  arrested,  ordered  to  be  reported  to  Gen. 
McCobb  on  Saturday  at  9  o'clock  a.m.  Capt.  Ames  marshaled  the 
procession  to  prayers.     Attended  court  martial  on  Lieut.  Randall. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH*  117 

Saturday,  24.  Went  to  the  office  before  breakfast  and  made  an 
order  for  rcconnoissance  of  the  dwellings  and  restraining  the  men 
from  depredating  on  the  citizens.  After  breakfast  requested  by 
Maj.  J.  F.  Wingate  to  attend  Gen.  King  and  others  to  the  forts  on 
Coxs  Head  and  on  Hunni wells  Point.  After  consulting  Gen. 
McCobb,  set  out  from  Gen.  King's  wharf  with  very  pleasant 
weather.  Our  party  consisted  of  Gen.  King,  Maj.  Wingate,  Mr. 
Greenwood,  Maj.  Clap,  Mr.  C.  Clap.  Mr.  Win.  K.  Porter,  and  my- 
self. Stopped  a  short  time  to  view  the  work  on  Coxs  Head,  where 
Col.  Reed's  regiment  was  on  fatigue  duty  under  Lieut.  Eastman 
acting  as  engineer.  Col.  Reed  had  got  one  24  pounder  almost 
mounted.  During  our  stop  sent  the  boat  down  to  Capt.  Wilson, 
commanding  at  the  Point,  to  have  him  prepare  a  chowder  for  us. 
After  a  short  stop  at  Coxs  Head  proceeded  to  the  Point,  where  we 
partook  of  a  very  fine  chowder.  Inspected  the  works.  Capt.  Wilson 
fired  a  1 2  pounder  elevated  to  an  angle  of  about  four  degrees,  which 
sent  a  ball  within  a  few  feet  of  Pond  Island,  two  miles  distant, 
without  striking.  Gen.  King  also  fired  a  24  pounder,  which  did  not 
carry  so  well,  nor  did  he  make  so  good  a  shot.  Returned  to  Coxs 
Head.  After  spending  a  short  time  at  the  works  and  firing  the  first 
gun  mounted  for  the  first  time,  we  embarked  for  Bath,  sun  about 
half  an  hour  high,  and  arrived  at  8  o'clock.  Maj.  Carleton  accom- 
panied us  from  the  Head. 

Sunday,  Sept.  25,  18 14.  Made  and  promulgated  an  order  for  the 
troops  to  assemble  (officers  and  men)  at  the  hotel  at  10  o'clock  a.m. 
and  by  the  bells  ringing  in  the  afternoon  for  attending  meeting. 
Capt.  Ames  and  myself  divided  the  brigade  in  taking  one-half  to  the 
South  in  the  forenoon  and  to  the  North  in  the  afternoon,  while  I 
attended  at  the  North,  then  at  the  South.  Mr.  Ellingwood's  text 
was,  'And  it  came  to  pass  that  when  Moses  held  up  his  hand  Israel 
prevailed.'  Afternoon.  Mr.  Jenks'  text  was,  *  Now  they  do  it  to 
obtain  a  corruptible  crown,  but  we  an  incorruptible.'  Evening. 
Received  an  order  for  parading  the  brigade  to  review  and  discipline 
at  9  o'clock  Monday  morning.  Two  companies  came  into  town 
from  Wiscasset. 


Il8  HISTORY  OF    BATH. 

Monday,  Sept.  26,  18 14.  At  9  o'clock  assisted  in  forming  the 
brigade.  Gen.  King  passed  in  review  and  then  we  marched  in 
review  and  returned  to  the  original  ground;  dismissed  to  form  again 
at  half-past  one;  called  at  Gen.  King's;  received  an  order  for 
attending  a  court  of  inquiry,  as  marshal,  at  Brunswick  on  Lieut.  R. 
T.  Dunlap.  After  dinner  formed  lines  and  marched  to  the  common, 
where  Gen.  McCobb  gave  the  troops  a  very  thorough  drilling.  In 
consequence  of  the  arrival  of  a  part  of  Col.  Sweet's  regiment  from 
Gen.  Sewall's  division  at  Wiscasset,  Col.  Merrill's  regiment  mus- 
tered this  day  for  pay  and  were  discharged. 

Wednesday.  Col.  Thomas'  regiment,  with  most  of  the  battalions 
of  cavalry  and  artillery,  also  mustered  for  pay  and  discharged. 

Thursday.     Col.  Sweet's  regiment  inspected  by  Maj.  Clap. 

Friday,  29.  Maj.  Clap,  Maj.  Coffin,  Capt.  Ames,  and  myself 
accompanied  Gen.  McCobb  to  Coxs  Head.  Assisted  Maj.  Clap  in 
inspecting  the  regiment,  and  while  he  was  engaged  in  mustering  the 
companies  for  pay  that  they  might  be  dismissed,  Capt.  Ames  and 
myself  accompanied  by  Lieut.  Eastman  walked  to  Coxs  Head  to 
view  the  battery.  On  our  return  to  Capt.  Ellis  Percy's  (regimental 
head-quarters)  took  a  bite  prepared  by  Gen.  McCobb,  and  then 
accompanied  him  on  parade,  where  we  spent  some  time  in  drilling, 
and  returned  home  about  dusk. 

Saturday,  Oct.  1.  Gen.  McCobb  showed  me  a  letter,  which 
arrived  during  his  absence  yesterday,  from  Gen.  Dearborn,  appoint- 
ing him  to  the  command  of  all  the  U.  S.  troops  east  of  Portland, 
and  1800  militia  to  be  detached  for  the  service  of  the  U.  S.  in  this 
quarter.  A  brigade  order  issued  for  discharging  from  any  further 
services,  for  the  present,  the  whole  of  the  brigade  staff,  and  the 
command  of  the  brigade  to  devolve  on  Lieut.-Col.  Thomas. 

Sabbath  day,  Oct.  2.  Pleasant.  Called  on  Col.  Sweet  and  pro- 
posed arrangements  for  the  troops  under  his  command  to  attend 
meeting  at  one  of  the  Congregational  places  of  worship;  and  conse- 
quently Col.  S.,  his  officers,  and  three  companies  attended  at  the 
North  meeting-house.     Rev.  Mr.  Appleton  preached. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  II9 

Nov.  5,  18 14.  Received  an  order  from  Gen.  McCobb  to  examine 
and  certify  the  muster  rolls  of  service  lately  rendered  by  the  1st 
brigade,  1 1  th  division,  Maj.  Clap,  having  left  town  without  attending 
to  ik  Became  acquainted  for  the  first  time  with  Col.  Sumner,  aid 
to  Gov.  Strong,  now  in  the  service  of  the  commonwealth  attending 
to  payment  of  the  troops  from  Gen.  Sewall's  division. 

Dec.  3,  1814.  Received  by  hand  of  Maj.  Chas.  Clapp  about  $91 
as  pay  for  my  services  while  on  constant  duty  during  the  last 
summer  and  fall. 

Oct.  26,  18 1 5.  Inspected  1st  regiment  under  Col.  Andrew  Reed 
and  Capt.  Sprague's  company  of  artillery  in  Bath.  Dined  at  Gen. 
King's;  Rev.  Mr.  Jenks,  Col.  Reed  and  a  number  of  officers,  and 
Judge  M.  L.  Hill  present.  Gen.  King  took  occasion  to  remark  that 
"during  all  the  danger  and  alarm  which  the  war  occasioned  in  this 
quarter,  and  under  all  the  sacrifices  which  he  had  known  it  to 
require  of  individuals  in  this  part  of  the  country,  he  had  never  been 
able  to  perceive  any  difference  in  the  conduct  of  persons  of  different 
political  sentiments.1' 

[End  of  Maj.  Hyde's  account  of  Bath  in  the  war  of  18 12.] 

As  major  general  in  command  of  this  military  division,  which 
then  comprised  old  Lincoln  county  and  east  to  Castine,  William 
King  displayed  great  ability  in  guarding  the  coast  within  the 
limits  of  his  jurisdiction,  and  not  a  town  was  molested,  a  man 
injured,  or  a  vessel  destroyed  that  was  lying  in  the  rivers,  bays,  or 
harbors  accessible  to  the  enemy.  His  head-quarters  were  at  his 
dwelling-house,  which,  he  afterwards  stated,  was  thronged  for  a  year 
by  officers  and  men  engaged  in  military  affairs. 

The  troops  of  the  eighth  and  eleventh  divisions,  comprising  a 
small  part  of  Cumberland  and  the  counties  of  Lincoln,  Kennebec, 
Franklin,  and  Somerset,  including  what  is  now  a  part  of  Waldo 
and  Knox  counties,  were  stationed  at  the  sea-coast  towns  extending 
from  Bath  to  Wiscasset,  Thomaston,  and  Camden.  Troops  were 
stationed  at  Bath  and  vicinity  from  June  20  to  June  22,  and  from 
Sept.  10,  to  Oct.  1,  18 14  (Me.  Archives). 


120  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

OFFICERS  OF  THE  WAR. 

Division  and  Brigade  Staff  Roll  Eleventh  Division. 

William  King,  Major-General,  Bath. 

Moses  Carleton,  Jr.,  Aid-de-camp,  Wiscasset. 

Joseph  F.  Wingate,  Aid-de-camp,  Bath. 

John  Merrill,  Jr.,  Judge  Advocate,  Wiscasset. 

Denny  McCobb,  Brigadier-General,  ist  Brigade,  Bath. 

Ebenezer  Glapp,  Brigade  Major,  Bath. 

Nathaniel  Coffin,  Brigade  Quartermaster,  Bath. 

Nathan  Ames,  Aid-de-camp,  Bath. 

Brigade  Band  was  in  the  service  from  14th  to  28th  Sept.,  1814 
(Me.  Archives). 

Roll  of  the  Field  and  Staff  of  Lieut.  Col.  Andrew  Reed, 
of  the  11th  Division,  1st  Brigade,  1st  Regiment,  in  Service 
at  Bath  20th  to  22d  June,  and  10th  Sept.  to  1st  Oct,  1814. 

Andrew  Reed,  Lieut.-Col.,  commanding,  Georgetown. 

William  Burke,  Major,  Bath. 

Zina  Hyde,  Adjutant,  Bath. 

Charles  Clapp,  Quartermaster,  Bath. 

Thomas  D.  Robinson,  Pay-master,  Bath. 

William  Jenks,  Chaplain,  Bath. 

Timothy  W.  Waldron,  Surgeon,  Bath. 

Nathaniel  Weld,  Jr.,  Surgeon's  Mate,  Bath. 

Seth  Hathorn,  Sergeant  Major. 

Charles  D.  Loring,  Quartermaster  Sergeant. 

Thomas  B.  Seavey,  Fife  Major.  (  Me.  Archives.) 

Col.  Denny  McCobb  was  commissioned  as  colonel  of  Maine  and 
New  Hampshire  Volunteers,  Dec.  23,  1812,  and  March  26,  1814, 
appointed  colonel  of  the  37th  Infantry;  April  14,  transferred  to  the 
45th  Regiment  U.  S.  Infantry,  which  was  disbanded  June  15,  18 15. 
Was  in  the  army  under  Maj.-Gen.  Henry  Dearborn  and  in  Brigadier 
Wade  Hampton's  division  operation  on  the  northern  frontier  against 
Canada;  was  in  several  battles,  the  last  in  the  Chandiere  Woods. 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  121 

He  held  at  the  same  time  the  commission  of  brigadier-general  in 
the  Massachusetts  —  District  of  Maine  —  Militia.  His  regiment  of 
United  States  troops  was  recruited  at  Bath  by  Maj.-Gen.  William 
King  during  May  and  June,  1814,  and  marched  to  join  the  army  at 
Burlington,  Vt;  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  N.  Y.,  and  in 
that  of  the  Chandiere  Woods,  and  was  called  the  bravest  officer  in 
the  army.  Col.  McCobb's  regiment  of  United  States  Volunteers 
was  recruited  at  Bath,  Gen.  King  being  United  States  recruiting 
officer  under  United  States  commission  as  colonel  of  the  regular 
army.  The  camp  of  the  regiment  was  on  Western  avenue  near 
High  street.  Mr.  Joseph  Hayes  of  Bath  was  one  of  the  recruiting 
sergeants.  A  portion  of  the  regiment  was"  at  Bath  during  the 
" great  alarm "  in  June,  18 14;  a  portion  had  marched  to  join  the 
United  States  forces  in  western  New  York. 

Bath,  March  26,  1813. 
Major-General  William  King : 

Sir.  —  Having  entered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States,  and 
being  ordered  out  of  the  district  of  my  command  in  the  Militia, 
permit  me  to  solicit  you  to  grant  me  leave  of  absence  from  my 
brigade  for  one  year  from  the  first  day  of  April  next. 

Very  respectfully, 
I  am,  Sir,  with  high  esteem  your  obedient  servant, 

Denny  McCobb, 
E.  G.  1  £.,  1 1  D. 
This  request  was  granted. 

Regimental  Orders,  May  1,  1812. 

Pursuant  to  Division  and  Brigade  orders  for  detaching  62  men, 
officers  included,  from  this  regiment,  Major  Andrew  Reed,  Capt. 
Richard  Hagan,  Lieut.  Nathaniel  Todd,  Ensign  Gamaliel  Crooker, 
Quartermaster  Clapp,  Ensign  Timothy  W.  Waldern,  Rev.  William 
Jenks  are  detached  as  officers  for  the  battalion  to  be  composed  of  the 
detachment  from  this  Brigade;  they  will  hold  themselves  in  readiness 
to  assemble  and  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  The  commanding 
officers  of  companies  in  this  regiment  will  detach  by  lot  from  the 


122 


HISTORY   OF   BATH. 


rolls  of  their  companies  the  number  of  non-commissioned  officers  and 
privates  set  against  their  names  in  the  annexed  schedule,  viz. : 

Capt.  Richard  Hagan, 


Capt.  William  Burke,     . 
Capt.  Josiah  Trott, 
Capt.  Henry  Cutting,     . 
Capt.  Benjamin  Davenport, 
Capt.  Ho—  G.  Allen,    . 
Capt.  Ellis  Percy, 
Capt  Jeremiah  Fisher, 
Ensign  Timothy  Williams, 


5  men, 

6  men, 
serg't,  i  musician,  io  men, 

6  men, 

i  serg't,  6  men, 

i  serg't,  i  musician,  2  men, 

1  serg't,  s  men, 

6  men, 

1  serg't,  1  musician,  2  men, 


5 
6 

10 

6 

7 

4 
6 

6 

4 


So 


The  commanding  officers  of  companies  aforesaid  will  make  their 
detachment  without  delay  and  order  the  men  so  detached  to  be 
armed  and  equipped  according  to  law  and  held  in  readiness  to  assem- 
ble and  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  Agreeably  to  the  General 
Orders  herewith  transmitted,  they  will  also  make  their  returns  on 
the  printed  forms  herewith  furnished  without  delay.  Adjutant  Hyde 
will  transmit  those  orders  to  each  of  the  officers  detailed  and  to 
the  commanding  officers  of  the  companies  without  delay  and  furnish 
such  blank  forms  as  are  necessary  to  effect  the  aforesaid  detachment; 
he  will  also  use  diligence  to  collect  the  returns  of  the  detachment 
and  transmit  them  in  an  orderly  manner  to  the  commanding  officer 
of  the  Brigade. 

Denny  McCobb,  Lt.-Col.  i  R.  i  B. 

1812. 

Roster  of  Officers  1st  Regiment,  1st  Brigade,  11th  Division. 


Name. 

Denny  McCobb, 
Andrew  Reed, 
Lewis  Thorp, 


Rank.  Date. 

Lt-Col.  Comd.,         May  10,  1798, 

Promoted  Brigader-Gcneral. 

Major,  June  11,  1804, 

Promoted. 

Major,  July  4,  1809, 

Discharged  If  ay  31, 1811. 


Residence. 

Georgetown. 


(• 


«« 


HISTORY  OF   BATH. 


123 


Name. 

Thos.  Ciishing, 

Chas.  Clapp, 

Chas.  Shaw, 

Timothy  Waldron, 
Nath'l  Weld, 
Wra.  Jenks, 
Ebenz.  Clapp, 

Zina  Hyde, 

Thos.  D.  Robinson, 


Rank.  Date. 

Adj.,  June  23,  18 10, 

Removed  locally. 

Qr. -Master,  Feb.  2,  1810, 

Promoted. 

Pay  Master,  June  23,  1810, 

Rem.  locally 

Surgeon,  April  3,  1808, 

Surg.  Mate,  June  22,  1808, 

Chaplain,  April  1,  1806, 

Major,  July  4, 1 81 1, 

Promoted  Prig.-Major. 

Adj.,  Aug.  31,  1811, 

Promoted. 

Pay-Master,  June  10,  181 2, 


Residence. 

Bath. 


1 
u 

<t 
ti 
ti 
it 

it 

fl 


Subsequent  Roster  Same  Regiment. 


Andrew  Reed, 
Josiah  Trott, 

Wm.  Burke, 
Dwell y  Turner, 
John  Parker, 

Benj.  Foster, 

David  Gilmore, 

George  Rogers, 

Jethro  Sprague, 

Ebenz.  Clapp, 

Benj.  Bailey, 

Richard  1  lagan, 

Wm.  Burke, 

Josiah  Trott, 


Lt.-Col.  Comd.,         Sept.  3,  1812, 
Major,  Sept.  3.  181 2, 

Discharged  March  31,  1814. 

Major,  Sept.  3,  18 12, 

Major,  Sept.  3,  181 2, 

Captain,  June  11,  1801, 

Discharged  Dec.  to,  1810. 

•*  Nov.  11,  1803, 

Discharged  July  15,  i8it. 

"  April  3,  1804, 

Discharged  Dec.  10,  1810. 

"  April  3,  1804, 

Discharged  Dec.  10, 1810. 

July  4,  1804, 

Discharged  April  94, 181 1. 

'•  May  2,  1809, 

Promoted. 

"  May  2,  1809, 

Discharged  March  30,  i8ia. 

"  Aug.  19,  1809, 

Promoted. 

"  May  I,  1810, 

Promoted. 

Feb.  4,  181 1, 

Promoted. 


Gorgetown. 
Woolwich. 

Bath, 
f  t 

Georgetown. 

Bath. 

Woolwich. 

Georgetown, 
tf 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Woolwich. 

Georgetown. 

Bath. 

Woolwich. 


124 

Name. 

Benj.  Swett, 
Henry  Cutting, 

Ellis  Percy, 
Horatio  G.  Allen, 

Benj.  Davenport, 

Jeremiah  Fisher, 
Jas.  Williams, 

Samuel  Low, 

Thos.  Motherwell, 
Wm.  Torrey, 
Farris  Da  Toster, 

John  Pettes, 
Dwelly  Turner, 

Francis  Cushman, 
Jas.  Bowker, 
Benj.  Swett, 

Benj.  Davenport, 

Henry  Preble, 

Jas.  B.  Oliver, 

Henry  Cutting, 

Horatio  G.  Allen, 

John  J.  Gould, 

Wm.  Flitner, 

Sam'l  Low, 


it 


HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Rank.  Date. 

Captain,  Feb.  5,  181 1. 

Discharged  Jan.  *j,  iBta. 

Feb.  6,  181 1, 

Discharged  March  28, 1814. 

"  July  I,  181 1, 

"  July  23,  181 1, 

Discharged  March  so,  1813. 

"  Aug.  22,  l8l I, 

Discharged  Dec  S3. 1814. 

"  March  26,  1812, 

May  6,  1812, 

Discharged  April  at.  1815. 

Sept.  26,  1812, 

Discharged  April  4, 1814. 

"  Sept.  26,  l8l  2, 

May  15,  1813, 
May  23,  1814, 

Discharged  April  at,  1815. 

"  May  23,  1814, 

"  March  27,  181 5, 

Promoted. 

June  8,  1815, 
June  9,  1815, 
Lieut,  June  11,  1803, 

Promoted. 

41  Nov.  11,  1803, 

Promoted. 

April  3,  1804, 

Discharged  Feb.  at,  1810. 

July  4,  1804. 
Discharged  Dec.  10, 1810, 

44  April  I,  1806, 

Promoted. 

44  May  2,  1809, 

Promoted. 

44  May  2,  1809, 

Discharged  March  30,  181a. 

44  June  10,  1803, 

Discharged  Dec.  to,  1810. 

"  July  12,  1810, 

Promoted. 


Residence. 

Georgetown. 


n 


<i 


Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Georgetown. 
Woolwich. 

Bath. 

Woolwich. 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Phipsburg. 

Bath. 

Wool.  Lt.  Inf. 

Phipsburg. 

Georgetown. 

Bath. 

Woolwich. 

Georgetown. 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Woolwich. 

Georgetown. 

Bath. 


HISTORY  OF    BATH. 


125 


Name. 

Rank. 

Date. 

Residence. 

Josiah  Trott, 

Lieut, 

Promoted. 

Sept.  7.  1810, 

Woolwich. 

Jere'h  Fisher, 

i< 

Promoted. 

Feb.  5,  181 1, 

Georgetown. 

Sam'l  H.  Rogers, 

n 

Feb.  5,  181 1, 

ti 

Discharged  April  ao 

,  1815, 

Ellis  Percy, 

» 
11 

Promoted. 

Feb.  8,  181 1, 

11 

Nath'l  S.  Todd, 

11 

Feb.  8,  181 1, 

11 

Thos.  Motherwell, 

11 

Promoted. 

Feb.  4,  181 1, 

Woolwich. 

Win.  Stevens, 

11 

July  25,  181 1, 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Discharged  May  31, 

1813. 

Hezekiah  Wyman, 

1 1 

Aug.  22,  181  r, 

Rath. 

Discharged  Feb.  2,  1 

1814. 

Jas.  dishing,  Jr., 

«i 

Oct.  10,  181 1, 

Georgetown. 

Jas.  C.  Whitmore, 

11 

March  26,  181 2, 

11 

Francis  Cushman, 

11 

Promoted. 

May  5,  1812, 

Wool.  Lt.  Inf. 

John  Pettes, 

11 

Promoted. 

Sept.  26,  181 2, 

Bath. 

Wm.  D.  Leonard, 

11 

Sept.  26,  1812, 

Woolwich. 

Thomas  Agry,  Jr., 

*i 

May  15.  1813, 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Alden  Winter, 

11 

May  23,  1 8 14, 

Bath. 

Enoch  Foote, 

11 

May  23,  1814, 

i< 

Ric'd  Mitchell, 

11 

June  8,  1815, 

Wool.  Lt.  Inf. 

Alex.  Drummond,  Jr., 

11 

June  9,  181 5, 

Phipsburg. 

John  Swett, 

Ensign, 

April  7,  1804, 

Georgetown. 

Discharged  Dec.  16, 

,  1811. 

Gamaliel  Crooker, 

11 

Sept.  30,  1805, 

Bath. 

Discharged  April  4, 

1814. 

John  Gil  more, 

11 

April  3,  1804, 

Woolwich. 

Discharged  Jan.  94. 

1811. 

John  McCarthy, 

11 

March  30,  1807, 

Georgetown. 

Ellis  Percy, 
Wm.  Stevens, 
Timothy  Williams, 


Removed  locally. 

M  May  2,  1809, 

Promoted. 

Aug.  9,  1809, 

Promoted. 

"  May  2,  1809, 

Discharged  Sept.  17, 1812. 


11 


Bath  Lt.  Inf. 
Wool.  Lt.  Inf. 


126 


HISTORY   OF   BATH. 


Name. 

Rank. 

Date. 

Residence. 

Samuel  H.  Rogers, 

Ensign, 

Promoted. 

May  11,  1809, 

Georgetown. 

John  Pettes, 

it 

Promoted. 

July  12,  1810, 

Bath. 

Wm.  D.  Leonard, 

Promoted. 

Feb.  4,  181 1, 

Woolwich. 

Wm.  Davis, 

41                                      • 

Feb.  6,  181 1, 

Georgetown. 

Joseph  Blithen, 

it 

Removed  locally. 

Feb.  8,  1811, 

1 

a 

Wm.  Torrey, 

ii 

Promoted. 

July  25,  181 1, 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Jolham  Crosby, 

ii 

Oct.  10,  181 1, 

Georgetown. 

Chas.  Potter, 

if 

March  26,  1812, 

11 

David  Oliver,  8th, 

ii 

July  9,  1812, 

11 

Oliver  Trivett, 

ii 

Sept.  26,  1812, 

Bath. 

Removed  and  discharged  May  23, 1814 

John  W.  Stinson, 

«i 

Sept.  26,  181 2, 

Woolwich. 

Ezekiel  Walker, 

11 

May  15,1813, 

Wool.  Lt.  Inf. 

Wm.  Emerson, 

11 

May  15,  1813, 

Bath  Lt.  Inf. 

Sami  D.  Crooker, 

11 

May  24,  1813, 

11 

Thos.  P.  Stetson, 

11 

May  23,  1814, 

11 

Roster  of  Officers  1st  Regiment,  1st  Brigade,  11th  Division, 
Mass.  Militia  at  Coxs  Head  from  Sept.  10,  to  Oct.  1,  1814. 


Name. 

Rank,  Infantry. 

Date  op  Com. 

Residence. 

Andrew  Reed, 

Colonel, 

Sept.  3,  181 2, 

Phipsburg. 

Wm.  Burke, 

Major, 

Sept.  3,  1 81 2, 

Bath. 

Zina  Hyde, 

Adj., 

Aug.  31,  1 81 1, 

11 

Chas.  Clapp, 

Qr. -Master, 

Feb.  2,  18 10, 

i< 

Wm.  Jenks, 

Claplain, 

April  1,  1806, 

i< 

Thos.  D.  Robinson, 

Pay  Master, 

June  10,  1812, 

11 

Tim.  W.  Waldron, 

Surgeon, 

Dec.  25,  1806, 

11 

Nath'l  Weld,  Jr., 

Surg.  Mate, 

Jan.  22,  1808, 

11 

Richard  Hagan, 

Captain, 

Aug.  19,  1809, 

Georgetown. 

Ellis  Percy, 

i< 

July  19,  1811, 

Phipsburg. 

Benj.  Davenport, 

11 

Aug.  22,  181 1, 

Bath. 

Jeremiah  Fisher, 

11 

March  10,  1812, 

Georgetown. 

Joseph.  Williams, 

11 

May  5,  1812, 

Woolwich. 

Thos.  Motherwell, 

<i 

Sept.  20,  181 2, 

it 

Wm.  Torrey, 

11 

May  25,  18 13, 

Bath. 

John  Pettes, 

11 

May  23,  1814, 

11 

HISTORY   OF   BATH. 


127 


Name. 

Rank,  Infantry. 

Date  op  Com. 

Residence. 

Mathew  Todd, 

Lieut., 

Feb.  8,  1810, 

Georgetown. 

F.  D.  A.  Foster, 

Captain, 

Phipsburg. 

Samuel  H.  Rogers, 

Lieut, 

Feb.  6,  181  r, 

11 

Jas.  Cushing,  Sr., 

it 

Oct.  10,  181 1, 

t. 

Jas.  C.  Whit  more, 

it 

March  10,  181 2, 

Georgetown. 

Francis  Cushman, 

it 

May  5,  1812, 

Woolwich. 

Wm.  D.  Leonard, 

11 

Sept.  20,  181 2, 

ti 

Thos.  Agry, 

ti 

May  15,  1813, 

Bath. 

A.  Winter, 

«i 

May  23,  1814, 

«< 

Wm.  Davis, 

Ensign, 

Feb.  7,  181 1, 

Phipsburg. 

Jotham  Crosby, 

it 

Oct  10,  1812, 

11 

Chas.  Potter, 

I  « 

March  10,  181 2, 

Georgetown. 

David  Oliver  8th, 

it 

June  18,  1812, 

it 

John  W.  Stinson, 

t « 

Sept.  20,  1 81 2, 

Woolwich. . 

Ezekiel  Walker, 

>< 

May  15,  1813, 

«< 

Samuel  D.  Crooker, 

«« 

May  23,  1813, 

Bath. 

This  is  a  true  copy  from  the  original  roster  of  September  26,  1814.  Attest 
Z.  Hyde,  late  Adjutant,  having  custody  of  the  papers  of  1st  Regiment,  1st 
Brigade,  1  ith  Division  at  this  time. 

PiupsnuRG,  September  26,  1814 

Signed,    JAS.  M.  MARSH,  Act.  Adj. 


INCIDENTS  OF  THE  WAR. 

It  was  a  source  of  annoyance  to  some  of  the  clergy  that  Sundays 
were  used  as  days  of  military  parade.  Rev.  Mr.  Eaton  of 
Harpswell,  on  the  4th  of  September,  181 4,  at  the  request  of 
President  Appleton  of  Bowdoin  College,  preached  to  the  students 
and  congregation  at  Brunswick.  It  was  at  the  opening  of  divine 
service  in  the  morning,  while  Mr.  Eaton  was  engaged  in  prayer, 
that  two  companies  of  militia  marched  by  the  meeting-house 
armed  and  equipped,  with  drum  beating  and  fifes  playing,  en  route 
for  Bath,  to  reinforce  the  troops  at  that  place.  This  excited  the 
passions  and  feelings  of  Mr.  Eaton  and  added  fuel  to  his  excited 
imagination.  "  He  prayed  the  Lord  that  our  ears  might  not  be 
stunned  in  the  sanctuary  by  the  sound  of  musical  instruments  excit- 
ing men  to  deeds  of  death;  for  every  battle  of  the  warrior  is  with 
confused  noise  and  garments  rolled  in  blood." 


128  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

The  privateer  ship  America  of  Salem  came  into  the  river  during 
the  war  and  anchored  off  Hyde's  wharf.  She  thought  she  was 
pursued  by  a  British  frigate  at  sea,  and  in  order  to  make  her  escape 
she  put  away  for  the  Kennebec.  The  ship  that  was  in  chase  proved 
to  be  the  "  Peace  and  Plenty "  of  New  York.  She  sprang  a  leak,  was 
obliged  to  make  a  harbor,  and  ran  on  the  flats  below  Union  wharf. 
She  was  afterwards  hauled  to  Clapp's  wharf  and  repaired.  The 
America  was  a  fine  ship  and  mounted  twenty  long-nines,  was 
formerly  an  East  Indian,  and  belonged  to  the  Crowninshields  of 
Salem.  She  had  her  deck  taken  out  when  they  fitted  her  for  a 
privateer.  She  came  into  Bath  the  second  time.  She  also  sent  in 
several  prize  ships;  one  of  them  was  loaded  with  English  goods  and 
was  very  valuable.  Luke  Lambert  contracted  with  the  owners  for 
ten  thousand  dollars  to  haul  them  to  Boston  by  land  to  avoid  the 
cruisers  in  the  bay.  At  the  same  time  there  came  in  a  Letter  of 
Marque  schooner  for  a  harbor,  and  the  two  armed  vessels  made 
something  of  a  war-like  appearance  on  the  river. 

During  the  war  all  kinds  of  goods  were  exceedingly  high  in  price, 
more  especially  imported  goods.  The  following  list  of  prices  is 
recorded  in  diary  of  Zina  Hyde,  then  in  mercantile  business  with 
Jonathan  Hyde.  Their  store  was  a  brick  one  on  Water  street, 
immediately  north  of  the  Houghtons'  office,  and  was  demolished  in 
1885  or  thereabouts.  "W.  1.  rum,  $1.40  to  $1.60;  molasses,  .80  in 
Bath,  .85  in  Boston;  sugar,  .16  to  .18  in  Bath,  .19  to  .21  in  Boston; 
coffee,  .20;  S.  tea,  $1.20  to  $1.25  in  Boston  and  rising  fast;  corn, 
$2  in  Boston,  more  in  Bath;  flour,  $13  in  Boston,  $16  in  Bath." 

During  the  war  of  181 2  there  were  those  who  entered  into  the 
speculation  of  supplying  the  British  with  provisions.  Parties  drove 
cattle  to  sell  in  Canada.  Wiscasset  was  a  depot  from  which  British 
war  vessels  cruising  off  the  Main'e  coast  obtained  supplies  of  fresh 
mutton,  sheep  being  sent  there  for  that  purpose,  in  which  trade  it 
is  said  by  good  authority  that  know  that  sheep  were  sent  from  Bath. 

The  Kilgore  Robbery.  —  During  the  war  of  18 12  the  general 
government  levied  a  direct  tax,  which  was  especially  unpopular 
with  the  Federal  party,  which  opposed  the  war.  Mr.  Kilgore 
of    Topsham    was   appointed   to    collect    the    tax    in    Phipsburg, 


HISTORY    OF  BATH.  1 29 

which  having  completed  he  was  in  the  night  on  his  way  home  on 
horseback,  when  a  man  came  out  from  a  clump  of  bushes  about 
where  is  now  the  Dromore  guide-board  with  a  gun  in  his  hand  and 
laking  the  horse  by  the  bits,  demanded  the  tax  money,  which  was 
delivered  to  him,  when  the  collector  was  permitted  to  pass  along  in 
safety.  A  prominent  man  living  in  Topsham  was  arrested  for  the 
act,  and  at  the  trial  Kilgore  positively  identified  the  prisoner  as  the 
man  who  robbed  him.  On  the  defence  the  prisoner  clearly  proved 
an  alibi  and  was  acquitted.  He  mistook  his  man  in  this  way:  the 
prisoner  had  a  brother  residing  in  Phipsburg,  closely  resembling 
him,  and  he  was  the  man  who  did  the  act,  as  it  was  afterwards 
universally  known.  He  could  not  be  touched,  however,  because  the 
collector  had  sworn  that  the  other  brother,  when  on  trial,  was  the 
guilty  man. 

A  Nautical  Adventure.  —  Some  forty  years  since  a  writer  thus 
relates  his  reminiscences  in  a  newspaper  of  the  day:  "  In  our  last, 
we  gave  a  little  incident  of  our  nautical  experience,  in  which  we 
were  captured  by  the  enemy  in  the  last  war  with  England  and  made 
a  brief  prisoner  on  board  of  one  of  his  Majesty's  ships-of-the-line. 
In  the  present  paper  we  shall  relate  another  incident  of  our  young 
experience,  in  which  we  were  not  taken  by  the  enemy.  It  was 
whilst  on  our  first  voyage  to  the  District  of  Maine,  in  September, 
1  Si 3.  Circumstances  of  a  domestic  nature,  induced  by  the  war 
itself,  rendered  it  expedient,  if  not  necessary,  that  we  should 
remove  from  the  land  of  our  fathers  in  the  Old  Colony  to  the 
abode  of  contemporary  relatives  in  Bath.  In  these  times,  when, 
if  a  man  has  not  been  around  the  world,  he  has  been  nowhere, 
and  when  he  may  be  almost  everywhere  in  the  same  clay,  it  is 
no  more  to  go  to  Kurope  than  it  formerly  was  to  cross  a  mill 
pond;  but  forty  years  ago  it  was  a  great  and  venturesome  thing, 
especially  in  war  time,  to  make  a  sea  voyage  from  Plymouth 
to  the  Kennebec.  It  was  not  the  day  of  steamboats  or  railroads; 
such  things  were  not  so  much  hoped  for  as  a  means  of  locomo- 
tion as  the  idea  is  now  entertained  of  navigating  the  atmosphere 
under  a  convoy  of  eagles.     Indeed,   by   post-coaches,  if  they  had 


130  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

been  established  on  the  entire  line,  the  journey  from  Boston  to 
Bath  was  accomplished  only  in  the  better  part  of  two  weeks,  and  at 
a  cost  that  would  now  carry  a  passenger  by  steam  power  from 
Boston  to  Wisconsin.  Maine  merchants  must  procure  their  goods 
in  Boston,  and  these  goods  must  be  conveyed  by  water,  notwith- 
standing the  British  cruisers  constituted  a  cordon  investing  the 
coast  from  Cape  Cod  to  Eastport.  Coasters  must  attempt  the 
'  run/  though  at  fearful  risks.  Many,  very  many,  of  them  fell  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy;  but  a  few  by  watching  their  opportunities* 
and  especially  by  running  in  the  night  time,  had  the  good  fortune  to 
make  their  trips  with  success.  Amongst  these  lucky  ones  was  a 
large  schooner,  rigged  in  the  old-fashioned  style  of  two  topsails, 
very  brig-like,  belonging  in  Bath  and  commanded  by  a  daring  old 
salt,  Capt.  McKown  of  Woolwich  ( Robert ).  He  belonged  to 
the  war  party,  was  zealous  for  'sailors' rights';  fearless  himself, 
he  had  a  most  ravenous  appetite  for  4thc  blood  of  an  English- 
man.' His  formidable  craft  lay  at  the  T  wharf  in  Boston,  watching 
her  opportunity  to  put  out  of  the  harbor  when  the  weather  had  forced 
the  cruisers  temporarily  to  withdraw  from  the  coast,  and  make  her 
run  without  detection  to  the  Kennebec.  In  a  swift  '  shaving  mill,' 
like  that  in  which  we  had  been  captured  three  months  before,  we 
proceeded  to  Boston  and  took  passage  in  Capt.  Mc  (town's  great 
schooner  for  Bath.  She  was  <!eeply  laden  with  merchandise,  and 
several  of  the  merchants  of  B.Uh  and  adjacent  towns  were  on  board 
with  their  goods.     Some  ladies  were  of  the  party. 

The  first  part  of  the  voyage  was  made  between  two  days,  pro- 
tected from  observation  by  the  cover  of  darkness.  Morning  found 
us  within  a  few  leagues  of  Portsmouth,  which,  by  help  of  a  fair 
wind,  our  captain  hoped  to  reach  in  season  to  lie  by,  till  another 
night  should  afford  a  second  opportunity  to  run  eastward.  But 
soon  an  armed  brig  was  discovered  in  the  southern  horizon  making 
for  the  coast;  and  by  the  time  she  had  become  clearly  visible  to  the 
naked  eye,  a  ship  was  also  seen  in  the  same  direction,  lying  off  and 
on,  as  if  to  support  the  brig  in  her  adventures.  The  ship,  we 
afterwards  learned,  was  the  La  Hogue,  which  was  commanded  by  an 
Englishman  who,  when  he  was  drunk,  —  and  that  was  most  of  the 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  131 

time,  —  disgraced  the  British  navy  by  his  savage  cruelties  to  his 
captured  Americans.  The  brig  had  evidently  got  a  sight  of  our 
noble  looking  schooner,  and  was  pressing  all  her  canvas  to  cut  us 
off  before  Capt.  McKown  could  reach  Portsmouth;  and  so  rapidly 
did  she  gain  upon  us,  that  it  became  quite  certain  she  would  cut  our 
line  before  we  could  reach  the  point  of  safety.  A  consultation  was 
had,  and  the  resolution  formed  to  run  the  schooner  on  shore  and 
beach  her  rather  than  give  her  up  to  the  enemy.  Suddenly,  how- 
ever, we  noticed  that  the  brig  hove  about  and  shaped  her  course  for 
the  La  Hogue.  This  was,  indeed,  a  happy  change  for  us,  but  it 
was  altogether  inexplicable,  till  shortly  the  mystery  was  explained 
by  our  noticing  two  United  States  brigantines,  —  the  Enterprise  and 
Rattlesnake,  —  an  armed  schooner,  and  several  gun-boats,  coining 
out  of  Portsmouth,  by  the  fort  that  defends  the  harbor,  and  pro- 
ceeding in  the  direction  of  our  pursuer  and  the  La  Hogue  whose 
protection  she  was  seeking.  Our  schooner  joined  the  American 
fleet  shortly  after  the  fort  had  been  passed,  and  our  vali  nt  captain, 
burning  with  a  patriotic  zeal,  put  up  his  helm  and  steered  in  the 
same  direction.  We  fell  in  by  the  side  of  the  Enterprise,  which 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  had  had  the  battle  with  the  Boxer, 
and  took  her  and  brought  the  slain  captains  of  both  vessels  into 
Portland,  where  their  bodies  now  lie  side  by  side.  In  vain  did  our 
passengers  protest  against  Capt.  McKown's  temerity  in  going  out 
to  participate  in  the  hazards  of  a  naval  engagement.  Argument 
was  lost  upon  him;  his  throat  breathed  vengeance;  his  very  eyes 
flashed  fire;  he  was  an  old  'war-hawk*  and  could  not  be  restrained. 
We  recollect  how  one  of  the  passengers,  a  merchant  who  had  goods 
on  board,  Hon.  David  C.  Magoun,  a  most  respectable  gentleman  of 
Bath,  protested  to  Capt.  McKown  against  his  perilling  his  vessel, 
the  property  committed  to  his  charge,  and  even  the  liberty  and 
perhaps  lives  of  us  all,  by  the  daring  venture  of  accompanying  the 
fleet  to  the  forthcoming  sea-fight. — •  You  are  entirely  unarmed  and 
cannot  possibly  be  of  any  service  in  the  engagement.'  '  No  matter 
for  that/  asserverated  the  old  '  war-hawk,'  '  the  British  do  not  know 
that;  they  don't  know  but  we  are  half  full  of  arms  and  men;  at 
least  we  shall  add  one  to  the  number;  I  have  one  old  shooting 


132  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

iron  down  below,  and  I  know  I  can  make  a  hole  with   it  in  some 
d  —  d  red  coat  before  we  quit. 

Really  he  was  bent  on  his  purpose.  He  was  fully  determined  to 
see  the  battle,  Whether  he  could  participate  in  it  or  not,  and  did  not 
doubt  that  his  presence  might,  in  some  fortunate  circumstances,  be 
of  service  to  the  American  belligerents.  They  were  going  out  to 
give  battle  to  the  ship  and  brig,  which  by  this  time  had  joined  com- 
pany and  were  laid  to,  waiting  to  receive  our  approaching  fleet.  We 
shall  never  forget  the  appearance  of  the  Enterprise  and  Rattlesnake 
as  we  moved  along  side  of  them,  especially  of  the  first,  which  was 
so  near  us  that  her  captain  and  ours  could  converse  with  great 
facility.  The  decks  were  all  cleared  for  action  and,  just  out  of  port, 
were  exceedingly  clean  and  glistening.  The  boats  were  hauled  up 
in  the  rigging,  the  port-holes  were  opened,  every  gun  was  manned, 
all  was  still  except  as  the  boatswain's  whistle  was  heard,  or  the 
American  captain  held  conversation  with  our  schooner.  *  Where 
are  you  going  ? '  asked  he  of  Capt.  McKown.  *  Don't  you  see/ 
exclaimed  he,  pointing  to  the  two  Jiritish  cruisers  that  were  waiting 
our  approach;  'we  are  going  wherever  you  go,  if  that's  to  Davy's 
locker  ! '  '  My  friend,'  rejoined  he,  '  let  me  advise  you  to  put  back; 
you  can  be  of  no  possible  service  to  us,  and  you  may  see  bloody 
work  before  you  return.'  '  That's  just  what  I  want  to  see,'  replied 
our  captain,  and  he  refused  to  return.  It  was  really  a  fearful  hour 
to  us  all.  Men  going  into  battle  never  could  feel  differently  from 
what  we  felt.  Thus  we  sailed  outward  until  with  our  glasses  we 
could  see  the  enemy's  port-holes  and  witness  the  movement  of  his 
men  on  board.  Almost  were  we  within  gunshot.  Direclly,  without 
our  knowing  the  cause,  the  whole  American  licet  ' about  ship'  and 
took  the  back  tracks  for  Portsmouth  !  This  was  in  obedience  to  a 
signal  from  the  fort  on  shore.  Never  did  our  young  heart  beat  with 
a  readier  joy  than  when  our  captain  concluded  not  to  go  and  fight 
the  ship  and  brig  alone,  but  to  return  and  make  a  port  with  the 
brigantines.  On  coming  to  anchor  in  1'iscataqua,  we  learned  the 
cause  of  recall.  It  seems  that  Com.  Hull,  who  commanded  on 
shore,  had  reason  to  believe  there  was  a  74  gun  ship,  the  Tenedos, 
in  the  offing  within  hearing  of  the  guns,  should  an  engagement  be 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  1 33 

hazarded,  and  that  she  would  come  to  the  relief  of  the  vessels  our 
fleet  was  in  pursuit  of;  and  as  night  would  shut  in  before  the  con- 
troversy could  be  decided,  he  thought  it  prudent,  on  the  whole,  to 
recall  the  force  to  port,  which  he  did  by  the  signals  before  alluded 
to.  If  any  of  our  readers  ever  came  nearer  being  in  a  sea-fight 
than  we  did,  without  being  really  involved  in  it,  and  experienced 
anything  more  of  the  sensations  preceding  such  a  conflict,  we  shall 
be  very  happy  to  hear  from  them."  .• 

0pp08Cr8  of  the  War.  —  At  the  commencement  of  the  war  of         * 

18 1 2  the  Federalists  opposed  the  enlistment  of  men  and  sent  out 
circulars  and  employed  men  to  ride  through  the  country  to  dis- 
courage enlistments.  Republicans  ardently  supported  the  war.  In 
times  of  local  danger,  however,  those  of  both  parties  rallied  for 
defence. 

Its  Effects.  —  When  this  war  ended  in  181 5,  it  required  several 
years  to  restore  the  crippled  commerce  to  anything  like  prosperity. 
During  the  embargo,  non-intercourse,  and  war,  vessels  in  course  of 
construction  at  Hath  crumbled  on  the  stocks  and  others  rotted  at 
the  wharves.  At  the  time  the  embargo  was  declared,  William  King 
had  five  ships  and  four  brigs,  all  but  one  loaded  for  sea,  anchored 
in  the  river,  stringing  from  shore  to  shore.  Merchants  who  had 
amassed  independent  fortunes  were  reduced  to  penury,  as  the 
embargo  cut  off  our  trade  also  with  neutral  nations. 


134  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 


t 


SHIP- BUILDING. 


The  most  prominent  feature  in  the  history  of  Bath  and  con- 
spicuously identified  with  its  business  and  growth  is  that  which  is 
connected  with  the  construction  and  sailing  of  vessels.  The  history 
of  the  building  of  vessels  on  the  Kennebec  dates  back  nearly  three 
centuries.  Before  the  Pilgrim  fathers  had  landed  at  Plymouth, 
before  settlers  had  permanently  established  themselves  in  the  New 
World,  before  any  industry  had  set  up  its  standands  on  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  the  great  business  of  building  ships  had  begun  on  the 
Kennebec  in  the  construction  of  the  Virginia  by  the  Popham  colony. 
None  of  the  undertakings  that  came  afterwards  were  so  strongly 
and  lastingly  established  as  the  business  of  building  ships.  It  has 
been  identified  with  the  country's  growth  and  greatness  from  the 
very  first,  and  its  fluctuations  have  been  the  sure  thermometer  of 
the  country's  varying  fortunes. 

In  times  of  peace  and  plenty,  the  ships  of  the  Kennebec  have 
carried  the  country's  products  to  every  sea  and  every  clime,  and 
brought  back  in  trade  the  choicest  products  of  every  nation.  In 
times  of  war,  the  sailors  trained  on  American  merchant-men  have 
been  the  bulwark  of  the  nation  against  the  invading  navies  of  her 
foes.  Great  is  the  glory  that  has  come  to  our  country  by  the  brave 
deeds  of  our  sailor-men  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  great  the  prosperity 
that  has  come  to  our  country  by  the  achievements  of  our  merchant 
marine  in  times  of  peace  before  and  since  that  event. 

At  the  time   when  Bristol  was  the   chief  port   of  commerce  in 
England,  the   ships   hailing   from   there  were  considered  models  imi 
build  and  rig;  consequently  when  an  American  ship  was  rigged  in     a 
notably  rakish  style,  it  was  remarked  by  seafaring  men  that  she  wns 
"  taut-rigged  and  Bristol  fashion." 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  1 35 

Centuries  ago  the  term  ship  had  a  wide  significance.  During 
the  reign  of  William  the  fourth,  of  England,  a  statute  enacted  that 
the  term  ship  comprehended  every  description  of  vessel  navigating 
the  ocean. 

First   Vessel    Built   on   the   Kennebec.  —  The    name    of 

"Vircinia  of  Sagadahock"  of  1607  was  given  in  honor  of  the 
designation  of  New  England  as  North  Virginia.  When  the  Popham 
colony  broke  up  its  settlement  and  returned  to  England,  the  Virginia 
sailed  in  company  with  the  other  vessel  that  took  the  members  of  the 
colony  home.  Her  arrival  at  the  port  of  Falmouth  was  a  sensation; 
a  wonder  at  the  triumph  of  ship-carpentry  in  the  distant  wilds  of 
the  New  World.  This  little  craft  was  the  forerunner  of  the  great 
American  industry  that  eventually  arrived  to  the  distinction  of 
beating  the  world  in  the  model  wooden  ship. 

Interesting  is  the  history  of  the  ship-building  on  the  Kennebec 
traced  from  the  quaint  little  thirty  ton  ship,  that  was  builded  in  the 
wilderness  at  the  river's  mouth  almost  three  hundred  years  ago, 
through  the  centuries  to  the  huge  leviathans  of  peace  and  war  that 
at  this  later  day  are  rearing  their  giant  frames  in  the  ship-yards  of 
this  shipbuilding  city.  Imagination  alone  can  speculate  upon 
the  methods  of  construction  used  by  the  master  builder,  "  one 
Digby  of  London,"  as  to  whether  he,  with  ship-building  afore- 
thought, brought  with  him  from  England  the  spikes  for  the 
planking,  or  whether,  Robinson  Crusoe  like,  his  men  fashioned 
the  nails  out  of  whatever  iron  they  happened  to  have  at  hand; 
whether  the  Indians  helped  them  or  hindered  them,  and  what 
these  natives  thought  of  the  strange  pale  faces  who  had  come  into 
their  midst  to  build  a  huge  canoe.  But  whatever  the  Indians 
thought  of  the  settlers  there  is  no  question  as  to  what  the  settlers 
thought  of  the  land  of  the  Indians,  for  soon  after  they  had  finished 
their  ship,  launched  her  upon  the  smooth  waters  of  Atkins  Bay,  and 
fitted  her  for  an  ocean  voyage,  they  availed  themselves  of  the 
opportunity  to  leave  these  inhospitable  shores  and  sail  back  to  the 
mother  country  in  their  new  vessel  and  the  Mary  and  John,  the 
supply  ship.     Neither  the  colonists  nor  the  ship  ever  came  back  to 


136  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

the  Kennebec,  but  the  new  ship  was  used  in  transporting  colonists 
to  the  South  Virginia  settlement. 

The  Second  Build.  —  It  was  sixty-eight  years  later  when 
another  vessel  was  built  on  the  Kennebec  shores.  When  the 
famous  firm  of  Clark  &  Lakk  came  into  possession  of  the  island 
of  Arrowsic  and  established  vast  business  enterprises,  they  built 
vessels  on  the  island  and  sailed  them  in  transporting  the  products 
of  their  trade  with  return  cargoes  of  supplies.  Their  yards  were  on 
the  Kennebec  side  of  the  island  and  on  the  eastern  side  at  or 
near  Spring  Cove.  Across  the  bay  from  the  latter  locality,  on  the 
Woolwich  shore,  lived  the  father  of  William  Phii»s.  The  natural 
tendency  of  the  times  being  for  vessels,  the  youthful  ambition  of 
this  subsequent  famous  man  seems  to  have  led  him  to  become  a 
shipwright  as  the  basis  of  the  future  eminent  career  which  he  early 
mapped  out  for  himself. 

SIR  WILLIAM  PIIIPS. 

Jilllies  Pltips,  the  father  of  Sir  William,  emigrated 
to  this  country  in  1651  and  settled  on  the  Kennebec 
at  Butlers  Cove  (vide  '•  Fathers  of  New  England  "  ). 
Afterwards  he  purchased  the  land  known  as  Phips 
Point  in  Woolwich  bordering  on  the  Sheepscot  River. 
phifph.  He  settled  there  as  a  farmer,  at  the  same  time  pur- 

suing his  trade  of  gunsmith.  He  had  a  family  by  one  wife  of 
twenty-one  sons  and  five  daughters.  His  tenth  child  was  William, 
born  Feb.  2,  165 1,  on  Arrowsic  Island,  and  while  a  child  was  taken 
by  his  parents  to  Woolwich.  He  learned  the  trade  of  shipwright  by 
a  four  years1  apprenticeship  in  the  yards  of  Clark  &  Lake  at  Arrowsic. 
Upon  the  end  of  his  apprenticeship,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he  went 
to  Boston  to  work  in  ship-yards  in  1673.  There  were  no  schools  in 
his  town,  and  he  received  no  education.  While  working  at  his 
trade  in  Boston  he  married  the  widow  of  John  Hull,  daughter  of 
John  Richards,  the  original  proprietor  of  Arrowsic,  who  brought  him 
some  property  and  taught  him  to  read  and  write.  He  returned  to 
his  old  home  in  Woolwich  in  1674,  where  he  built  a  ship  for  Boston 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  1 37 

parties  which  he  completed  in  1676.  This  proved  a  very  fortunate 
circumstance  to  the  settlers  in  that  vicinity,  for  on  the  completion 
of  the  vessel  the  first  Indian  war  broke  out  and  savage  depredations 
began.  The  settlers  on  the  Sheepscot,  terrified  by  the  tidings  of 
the  massacres  at  Hammonds  Fort  and  at  the  garrison-house  of 
Clark  &  Lake,  fled  to  the  islands  in  Booth  Bay,  when  William  Phips 
took  them  on  board  his  vessel  and  sailed  for  Boston,  although  he  ■ 
was  obliged  to  abandon  a  portion  of  his  cargo  of  lumber  that  was 
ready  for  shipment.  He  continued  building  and  sailing  vessels  at 
Boston  for  some  years  until  he  engaged  with  the  Duke  of  Albemarle 
to  proceed  in  one  of  the  king's  ships  in  search  of  a  sunken  Spanish 
treasure  ship  that  was  lost  off  the  Bahamas.  On  the  second  voyage 
in  this  enterprise  he  was  sucscssful  in  finding  the  wreck  in  some 
fifty  feet  of  water.  From  this  wreck  they  obtained  $1,350,000  in 
gold,  silver,  and  jewels.  Phips*  part  amounted  to  $80,000  and  for 
this  great  service  he  was  knighted.  He  had  the  generosity  and  the 
justice  to  divide  with  his  sailors  a  fair  proportion  of  the  treasure 
recovered. 

On  his  return  to  this  country  from  England  he  resided  in  Boston 
and  was  given  public  employment.  In  1690  he  commanded  the 
colonial  Meet  that  captured  Fort  Royal  in  Nova  Scotia.  He  sailed 
from  Boston  in  May  with  a  fleet  of  nine  vessels.  He  had  the  rank 
and  title  of  commodore,  his  Mag  ship  carrying  forty  guns.  He 
completed  the  conquest  of  Acadia  and  brought  back  enough  of  the 
enemy's  merchandise  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  undertaking.  The 
next  August  he  commanded  an  expedition  against  Quebec.  The 
land  forces  were  to  proceed  by  the  way  of  Lake  Champlain,  uniting 
with  the  fleet  for  the  reduction  of  that  place.  Phips  was  repulsed 
in  this  undertaking,  not  having  receiving  the  expected  aid.  A 
severe  storm  destroyed  a  portion  of  his  fleet,  and  the  expenses, 
which  they  anticipated  would  be  paid  from  the  spoils,  fell  upon  the 
colonies,  and  money  being  scarce,  bills  of  credit  and  paper  money 
were  issued,  the  first  instance  in  our  history.  He  subsequently 
rebuilt  the  destroyed  fort  at  Pemaquid  and  named  it  Fort  William 
Henry. 

Sir  William  went  to  England  to  obtain  from  the  Crown  a  new 


138  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

charter  for  the  Province  of  Massachusetts  Day,  and  returned  with  it 
as  governor  in  1692.  This  office  he  ably  administered  until  1694, 
when,  as  had  been  the  fate  of  all  previous  governors  of  the  colony, 
he  encountered  opposition  which  culminated  in  his  recall  to  England 
to  answer  to  complaints  against  his  methods  of  administration. 
This  he  did  successfully  and  remained  for  some  time  in  London. 
He  died  there  in  the  year  1695  at  the  early  age  of  forty-four  years. 
This  country  lost  an  able,  enterprising,  patriotic,  and  good  citizen. 

William  Phips  by  his  own  force  of  character  rose  from  a  poor 
and  uneducated  youth  to  wealth,  power,  and  distinction.  In  personal 
appearance  he  was  tall  and  commanding;  of  comely  and  symmet- 
rical features;  courtly  and  dignified  in  manner;  of  amiable  and 
generous  disposition.  On  his  first  return  to  this  country,  loaded 
with  wealth  and  honor,  he  tendered  a  splendid  feast  to  the  ship- 
carpenters  of  lloston  in  consideration  of  his  having  commenced 
active  life  pursuing  that  honorable  avocation. 

The  York  Records  of  1727  show  that  "John  Lane  of  Boston 
recites  that  his  mother,  Sarah,  was  daughter  of  John  White,  and 
conveys  land  at  Kennebec  inherited  from  her,  purchased  by  John 
White  and  James  Phips  from  Kdward  Bateman.  (lood  authority 
states  that  James  Phips  and  John  White  were  born  about  the  same 
time."  William  M.  Sargent,  Portland,  wrote  that  he  had  evidence 
that  James  Phips  died  and  John  White,  his  business  partner, 
married  Phips'  widow  and  she  had  several  children  by  him  {vide  S. 
Richards,  South  Paris). 

Early  Building  at  Bath.  —  The  continued  hostilities  of  the 
savages  prevented  vessel  building  to  any  great  extent  on  the  Ken- 
nebec as  well  as  elsewhere  on  these  shores  until  keels  were  laid  at 
the  "  Reach "  sixty-five  years  after  Phips*  Woolwich  ship.  The 
inception  of  the  business  as  connected  with  this  locality  was  the 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  1 39 

building  of  sloops  and  schooners  on  the  banks  of  the  New  Meadows 
River,  which  at  an  early  day  was  the  mart  of  commerce  for  this 
section. 

In  due  time,  however,  the  entire  business  became  transferred  to 
the  Kenneiiec,  where  Bath  has,  for  more  than  a  century,  held  the 
lead  in  ship-building  on  this  river  and  tributary  waters,  and  eventu- 
ally has  become  the  largest  wood  ship-building  city  in  the  world. 
Its  rise  and  growth  is  a  matter  of  general  interest.  It  is  the  earliest 
of  Bath  industries  and  has  continued  paramount  to  all  others.  Its 
establishment  and  prosecution  have  brought  into  being  many  collat- 
eral industries  indispensable  to  the  building  and  sailing  of  ships. 
This  location  was  well  chosen.  The  country  around  was  covered 
with  forests  of  the  best  oak  timber  in  the  world  to  put  into  vessels, 
with  tall,  straight  spruce  for  masts  and  spars,  while  the  shore  on 
this  west  side  of  the  long  stretch  of  deep  water  was  well  adapted, 
in  its  sloping  trend,  for  placing  a  hull  and  sliding  it  into  its  des- 
tined element. 

Bath  skirts  the  shore  for  three  miles  on  what  was  known  as  Long 
Reach,  a  broad,  straight  section  of  the  river  which  forms  a  perfect 
harbor  for  vessels  of  the  largest  tonnage.  This  port  is  ample  for 
Ihe  navies  of  the  world,  and  if  a  harbor  were  the  measure  of  a 
city's  commercial  importance,  Bath  would  be  second  to  none.  These 
advantages  have  been  utilized  by  Hath  in  the  pursuit  chiefly  of  her 
principal  industry,  for  which  she  is  known  in  every  part  of  the 
maritime  world.  She  has  built  ships  upon  its  banks  and  launched 
them  into  its  waters  until  the  tonnage  which  bears  her  name  out- 
numbers that  of  any  other  wood  shipbuilding  community  in  the 
world.  Indeed,  this  industry,  first  located  here  on  account  of  the 
accessibility  of  ship  timber,  grew  to  such  large  proportions  and 
became  so  firmly  established  that  when  the  supply  of  material  near 
at  hand  became  somewhat  exhausted  and  it  was  necessary  to  resort 
to  the  pineries  of  the  South  and  West,  it  did  not  decrease  in  volume 
or  in  any  way  was  afTected  by  this  fact;  on  the  contrary,  the  history 
of  ship-building  in  Bath  perfectly  demonstrates  the  theory  that  the 
prime  factor  of  success  lies  in  the  skill  of  the  ship  mechanic  and 
the  home  ownership  of  a  large  portion  of  the  tonnage  produced. 


140  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

She  is  so  advantageously  located  that  she  is  destined  to  become  a 
very  much  larger  city  than  she  is  now,  and  of  greater  importance 
as  a  ship-building  point. 

The  Pioneer  Builders.  —  In  1741,  Jonathan  Piiilhrook 
came  to  Long  Reach  and  settled  on  the  site  of  the  present  city  of 
Hath.  He  was  its  pioneer  ship-builder.  In  1743,  this  Jonathan 
1'hilbrook  and  his  two  sons  built  a  schooner  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  south-east  of  the  present  custom-house.  This  vessel  must 
have  been  a  success,  for  these  builders  followed  a  few  years  later 
with  another  schooner. 

But  the  first  man  to  establish  ship-building  in  Bath  as  a  per- 
manent business  was  Capt.  William  Swanton.  In  the  year  1762, 
this  ship-builder  put  up  the  first  full-rigged  ship  built  in  Hath. 
It  was  called  the  Earle  of  Bute;  the  succeeding  year  he  built  a 
ship,  also  on  contract,  for  an  English  merchant  named  J  en  n  ess,  and 
the  following  year  filled  a  like  contract  with  a  Mr.  Ayles  for  a  ship 
which  was  called  the  Rising  Sun,  a  name  prophetic  perhaps  of  the 
rising  glory  of  Bath-built  ships.  In  1765,  he  built  a  small  ship  and 
named  her  the  Moore.  He  continued  building  a  merchant  vessel 
every  year  until  the  commencement  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  In 
1776,  he  built  a  ship  to  be  used  for  a  privateer  for  a  Salem  company. 
She  was  considered  of  superior  model  for  sailing;  was  mounted  with 
eighteen  guns;  was  named  the  Black  Prince  and  fitted  out  at  Hath. 
Soon  after  leaving  the  Kennebec  she  had  a  severe  battle  with  an 
English  ship  of  the  same  size,  took  her  and  sent  her  into  port. 
She  joined  the  famous  expedition  against  Castine  in  1779.  It  is 
thus  seen  that  at  an  early  day  vessels  were  built  at  Hath  for  outside 
parties,  as  is  the  business  of  building  them  on  contract  so  largely 
the  custom  at  the  present  day. 

William  Swanton  was  by  birth  an  Englishman.  He  came  to 
Boston  at  an  early  age  and  lived  there  many  years.  In  consequence 
of  the  disturbed  state  of  the  country  on  the  sea-board,  caused  by 
the  French  war,  he  removed  to  Haverhill  in  the  interior,  where  he 
was  enrolled  in  a  company  of  the  militia;  served  as  captain  in  the 
French  war  and  was  at  the  reduction  of  Louisburg  in    1758.     He 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  141 

was  by  trade  a  shipwright,  and  was  remarkable  for  skill  and  indus- 
try. About  the  year  1760,  he  came  to  the  river  Kennebec  where 
Bath  now  stands,  locating  his  first  ship-yard  at  the  foot  of  Summer 
street,  and  afterwards  at  the  foot  of  South  street  after  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  was  a  constant  ship-builder  during  the  active  years  of 
his  life,  and  when  he  died  in  181  o  was  ninety-nine  years  of  age. 
Capt.  Swanton  was  the  ancestor  of  the  several  familes  of  Swantons 
of  Bath,  some  of  whom  have  been  for  a  long  series  of  years 
notable  ship-owners  and  ship-masters. 

With  the  commencement  of  ship-building  by  Capt.  Swanton  was 
the  advent  of  Joshua  Raynes,  who  in  1762  built  a  sloop  at  Bath 
called  the  Union  and  which  had  other  owners.  Going  on  a  West 
India  voyage  at  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  she  was  on  her  return 
to  Bath  with  a  cargo  of  molasses  when  she  was  captured  off  Seguin 
by  a  British  cruiser.  It  is  stated  that  in  1722  Joshua  Raynes  built 
a  sloop  of  one  hundred  and  forty  tons  at  the  South  End,  but  the 
date  is  not  verified.  At  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war  Joshua 
Raynes  built  a  schooner  which  was  owned  by  ten  persons,  among 
whom  were  Duinmcr  Sewall,  Joshua  Philbrook,  E.  II.  Page,  and 
others.  This  was  a  great  undertaking  for  that  period  and  many 
people  attended  the  launching  of  the  vessel.  She  was  about 
100  tons  burden,  cost  something  like  $3,000,  and  was  profitably 
employed  in  the  coasting  business.   • 

Vessels  built  at  West  Bath  at  an  early  date  will  be  recorded  in 
the  history  of  that  town. 

The  first  vessel  built  by  the  Patten  family  was  in  Topsham. 
In  1772,  the  schooner  Industry  was  built  by  the  elder  John  Patten 
and  his  son  Robert  and  owned  by  them  and  Robert  Fulton,  Mr. 
Jameson,  Mr.  Harward,  and  James  Maxwell.  The  latter  went 
captain  of  her.  She  was  one  of  the  first  vessels  that  went  to  the 
West  Indies  from  the  Kennebec.  She  was  sold  during  the  Revo- 
lutionary war  for  paper  money  which  was  not  of  par  value.  In 
1776  or  1777,  John  Patten,  Senior,  built  at  Topsham  the  schooner 
Orange,  which  went  to  the  West  Indies  and  was  taken  by  a  French 
cruiser  which  confiscated  vessel  and  cargo.     This  John  Patten  was 


142  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

the  great-grandfather  of  the  noted  ship-builders  of  Hath,  George  F. 
Patten,  John  Patten,  and  James  F.  Patten. 

In  1780,  a  sloop  of  ninety  tons  was  built  on  the  bank  of  Fiddlers 
Reach,  north  of  ••  Rowsic  mills,"  facing  south.  Her  owners  were 
Alexander  Drummond  and  Thomas  Williams.  She  was  com- 
manded by  Drummond  and  was  run  as  a  packet  between  Hath  and 
Jioston;  his  crew  were  Patrick  Williams  and  Andrew  McFaddcn. 
Ultimately  she  encountered  a  gale  while  at  anchor  at  Heals  Eddy 
at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  dragged  her  anchors,  went  ashore  and 
was  lost. 

After  tllO  Revolution.  —  The  inception  of  peace  following  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  having  made  investments  in  navigation  safe 
and  prospectively  profitable,  the  business  of  building  vessels  on 
these  waters  was  largely  entered  into,  gradually  changing  from 
sloops  to  schooners,  hermaphrodite  and  full-rigged  brigs,  and  later 
ships.  At  this  day  brigantines  are  rarely  seen  on  the  Kennebec, 
these  and  brigs  having  largely  given  place  to  the  three  and  four 
masted  schooners  of  heavy  tonnage.  The  latter  are  chiefly  confined 
to  the  coasting  trade,  while  square-rigged  vessels  are  considered 
preferable  for  long  ocean  voyages.  The  ships  were  chiefly  employed 
in  the  European  carrying  trade,  the  brigs  and  larger  schooners 
in  West  India  voyages;  the  smaller  schooners  and  sloops  employed 
coastwise. 

The  first  ship  built  at  Bath  after  the  Revolution  of  which  there  is 
record  was  the  Atlantic  of  235  tons  by  Jonathan  Davis,  Jr.,  in 
1790,  whose  yard  was  what  is  now  that  of  the  Houghton  Brothers. 
Forty  or  fifty  years  ago  work  in  the  ship-yards  was  usually  suspended 
during  the  winter  season,  and  later  carpenters  headed  by  the 
master  workman  were  sent  South  to  cut  timber,  the  first  crew  going 
in  1850.  Models  of  vessels  in  the  building  of  which  the  timber 
was  to  be  used  were  taken  along,  the  timber  prepared  on  the  spot 
where  cut,  each  piece  numbered  ready  to  fit  into  its  place  when 
the  vessel  for  which  it  was  designed  was  set  up,  with  the  exception 
of  a  little  trimming. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  143 

CllcbllCCO  Iloata.  -  —  Chebacco  boats  for  fishermen's  use  were 
universally  in  use  for  many  years.  The  name  was  derived  from  the 
place  where  they  were  first  built  in  Essex  County,  Massachusetts; 
many  of  them  were  afterwards  built  in  this  district.  The  sterns  came 
out  to  a  peak,  hence  they  became  denominated  "  Pink-sterned." 
As  the  planks  came  together  at  the  stern  the  cost  of  their  construc- 
tion was  much  less  than  those  of  the  same  tonnage  with  square 
stems.  They  could  be  built  for  from  $700  to  $800.  They  had  also 
the  advantage  of  being  superior  sea  boats  as  the  high  and  sharp 
stern  prevented  the  shipping  of  heavy  seas  and  they  rode  lightly  on 
the  waves.  The  high  peak  of  the  stern  served  as  a  rest  for  fishing 
nets.  They  gradually  went  out  of  use  and  scarcely  one  is  now  to 
be  seen. 

The  tradition  is  that  the  first  one  that  was  built  was  by  a  man  in 
a  barn,  and  when  it  was  ready  to  be  put  on  the  water  he  found  that 
there  was  no  way  to  get  his  craft  out  without  cutting  away  one  end 
of  the  building,  which  he  accordingly  did.  This  style  of  boats 
became  gradually  enlarged  to  the  extent  that  some  of  them  were  as 
large  as  any  craft  then  in  use  for  fishing  purposes.  They  averaged 
about  fifteen  tons  and  carried  three  men  each.  Early  in  the  present 
century  about  two  hundred  of  these  boats  were  owned  in  Gloucester. 
The  Chebacco  boat  had  two  masts,  but  no  bowsprit.  The  foremast 
was  placed  well  forward  and  the  mainmast  in  about  the  center  of 
the  craft. 

In  18 10,  the  Chebacco  boat  gave  place  to  the  "jigger," 
a  class  of  vessels  twice  the  size  of  the  Chebacco  boat.  These 
had  a  bowsprit,  full  forward  but  very  sharp  aft,  the  stem  terminat- 
ing at  a  point  curling  gracefully  upward.  The  main-boom  rested 
ni  Vhc  erulcU  of  the  peak.  They  steered  with  a  long  tiller  or 
"cart  tongue,"  as  some  of  the  fishermen  were  wonted  to  call 
it.  There  never  was  a  safer  or  more  substantial  class  of  vessels 
built  than  this  old-time  craft.  Notwithstanding  the  full  bow  they 
were  fast  sailors  and  would  ride  the  sea  like  a  gull.  The  peak 
gave  way  to  the  square-sterned,  and  finally  the  present  graceful  and 
yacht-like  fleet  of  fishermen  were  substituted.  But  while  the  modern 
fishing  vessels  are  much  handsomer  than  the  old  pinkey,  the  latter 


144  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

was  a  better  sea  boat  than  the  clipper  built  craft  of  to-day.  The 
reason  the  present  generation  have  not  seen  a  pinkey  is  because 
none  have  been  built  for  many  years.  They  were  built  of  oak 
frame,  planking,  and  ceiling,  and  consequently  lasted  many  years. 
The  pinkey  Senator,  built  in  Essex  in  1831,  was  afloat  a  few  years 
ago. 

Snows.  —  In  1792,  '95,  '96,  there  were  three  craft  built  here 
called  Snows,  —  one  of  193,  one  of  174,  and  one  of  164  tons.  A 
Snow  was  a  vessel  of  two  masts  corresponding  to  the  main  and 
foremasts  of  a  ship  and  a  third  small  mast  just  abaft  the  mainmast 
carrying  a  sail  similar  to  a  ship's  mizzen  sail.  This  style  of  vessel 
went  entirely  out  of  use,  none  having  been  built  in  this  district  after 
those  already  mentioned,  and  it  is  not  known  in  what  special  trade 
they  were  employed. 

Former  Mode  Of  Building;.  —  In  former  years  it  generally 
required  a  year  to  build  a  ship.  All  the  materials  were  prepared 
by  hand  with  the  broad-axe,  the  whipsaw,  the  adze,  and  the  pod 
auger.  This  style  of  auger  was  straight,  grooved  on  one  side 
through  which  the  chips  came  up,  to  clear  which  the  auger  had  to 
be  often  withdrawn.  The  timbers,  planks,  -and  ceiling  had  all  to  be 
carried  to  place  on  the  shoulders  of  the  workmen  instead  of  moved 
as  at  present  by  oxen  or  horse  with  a  tackle.  But  the  timbers  were 
vastly  larger  than  those  now  used  for  the  same  size  of  vessel.  In- 
stead of  sawed  in  the  yard  mill,  the  planks  were  sawed  by  whipsaw 
in  the  saw-pit.  Less  iron  fastenings  were  in  use  and  treenails*  were 
utilized  for  that  purpose.  These  were  made  by  hand  with  the 
broad-axe  from  pieces  rifted  from  white  oak  blocks.  This  light  work 
was  mostly  done  during  stormy  days  under  cover.  An  incident  has 
been  related  that  when  a  crowd  was  gathered  at  a  launching  a 
dandy  young  man  came  along  while  some  trunnels  were  being  made 
by  workmen;  he  stepped  up  to  help,  took  oil"  his  kid  gloves,  lay 
them  down  on  a  block,  placed  one  end  of  an  unshaped  trunnel  on 
the  gloves,  took  the  broad-axe  and  hewed  out  a  perfect  trunnel,  the 
tapering  end  and  all,  without  cutting  the  gloves  a  particle,  to  the 
admiration  and  wonderment  of  the  many  by-standers. 

*  Commonly  pronounced  "  trunnels." 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  145 

In  building  vessels  at  an  early  day  the  bolts  and  spikes  were 
made  by  hand.  The  blacksmith  would  heat  the  end  of  a  flat  bar  of 
iron,  which  he  would  split  the  length  of  a  required  bolt,  cut  off  the 
pieces  and  shape  the  bolt  on  the  anvil.  Spikes  were  made  in  a 
similar  manner.  When  bolts  were  to  be  fastened  by  nuts,  the  screw 
on  the  small  end  of  the  bolt  would  be  made  by  hand,  as  likewise 
was  the  nut.  Vessels  were  not,  as  now,  constructed  by  models;  the 
master  workman  lined  out  each  piece  to  fit  the  place  it  was  to  fill; 
the  stern  and  stern  posts  were  first  set  up,  framing  was  begun  at 
mid-ships  and  filled  in  with  the  timbers  working  in  the  direction  of 
fore  and  aft. 

Supply  of  Wood  Material.  —  At  an  early  day  vessels  were 
built  with  timber  cut  from  the  forests  in  the  vicinity  of  the  yard, 
and  when  the  supply  grew  less,  resort  was  had  to  other  parts  of  the 
state.  The  timber  and  knees  were  selected  with  the  natural  bend 
or  sweep,  and  were  hewed  only  on  two  sides,  the  other  sides  left  in 
their  natural  condition.  The  timbers  were  set  as  much  as  two  and 
one-half  feet  apart;  in  latter  days  they  are  only  a  few  inches 
apart.  The  planks  were  cut  with  the  whipsaw.  The  stern  was  so 
flaring  that  the  keel  only  extended  aft  so  far  as  to  permit  the  foot 
of  the  mizzen  mast  of  a  ship  to  rest  upon  it.  The  cabin  was 
entirely  below  and  lighted  by  a  "bull's  eye"  set  in  the  deck,  and 
the  seamen  lodged  in  the  forecastle  under  the  forward  deck. 

Southern  Timber.  —  In  1818,  '19,  '20,  and  '21,  John  Bosworth 
was  employed  by  Green  &  Emerson  of  Bath  to  take  one  hundred 
men  to  Florida  and  Georgia  and  cut  live-oak  timber,  which  they  had 
contracted  to  furnish  the  United  States  government  for  naval  use. 
Mr.  Bosworth,  with  Mr.  Drew  for  his  partner,  loaded  a  brig  and  a 
schooner  at  Bath  with  the  workmen,  provisions,  oxen,  carts,  and  all 
necessary  supplies  for  the  work,  which  they  landed  at  Darien.  They 
had  the  molds  for  timber  for  three  ships;  one  of  these,  the  Pennsyl- 
vania, built  at  Philadelphia  was  a  144  gun  ship,  the  largest  then 
in  the  fleet.  They  also  landed  at  Philadelphia  frames  for  three 
frigates.  Mr.  Bosworth  was  rated  a  superior  mechanic  and  had 
built  a  large  number  of  vessels  for  himself  and  others  at  Bath.  He 
died  in  Florida  in  1828  at  the  age  of  fifty  years  (per  Lemon t). 


146  HISTORY  OP  BATH. 

Native  timber  to  put  into  the  construction  of  vessels  having 
finally  become  scarce  in  Maine,  attention  was  called  to  the  advant- 
age of  using  timber  from  the  South  for  merchant  vessels.  About  the 
year  1837,  George  F.  Patten  and  William  I).  Sewall  went  together 
to  Philadelphia  and  contracted  for  a  supply  (per  Capt.  John  Patten). 
Southern  timber  was  found  to  be  of  superior  quality  when  grown 
near  the  sea-board,  from  where  at  first  it  was  cut;  it  is  now  obtained 
chiefly  from  the  interior.  The  first  vessel  built  with  southern  timber 
was  the  stm*  Delaware  in  1838  by  the  Pattens  and  Charles  Dav- 
enport. The  same  year  W.  1).  Sewall  built  a  ship  of  southern 
timber,  and  the  use  of  this  kind  of  timber  was  continued  by  these 
builders  while  in  the  business.  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion, 
the  supply  of  timber  from  the  South  was  cut  off,  and  its  place  was 
supplied  with  timber  from  Canada,  Northern  Maine,  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  Vermont.  Considerable  supply  of  timber  for  frames  and 
knees  is  still  derived  from  those  sources. 

The  mode  of  launching  vessels  at  an  early  day  was  to  cut  awa) 
the  after  blocks  the  last.  The  present  method  of  cutting  away  the 
forward  blocks  last  has  proved  the  safest  way  to  put  a  craft  into  the 
water.  The  time  was  when  at  a  launching  a  man  would  set  astride 
the  farther  end  of  the  bowsprit  and  when  the  vessel  was  sliding 
from  the  ways  would  call  out  the  name  that  had  been  given  her,  at 
the  same  time  breaking  a  bottle  of  rum  over  the  bowsprit,  first 
drinking  from  the  bottle.  This  custom  has  long  since  been  dis- 
pensed with,  except  in  some  special  cases,  when  the  bottle  is 
broken  on  the  bow  from  below.  Formerly  vessels  while  on  the 
stocks  did  not  have  their  lower  masts  set;  now  the  most  of  them 
have  all  the  lower  masts  up.  Many  of  the  schooners  are  fully 
rigged,  and  a  few  all  fitted  for  sea,  rigging,  sails  bent,  water  and 
provisions  aboard,  with  little  to  do  but  ship  the  crew  in  order  to 
sail  on  her  voyage.  The  fashion  had  been  to  place  carved  and 
gilded  "  figure  heads  "  on  the  bows  of  ships  under  the  bowsprit, 
usually  representing  the  name  of  the  vessel.  It  is  rarely  done  now. 
Billet  heads  came  later  into  use  and  are  not  common  at  this  day. 

Carpenters  and  Sailors.  —  The  carpenters  worked  from  sun  to 
sun,  going  into  the  yard  before  breakfast  during  the  longer  days, 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  147 

and  they  "knocked  off"  at  night  for  a  late  supper;  they  were 
boarded  by  their  employers  and  lodged  by  them  often  in  their  own 
dwellings.  One  dollar  a  day  was  round  wages.  Yet  many  of  the 
workmen  laid  up  money  and  some  of  them  owned  farms  in  the 
vicinity  of  their  employment.  There  was  little  if  any  imported 
labor.  The  steering  apparatus  was  simply  a  helm  with  a  tackle 
fastened  to  either  side  of  the  upper  works  of  the  quarter-deck,  and 
Ihe  wheelsman  had  no  shelter  when  handling  the  tiller.  When 
all  hands  were  called  to  go  aloft  the  captain  often  "  took  the  helm." 

The  chief  food  on  board  the  vessel  was  salt  beef,  pork  and  beans, 
rice,  hard  bread,  coffee,  and  duff  (a  flour  pudding)  twice  a  week. 
There  was  a  regular  allowance  of  "grog"  both  to  the  ship-carpenters 
and  seamen,  served  out  to  them  in  New  England  rum  at  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  forenoon  and  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  When 
the  temperance  reform  became  an  accepted  fact,  this  allowance  was 
cut  off  from  the  workmen,  and  for  a  while  the  sailors  in  the  navy 
had  a  money  allowance  instead  of  the  liquor,  and  in  time  this 
custom  was  abolished  also. 

When  a  seaman  had  signed  the  shipping  papers  he  was  entitled 
to  and  was  paid  a  "  month's  advance "  to  use  in  purchasing  his 
"sailor's  outfit ";  of  later  years  the  vessel  carries  a  "slop  chest" 
supplied  with  such  clothing  as  would  meet  the  need  of  the  sailors  at 
sea,  which  is  dealt  out  to  them  as  wanted  and  charged  against  their 
wages. 

The  smallest  snip  that  has  been  built  in  Bath  was  the  Ann  of 
132  tons  in  1802  for  Charles  Bradford  of  Boston,  who  commanded 
her.  When  the  size  increased  to  that  of  the  Rappahannock  of  1,133 
tons  in  1841,  owned  by  Clark  &  Sewall,  Thomas  M.  Re^d,  and 
others,  she  was  considered  a  monster,  and  in  comparison  with  other 
vessels  loomed  up  magnificently  on  the  river.  Before  going  to  sea 
a  large  party  was  entertained  aboard  of  her.  She  was  partly  owned 
in  New  York,  to  which  city  she  sailed,  when  another  large  party 
was  given  on  board;  proceeding  thence  to  New  Orleans  she  had 
another  ovation.  William  Dkummond  was  her  commander.  She 
was  the  largest  merchant  ship  in  the  world,  and  was  put  into  the 


148  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

cotton  trade.     Originally  she  had  two  decks,  and  eventually  a  third 
was  added. 

With  the  business  of  the  merchant  marine  there  have  been  at 
intervals  seasons  of  depression  of  longer  or  shorter  duration. 
One  of  these  seasons  commenced  in  about  1883  and  continued 
until  far  into  1889.  The  building  of  full-rigged  ships  in  this  country 
had  ceased  altogether,  and  those  afloat  were  generally  run  at  a  loss. 
Many  of  the  ships  of  smaller  tonnage  were  sold  in  California  to  go 
into  the  Pacific  coast  trade,  and  others  disposed  of  at  Atlantic  ports 
and  converted  into  coal  barges. 

Business  for  ships  having  at  length  in  a  measure  revived,  the 
building  of  ships  again  commenced  at  Bath.  January,  1890,  the 
Rappahannock  of  3,000  tons,  in  November  the  Shenandoah  of  3,258 
tons,  in  1892  the  Roanoke  of  3,400  tons  were  all  launched  from  the 
same  yard;  in  1890  Houghton  Brothers  built  the  Parthia  of  2,378 
tons, — these  the  largest  and  latest  of  Bath  wood  ships.  In  1892 
the  greatest  depression  commenced  and  continues  to  the  present 
date,  1893.  While  Bath  has  built  the  larger  part  of  the  vessels 
constructed  in  this  district,  other  towns  on  the  river  and  contiguous 
waters,  notably  at  Phipsburg,  Richmond,  Hallowell,  Arrowsic,  and 
Georgetown,  have  added  many  to  the  Kennebec  fleet.  At  one  time 
the  district  took  in  Harpswell  and  a  portion  of  Brunswick,  and 
many  ships  and  smaller  vessels  were  built  on  that  portion  of  the 
Casco  Bay  v/aters. 

Steam iso at  iiuii.dino  was  commenced  in  Hath  in  1865  by  A.  M. 
Sampson,  who  built  one  of  about  64  tons  for  use  on  the  Pacific 
coast.  £>he  was  called  the  Lookout.  The  same  year  Geo.  K.  Patten 
built  the  steamer  Montana  of  1,000  tons.  John  R.  Kelly  became 
captai:\,  and  took  her  around  Cape  Horn  to  go  into  the  California 
coast  trade.  These  were  followed  in  1866  by  G.  F.  and  J.  Patten 
building  the  steamship  Idaho  of  1,077  tons-  Jarvis  Patten  was  the 
captain,  and  she  was  taken  to  the  Pacific  coast.  These  steamship 
ventures  did  not  prove  remunerative,  and  the  building  of  that  class 
,  of  vessels  ceased  for  about  ten  years,  when  Goss  &  Sawyer  com- 
menced building  them  on  contract,  mostly  to  be  sent  to  the  Pacific 
coast,  followed  by  others  to  be  placed  on  regular  steamship  lines  on 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  149 

the  Atlantic  coast.  The  establishment  of  the  Goss  Marine  Iron 
Works  in  connection  with  the  New  England  Company's  vessel 
building  enabled  the  builders  to  fit  steamers  built  at  Bath  with 
required  machinery  and  fully  equipped  for  service. 

Restrictions  on  Commerce.  —  Prior  to  1806  the  commercial 
prosperity  of  the  country  was  beyond  example,  and  a  large  portion 
of  our  ships  were  employed  in  transporting  timber  and  other  Ameri- 
can productions  to  the  dominions  of  Great  Britain,  but  near  the 
close  of  that  period  the  English  government  imposed  such  heavy 
duties  on  American  timber,  and  so  greatly  favored  the  introduction 
into  that  country  of  that  article  from  the  north  of  Europe,  that  it 
amounted  to  prohibition  of  our  trade  and  commerce  in  that  com- 
modity. This  unfavorable  change  in  its  transportation  business  bore 
heavily  upon  a  large  amount  of  Bath  capital  invested  in  shipping. 
Immediately  after  this  disastrous  condition  of  the  shipping  interests 
came  the  still  more  depressing  Em karoo  of  Dec.  22,  1807,  followed 
in  1809  by  the  Non-intercourse  act  and  war  of  18 12,  which  caused 
a  period  of  depression  lasting  eight  years. 

Our  war  of  18 12  and  the  Napoleonic  wars  having  ended, 
universal  peace  ensued.  Consequently  all  other  commercial  nations 
came  in  to  share  the  carrying  trade  of  the  world,  making  formidable 
rivals  to  such  of  our  shipping  as  had  survived  capture  and  decay 
during  the  troublesome  times  just  passed.  To  this  was  added  the 
great  failure  of  crops  in  181 6,  causing  excessive  stagnation  of 
business  lasting  two  years.  The  great  staple  for  bread  in  this  sec- 
tion of  country  was  Indian  corn,  which  commanded  the  price  of  two 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  a  bushel,  and  in  Bath  was  difficult  to  be 
obtained  at  any  price. 

Commercial  Prosperity.  —  Good  crops  finally  prevailing  de- 
pression ceased,  and  in  1820  and  1821  flour  was  only  four  dollars 
and  a  half  a  barrel  to  the  consumer.  An  extensive  trade  with  the 
West  Indies  commenced  about  this  time,  which  employed  a  large 
fleet  of  brigs  and  schooners,  taking  out  cargoes  chiefly  of  lumber 
and  bringing  back  cargoes  of  rum,  molasses,  and  sugar.  Bath 
became  a  mart  for  wholesale  trade  in  West  India  goods.    There  wai^ 


\ 


\ 


150  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

a  distillery  in  town,  and  this  consumed  large  quantities  of  the 
imported  molasses,  especially  of  the  inferior  grades. 

Besides  long  lumber,  shooks,  headings,  and  hoop  poles  for  cooper- 
age, these  vessels  carried  out  dried  fish,  pork,  beef,  and  among  thr 
return  cargoes  were  raisins,  oranges,  lemons,  and  fruits  of  West 
India  growth  and  salt.  Vessels  were  constantly  going  out  and 
coming  into  the  river,  and  employment  was  given  men  and  youths 
who  chose  the  sea  for  a  vocation.  Sailors  of  foreign  birth  were  rare. 
So  lively  was  commercial  business  that  vessels  were  at  times  com- 
pelled to  anchor  in  the  stream  for  weeks  waiting  to  procure  berths 
at  the  wharves. 

A  custom-house  office  was  then  no  sinecure.  Inspectors, 
weighers,  guagers,  and  measurers  were  kept  constantly  busy  attend- 
ing to  the  discharge  of  cargoes.  During  the  winter  season,  before 
the  advent  of  railroads,  large  quantities  of  goods  were  conveyed  by 
teams  to  the  up  river  towns  and  in  other  directions.  These  were 
not  only  goods  from  the  West  Indies,  but  as  well  from  Boston  and 
elsewhere,  being  landed  in  Bath  as  the  head  of  winter  navigation. 

The  English  West  India  Ports.  —  In  1826,  the  English  gov- 
ernment closed  its  West  India  ports  against  trade  with  the  people  of 
the  United  States.  This  bore  disastrously  upon  Bath,  where  vessel 
building  ceased,  and  business  became  depressed.  Ship-carpenters 
were  glad  to  obtain  work  at  fifty  and  seventy-five  cents  a  day, 
getting  occasional  work  on  old  vessels  undergoing  repairs,  taking 
store  pay, at  that,  and  working  from  daylight  till  dark.  In  those 
days,  how/ever,  workmen  were  boarded  by  their  employers,  making  a 
saving  at  home.  This  interdiction  by  England  continued  until  the 
fall  of  1830,  when  the  West  India  ports  of  that  power  were  again 
opened  to  American  vessels.  On  the  day  the  news  reached  Bath,  all 
the  vessels  in  port  displayed  every  piece  of  bunting  they  possessed, 
presenting  a  gay  scene  at  the  wharves  where  numerous  vessels  were 
lying,  as  well  as  in  the  stream  where  vessels  were  riding  at  anchor. 

/^The  opening  of  the  English  West  India  ports  was  brought  about 
during  the  first  term  of  President  Jackson.  England  had  closed 
^hese  ports  to  the  commerce  of  the  United  States  for  the  reason 


/ 


/ 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  151 

that  vessels  of  that  country  were  virtually  excluded  from  our  ports, 
our  maritime  laws  discriminating  against  them.  As  Secretary  of 
State  in  Jackson's  administration,  Martin  Van  Buren  instructed 
Mr.  Dallas,  our  minister  in  London,  to  make  a  treaty  conceding  to 
vessels  of  Great  Britain  the  right  to  enter  our  ports  on  the  same 
terms  that  American  vessels  were  admitted  to  her  West  India 
ports,  England  having  secured  a  proviso  that  regulations  of  this 
commerce  were  left  with  the  authorities  of  those  islands.  Our 
diplomats  failed  to  see  the  trap  set  for  us.  The  consequence  was 
that  a  duty  of  six  dollars  a  thousand  was  placed  upon  lumber 
brought  from  American  ports  and  none  on  that  from  English  ports, 
and  we  were  left.  Our  export  trade  to  these  islands  was  chiefly  in 
lumber  and  the  English  controlled  the  markets  there.  And  what 
operated  more  to  our  disadvantage  was  that  English  ships  bound 
to  our  southern  ports  took  in  coal  at  Newcastle  sufficient  for  ballast, 
loading  with  lumber,  which  would  be  discharged  at  British  West  . 
India  ports  on  their  route,  effectively  costing  nothing  for  transpor- 
tation. 

The  Cotton  Carrying  Trade.  —  The  first  vessel  sent  to  New 
Orleans  from  Bath  or  the  State  of  Maine  was  in  1802,  and  was  the 
brig  Androscoggin,  under  the  command  of  Nehemiah  Harding 
and  owned  by  William  King.  On  ordering  the  brig  to  New  Orleans 
the  captain  asked  Gen.  King  where  New  Orleans  was.  lie  was 
informed  vaguely  that  it  was  somewhere  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
('apt.  Harding  fortunately  found  an  old  Spanish  chart  by  which  he 
safely  found  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River.  Thiskwas  the 
beginning  of  the  immense  cotton  carrying  trade  in  Batlv  vessels 
from  that  and  other  southern  ports.  This  auspicious  event,  thought 
but  little  of  at  the  time,  illustrates  possibly  the  far-seeing  business 
enterprises  for  which  William  King  was  notable  and  in  whidi  he 
was  almost  if  not  always  successful.  \ 

Of  the  cotton  carrying  trade  across  the  ocean,  Bath  ships  had  for 
succeeding  years  almost  a  monopoly,  with  New  Orleans  as  the  great 
shipping  point.  They  were  constructed  with  adaptation  for  going\ 
over  the  sand  bars  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  River.  This 
large   trade  was  lost  in   consequence   of    the  construction  of  the 


I52  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

jetties  by  Eades  proving  a  success  in  deepening  the  channel  that 
let  in  the  large,  deep  English  steamers,  and  thus  cut  off  the  freight- 
ing business  of  New  Orleans  from  sailing  ships.  It  was  a  blow 
from  which  our  deep  sea  shipping  interests  have  never  fully  recov- 
ered. East  India,  China,  Japan,  the  Guano  Islands,  and  the 
California  freighting  business  took  the  place  of  that  of  cotton,  but 
never  with  like  security  of  continuous  remuneration. 

When  California  came  into  prominence,  navigating  around  Cape 
Horn  and  the  Pacific  Ocean  business  required  fast  sailing  ships  of 
large  tonnage.     Then  came  the  era  of 

THE  CLIPPER  SHIP. 

No  doubt  this  was  the  proudest  and  most  picturesque  period  of  our 
commercial  and  maritime  career.  The  clipper  ship  was  sharp, 
keen,  and  high  sparred,  carrying  a  tremendous  crowd  of  sail,  with 
royals  and  sky-sails  and  all  manner  of  devices  for  increasing 
speed,  which  was  then  regarded  as  the  great  desideratum. 

The  annals  of  Bath  teem  with  the  marvelous  achievements  of 
these  great  commercial  yachts,  and  poets  and  authors  in  all  parts  of 
the  world  have  made  the  clipper  ship  famous  in  song  and  story. 
But  she  was  not  a  good  carrier,  and  soon  her  place  was  taken 
by  vessels  o£  wider  lines  and  sturdier  proportions.  There  are  but 
few  of  the  old-time  clipper  ships  in  existence,  but  the  love  the 
people  bore  for  them  has  never  died  away,  and  to-day  the  advent  of 
an  old  cupper  in  an  American  port  awakens  a  thrill  of  patriotism  in 
the  heans  of  both  old  and  young  America;  the  newspapers  recall 
the  clipper's  former  glory,  old  sailors  spin  anew  yarns  of  the  clip- 
.  per's  ^nighty  speed  that  grows  ever  greater  as  the  years  roll  by,  and 
boys /of  Bath  of  sea-faring  ancestry  feel  their  bosoms  swell  with 
pricj/e  as  they  read  in  history  and  nickel  library  the  deeds  their 
fathers  did  in  the  swift  clipper  ships  that  distanced  the  Meets  of  all 
the  world  in  the  halcyon  days  of  the  early  Pacific  trade. 

/     Poetry  pictures  the  gallant  clipper  laden  with  golden  grain,  speeH- 

/  ing  over  the  deep  blue  sea  with  Mowing  sheets  and  bellowing  canvas, 

/    young  America  at   the  wheel,   her  proud  commander    pacing    the 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  153 

quarter-deck,  each  sailor  American  born,  skilled  and  brave,  a  hero 
of  the  sea,  such  as  manned  the  victorious  Yankee  frigates  in  the 
war  of  18 1 2. 

Prose  places  the  survivor  of  the  clipper  fleet  in  the  coal  barge 
business,  dismantled  of  her  tapering  spars  and  snowy  canvas,  loaded 
down  to  the  water's  edge,  drearily  dragging  her  blackened  hulk  from 
port  to  port  along  the  coast,  not  even  sailing  under  her  own  canvas 
but  tamely  towed  by  some  smoky  tug,  her  wheel  tended  and  her 
deck  in  command  of  foreign  born  seamen. 

Probably  some  one  has  gained  by  the  downfall  of  the  clipper 
ship,  and  mayhap  our  country  is  more  prosperous  with  her  com- 
merce in  the  hands  of  England  and  safer  with  her  merchant  marine 
manned  by  foreign  sailors,  and  probably  the  going  out  of  the  clipper 
ship  had  nothing  to  do  with  the  case;  but  it  still  remains  that  our 
ships  no  longer  inspire  poets  or  invite  young  America,  and  there 
are  many  things  to  deplore  which  the  building  of  a  few  big  ships 
and  the  establishing  of  iron  ship-yards  do  not  entirely  offset. 

But  it  is  not  the  fault  of  Bath.  Bravely  she  has  struggled  to 
maintain  the  supremacy  of  America  on  the  sea,  and  heroically  has 
she  striven  to  retain  for  our  country  our  country's  commerce.  That 
the  government  has  done  little  to  aid  her  efforts  is  apparent, 
although  it  has  awakened  from  its  long  sleep  and  begun  to  build  a 
new  navy  and  take  steps  to  recover  its  lost  prestige  on  Ae  ocean. 

The  Bath  ship  in  herself  is  the  finest  sailing  craft  that  floats. 
She  is  perfect  in  model,  staunch  in  construction,  capable  of  with- 
standing the  severest  storms,  possessed  of  great  speed,  and  is 
altogether  a  specimen  of  marine  architecture  of  which  our  country 
may  well  be  proud.  In  comparison  with  the  finest  of  English  iron 
ships,  the  Bath  ships  do  not  suffer.  They  are  built  just  as  they 
should  be  built  to  meet  the  requirements  of  the  foreign  carry- 
ing trade.  They  are  capable  of  conveying  across  the  sea,  safely, 
swiftly  and  in  good  condition,  whatever  cargo  they  may  be  calted 
upon  to  transport.  Of  these  ships  Bath  has  a  large  and  well- 
manned  fleet,  which  has  cost  many  millions  of  dollars. 

TIlC  GuailO  Trade.  —  When  the  cotton  carrying  trade  began  to 
decline,  the  freighting  of  guano  from  the  Chincha  Islands  became  a 


154  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

very  acceptable  source  of  business  for  Bath  ships.  This  lasted  sev- 
eral years,  carrying  that  valuable  fertilizer  from  the  Peru  Islands  to 
our  southern  ports  and  to  Europe.  The  final  decrease  of  the  supply 
and  the  control  of  these  islands  falling  into  the  hands  of  England 
operated  to  cut  off  this  branch  of  freighting  from  our  shipping. 
This  trade  with  these  Islands  was  extremely  profitable,  transporting 
their  fertilizing  products  to  market. 

When  the  Mexican  war  was  in  progress,  which  commenced  in 
1846,  there  was  a  lively  demand  for  vessel  transportation,  and  Bath 
shipping  had  paying  employment  for  a  number  of  years  in  this 
service. 

It  was  in  the  days  of  the  clippkr  ship  just  before  the  late  war,  that 
Bath  reached  the  zenith  of  her  c;i.ory  and  prosperity.  Not  only 
did  the  demand  for  the  guano  and  that  of  the  California  trade  em- 
ploy a  large  number  of  ships,  but  England  was  buying  Bath  built 
ships  for  her  commerce,  and  thus  the  Bath  yards  were  crowded 
beyond  their  utmost  capacity  for  a  number  of  years. 

This  period  of  activity  began  with  the  Mexican  war,  when  many 

ships   were   required  in  transporting  troops  and    supplies.     From 

1837    to   1856   inclusive  there  were  built  255   ships,  36  barks,   36 

I  brigs,  and  36  schooners,  the  height  of  this  prosperity  having  been 

inety-one  vessels  were  built,  aggregating  a  total  of 


brigs,  ana  36  scnoon 
in  1854,  wbin  ninety 
64,927   tons;  fifty-nil 


r-nine  of  them  were  full-rigged  ships,  seven  were 
barks,  eighteen  were  brigs,  and  three  schooners.  These  schooners 
were  of  about  400  tons  burden,  about  one-fifth  of  the  average  ton- 
nage of  the  schooner  of  to-day.  There  was  a  notable  decline  in 
Bath's  building  activity  when  the  late  war  brought  disaster  to 
shipping  properties. 

Schooners. — While  in  years  long  since  passed  the  spreading 
canvas  of  the  Bath  foreign-going  ships  annually  whitened  the  waters 
of  the  Kennebec  with  their  return  to  the  port  of  their  departure, 
they  come  back  no  more  to  these  placid  waters,  finding  the  calls  of 
business  to  be  elsewhere,  and  their  places  are  supplied  by  the  going 
and  coming  of  the  schooners  plying  on  less  distant  voyages,  and 
whose  dimensions  far  exceed  those  of  the  largest  ships  of  former 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  155 

days.  In  the  construction  of  this  grade  of  vessels  the  Bath  yards 
have  a  wide-spread  fame  that  brings  contracts  from  far-away  locali- 
ties. For  models  of  beauty,  capacity,  strength,  and  fiectness,  the 
Hath  built  schooner  stands  without  a  peer. 

Years  ago  the  fore-and-aft  schooner  rig  was  supposed  to  be 
suitable  to  none  except  comparatively  small  vessels,  and  the  limit 
was  fixed  at  two  masts.  But  as  later  requirements  of  coasting  trade 
forced  the  building  of  larger  vessels,  it  was  found  that  the  corre- 
sponding increase  of  sail  area  involved  the  use  of  taller  masts  than 
could  be  conveniently  or  even  safely  carried  at  sea,  and  so  the 
experiment  of  three  masts  was  tried.  The  experiment  succeeded, 
and  in  the  course  of  time  "  three-masters  "  swarmed  up  and  down 
the  coast  from  Maine  to  Texas,  while  "  two-masters  "  were  relegated 
to  river  and  in-shore  traffic.  It  had  been  found  that  a  small  vessel 
could  not  earn  pay  on  long  trips,  while  a  large  vessel  would  give  a 
a  fair  profit  to  her  owners.  This  fact  has  trebled  the  size  of  schoon- 
ers in  the  last  decade.  A  schooner  that  could  carry  800  to  1,000 
tons  of  freight  was  a  large  vessel  ten  years  ago,  while  one  is  seldom 
built  to-day  to  carry  less  than  2,500  to  3,000  tons.  And  along  with 
the  increase  of  size  has  come  an  addition  to  the  number  of  masts, 
so  that  the  " three-master  "  is  giving  place  to  the  "four-master,"  and 
already  there  is  afloat  the  experimental  "  five-master."  In  the  Bath 
yards  these  large  schooners  arc  yearly  built,  as  also  steamers  both 
for  freight  and  passenger  service,  whose  models  are  not  excelled  at 
any  other  building  point. 

Schooners  of  the  largest  class  of  coasting  tonnage  are  bm't  with 
one  main  deck,  supplemented  by  a  spar  deck,  are  framed  in  oak, 
braced  with  heavy  hackmctack  knees,  planked  with  southern  \.  ine, 
fastened  with  locust  treenails,  decked  with  white  pine  and  con- 
structed throughout  with  an  eye  to  strength,  carrying  capacity,  speed 
and  sea-worthiness.  The  sails,  cargo  and  anchor  are  handled  by 
hoisting  engines  of  the  noiseless  friction  gear  type.  All  modern 
appliances  in  the  way  of  electric  bells,  speaking  tubes,  patent  steer- 
ing gear,  windlasses  and  capstans  are  furnished  these  vessels."  The 
many  labor-saving  appliances  on  board  these  schooners  render  a 
small  crew  amply  able  to  accomplish  the  work  of  a  large  crew  un- 


156  HISTORY  OF    BATH. 

aided  by  mechanical  appliances.  A  crew  of  six  men  before  the 
mast  is  sufficient  for  a  schooner  of  2,500  tons  burden  fitted  with 
machinery. 

EFFECT  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

In  various  ways  this  war  crippled  our  ocean  commerce  from  which 
it  has  never  recovered.  Some  vessels  continued  to  be  built,  as 
some  builders  could  not  well  forego  their  life-long  business,  preferring 
to  take  their  chances  on  the  ocean  during  those  perilous  times. 
Many  ships  were  kept  at  sea  and  some  were  sailed  under  foreign 
flags.  Marine  insurance  was  exorbitant.  Yet  some  of  the  voyages 
resulted  in  profit,  while  other  vessels  were  captured  by  rebel  cruisers. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  the  general  government  obtained  from 
England  a  large  sum  as  damages  to  our  commerce  on  agcount  of  the 
destruction  of  American  ships  by  the  rebel  armed  ship  Alabama,  on 
the  ground  that  England  aided  and  abetted  by  having  allowed 
her  construction  and  equipment  within  her  borders.  To  appropriate 
this  money  rightfully,  Congress  instituted  a  board  which  took  the 
popular  name  of  Alabama  Claims  Commission.  Bath  came  in  for 
a  share  in  the  distribution  of  the  fund,  both  for  loss  sustained  in 
the  destruction  of  its  vessels  and  also  for  the  extra  rate  of  insur- 
ance that  had  to  be  paid  on  vessel  property  during  hostilities. 

IRON  AND  STEEL  SHIP  -  BUILDING. 

The : year  1890  marked  a  new  era  in  the  construction  of  vessels 
in  Bath.  Since  the  close  of  the  late  war,  the  English  and  other 
maritime  nations  of  Europe  having  been  engaged  in  building  ships 
of  iron  and  steel,  the  demand  for  deep  sea-going  vessels  of  wood 
material  has  been  decreasing  year  by  year.  Consequently  the  build- 
ing of  iron  vessels  in  the  United  States  has  been  undertaken  in 
some  of  the  more  southern  states,  and  the  builders  of  Bath  have 
long  felt  that  in  time  they  would  be  compelled  to  resort  to  iron  and 
steel  *in  the  construction  of  their  ships.  With  this  end  in  view 
Capt.  G.  C.  Goss  founded  in  1883  the  Goss  Iron  Works  to  build 
marine  engines,  but  these  works  proving  unsuccessful  they  were  sold 


HISTORY    OF  BATH.  157 

in  1889  to  the  Bath  Iron  Works,  of  which  Gen.  Thomas  W.  Hyde 
is  principal  owner.  In  the  winter  of  1890,  he  was  successful 
in  a  bid  for  the  construction  of  two  cruisers  of  about  one  thousand 
tons  each,  to  duplicate  each  other,  for  the  use  of  the  United  States 
government.  The  place  for  their  construction  was  selected  by 
appropriating  the  extensive,  unoccupied  dock  south  and  contiguous 
to  the  Bath  Iron  Works,  and  the  work  of  preparing  it  for  occu- 
pancy was  immediately  commenced.  The  contract  called  for  their 
completion  within  two  years  at  the  total  cost  of  about  $700,000. 
The  preparation  of  the  yard  cost  about  $50,000.  Subsequently 
Gen.  Hyde  secured  the  contract  for  the  construction  of  the  Ammen 
ram  for  the  government,  thus  having  three  war  vessels  on  the 
stocks  at  the  same  time.  The  two  cruisers  were  successfully 
launched  in  the  summer  of  1892,  one  named  the  Machias,  the 
other  the  Castine,  thus  honoring  two  of  Maine's  historical  localities. 
The  ram  was  successfully  launched  in  February,  1893,  and  named 
Kataiidin,  after  a  Maine  mountain.  She  is  of  2,182  tons  and 
the  cost  of  her  construction  was  $1,500,000  to  the  government. 

This  plant  is  fully  equipped  for  the  building  of  iron  and  steel 
ships  for  the  merchant  marine  service,  having  now  a  contract  for  a 
passenger  vessel  of  large  tonnage.  Its  capacity  has  been  increased 
by  men  and  improved  machinery  sufficient  to  construct  the  largest 
vessel  the  government  may  hereafter  require. 

Another  plant  for  building  iron  ships  is  established  in  the  city 
by  a  firm  that  has  been  largely  engaged  in  the  building  of  wood 
ships  and  schooners  for  many  years  past.  The  first  invoice  of 
material  for  this  plant  was  a  cargo  direct  from  England  brought  by 
an  iron  English  steamer.  There  is  no  duty  on  imported  material  to 
be  used  in  building  vessels.  The  Bath  Iron  Works  have  used 
American  iron  and  steel  exclusively. 

TIlO  Bath  Ship.  —  Dirigo  ( I  lead )  of  the  Pine  Tree  State 
has  been  verified  in  the  great  and  important  industry  of  ship-build- 
ing, of  which  Bath  is  the  center.  For  many  years  Bath  has  been 
called  the  great  American  ship-yard,  and  her  finely  built  ships 
have  floated  upon  every  sea  of  the  known  world.     She  has  led  the 


158  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

world  for  the  last  half  century  in  both  the  amount  and  quality  of 
the  tonnage  that  has  come  from  her  yards. 

The  interior  appointments  of  the  ships  are  luxurious,  and  supe- 
rior to  anything  ever  seen  in  a  clipper  ship  of  the  past.  The 
captain's  cabin  is  finished  in  hard  woods  of  different  kinds  and 
furnished  with  rich  carpets,  raw  silk  and  plush  furniture.  The 
sleeping  apartments  combine  beauty  with  utility.  Books,  pictures, 
and  a  piano  are  sometimes  added  when  the  captain's  wife  accom- 
panies him,  as  she  frequently  does. 

The  clipper  period  did  not  meet  the  exigences  and  demands  of 
trade  —  speed  with  capacity  —  and  since  that  time  those  desirable 
qualities  have  been  fully  met  by  improved  models.  We  often  hear 
of  "the  palmy  days  of  shipping"  before  the  war,  when  as  many  as 
fifty-nine  full-rigged  ships  have  been  built  in  one  year  and  sailed 
away  from  the  port  of  Bath.  It  has  been  said  by  good  authority 
that  the  average  like  of  a  wood  ship  is  from  twelve  to  fourteen 
years,  thus  making  it  necessary  to  rebuild  the  merchant  fleets  of  the 
world  every  twenty-five  years,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  ships 
now  carrying  the  freights  from  port  to  port  will  gradually  disappear 
and  must  be  replaced  by  other  ships  meeting  the  wants  of  a  new 
navigation.  This  may  necessitate  the  construction  of  the  iron  and 
steel  ship. 

Murine  Hospital.  —  In  1792,  a  seamen's  hospital  was  estab- 
lished on  Hospital  Point.  Quarantine  was  in  the  river  adjacent. 
The  building  was  of  two  stories  and  square,  and  has  not  been  there 
for  many  years.  Accommodations  for  seamen  on  the  sick  list  have, 
of  late  years,  been  provided  in  other  parts  of  the  city,  with  physi- 
cians in  necessary  attendance. 

TIlC  French  Spoliation  Claims.  —  At  an  important  crisis  in 
the  Revolutionary  war  France  came  to  the  aid  of  this  country.  |{y 
the  treaties  of  1778  the  United  States  agreed  to  aid  France  in 
defending  her  West  India  possessions,  and  in  case  France  should 
be  at  war  with  any  other  nation,  to  receive  French  vessels  in 
American  ports  and  exclude  the  vessels  of  her  enemy.  But  the 
French  Revolution  alarmed  American  statesmen,  and  they  hastened 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  159 

to  conclude  the  treaty  of  1795  with  England,  whereby  English 
vessels  were  admitted  to  American  ports  and  French  vessels 
excluded. 

The  treaty  of  1795  with  England  gave  to  France  great  offense, 
and  resulted  in  a  decree  of  the  French  government  proscribing  all 
vessels  carrying  British  goods.  Two  thousand  American  sails  were 
swept  from  the  ocean.  Three  envoys  sent  to  France  could  gain  no 
satisfaction,  and  were  treated  with  contempt.  In  those  times  orig- 
inated Pinckney's  famous  expression,  "Millions  for  defence;  not  a 
cent  for  tribute."  An  army  was  formed,  and  Washington  was  called 
to  its  command.  Of  this  army  Maine's  share  was  26,000  men  who 
were  raised  with  alacrity.  When  the  United  States  demanded 
indemnity  of  France  for  the  American  vessels  which  had  been 
destroyed,  Napoleon  replied  that  the  United  States  owed  France 
indemnity  for  failing  to  protect  the  West  India  possessions  as 
agreed  by  the  treaty  of  1778.  Private  claims  were  offset  by  a  pub- 
lic claim,  and  the  United  States  was  thus  left  to  settle  with  its  own 
citizens  for  the  losses  which  they  had  sustained  at  the  hands  of 
France.  But  when  Louisiana  was  purchased  from  Napoleon, 
$10,000,000  were  reserved  for  the  settlement  of  the  private  claims 
of  United  States  citizens  against  France.  The  claims  were  paid  as 
presented,  and  when  the  money  was  exhausted  many  claims  were 
still  unsettled.  They  were  just  as  sound  as  those  which  were  set- 
tled, and  remain  to  this  day  as  the  French  spoliation  claims. 

By  the  treaty  between  the  United  States  and  France,  the  United 
States  became  the  debtor  in  the  place  of  France  to  all  who  suffered 
from  French  spoliation.  The  legality  of  these  claims  has  been 
indorsed  by  eminent  statesmen  and  the  appeal  of  the  claimants  has 
been  made  to  many  Congresses.  In  March,  1891,  a  bill  passed 
Congress  appropriating  $1,500,000  in  liquidation  of  these  claims. 
The  legal  heirs  of  the  owners  of  vessels  destroyed  by  the  French, 
as  above  related,  arc  the  claimants.  At  this  remote  day  it  will  be 
difficult  to  prove  claims.  Their  adjustment  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
United  States  Commission  on  Claims  at  Washington. 

Alabama  Claims.  —  During  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  some  of 
the  owners  of  Bath  ships  had  them  registered  in  England  and  they 


l6o  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

sailed  under  English  colors,  thus  avoiding  capture  by  confederate 
cruisers;  they  did  a  profitable  business.  When  the  war  was 
ended  the  registry  of  these  vessels  could  not  be  changed  to  sail 
under  the  American  flag.  Yet  there  were  those  owning  and  manag- 
ing Bath  ships  who  kept  them  at  sea  during  the  war,  taking  their 
chances  of  capture,  insuring  them  at  a  heavy  premium.  More 
or  less  of  these  vessels  were  destroyed  by  confederate  cruisers,  the 
most  active  and  aggressive  of  which  was  the  ship  Alabama,  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Semmes. 

When  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  was  over,  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment claimed  that  the  Alabama  and  other  confederate  cruisers 
were  built  in  English  yards,  fitted  for  sea  by  Englishmen,  and  in 
consequence  demanded  damages  from  the  government  of  Great 
Britain.  This  demand  was  finally  adjusted  on  the  payment  by 
England  of  $15,500,000  to  cover  these  losses,  which  was  paid  to 
owners  of  vessels  who  could  prove  losses  from  capture  by  confed- 
erate cruisers  before  a  board  of  commissioners  appointed  by 
Congress  for  the  purpose.  Others  obtained  redress  for  exorbitant 
rates  of  insurance  they  had  paid  on  account  of  the  depredations  of 
these  piratical  cruisers,  so  long  as  the  money  drawn  from  the 
English  government  held  out.  Bath  ship  owners  came  in  for  a 
share  of  this  money,  while  many  claims  remain  unadjusted. 

Reminiscences. — The  Bath  captains  did  not  "come  in  through 
the  cabin  windows."  It  was  soon  after  the  commencement  of  the 
last  century  that  a  few  captains  took  their  wives  to  sea  with  them, 
and  then  usually  at  the  time  when  they  were  newly  married.  Some 
of  them  became  almost  heroines.  William  Drummond  married 
Miss  Mary  Fisher  of  Arrowsic.  She  was  an  elegant  lady,  whose 
modest  and  retiring  demeanor  suggested  the  thought  that  her  nature 
would  shrink  from  encountering  danger;  but  going  to  sea  with  her 
husband  on  a  voyage  and  on  nearing  the  coast  of  New  York  the  ship 
became  in  such  great  danger  that  the  captain  had  to  lend  a  hand  al 
the  ropes,  and  his  wife  took  the  helm  and  stuck  to  it  till  the  ship 
was  out  of  danger,  which  heroic  feat  was  much  praised.  This  was 
in  1831. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  l6l 

Capt.  William  P.  Larrabee,  whose  wife  was  on  board,  on  near- 
ing  the  coast  to  go  into  New  York  in  one  of  the  Houghton  ships  in 
the  winter  season  was  several  times  driven  off  by  the  force  of 
adverse  gales;  the  cold  was  so  intense  that  the  sailors  had  difficulty 
in  handling  the  sails;  to  help  them,  Mrs.  Larrabee,  who  had  a  stove 
in  the  cabin,  occupied  herself  in  drying  their  mittens  and  other 
clothing  so  far  as  the  facilities  for  doing  so  permitted.  She 
was  a  fine  specimen  of  a  woman,  both  in  physique  and'  mind,  her 
courage  and  heroism  inspired  the  men  to  their  arduous  duties,  and 
the  ship  was  brought  to  her  haven  in  safety.  The  companies  having 
insurance  risks  on  this  ship  and  her  valuable  cargo  presented  Mrs. 
Larrabee  a  valuable  testimonial  for  her  heroic  services. 

Some  smuggling  in  a  quiet  and  shrewd  way  would  be  indulged 
in.  When  a  vessel  from  the  West  Indies  with  a  cargo  of  molasses 
and  sugar  arrived,  a  custom-house  officer  would  be  detailed  to  see 
that  the  goods  landed  corresponded  with  the  "manifest"  of  the 
cargo,  which  was  an  account  of  the  cargo  written  out  and  certified 
by  the  captain  of  the  vessel  and  filed  in  the  custom-house.  There 
were  cases  where  the  document  failed  to  contain  the  whole  of  the 
cargo.  To  get  this  surplus  landed  without  detection  by  the  custom- 
house officers  was  the  enigma.  The  drive  upon  the  inspector  over- 
seeing the  discharging  would  be  that  while  this  officer  had  gone  to 
dinner  and  "all  hands"  to  their  "grub"  the  men  would  hurry 
through  their  meal  and  hoist  some  hogsheads  of  molasses  or  some 
boxes  of  sugar  from  the  hold  and  hurry  them  into  the  warehouse, 
keeping  an  eye  upon  the  return  of  the  officer,  who  was  probably 
dining  with  the  owner  who  did  not  hurry  much.  For  this  service 
the  men  would  be  entitled  to  some  extra  drinks  of  "  grog  "  together 
with  the  satisfaction  of  having  beaten  the  custom-house  out  of  the 
duties. 

It  must  be  confessed  that  in  early  voyages  to  the  West  Indies 
the  captains  of  vessels  made  a  good  thing  in  the  delivering  of  lum- 
ber in  Spanish  ports.  The  boards  were  run  out  of  the  vessel  on  a 
raft.  The  account  of  the  quantities  discharged  was  kept  by  the 
mate  and  a  clerk  who  was  sent  down  from  the  office  of  the  purchaser 
and  who  knew  nothing  of  the  measure  of  the  lumber.     Accordingly 


l62  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

when  the  seamen  ran  out  a  board  on  the  raft  he  could  call  out  any 
number  of  feet  in  excess  of  the  marked  measurement  that  he  chose; 
the  Spanish  clerk  would  be  none  the  wiser,  and  settlement  was  had 
as  all  right.  Finally,  however,  the  Spaniards  came  to  suspect  this 
ruse  and  had  the  lumber  regularly  surveyed. 

"  Capt.  John  Whitmore,  for  many  years  well  known  as  a  respect- 
able sea-captain  and  afterwards  pilot  for  this  port,  went  out  in  the 
brig  Susanna  and  Mary  on  the  29th  ultimo,  and  has  not  since  been 
heard  from.  He  was  known  to  have  left  the  brig  in  a  small  boat, 
and  was  afterwards  seen,  in  appearance  nearly  exhausted,  drifting  to 
sea;  but  in  consequence  of  the  severity  of  the  weather,  no  assist- 
ance could  be  rendered.  Tne  only  hope  is  that  some  fortunate 
vessel  has  fallen  in  with  him  at  sea."  —  Maine  Gazette,  Dec.  6,  1820. 
A  snow  storm  drove  him  off  and  his  wherry  was  subsequently  picked 
up  at  sea,  but  it  did  not  have  his  body  on  board. 

Era  of  Pimtillg.  —  In  about  182 1,  '22,  and  '23,  piratical  vessels 
swarmed  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  West  India  Islands,  and 
numbers  of  Bath  vessels  in  the  West  India  trade  suffered  by  their 
depredations.  It  was  believed  that  these  piratical  adventurers  were 
countenanced  by  the  Cuban  authorities,  and  in  some  instances  aided 
in  fitting  them  out. 

At  a  date  not  given  a  ship  was  hauled  in  at  the  north  side  of 
Davis*  now  Houghton's  wharf  and  was  found  to  be  deserted.  She 
was  supposed  to  have  been  engaged  in  the  slave  trade.  In  that 
business  so  large  were  the  profits  of  a  successful  voyage,  that  after 
discharging  her  cargo  of  slaves  the  owners  of  the  vessel  could  well 
afford  to  lose  her,  and  often  did  so  by  abandonment.  She  was 
finally  sold  to  pay  for  her  wharfage.  It  is  also  in  tradition  that  the 
captain  of  this  craft  was  arrested  and  taken  before  a  magistrate  to 
answer  for  the  crime  of  slave-trading,  but  no  evidence  was  brought 
against  him  and  he  was  discharged. 

In  182 1,  the  brig  Mary  Jane  was  robbed  by  pirates  on  the  coast 
of  Cuba;  she  was  owned  by  Hill  &  McCobb,  Phipsburg. 

Schooner  Evergreen,  Capt.  Pool,  arrived  at  Bath,  having  been 
robbed  and  ill-treated  by  pirates,  and  having  retaken  his  vessel. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  163 

Schooner  Milo,  Capt.  Cushing,  arrived  in  the  river  safely  after 
having  been  robbed  by  pirates  off  the  West  India  coast.  She  was 
owned  by  Parker  McCobb. 

Sept.  10,  1821,  the  schoonkr  Despatch  of  this  port  was  taken  by 
pirates  and  was  retaken  by  a  vessel  fitted  out  from  Trinidad.  The 
captain  of  the  pirate  vessel  was  condemned  to  be  hanged  and  the 
crew  to  work  in  chains  in  the  streets  for  two  years. 

On  Oct.  8,  182 1,  the  brio  Cobbeseconte,  Capt.  Jackson,  of  this 
port  was  robbed  by  pirates  in  an  armed  boat  four  miles  out  from  the 
Moro  Castle,  Havana.  They  first  gave  the  captain  and  the  mate  a 
severe  beating,  then  hanged  the  mate  and  stabbed  the  captain 
through  the  thigh,  when  they  took  what  they  wanted  and  left. 

Disasters  to  Bath  Ships.  —  Bath  having  built  and  owned  so 
many  ships,  it  naturally  follows  that  the  story  of  the  sea  recounts 
each  year  loss  of  life  and  vessels  that  greatly  interest  her,  but  so 
numerous  are  these  disasters,  mention  can  be  made  of  only  the  most 
memorable. 

In  about  1795,  there  was  a  prospect  of  war  between  France  and 
the  United  States.  France  was  belligerent  on  the  ocean  aud  unlaw- 
fully captured  some  merchant  vessels  belonging  to  the  United  States. 
During  this  state  of  things  William  King  had  a  ship  at  sea  of 
which  Capt.  Redmond  was  commander,  and  Capt.  Lane,  mate.  She 
was  captured  by  a  French  cruiser  and  a  prize  crew  put  on  board  of 
her,  but  the  officers  and  a  portion  of  the  crew  were  permitted  to 
remain.  They  concerted  a  plan  to  retake  the  ship,  and  while  the 
French  crew  were  aloft  reefing  sails  the  captain  secured  the  French 
commander,  the  mate  the  man  at  the  wheel,  and  the  crew  stood  by 
with  handspikes  and  captured  the  French  sailors  as  they  came  down 
from  aloft,  giving  the  Americans  full  control  of  the  ship.  They  took 
her  into  port  and  the  court  awarded  them  $10,000  salvage,  which 
the  owner  of  the  ship  had  to  pay.  It  gave  Gen.  King  a  claim 
against  the  United  States  government. 

Jan.  19,  1 85 1,  Capt.  William  P.  Larrabee  had  retired  from  a 
sea-faring  life  for  a  rest,  and  was  part  owner  of  the  ship  Moro  that 
was  built  by  William  Hall  at  the  South  End.     She  was  loaded  with 


164  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

coal  at  Philadelphia  for  Havana.  She  was  destitute  of  a  captain, 
and  Capt.  Larrabee  was  induced  to  go  on  and  take  charge  of  her  as 
his  last  voyage.  He  took  with  him  two  of  his  young  daughters. 
The  vessel  was  never  heard  from  after  she  had  sailed,  Jan.  19,  1851. 
The  only  account  relating  to  her  fate  was  given  by  another  ship  in 
company  with  her  on  a  portion  of  the  voyage.  Early  one  morning, 
when  near  the  island  of  Cuba,  the  captain  of  this  ship  discerned 
the  Moro  in  the  dim  distance  low  in  the  water.  On  coming  on  deck 
after  breakfast  he  found  the  Moro  missing  and  remarked :  "  If  that 
ship  does  not  reach  her  port  of  destination  I  shall  think  that  she 
has  gone  down."  He  was  bound  to  the  same  port  and  the  Moro 
never  arrived  there. 

A  Total  Wreck.  —  In  1865,  James  T.  Morse  was  in  command 
of  the  schooner  Engina,  and  while  on  a  passage  from  Hath  to 
Mobile  the  vessel  was  struck  by  a  hurricane  while  lying  to,  when 
one  of  the  tremendous  waves  which  plunged  along  mast-high 
"tripped"  the  vessel  and  she  was  instantly  turned  bottom  up. 
Capt.  Morse  and  a  companion  were  in  the  cabin  at  the  time,  and  as 
the  deck  was  several  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  sea  they  were 
imprisoned.  They  were  in  absolute  darkness,  standing  in  water 
up  to  their  waists,  seemingly  helpless  and  doomed.  But  Capt 
Morse  and  his  companion  were  not  the  kind  of  men  to  surrender  to 
the  seemingly  inevitable  until  forced  to  do  so.  Groping  about  they 
found  a  hatchet  and  decided  to  hew  their  way  to  the  upper  air. 
Knowing  that  as  soon  as  an  opening  was  made  the  air,  which  was 
then  shut  in  by  the  arch  of  the  inverted  hull,  would  escape  and  the 
water  take  its  place,  they  were  obliged  to  work  with  the  greatest  cau- 
tion lest  they  should  make  a  fatal  leak  before  there  was  a  hole  large 
enough  to  permit  of  their  escape  and  so  be  drowned  like  imprisoned 
rats.  For  days  they  worked,  cutting  away  the  ceiling  and 
planks  until  they  could  catch  the  gleam  of  light  through  the  thin 
wood  in  one  place,  then  cutting  again  until  another  part  was  simi- 
larly cleared,  and  so  on  until  the  light,  passing  through  the  slight 
surface,  marked  the  lines  of  a  square  place  large  enough  to  admit 
the  free  passage  of  a  man's  body.  Then,  when  every  possible 
preparation  had  been  made  and  there  seemed  to  be  nothing  more 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  165 

that  they  could  do  to  assure  the  success  of  the  final  move,  they 
knocked  out  the  obstructing  square  and  crawled  into  the  daylight  as 
the  water,  freed  from  the  opposition  of  the  compressed  air,  followed 
them,  and  the  vessel  sank  lower  into  the  water  until  the  natural 
buoyancy  of  the  timber  checked  her. 

There  they  were,  perched  on  the  curved  surface  of  a  capsized 
wreck,  drifting  at  the  mercy  of  the  seas.  But  they  had  no  idea  of 
surrender.  Having  escaped  to  the  light,  they  at  once  set  to  work  to 
build  up  a  sort  of  signal  station  to  attract  the  attention  of  any  vessel 
that  might  chance  to  come  that  way,  and  upon  the  top  they  fixed  a 
staff  from  which  fluttered  a  shirt  for  a  signal.  Fortunately  a  brick- 
laden  schooner,  passing  that  way,  sighted  the  signal  of  distress, 
bore  down  and  rescued  the  men,  who  were  almost  exhausted  by 
days  of  suffering,  their  torn  hands  showing  how  they  had  labored 
in  the  terrible  darkness;  but  they  soon  recovered.  No  one  talking 
with  the  captain  to-day  would  ever  suspect  that  he  had  once  dug 
his  way  out  of  a  sepulcher  of  the  sea.  The  schooner  was  owned 
by  Capt.  Morse  and  Bath  parties. 

Somewhat  similar  to  that  of  Capt.  Morse  was  the  experience  of 
Capt.  Trimmons  of  the  schooner  Clermont  of  this  port.  The  vessel, 
lumber-laden,  was  capsized  off  the  Bermudas.  The  one  survivor  of 
the  crew  crawled  upon  the  bottom  of  the  over-turned  craft  and  clung 
there  for  thirty-one  clays,  living  upon  the  drowned  rats  and  apples 
that  floated  from  the  hold  until  rescued  by  a  passing  vessel. 

The  Great  Gale  of  1839.  —  On  Saturday,  Dec.  14,  1839,  from 
one  to  two  hours  past  meridian,  fifteen  vessels  passed  out  by  Seguin, 
with  a  light  wind  from  the  north-west  and  a  very  smooth  sea.  The 
weather  continued  beautiful  that  day,  and  there  was  a  cheering 
prospect  of  having  a  good  run  off  the  coast,  for  when  the  passengers 
"  turned  in,"  past  ten  o'clock,  the  moon  shone  forth  serenely  placid 
in  the  south-east  enlivening  the  charming  picture. 

But  what  a  change  was  wrought  in  a  few  hours  1  In  less  than  six 
hours  from  that  time,  at  four  o'clock  Sunday  morning,  the  ship  was 
laboring  heavily  under  close  reefed  top  sails,  close  hauled  on  the 
port  tack,  trying  to  proceed  on  her  proper  course  by  the  south 


/ 


l66  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

channel;  but  the  increasing  gale  and  north-east  snow  storm  with  a 
tremendous  sea  forbade  that  hope,  and  the  wind  having  changed  from 
east  by  south  no  chance  remained  but  to  wear  ship  and  stand  back, 
that  she  might  possibly  weather  Cape  Cod  and  have  a  little  sea  room 
in  the  bay.  The  sea  did  not  abate  that  day,  however,  and  at  six  i\m. 
the  main-top-gallant  mast  went  by  the  board,  broken  short  off  at  the 
cap,  rolled  away,  and  the  ship  made  the  remainder  of  the  passage 
without  any. 

There  were  on  board  at  the  time,  as  passengers,  Thomas  1).  Rob- 
inson and  son,  Gardner  Green  and  wife  of  Topsham,  Mr.  Green,  his 
nephew,  Rufus  K.  Page,  Jr.,  of  Hallowell,  Louis  O.  Cowan  and 
sister  of  Sidney,  Edward  K.  Harding,  and  John  Haydcn  of  Hath. 
The  captain  was  Samuel  Swanton,  a  true  man  in  all  things  and  a 
thorough  seaman.  An  excellent  chief  mate  was  William  Sprague  of 
Phipsburg,  and  the  second  mate  was  Mr.  Crooker  of  North  Hath. 

The  other  vessels  were  lumber  laden  for  ports  in  the  West 
Indies  and  along  the  coast.  Of  the  fleet  was  the  brig  Alice,  of 
Bath,  in  command  of  Capt.  Given  of  Brunswick,  and  as  seamen 
from  Bath,  Daniel  Blair  and  Warren  Mains;  brig  Hideout,  built  in 
Bath  and  owned  by  Mr.  Frost  of  Topsham,  and  in  command  of 
Capt.  Purington  of  Bowdoinham;  brig  Democrat,  on  board  of  which 
was  Zebulon  Reed,  for  a  number  of  years  since  a  master  rigger  in 
this  city;  brig  Austin,  of  Bath,  John  Walston,  master;  Henry  K. 
Jenks,  mate;  Elbridge  G.  Parshley,  Frank  Roach,  Daniel  McCloud 
and  Charles  Bisbee,  all  of  Bath,  seamen;  schooner  Margaret,  Capt. 
Aaron  Williams,  of  Bath,  father  of  Leonard  and  Aaron  F.  Williams 
of  this  city.     This  vessel  was  afterwards  saved.  * 

Of  the  fifteen  vessels  that  sailed  from  Bath  two  days  before,  only 
one,  the  ship  United  States,  weathered  Cape  Cod,  the  rest  of  the 
fleet  being  driven  ashore  on  the  rocky  and  dangerous  coast  of  Cape 
Cod.  The  brigs  Rideout  and  Austin  went  ashore  on  Peaked  Hill 
Bar,  a  short  distance  from  each  other.  The  crew  of  the  Rideout 
were  all  lost,  while  those  of  the  Austin  reached  the  shore  in  safety. 
Winter  Haines  was  the  only  man  on  the  Rideout  known  to  have 
been  a  resident  of  Bath.  He  left  a  young  wife,  having  been  married 
but  a  few  weeks.     The  brig  Democrat  went  ashore  in   Barnstable 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  167 

Bay;  the  crew  were  saved.  Schooner  Margaret  struck  on  Scituate 
Beach,  the  crew  reaching  shore  safely.  All  of  the  vessels  that 
struck  were  totally  wrecked  and  the  loss  to  Bath  was  heavy. 

The  two  hermaphrodite  brigs,  Austin  and  Rideout,  cast  off  from 
the  wharf  at  Bath  at  the  same  moment  on  Saturday,  Dec.  14,  1839, 
lumber  loaded,  bound  to  Matanzas.  All  went  well  until  about  two 
o'clock  Sunday  morning,  when  a  gale  from  the  south-east  was 
encountered,  and  the  Austin  was  "  hove  to."  All  day  long  it  blew  a 
hurricane  and  her  deck  load  was  thrown  overboard;  she  could  not 
carry  a  stitch  of  canvas;  it  would  be  blown  away  quick  as  lightning. 
Finally  the  wind  came  round  to  north-east  and  drove  the  vessels 
directly  on  to  Peaked  Hill  Bar,  Cape  Cod.  These  brigs  kept  near 
together,  the  Rideout  striking  about  fifteen  minutes  before  the  Aus- 
tin. She  had  her  deck  load  on,  rolled  over  and  over,  and  all  on 
board  were  lost.  Capt.  Purington's  brother  and  son  were  on  board 
and  went  under.  When  the  Austin  struck  she  was  thrown  on  her 
beam  ends  and  was  driven  up  on  the  beach.  Seeing  rescuers  on 
shore,  a  box  was  got  out,  a  line  fastened  to  it  and  sent  ashore; 
a  hawser  was  attached  to  the  line  which  was  drawn  ashore,  upon 
which  the  men  reached  the  land  by  going  along  the  hawser  hand 
over  hand.     The  brig  went  to  pieces. 

Captain  Swanton  saved  his  ship  —  the  United  States  —  by  his 
skill  and  courage  in  carrying  a  great  press  of  canvas,  enabling  the 
ship  to  "  claw  off "  the  shores  of  Cape  Cod  that  dreadful  night. 
The  great  anxiety  of  Bath  people  over  the  unknown  fate  of  this 
ship  was  greatly  heightened  when  later  there  was  picked  up  on  the 
beach  of  Cape  Cod  a  "  head  board  "  on  which  was  painted  the  name 
"  United  States."  To  keep  off  shore  the  ship  had  to  tack  several 
times;  the  ropes  were  new  and  slackened  by  the  strain  upon  them 
and  when  the  ship  would  be  put  upon  the  other  tack  all  hands  were 
put  to  work  tightening  the  shrouds  to  leeward,  thus  saving  the  masts 
when  she  went  round  on  the  other  tack.  Men  had  to  be  kept  in  the 
rigging  knocking  off  the  fast-forming  ice. 

During  the  gale  Mr.  Robinson,  who  was  a  large  owner  in  the 
ship,  asked  the  captain  to  run  her  into  Boston  harbor,  but  it  was 


1 68  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

very  thick  and  foggy,  and  Capt  Swanton  said  there  would  be  only 
one  chance  in  a  thousand  to  run  in  safely,  and  declined  to  take  the 
risk.  A  reliable  account  says  that  the  ship  was  running  under 
double  reefed  top  sails  with  the  yards  let  down  to  the  caps,  from 
whence  the  sails  "  bagged  out,"  the  crew  being  unable  to  close  reef 
them.  What  aided  in  saving  the  ship  was,  besides  being  new,  she 
had  on  board  300  tons  of  ballast  and  600  tons  of  paving  stones  that 
kept  her  on  her  bottom.  Considering  the  number  of  prominent 
men  on  board  of  her,  the  possibility  of  her  loss  created  great  excite- 
ment in  Bath  when  news  came  that  the  head  board  had  been  washed 
ashore.  Nothing  was  heard  from  the  ship  unitl  the  announcement 
of  her  arrival  at  New  Orleans,  which  was  necessarily  slow  in 
reaching  here  as  no  telegraph  was  in  operation  at  that  day. 

Loss  of  the  Hanover  at  the  Mouth  of  the  Kennebec.— 

The  old  ship  Hanover  of  the  Houghton  fleet  was  commanded  by 
Capt.  George  Rogers,  and  his  first  officer  was  Ballard  Bartlett,  Jr., 
both  of  the  Basin,  Phipsburg.  The  ship  had  been  on  a  voyage  to 
Europe  with  cotton  from  a  southern  port,  and  was  on  her  homeward 
voyage  to  Bath.  She  was  laden  with  a  cargo  of  salt  for  her  owners. 
She  made  Seguin  in  the  afternoon  of  Nov.  io,  1849.  **  was  blow- 
ing a  gale  with  a  south-east  wind  and  heavy  sea  running.  The  ship 
had  sagged  quite  close  into  the  western  bay,  and  to  fetch  by  Pond 
Island  had  to  "  close  haul "  on  the  starboard  tack,  and  when  nearly 
up  to  Pond  Island  the  wind  suddenly  veered  to  the  east,  just  enough 
to  "  shake  her  sails  "  and  prevent  her  weathering  the  island.  The 
only  course  possible  was  to  go  in  west  of  Pond  Island,  which  was 
attempted;  when  going  over  the  bar  there  the  trough  of  a  sea  settled 
her  stern  on  to  it  which  carried  away  her  rudder,  leaving  her  to  the 
mercy  of  the  wind  and  waves.  She  backed  right  on  to  the  bar  that 
lies  between  Pond  and  Wood  Islands;  the  second  sea  that  thumped 
her  on  the  sand  stove  her  all  to  pieces  and  every  soul  on  board  was 
lost  I  They  were  obviously  killed  by  the  floating  wreckage  tossed 
about  by  the  angry  waves.  The  wreckage  was  washed  ashore  and 
strewed  along  Popham  Beach,  bringing  with  it  a  few  only  of  the 
dead  bodies  of  the  crew.      Although  many  of  them  belonged   to 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  169 

towns  on  the  Lower  Kennebec,  particularly  Phipsburg,  none  could 
be  recognized  but  that  of  the  captain.  His  appearance  indicated 
that  he  had  recently  prepared  himself  to  go  ashore  by  shaving, 
dressing  in  a  newly  laundered  shirt  and  his  "  best  suit  of  clothes." 

The  sad  news  spread  rapidly  and  quickly;  a  crowd  rushed  to  the 
beach,  but  all  was  over  with  the  ship  and  her  crew.  The  unknown 
bodies  of  the  victims  of  the  disaster  were  buried  on  the  banks  of 
Morse  River,  where  a  solitary  head-stone  marks  the  place  where 
they  lie,  in  a  cemetery  which  is  so  ancient  that  conjecture  fails  to 
account  for  it  in  that  secluded  spot,  as  no  ancient  stone  there  with 
inscription  on  it  exists. 

Rebellion  Episode.  —  In  1861,  Capt.  Andrew  Tarbox,  when 
master  of  the  hark  Samuel  Tarhox,  which  was  owned  by  Alfred 
Lemont  and  William  M.  Reed,  was  with  his  vessel  at  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  was  the  last  American  ship  that  sailed  from 
that  port  before  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumpter,  the  captain 
witnessed  the  first  secession  gun  that  was  fired.  At  its  report  the 
custom-house  flag  of  stars  and  stripes  was  hauled  down  and  the 
Palmf/ito  flag  run  up  on  the  same  staff.  The  gun  was  fired  near 
the  custom-house,  and  in  anticipation  of  the  occurrence  a  large 
concourse  of  people  had  gathered  and  the  street  was  quite  blocked 
with  cotton  drays  driven  by  slaves,  and  at  the  report  of  the  gun 
there  was  a  stampede  among  the  mules  causing  collisions  and  cap- 
sizing. 

There  was  a  captain  from  Brunswick  who  was  not  allowed  to 
bring  his  ship  over  the  bar,  but  to  communicate  with  his  owners  and 
then  leave  the  city,  and  as  a  natural  result  was  not  in  good  temper. 
IJeing  in  a  group  where  the  excitement  was  great  the  captain  jumped 
up,  swung  his  hat,  and  cried  out:  "Hold  your  mules,  boys,  that  is 
the  death  knell,  sure  as  fate!"     This  prophecy  proved  true. 

Capt.  Tarbox  succeeded  in  getting  clear  of  the  excited  city  with  a 
valuable  cargo  of  Sea  Island  cotton,  clearing  under  the  seal  of 
South  Carolina  for  Liverpool,  where  he  arrived  in  safety.  Capt. 
Tarbox  was  father  of  Capt.  H.  C.  Tarbox  of  Bath  and  lived  on  the 
old  Phips  farm  at  Phips  Point,  Woolwich. 


170  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

LOSS  of  the  Ranicr. — The  wreck  of  the  Ranier  is  one  of  the 
most  notable  disasters,  creating  wide-spread  interest  at  the  time  on 
account  of  the  unusual  circumstances  attending  the  rescue  of  the 
captain  and  crew.  The  Ranier  was  built  at  Bath  by  the  Sewalls  in 
the  year  1883,  and  was  a  fine  ship  of  2,000  tons  burden.  Soon  after 
launching  she  went  to  Philadelphia  to  take  on  her  first  cargo  to  the 
port  of  Kobe  in  Japan.  She  sailed  from  Philadelphia  Aug.  12,  1883. 
On  the  night  of  Jan.  3,  1884,  when  within  two  weeks'  sail  of  her 
destined  port,  the  ship  having  passed  several  islands  of  the  Marshall 
group  was  sailing  before  a  favoring  wind  and  the  captain  supposed 
they  were  clear  of  the  islands,  when  suddenly  there  was  a  cry  from 
the  lookout  of  "breakers  ahead!  breakers  ahead  I"  The  officers 
sprang  and  let  go  all  the  port  braces,  but  it  was  too  late!  The  ship 
was  instantly  in  the  midst  of  the  breakers  and,  with  a  heavy  crash, 
struck  on  a  coral  reef.  The  heavy  seas  commenced  to  break  the 
ship  up  aft  very  fast.  The  next  morning  the  shipwrecked  mariners 
were  rescued  by  the  natives  of  an  island  not  far  distant  called  the 
Ujea.  They  lived  among  these  South  Sea  Islanders  on  this 
lonely  isle  of  the  sea  five  months.  The  crew  numbered  thirty- 
two  men  including  the  officers,  besides  the  captain's  daughter. 
After  passing  through  much  suffering  and  peril  they  were  rescued 
by  the  American  man-of-war  Essex,  sent  by  the  United  States  gov- 
ernment from  Hong  Kong. 

The  ship  Thomas  M.  Reed,  of  1,987  tons,  built  by  A.  Sewall  & 
Co.,  T.  M.  Reed,  A.  E.  Work,  and  others  in  1880,  was  burned  at 
the  dock  at  Liverpool,  Feb.  3,  1888,  to  the  water's  edge;  was  nearly 
loaded  with  coal  for  San  Francisco  and  had  hauled  off  into  the 
middle  of  the  dock  to  go  to  another  wharf  to  finish  loading. 
The  coal  was  highly  ignitible,  and  candles  stuck  on  the  pitch-pine 
beams  were  used  by  the  stevedores  to  light  the  hold.  It  is  believed 
that  the  fire  originated  from  the  gas  made  by  the  coal.  Little  was 
saved  from  her  and  there  was  little  insurance  on  her  hull.  Captain 
Abel  E.  Work  had  taken  command  of  her  only  a  few  days  prior  to 
the  disaster. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  171 

Iron  Ships.  —  "  The  fact  that  iron  as  a  constructive  material  in 
ship-building  has  practically  superseded  wood  is  one  which  Bath,  in 
her  position  as  the  greatest  ship-building  port  in  the  world,  has  been 
unable  to  overlook.  She  has  seen  the  iron  ship  grow  rapidly  into 
favor  and  take  from  the  wood  ship  a  large  portion  of  her  business. 
She  has  noted  the  fact  that  those  who  have  cargoes  to  send  across 
the  ocean  prefer  to  intrust  them  to  iron- built  vessels  rather  than  to 
those  constructed  of  wood.  She  sees  that  insurance  companies  will 
underwrite  iron  ships  at  lower  figures  than  they  will  wood  ships,  and 
that  111  all  parts  of  the  mercantile  world  the  opinion  commonly  pre- 
vails that  iron  has  superseded  wood  in  much  the  same  way  in  which 
steam  has  displaced  sail  and  the  railroad  the  stage-coach,  but 
notwithstanding  this,  Bath  has  clung  to  her  wood  ships;  she  has 
continued  to  build  them  and  sail  them  in  competition  with  both  iron 
and  steam.  She  thoroughly  believes  that  the  wood  ship  is  less 
liable  to  total  loss  than  the  iron  ship,  that  life  and  property  are 
safer  when  intrusted  to  her  staunch  oak  frame  and  hard  pine  plank- 
ing than  when  placed  in  the  slender  ribs  and  brittle  plates  of  the 
iron  vessel.  She  knows  that  statistics  show  this  to  be  a  fact,  and 
she  knows  that  it  is  a  matter  of  much  question  whether  grain  or  any 
other  cargo  can  be  carried  in  such  perfect  condition  in  iron  as  in 
wood.  She  is  aware  that  the  wood  ship  costs  no  more  to  build,  will 
last  fully  as  long,  and  can  be  sailed  with  no  greater  expense  than 
the  iron  ship.  However,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  iron  ship  is  at 
present  the  favorite,  and  secures  a  cargo  when  the  wood  ship  can 
get  none,  and  always  at  rates  from  five  per  cent,  to  fifteen  per  cent, 
in  advance  of  those  offered  to  wood  ships,  and  because  she  can 
insure  at  lower  premium,  Bath  ship-owners  and  builders  have  been 
forced  to  the  conclusion  that  to  build  longer  in  wood  is  folly.  They 
do  not  feel  that  it  is  demanded  of  them  to  build  ships  of  either 
material  at  the  present  time,  and  hence  to  discuss  the  question  as 
far  as  it  has  any  bearing  on  ship-building  of  the  present  is  useless. 
But  Bath  looks  forward  to  a  future  in  ship-building,  and  feels  con- 
vinced that  the  constructive  material  at  that  future  time  will  be  iron. 

Those   who   have   carefully   studied   the   subject  in   its  various 
phases  see  no  reason  why  she  should  not  meet  with  as  great  success 


172  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

in  building  ships  of  this  new  material  as  she  has  in  building  them 
of  the  old.  The  cost  of  transporting  coal  and  iron  from  the  mines 
of  Pennsylvania  to  the  Kennebec  has  been  urged  as  an  objection  to 
Bath's  competing  in  iron  ship-building  with  the  yards  of  the  Dela- 
ware. Everything  which  enters  into  the  construction  of  a  wood 
ship,  from  keel  to  truck,  is  brought  from  a  distance,  and  Bath's 
superiority  as  a  wood  ship-building  port  is  in  no  degree  dependent 
upon  adjacent  forests.  In  short,  it  will  cost  less  to  bring  iron  to 
Bath  than  it  does  to  bring  wood,  owing  to  the  fact  that  both  bulk 
and  weight,  as  well  as  the  distance  to  be  traversed,  are  considerably 
less.  In  fact,  the  difference  in  transportation  between  the  Delaware 
and  Bath  is  only  a  small  fraction.  It  has  been  urged  that  Bath  has 
no  mechanics  skilled  in  working  this  new  material.  This  also  is  a 
trifling  consideration,  for  her  mechanics  know  how  to  build  a  ship, 
and  can  without  difficulty  learn  to  construct  her  of  iron.  In  fact, 
there  are  a  number  of  workmen  here  already  who  are  proficient  in 
iron  ship-building. 

Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  objections  ordinarily  urged  have  but  little 
weight,  and  it  follows  as  a  consequence  that  when  the  ship-owners 
and  builders  of  Bath  see  any  profit  either  in  building  or  owning 
ships  of  iron,  they  will  establish  an  iron  ship-yard.  Much  has  been 
done  even  now  in  that  direction.  Capital  has  been  expended  and 
plans  matured  by  the  New  England  Ship-building  Company  with  a 
view  to  embarking  in  the  near  future  in  the  construction  of  iron 
sailing  vessels  and  steamers.  It  was  partly  with  this  object  that  the 
Iron  Works  Department  was  supplemented  to  the  firm's  already 
extensive  plant.  A  fine  wharf  adjacent  to  the  Marine  Engine 
Works  was  also  purchased  with  this  end  in  view.  While  at  present 
Bath  capitalists  are  not  prepared  to  enter  into  iron  ship-building 
with  no  hope  of  finding  profitable  employment  for  the  ships  when 
completed,  it  is  certain  that  they  will  be  fully  prepared,  when  there 
is  a  demand,  to  furnish  for  our  merchant  marine  iron  ships  which 
will  rank  as  high  in  the  navies  of  the  world  as  have  the  wood  ships 
which  have  made  her  name  famous  on  every  sea  and  in  every  port " 
(vide  Albert  A.  Reed  in  Report  of  Bath  Board  of  Trade,  1887). 

Shipping  Notes.  —  Years  since  when  Bath  had  a  large  fleet  of 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  173 

ships  in  the  cotton-carrying  trade,  so  large  a  number  of  them  would 
often  be  at  Liverpool  at  the  same  time  that  Englishmen  were  known 
to  make  the  remark  that  "  Bath  must  be  a  very  large  city  judging  by 
the  large  number  of  ships  that  had  "  Bath  "  on  their  sterns. 

In  the  iron  ship-yards  the  heavy  work  is  done  by  steam  power,  as 
is  likewise  the  sawing  and  planing  of  planks,  and  also  the  timber 
and  knees  sawed  into  any  shape  required  for  wood  vessels. 

At  a  former  day  it  was  believed  that  the  building  of  vessels  solely 
on  contract  did  not  prove  remunerative.  In  this  mode  of  doing 
business  the  chief  man  engaged  in  it  was  Johnson  Rideout  who  had 
a  yard  at  the  North  End.  He  built  a  large  number  of  ships,  com- 
prised in  a  long  series  of  years,  without  adequate  profit  according  to 
general  belief.  Of  later  years  a  large  number  of  schooners,  steam- 
ers and  other  vessels  have  been  built  for  outside  parties  on  contract 
with  remunerative  success. 

With  many  builders  the  custom  of  late  years  has  been  for  the 
builder  to  induce  other  persons,  both  at  home  and  abroad,  to  join 
him  in  investment  in  his  proposed  building,  making  the  aggregate 
amount  sufficient  to  cover  the  cost  of  the  vessel.  Investors  of  this 
class  have  preferred  to  own  only  a  comparatively  small  amount  in 
any  one  vessel,  believing  it  better  to  own  a  small  piece  in  different 
vessels,  or  as  they  term  it,  "not  to  put  their  eggs  all  into  one 
basket";  and  this  has  generally  proved  the  most  remunerative 
method  of  vessel  investments,  especially  of  the  schooner  class. 

The  various  collateral  industries  that  furnish  material  and  fittings 
for  vessels  are  usually  required  to  take  an  interest  in  the  vessels  for 
wuich  they  furnish  supplies  such  as  iron,  cordage,  sails,  blocks* 
smiths'  work,  chandlery,  cooking  apparatus,  carpets,  bedding  and 
furniture  for  cabins,  and  some  who  are  foremen  in  the  yards  often 
take  small  pieces  in  the  vessels  they  help  construct.  The  captains 
of  deep  sea  going  ships  frequently  own  a  share  in  the  ships  they 
command.  Nearly  all  of  the  early  builders  kept  a  store  of  general 
merchandise  and  the  wages  of  their  workmen  were  largely  paid  in 
goods  and  termed  "  store  pay." 

When  the  demand  for  sailing  ships  largely  decreased,  after  1880, 
the  building  of  schooners  increased  in  Bath  yards,  as  well  as  that  of 


174  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

steamers  and  yachts.  The  large  ice  transportation  from  the  river 
has,  especially  in  favorable  seasons,  given  considerable  employment 
for  schooners.  After  1890  the  experiment  was  undertaken  of  send- 
'  ing  schooners  around  the  Horn  to  be  placed  in  the  Pacific  coast 
trade,  which  was  discontinued  after  a  few  voyages  had  been  made. 
While  the  larger  ships  prove  more  profitable  in  long  voyages,  the 
smaller  ones  are  more  useful  in  being  enabled  to  go  into  ports  that 
ships  of  greater  draft  cannot  enter. 

From  experiments  instituted  in  former  years,  it  has  been  found 
that  filling  the  spaces  between  the  planking  and  ceiling  with  salt 
aids  greatly  in  preservation  of  the  wood,  and  is  termed  "  salting  the 
ship."  Frames  for  the  most  important  class  of  vessels  are  now 
brought  from  Virginia  and  Maryland;  planking  and  ceiling  from 
Georgia  and  the  Carolinas;  knees  and  other  curly  and  knotty  pieces 
largely  from  Canada,  and  great  spars  from  Oregon.  Of  the  cost  in 
the  construction  of  a  vessel,  ninety  per  cent,  is  for  labor.  Although 
not  formerly  done,  ships  are  metaled  on  the  stocks.  Wire  ropes  for 
standing  rigging  and  chain  cables,  formerly  brought  from  Europe, 
are  now  made  in  America,  also  are  anchors.  Hemp  cables  were 
in  universal  use  until  about  fifty  years  since,  when  ships  began 
to  be  supplied  with  iron  ones  in  England.  Studding-sails  have 
gone  out  of  use  on  ships  of  this  country.  Contracts  are  sometimes 
let  to  parties  to  complete  different  parts  of  a  ship  such  as  "  tim- 
bering out,"  planking,  ceiling,  joiner  and  cabin  work,  and  rigging. 

Of  late  years  very  few  vessels  of  small  size  sail  either  up  or  down 
the  river,  depending  upon  steam  tugs  for  their  river  navigation,  as 
expeditious,  safe,  not  costly,  and  saving  pilotage.  Up  to  1884  the 
total  value  of  shipping  constructed  at  Hath  has  been  estimated  to 
be  (54,000,000,  and  up  to  1893  largely  in  excess  of  that  figure. 
X  Safety  in  navigating  the  Kennebec  has  a  direct  bearing  upon   its 

depth  of  water.  The  tide  at  Bath  has  a  rise  and  fall  of  an  average 
of  ten  feet,  and  a  depth  of  from  fifty  to  eighty  feet  at  low  tide. 
The  inflow  of  the  water  from  the  ocean  is  so  salt  that  it  does  not 
readily  freeze  at  Bath,  while  the  current  at  half  tide  is  so  swift  and 
strong  that  any  skimming  over  at  slack  water  is  readily  broken  up. 
According  to  government  survey,  the  lowest  depth  of  water  at  low 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  1 75 

water  between  Bath  and  the  mouth  of  the  river  is  twenty-four  feet, 
making  thirty  feet  at  high  water.  When  the  large  United  States 
steamship  Baltimore  was  brought  into  the  river  in  1890,  she  tested 
the  capacity  of  the  channel  by  coming  in  and  going  out  with  abun- 
dance of  water. 

As  has  been  said  on  a  previous  page,  the  pressure  of  the  embargo 
times  proved  too  much  for  some  of  the  Bath  merchants.  At  that 
time  Samuel  Davis  had  been  one  of  the  great  men  in  business. 
He  went  under,  and  was  glad  of  the  position  of  cashier  of  Lincoln 
Bank.  Among  the  ship-owners  who  were  enabled  to  pull  through 
were  William  King,  James  McLellan,  John  and  Levi  Peterson, 
Peleg  Tallman,  Charles  Clapp,  the  Moodys,  John  Richardson,  and 
David  Trufant  of  Bath;  Benjamin  Riggs  of  Georgetown;  Mark  L. 
Hill  and  Thomas  McCobb  of  Phipsburg,  and  the  Pattens,  then  of 
Topsham. 

Now  England  Company.  —  Two  hundred  and  twenty-four 
vessels  were  built  by  the  New  England  Ship-building  Company  and 
the  firms  to  which  it  was  a  successor,  Goss  &  Sawyer,  and  Goss, 
Sawyer  &  Packard.  The  period  covered  was  twenty  years,  or  about 
ten  vessels  per  year.  The  list  embraces  twenty-six  full  rigged  ships, 
thirty-four  barks,  seven  brigs,  twenty-two  steamers,  one  hundred 
and  twelve  schooners,  the  remainder  being  yachts,  barges,  and  bark- 
entines. 

This  company  having  gone  out  of  existence,  the  plant  came 
into  the  possession  of  a  new  company  under  the  name  of  the  New 
England  Company.  Its  yard  is  equipped  with  all  the  modern 
machinery  and  labor-saving  appliances  utilized  in  building  vessels  of 
every  kind,  and  is  acknowledged  to  be  the  largest  wood  ship-building 
concern  in  the  world.  It  sometimes  has  as  many  as  six  vessels 
under  construction  at  the  same  time.  It  has,  likewise,  a  marine 
railway  of  ample  capacity  for  all  requirements,  and  is  the  only  one 
within  the  limits  of  this  port. 

Strikes   of   Ship-Carpenters.  —  Upon    the   organization    of 

Knights  of  Labor  at  Bath,  its  members  who  were  employed  on  ship 
work  struck  several  times  for  higher  wages  and  less  time  for  a  day's 


176  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

work,  which  finally  resulted  in  the  agreement  that  they  should  work 
by  the  hour,  computing  the  pay  per  hour  at  the  rate  of  a  fair  day's 
wages.  At  one  of  the  iron  plants  the  piece  work  system  has  been 
adopted  with  favorable  results. 

l'ackote*  —  Before  the  era  of  steam  navigation  between  the 
Kennebec  River  and  Boston,  freighting  was  done  by  lumber  schoon- 
ers, and  schooner  packets  were  engaged  in  that  business  and 
carrying  passengers  hailing  from  Bath,  Gardiner  and  Hallowell, 
carrying  freight  and  passengers.  They  were  generally  top-sail 
schooners  and  of  a  style  more  rakish,  and  faster  sailers  than  those 
employed  in  the  coasting  trade  simply.  Packets  ran  also  to  south- 
ern ports.  The  first  that  are  to  be  found  on  record  in  Bath  were 
the  Volant,  Capt.  Pattee,  owned  by  Wood  &  Donnell;  the  schooner 
Neptune,  of  which  F.  Bailey  was  master,  managed  and  probably 
owned  by  the  firm  of  Wood  &  Bailey.  She  was  advertised  for  a 
voyage  to  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  with  freight  and  passengers. 
This  was  in  December,  1820,  to  "sail  in  all  next  week."  The  same 
firm  ran  the  schooner  Boston,  £.  Wood,  master,  as  a  regular  packet 
from  Bath  to  Boston  in  January,  1821,  advertised  to  "sail  in  all  this 
month."  On  Dec.  29,  182 1,  "the  ship  Clio,  Caleb  Heath,  master, 
lying  at  Stinson's  wharf,  would  sail  for  Savannah,  Georgia,  about 
the  middle  of  January,  having  good  accommodations  for  passengers." 
May  10,  182 1 :  "For  Boston,  the  regular  and  fast-sailing  sloop 
Ruby,  Isaac  Crooker,  master,  having  good  accommodations;  Noah 
Crooker,  agent,  head  of  Crooker's  wharf." 

Passing  down  to  later  date,  the  schooner  Climax,  James  Wake- 
field, ran  to  Boston.  She  was  built  by  Wakefield  and  Johnson 
Williams  near  where  the  railroad  round  house  now  is.  Then  there 
was  the  staunch,  fast-sailing  packet,  schooner  Planet,  Capt.  J.  1). 
Robinson,  running  to  Boston  prior  to  the  year  1836.  Capt.  Robin- 
son had  some  previous  experience  in  this  line  as  supercargo  in  his 
earlier  day  of  the  schooner  Comet.  In  the  Planet  were  transported 
between  Bath  and  Boston  some  notable  passengers.  Among  these 
were  Mrs.  Swanton  and  child,  Mrs.  Rogers,  mother  of  Wm.  M. 
Rogers,  an  elderly  lady,  Capt.  Patten,  John  Elliot,  Asa  B.  Robinson, 
Samuel  D.,  Thomas  M.  and  Nath.   C.  Reed,  Miss  Sarah  Hyde  and 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  1 77 

Miss  Augusta  Hyde.  Records  of  the  trips  of  the  Planet  show  that 
the  fare  was,  each  way,  three  dollars  for  men  and  two  dollars  for 
ladies. 

Packets  would  sometimes  start  on  a  trip,  and  meeting  stress  of 
weather  before  getting  out  of  the  river,  lay  at  anchor  at  the  Lower 
Kennebec  even  for  a  week.  The  fare  named  above  included  board, 
and  how  the  sum  of  two  and  three  dollars  could  leave  any  dividend 
to  the  vessel  can  only  be  accounted  for  by  the  fact  that,  at  that  day, 
the  chief  commodities  for  ship  stores  were  fish  and  potatoes  and 
bivalves  taken  from  the  down  river  clam  banks. 

When  passenger  steamers  had  commenced  running  regular  trips 
from  the  Kennebec  to  Boston,  sailing  packets  lost  their  passenger 
patronage  and  relied  wholly  upon  freight  for  their  business,  taking 
chiefly  lumber  to  Boston  with  return  cargoes  of  general  merchandise. 
Later  steamboats  and  railroads  have  carried  about  all  the  freight 
and  passengers  to  and  from  Boston. 

PROMINENT    Sllir- BUILDERS. 

Jonathan  Philbrook  was  the  first  Bath  builder;  Samuel  Swanton, 
Sr.,  built  before  the  Revolutionary  war  at  McLellan's  wharf,  and 
one  ship  a  year  after  its  close  at  foot  of  Shepard  street,  until  he 
became  aged;  William  King,  commencing  at  Topsham  and  Bruns- 
wick, transferred  his  building  to  Bath,  building  immediately  south 
of  the  custom-house;  John  Peterson  built  first  on  the  New  Meadows 
River  and  finally  moved  to  Bath  and  built  at  the  North  End;  Peleg 
Tallman  built  in  front  of  the  Park;  Levi  Houghton  at  the  foot  of 
South  street,  where  Jonathan  and  Jonathan  Davis,  Sr.,  and  Samuel 
Davis  previously  built;  William  M.  Rogers,  Nathaniel  and  William 
Sprague  at  South  End;  James  McLellan  and  Dwelly  Turner,  east  of 
Public  Library  building;  Joshua,  Samuel  and  John  M.  Moody; 
Johnson  Rideout,  Thomas  P.  Stetson,  North  End;  Major  Harward; 
George  F.  Patten,  John  Patten  —  George  F.  built  the  vessels  and 
John  and  James  F.  sailed  in  them;  later,  John  and  Gilbert  E  R. 
Patten  built  together  at  North  End;  Clark  &  Sewall  began  by 
William  D.  Sewall  furnishing  the  timber  from  land  he  owned  at 
North  End,  and  Freeman  Clark,  keeping  a  store,  paid  the  workmen 


178  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

largely  in  goods;  later,  Thomas  M.  Reed  built  with  this  firm  and 
continued  to  do  so  with  their  successors,  £.  and  A.  Sewall,  after- 
wards Arthur  Sewall  &  Co.,  which  includes  Samuel  S.  Sewall. 
Charles  Davenport,  who  built  with  the  Pattens  and  with  other 
builders;  William  M.  Reed  and  Son  —  Franklin  Reed  and  later  F. 
and  E.  Reed  at  South  End;  L.  Warren  Houghton,  John  R.  Hough- 
ton, Henry  L.  Houghton  as  Houghton  Brothers  at  foot  of  South 
street;  William  and  James  Drummond  and  Gilbert  C.  Trufant  as 
Trufant,  Drummond  &  Co.,  North  End;  Oliver  Moses  and  William 
V.  Moses;  W.  V.  Moses  &  Sons;  Albert  Hathorn;  Goss  &  Sawyer 
and  Goss,  Sawyer  &  Packard;  John  R.  Kelley,  E.  F.  Sawyer  and  G. 
J.  Spear  as  Kelley,  Spear  &  Co.;  Charles  E.  Moody;  Jcnks  & 
Harding  —  C.  J.  Jenks  and  Ed.  K.  Harding;  William  Rogers,  North 
End;  J.  P.  Morse,  B.  W.  Morse,  Charles  W.  Morse;  Willard  Hall 
and  Samuel  Snow  as  Hall  &  Snow;  Arnold  &  Curtis  —  Augustus 
Arnold  and  Curtis;  John  Henry;  Alexander  Robinson;  John  Mc- 
Donald, Win.  T.  Donnell,  G.  C.  Deering;  George  Hawley;  C.  B. 
Harrington;  Joseph  Berry  and  George  Richardson  as  Berry  & 
Richardson;  Hall,  Cornish  &  Co.;  Adams  &  Hitchcock,  South  End; 
James  H.  McLellan;  P.  M.  Whitmore;  B.  C.  and  S.  1).  Bailey;  D. 
C.  Magoun;  William  Richardson;  J.  H.  Kimball;  John  Richardson; 
G.  C.  Deering;  W.  T.  Donnell.  At  Georgetown,  Benjamin  Riggs; 
Joseph  Berry.  Phipsburg,  Mark  L.  Hill,  Thomas  McCobb,  Parker 
McCobb,  C.  V.  Minot;  Richard,  Alden  and  John  G.  Morse;  Pier- 
son  Morrison,  Samuel  H.  Morrison.  Richmond,  T.  J.  Southard, 
Marshall  S.  Hagar,  James  M.  Hagar.     Bowdoinham,  John  Harward. 

Names  of  other  builders  within  the  port  are  not  accessible. 
There  were  and  are  now  citizens  of  prominence  who  have  invested 
with  builders  in  their  ship-building  but  can  not  consistently  be 
classed  as  actual  ship-builders. 

Thomas  W.  Hyde,  as  president  and  chief  owner  of  the  Bath  Iron 
Works,  commenced  building  steel  government  vessels  in  1890,  and 
early  in  1893  had  launched  two  gun-boats  and  later  a  harbor  de- 
fence ram,  with  a  large  iron  passenger  steamer  in  process  of  con- 
struction. This  success  of  the  Iron  Works  inaugurates  the  era  of 
iron  and  steel  ship-building  at  Bath. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  1 79 

BUILD  OF  VESSELS. 

According  to  a  "  Schedule  "  of  vessels  built  in  the  Bath  district, 
published  in  1878,  it  appears  that  from  1781  to  1878  inclusive  there 
were  built  at  the  city  of  Bath,  24  steamers,  comprising  5,355.68 
tons;  519  ships,  of  437,675.88  tons;  118  barks,  of  73,875.17  tons; 
192  brigs,  of  39,276.28  tons;  330  schooners,  of  50,060.58  tons;  one 
snow,  of  163.67  tons;  43  sloops,  of  2,477.42  tons;  3  barges,  of 
736.96  tons.     Total,  609,621.64  tons. 

In  this  district,   up  to   1888  inclusive,  the  build  was,  including 

"  Schedule: 

Steamers,  88;  tonnage,  26,682.22.       Schooners,  1,262;  tonnage,  224,493.29. 
Ships,  890;  tonnage,  741,091.30.  Sloops,  155;  tonnage,  8,340.87. 

Barks,  853;  tonnage,  132,218.85.         Barges,  7;  tonnage,  1,520.45. 
Brigs,  673;  tonnage,  128,089.61.  Vessels,  3,528. 

Grand  total,  1,261,436.59  tons. 

1889.  Two  ships,  5,000  tons  ;  two  steamers,  3,500  tons  ;  one  bark,  1,028 
tons ;  twenty-eight  schooners,  23,000  tons ;  one  barge,  2,253  tons ;  four 
sloops,  60  tons.    Total,  34,841  tons. 

1890.  Three  ships,  8,254.22  tons;  three  barks,  2,580.13  tons;  thirty-five 
schooners,  21,453.25  tons  ;  two  steamers,  2,498  tons;  one  sloop,  22.85  tons. 
Total,  34,809.45  tons. 

1 891.  There  were  built  at  the  city  of  Bath,  one  ship,  2,628.84  tons ;  one 
bark,  1,585.36  tons ;  twenty-two  schooners,  17,961.85  tons ;  one  steamer, 
982.34  tons.    Total,  23,158.39  tons. 

1892.  Build  at  Bath,  Phipsburg,  and  Woolwich,  one  ship,  3,400.43  tons  ; 
one  bark,  1,402.30  tons;  one  barkentine,  1,133.01  tons;  one  steam  bark, 
254.21  tons;  four  steamers,  2,066.90  tons;  seven  schooners,  3,360.32  tons; 
three  sloops,  43.44  tons.    Total,  11,660.70  tons. 

From  1 78 1  to  1892  inclusive,  the  total  build  of  vessels  has  been 
897  ships;  858  barks  and  barkentincs;  673  brigs;  1,352  schooners; 
166  sloops;  96  steamers;  9  other  vessels,  comprising  a  grand  total 
of  1,350,138  tons. 

The  cost  of  vessels  built  up  to  1880  was  $ 54,375,809.  The  records 
in  the  custom-house  do  not  show  the  full  amount  of  tonnage  owned 
in  Bath  for  the  reason  that,  in  many  instances,  a  small  portion  of  a 
vessel  only  is  registered  as  owned  in  Bath,  while  the  bulk  of  owner- 
ship is  represented  as  belonging  to  persons  in  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  California,  and  other  localities. 


l8o  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

COLLECTION  OF  CUSTOMS. 

In  1677,  a  custom-house  was  established  at  Pemaquid,  and 
vessels  coming  into  the  Sagadahoc  were  required  to  enter  and  clear 
at  that  port,  and  in  1685  "an  office  was  established  at  Sagadahoc 
for  entering  and  clearing,  as  considerable  trade  was  carried  on  in 
masts  and  lumber."  By  virtue  of  a  grant  from  the  crown  of 
England,  the  Duke  of  York,  who  had  assumed  jurisdiction  of  this 
section  of  country,  decreed  "  that  all  vessels,  not  of  the  Ducal  state, 
should  pay  into  the  public  revenue,  if  a  decked  vessel  four  quintals, 
and  if  an  open  boat  two  quintals,  of  merchantable  fish.91 

The  prosperous  condition  of  the  settlements  along  the  coast  of 
Maine  contiguous  to  the  Sagadahoc  region  was  interrupted  by  the 
French  and  Indian  war,  and  during  its  progress  the  settlers  were 
driven  off,  their  improvements  devastated,  and  trade  and  com- 
merce entirely  suspended  until  the  resettlement  of  17 14. 
Notwithstanding  a  $wrti7-peace  with  the  Indians  in  17 13,  they  con- 
tinued troublesome  until  the  English  triumphed  over  their  French 
allies  at  Quebec  in  1759,  an^  but  ^tl^e  customs  regulations  were 
necessary  for  the  scattered  shipping  of  the  Kennebec  and  adjacent 
coast.  In  the  meantime  Massachusetts  had  come  into  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Sagadahoc  territory,  and  custom  laws  became  established 
at  Boston  in  1677. 

Prior  to  the  Revolution,  Falmouth  was  the  only  customs  district 
in  the  Province  of  Maine,  where  it  was  established  in  1758.  The 
first  custom-house  on  the  Kennebec  was  located  at  Abagadasset 
Point  and  was  a  branch  of  the  central  Portland  office,  with  David 
Trufant  of  Bath,  deputy  collector,  who  held  the  office  from  1780  to 
1789. 

TllC  Collection  District  Of  Bath  was  established  by  United 
States  statute  July  31,  1789,  with  William  Webb,  collector.  The 
first  registry  of  a  vessel  was  made  Oct.  21,  1789.  At  a  subsequent 
date  there  were  added  to  the  Hath  district  all  the  towns  incorporated 
on  the  Upper  Kennebec,  together  with  Topsham,  Brunswick,  and  a 
portion  of  Harpswell.  Some  years  later,  Brunswick  and  Harpswell 
were  detached  from  the  Bath  district  and  incorporated  into  the 
Portland  district. 


c^?#t^ 


"7- 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  l8l 

Before  the  advent  of  railroads,  water  transportation  was  a  neces- 
sity to  general  commerce,  and  the  Kennebec,  with  the  resources  of 
its  many  branches,  was  a  river  of  vast  importance.  The  large  fleets 
of  brigs  and  schooners  constantly  employed  in  the  West  India  and 
other  foreign  trade,  returning  to  this  port  with  full  cargoes  of  the 
products  of  other  nations,  required  a  larger  force  in  the  custom- 
house than  has  been  needed  since  the  rail  has  greatly  displaced 
canvas. 

The  deep  sea  going  ships,  after  having  made  a  round  voyage, 
almost  invariably  returned  into  the  river  to  repair  and  refit  for 
another  departure,  which  was  usually  in  the  fall,  especially  when 
engaged  in  the  cotton  carrying  trade.  In  time  this  business  ceased, 
ships  did  not  return  yearly,  the  West  India  trade  became  less,  and 
the  duties  of  the  custom-house  have  required  a  smaller  force  to 
the  present  time. 

Outlying  Custom-house  Officers.  —  An  officer  supplied  with  a 
government  boat  has  been  stationed  for  a  great  many  years  on  the 
Lower  Kennebec,  whose  chief  duty  is  to  board  vessels  arriving  in 
the  river  from  a  foreign  port  to  see  that  she  is  made  to  comply  with 
customs  regulations.  He  is  to  take  a  duplicate  "manifest"  of  her 
cargo  and  place  a  lock  on  her  hatches  to  remain  till  the  lime  comes 
to  discharge  cargo.  When  the  embargo  of  1807  went  into  opera- 
tion, the  duties  of  this  officer  were  enlarged  to  the  watching  of 
vessels  that  might  be  attempting  to  go  to  sea  on  illicit  voyages  con- 
trary to  the  embargo  restrictions. 

Before  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  when  fishing  vessels  were 
drawing  a  yearly  bounty  from  the  general  government,  the  duty  of 
looking  after  "bounty  catchers,"  who  might  be  spending  unnecessary 
time  in  harbor  instead  of  being  on  the  fishing  grounds,  imposed 
additional  duties  upon  this  officer,  and  in  some  years  an  extra  officer 
was  employed  in  this  duty.  This  bounty  was  discontinued  soon 
after  1861.  Besides  the  custom-house  officer  stationed  at  the  Lower 
Kennebec,  there  is  one  at  Richmond  and  one  at  the  Forks  of  the 
river  at  the  Upper  Kennebec. 

Custom  •  Houses.  —  When  William  Webb  was  collector,  the 
custom-house  was  immediately   east   of   his  dwelling-house,  which 


1 82  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

stood  where  is  now  the  Public  Library  building.  The  site  of  the 
custom-house  is  now  occupied  by.  a  livery  stable;  one  story  fronted 
west,  and  on  the  east  fronting  the  river  there  were  two  stories,  into 
which  was  the  main  entrance,  and  a  portion  was  used  for  a  store. 

When  D.  B.  Hobart  was  collector,  the  room  on  the  north-east 
corner  of  Centre  and  Washington  streets,  known  as  Music  Hall, 
was  occupied  as  the  custom-house. 

During  the  term  of  John  B.  Swanton,  he  occupied  the  brick 
building  on  the  north  side  of  Broad  street,  second  east  of  Front 
street,  which  was  built  by  Nicholas  L.  and  Ammi  R.  Mitchell. 

William  King,  when  collector,  had  his  oflicc  in  the  second  story 
of  the  old  Bath  bank  building  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Front  and 
Centre  streets. 

During  the  term  of  Collector  Snow,  the  present  custom-house  and 
post-office  edifice,  built  by  the  United  States  government,  was  com- 
pleted and  occupied  in  1858,  the  cost  of  which  was  £105,891.25. 
Of  this  sum  $12,800  was  for  site,  foundation,  grading,  and  other 
contingencies,  and  $93,091.25  for  the  structure  of  stone.  To  make 
room  for  this  edifice,  the  old  mansion  of  William  King  was  sold  to 
James  D.  Robinson,  who  removed  it  directly  south  to  Vine  street 
and  it  was  converted  into  a  hotel.  When  this  government  building 
became  occupied,  the  north  end  of  the  lower  floor  was  devoted  to 
the  use  of  the  post-office,  and  the  south  end  was  occupied  by  the 
Board  of  Trade  for  a  Merchants  Exchange.  After  a  few  years  it 
became  necessary  to  enlarge  the  capacity  of  the  post-office,  the 
Merchants  Exchange  was  removed  to  other  quarters,  and  the  post- 
office  has  since  that  time  occupied  the  entire  lower  floor.  The 
customs  departments  occupy  the  upper  floor.  The  edifice  is  sur- 
rounded by  extensive  and  well  kept  grounds. 

TllO  Collectors. — William  Webb,  1779-1804;  Dudley  B.  Hobart, 

1 805- 1 806;    Joshua  Wingate,  Jr.,    1806-18 19;    Joseph   F.  Wingate, 

1820-1824;    Mark  L.   Hill,    1824-1825;    John    B.   Swanton,    1825- 

1829;  William  King,  1829-1834;  Joseph  Sewall,  1834-1841;  Parker 
Sheldon,  1841-1844;  A.  J.  Stone,  1845;  Amos  Nourse,  1845-1846; 

J.  C.  Humphreys,  1846-1849;  Henjamin  Randall,  1849-1850;  David 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  183 

Bronson,  1850-1853;  Charles  N.  Bodfish,  1853-1857;  Joseph  Berry, 
1857-1860;  James  H.  Nichols,  1860-1861;  Roland  Fisher,  1861- 
1866;  E.  S.  J.  Nealley,  1866--1881;  James  W.Wakefield,  1882-1885; 
Francis  B.  Torrey,  1 885-1 889;  James  W.  Wakefield,  1889-1893; 
Charles  W.  Larrabee,  1893. 

Their  History. — William  Webb  was  a  prominent  man  of  his 
day,  lived  in  a  historic  house  that  was  removed  in  1889  *°  £*ve  place 
to  the  Public  Library  building.  He  had  a  family  of  children  of 
whom  one  of  his  daughters  married  the  distinguished  citizen,  David 
C.  Magoun.     Mr.  Webb  was  collector  from  1779  to  1804. 

Dudley  B.  Hobart  is  not  known  by  record  or  tradition  to  any  of 
the  present  generations  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bath.  He  was  collec- 
tor from  1805  to  1806. 

Joshua  Wing  ate,  Jr.,  was  appointed  by  President  Jefferson  in  1806 
and  continued  in  the  office  until  18 19.  The  duties  of  the  office  must 
have  been  attended  with  greater  labor  and  responsibility  during  his 
term  than  before  or  since,  covering  as  it  did  the  years  of  the  embargo, 
non-intercourse  and  war  with  England,  when  great  ability,  firmness, 
decision  and  ceaseless  vigilance  were  imperiously  demanded  of  a 
collector  of  customs  for  this  important  port,  where  so  large  an 
amount  of  shipping  in  the  foreign  trade  was  owned.  That  Gen- 
eral Wingatc  was  equal  to  the  demands  of  his  office  during  those 
trying  times,  is  amply  proved  by  the  fact  of  his  being  continued  in  the 
office  for  the  long  period  of  thirteen  years;  six  years  after  the  close  of 
the  war.  The  career  of  General  Wingate  was  distinguished.  He 
was  an  educated  man  to  start  with,  having  graduated  from  Harvard 
College  in  1797,  and  entered  upon  the  practice  of  law  at  Hallowell, 
where  his  father,  Joshua  Wingate,  resided.  He  did  not  practice  the 
profession  long,  but  entered  public  life. 

General  Henry  Dearborn  of  Revolutionary  renown  was  liv- 
ing at  that  period  in  Gardiner,  and,  becoming  acquainted  with  the 
young  lawyer,  thought  highly  of  his  capabilities  and  character.  When 
Jefferson  became  President  of  the  United  States  in  180 1,  he  called 
General  Dearborn  to  his  cabinet  as  Secretary  of  War.  On  going  to 
Washington  he  induced  Mr.  Wingate  to  accompany  him  and  accept 
a  position  in  his  department.     From  thence  he  came  to  this  custom- 


184  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

house.  His  fortunes  were  advanced  by  his  marrying  a  daughter  of 
the  Secretary.  He  was  a  man  of  thrift  and  acquired  wealth.  On 
coming  to  Bath  he  occupied  what  was  afterwards  denominated  the 
Thomas  D.  Robinson  house  on  the  summit  of  the  hill  on  the  east 
side  of  Washington  street  north  of  Centre  street.  He  kept  a  house 
of  open  and  generous  hospitality,  the  resort  of  people  of  distinction 
from  abroad  and  at  home.  It  is  in  tradition  that  Mrs.  Wingatc  was 
a  lady  of  rare  accomplishments,  unexcelled  in  doing  the  honors  in- 
cumbent upon  the  high  position  she  then  occupied,  was  of  universal 
benevolence  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  the  Baptist  church,  her  hus- 
band giving  generous  aid  to  the  building  of  the  brick  edifice  of  that 
society  in  18 16.  They  had  daughters  who  were  admired  for  their 
beauty  and  accomplishments. 

A  notable  wedding  took  place  in  this  mansion  in  182 1.  Charles 
Q.  Clapp,  at  that  time  and  since  resident  of  Portland,  was  a  man  of 
distinction.  He  came  to  Bath  to  wed  a  daughter  of  General 
Wingate.  It  was  a  notable  occasion.  Distinguished  men  were  pres- 
ent :  General  Henry  Dearborn  with  his  wife,  Commodore  Jesse  D. 
Elliot,  Genera]  Simon  Benard  of  France  who  had  been  with  Napoleon 
at  Waterloo  as  one  of  his  staff,  William  King  and  Mrs.  King  and 
many  others  from  out  of  town  and  in  town.  The  Reverend  Mr. 
Stearns  had  the  honor  of  officiating  at  the  ceremonies.  Eventually 
General  Wingate  moved  from  Bath  to  Portland,  and  died  in  1843. 

During  the  war  of  18 12,  when  Bath  was  threatened  with  attack 
by  forces  from  English  men  of  war  stationed  off  the  mouth  of  the  river, 
Gen.  Wingate  had  a  large,  long  chest  made  with  trucks  under  it  in 
which  to  place  the  books  and  papers  of  the  custom-house  offices  and 
drawn  to  a  place  of  safety  should  occasion  make  it  necessary.  The 
chest  has  been  preserved,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Saga- 
dahoc Historical  Society  as  a  relic  of  early  war  times. 

A  Valuable  Prize,  —  It  has  been  related  on  good  authority, 
that,  during  the  war  of  18 12-15,  a  vessel  laden  with  a  very  valu- 
able cargo  was  brought  into  this  port,  vessel  and  cargo  confiscated, 
that  the  fees  of  the  collector  amounted  to  $72,000;  and  that 
subsequently  the  general  government  restored    the   value   of   the 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  185 

property  to  its  former  owners,  but  that  the  collector  did  not  relin- 
quish the  portion  he  had  received  {per  Hayden). 

Joseph  F.  Wingate  was  appointed  collector  by  President  Monroe 
in  1820  and  occupied  the  office  until  1824.  He  was  afterward 
member  of  the  United  States  House  of  Representatives  for  the 
Lincoln  district  the  last  year  of  President  J.  Q.  Adams'  administra- 
tion and  the  first  two  years  of  that  of  Andrew  Jackson.  He  was 
brother  to  General  Joshua  Wingate,  and  was  a  conspicuous  man  of 
his  day.  His  later  life  was  passed  in  the  town  of  Windsor  in  this 
stale. 

Mark  Langdon  Hill  came  into  the  office  under  President 
Monroe  in  1824.  He  had  been  a  large  ship-builder,  owner,  and 
merchant  at  Phipsburg  during  his  earlier  life,  meeting  with  success. 
He  was  at  one  time  judge  of  the  court  of  sessions,  postmaster  at 
Phipsburg,  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  many  years,  held 
other  town  offices  and  was  a  prominent  member  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church.  He  was  always  a  conspicuous  man;  served  in  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  and  in  the  United  States  House  of 
Representatives.  He  was  notably  condescending,  affable,  and 
courteous,  which  were  natural  traits  in  his  character. 

Judge  Groton  wrote:  "In  1824,  Judge  Hill  was  appointed  by 
Mr.  Adams  collector  of  Bath.  Although  a  good  officer,  and  a  man 
of  excellent  moral  and  religious  character,  he  had  enemies,  who 
preferred  charges  against  him  for  the  agency  he  had  in  getting  the 
brig  Mary  Jane  to  sea,  fourteen  years  before.  Mr.  Adams,  upon  the 
charges,  appointed  a  special  court  consisting  of  Judge  Whitman, 
Judge  Ware,  and  Mr.  Burley,  member  of  Congress,  to  take  evidence 
and  report  to  him.  This  court  sat  at  the  Bath  hotel  and  lasted 
some  days."  Bath  wanted  the  office,  Judge  Hill  was  removed,  and 
J.  B.  Swanton,  Sr.,  received  the  appointment  to  succeed  Judge  Hill. 

John  Barnard  Swanton  received  his  appointment  from  Presi- 
dent J.  Q.  Adams  in  1825,  and  held  the  office  until  1829.  He  was 
a  prominent  man  and  a  member  of  the  Swedenborgian  church, 
having  previously  belonged  to  that  of  the  Calvinist  Baptist.  John 
Bosworth  Swanton,  his  son,  was  his  deputy  collector. 


1 86  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

William  King  was  appointed  by  Andrew  Jackson  in  1829,  anc* 
held  the  office  to  the  spring  of  1834.  As  the  history  of  his  career  is 
given  elsewhere  in  this  volume  it  would  be  tautology  to  recount  the 
life  and  services  of  General  King  in  this  connection,  the  mention  of 
his  distinguished  name  being  sufficient.  It  is  also  unnecessary  to 
say  that  his  administration  of  the  duties  of  the  office  was  able  and 
honest.  There  is  a  little  incident  related  of  him  while  collector. 
Some  man  presented  to  him  a  bill  for  services  rendered  the  govern- 
ment in  connection  with  the  custom-house;  Mr.  King  looked  it  over 
when  he  loudly  exclaimed :  "Here  is  a  man  who  wants  thirty-five 
days'  pay  for  one  month's  work.1'  He  did  not  get  pay  for  his  extra 
or  rather  extraordinary  days. 

Joseph  Sewall  succeeded  William  King,  appointed  by  President 
Jackson  in  1834,  reappointed  by  President  Van  Buren  1838,  retiring 
in  1841.  He  had  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  in  18 12,  read  law 
with  Benjamin  Ames,  admitted  to  the  bar  when  2 1  years  of  age, 
was  adjutant-general  of  Maine,  was  several  years  county  commis- 
sioner and  selectman  of  the  town ;  attending  to  law  practice  when  not 
conflicting  with  his  official  duties  during  the  business  years  of  his 
life. 

He  took  an  active  part  in  political  matters,  and  was  a  life  long 
Democrat.  He  was  a  well  informed  antiquarian  and  in  1833  deliv- 
ered an  address  on  the  History  of  Bath,  which  was  afterwards  pub- 
lished in  book  form.  General  Sewall  was  of  distinguished  presence, 
and  notably  a  gentleman  in  his  intercourse  with  the  world. 

Parker  Sheldon  came  into  the  office  under  President  Harrison 
in  1 84 1,  appointed  chiefly  by  the  influence  of  U.  S.  Senator  George 
Evans.  Mr.  Sheldon  resided  in  Gardiner  and  did  not  move  his 
family  to  Bath.  At  the  time  of  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Sheldon 
there  were  two  "cliques"  among  leading  Whigs  of  Bath  each  wanting 
the  subordinate  offices,  and  when  the  collector  came  to  Bath  to 
assume  the  duties  of  the  office  and  make  his  appointments  his  re- 
ception was  notably  cool  on  the  part  of  those  who  had  not  "  stood 
in"  with  his  canvass  for  the  collectorship.  He  had  been  an  active 
worker  in  the  Whig  party,  and  did  efficient  service  for  that  cause  in 
the  notable  presidential  campaign  of  1840.    His  term  ended  in  1844. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  187 

A.  J.  Stone  of  Brunswick  was  appointed  by  President  Tyler  in 
1845  and  held  the  position  less  than  one  year.  He  was  a  merchant 
in  Brunswick  and  did  not  come  to  Bath  to  reside  during  his  term  of 
office. 

Amos  Nourse  was  appointed  by  President  Polk  in  1845.  He  was 
then  residing  in  Bath,  having  come  from  Hallowell  a  few  years  previ- 
ously where  he  had  been  postmaster  and  in  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine, and  was  of  much  repute  as  a  man  of  considerable  literary  at- 
tainments. He  had  been  practicing  his  profession  in  Bath  prior  to 
his  taking  this  office.  He  held  the  collcctorship  until  1846,  and  died 
in  Bath  while  in  office. 

John  Campbell  Humphreys. — The  American  ancestor  of  the 
Humphreys  family  was  Lawrence  Humphreys,  whose  nativity  was 
Queenstown,  Great  Britain,  where  he  was  born  in  1757.  When 
beginning  his  business  life  he  went  to  Jamaica  as  the  manager  of 
the  estate  of  the  widow  of  a  planter  who  had  died  wealthy.  From 
thence  he  came  as  supercargo  of  a  vessel  that  was  laden  with  a 
cargo  of  molasses  for  the  Kennebec  soon  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Arriving  in  the  river  she  went  ashore  on  the 
rocks  of  Parkers  Island  and  was  totally  wrecked.  Mr.  Humphreys 
was  left  in  a  strange  land  entirely  destitute  of  means.  He  had  the 
lucky  fortune,  however,  to  fall  among  good  men,  among  whom  were 
the  Parkers,  the  McCobbs,  the  Percys,  and  the  Drummonds,  who 
must  have  seen  in  him  a  person  of  native  worth,  for  he  acquired 
real  estate  in  Phipsburg  which  was  contiguous  to  what  was  the  John 
Parker  and  subsequently  the  Andrew  Reed  estate,  and  married  into 
the  Drummond  and  Campbell  families,  by  the  espousal  in  1788  of  a 
daughter  of  John  Campbell  whose  mother  was  Frances  Drummond, 
who  came  over  with  her  father,  Alexander  Drummond,  the  ancestor 
of  all  the  Kennebec  Drummonds,  who  came  over  in  1729  and  lived 
at  Chops  Point.  Mr.  Humphreys  subsequently  moved  to  Topsham. 
His  son,  John  Campbell  Humphreys,  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  Feb. 
22,  1798;  lived  in  Brunswick;  became  prominent  as  senator,  sheriff, 
merchant,  lumber  manufacturer,  ship  builder,  major-general  of  the 
militia,  high  in  the  Masonic  order,  and  collector  of  the  port  of  Bath 
during  the  Polk  administration.     He  was  appointed  by  President 


l88  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Polk  in  1846.     He  resided  in  Brunswick  and  did  not  bring  his 
family  to  live  in  Bath. 

Benjamin  Randall  was  collector  from  1849  to  1850.  He  was 
the  son  of  William  Randall,  a  respectable  and  wealthy  farmer  and 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  town  of  Topsham,  where  Benjamin 
was  born  in  1789.  In  his  childhood  his  father  discovered  that  he 
had  more  than  common  talents,  and  determined  to  give  him  an 
education  suited  to  his  abilities.  He  was  graduated  at  Bowdoin 
College  in  1809  and  took  his  degree  at  the  head  of  his  class,  and 
then  entered  the  office  of  Benjamin  Hasey  of  Topsham,  where  he 
pursued  the  study  of  the  law;  in  18 12  was  admitted  a  member  of 
the  Lincoln  County  bar  and  commenced  practice  in  Bath,  where  he 
resided  forty-five  years.  Like  others  of  the  profession,  he  took  an 
active  interest  in  political  matters,  identifying  himself  with  the  Whig 
party  during  its  continuance.  In  1833,  he  was  elected  from  Lincoln 
district  a  member  of  the  state  senate;  in  1838,  member  of  Congress, 
and  appointed  by  President  Taylor,  1849,  collector  of  the  port  of 
Bath.  When  nominated  for  congressman  by  the  Whig  party,  it  was 
at  a  convention  in  Wiscasset,  without  solicitation  or  expectation  on 
his  part. 

He  was  twice  married,  and  his  second  wife  was  a  daughter  of 
Kilborn  Whitman  of  Pembroke,  Mass.  Mr.  Randall  was  of  a  mild 
temper,  had  a  well  balanced  mind,  and  through  all  the  strong  contests 
of  his  profession  was  never  known  to  show  passion  or  discourtesy 
to  his  opponents.  He  was  a  man  of  learning  in  his  profession  and 
a  fine  classical  scholar.  In  some  respects  he  resembled  his  legal 
instructor,  Benjamin  Hasey,  who  was  deeply  learned  in  the  law.  In 
the  many  good  qualities  of  Mr.  Randall,  he  was  an  honest  lawyer, 
an  honest  man,  and  amiable  and  pleasing  in  his  demeanor. 

David  Bronson  of  Hallowell  was  appointed  collector  by  Presi- 
dent Fillmore  in  1850.  He  was  a  lawyer  of  wide  reputation  and 
alive  in  politics.  He  came  to  Hath  to  live,  and  went  out  of  office 
in  1853. 

Charles  N.  Bodfish  of  Gardiner  became  collector  in  1853.  He 
was  umarried  and  during  his  term  made  his  home  in  Bath.     He  had 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  189 

been  a  major  in  the  Mexican  war  and  upon  his  return  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  at  Parkers  Head.  His  term  of  office  ex- 
pired in  1857. 

Joseph  Berry  was  appointed  in  1857  by  President  Buchanan.  He 
resided  in  Georgetown  and  commenced  life  as  a  stone  mason;  had  a 
start  in  life  by  obtaining  government  contracts  for  building  light- 
houses on  the  coast  of  Maine,  became  a  ship-builder  in  Bath  and  at 
other  points  on  the  Kennebec  as  well  as  at  Robin  Hood's  Cove  on 
Parkers  Island.  He  had  an  extensive  and  widely  spread  business  in 
lumber,  ship-building  and  trade.  He  had  been  a  member  of  the  state 
legislature  for  several  sessions,  and  major-general  of  militia  to  which 
he  was  elected  by  the  legislature  in  1839  at  tne  ^me  °*  tne  notable 
"Aroostook  War."     He  died  while  in  office  in  i860. 

James  H.  Nichols  was  a  native  of  Phipsburg,  son  of  Joseph 
Nichols,  a  shoemaker.  He  started  in  life  as  a  shoemaker  and  kept 
a  store  in  Bath  where  he  married  and  had  a  family.  Later  in  life 
he  entered  into  politics  as  an  ardent  Democrat  and  received  the  ap- 
pointment of  weigher  and  gauger  under  collectors  Humphreys  and 
Bodfish,  and  of  collector  from  President  Buchanan,  serving  out  the 
unexpired  term-  of  General  Joseph  Berry  upon  the  death  of  the 
latter.  Upon  the  advent  of  the  Washingtonian  temperance  reform 
Mr.  Nichols  became  an  active  worker  in  the  cause,  exercising  a 
strong  influence  in  its  promotion. 

He  served  as  collector  during  i860  and  1861.  He  died  in  Bath. 
His  son,  Joseph  Nichols,  became  a  boot  and  shoe  dealer  in  Bath  and 
is  unmarried. 

Roland  Fisher  succeeded  to  the  office  of  collector  when  the 
Republican  party  came  into  power  in  186 1,  receiving  his  commission 
from  President  Lincoln.  Mr.  Fisher  was  a  native  of  Arrowsic,  where 
his  ancestors  were  early  settlers  and  prominent  men.  Receiving 
such  education  as  the  public  schools  afforded,  his  early  and  middle 
life  was  passed  in  the  lumbering  business,  becoming  the  owner  of  a 
part  of  what  has  been  known  as  the  ancient  "  Rowsick  Mills,"  since 
as  "  Potter's  Mills,"  situated  at  the  foot  of  Fiddlers  Reach  on 
Arrowsic  Island.     Later  he  removed  to  Bath,  where  he  engaged  in 


190  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

other  business  and  held  public  offices.  He  was  twice  married  and 
had  a  numerous  family  by  his  second  wife.  Mr.  Fisher  was  a  man 
of  excellent  character,  was  active  in  all  the  pursuits  of  life  in  which 
he  engaged,  and  accumulated  a  comfortable  fortune.  Ho  held  the 
office  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1866. 

Edward  St.  John  Neaij.ey  was  born  in  Lee,  N.  H.,  Dec.  16, 
181 1.  He  was  the  second  son  of  Edward  B.  Neallcy  and  was  one 
of  ten  children.  He  was  a  member  of  the  class  of  1835  of  Bowdoin 
College,  but  left  before  graduating.  Subsequently  the  college  con- 
ferred on  him  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Arts  out  of  course.  After 
leaving  college  he  went  to  Thomaston  and  studied  law  with  his 
cousin,  Jonathan  Cilley,  who  was  afterwards  member  of  Congress  and 
subsequently  killed  in  a  duel.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and 
practiced  at  Thomaston.  He  was  clerk  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives at  Augusta,  and  there  his  character  and  good  penmanship 
brought  him  to  the  notice  of  Joseph  Sewall,  the  collector  of  customs 
in  Bath,  who,  during  Van  Buren's  administration,  appointed  him 
inspector  of  customs  and  afterward  deputy  collector.  This  latter 
office  he  held  until  in  February,  1866,  when  he  was  promoted  to  the 
collectorship,  which  office  he  held  till  his  death  in  188 1,  a  period 
longer  than  any  other  collector  of  customs  in  the  United  States,  He 
had  served  the  government  in  the  custom-house  in  Bath  for  more 
than  forty-four  years. 

He  was  an  officer  of  the  Patten  Library  Association  from  the 
time  of  its  organization,  and  was  president  of  that  association  for 
many  years.  It  was  largely  through  his  instrumentality  that  the 
library  was  founded.  He  was  trustee  of  the  Kelley  fund  for  the 
distribution  of  fuel  among  the  needy  widows  of  the  city.  Mr. 
Nealley  was  a  member  of  the  city  council  during  several  years.  He 
married  Lucy  Prince  of  Thomaston,  a  sister  of  Mrs.  Jonathan  Cilley, 
July  5,  1836,  by  whom  he  had  five  children,  of  whom  four  are  now 
living:  Edward  B.,  now  living  in  Bangor;  Henrietta  P.,  who  mar- 
ried Rev.  John  Gregson,  formerly  rector  of  the  Episcopal  church  in 
this  city,  now  rector  at  Wilkinsonville,  Mass. ;  Greenleaf  C,  who 
has  been  in  the  employ  of  the  government  in  Texas  as  botanist,  and 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  191 

Susan  M.,  wife  of  Geo.  E.  Hughes,  attorney  in  Bath.  His  wife 
Lucy  died  in  Bath,  Jan.  17,  1853,  and  he  married,  Dec.  1,  1859, 
Sarah  A.  Pope  of  Spencer,  Mass.  They  had  two  children,  William 
P.  and  Henry  A.  Mr.  Nealley  was  a  prominent  Mason  and  Odd 
Fellow  and  was  twice  state  delegate  to  the  national  convention  of 
the  Odd  Fellows.  Mr.  Nealley  was  one  of  the  most  pleasant  of 
gentlemen,  universally  popular,  and  a  useful  and  benevolent  citizen 
of  the  highest  standing. 

James  W.  Wakefied,  bbrn  in  this  city  in  January,  1833,  son 
of  James  Wakefield,  who  died  some  years  ago  and  was  one  of 
the  leading  merchants  and  business  men  of  this  city  where  he 
carried  on  successfully  for  a  long  term  of  years  the  business  of  a 
grocer.  He  was  also  managing  owner  of  a  packet  line  between  the 
Kennebec  and  Boston.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  James  W.  went 
into  business  with  his  father.  This  was  about  the  year  1847,  and  he 
continued  in  business  with  him  seven  years.  In  1854  he  entered  the 
office  of  Kendall  &  Richardson,  ship-chandlers,  where  he  filled  the 
position  of  book-keeper  about  two  years.  In  1856  he  again  went  into 
the  grocery  business  as  a  pirtner  with  his  father,  and  carried  on  a 
large  trade  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion,  when  he  joined 
the  army.  After  two  years'  service  he  returned  to  Bath.  In  1869 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  this  city,  a  position  which  he 
filled  till  near  the  end  of  the  year  1881,  when  he  received  the 
appointment  of  collector  of  customs  for  the  District  of  Bath. 
He  held  that  office  until  Cleveland  became  President,  when  he  re- 
signed. For  a  number  of  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Republican 
State  Committee.  He  first  became  a  member  of  the  city  council  in 
1 86 1,  served  that  year  in  the  lower  branch,  and  also  in  1862  and 
1867.  In  187 1  he  was  elected  alderman  and  was  a  member  of  that 
board  in  1872  and  1880.  He  was  elected  mayor  in  1885,  1886, 
1887,  1888,  1889,  and  1890.  In  the  legislature  of  1885  he  repre- 
sen  ted  this  city  in  the  House.  He  was  again  appointed  collector  in 
1889  by  President  Harrison;  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Water 
Supply  Company  of  Bath,  resigning  in  1893.  Upon  a  change  of 
administration  and  the  term  of  collector  expiring,  his  successor  was 
appointed,  attaining  the  office  on  May  1,  1893. 


192  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

Francis  B.  Torrey  is  a  native  of  Bath,  a  descendant  of  the 
earlier  Torrey  families,  who  were  prominent  citizens  in  their  day. 
Mr.  Torrey  has  been  engaged  in  navigation  and  is  proprietor  of  ex- 
tensive manufacturing  business  in  the  city.  He  always  affiliates 
with  the  Democratic  party,  and  when  Mr.  Cleveland  became  president 
in  1885  he  received  the  appointment  of  collector  and  filled  the  office 
with  acceptance  until  the  administration  of  President  Harrison  re- 
appointed a  Republican  to  fill  the  office,  the  duties  of  which  Mr. 
Torrey  was  desirous  to  relinquish  to  devote  his  labors  to  the  more 
profitable  and  congenial  business  in  which  he  is  now  engaged. 

THE  POST-OFFICE. 

Prior  to  1760,  the  regular  eastern  terminus  of  the  mail  route  in 
New  England  was  Portsmouth,  N.  H.  In  1775,  the  first  post-office 
in  Maine  was  established,  and  there  were  only  post-offices  at  Ken- 
nebunk,  Falmouth,  and  Bath.  The  number  of  letters  coming  to 
each  office  did  not  average  five  each  week.  Few  people  could  afford 
to  pay  the  high  rates  of  postage  of  that  day,  excepting  on  matters 
of  business.  Common  epistolary  letters  were  largely  sent  by  private 
hands  at  long  intervals,  and  this  continued  so  long  as  the  rates  of 
postage  were  six  and  a  quarter,  twelve  and  a  half,  eighteen  and 
three-quarters,  twenty-five,  and  thirty-seven  and  a  half  cents,  ac- 
cording to  the  distance,  and  double  rate  when  the  letter  contained 
more  than  one  piece  of  paper. 

The  earliest  record  there  is  of  the  establishment  of  regular 
mail  facilities  was  about  the  year  1780,  at  which  time  it  was  carried 
to  and  from  Portland  once  a  fortnight  by  Richard  Kimball  on  foot. 
Luke  Lambert  carried  the  mail  between  Boston  and  the  Kennebec, 
for  a  short  period  prior  to  the  Revolution,  once  a  fortnight  on  horse- 
back, the  mail  pouch  strapped  on  behind  the  saddle.  Then  Capt. 
Joseph  Stockbridge  carried  the  mail  between  Bath  and  Portland, 
making  the  round  trip  once  a  week.  In  1791,  the  most  eastern 
post-office  in  the  state  was  at  Wiscasset,  to  which  mail  was  carried 
from  Portland  through  Bath  twice  a  week  on  horseback,  and  in  1793 
continued  from  Wiscasset  to  Castine  once  a  fortnight  by  a  man  on 
foot. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  193 

At  that  early  day  the  roads  were  little  more  than  foot  paths  or 
trod  by  single  horse.  The  mails  were  sometimes  delayed  or  de- 
tained by  inclement  weather  and  bad  condition  of  the  roads,  which 
was  particularly  the  case  in  the  winter  season  when  snow  blockades 
had  to  be  encountered.  As  an  instance,  it  is  related  that  in  1766 
the  southern  and  western  mails  due  at  Boston  Dec.  27,  did  not 
arrive  until  Jan.  10,  1767,  on  account  of  bad  traveling. 

August  25,  1791,  Dummer  Sewall  was  appointed  by  the  United 
States  goverment  the  first  postmaster  of  Bath,  and  for  a  time  the 
office  was  kept  at  his  dwelling-house  on  High  street,  the  house  now 
standing  next  north  of  the  railroad  bridge.  It  was  afterward  moved 
to  the  one  story  building  recently  standing  near  the  corner  of  Front 
and  Summer  streets,  reached  by  a  flight  of  stairs  from  Summer 
street.  Mr.  Sewall  held  the  office  about  fifteen  years ;  living  a  long 
distance  from  the  post-office,  and  in  the  office  only  when  the  mail 
came  in,  the  business  men  became  dissatisfied  and,  without  dis- 
tinction of  party,  signed  a  petition  to  general  government,  asking 
for  a  change  of  postmaster. 

In  answer  to  this  request,  David  Stinson  was  appointed  post- 
master July  1,  1806,  by  President  Jefferson,  which  office  he  held 
twenty-seven  years.  During  his  term  the  office  was  removed  to  the 
building  on  the  south-east  corner  of  Front  and  Arch  streets,  now 
occupied  for  a  store.  It  was  the  custom  to  write  off  a  list  of  the 
letters  received  by  each  mail  and  hang  it  in  the  window,  so  that  it 
could  be  read  by  the  people  outside.  The  drivers  of  mail  stages 
were  in  the  habit  of  blowing  a  tin  horn  when  coming  into  town  to 
announce  their  arrival.  The  population  of  Bath  at  the  time  of  Mr. 
Stinson's  appointment  was  1,000. 

On  the  death  of  Mr.  Stinson,  Thomas  Eaton  was  appointed  by 
President  Jackson,  April  24,  1833,  and  the  office  was  removed  to 
rooms  in  the  old  Lincoln  Bank  building,  which  stood  upon  the  site 
now  occupied  by  the  Sagadahoc  House.  Private  boxes  were  first 
used  here.  Upon  the  taking  down  of  the  bank  building  in  1848  for 
the  erection  of  the  Sagadahoc  House,  the  office  was  kept  in  the 
south-east   room   under  the   Hatch   House,  on  the   north   side   of 


194  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

Center  street.  After  the  completion  of  the  Sagadahoc  House,  the 
south-west  corner  in  the  basement  on  Center  street  was  fitted  up 
with  lower  drawers  for  the  use  of  the  people  and  the  office  was  re- 
moved to  that  locality,  where  it  remained  until  the  custom-house 
building  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  1858.  At  this  time  and  for  sev- 
eral years  previously,  mails  were  received  daily  from  the  West  and 
forwarded  thither  in  two  and  four  horse  coaches.  Upon  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Kennebec  &  Portland  Railroad  —  now  Maine  Central  — 
in  1849,  three  daily  mails  were  transported  to  and  from  Bath  on  this 
road. 

Upon  the  accession  of  President  Fillmore,  William  Put  Fks- 
s  en  den  wrote  to  Messrs.  Kendall  and  Richardson,  inquiring  if  the 
Whigs  of  Bath  wished  to  fill  the  place  with  one  of  their  own  party, 
and  as  the  result  of  correspondence  that  ensued  David  Y.  Kendall 
was  appointed  to  succeed  Mr.  Eaton.  He  held  the  office,  however, 
but  eight  days,  from  the  18th  of  November,  1850,  to  the  26th  of 
the  same  month. 

Rufus  R.  Haines,  publisher  of  The  Mirror,  was  appointed  Nov. 
26,  1850. 

Joseph  C.  Snow  received  the  appointment  from  President  Pierce 
April  1,  1853,  and  during  his  term  the  office  was  moved  into  the 
new  custom-house  building. 

Charles  T.  Greenleaf  was  appointed  by  President  Lincoln 
April  8,  1 86 1. 

James  W.  Wakefield  was  appointed  by  President  Grant  April 
6,  1869. 

William  E.  Hogan  received  his  appointment  from  President 
Arthur  Jan.  17,  1882,  and  was  succeeded  at  the  end  of  four  years 
by  George  H.  Nichols,  appointed  by  President  Cleveland  Jan.  17, 
1886,  Mr.  Hogan  having  served  out  the  full  term  of  his  commission 
of  four  years,  notwithstanding  the  change  of  administration  nearly 
a  year  previous.  Wm.  E.  Hogan  having  been  re-appointed  by  Pres- 
ident Harrison,  resumed  the  office  Nov.  1,  1889,  which  he  occupies 
to  this  time. 


Q>.  ^EJaJu^ 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  195 

For  many  years  the  mail  was  carried  to  Phipsmjrg  on  horseback, 
at  first  twice,  then  three  times  a  week,  and  then  daily  by  stage. 
When  not  carried  daily,  the  postmaster  would  often  give  an  order  to 
a  reputable  citizen  coming  to  13ath  to  deliver  him  the  Phipsburg 
mail,  and  this  particularly  on  Sundays,  and  the  writer  of  this  has 
often  taken  it  down  in  a  pocket  handkerchief,  and  more  often  it  was 
delivered  to  him  without  an  order.  In  no  case  was  this  trust  betrayed 
or  carelessness  indulged  in.  Woolwich,  Arrowsic,  Georgetown,  and 
other  suburban  towns  receive  their  mails  through  the  Bath  office. 

For  mailing  letters  in  former  years  there  were  no  envelopes; 
the  sheet  was  ingeniously  folded  so  that  it  could  be  sealed  with  a 
wafer.  Wafers  are  scarcely  known  to  the  present  generation.  They 
were  mostly  red,  hard,  mucilaginous  substances,  of  the  shape  and 
size  of  a  ten-cent  piece,  which  to  be  used  would  be  softened  by 
placing  one  of  them  between  the  moist  lips  a  few  moments,  when 
applying  it  to  paper  it  stuck  fast  by  spontaneous  hardening.  The 
more  elegant  way  was  to  use  sealing  wax,  which  was  customary  for 
public  documents.  A  singular  regulation  in  the  rules  of  the  post- 
office  department  was  that  a  letter  containing  more  than  one  piece 
of  paper  was  liable  to  be  charged  double  postage.  The  enigma 
would  seem  to  be  how  postmasters  could  know  whether  a  letter 
covered  one  or  more  pieces  of  paper. 

Incidents  Connected  with  the  Postal  Service  at  Bath. — 

A  Boston  man  by  the  name  of  Thorndike  owned  a  large  tract  of 
land  at  Thomaston,  and  David  Fales  was  his  agent.  Two  men  who 
afterward  became  notable  public  men  kept  the  post-office — Hezekiah 
Prince,  postmaster,  and  John  Ruggles,  his  assistant.  Prince  became 
member  of  Congress  and  Ruggles,  United  States  Senator.  Fales 
had  occasion  to  transmit  the  sum  of  $700  to  his  principal  in  Boston. 
To  do  this  he  enclosed  seven  bills  of  one  hundred  dollars  each, 
and  mailed  it  in  the  Thomaston  post-office.  This  failed  to  reach  its 
destination.  In  consequence,  he  brought  suit  against  Postmaster 
Prince  to  recover  the  amount  of  money  lost.  At  about  the  same 
time,  a  letter  in  which  money  was  enclosed  was  mailed  at  Thomas- 
ton for  Portland,  which  did  not  reach  the  person  to  whom  it  was 
addressed. 


196  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

At  the  suit,  all  of  the  postmasters  on  the  route  over  which  the 
Boston  letter  must  pass  were  examined  in  court,  and  their  testimony 
showed  that  it  was  evident  that  the  leak  was  in  the  Bath  office. 
Postmaster  Stinson  was  somewhat  of  an  easy  going  man,  and  a  fast 
young  man  was  accustomed  to  be  familiar  in  his  office,  as  he  was  an 
intimate  of  the  family.  Suspicion  pointed  to  him  as  the  purloiner 
of  the  letters,  and  he  was  arrested.  His  name  was  Robert  Lam- 
berr,  a  son  of  Luke  Lambert.  His  father  became  his  sole  bonds- 
man, and  before  the  next  session  of  court  the  son  fled  and  never 
returned.  It  was  believed  that  he  died  not  long  afterwards  at 
Demarara,  a  dissipated  army  soldier.  The  bonds  that  had  been 
given  by  his  father,  which  were  for  a  heavy  amount,  were  afterwards 
remitted  by  the  legislature  through  the  influence  of  friends. 

The  Decoy  Letter.  —  In  the  fall  of  1833  Thomas  Eaton  was 
postmaster  at  Bath.  At  that  time,  letters  containing  money  had 
been  missed  from  the  mails  between  Bath  and  Belfast.  It  was  a 
stage  route.  A  post-office  official  was  placed  on  this  line  to  detect, 
if  possible,  the  delinquent  postmaster.  He  placed  in  the  Belfast 
office  a  decoy  letter  directed  to  Gen.  James  McLellan,  Bath.  Tak- 
ing a  chaise,  he  followed  the  mail  coach.  It  was  in  the  night.  The 
mail  was  carried  through,  as  was  the  custom,  in  one  large  bag,  and 
at  each  office  on  the  line  the  postmaster  emptied  the  bag  and 
selected  such  of  the  contents  as  were  addressed  to  his  office.  On 
this  occasion  the  detective  took  the  bag  from  the  stage  when  at  a 
proper  distance  from  an  office,  and  emptying  its  contents  into  the 
bottom  of  his  own  carriage  searched  for  the  decoy  letter.  The 
post-office  at  Lincoln ville,  where  Albert  Reed,  a  former  resident  of 
Bath,  was  postmaster,  was  passed  all  right,  and  Camden  came  next. 
Here  Ephraim  K.  Smart,  a  prominent  Democratic  politician,  was 
postmaster.  After  leaving  this  office,  the  decoy  letter  was  found  to 
be  missing.  The  detective  immediately  returned  and  had  Mr.  Smart 
arrested.     It  was  necessarily  a  sensation. 

In  due  course  of  mail  the  identical  letter  arrived  at  the  Bath 
office.  Mr.  Eaton,  in  his  usual  habit  of  accommodation  in  taking 
letters  not  immediately  called  for  to  business  men  within  easy 
reach,  took  this  letter  with  others  to  the  store  of  Gen.  McLellan 


^fe^  "2?.  0?7w£j 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  197 

and  delivered  it  directly  to  him.  Of  course  this  vindicated  Mr. 
Smart,  and  the  inference  could  be  none  other  than  that  the  detective 
had  made  a  grave  mistake  in  overlooking  the  letter  when  assorting 
the  mail  after  leaving  Camden.     It  was  a  long  talked  about  affair. 

MUNICIPAL  GOVERNMENT. 

• 

The  city  is  organized  into  seven  wards,  from  which  there  are 
elected  seven  aldermen  and  twenty-one  councilmen,  who  with  the 
mayor  comprise  the  city  government.  The  city  officers  are  a  treas- 
urer, collector  (in  1893  united  in  one),  marshal,  street  commissioner, 
municipal  judge,  a  solicitor,  and  city  clerk. 

Having  received  a  charter  in  1847,  Hath  was  organized  into  a  city  y 
in  1848  with  David  C.  Magoun,  mayor,  who  held  the  office  one  year, 
when  he  declined  re-election.  The  successive  mayors  were  Free- 
man H.  Morse,  1850;  John  Patten,  185 1,  1852;  Barnard  C.  Bailey, 
1853,  1854;  Freeman  H.  Morse,  1855;  William  Rice,  1856,  1857, 
1858;  Israel  Putnam,  1859,  i860,  1861,  1862,  1863,  1864,1865; 
John  Hayden,  1866;  Israel  Putnam,  1867;  James  T.  Patten,  1868, 
1869;  Samuel  D.  Bailey,  1870;  James  D.  Robinson,  1871,  1872; 
William  Rice,  1873,  1874,  1875  ;  Edwin  Reed,  1876,  1877  ;  J.  Green 
Richardson,  1878,  1879;  Thomas  W.  Hyde,  1880,  1881;  James  C, 
Lcdyard,  1882,  1883;  George  H.  Nichols,  1884;  James  W.  Wake- 
field, 1885,  1886,  1887,  1888;  George  Moulton,  Jr ,  1889;  Charles 
E.  Patten,  1890;  Fritz  H.  Twitchell,  1891,  1892  ;  Charles  E.  Patten, 
1893,  who  resigned  without  qualifying,  and  John  O.  Shaw  was 
elected  for  1893. 

Destruction  of  tlic  Town  Records.  —  In  the  winter  of  1838, 

a  fire  on  Center  street,  nearly  opposite  the  present  town  hall,  con- 
sumed all  the  town  records,  which  were  kept  in  a  wood  building  on 
that  side  of  the  street;  consequently,  data  of  public  acts  of  the  town 
up  to  that  date  were  entirely  lost,  leaving  an  irreparable  vacancy 
detrimental  to  the  completeness  of  the  records  transcribed  in  this 
volume. 

After  the  organization  of  the  town  in  1781,  no  representative  was 
sent  to  the  General  Court  at  Boston  until  1784,  when  Francis  Winter 


198  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

was  elected  to  that  office,  in  which  he  was  continued  until  Major 
Joshua  Shaw  was  chosen  in  1799,  1801,  and  1802;  Samuel  Davis  in 
1803;  William  King  in  1804  and  1805,  and  Peleg  Tallman  in  1806 
{per  James  Sewall). 

The  appropriations  to  pay  troops  furnished  by  the  town  during 
the  closing  years  of  the  Revolutionary  war  were  $500  annually. 
For  the  support  of  highways,  the  town  raised  the  first  year  $500. 

Court-llOUSe.  —  The  territory  comprising  the  District  of  Maine 
originally  formed  one  county,  which  was  first  Yorkshire,  then  York, 
with  the  town  of  York  the  county  seat.  In  1760,  the  counties  of 
Cumberland  and  Lincoln  were  set  off  from  York.  The  town  of 
Georgetown,  which  included  Bath,  was  in  the  county  of  Lincoln, 
and  Pownalborough  was  the  shire  town.  In  1761,  the  proprietors 
of  the  "  Kennebec  Purchase  "  built  and  donated  to  the  county  the 
court-house  which  is  still  in  existence  and  in  good  condition.  In 
setting  off,  subsequently,  other  counties  from  Lincoln,  the  county 
seat  of  Lincoln  was  transferred  to  Wiscasset,  where  a  court-house 
was  built,  and  later  a  court-house  was  also  built  at  Topsham. 

In  1854,  the  county  of  Sagadahoc  was  formed  from  a  portion  of 
Lincoln,  and  Bath  made  the  county  seat.  To  build  a  court-house,  to 
include  lot,  fence  and  bell,  the  county  issued  bonds  to  the  amount 
of  $70,000,  and  the  building  was  completed  in  1869.  In  the  mean- 
time, courts  were  held  in  the  old  town  hall,  and  the  county  offices 
were  in  the  same  building.  When  the  building  was  ready  for  occu- 
pancy it  was  dedicated  with  appropriate  ceremonies,  at  which  Chief 
Justice  Jonathan  G.  Dickinson  delivered  the  address.  In  the  earlier 
days  of  this  eminent  jurist  he  was  principal  of  the  Bath  Academy, 
and  was  at  one  time  a  contributor  to  the  newspapers  of  Bath. 

SCHOOLS. 

Even  after  the  Indian  wars  were  over  and  the  inhabitants  had 
settled  down  to  cultivate  their  farms,  they  still  had  hard  times. 
There  were  no  school-houses  and  their  dwelling-houses  were 
so  far  apart  that  they  could  scarcely  be  formed  into  districts. 
They  had  school   three  months,  and  sometimes  less,  once  in  two  or 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  199 

three  years.  It  was  held  in  private  houses.  THey  .had  good 
teachers;  one  particularly,  Master  O'Brien,  who  was  educated  in 
Edinburgh,  Scotland,  was  a  gentleman  and  an  excellent  teacher. 
He  afterwards  settled  in  Brunswick.  There  were  families  in  remote 
districts  who  could  neither  read  nor  write.  The  settlers  who  came 
from  England  were  better  educated  than  those  born  and  brought  up 
in  this  country,  having  had  better  advantages  for  education  in  the 
old  country. 

Years  ago  sturdy  men  and  women^  who  were  not  afraid  to  meet 
the  hardships  and  discouragements  attendant  upon  frontier  life, 
came  to  Maine  and  took  up  farms  in  the  unbroken  forest. 
They  cleared  land  along  the  rivers  and  on  the  back  ridges,  built 
houses  and  made  roads,  and  as  soon  as  a  community  was  strong 
enough,  they  built  school-houses  and  churches,  and  raised  large 
families  of  boys  and  girls  to  fill  them.  We  well  remember  the  old 
school-house  where,  in  boyhood  days,  we  studied  Noah  Webster's 
spelling  book,  Murray's  grammar,  and  ciphered  in  Walch's  arithme- 
tic. The  long  seats  were  arranged  on  opposite  sides  of  the  house, 
the  large  boys  and  girls  occupied  the  back  seats,  and  the  smaller  ' 
ones  the  front.  The  room  was  warmed  from  a  large  open  fire-place 
at  one  end.  The  teachers  boarded  round  to  lengthen  out  the  school, 
and  wood  was  furnished  by  the  several  familes  while  they  boarded 
the  master.  For  about  ten  weeks  in  the  winter  sixty  scholars  came 
together,  some  with  whole  books,  and  some  with  books  whose  leaves 
were  half  gone,  especially  the  lower  halves.  To-day,  scholars  with 
all  the  modern  improvements  in  school-houses,  in  text  books,  in 
teaching  and  discipline,  find  their  scholarship  far  below  that  of 
fifty  or  sixty  years  ago.  In  those  clays  the  school-houses  in  the  out- 
lying districts  served  also  as  churches. 

From  the  formation  of  the  Second  Parish  in  1754  to  1775,  no 
public  school  had  been  established  at  Bath,  and  the  expense  of 
maintaining  the  instruction  of  youth  was  raised  by  subscription.  In 
the  year  last  named  the  parish  voted  an  appropriation  of  about 
twenty  dollars  for  school  purposes.  When  the  parish  became 
incorporated  into  a  town  in  1781,  an  appropriation  of  two  hundred 
dollars  was  made  for  the  support  of  public  schools,  which  amount 


200  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

was  continued  yearly  until  1795;  this  sum  was  increased  the  next 
year  to  four  hundred  dollars  and  continued  until  1800. 

On  the  west  side  of  High  street,  a  little  south  of  the  dwelling  of 
Gen.  T.  W.  Hyde,  stood  the  first  school-house  in  ancient  Long 
Reach  of  which  there  is  any  reliable  account.  As  near  as  can  be 
ascertained,  it  was  built  in  1785.  The  building  was  known  to  be 
there  in  1790  and  occupied  as  a  school-house.  The  teacher  is  said 
to  have  been  a  Master  Patch,  who  was  lame,  went  on  crutches, 
and  was  also  humpbacked.  He  had  a  unique  method  of  punishing 
the  scholars  that  partook  of  barbarism.  He  had  a  wooden  shoe 
made  with  sharp  pegs  on  the  bottom,  and  in  this  he  compelled 
obdurate  boys  to  stand  on  one  foot. 

The  High  street  school-house  has  been  described  as  of  about 
twenty  feet  square,  sharp  roof,  outside  window  shutters,  and  regular 
seats  and  benches.  After  it  was  abandoned,  the  old  building  was 
removed  to  the  south  end,  where  it  was  used  as  a  dwelling  and 
ultimately  disappeared. 

Subsequently,  this  old  Master  Patch  taught  school  at  Berry's 
Mills,  West  Bath,  at  which  time  the  school-house  in  which  he  kept 
was  burned,  it  was  supposed,  by  the  boys  on  account  of  the  old 
man's  severity.     This  was  in  1803. 

Employing  Teachers.  —  From  1638,  when  Harvard  College 
was  established,  every  town  of  fifty  householders  was  ordered  by 
law  to  hire  a  teacher  the  year  round,  and  a  town  of  one  hundred 
householders  had  its  school  where  children  were  taught  the  rudi- 
ments of  learning  and  where  the  boys  could  be  fitted  for  college. 
Probably  none  of  our  well  trained  boys  and  girls  ever  heard  such 
buzzing  as  they  had  in  these  ancient  schools  all  the  time.  The 
country  in  those  times  seemed  so  large  that  most  families  talked 
loud,  having  no  fear  that  they  would  be  overheard  by  any  neighbors 
excepting  the  bears  and  wolves,  while  the  children  had  no  idea  that 
they  could  study  without  pronouncing  the  words  at  least  in  whispers, 
so  when  they  buzzed  the  liveliest,  the  teacher  looked  for  the  best 
lessons.  Often  two  or  three  would  be  seen  studying  from  the  same 
volume,  as  one  book  of  a  kind  frequently  answered  for  a  whole 


HISTORY    OF  BATH.  201 

family.  Classes  were  very  few  but  large.  There  were  other 
sounds  in  the  room  besides  the  smothered  tones  of  the  student;  the 
"  spat "  of  the  broad  ruler,  which  was  sometimes  pierced  with  holes 
for  the  kindly  purpose  of  raising  blisters;  while  over  all  arose  the 
sob  of  the  sensitive,  the  whine  of  the  base,  or  the  groan  of  the 
plucky.  But  there  were  busy  fingers  as  well  as  lips,  with  the  rustle 
of  sheets  and  pillow  cases  and  patchwork,  for  the  girls  were  taught 
sewing  afternoons. 

Among  the  things  taught  in  school  were  "  manners."  In  entering 
or  leaving  the  school-room  every  pupil  was  required  to  turn  towards 
the  teacher,  the  boys  to  make  a  bow  and  the  girls  a  courtesy,  and 
when  a  class  was  in  line  on  the  floor  they  were  required  to  "  make 
your  manners."  The  boys  were  instructed  that  when  meeting  an 
elderly  person  on  the  road  they  should  take  off  their  hats  and  make 
a  bow  to  him.  These  habits  were  salutary  by  inculcating  deference 
due  to  age  and  to  those  placed  over  them  as  teachers. 

There  were  no  blackboards  or  other  appliances  for  teaching 
made  easy,  nor  taking  a  package  of  books  home  for  evening 
study.  Six  hours  were  considered  a  good  day's  work  in  the  school- 
room; what  was  learned  was  learned  for  good  and  lasted  through 
life.  Learning  was  acquired  by  hard,  individual  study,  without 
being  boosted  too  much  over  knotty  places. 

A  wood  school-house  stood  on  the  north-west  corner  of  North 
and  Middle  streets.  Christopher  Cushing  owned  much  of  the 
land  in  that  vicinity,  and  it  appears  on  record  that  June  9,  1805, 
Mr.  Cushing  deeded  to  "  Peleg  Tallman,  Caleb  Marsh,  Laban 
Loring,  Joseph  Trott,  Joseph  Scwall,  and  others  who  may  hereafter 
join,"  a  lot  of  land,  three  by  four  rods,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred 
dollars,  conditioned  that  the  house  to  be  erected  upon  it  should  not 
be  less  than  twenty  feet  front.  The  building  was  accordingly 
constructed. 

A  large  lot  of  ground  was  comprised  in  its  site,  which  was  covered 

with  white  oak  trees  and  grassy  verdure,  and  being  on  elevated 

ground  open  to  the  river,  it  presented  from  the  water  a  very  beauti- 
ful appearance;  in  consequence  of  these  attractions  it  was  termed 


202  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Paradise.  It  had  a  vane  in  the  form  of  a  man  wearing  a  bobtail 
coat  with  a  pen  behind  his  ear.  The  building  was  usually  called 
the  "  Cummings  school-house/1  taking  this  name  from  the  notable 
Abraham  Cummings,  d.d.,  a  man  of  much  learning,  who  often  kept 
school  in  it  during  winter  months,  when  in  the  summer  season  he 
preached  as  a  missionary  on  the  shores  and  islands  along  the  coast, 
sailing  in  a  schooner  boat  for  the  purpose.  While  engaged  in  teach- 
ing he  often  supplied  a  vacant  pulpit  of  an  orthodox  church. 

In  this  "  seat  of  learning  "  Mr.  Weston  taught,  also  Isaac  Pac;k, 
both  of  whom  were  severe  disciplinarians,  and  such  were  accounted 
"  the  best  school- masters "  of  that  generation,  the  school-boys  of 
that  day  requiring  the  rod,  that  beat  manhood  into  them  and  grad- 
uated them  into  solid  citizens.  Mr.  Weston's  favorite  discipline  was 
to  scare  his  unruly  scholars  into  obedience  to  good  order;  throw  his 
heavy  ruler,  which  was  the  emblem  of  authority  in  those  days,  with 
all  his  force,  over  the  boys'  heads,  to  the  wall  at  the  back  end  of  the 
room,  making  a  great  commotion.  At  times  he  would,  in  like  man- 
ner, throw  an  inkstand.  He  was  said  to  be  an  awful  thrasher  of 
the  unruly  boys  of  his  school. 

Mr.  Page  kept  school  in  that  house  in  1820.  His  custom  was  to 
"  open  school "  with  prayers,  during  which  the  scholars  took  advan- 
tage to  become  noisy,  whereupon  he  would  open  his  eyes,  and  look- 
ing around  the  room,  seize  his  great  ruler  or  green  cowhide,  and 
"go  through"  the  entire  school,  striking  the  pupils  over  the  head, 
thrashing  their  bodies  and  limbs,  until  order  was  restored,  when  he 
would  return  to  his  desk  and  finish  his  prayer.  This  contempt  of 
the  master's  devotion  may  have  arisen  from  the  well-known  habits 
of  the  master  to  be  addicted  to  the  too  free  use  of  intoxicating 
drink.  This  Mr.  Page  was  in  no  way  related  to  the  popular  Master 
Joshua  Page  of  "  Erudition  "  memory. 

In  this  same  school-house  John  Reed  of  Phipsiiurc.  taught.  lie 
was  the  eldest  son  of  Col.  Andrew  Reed  of  Phipsburg,  and  made  a 
profession  of  teaching,  in  which  vocation  he  was  prominent  in  his 
day  and  generation.     In  his  school  in  this  old  school-house  he  had 


EU R I D IT] ON    SC  HOOI^HOU  5  E, 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  203 

scholars  who  afterwards  became  distinguished  men  in  business  and 
in  public  life.  Probably  not  one  of  them  is  now  alive,  the  last 
having  been  the  venerable  and  respected  citizen,  the  Hon.  John 
Hayden.  About  two  weeks  before  the  end  of  his  term,  the  house 
was  so  badly  damaged  by  fire  that  the  school  was  closed.  Mr.  Reed 
made  teaching  the  business  of  his  life  and  was  for  many  years,  till 
his  death,  the  head  of  the  school  committee  of  his  native  town. 

Old  "Erudition."— On  "North  Hill,"  near  the  north-east 
junction  of  Center  and  High  streets,  is  a  notable  school  building, 
an  ancient  landmark,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  Within  its 
walls  many  of  the  prominent  citizens  of  Bath  of  past  generations 
obtained  all  the  education  that  aided  their  success  in  the  business 
of  their  lives.  This  school-house  was  made  famous  by  the  pre- 
eminent teaching  of  Joshua  Page,  remembered  as  Master  Page,  who 
taught  in  this  building  from  the  year  1806,  consecutively,  for  the 
period  of  not  far  from  half  a  century.  He  was  eminently  fitted  for 
the  teaching  adapted  to  those  days.  He  had  a  magnificent  pres- 
ence, stern  but  pleasant  countenance,  positive  in  his  ways  and  of 
commanding  demeanor,  a  trait  necessary  to§ control  the  rude  young 
spirits  of  those  days  who  became  his  pupils.  He  was  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  without  undue  harshness,  and  was  a  man  of  unusual 
literary  attainments,  fully  competent  to  teach  all  the  branches 
that  the  times  demanded.  He  also  gave  private  instruction  in  navi- 
gation to  young  seamen  whose  earlier  education  had  been  limited. 
Master  Page  was  a  useful  citizen,  taking  active  part  in  public  affairs 
and  holding  prominent  offices  in  the  town. 

An  incident  has  been  related  of  this  esteemed  gentleman.  He 
had  a  young  man  scholar  whom  it  became  necessary  to  "  whip,"  a 
mode  of  punishment  in  vogue  in  olden  time  in  the  public  schools. 
The  boy  "  swore  vengeance  "  upon  his  teacher  to  be  put  into  execu- 
tion in  after  years.  He  "went  to  sea,"  and  when  he  was  grown  up 
he  met  Master  Page  one  day  on  the  street,  and  stopping  him 
remarked  that  he  was  going  to  give  him  a  flogging,  whereupon  his 
old  teacher  knocked  his  old  pupil  down  and  left  him  sprawling  in 
the  street. 


204  HISTORY   OF   BATH, 

The  lot  on  which  to  erect  this  school-house  was  donated  by 
Joshua  Shaw.  It  is  a  solid  ledge.  The  building  was  constructed 
by  Joseph  S.  Sewall  at  the  expense  of  the  town  in  1794.  It  was 
his  idea  that  placed  over  its  door  the  word  "  Erudition,"  which 
remains  to  this  date  together  with  the  year  of  its  completion.  It  is 
a  notable  landmark.  The  first  to  teach  school  in  it  was  a  Mr. 
Hobby.  It  was  at  an  early  day  used  by  different  denominations  for 
holding  religious  services  and  for  public  meetings.  The  old-time 
sloping  floor  on  which  were  the  usual  long  seats  were  allowed  to 
remain  until  1886,  when  they  were  removed  and  the  interior  remod- 
eled in  accordance  with  modern  style  of  seating.  It  is  now  in  use 
for  a  primary  school-room  of  the  graded  system. 

The  North  Street  Academy .  —  In  course  of  years  the  Cum- 
mings  school-house  was  converted  into  an  academy.  This  author 
can  well  recollect  that  in  the  winter  of  1835-6  the  Bath  Lyceum 
held  debates  in  its  room  in  which  General  Joseph  Sewall,  lienjamin 
Randall,  Professor  Anderson,  who  was  principal  of  the  High  street 
academy  at  the  time,  and  others  took  part.  At  an  early  day  a  Mr. 
Morse  taught  in  this  academy;  as  also  did  John  Y.  Scammon,  who 
married  in  Maine,  went  to  Chicago  as  a  lawyer,  was  at  one  time  a 
millionaire,  and  in  1872  established  the  present  great  journal,  the 
Chicago  Inter  Ocean,  The  late  chief  justice  of  Maine,  J.  G.  Dick- 
inson, at  a  later  day  taught  a  grammar  school  in  this  building. 
Master  Weston  also  taught  there  in  1818,  and  at  the  same  time 
Miss  Jacques  had  a  female  school  in  the  second  story  of  the  build- 
ing. Eventually  this  building,  having  outlived  its  usefulness  as  a 
school-room,  was  moved  to  the  north  side  of  Chestnut  street,  where 
it  is  now  occupied  for  a  dwelling.  On  the  original  lot  of  this  mem- 
orable edifice  a  grammar  school  building  has  been  erected,  but 
placed  north  of  the  spot  on  which  the  ancient  school-house  stood. 

The  High  Street  Academy.  —  Among  the  land  grants  by  the 
legislature  of  Massachusetts  while  this  state  was  a  District  was  a 
half  township  of  land  that  fell  by  lot  towards  the  building  of  a  new 
Academy  in  Bath,  and  additional  funds  were  raised  by  an  associa- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  205 

tion.  Consequently,  in  1824,  a  brick  building  of  two  stories  was 
undertaken  and  completed.  The  contractors  were  Samuel  Evans, 
William  Lemont,  and  Benjamin  Davenport.  The  school  was  estab- 
lished in  1828.  As  high  schools  were  unknown  at  that  time,  an 
institution  in  which  the  youth  of  Bath  could  acquire  a  higher  edu- 
cation than  could  be  obtained  in  the  district  schools,  was  demanded 
to  fit  them  for  business,  for  professions  or  for  college.  There  was  one 
school-room  below  and  one  above.  Jonas  Burnham  was  for  several 
years  principal  of  the  boys'  department,  and  among  his  successors, 
m  1855-6*  wns  Profkssor  Martin  Anderson,  who  subsequently 
became  president  of  Rochester  University,  New  York.  This  author 
was  a  pupil  under  Jonas  Burnham. 

When  the  city  adopted  the  graded  system  of  schools  in  1841  and 
a  high  school  was  established,  an  academy  became  no  longer  a 
necessity,  and  this  building  has  since  been  utilized  for  city  schools, 
for  which  purpose  it  was  enlarged  by  an  addition  on  the  west  end; 
in  1 86 1,  another  western  addition  was  added  and  formally  dedicated 
in  December  of  that  year.  In  making  the  change,  the  city  at  first 
hired  the  building  of  the  association,  with  the  agreement  that  a 
school  should  be  kept  up  in  it  that  should  be  equal  to  the  instruction 
that  had  been  given  in  the  academy,  and  to  admit  scholars  from  out 
of  town  on  the  same  terms  as  had  been  the  practice  of  the  academy. 
The  newly  instituted  High  school  was  kept  in  the  building  until 
the  completion  of  the  High  school  edifice  in  1861,  since  which  time 
it  has  been  occupied  for  primary  schools. 

The  Female  Department.  —  For  many  years  a  Miss  Jacques 
was  a  notable  educator  in  the  higher  branches  of  study  for  young 
ladies  in  Bath.  Having  previously  taught  private  classes,  elsewhere 
mentioned,  this  lady  conducted  a  female  seminary  in  the  upper 
story  of  this  building  for  several  years. 

When  the  High  school  was  built,  in  186 1,  the  building  committee 
were  John  Hayden,  John  Patten,  and  William  Rice.  The  building 
is  located  on  the  west  side  of  High  street,  opposite  the  Swedenborg 
church,  and  south  of  Green  street;  is  of  brick  and  three  stories. 


206  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

William  P.  Ledyard  built  a  school-house  on  School  street  in 
1820  for  $450.00,  which  was  at  first  used  for  private  schools  and 
afterward  for  town  schools.  Mary  Ledyard  taught  there  in  both  the 
private  and  public  schools.  The  site  for  this  school  building  was 
deeded  for  $24.00  by  Edward  Hall  Page  to  William  P.  Ledyard  and 
sixteen  other  prominent  citizens.  Of  later  years  this  building  has 
been  used  as  a  tool  house  by  the  commissioner  of  streets. 

The  Graded  Schools.  —  A  full  account  of  the  public  schools 

must  necessarily  be  imperfect  in  this  volume,  from  the  circumstance 
that  records  pertaining  to  their  institution  and  progress  are  virtually 
unobtainable.  Dr.  S.  F.  Dike,  then  superintendent,  prepared  a 
bound  volume  of  the  yearly  reports  of  the  schools  for  the  Philadel- 
phia Centennial  Exposition  of  1876.  It  was  placed  in  the  custody 
of  the  secretary  of  the  state  at  Augusta,  and  the  book  was  never 
returned.  The  loss  is  irreparable.  Dr.  Dike  had  also  prepared  a 
large  written  volume,  comprising  an  account  of  the  Bath  Academy, 
and  for  security  deposited  it  in  a  safe  in  a  store  on  Front  street  in 
the  care  of  a  member  of  the  school  board,  and  that  was  also  lost. 

The  young  men  pupils  of  the  High  school  form  a  "  Phi-Rho 
Society"  for  debate  and  other  literary  performances  and  publish  a 
monthly  paper  taking  the  name  of  the  Phi-Rhonian.  For  several 
years  they  organized  themselves  into  a  military  company,  and  in 
the  drill  of  military  tactics  often  became  proficient.  During  some 
of  the  school  years  they  form  a  base-ball  club,  and  at  times  indulge 
in  professional  contests. 

The  principals  have  been  Burnham,  Anderson,  Woodbury,  Wig- 
gins, Dunton,  Allen,  Hughes,  Cole. 

The  superintendents  of  the  public  schools  have  been  S.  F.  Dike, 
d.d.,  twenty-four  years;  Edwin  Reed,  two  years;  Rev.  Mr.  Hart; 
J.  C.  Phillips,  now  in  office. 

In  1 88 1,  Dr.  Dike  resigned  his  office  of  superintendent,  and  the 
committee  system  was  adopted  in  the  interest  of  economy,  three 
comprising  the  board.  The  committee  divided  their  work.  This 
system  continued  until   1891,  when  resort  was  had  to  the  superin- 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  207 

tendency  plan,  and  Mr.  J.  C.  Phillips  of  Framingham  was  called  to 
fill  the  position  at  J  1,400  annual  compensation.  In  this  plan  a 
committee  of  two  from  each  ward  was  elected  as  an  advisory  board 
with  power  to  appoint  the  superintendents.  Of  this  committee 
there  was  a  woman  elected  from  each  ward. 

Dr.  Dike,  before  the  board  of  aldermen,  about  in  1888,  at  a  time 
when  the  subject  of  improving  the  city  school  was  under  considera- 
tion, said  :  —  "  In  1841  the  graded  system  of  schools  was  introduced 
into  Bath.    We  were  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  it  in  New  England. 
It  was  an  important  step  and  a  very  decided  one.     I  had  been  some 
years  taking  pupils  at  my  study,  and  some  were  fitting  for  college. 
That  fact,  I  think,  led  this  city  to  put  me  on  the  school  committee 
in  1847.    At  that  time  there  were  ten  on  the  school  board.    We  had 
a  salary  of  J 100  for  managing  the  schools.     Benjamin  Randall  was 
chosen  to  do  the  outside  work,  and  I  was  chosen  superintendent. 
I  undertook  the  work  with  a  will,  and  being  a  young  man,  I  could 
work.     There  had  been  some  complaints  made  that  the  former  com- 
mittee could  not  take  time  to  visit  the  schools.     Well,  I  went  into 
the  work  of  supervision  of  the  schools,  visiting  every  school-house 
and  school-room  twice  every  term  during  the  year.     I  gave  a  good 
deal  of  time  to  the  work.     The  more  I  labored,  the  more  I  became 
interested.     The  pay  that  I  received  was  not  large.     It  was  $50  a 
year.     I  put  in  one  hundred  days  visiting  the  schools,  which  made 
the  pay  about  thirty-five  cents  a  day  for  the  work.     I  always  held  to 
the  doctrine  that  if  one  accepted  an  office,  he  should  attend  to  its 
duties.     I   worked  faithfully  and  did  see  that  there  was  an  upward 
movement  in  the  schools.     You  cannot  bestow  too  much  time  in  the 
interest  of  the  schools  and  city.     You  may  find  that  there  is  not 
much  money  got  out  of  it.     For  five  years  I  went  on  at  the  same 
rate  of  pay.     Then  a  change  was  made,  but  matters  did  not  run 
smoothly.     Then  they  came  to  me  to  take  it  again;  they  asked  me 
if  1   would  go  on  again  at  $ 500  a  year.     From  that  time  I  was  con- 
nected with  the  schools  till  about  ten  years  ago.     Then  they  began 
to  cut  down  salaries.     While  other  cities  in  the  state  were  paying 
their  supervisor  $1,500  a  year  —  Augusta  paid  that  sum  —  Bath  was 


208  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

paying  but  a  small  salary.  Augusta  had  a  man  who  was  educated 
and  fitted  for  the  work.  We  have  had  good  schools.  Good  teachers 
have  gone  from  Bath." 

Center  Street  ScllOOl-llOUSe.  —  At  the  time  when  John  Turner 
had  a  brick-yard  where  is  now  the  railroad  track,  immediately  south 
of  Center  street,  to  which  point  the  water  flowed  up  from  the  river, 
he  built  a  brick  school-house  that  stood  on  the  south  side  of  Center 
street,  the  second  building  from  High  street.  In  this  his  married 
daughter,  Mrs.  Cotton,  taught  a  private  school.  Subsequently  the 
building  was  rented  for  the  use  of  one  of  the  public  schools,  with 
Mrs.  Cotton,  teacher.  This  building  was  purchased  by  the  town  in 
1837  for  the  central  district  school.  The  building  was  taken  down 
when  J.  W.  Hayes  erected  his  present  dwelling  upon  its  site. 

There  are  sixteen  public  schools,  divided  into  three  grades,  of 
which  eleven  are  primary,  four  grammar,  and  a  High  school.  In 
the  High  school  pupils  are  prepared  for  college. 

In  1893,  scholars  of  the  city  schools  prepared  specimens  of  their 
compositions  and  other  studies  which  were  sent  to  the  Columbian 
Exposition  at  Chicago. 

In  the  fall  of  1892,  the  teaching  of  vocal  music  was  resumed  in 
the  public  schools  and  has  proved  a  success. 

Private  Schools.  —  In  the  Maine  Gazette  of  1821  are  found 
some  advertisements  of  the  teaching  of  private  classes :  — 

March  8,  1821.  "Mrs.  Ames  opens  a  school  for  youths  at  her 
dwelling  on  High  street." 

May  9.  "A  young  man  opens  a  school  at  the  Academy,  and  ad- 
mits gratis  two  boys  and  one  girl  unable  to  pay  the  tuition  of  thirty 
cents  a  week;  also,  will  attend  two  evenings  in  the  week  to  instruct 
apprentices  and  young  hired  men  in  the  elementary  branches 
gratuitously." 

"  Mrs.  Eaton's  school  for  young  misses  at  her  dwelling-house  on 
High  street.     $2.00  to  $2.25  quarterly." 

"Private  school.     F.  Nealy  over  Dr.  Welds'  store,"  1821. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  209 


GRADUATES  OF  THE  HIGH  SCHOOL. 


1844.  —  George  H.  Elsworth,  Edward  Randall,  George  L.  Rich- 
ardson, John  H.  Rogers,  George  Stinson. 

1845.  —  No  graduates. 

1846.  —  No  graduates. 

1847.  —  Julia  C.  Mitchell,  Anna  13.  Randall,  Anna  E.  J.  Rodbird, 
Julia  M.  Tallman. 

1848.  — Albert  W.  Smith,  Nancy  M.  Gove,  Marcia  E.  Stock- 
bridge,  Ella  C.  Tallman,  Mary  E.  Weeks. 

1849.  —  Mary  E.  Robbins,  Hannah  C.  Rogers. 

1850.  —  William  L.  Putnam,  Henry  W.  Swanton. 

1851.  —  Emeline  S.  Bright,  Emily  F.  Mitchell. 

1852.  —  Charles  O.  Bryant,  Galen  C.  Moses. 

1853.  —  Thomas  T.  Moses,  Edwin  Reed,  John  W.  Weeks,  Jane 
Randall,  Adclia  Wadsworth. 

1854.  —  Frank  Sewall,  Edward  B.  Nealley,  Nancy  E.  Anderson, 
H.  Anna  Putman,  Victoria  Reed. 

1855.  —  S.  Theresa  Moses,  M.  Ella  Patten,  Jane  H.  Shaw,  Har- 
riet S.  Moses,  Eliza  D.  Fisher,  Anna  K.  Swanton. 

1856.  —  Allen  C.  Cobb,  Horatio  A.  Duncan,  Thomas  W.  Hyde, 
Augustus  M.  Oliver,  Moses  Owen,  Josephine  Huston,  Syrene  B. 
Hughes,  Mary  A.  Lewis,  Susan  N.  Philbrook,  H.  Augusta  Rogers, 
Susan  T.  Trevett. 

1857.  —  Charles  H.  Robinson,  Walter  S.  Swanton,  Addie  L. 
Crocker,  Mary  C.  Foley,  C.  Maria  Morse,  Harriet  Norris,  Fannie 
Snipe. 

1858.  —  Frederick  Cobb,  Samuel  Donnell,  E.  R.  Drake,  George 
A.  Wadsworth,  William  R.  Woodside,  Nancy  J.  Brown,  Maria  P. 
Eaton,  Eliza  A.  Lemont,   Lizzie  F.   Nichols,   Fannie   E.   S.   Shaw, 


2IO  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

Frederickene   S.    Swanton,  Lizzie   D.  Trufant,  Jane    R.   Sheldon, 
Medora  E.  Roberts. 

1859.  —  Emeline  R.  Brooks,  Sarah  E.  Eaton,  Jane  A.Fisher, 
Ellen  S.  Haley,  Hannah  A.  Hatch,  Annie  E.  Hayden,  Susan  M. 
Knight,  Abbie  A.  Morse,  Alice  W.  Sewall,  R.  Alonzo  Friend. 

1860.  — Sanford  O.  Frye,  Charles  E.  Gibbs,  Charles  H.  Green- 
leaf,  Edward  H.  Morse,  Julia  A.  Fuller,  Mary  F.  Marr,  Ellen  M. 
Moses,  Annie  E.  Moses,  Fannie  E.  Moses,  Annie  M.  Parker,  Sarah 
J.  Purington,  Mary  S.  Small,  M.  Augusta  Swanton. 

1861.— George  T.  Eaton,  J.  Elsworth  Fullerton,  W.  H.  Keene, 
William  H.  Oliver,  A.  H.  Snow,  Charles  E.  Sprague,  Henry  Russell, 
Annie  G.  Desilva,  Bessie  Dike,  Priscilla  B.  Drake,  Fannie  A.  Dun- 
ham, Rachel  S.  Farnham,  Lydia  N.  Fogg,  Margie  R.  Kimball,  Lydia 
N.  Linscott,  Nettie  P.  Nealley,  Emma  F.  Nutter,  Lizzie  S.  Oliver, 
Ella  A.  Parker,  Mary  E.  Roberts,  Mary  H.  Small. 

1862.  —  Julia  L.  Baker,  Mary  E.  Campbell,  Susie  A.  Crocker, 
Eliza  B.  Cutler,  Mary  H.  Deering,  Sarah  M.  Drake,  Emma  J.  Eaton, 
Eliza  J.  Kelly,  Clara  Manson,  Anna  Putnam,  Octavia  M.  Putnam, 
Emma  F.  Robinson,  Sarah  J.  Legeberg,  C.  S.  Walker,  Cora  E. 
Rouse,  Thomas  B.  Child. 

1863.  —  S.  Isaac  Curtis,  George  P.  Davenport,  C.  Rodney  Don- 
nell,  A.  Bradford  Farnham,  George  Place,  William  J.  Rouse,  Orlando 
Sheldon,  Frank  T.  Stinson,  Kate  Blethen,  Addie  Boynton,  Maria  F. 
Higgins,  Clara  E.  Kimball,  J.  McLellan,  Maria  Page,  May  Sparks, 
Maria  E.  Upton,  Fred  Upton,  E.  Winslow. 

1864.  —  Henry  Gannett,  Isadore  H.  Boynton,  Martha  F.  Per- 
kins, Clara  E.  Sanford. 

1865.  —  Arden  W.  Coombs,  James  Dike,  Henry  T.  Elton,  John 
L.  Ramsey,  Georgiana  Brown,  Ellen  M.  Dinsmore,  Ella  M.  Everett, 
Flora  E.  Hawthorn,  Margaret  T.  Kelley,  Eliza  N.  Percy,  Georgie 
Purrington,  Ann  M.  Robinson,  Lizzie  C.  Sewall,  L.  Josephine 
Swanton,  Ora  F.  Weeks. 

1866.  — Charles  W.Taylor,  M.  Fannie  Drummond,  Clara  M. 
Frost,  Sarah  A.  Hunt,  Louisa  M.  Lee,  E.  Maria  Small,  Sarah  S. 
Small,  S.  Lizzie  Wall. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  211 

1867.  —  William  H.  Davenport,  Frank  E.  Duncan,  James  C. 
Gannett,  John  L.  Harris,  William  E.  Hogan,  Walter  F.  Marston, 
Clara  A.  Hawthorne,  Lilla  M.  Hill,  May  F.  Huston,  Carrie  H. 
Kendall,  Ella  A.  Libby,  Abbie  L.  Rogers,  May  C.  Shaw. 

1868.— John  M.  Cushing,  William  L.  Cushing,  William  P.  Hill, 
Abbie  T.  Auld,  Laura  A.  Ballard,  Nettie  M.  Delano,  Mattie  F. 
Gannett,  Margie  J.  Gilbert,  Julie  M.  Simpson,  George  E.  Hughes. 

1869.  —  Charles  L.  White,  Equality;  Julia  A.  Brown,  Mysteries 
of  Nature;  Lillian  W.  Dunton,  "There  is  no  night  so  dark  but 
morning  doth  appear";  Fannie  D.  Totman,  Music;  May  Fisher, 
Little  Things;  Alice  H.  Morse,  The  Voyage  of  Life;  Wealthy  C. 
Moses,  Thoughts;  Hattie  E.  Palmer,  "Lang  Syne";  William  G. 
Reed,  Human  Inventions;  Lillie  E.  Tucker,  The  Idols  of  America; 
Mary  Payne,  Over  the  Sea;  Ida  H.  Hawks,  Voices  that  Speak  to 
me;  Abbie  F.  Mitchell,  "And  this  shall  be  the  reward:  the  ideal 
shall  be,  to  thee,  the  real";  Kate  S.  Gannett,  Class  History;  Clara 
L.  Preble,  Class  Prophecy;  Frank  W.  Hawthorne,  Valedictory. 

1870.  —  Henry  Wilson  Chandler,  Levi  Houghton  Kimball, 
Joseph  McCobb  Trott,  Mary  Ann  Abbott,  Lena  Tyler  Berry,  Attie 
Annie  Curtis,  Mae  Francina  Davis,  Anna  Hay  Everett,  Helen 
Caroline  Foster,  Clara  Elizabeth  Hodgkins,  Jennie  Thomas  Hodg- 
kins,  Kate  Woodward  Huston,  Ada  Manson,  Marcia  Elizabeth 
Payne,  Ella  Lowe  Turner. 

1871.  —  George  Croswell  Cressey,  Samuel  Dayton  Cushing, 
William  Payne  Gannett,  Fred  Allison  Greenleaf,  Henry  McLellan 
Harding,  Byron  Brooks  Moulton,  William  Drummond  Page,  William 
Bartlett  Palmer,  William  Edgar  Rice,  Henry  Rose,  Augustus  Clarke 
Sprague,  Louise  Helen  Abbott,  Sarah  Storer  Coombs,  Mary  Cros- 
well Cressey,  Mary  Elizabeth  Harding,  Georgette  Somers  Hall, 
Hattie  Ella  Hayes,  Viola  Greenleaf  Hogan,  Jennie  Rodbird  Morse, 
Annie  Maria  Snow,  Elizabeth  Flora  Tucker. 

1872. — John  Winthrop  Fiske,  John  Howard  Payne,  Allura 
Emma  Bibber,  Martha  Jane  Brown,  Frances  Almira  Delano,  Anna 
Dike,  Mary  Ella  Harrington,  Carrie  Trull  Hastings,  Mary  Delia 
Hodgkins,  Fannie  Margaret  Simpson. 


212  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

1873.  —  Edward  Henry  Oliver,  Steam  as  a  Motor;  Ernestine 
Houghton,  "Do  Noble  Things,  not  Dream  Them";  Clara  Adelaide 
Libby,  Evening  Musings;  Charles  Wyman  Morse,  National  Purity; 
Ada  Rebecca  Sawyer,  Silent  Influences;  Elizabeth  M.  Payne,  All 
Things  are  Beautiful;  Ella  Carrie  Haggett,  Love  of  Fame;  Charles 
Henry  Mallett,  Music;  Annie  Louisa  Withington,  Moonlight  to  the 
Prisoner;  Mary  Agnes  Frazier,  Wonders  of  the  Universe;  Arvesta 
Sophia  Hill,  Our  Life  Work;  Fred  Bosworth  Percy,  Perseverance; 
Clara  A.  Libby,  Class  History;  Elizabeth  M.  Payne,  Class  Prophecy. 

1874.  —  Charles  Davenport  Clarke,  James  Gardner  Dunning, 
Edward  Huvey,  Edward  Watts  Larrabee,  Frederic  Thomas  Simp- 
son, Clara  Augusta  Abbott,  Nellie  Blair,  Mary  Ann  Burke,  Allie 
Estelle  Clarke,  Eliza  Philbrook  Cushing,  Mary  Louisa  Harding, 
Frances  Sarah  Harrington,  Annie  Catherine  Manion,  Elizabeth 
Jane  Owen,  Mary  Bella  Page,  Hortense  Charlotte  Patten,  Margaret 
Robinson  Welch. 

1875.  —  Mary  J.  Baker,  Isabel  B.  Cromwell,  Harriet  S.  Jenks, 
Marcia  B.  Jenks,  Alice  N.  Magoun,  Lizzie  R.  Moses,  Anna  M.  R. 
Palmer,  Annie  L.  Palmer,  Nellie  Purington,  Abbie  T.  Rairden,  Alice 
M.  Skilling,  Alice  G.  Swett,  Alice  C.  Watson,  Charles  B.  Torrey. 

1876.  —  Isabel  Annie  Harrington,  Accomplishments;  Samuel 
Swanton  Sewall,  Free  High  Schools;  Lelia  Owen  Foye,  A  Fair 
Chance;  John  Swanton  Jameson,  Centennial;  Hannah  Emma  Ma- 
goun, Extravagant  Expressions;  Lucy  Grant  Rogers,  Manners  of 
1776;  George  Otis  Mitchell,  "Lives  of  great  men  all  remind  us  we 
may  make  our  lives  sublime  ";  Hannah  Emma  Magoun,  Class  His- 
tory; George  Otis  Mitchell,  Class  Prophecy. 

1877.  —  John  Dike,  Salutatory;  Annie  Florence  Foye,  Dare  to 
be  what  you  are;  Hattie  Elizabeth  Brown,  The  Purest  Pearl  Lies 
Deepest;  Mary  Patten  Stinson,  Creation  Full  of  Active  Life;  Alice 
Maude  Colburn,  Noble  Deeds;  William  Moses  Brown,  Our  Mother 
State;  Edward  McAuliffe,  Napoleon  Bonaparte;  Emma  Pedrick 
Moses,  Nature  and  Art;  Mary  Emma  Snell,  Music;  Julia  Augusta 
Watson,  Michael  Angelo;  George  Herman  Patten,  Singleness  of 
Purpose;    Mary   Abbie   Wiggin,   A   Visionary  Journey;    Benjamin 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  213 

Tupper  Newman,  Talent  and  Genius;  George  Francis  Manson,  Im- 
portance of  Historical  Knowledge;  Jennie  Sheldon  Walston,  Influ- 
ences of  Home;  Katharine  West  Tallman,  Freedom  of  Thought 
and  Action;  Edward  Everett  Briry,  The  Past  Century;  Emma  Jane 
Winslow,  The  first  stroke  is  half  the  battle;  Annie  Melville  Han- 
scom,  "The  Marble  stands  waiting ";  Arthur  Glenwood  Staples, 
Great  Ideas;  Ralph  Samuel  Baker,  America  the  Birthplace  of  Great 
Men;  Mary  Caroline  Simpson,  Ancient  and  Modern  Chivalry;  Flora 
Crafts,  Not  Dreaming  but  Working;  Frostena  Elizabeth  Marston, 
Ambitious  Men;  Edmund  Sylvester  Wellington,  "As  a  man  thinketh 
so  is  he  ";  Caroline  Mitchell  Ring,  Class  History;  George  Francis 
Manson,  Class  Prophecy;  Samuel  Ford  Blair,  Valedictory. 

1878.  —  Frederick  Henry  Eames,  A  Benefactor;  Lizzie  Low, 
"What  is  it  all  when  all  is  done";  Clara  Sewall  Morse,  The  Seven 
Wonders;  Angelina  Frances  Rich,  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots;  Sarah 
Lambard  Lincoln,  The  Deceit  of  Appearances;  Harold  Marsh  Sew- 
all,  The  Spectre  of  the  Commune;  Clara  Ellen  Jackson,  Night 
brings  out  the  Stars;  Annie  Goss  Riggs,  "This  one  thing  I  do"; 
Hatlie  Annie  Morrison,  Unwritten  History;  George  Parker  Rich- 
ardson, Vivcrc  est  Agere ;  Oscar  Trufant  Sewall,  Progress  in  Crime; 
Mary  Elizabeth  Upton,  Popular  Shams;  Lizzie  Emma  Marr,  True 
Courage;  Annie  Baker  Patten,  Halloween;  Georgie  Anna  Brown, 
Love  of  Praise;  Frank  Edward  Page,  Magna  Charta;  Alice  Kendall 
Robbms,  Progress  of  the  Age;  Flora  Belle  Blair,  Class  History; 
Mary  Jane  Davis,  Class  Prophecy. 

1879.  —  Allan  Stacey  Duncan,  Salutatory;  Winnie  Brown  Camp- 
bell, Man  does  not  live  for  himself  alone;  Alice  Mary  Hunt,  Life  is 
what  we  make  it;  Helen  Marr  Eaton,  Vanity  of  Fame;  Charlotte 
Blake  Minott,  Love  of  the  Beautiful;  Helen  Gertrude  Harris, 
Honor;  Samuel  Stinson  Gannett,  The  Future  Government  of 
Europe;  Annie  Emma  Cox,  True  Greatness;  Emma  Adclle  Nichols, 
Abuses  of  the  Power  of  Thought;  Lizzie  Maria  Allen,  Results  of 
Small  Undertakings;  Nellie  Amanda  Gowell,  Motives  to  Intellectual 
Culture;  Charles  Alvah  Corliss,  Free  Thought;  Ruth  Mary  Tabor, 
Thaddcus  of  Warsaw;  Ada  Lizzie  Brown,  Goethe;  Philena  Sprague 
Rich,  Music;  Ernest  Francis  Kelley,  King  Alfred  to  the  Saxons; 


214  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

Emily  Harris  Ring,  Through  Difficulties  to  the  Stars;  William 
Henry  Allen  Shaw,  Jr.,  Henry  Wilson;  Harriet  Esther  Strout,  Gems 
of  Thought;  Evelyn  Wheelock  Hawks,  Trial  by  Ordeal;  Charles 
Granville  Lemont,  Love  of  Distinction;  Cora  Ada  M'Kay,  Home; 
Ella  Florence  Eames,  Education  —  a  means  or  an  end;  Zina  Hyde 
Blair,  Jr.,  Rise  and  Fall  of  the  English  Drama;  Josephine  White 
Dunton,  Christmas;  Sarah  Asenath  Sawyer,  "They  say";  Miriam 
Worcester  Dike,  Class  History;  Annie  Barker  Torrey,  Class  Proph- 
ecy; Edwin  Ames  Preble,  Valedictory. 

1880.  —  Frederic  Humphreys  Kimball,  Salutatory;  Helen  Len- 
nox Campbell,  Hobbies;  Margaret  Clifford  Eaton,  The  Secret  of 
Success;  Annie  Blanche  Harris,  Ramblings;  Abbie  Josephine 
Eibell,  Character  and  Reputation;  Mary  Sewall  Ropes,  Wisdom  the 
Result  of  Experience;  Edward  Percy  Bosworth,  Prophecies  of 
America;  Ella  Jane  Douglass,  Heraldry;  Annie  Etta  Frazier,  Cour- 
age; Charles  William  Fisher,  Odds  and  Ends;  Nellie  Kinley  Grin- 
nell,  Hindrances;  Annie  Torrey,  Advertisements;  Harry  Grant 
DeSilva,  The  Sciences;  Nellie  Cora  Greenwood,  "Much  Study  is  a 
Weariness  of  the  Flesh";  Emma  Jane  Harris,  On  the  Threshold; 
Fannie  Perkins  Hodgkins,  Chivalry;  William  Rogers  Kimball,  Rise 
of  the  Saracens;  Clara  Ellen  Packard,  Public  and  Private  Life; 
George  Francheville  Lincoln,  Progress  of  Crime;  Delia  Tibbetts, 
The  End  not  Yet;  Ella  Gertrude  Soule,  As  we  Sow  we  Reap;  Nellie 
Jane  Watson,  Public  Libraries;  Harriet  Jordan  Coombs,  First  Im- 
pressions; Frederick  Preston  Allen,  The  Course  of  the  Empire; 
Mary  Grace  Clark,  Divorce  of  Josephine;  Flora  Delia  Collins,  Self- 
Made  Men;  Ellen  Susan  Donnell,  "A  Man's  a  Man  for  a'  that"; 
Mattie  Alice  Allen,  "Much  Ado  about  Nothing";  Robert  Louis 
Manson,  Fifty  Years  of  the  Drama;  Charles  Cobb  Low,  The  Will, 
the  Way;  Rosa  Harvey  Douglas,  "Don't  give  up  the  Ship";  Amy 
Louise  Hawthorne,  Charles  Dickens;  Bertha  Louise  Hawthorne, 
Language  the  Medium  of  Thought;  Cassie  Reed,  Boys;  May  Patten 
Welch,  Commonplace;  Cornelius  Sumner  Tarbox,  Prejudice;  Ida 
Jane  Totman,  What  Next;  Fannie  Amelia  Pendexter,  Class  History; 
Robert  Louis  Manson,  Class  Prophecy;  James  Otis  Lincoln,  Vale- 
dictory. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  215 

1881.  —  William  Morse  Eames,  Latin  Salutatory;  Alice  Mehit- 
abel  Hogan,  Silent  Influences;  Lena  Blendell  Ham,  The  Value  of 
Time;  George  Delano  Hughes,  Emigration;  Annie  Rogers  Lord, 
Early  Impressions;  George  Andrew  Blair,  Crossing  of  the  Rubicon; 
Nannie  Fogg  McDonald,  Noble  Deeds;  Aylmer  Lawrence  Rogers, 
Liberty  and  Law;  Henry  Albert  Mfigoun,  Electricity;  Millie  Mary 
Bradbury,  Trifles;  William  Bevier  Mussenden,  Enterprise;  Chris- 
tiana Scott  Snow,  Kien  pas  Monties;  Stella  Abbie  Purington, 
Translations  from  the  j4£neid;  Clara  Parker  Riggs,  Fanaticism; 
Freeman  Lincoln  Hogan,  Reflections  on  War;  Fanny  Rachel 
Grassy,  The  Companionship  of  Books;  Reuben  French  Sawyer, 
Government;  Charles  Elbridge  Gushing,  Troas;  Mary  Stover 
Patten,  William  the  Silent;  McKendree  Harris,  Idols  and  Idolatry; 
John  McKinstrcy  Kimball,  Great  Ideas;  Nellie  Carter,  Character 
and  Characteristic  Men;  Flora  Adelia  Cushing,  Beauty;  William 
Pope  Nealley,  Progress  of  Invention;  Clara  Ida  Emmons,  Wood 
Ramblings;  Sydney  Johnson  Meeker,  American  Tonnage;  Mary 
Andrus  Walson,  Class  History;  Alice  Libby  Farrar,  Class  Prophecy; 
Marshall  Hagar  Purington,  Valedictory. 

1882.  —  Fred  Norris  Sewall,  Salutatory;  Georgietta  Farrar,  Su- 
perstitions; Annie  Leighton  Soule,  Civilization;  Ella  DeShon  Stin- 
son,  Cheerfulness;  Gertrude  Hannah  Frank,  The  Art  of  Music; 
James  Henry  McLellan,  Electricity  and  its  Uses;  Arthur  Sewall 
Percy,  Vices  of  our  Country;  Nannie  Bonn  Coombs,  Happiness; 
Annie  Augusta  Davenport,  Beauties  of  Nature;  Lulie  Elizabeth 
Mooers,  Perseverance;  Mary  Ellen  Briry,  Woman:  her  Position  and 
Influence;  Harry  Banks  Sawyer,  Emulation;  John  Larrabee  Puring- 
ton, Our  Navy  in  the  Revolution;  Emma  Leona  Oliver,  Sympathetic 
Imitations;  Minnie  Sarah  Preble,  By  the  Fireside;  Lillie  Clapp 
Moses,  Appearances  are  Deceitful;  Rosa  Fowles  Jackson,  Lost 
Opportunities;  Walter  Emery  Chase,  Our  Country;  Fred  Norris 
Sewall,  Treason  of  Benedict  Arnold;  Richard  Wolston,  Ireland; 
Nellie  May  Chadbourne,  Pride;  Ella  May  Paine,  "Let  there  be 
Light";  Carrie  Margaret  Percy,  Man's  Master  Motives;  Clara 
Eastman  Pendexter,  ^Estheticism ;  Augustus  Arnold  Percy,  Daniel 
Webster;    Thomas   Worcester   Dike,    Liberty   of    Thought;    Ruby 


2l6  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Rogers  Fisher,  Education;  Thomas  Edward  Connolly,  Earth's  Bene- 
factors; Mary  Louise  Lincoln,  To-day;  John  Alden  Morse,  DeLong 
and  his  Fate;  Margaret  Harlowe  Harrington,  Class  History;  Lottie 
Nell  Swett,  Class  Prophecy;  Frank  Sumner  Tarbox,  Valedictory. 

1883.  —  Henry  Ward  Howard,  Salutatory;  Addie  Victoria  Sad- 
ler, Poetry;  Carrie  Tucker  Hagget,  Influence;  Helen  Augusta  Har- 
ris, Angelica  Kaufman;  Florence  Isabcllc  Turner,  Expectations; 
Herbert  Lincoln  Nichols,  New  England's  Heroes;  Nellie  Tukey 
Campbell,  Extremes;  Laura  Belle  Palmer,  Air  Castles;  Kate  May 
Hawthorne,  Luck;  Mabel  Fletcher,  "Noblesse  Oblige";  George 
Frederic  Moulton,  Daniel  Webster;  Lillius  Barrows  Humphreys, 
Cultivation  of  the  Memory;  Mary  Ellis  Pray,  Motives;  Jennie  Stew- 
art Foster,  "  Count  that  day  lost  whose  low,  descending  sun  views 
from  thy  hand  no  worthy  action  done";  Mary  A.  B.  Blaisdell,  The 
Ways  of  the  World;  Jesse  Bailey,  Education;  Henrianna  Campbell, 
Girls;  Florence  Maria  Jordan,  Going  Out  into  the  World;  Alice 
Edgecombe  Rogers,  Peter  Cooper;  Annie  May  Chapman,  Success 
and  Failure;  Ida  May  McDonald,  Life  is  What  we  Make  it;  William 
Wentworth  Robinson,  Character;  Carrie  Reed  Page,  Heights  Be- 
yond; Margaret  Jane  Melcher,  Power  of  Music;  Susan  Arabella 
Allen,  Books;  Henry  Wentworth  Kimball,  Value  of  Time;  Albert 
Alfred  Reed,  Ireland;  Harriet  Magoun  Watson,  Class  History; 
Flora  Miranda  McDonald,  Class  Prophecy;  William  Rice  Ballou, 
Valedictory.    • 

1884.  —  John  Franklin  Briry,  Salutatory;  Lucy  Harriman  Riggs, 
"  Room  at  the  Top  ";  Lena  Frances  Spinney,  Society;  Mary  Augusta 
Silsby,  Spare  Moments;  Alice  Harriet  Jackson,  Pleasures  of  the 
Imagination;  Edward  Brooks  Marston,  Napoleon  Bonaparte;  Agnes 
Whitmore  Humphreys,  Summer  Resorts;  Emma  Haines  Deering, 
Improvements;  Lucy  Ellen  Sewall,  Ruins;  Sarah  Edgarton  Cutler, 
Richard  III.;  Frank  Albion  Small,  Lord  Bacon;  Charles  Frederick 
Hughes,  Philosophy;  Kittie  Kezia  Patten,  My  Picture  Gallery; 
Clara  Ellen  Tibbetts,  Ambition;  Mary  Elinor  Robertson,  Intellectual 
Character;  Grace  Zuella  Soiett,  Hypocrisy;  James  Lawrence  Mc- 
Quarrie,  The  Age  of  Elizabeth;  Lida  Slater  Coombs,  Home;  Carrie 
Helen  Varney,  Earth's  Benefactors;    Alice    Lowell  Upton,  Rainy 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  217 

Days;  Mary  Milnes  Moulton,  Echo;  Frederick  Charles  Cox,  Patriots 
of  America;  Frank  Snowman  Luce,  "Be  True  to  Thyself";  Etta 
Tucker  McNeil,  Time;  Alice  May  Douglas,  Life  in  the  Country; 
Angie  May  Dunton,  Beyond  the  Alps  lies  our  Italy;  George  Herbert 
Weeks,  Opportunity;  Carrie  Helen  Parks,  Class  History;  Nellie 
Gibbs,  Class  Prophecy;  Charles  Monroe  Lincoln,  Valedictory. 

1885.  —  Arthur  Sewall  Bosworth,  Salutatory;  May  Frances  Field, 
Woman's  Work;  Georgia  Louise  Drake,  Photographs;  Roswell 
Sherman  Harris,  General  Grant;  Alice  May  Cobb,  Elements  of 
Success;  Abbic  Fullerton  Carter,  Mothers;  Langdon  Trufant  Snipe, 
The  Ideal;  Carrie  Melville  Moses,  Our  Saxon  Ancestors;  Andrew 
Tarbox  Lowell,  Journalism;  Aline  Bliss  Colton,  Crooked  Sticks; 
Mary  Jane  Klippel,  Fashion;  Oliver  Moses,  John  Brown;  Jennie 
Mendora  Purington,  Our  Life;  Lewis  Blackmer  Swett,  Our  Tariff 
Laws;  Grace  Marian  Akers,  Commonplace  Victories;  Emma  Ger- 
trude Small,  Tramps;  Frank  Edward  Donnell,  The  Assassination  of 
Rulers;  Mary  Louise  Klippel,  Wants  and  Wishes;  David  Thomas 
Percy,  Jr.,  Progress  of  Civilization;  Steadman  Fisher,  Causes  of  our 
Civil  War;  Harriet  Louise  Whitmore,  Popular  Songs;  Fred  Walter 
Getchell,  The  Inventions  of  the  Nineteenth  Century;  Jennie  Delia 
Cushing,  The  Fates ;  Nchemiah  Harnden  Campbell,  Napoleon 
Bonaparte  ;  Charlotte  Buck  Stinson,  Unknown  Heroes;  Nellie  Par- 
ker Stinson,  Keats;  John  Robert  Weeks,  Silent  Influences;  Frank 
Lightbody,  William  of  Orange;  Ruth  Pierce  Tarbox,  Class  History; 
Lillian  Emma  Ryder,  Class  Prophecy;  John  Sedgewick  Hyde, 
Valedictory. 

1886.  —  Angus  Martin  McDonald,  Salutatory;  Margaret  Jane 
Adams,  Microscopic  Wonders;  Wilford  Waldron  Dennett,  The 
American  Indian;  Harriet  Lee  Purington,  Reading;  Clare  Adela 
Varney,  Rome  Was  Not  Built  in  a  Day;  Grace  Cornelia  Baker, 
Mary,  Queen  of  Scots;  Lizzie  Merryman  Stover,  The  Formation  of 
Character ;  Fred.  Chester  Coombs,  Relation  of  Capital  to  Labor ; 
Myra  West  Spear,  Charlotte  Corday;  Daniel  Thomas  Dougherty, 
Accidents;  Maude  Ellenora  Emery,  The  Ancestral  Home;  Fred. 
Worcester  Swanton,  The  Telephone;  Sarah  Augusta  Minott,  Ameri- 
can Humorists;    Frank  Walter  Deloche,  Dr.  Salem  Town;    Mary 


2l8  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Pelham  Hill,  Delusions,  a  poem ;  J.  Edward  Hugees,  Early  Arctic 
Explorations;  Maude  Abbie  Han  scorn,  The  Rise  of  the  Opera; 
John  Theodore  Purrington,  Lessons  from  Monuments ;  Edith  Maude 
Chase,  What's  in  a  Name;  Silas  Hyde  Duncan,  The  Telescope; 
Fred  Dayton  Hill,  What  Next;  Clara  Louisa  Lord,  Class  History; 
Hortense  Gilman  Emmons,  Class  Prophecy ;  Frank  Emory  Dennett, 
Valedictory. 

1887.  —  Bernard  Andrew  Bailey,  Salutatory;  Alice  Gertrude 
Blasland,  Friendship;  Annie  May  Harris,  Living  in  Earnest;  Sarah 
Angeline  Adams,  The  Power  of  Music;  Rosa  Helen  Brown,  One 
Great  Lesson;  Mabel  Cora  Mayo,  We  Can  if  we  Think  we  Can; 
Martha  Allen  Foote,  Small  Beginnings — Large  Results;  Fred 
Payne  Shaw,  The  Economy  of  Time;  Ruth  Ella  Moulton,  Unpainted 
Pictures;  Lizzie  Lemont  Hamm,  Day  Dreams;  Madge  Lillian  Reed, 
The  Influence  of  Woman;  Mary  Ella  Pratt,  lly  the  Road  of  By  and 
By  One  Arrives  at  the  House  of  Never;  Orraville  St.  Clair  Swain, 
A  High  Aim;  Vilera  Ann  Sutton,  Etiquette;  Angie  Estella  Hunter, 
Boys;  Carrie  Belle  Hodgkins,  Old  Maids;  Blanche  Mabel  Dockendorff, 
Memory's  Wild  Wood;  Sarah  Jane  Hitchcock,  Visions  of  Ambition; 
Emma  Frances  Hooper,  Home;  Grace  Leone  Bartlett,  A  Bright 
Face;  Arietta  Lindsey  Spinney,  The  Mystic  Number  Seven;  Lizzie 
Mabel  Fogg,  Class  History;  Jennie  Day  Moulton,  Class  Prophecy; 
Hubert  Houghton  McCarty,  Valedictory. 

1888.  —  Edward  Clarence  Purington,  Salutatory;  Margaret  Julia 
McPhail,  Affectation;  Frank  Bowen  Torrey,  Jr.,  President  Cleve- 
land's Administration;  Kate  Dupuy  Mussenden,  The  Narcissus; 
Fred  Joseph  Huse,  The  Frozen  North;  May  Abbie  Spinney,  The 
Last  of  the  Saxon  Kings;  Louise  Hortense  Lowell,  Louise  May 
Alcott;  William  Perow,  The  First  Century  of  our  Republic;  Henri- 
etta Belle  Palmer,  Duty;  Charles  Frederic  Magoun,  Progressive 
Journalism;  Mabel  Susan  Cobb,  The  Puritans;  Benjamin  Herbert 
Woodside,  William  of  Germany;  Lillian  Johnson  Welch,  The  Comic 
Side;  Belle  Marion  Shaw,  Character  Building;  Charles  Henry 
Cahill,  Two  American  Traits  of  Character;  Joan  Merritt  Hamm, 
Firelight  Fancies;  Edwin  Henry  Lowell,  The  Development  of  the 
Printing    Press;    Clara    Belle  McDonald,  Greek  Mythology;    Ella 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  219 

Mae  Work,  A  Human  Garden;  Hortense  Fogg,  Curiosity;  Lois 
Julia  Palmer,  Novels  and  Novel  Reading;  Edna  Maud  Hunt,  Scenes 
from  the  Life  of  Christ;  Martha  Josephine  Hodgkins,  One  View  of 
Life;  Donald  McPhail,  The  World's  Heroes;  Mary  Warren  Ballou, 
Class  History;  Annie  Palmer  Fisher,  Class  Prophecy;  Arthur 
Eugene  Harris,  Valedictory. 

1889.  —  Fred  Emerson  Hooper,  Salutatory;  Lizzie  Brown  Hodg- 
kins, Occupations  of  Women  of  the  Present  Time;  Mary  Imogene 
McCurdy,  Oliver  Goldsmith;  Winifred  Hunt  Bruce,  Stepping  Stones; 
John  Crosby  Gilmore,  A  Lesson  from  History;  Cleora  Bell  Jackson, 
Words  of  Kindness;  Edith  Morse  Potter,  June;  Alice  Maria  Mc- 
Donald, The  History  of  a  Noble  Work;  Nettie  Blanche  Hunter, 
Indirect  Influence;  Nellie  Florence  Douglas,  Spun  from  Facts; 
William  Story  Briry,  John  Ericsson;  Henrietta  Bancroft  Taylor, 
Flower  Legends;  Affie  Ellen  Jordan,  Dreams  and  Dreamers;  Evelyn 
Sherwood  Eagle,  The  Development  of  Women;  Frank  John  Dough- 
erty, Seven  Centuries  of  Oppression;  Ann  Eliza  Dodge,  Life  Without 
an  Aim;  Katherine  Louise  Conley,  The  Power  of  a  Great  Example; 
James  Edward  Drake,  Good  Luck  and  Bad  Luck;  Jennie  May  Whit- 
more,  Belief  in  Signs;  Jennie  Delano  Hughes,  Umbrellas;  Sadie 
Myrtilla  Clark,  Lady  Jane  Grey;  Lectina  Dunning,  Beacon  Lights; 
Arthur  James  Dun  ton,  The  United  States  in  1789  and  1889;  Annie 
Mortimer  Thayer,  National  Hymns;  Lucie  Frances  Higgins,  The 
Romance  of  the  Hudson;  Byron  Fuller  Barker,  The  Study  of  the 
Ancient  Classics;  Flora  May  Randall,  A  Story  of  a  Famine;  Jennie 
Frances  Gould,  True  Politeness;  Mary  Read  Nichols,  The  Penal- 
ties of  Eminence;  Eben  Jordan  Marston,  Charles  Sumner;  Clara 
Augusta  Adams,  The  Ocean;  Lida  Helen  Tarbox,  Class  History; 
Gertrude  Clifford  Greenleaf,  Class  Prophecy;  Harry  Clark  Webber, 
Valedictory. 

1890. — John  Ernest  Quimby,  Salutatory;  Elinor  Frances  Hunt, 
Our  State;  Lillian  Grace  Wescott,  Woman's  Influence;  Mattie 
Aurelia  Montgomery,  Madame  Roland;  Jennie  Williams,  Lessons 
from  the  Rocks;  Amy  Reed  Morse,  Unintended  Influence;  Ernest 
Linwood  Stinson,  The  American  Navy;  Emma  Victoria  Matson, 
Recollections;    Hattie  Maria  Brown,  The  Magnetism  of   Words; 


220  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Katherine  Theresa  Maiden,  July;  Herbert  Langdon  Spinney,  The 
Demands  of  the  Age;  Mary  Norcross  Gil  more,  Living  for  Some- 
thing; Cynthia  Grafton  Worth,  A  Leaf  from  Memory's  Tablet; 
Llewellyn  Drew  Rogers,  A  National  Hero;  Mary  Augusta  Blasland, 
Knots;  Fannie  May  Moulton,  All  Right;  John  Parks  Chase,  Henry 
M.  Stanley;  Maud  Carleton  Worth,  My  Bouquet  of  Life;  Margaret 
Florence  Farrell,  Self  Praise;  Lillian  Augusta  Soictt,  Old  Letters; 
Fred  Fuller  Blaisdell,  India;  Christena  Hanson,  "She  hath  done 
what  she  could";  Annie  Turner  McDonald,  Class  History;  Jessie 
Christine  Carter,  Class  Prophecy;  Henry  Francis  Palmer,  Vale- 
dictory. 

1891.  —  Arthur  Henry  Brown,  Salutatory;  Alice  May  Lilly, 
The  Early  Homes  of  New  England;  Olivia  Alberteen  Kenncrson, 
The  Nebular  Hypothesis;  Edna  Alberta  Savage,  Our  National  Flag; 
Bessie  Clapp  Dunning,  The  Stage;  Grace  Louise  Coombs,  The 
Jewish  People,  Past  and  Present ;  Arthur  Caseley  Passmore,  Popu- 
larity ;  Isabelle  Edgcombe  Carter,  Virgil  and  his  Poetry ;  Clara  May 
Coombs,  Eva  Drummond  Mitchell,  The  Territory  of  Alaska; 
Mary  Helen  Shaughnessy,  Westminster  Abbey;  Hattie  Gertrude 
Tarbox,  'Twixt  Scylla  and  Charybdis;  John  Camp  Swanton,  Reci- 
procity; Sarah  Almy  Smith,  Sketches  from  the  Lives  of  the  Great 
Composers;  Livia  Harrison  Foye,  Roumania's  Poet  Queen;  Harriet 
Crommett  Ledyard,  The  Story  of  Portia;  Sarah  Regenia  Dunbar, 
A  Bunch  of  Wild  Flowers;  Jennie  Storer  Harvey,  Madame  DeStael; 
Mary  Florence  Merrill,  Women's  Work  in  the  Civil  War;  Lily  Saw- 
yer Pray,  The  Golden  Calf;  Alice  Eugenia  Greenleaf,  Class  History; 
Frances  Warren  Morse,  Class  Prophecy;  Arthur  Harvey  Stetson, 
Valedictory. 

1892.  — Robert  Fred  Dyer,  Salutatory;  Milton  Herbert  Doug- 
lass, Essay,  The  Columbian  Exposition;  Charles  Dearborn  McDon- 
ald, Declamation,  The  First  Predicted  Eclipse,  Gen.  O.  M.  Mitchell; 
Edith  Langdon  Palmer,  Reading,  Herve  Riel,  Robert  Browning; 
Mary  Louise  Dodge,  Essay,  The  Mississippi  and  the  Nile;  Grace 
Thompson  Humphreys,  Reading,  from  the  French,  Dcs  Djinns, 
Victor  Hugo;  Herbert  Fayne  Harris,  Essay,  William  Ewart  Glad- 
stone; Belle  Dunning  Williams,  Essay,  Women  as  Educators;  Harry 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  221 

William  Dunton,  Declamation,  The  Crisis  at  Waterloo,  Victor  Hugo; 
William  Sanford  Shorey,  Essay,  The  Immigration  Problem;  Mildred 
Clara  Palmer,  Reading,  The  Death  of  Charles  IX.,  Maud  Moore; 
Percy  Elmer  Barbour,  Class  Oration,  Maine's  Great  Men;  Lillian 
May  Bryant,  Class  History;  Hattie  Ellen  Reed,  Class  Prophecy; 
Henry  Wilson  Owen,  Jr.,  Valedictory. 

1893.  —  Charles  Day  Moulton,  Salutatory;  Florence  Ella  Don- 
ncll,  Essay,  A  Visit  to  Starland;  Grace  Duncan,  Essay,  The  Secret 
of  Genius;  William  Garvie  McPhail,  Declamation,  Reply  to  Walpole, 
Chatham;  Alice  Gertrude  Shorey,  French  Composition,  Histoire 
tV  unc  Son  mite  dy  Ecole;  Aramede  Lemont  Lowell,  Essay,  Twilight; 
Carlotta  Blair  McDonough,  Reading,  King  Robert  of  Sicily,  Long- 
fellow; Ida  Maria  Dunning,  Essay,  Life  in  Colonial  Times;  Nellie 
Maria  Ward,  Essay,  "  Learn  to  Labor  and  to  Wait";  Adelbert  Wes- 
ley Bailey,  Address  to  the  Soldiers,  Latin  Version  from  the  Greek 
of  Xenophon;  Katherine  Fulton  Patten,  Essay,  Oliver  Goldsmith; 
Ella  Sarah  Cameron,  Essay,  An  Ideal  Life;  Alice  Mayo  Morse, 
Reading,  Scotland's  Maiden  Martyr,  Anon.;  Martha  Ella  Hooper, 
Essay,  Amusements;  Mabel  Florence  Lewis,  Essay,  The  Elements 
of  Success;  John  Hinckley  Morse,  Class  Oration,  Notoriety  not 
Fame;  Ellen  Ridley  Turner,  Class  History;  Nellie  Pomeroy  Clark, 
Class  Prophecy;  Fred  Elmer  Taylor,  Oration,  The  Columbian  Year, 
with  Valedictory. 

The  full  names  of  some  of  those  who  have  been  principals  of  the 
High  school  are:  J.  L.  Newton,  Jonas  Burnham,  J.  T.  Huston, 
Albert  B.  Wiggin,  Galen  Allen,  A.  G.  Ham,  L.  Dutton,  George  E. 
Hughes,  H.  E.  Cole.  The  city  records  do  not  give  the  full  names 
of  other  principals.  Some  omissions  of  titles  of  themes  of  graduates 
have  been  occasioned  for  want  of  records  of  them. 


222  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 


LIBRARIES. 

The  first  library  known  to  have  existed  in  Bath  was  a  small  "  cir- 
culating library  "  that  was  kept  in  a  case  or  closet  in  the  apothecary 
store  of  Dr.  Nathaniel  Weld  on  Center  street.  Tradition  carries 
the  date  back  to  1826,  with  the  probability  that  books  were  kept 
there  prior  to  that  time.  In  the  collection  were  all  the  volumes  of 
the  old  English  Encyclopedia.  Books  were  loaned  to  be  retained 
three  weeks.     It  is  not  known  what  became  of  this  library. 

In  1836  the  Mechanic  Association  established  a  library,  the 
members  contributing  books  from  their  own  collections  or  by  pur- 
chase. 

Henry  Hyde  kept  a  "  circulating  library "  in  his  bookstore  on 
Front,  head  of  Center  street,  on  the  corner  immediately  opposite 
Lincoln  Bank. 

Ammi  R.  White  also  kept  a  library  for  the  loan  of  books  in  his 
store  on  the  west  side  of  Front  street,  where  now  is  the  Granite 
block.  The  books  were  chiefly  those  of  fiction.  Mr.  White  kept 
dry  goods  at  the  north  side  of  his  store  and  books  and  stationery  at 
the  south  side. 

Later,  Thomas  H.  Knight  kept  a  book  and  stationery  store  in 
Bank  block,  in  which  he  had  a  circulating  library  comprising  some 
one  thousand  volumes.  When  he  closed  out  his  business  the  library 
ceased  to  exist  and  the  books  became  scattered. 

The  Patten  Library  Association.  —  A  paper  was  signed  Oct. 

9,  1847,  by  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  leading  citizens,  headed  by 
George  F.  Patten  and  John  Patten,  agreeing  to  become  subscribers 
to  a  "joint  stock  library."  The  subscribers  met  at  the  office  of  Dr. 
Israel  Putnam  on  Nov.  8,  1847.  Dr.  Putnam  presided  and  E.  S.  J. 
Nealley  was  elected  secretary,  which  office  he  held  until  1876;  C.  B. 
Lemont  succeeded  to  the  office  until  his  removal  from  the  city,  since 
which  time   James   S.  Lowell  has  been  secretary.      John   Patten, 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  .  223 

Amos  Nourse,  C.  S.  Jenks,  Reuben  Sawyer,  Gershom  Hyde,  and 
M.  F.  Gannett  were  appointed  a  committee  of  organization.  The 
subscriptions  amounted  to  $470.00.  The  institution  was  named  the 
Patten  Library  Association,  of  which  George  F.  Patten  was  chosen 
president,  which  office  he  held  until  1857;  Caleb  S.  Jenks  was  pres- 
ident to  1862;  Amos  Nourse  to  1865;  S.  F.  Dike  to  1870;  Israel 
Putnam  to  1876;  E.  S.  J.  Nealley  to  1882;  John  Patten  to  1887; 
Galen  C.  Moses  to  date,  1893.  The  library  was  located  in  a  room 
on  a  second  story  on  Front  street,  west  side,  over  the  "archway"; 
the  room  owned  by  W.  V.  and  O.  Moses.  On  Aug.  6,  1852,  the 
secretary  of  the  association  received  the  following  letter: — 

"  Having  purchased  the  library,  cases,  maps,  and  globes  which 
were  the  property  of  Gen.  King,  we  present  the  same  to  the  Patten 
Library  Association  of  Bath,  on  the  condition  that  the  same  revert 
to  the  donors  should  the  association  ever  be  dissolved,  and  on  the 
further  condition  that  a  suitable  room  be  procured  for  the  whole 
library.  G.  F.  and  J.  Patten." 

This  donation  was  accepted  by  the  association  with  suitable 
thanks.  It  had  been  purchased  at  auction  sale  for  $300.00  The 
Kino  Liiikary  was  large  and  well  selected  for  his  time.  The  greater 
number  of  the  books  are  such  as  a  public  man  and  statesman  to  be 
well  informed  would  need,  containing  as  they  do  the  proceedings  of 
Congress  and  the  Massachusetts  and  Maine  legislatures.  There  are 
many  volumes  of  standard  literary  works,  although  he  was  not  a 
man  of  culture.  There  are  some  works  that  have  been  long  out  of 
print  and  of  rare  merit.  The  books  are  all  substantially  bound  and 
in  a  good  state  of  preservation.  It  is  an  excellent  collection  of 
books  for  reference  in  certain  classes  of  works. 

The  legal  organization  of  the  association  was  effected  at  a 
meeting  on  Nov.  16,  1852.  The  available  funds  of  the  association 
were  realized  by  annual  assessments,  varying  from  one  to  two 
dollars,  together  with  the  amounts  received  from  loans  of  books  at 
$2.50  a  year  to  those  not  proprietors,  and  the  life  membership  fees 
of  $25.00  without  annual  assessments. 

At  a  meeting  on  Nov.  21,  1857,  it  was  voted  to  request  the  presi- 


i 


224  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

dent,  George  F.  Patten,  to  furnish  a  bust  of  himself  to  place  in  the 
library  room  in  recognition  of  his  having  been  "  one  of  the  principal 
founders  of  the  association  and  for  a  series  of  years  its  presiding 
officer  and  liberal  patron.11  But  there  is  no  record  to  show  that  a 
favorable  response  had  been  made  to  this  proposition. 

The  Center  Street  Room.  —  On  May  6,  1879,  John  Patten 

executed  to  the  association  a  deed  of  trust  of  a  house  and  lot  on 
Center  street,  to  be  occupied  for  library  purposes,  with  the  provision 
that  the  property  shall  be  transferred  to  the  city  of  Bath  "  whenever 
said  city  shall  institute  a  public  library  and  appropriate  funds  for  its 
support "  to  be  not  less  than  three  hundred  dollars  annually.  This 
trust  was  accepted  by  the  association  May  14,  1879.  The  associa- 
tion commenced  occupancy  of  the  building  early  in  January,  1880, 
which  was  continued  until  the  books  were  moved  into  the  new 
Public  Library  Building  in  the  winter  of  1 890-1 891. 

During  the  last  year  of  the  life  of  John  Patten  he  expressed  a 
purpose  to  give  a  fee  simple  title  to  the  association  of  this  library 
property,  but  he  died  before  the  writings  were  executed.  Subse- 
quently, his  heirs,  John  O.  Patten  and  Clara  Patten  Goodwin, 
conveyed  to  the  association  the  premises  in  accordance  with  the 
design  of  their  grandfather.  The  association  holds  the  property  for 
revenue  by  rentals. 

The  Patten  Free  Library. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  association,  Feb.  21,  1837,  G.  C. 
Moses  delivered  to  the  association  a  deed  of  a  gift  of  ten  thousand 
dollars  "  for  the  purpose  of  establishing,  maintaining,  and  increasing 
a  free  library  in  Bath  for  the  use  of  its  citizens,"  and  providing 
"  that  the  name  of  the  association  be  changed  to  Patten  Free 
Library,"  and  to  utilize  this  fund  it  was  necessary  to  secure  a  suit- 
able building.  For  a  site  the  "  Torrey  property,"  on  the  south-east 
corner  of  Summer  and  Front  streets,  was  selected.  This  was  pur- 
chased at  a  cost  of  $3,500,  which  sum  was  raised  by  subscription. 
The  grading  cost  $1,000,  which  was  also  obtained  by  subscription. 

At  the  solicitation  of  Mr.  Moses,  George  E.  Harding,  a  native 
of  Bath  and  architect  at  New  York,  drew  a  plan  of  the  building, 


EN    FREE    LIBRARY,    BUILT   1890. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  225 

the  work  of  which,  worth  several  hundred  dollars,  he  donated  to 
the  object.  The  details  of  the  erection  of  the  building  were  solely 
under  the  direction  of  Mr.  Moses,  who  paid  all  the  bills,  amounting 
to  a  much  larger  sum  than  originally  given  by  him  for  the  purpose. 
The  edifice  is  a  model  in  style  of  architecture,  interior  arrangement, 
and  finish,  and  is  an  ornament  to  the  city.  Mr.  Moses  set  apart  a 
room  in  the  library  building  for  the  gratuitous  use  of  the  Sagadahoc 
Historical  Society,  which  was  finished  and  fitted  in  the  elegant  style 
of  the  rest  of  the  structure. 

The  city  government  appropriated  aid  to  the  library  to  the  extent 
of  fifty  cents'  assessment  as  a  poll  tax  yearly.  The  association 
voted  $500  for  the  purchase  of  new  books  in  1890,  and  by  the 
efforts  of  Dr.  R.  I).  Bibber  $700  were  raised  for  the  same  purpose 
by  subscription  among  citizens  of  the  city.  In  the  fall  of  1892, 
$1,500  were  raised  for  the  library  by  a  Kirmess  entertainment. 
Mrs.  Edward  K.  Harding  made  a  gift  to  the  building  of  an  oil 
painting  of  George  Washington  by  Stuart,  that  had  been  the  prop- 
erty of  William  King. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  association  in  the  reading  room  in  the  new 
library  building,  on  Dec.  29,  1890,  G.  C.  Moses,  the  president  of 
the  association,  handed  over  to  Mayor  Charles  E.  Patten  the  trans- 
fer of  the  building  to  the  city  of  Bath.  The  books  in  the  old  library 
building  were  removed  to  the  new  building  and  a  new  catalogue 
made.  On  Jan.  1,  1891,  the  library  was  opened  to  the  citizens 
of  Bath  with  a  librarian  and  assistant  librarian  in  charge,  the  rooms 
to  be  kept  open  every  afternoon  and  evening  of  week  days.  There 
is  a  large  and  well  lighted  reading  room,  which  is  equipped  with 
maps,  charts,  periodicals,  and  bound  volumes  of  newspapers. 

The  membership  of  the  library  association  is  limited  to  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen,  and  on  Jan.  1,  1891,  it  consisted  of  one  hundred 
and  thirteen.  In  January,  1892,  the  election  of  officers  resulted  as 
follows:  Galen  C.  Moses,  President;  James  S.  Lowell,  Secretary; 
M.  1).  Newman,  Librarian;  H.  Emmons,  Assistant  Librarian;  John 
G.  Richardson,  Superintendent  of  Library.  Charles  E.  Hyde  was 
elected  a  trustee  for  seven  years.     Dr.  R.  D.  Bibber,  Mrs.  G.  E.  R. 


226  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 

Patten,  and  Mrs.  C.  W.  Larrabee  were  chosen  a  committee  to  act 
with  the  trustees  for  raising  funds  for  books  the  ensuing  year. 

Ex-Mayor  Charles  E.  Patten  presented  to  the  association  a  $1,000 
bond  as  the  nucleus  of  a  permanent  fund,  the  income  to  be  used 
exclusively  for  the  purchase  of  reading  matter.  President  G.  C. 
Moses  promised  to  give  an  additional  amount,  provided  the  fund 
could  be  increased  to  $5,000.  Ex-Mayor  Patten  then  started  a 
subscription  list  for  purchase  of  books  for  the  ensuing  year,  giving 
$20.00.  He  was  followed  by  George  E.  Hughes,  Ernest  F.  Kellcy, 
John  G.  Richardson,  Charles  E.  Hyde,  F.  H.  Twitchell,  John  (). 
Shaw,  and  Joseph  W.  Trott  with  subscriptions  of  $10.00  each.  It 
was  voted  that  the  magazines,  which  it  has  heretofore  been  neces- 
sary to  call  for,  be  placed  on  the  table  in  the  reading  room  for 
easier  access. 

From  the  president's  and  treasurer's  reports  the  following  facts 
and  figures  are  taken:  The  old  library  as  moved  contained  3,880 
volumes.  There  have  been  added  by  gift  519,  by  purchase  772, 
making  a  present  total  of  5,171,  an  increase  of  nearly  33^  per  cent. 
The  city  appropriation  for  maintaining  the  library  was  $1,250. 
Receipts  from  other  sources  have  been:  Sundry  subscriptions 
collected,  $753.85;  bequest  from  Mrs.  Charles  Clapp,  $200;  gift  by 
Charles  E.  Patten,  $100;  total,  $1,053.85,  from  which  has  been 
expended  for  books  $823.05,  leaving  unexpended  $230.80.  Received 
from  non-residents,  $3.00;  from  rent  of  building  on  Center  street, 
$187.08;  from  fines  and  damages,  $76.73;  from  sale  of  catalogues, 
$19.10.  Total,  $576.71.  Balance  city  appropriation  unexpended, 
$38.54.  Received  from  city  account,  spring  of  1892,  $200.  Total, 
$755.25  for  books  and  running  expenses  until  the  next  city  appro- 
priation shall  be  available. 

For  1893,  the  old  board  of  officers  was  re-elected.  Miss  Marion 
D.  Newman  resigned  her  position  of  librarian,  and  Miss  Veturia 
Manson  was  appointed  to  the  place,  with  Miss  M.  Foote,  assistant. 

The  number  of  books  composing  the  library  is  7,956,  of  which 
148  were  donated  in  1892;  there  has  been  a  total  issue  of  2,138 
cards  since  January,  189 1 ;  the  average  number  of  books  taken  out 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  227 

daily  is  98;  the  total  receipts  for  1892  were  $2,536  and  the  surplus 
in  the  treasury,  $1,978. 

Other  Libraries.  —  The  Winter  Street  society  has  a  pastor's 
library  comprising  2,500  volumes,  each  of  the  churches  has  a 
Sunday-school  library,  and  the  High  school  has  a  library. 


THE  SOLDIERS'  AND   SAILORS'  ORPHANS'   HOME. 


During  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  soldiers  of  the  several  military 
companies  when  enlisted  for  service  were  tendered  pledges  that 
their  families  should  be  taken  care  of.  When  the  war  was  ended, 
these  pledges  were  not  forgotten,  at  least  by  the  women  of  Rath. 
Consequently,  this  generous  sentiment  utilized  in  the  movement,  in 
the  spring  of  1866,  to  found  a  Soldiers'  Qrphans*  Home.  Lady 
members  of  the  religious  societies  took  the  initiatory  steps  by  hold- 
ing a  meeting,  composed  of  two  ladies  from  each  society,  at  which 
they  formed  a  "  Soldiers'  Orphans1  Home  Association."  Interest 
in  the  undertaking  became  awakened  and  other  towns  joined  in  the 
movement.  An  efficient  committee  of  ladies  to  obtain  donations 
were  eminently  successful  in  their  efforts,  commencing  with  one 
thousand  dollar  donations  from  John  Patten  and  J.  Parker  Morse, 
which  was  followed  by  others  in  smaller  sums,  some  of  which  came 
from  other  portions  of  the  state  and  in  all  amounted  to  $6,686.34. 
Up  to  and  inclusive  of  the  year  1868,  there  were  twenty-seven  men 
and  women  who  became  life  members  by  the  payment  of  twenty- five 
dollars;  three  hundred  and  twenty-one  honorary  members  by  the 
payment  of  one  dollar,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-three  became 
enrolled  as  members  by  the  agreement  to  pay  fifty  cents  annually. 

At  the  legislature  of  1 866,  application  was  made  for  an  act 
incorporating  the  Home.  This  was  granted  Feb.  23,  1866,  of  which 
the  following  is  the  first  two  sections:  "John  Patten,  George  F. 
Patten,  Charles  Davenport,  Oliver  Moses,  and  J.  P.  Morse,  their 


4 


228  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

associates,  successors,  and  assigns,  are  hereby  constituted  a  body 
politic  and  corporate,  by  the  name  of  the  Trustees  of  Bath  Military 
and  Naval  Orphan  Asylum,  for  the  purpose  of  rearing  and  educat- 
ing gratuitously,  in  the  common  branches  of  learning  and  ordinary 
industrial  pursuits,  the  orphans  and  half  orphans  of  officers  and 
soldiers,  seamen  and  marines,  who  have  entered  the  service  of  the 
government  from  Maine  during  the  war  for  the  suppression  of  the 
rebellion,  and  have  died  in  said  service,  or  subsequently  from 
wounds  received  or  injuries  or  disease  contracted  while  in  said  ser- 
vice; and  shall  have  all  the  powers  and  be  subject  to  all  the  duties 
and  liabilities  of  like  corporations  in  this  state." 

To  make  this  enactment  effective,  the  corporators  were  to  raise 
twenty  thousand  dollars  within  two  years;  this  accomplished,  the 
governor  was  authorized  to  draw  his  warrant  on  the  treasury  of  the 
state  annually  for  six  thousand  dollars  in  favor  of  the  corporation, 
and  the  money  was  raised  as  stipulated.  The  Home  was  opened 
Nov.  19,  1866. 

At  the  legislature  of  1870,  an  effort  was  made  to  obtain  an  in- 
creased appropriation  for  the  institution,  in  which  Mrs.  Sampson 
took  the  lead.  This  lady  took  the  orphans,  then  numbering  fifteen, 
to  Augusta  and  introduced  them  to  the  members  of  both  houses  by 
the  Rev.  A.  F.  Beard,  pastor  of  the  Central  church.  An  act  appro- 
priating $15,000  to  the  Home  was  passed,  the  institution  was 
taken  in  charge  by  the  state,  and  the  next  year  the  same  amount 
was  appropriated.  When  it  became  under  the  state  authorities,  the 
governor  appointed  as  trustees:  John  Patten,  J.  1\  Morse,  and  T. 
W.  Hyde  of  Bath  and  N.  A.  Farwell  of  Rockland;  the  association 
appointed  Charles  Davenport,  Samuel  F.  Dike,  K.  S.  J.  Nealley. 
The  lady  managers  then  were  appointed:  Mrs.  H.  F.  Gannett, 
Mrs.  A.  J.  Fuller,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Howland,  Mrs.  S.  F.  Dike,  Mrs.  G.  C. 
Goss,  Mrs.  T.  G.  Stockbridge,  Mrs.  James  Bailey,  Mrs.  John  (). 
Shaw,  Mrs.  J.  T.  Patten,  Mrs.  C.  A.  L.  Sampson.  Charles  Daven- 
port was  appointed  treasurer. 

In  December  a  Fair  was  held  from  which  was  realized  $2,000. 

Having  secured  sufficient  means  to  enable  the  association  to 
establish  the  Home,  a  house  for  the  purpose  was  rented  on   Walker 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  229 

street  at  a  low  rent,  yet  of  sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate  the 
few  at  first  requiring  admission.  They  were  placed  under  the  care 
of  Miss  Sarah  Farnham.  An  efficient  worker  in  the  cause  of  the 
Home  was  Mrs.  Sarah  Sampson,  who  had  been  in  Washington  and 
Virginia  at  a  time  during  the  war,  rendering  assistance  to  sick  and 
wounded  soldiers.  Her  husband,  Col.  C.  A.  L.  Sampson,  was  in 
the  army  from  Bath.  In  a  very  few  years  the  orphans  of  the  Home 
had  so  greatly  increased  that  a  larger  house  became  necessary. 

The  Present  Building.  —  In  1870  a  purchase  for  $10,000  was 
made  of  the  spacious  mansion  corner  of  High  and  South  streets 
that  was  built  in  1800  by  Samuel  Davis.  The  building  has  since 
been  enlarged  to  room  one  hundred  children  and  modern  conven- 
iences added.  The  grounds  are  capacious,  comprising  six  acres, 
well  improved  and  attractive.  Fire  escapes  were  put  on  in  1865. 
It  has  the  city  water,  lighted  by  gas  and  heated  by  steam. 

Hy  the  will  of  Horatio  Ward  of  London,  who  was  formerly  a 
citizen  of  this  country,  the  Home  received  a  legacy  of  $13,000, 
which  has  been  placed  on  interest  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution. 
The  legislature  of  the  state  makes  an  annual  appropriation  gov- 
erned by  the  wants  of  the  institution,  averaging  about  eight  thou- 
sand dollars.     There  are  also  occasional  individual  donations. 

Mrs.  Maviif.w  of  Rockland  became  associated  with  Miss  Farn- 
ham in  the  management  of  the  children.  These  ladies  were 
succeeded  by  Mrs.  Partridge,  who  became  the  matron  Nov.  4, 
1875.  After  many  changes  of  those  occupying  this  position,  Mrs. 
A.  Stetson  entered  upon  the  duties  of  the  office  in  188 1,  is  still 
in  charge  of  the  Home,  and  according  to  the  annual  reports  of  the 
Hoard  of  Visitors  the  internal  domestic  management  under  Mrs. 
Stetson  has  been  uniformly  well  nigh  perfect. 

Much  attention  is  given  by  the  matron  to  the  instruction  of  the 
children  in  both  vocal  and  instrumental  music,  in  which  some  of  the 
pupils  become  quite  proficient.  The  institution  has  a  fine  piano, 
presented  by  the  state  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

The  Presidents  have  been  John  Patten,  elected  in  1868;  Nelson 
Dingley,  Jr.,  in   1872;    Nathan  A.  Farwell,  in   1873;   William  E. 


2$0  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Payne,  in  1874;  J.  T.  Patten,  in  1877;  J.  W.  Spaulding,  in  1878; 
F.  B.  Torrey,  in  1880;  Wiiliam  G.  Haskell,  in  1883;  Charles  B. 
Merrill  in  1884;  Seth  T.  Snipe,  in  1889,  1890,  1891,  1892,  1893. 

The  Secretaries  have  been  Thomas  W.  Hyde,  to  1875;  George 
E.  Morse,  to  1882;  G.  W.  Preble,  for  1882;  W.  H.  Watson,  since 
1883. 

Treasurers;  Charles  Davenport,  to  1872  ;  Gershom  H.  Palmer, 
to  1875;  Michael  F.  Gannett,  to  1878;  H.  A.  Duncan,  to  the  pres- 
ent date. 

Chief  Managers.  Those  who  have  had  the  chief  management 
of  the  institution  for  many  years  are  S.  T.  Snipe,  W.  H.  Watson, 
David  R.  Wylie,  H.  A.  Duncan,  and  J.  G.  Richardson  who  has 
supervision  of  the  children's  department. 

Some  of  the  children  are  indentured  to  the  institution,  while  the 
parents  of  the  others  have  a  right  to  withdraw  their  children  at  any 
time.  The  children  are  received  with  great  care  and  discrimination, 
none  being  admitted  who  would  be  a  detriment  to  the  discipline  of 
the  house. 

The  average  cost  of  maintaining  an  inmate  of  the  Home  is  about 
$115  annually.  The  average  total  expenditures  of  the  institution 
differ  according  to  the  number  of  its  occupants. 

When  Mrs.  Stetson  became  matron  there  were  twenty-five  chil- 
dren in  the  Home.  In  that  year  (1881)  a  new  board  of  trustees 
was  elected,  and  under  its  management  the  number  increased 
within  a  year  to  eighty.  There  are  more  children  there  in  the 
winter  than  in  the  summer,  as  needing  more  care  in  the  inclement 
season.  Since  the  present  matron  has  been  in  charge  the  highest 
number  in  the  Home  at  any  one  time  was  eighty;  the  smallest, 
twenty-one;  the  average,  sixty-seven.  For  1892  there  were  sixty- 
two  children. 

The  evening  of  every  New  Year's  Day  is  a  festive  one  for  the 
children.  In  the  double  parlors  are  evergreen  trees  loaded  with 
presents  for  the  little  ones.  These  have  been  donated  by  the  large 
dry  goods  firms  of  Boston,  R.  H.  White  &  Co.,  Jordan  &  Marsh, 
Miss  S.  H.   Snow   of  Boston,   and    many  generous  merchants  of 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  23 1 

Bath.  On  the  occasion  of  the  distribution  of  these  gifts,  the  doors 
of  the  Home  are  thrown  wide  open  and  the  rooms  become  filled 
with  an  assemblage  of  the  best  people  of  the  city  and  from  out  of 
town.  They  are  entertained  by  recitations,  music,  and  other  pleas- 
ing performances  by  the  children,  often  followed  by  brief  remarks 
from  distinguished  gentlemen  present. 

All  of  the  children  regularly  attend  church  and  Sunday-school, 
to  which  they  go  attended  by  the  matron  and  her  assistants, 
appearing  on  the  street  neatly  and  appropriately  dressed,  walking  in 
regular  order  and  with  perfect  propriety.  There  are  no  more  be- 
comingly dressed  children  nor  better  behaved  anywhere  else.  At 
no  time  are  they  allowed  to  play  on  the  streets,  but  have  ample 
grounds  for  recreation.  Under  such  salutary  discipline  are  they 
that  no  neighbor  ever  has  cause  to  complain  of  them.  They  are 
well  behaved  everywhere.  The  boys  are  taught  industry  by  helping 
in  the  work  on  the  grounds  and  garden,  and  the  girls  in  housework 
and  sewing.  By  the  generosity  of  railway  and  steamboat  managers, 
they  enjoy  many  excursions  by  land  and  water. 

As  this  is  eminently  a  Hath  institution,  nearly  all  the  business 
and  oversight  of  the  Home  are  performed  year  after  year  by  citi- 
zens of  this  city.  In  addition  to  this,  the  children  are  accorded 
the  advantages  and  benefits  in  common  with  the  children  of 
citizens  of  all  the  city  schools,  and  some  of  the  children  pass 
through  all  the  school  grades  and  graduate  from  the  high  school. 
Many  of  these  children  as  scholars  rank  with  the  best  in  the  regular 
reports  of  their  instructors,  and  two  of  the  girls  have  since  gradu- 
ated at  colleges. 

When  the  children  become  of  suitable  age,  places  are  found  for 
them  among  farmers  and  other  ways,  frequent  applications  being 
made  by  those  desiring  to  adopt  them.  Care  is  taken  that  the 
disposition  of  the  boys  and  girls  in  this  particular  be  judicious,  and 
the  results  are  looked  after  with  solicitude.  In  some  instances  the 
children,  at  the  close  of  their  terms  in  the  institution,  are  returned 
to  their  parents. 

Children  who  have  graduated  from  the  Home  have  in  some  cases 


232  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

become  ministers,  teachers,  book-keepers,  civil  engineers,  machin- 
ists, ship-masters,  farmers  without  number,  and  all  sorts  and  grades 
of  employment,  there  having  been  very  few  instances  of  any  turning 
out  bad. 

In  over  one  thousand  children  who  have  been  inmates  of  the 
Home  in  thirteen  years,  there  have  been  only  three  deaths,  of  which 
two  were  consumptives  who  had  been  admitted  while  such  in  order 
to  keep  them  out  of  the  poor-house. 

Mr.  J.  Green  Richardson  took  charge  of  the  children  twelve  years 
since,  has  had  the  general  management  of  this  department  and 
entire  control  of  the  reception  and  disposal  of  the  children. 

Gov.  Henry  B.  Cleaves  has  publicly  said  that  so  well  have  the 
children  of  the  Home  turned  out,  that  the  state  has  been  amply 
repaid  for  all  the  appropriations  that  it  has  made  for  the  benefit  of 
this  well  conducted  institution. 


THE  OLD  LADIES'  HOME. 


The  subject  of  establishing  a  home  for  aged  and  worthy  women 
in  this  city  having  interested  leading  gentlemen  and  ladies  to  a 
sufficient  number,  a  largely  attended  meeting  was  held  in  the  City 
Hall,  April  8,  1875,  which  was  presided  over  by  Barnard  C.  Bailey. 
An  earnest  endeavor  was  inaugurated  to  take  steps  for  the  forma- 
tion of  a  society  for  the  purpose  in  view  by  the  appointment  of  a 
committee  to  report  at  another  meeting  the  advisability  of  the  pro- 
posed undertaking,  and  of  the  form  of  organization  if  the  decision 
should  be  to  proceed. 

At  a  meeting  of  this  committee  on  the  succeeding  day,  it  was 
resolved  to  organize  a  society.  Consequently  a  meeting  was  called 
for  April  12th,  which  appointed  a  committee  of  twelve  to  take  the 
necessary  measures  for  the  incorporation  of  a  society.  This  com- 
mittee held  a  meeting  on  the  17  th,  and  by  petition  obtained  from 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  233 

Henry  Tallman,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  a  legal  warrant,  by  virtue  of 
which  a  general  meeting  was  holden  on  May  5th;  subsequently,  a 
constitution  was  adopted  as  prepared  by  B.  C.  Bailey,  J.  W.  Wake- 
field, and  S.  F.  Dike,  under  which  B.  C.  Bailey  was  chosen  Presi- 
dent; Mrs.  John  S.  Elliot,  Vice-President;  John  Gregson,  Secretary; 
Mrs.  T.  G.  Stockbridge,  Treasurer,  and  a  Board  of  Managers. 

A  fund  was  immediately  raised  by  voluntary  donations,  headed 
by  John  Patten  &  Son  with  $3,000,  and  $1,000  each  from  Rodney 
Hyde,  Thomas  Harward,  Thomas  M.  Reed,  William  D.  Sewall, 
Barnard  C.  Bailey,  Franklin  Reed,  Oliver  Moses,  William 
V.  Moses,  Goss  &  Sawyer,  John  H.  Kimball,  Galen  C.  Moses, 
James  F.  Patten,  and  the  addition  of  lesser  sums  resulted  in  a 
total  of  (19,122.  Subsequently,  John  Patten  made  money  donations 
to  the  amount  of  $5,000  and  other  very  liberal  contributions. 

To  commence  operations  the  house  on  the  north-east  corner  of 
High  and  Granite  streets  was  leased  and  inmates  admitted.  The 
formal  opening,  however,  did  not  take  place  until  November  1st, 
when  the  house  was  rilled  with  friends  of  the  Home  and  dedicatory 
services  were  held. 

The  number  of  inmates  of  the  Home  having  increased,  and  the 
funds  of  the  society  being  sufficient  to  warrant  the  undertaking,  the 
present  Home  on  High  street  was  purchased,  and  on  Oct.  9,  1877, 
the  house  was  dedicated  by  the  presence  of  its  friends,  the  offering 
of  prayer,  addresses,  and  quartette  singing. 

Mrs.  Mary  J.  Ledyard  of  the  city,  having  taken  a  lively  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  the  Home  for  a  number  of  years,  left  by  will  an 
endowment  fund  in  trust  with  the  city  government  of  $14,000, 
which  yields  a  yearly  income  of  $840.  Mrs.  Caleb  S.  Jenks,  who 
also  had  constantly  interested  herself  in  promoting  the  success  of 
the  Home,  donated  by  her  will  two  thousand  dollars  for  its  benefit. 
There  have  been  other  liberal  donations  from  various  sources,  in- 
cluding a  considerable  sum  that  has  been  realized  by  pound  parties. 

Inmates  are  admitted  at  the  discretion  of  the  board  of  managers, 
which  comprise  both  ladies  and  gentlemen;  the  applicant  must 
furnish  her  room,  pay  in  cash  one  hundred  dollars  upon  entrance, 


234  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

and  if  she  is  possessed  of  any  property  it  must  be  made  over  to 
authorities  of  the  Home  in  fee  simple.  So  far  twenty-seven  aged 
ladies  have  found  a  home  in  this  institution.  When  a  room  becomes 
vacant  a  new  occupant  is  immediately  admitted.  The  aged  ladies 
do  not  lose  respectability  on  account  of  living  in  the  Home. 

From  the  date  of  the  organization  of  the  society  B.  C.  Bailey 
was  president  until  his  death  in  1876,  since  which  time  G.  C  Moses 
has  been  the  president;  the  secretaries  have  been  John  Gregson, 
Mrs.  Michael  F.  Gannett,  and  Veturia  Manson;  treasurers,  Mrs. 
T.  G.  Stockbridge,  Charles  Davenport,  and  Franklin  Reed  since 
1877;  auditors,  S.  D.  Bailey,  J.  H.  Kimball;  the  matrons,  Mrs.  L. 
A.  Huston,  Mrs.  M.  Stinson,  Mrs.  Henry  Tallman,  Mrs.  F.  P.  Hogan. 

The  Home  Edifice.  —  The  house  that  is  used  {or  the  Home 
is  situated  on  a  conspicuous  and  central  site  on  High  street;  is  of 
two  large  stories  with  out-buildings,  and  surrounded  by  extensive, 
well  kept  and  handsomely  adorned  grounds.  This  is  a  favorite 
and  favored  institution  of  the  benevolently  inclined  among  the 
leaders  of  society,  who  take  a  constant  and  personal  oversight  of 
its  welfare.  This  Home  is  notable  for  the  longevity  of  those  who 
have  passed  their  later  lives  within  its  precincts,  which  affords 
worthy  ladies  truly  a  home.     One  lady  lived  to  be  over  10 1  years. 

Public  Beneficent  Bequests. — Denny  Kelley,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, found  his  way  to  Bath  in  his  early  life.  The  first  three  nights 
he  spent  in  the  place  he  slept  under  a  board  pile  on  Gove's  wharf. 
Among  the  first  jobs  of  work  he  obtained  was  hod  carrier  to  masons 
who  were  at  work  on  the  building  that  is  now  occupied  by  the  Twen- 
ty-five Cent  Savings  Bank.  In  time  he  purchased  the  same  building, 
in  which  he  kept  a  dry  goods  and  carpet  store,  his  wife  assistant. 
They  had  no  children,  and  when  he  died  he  left  by  will  the  sum  of 
two  thousand  dollars  in  trust,  the  income  to  be  used  in  aid  of  de- 
serving poor  of  the  city.  The  first  trustee  was  Mr.  E.  S.  J.  Nealley, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  J.  M.  Hayes,  now  acting  as  such,  who 
reports  that  this  fund  has  been  the  means  of  doing  a  vast  amount 
of  good;  the  money  is  loaned  to  the  city  at  six  per  cent,  interest. 
Mrs.  Caleb  S.  Jenks   left  in  her  will  one  thousand  dollars,  the 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  235 

income  to  be  used  for  the  same  purpose,  and  it  was  united  with 
the  Kelley  fund,  both  together  making  one  hundred  and  eighty 
dollars  yearly  to  bless  the  poor,  who  in  turn  bless  the  generous 
donors  and  perpetuate  their  memories  to  all  future  time.  In  1892, 
Mrs.  L.  M.  Perkins,  a  native  of  Bath,  living  elsewhere  after  her 
marriage,  bequeathed  one  thousand  dollars  in  trust  to  this  city,  the 
income  derived  from  it  to  be  applied  to  the  benefit  of  its  poor.  Mr. 
Rodney  Hyde  donated  fifty  dollars  to  the  same  purpose. 


TEMPERANCE  SOCIETIES. 


At  a  period  anterior  to  the  early  temperance  reform  which  reached 
this  city  about  the  year  of  1830,  the  use  of  liquors  of  all  kinds  as  a 
beverage  was  universal,  was  considered  generally  to  be  a  necessity, 
was  kept  in  decanters  on  every  sideboard  to  be  set  before  every 
visitor  of  social  importance,  to  neglect  which  would  be  a  slight,  was 
indispensable  on  the  occasion  of  the  installation  of  clergymen,  at 
raisings,  huskings,  chopping  bees,  trainings,  town  meetings,  fur- 
nished by  candidates,  dancing  and  social  parties,  on  the  dinner 
tables  when  guests  were  present,  and  at  every  formal  or  festive 
gathering.  It  was  a  legitimate  article  of  trade,  the  stock  of  no 
store  was  complete  without  it;  was  brought  as  part  of  tfoe  cargo  of 
every  vessel  arriving  from  a  foreign  port,  on  board  of  which 
the  sailors  were  entitled  to  their  twice  daily  allowance  of  "grog," 
while  the  cabin  was  supplied  with  cases  of  a  choicer  grade;  work- 
men employed  on  shore  must  have  the  regular  "eleven  o'clock" 
and  "  four  o'clock  "  drinks  and  "  bitters  "  before  breakfast  when  the 
day's  work  commenced,  as  was  often,  with  the  sun.  The  best 
profits  in  trade  were  made  by  the  dealing  in  liquors,  and  men  of 
the  first  class  were  in  the  business. 

It  was  not  until  about  the  year  of  18 12  that  thinking  men  of 
broad  views  and  philanthropic  impulses  began  to  agitate  the  neces- 
sity of  temperance  reform  in  £Jew  England.      In  this  movement 


236  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

men  of  Massachusetts  and  Connecticut  led,  and  the  American 
Temperance  Society  was  instituted  Feb.  13,  1826.  It  met  with 
serious  opposition,  not  only  from  the  lovers  of  liquor,  but  from  its 
importers  and  dealers.  It  was  upon  this  question  that  the 
celebrated  Lyman  Beecher  came  into  conspicuous  notice.  He 
delivered  a  series  of  lectures  upon  the  subject  that  were  replete 
with  logic  and  comprehensive  eloquence.  They  became  printed  in 
pamphlet  form  and  scattered  gratuitously  throughout  the  New 
England  towns.     This  opened  the  eyes  of  the  community. 

Deacon  Gile8'  Distillery.  —  About  that  time  a  great  sensation 
connected  with  the  incipient  era  of  temperance  reform  had  its  origin 
in  Salem.  That  sea-port  was,  at  that  day,  an  important  one  for 
trade  with  the  West  Indies,  and  large  quantities  of  molasses  were 
imported  into  the  place  Hence  it  was  a  good  place  for  a  distillery, 
and  Mr.  Giles,  who  was  a  deacon  of  an  Orthodox  church,  established 
one.  A  minister  of  some  distinction  of  the  place,  Dr.  George  II. 
Cheever,  wrote  and  had  published  an  exceedingly  able  and  sarcastic 
communication  in  a  leading  newspaper  of  the  town,  in  which  he 
illustrated  the  iniquity  of  a  deacon  of  a  church  operating  "  the  worm 
of  the  still."  It  was  headed  "  Enquire  at  Deacon  Giles'  Distillery." 
Its  appearance  created  an  intense  excitement;  as  the  subject  was 
new  and  the  story  startling,  the  whole  thing  shook  New  England 
from  center  to  circumference.  The  avaricious  sanctimony  of  its 
owner  and  the  picture  which  Dr.  Cheever  drew  of  the  midnight 
fire  that  consumed  the  distillery  building,  in  the  midst  of  the 
ascending  smoke  of  which  the  devil  was  seen  carrying  the  writhing 
form  of  the  miserable  hypocrite  away,  were  intensely  sensational. 
For  this  he  was  prosecuted,  tried,  and  imprisoned  for  thirty  days  in 
Salem  jail;  but  it  did  as  much  for  the  cause  of  temperance  as  Uncle 
Tom's  Cabin  did  to  bring  about  the  abolition  of  slavery. 

The  Bath  Distillery.  —  In  the  age  of  the  universal  use  of 
liquors,  and  when  the  large  fleet  of  vessels  in  the  West  India  trade 
brought  to  this  port  cargoes  of  molasses,  a  demand  was  created  for 
it  in  the  establishment  of  a  distillery  by  Samuel  Winter  for  making 
New  England  rum.  It  occupied  the  ground  immediately  south  of 
the  present  gas  house,  in  connection  with  which  was  the  distillery 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  237 

wharf.  The  business  was  run  for  many  years  with  apparent  profit 
until  Mr.  Winter  indulged  in  an  unfortunate  speculation  in  molasses, 
in  the  fear  of  disaster  from  which  operation  he  drowned  himself 
one  dark  night  off  the  end  of  this  wharf.  His  distillery  then 
suspended  operations,  the  temperance  reformers  soon  after  bought 
the  building,  and  this  put  an  end  in  Bath  to  the  distilling  of 
molasses  into  rum. 

Parson  Ei.i.incwoom  made  the  remark  in  his  latter  days  that 
"on  the  occasion  of  his  ordination  the  largest  bill  he  had  to  pay 
was  for  liquor  for  the  ministers'  entertainment."  This  was  in  181 2. 
Ministers  took  it  with  noon  luncheon  on  the  Sabbath,  and  in  some 
well  known  instances  took  it  into  the  pulpit  with  them.  With  sin- 
gular inconsistency  the  boys  were  not  allowed  to  drink,  and  yet  with 
potent  examples  before  them  and  the  opportunies  to  indulge,  it 
is  likewise  singular  that  more  of  them  did  not  become  drunkards; 
and  it  is  also  a  singular  fact  that  neither  those  who  retailed  the 
tempting  article  nor  their  young  clerks  were  often  known  to  be  even 
habitual  drinkers.  An  old  Bath  paper  of  those  days  has  this  couplet: 

"A  man  who  saw  his  son  quite  handy 
To*s  off"  a  glass  of  strong  French  brandy  : 
'  Neddy,'  cried  he,  'Ah  don't  do  so, 
For  liquor  is  our  greatest  foe.' 
1  But  we  are  taught  to  love  our  foes,' 
Quoth  Ned,  *so  father — here  goes.'  " 

During  the  war  of  181 2,  ship-loads  of  liquor  were  brought  into 
Castine.  Traders  from  Bath  went  there  for  the  purchase  of  large 
quantities.  The  files  of  old  newspapers  display  advertisements  of 
all  kinds  of  liquors,  wholesale  and  retail,  by  merchants  of  the  high- 
est repute  in  Bath. 

No  two  men  in  town  swayed  more  influence  in  their  days  of 
activity  than  John  W.  El  ling  wood  and  William  King,  and  there  were 
none  who  were  more  temperate  in  drinking,  yet  they  were  the  most 
strenuous  in  not  having  wine  and  beer  included  in  the  list  of  pro- 
hibited beverages. 

"Jan.  16,  1813.  Retailers  met  at  the  Baptist  Hall  in  the  evening 
together  with  the  'Society  for  suppressing  vice*  and  the  'Ty thing- 


238  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

men.'  Rev.  Mr.  Ellingwood,  Rev.  Mr.  Jenks,  and  some  other 
persons  spoke  considerably  in  favor  of  suppressing  the  use  of 
ardent  spirits.  Mr.  McLellan,  Mr.  Magoun,  Mr.  Crombie,  and  a 
few  other  retailers  said  a  number  of  things  "  (/<v*  Zina  Hyde). 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  retailers  a  resolution  was  adopted 
"  expressive  of  a  disposition  to  afford  their  influence  to  prevent  the 
intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits,  under  a  sense  of  the  evils  result- 
ing therefrom." 

Retailers.  —  In  December,  18 14,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ellingwood  and 
'  Zina  Hyde  united  in  efforts  in  behalf  of  the  temperance  cause,  and 
in  the  diary  of  the  latter  he  writes  that  they  were  strongly  opposed 
by  the  retailers  and  their  object  misrepresented  "  as  being  warmly 
engaged  to  suppress  the  retailing  of  ardent  spirits  to  be  drank  in 
shops,"  and  this  opposition  "  took  effect  among  the  most  respectable 
part  of  the  retailers."  Major  Hyde  circulated  a  paper  to  be  signed 
by  young  men,  which  had  been  drawn  up  by  Mr.  Ellingwood,  to 
pledge  themselves  to  aid  in  the  suppression  of  the  vice  of  drinking, 
but  obtained  no  signatures. 

"Jan.  23.  Attended  an  adjourned  meeting  of  the  retailers,  at 
which  a  number  of  resolutions  expressing  a  disposition  to  afford 
their  influence  to  prevent  the  intemperate  use  of  ardent  spirits  were 
adopted,  and  Miss  S.  Bowman  and  myself  requested  to  furnish  each 
retailer  in  town  with  a  copy  of  the  resolutions"  (/tv  Zina  Hyde). 

The  foreign  imports  of  liquor  into  this  collection  district  for  the 
year  1820  were  93,222  gallons  of  rum,  22,376  gallons  of  wine, 
besides  a  quantity  of  brandy. 

Samuel  Winter  advertises  July  13,  1821,  at  his  store  in  Bath, 
fifty  hhds.  St.  Johns  Rum,  superior  quality;  five  hhds.  St.  Croix 
Rum,  superior  quality;  twenty  hhds.  Windward  Island  Rum,  supe- 
rior quality;  four  hhds.  New  England  Rrm,  superior  quality;  five 
pipes  Cognac  (Outard)  Brandy;  five  pipes  Pico  Madeira  Wine,  in 
one-half  and  one-quarter  pipes;  eight  and  one-quarter  pipes  Wine; 
five  casks  Angelica  Cordial;  forty  hhds.  St.  Johns  Rum;  Holland 
and  American  Gin.  There  were  other  similar  advertisements  in  the 
old  Bath  papers. 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  239 

First  Reform  Movement.  —  The  reform  movement  developed 
slowly  into  the  formation  of  temperance  societies.  To  sign  a  pledge 
was  a  great  bugbear  to  the  conservative  element,  while  the  intem- 
perate declared  it  was  "signing  away  their  liberties."  Yet  the 
reform  moved  on.  Dealers  of  the  better  class  let  their  stocks  run 
out  and  did  not  replenish.  Treating  either  at  the  counter  or  at  the 
house  became  less  common,  and  few  of  the  religious  class  but  felt 
compelled  to  ignore  it  as  a  beverage.  The  first  temperance  society 
formed  in  Bath  was  in  1816,  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  old  "Erudi- 
tion "  school-house  on  Meeting-house  Hill.  Not  all  of  those  who 
took  a  prominent  part  in  its  proceedings  were  total  abstinence  men. 
The  man  who  presided  was  a  temperate  drinker. 

Wine  at  the  Communion  Table.  —  In  the  broad  light  of 

temperance  reform,  the  consistency  of  using  wine  at  communions  by 
the  churches  in  this  city  was  a  serious  question.  Discussions  were 
endless,  resulting  in  the  use  of  unfermented  juice  of  the  grape  by 
some  churches,  while  others  adopted  the  use  of  raisin  water  or  some 
harmless  substitute. 

The  First  Wnsliingtoninii  Society  was  formed  in  Baltimore  in 
about  1840,  and  was  composed  of  reformed  drunkards  only.  The 
idea  took  nstonishingly  and  spread  rapidly.  The  movement  reached 
Hath  in  about  a  year,  when  a  society  was  formed  in  1841  and  styled 
the  Washington ian  Teetotal  Society.  The  prominent  leader  in  the 
movement  was  Joseph  Hayes.  Being  a  ready  talker,  he  was  em- 
ployed by  the  state  Washington  ian  Society  at  Portland  for  state 
lecturer  in  1841,  and  he  traveled  throughout  the  state,  awakening 
interest  in  the  new  cause.  He  was  widely  known  as  Father  Hayes. 
In  l*ath  rousing  meetings  were  held  every  night  for  many  months, 
at  which  reformed  drunkards  would  relate  their  experiences  to  great 
effect.     The  enthusiasm  thus  aroused  was  contagious.     The  Wash- 

ingtonian  idea  "applied  to  reformed  drunkards  only  —  none  others 
neeu  «j0iy,» 

Newer  and  younger  drinkers  came  into  the  movement,  and  a 
reorganization  oi  Mie  society  took  place.     The  officers  were  Samuel 


24°  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Crowell,  President;  J.  H.  Nichols,  Vice-President;  John  P.  Flint, 
Recording  Secretary;  Edward  C.  Allen,  Corresponding  Secretary; 
William  S.  Pettingill,  Treasurer. 

The  society  resolved:  "That  the  person  who  drinks  rum,  gin, 
brandy,  whiskey,  wine,  or  even  cider  or  beer  in  any  quantities, 
drinks  too  much  and  we  will  do  all  in  our  power  to  persuade  those 
who  partake  not  to  make  use  of  it  as  a  drink  any  longer." 

Article  first  of  the  constitution  was,  "Any  person  may  become  a 
member  of  this  society  who  has  been  in  the  habit  of  drinking  any 
intoxicating  spirit  since  the  first  of  November  last  by  signing  the 
pledge."  Article  tenth,  "  No  person  shall  be  allowed  at  the  regular 
meetings  of  this  society  who  has  not  drank  liquors  since  November 
last." 

The  signers  numbered  158.  Among  the  number  were  Jesse  Dus- 
ton,  James  H.  Nichols,  Samuel  C.  Bovey,  Henry  E.  Jenks,  Benjamin 
Fogg,  Stephen  B.  Penny,  Eben  Colson,  John  W.  Todd,  William 
Hodgdon,  Joseph  Hayes,  Stephen  C.  Sawyer,  Jesse  Totinan,  1\  A. 
Newcomb,  Peter  Knight,  David  Owen,  George  Barton,  Abner 
McFadden,  Washburn  Calden,  Nathaniel  Longley,  Joshua  P.  Le- 
mont,  John  Parshley,  2d,  Albert  Parshley,  John  Foote,  James  R. 
Hinkley,  Stephen  Crooker,  Samuel  Anderson,  Nathaniel  Jennings, 
Samuel  G.  Stinson,  Samuel  Parker,  George  Vaughn,  Warren  Mains, 
David  W.  Standish,  John  E.  Brown,  Stephen  T.  Berry,  James  Wake- 
field, John  B.  Trull,  Levi  Chadboume,  Johnson  Rideout,  Joseph 
Rideout,  Isaac  Crocker,  Farnham  Cole. 

Martha  Washington  Society.  —  The  Washingtonian  move- 
ment was  supplemented  by  Martha  Washington  Societies,  composed 
chiefly  at  first  of  the  wives  and  women  relatives  of  the  Washingto- 
nians.  It  accomplished  much  good.  The  Washingtonian  Total 
Abstinence  Society  held  their  first  anniversary  May  12,  1843  or 
1844.  James  H.  Nichols  was  president.  The  Martha  Washingtons. 
Young  Men's  Temperance  Society,  and  the  Father  Mathew  Tor1* 
Abstinence  Society  and  a  large  line  of  citizens  with  a  b^4tl  ^rom 
Brunswick  made  up  the  largest  procession  ever  in  B*th  before  that 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  24 1 

In  the  days  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance,  Bath  Division,  No.  7, 
and  Long  Reach  Division,  No.  9  (upwards  of  fifty  years  ago),  all 
classes  of  people  were  interested,  and  these  two  lodges  had  a  united 
membership  of  nearly  a  thousand,  with  a  strong  and  healthy 
influence  upon  society.  Now  there  are  but  175  identified  with  the 
two  Good  Templar  lodges,  the  only  temperance  societies  now  in 
Bath. 

There  were  those  who  were  truly  reformed  and  became  not  only 
good  citizens  but  members  of  churches,  of  which  some  of  them 
became  deacons,  while  others  held  responsible  public  offices  and 
brought  up  sons  now  an  honor  to  the  city. 

An  Old-Time  Raising.  —  An  old-time  citizen  said:  "At  the 
first  barn  ever  raised  in  Bath  without  liquor  I  was  there.  It  was 
the  talk  for  days  ahead.  The  owner  had  announced  his  determina- 
tion not  to  have  any  liquor.  c  He  can't  raise  it/  said  nearly  every- 
body, and  crowds  gathered  to  see  if  he  could.  Some  of  the  old 
topers  felt  as  though  it  was  the  life  or  death  of  a  traditional  princi- 
ple. They  had  been  used  to  rum  at  raisings  from  time  immemorial, 
i  was  a  boy  then  and  was  full  of  interest.  Over  a  hundred  men 
stood  around  that  day — hands  in  pockets  and  wouldn't  lift.  They 
used  to  pin  the  whole  side  of  the  barn  together  then  and  lift  it  at 
once — different,  you  see,  from  to-day.  I  helped  lift.  Some  of  the 
women  folks  lifted.  The  old  topers  jeered  and  laughed,  but  we 
raised  the  barn  and  it  stands." 

The  Maine  Law.  —  Finally  the  Maine  law  became  enacted,  and 
to  make  it  inoperative  there  were  ways  invented  to  circumvent  it, 
especially  by  small  retailers,  who  would  term  the  drink  some  milder 
beverage.  The  "striped  pig"  was  a  humorous  term  for  illegal 
drinks.  It  originated  with  a  circus  traveling  through  the  state,  one 
of  whose  side  shows  had  up  the  sign  of  a  striped  pig  on  exhibition 
inside  the  tent,  but  what  turned  out  to  be  liquor  dealt  out  free  to 
those  who  had  paid  the  admission  fee.  For  years  the  illicit  traffic 
in  drinks  of  liquor  was  termed  "  seeing  the  striped  pig."  Then 
came  the  era  of  the  sale  of  "  patent  bitters,"  composed  chiefly  of 
ardent  spirits  and  an  infusion  of  harmless  roots  and  herbs,  and 


242  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

used  by  those  who  had  difficulty  in  obtaining  anything  else  to  satisfy 
their  cravings  for  stimulants. 

Prohibitory  Law.  —  When  the  statutes  enacting  total  "  prohibi- 
tion "  became  operative,  the  majority  of  the  people  of  Hath  cheer- 
fully acquiesced,  and  when  a  vote  on  constitutional  prohibition  was 
placed  before  the  people  of  the  state,  Bath  went  strongly  with  the 
majority  in  favor  of  the  proposition,  and  sporadic  efforts  have 
yearly  been  made  by  the  city  authorities  to  enforce  the  law  against 
the  liquor  traffic. 


CENTENNIAL. 


The  one  hundredth  anniversary  of  Bath's  first  town  meeting 
occurred  on  March  19,  1881.  A  large  number  of  citizens  were 
enrolled  on  the  committee  of  arrangements  and  a  gratifying  success 
attended  all  the  exercises.  Many  former  residents  returned  for  the 
celebration,  while  numerous  letters  of  regret  testified  to  the  interest 
felt  in  the  town  of  their  birth  by  those  unable  to  attend.  The 
president  and  vice-presidents  on  this  occasion  were,  President,  Hon. 
John  Patten,  Ex-Maypr;  Vice-Presidents,  Hon.  Freeman  H.  Morse, 
Ex-Mayor;  Hon.  William  Rice,  Kx-Mayor;  Hon.  John  Hayden, 
Ex-Mayor;  Hon.  James  T.  Patten,  Ex-Mayor;  Hon.  S.  1).  Bailey, 
Ex-Mayor;  Hon.  J.  1).  Robinson,  Ex-Mayor;  Hon.  Edwin  Reed, 
Ex-Mayor;  Hon.  John  G.  Richardson,  Ex-Mayor. 

The  morning  of  Bath's  centennial  anniversary  opened  with  a 
serene  sky  and  a  balmy  atmosphere.  Prompt  as  the  sun  came  to 
the  horizon,  the  bells  in  all  the  steeples  raised  their  voices,  an. 
nouncing  to  the  people  that  to-day  they  enter  upon  a  new  century 
of  corporate  existence. 

Wesley  church,  where  the  exercises  were  held,  was  beautifully 
decorated  with  bunting,  and  on  the  walls  were  hung  handsome 
banners  with  the  following  names  of  mark  in  town  history: 
Hinckley,  Johnson,  Lambert,  Robinson,  Uiggins,  Mitchell,  Crooker, 
Swanton,  Lemont,  Turner,  Sewall,  Trufant,  Patten,  Hyde,  Donnell, 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  243 

Philbrook,  Houghton,  Richardson,  Coombs,  Lowell,  Magoun,  Rog- 
ers, Standish,  Cushing,  Ledyard,  Lombard,  Williams,  Peterson, 
Purington. 

Miss  Sadie  Duncan,  assisted  by  Miss  Jennie  R.  Morse,  opened 
the  exercises  by  an  organ  voluntary  which  was  very  finely  rendered. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  on  the  platform:  Hon.  John  Pat- 
ten, President  of  the  day;  Hon.  T.  W.  Hyde,  Mayor;  Rev.  Henry 
().  Thayer,  of  Woolwich,  Historian;  F.  W.  Hawthorne,  Poet;  J.  O. 
Fiske,  D.D.;  Reverends  H.  J.  White,  J.  Pottle,  and  Wm.  R.  Rich- 
ards; Joseph  G.  Torrey,  of  Boston,  the  first  printer  in  Bath;  Ex- 
Mayors  John  Hayden,  Samuel  D.  Bailey,  James  D.  Robinson,  John 
O.  Richardson;  Charles  Davenport,  G.  C.  Goss,  Jason  Sewall;  E. 
B.  Ncalley,  of  Bangor,  Orator;  Col.  Lewis  B.  Smith,  of  Portland; 
B.  F.  Tallman,  of  Richmond;  Edward  E.  Hyde,  City  Treasurer. 

A  large  number  of  old  citizens  were  in  the  church,  among  them 
Isaiah  Crooker,  Robinson  Fogg,  L.  P.  Lemont,  M.  F.  Gannett,  Capt. 
Isaac  Trott,  L.  W.  Houghton,  and  Thomas  Eaton. 

The  choir,  under  the  leadership  of  Zina  H.  Trufant,  sang  the 
anthem,  "To  Thee,  O  Country,"  Miss  Jennie  R.  Morse  presiding 
at  the  organ. 

Mayor  T.  W.  Hyde  in  well  chosen  remarks  bade  the  audience  wel- 
come, and  Rev.  J.  O.  Fiske  offered  prayer,  which  was  very  appro- 
priate to  the  occasion  and  in  the  most  beautiful  language ;  many 
were  the  hearts  that  were  touched  by  its  patriotic  and  Christian 
spirit. 

The  reading  of  the  act  of  incorporation  was  followed  with  music 
by  Andrews'  Orchestra  of  Bangor. 

The  Rev.  H .  O.  Thayer  then  delivered  a  very  able  and  interesting 
historical  address,  touching  briefly  on  the  chief  points  of  the  city's 
history. 

The  singing  of  Old  Hundred  was  a  marked  feature  of  the  occa- 
ison,  filling,  as  it  did,  evefy  part  of  the  church  with  its  grand 
inspiration. 

The  oration  by  Hon.  E.  B.  Nealley  was  delivered  in  a  most  elo- 
quent manner,  and  was  replete  with  the  highest  and  most  ennobling 


244  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

sentiments  of  a  local  and  national  character,  expressed  in  terse  and 
flowing  periods. 

F.  W.  Hawthorne's  poem  fully  merited  the  close  attention  given 
to  its  well  delivered  lines. 

After  the  closing  hymn  to  the  tune  of  America  by  the  choir, 
orchestra,  and  audience,  and  benediction  by  Rev.  Mr.  Pottle,  the 
immense  audience  slowly  wended  its  way  homeward,  the  booming 
of  cannon  and  the  ringing  of  bells  blending  in  a  national  salute. 

Evening  Gathering.  —  An  audience  of  five  thousand  people 
thronged  the  Patten  Car  Works  in  the  evening.  Mayor  Hyde  pre- 
sided. The  speaking  was  varied  by  occasional  music  by  Andrews' 
Orchestra  and  the  reading  of  letters  from  former  residents  who 
could  not  attend.  The  letters  from  Capt.  C.  C.  Duncan,  President 
George  F.  Magoun,  and  Rev.  Philemon  R.  Russell  were  listened  to 
with  much  interest,  as  was  also  that  of  Jonas  Burn  ham,  eighty  years 
of  age,  the  oldest  surviving  school-master  who  had  taught  school 
in  Bath. 

Hon.  Henry  Tallman  gave  some  interesting  recollections  of  other 
days  which  were  listened  to  with  deep  interest. 

Col.  Lewis  B.  Smith,  of  Portland,  was  the  next  speaker,  and 
made  remarks  expressive  of  his  deep  regard  for  Bath,  and  closed 
with  words  of  Tiny  Tim,  "  God  bless  you,  God  bless  me,  God  bless 
all  and  everybody.,, 

Other  speeches  followed  by  Gen.  Joseph  S.  Smith,  of  Bangor; 
Silas  Stearns  Low,  of  Bangor;  Major  H.  A.  Shorey,  of  the  Bruigton 
News;  Capt.  Guy  C.  Goss,  representative  of  Bath  in  the  legislature; 
Hon.  Wm.  L.  Putnam,  Ex-Mayor  of  Portland,  and  Rev.  S.  F.  Dike. 

The  Ball.  —  At  a  meeting  of  the  Commandery  held  in  February, 
the  whole  affair  of  the  ball  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  a  committee 
of  gentlemen,  consisting  of  Sir  Knights  Charles  A.  Coombs,  Joseph 
M.  Hayes,  Charles  H.  Greenleaf,  John  O.  Shaw,  John  VV.  Ballon, 
William  C.  Duncan,  William  D.  Mussenden,  and  David  O.  Foye, 
who  had  complete  charge  of  the  arrangements,  and  to  whom  the 
credit  should  be  given  for  the  pronounced  success  of  the  evening's 


U~11 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  245 

The  car  factory  was  the  only  building  the  committee  could  secure 
that  would  be  large  enough  to  accommodate  the  immense  gathering 
they  had  every  reason  to  expect,  as  invitations  to  the  number  of  two 
thousand  had  been  sent  throughout  the  state,  over  seven  hundred  of 
this  number  having  been  used  in  Bath.  Invitations  had  been 
sent  to  Governor  Harris  M.  Plaisted  and  to  other  distinguished 
gentlemen.  The  different  Commanderies  of  the  state  were  invited 
collectively.  They  number  thirteen  as  follows,  and  delegations  from 
nearly  all  were  present:  Maine  Commandery,  Gardiner;  Portland 
Commandery,  Portland;  Saint  Johns  Commandery,  Bangor;  Brad- 
ford Commandery,  Saco;  Dunlap  Commandery,  Bath;  Lewiston 
Commandery,  Lewiston;  Trinity  Commandery,  Augusta;  Saint 
Alban  Commandery,  Portland;  Claremont  Commandery,  Rockland; 
DeMolay  Commandery,  Skowhegan;  Saint  Bernard  Commandery, 
Eastport;  Saint  Omer  Commandery,  Waterville;  Blanquefort  Com- 
mandery, Portland. 

The  opening  march  was  a  beautiful  spectacle  and  was  partici- 
pated in  by  two  hundred  and  fifty  couples,  the  Commandery  and 
visiting  Knights  appearing  in  full  Knight  Templar  regalia.  At  its 
close,  the  Commandery,  leaving  their  ladies,  gathered  in  the  center 
of  the  hall,  where  a  magnificent  double  silk  banner  with  a  heavy 
border  of  gold  bullion  fringe  was  presented  to  them  by  some  leading 
citizens.  1\  B.  Torrey  presented  the  banner  with  well  chosen 
remarks.  Joseph  M.  Hayes,  Eminent  Commander,  accepted  the 
j»ift  in  behalf  of  the  Commandery. 

Through  all  the  broad  space,  wherever  the  eye  turned,  it  was  one 
bewildering,  dazzling  maze  of  feminine  beauty.  To  describe  in 
detail  each  rich  costume  would  be  to  paint  every  color  in  a  forest  of 
tropical  birds.     They  were  lovely  and  attractive. 

This  notable  celebration  was  inaugurated  by  the  Sagadahoc  His- 
torical Society,  in  which  its  president,  Mr.  Albert  G.  Page,  took  the 
leading  part,  attending  to  all  the  details  that  ensured  success  to  the 
timely  undertaking,  which  was  worthy  of  the  great  ship-building 
city. 


246  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 


THE    MYSTIC   ORDERS. 


MASONIC. 


Solar  Lodge.  —  On  the  tenth  day  of  September,  1804,  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts  granted  authority  to  William  King, 
Andrew  Greenwood,  Tileston  Cushing,  William  Ledyard,  William 
Allen,  Arthur  Wales,  David  Stinson,  Joseph  Torrey,  Benjamin 
S wanton  and  Samuel  Adams  to  open  a  Lodge  of  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  under  the  title  of  Solar  Lodge  of  Bath,  to  commence  Dec. 
10,  1804.  The  first  meeting  under  the  charter  was  held  in  Winship 
Hall,  at  which  time  the  lodge  was  organized  by  electing  William 
King,  Worshipful  Master,  and  the  necessary  corps  of  officers. 

The  first  officers  of  the  lodge  were  not  installed  until  the  lodge- 
was  consecrated,  Sept.  26,  1805.  The  Lincoln  Lodge  of  Wiscasset 
was  invited  to  attend  on  the  occasion.  Besides  the  installing 
officers  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  one  hundred  members  of  the  order 
were  present  and  marched  in  procession  to  the  North  meeting-house, 
where  the  Reverend  Brother  John  Turner  of  Biddeford  delivered  an 
address,  and  the  consecration  and  installation  ceremony  was  per- 
formed, followed  with  an  address  by  the  Grand  Master,  Woodbury 
Storer. 

On  the  retirement  of  William  King  as  Worshipful  Master  at  the 
close  of  his  term  of  one  year,  a  Worthy  Past  Master's  jewel  was 
presented  to  him  by  the  lodge.  The  membership  at  the  end  of  the 
first  year  was  thirty-two. 

In  December,  1824,  it  was  "Voted  that  the  lodge  dispense  with 
the  use  of  distilled  spirits  at  all  times,  and  wines  except  on  festival 
evenings,  for  the  year  ensuing." 

The  Past  Masters  now  living  are:  David  R.  Wylie,  Joseph  M. 
Hayes,  Henry  W.  Rugg,  Larkin  Dunton,  Horatio  A.  Duncan,  James 
B.  Wescott,  A.  R.  Cahill,  Turner  McCarty,  John  H.  Stantial,  John 
R.  Knowlton,  Walter  G.  Webber,  Oscar  F.  Williams,  William  H. 
Hartwell,  George  Ed.  Litchfield,  Fred  W.  Rideout,  Bant  Hanson, 
Albert  A.  Robinson,  Seth  T.  Snipe. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  247 

At  an  early  day  the  Masonic  order  was  about  the  only  mystic 
society  in  this  section  of  the  country.  There  existed  much  preju- 
dice against  Masonry  and  secret  societies  in  general.  Many  good 
people  thought  they  saw  no  good  but  possible  evil  in  them  —  or 
"  why  should  such  secrecy  be  observed  "  ?  Consequently,  while  the 
Morgan  excitement  prevailed,  Masonry  became  unpopular.  Lodges 
hardly  dared  to  meet,  and  the  order  went  down  to  a  low  ebb. 
In  the  meantime  Odd  Fellowship  came  into  favor  and  flourished. 
This  was  stimulating  to  Free  Masons,  who  revived  the  working  of 
the  order,  and  gradually  its  meetings  became  well  attended  and  its 
former  prestige  established.  During  all  the  years  of  the  depressed 
state  of  the  order  there  were  some  of  the  Bath  brethren  who  held 
fast  to  their  Masonic  integrity.  Prominently  among  those  were 
William  King  and  John  Elliot.     Solar  Lodge  now  has  300  members. 

The  Montgomery  Royal  Arch  Chapter. — In  accordance  with 
a  dispensation  granted  by  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Massa- 
chusetts, a  meeting  was  convened  in  Bath  on  Dec.  27,  18 19,  on 
which  occasion  James  McLcllan,  David  Stinson,  Peter  H.  Green, 
Robert  P.  Dun  lap  and  six  other  "  Companions  "  were  present  and 
were  organized  into  a  chapter,  of  which  Robert  P.  Dunlap  was 
made  High  Priest,  James  McLellan,  Royal  Arch  Captain,  and  the 
other  necessary  officers  chosen,  forming  the  Montgomery  Royal 
Arch  Chapter,  No.  2. 

In  1845,  the  chapter  began  holding  its  convocations  alternate  years 
in  Bath  and  Brunswick,  and  so  continued  until  April  4,  i860,  when 
it  became  permanently  located  in  Bath.  In  1863,  the  Brunswick 
members  formed  the  St.  Paul's  Chapter  in  Brunswick  and  trans- 
ferred their  membership  accordingly,  yet  Robert  P.  Dunlap  always 
retained  his  membership  in  the  Bath  chapter. 

Those  who  have  held  the  office  of  High  Priest  in  Montgomery 
Chapter  now  living  in  Bath  are:  Andrew  J.  Fuller,  John  O.  Shaw, 
Joseph   M.  Hayes,  John  VV.  Ballou,  E.  M.  Fuller. 

St.  Bernard  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  23,  was  constituted  May  23, 
1876,  with  John  W.  Ballou,  High  Priest;  Larkin  Dunton,  King; 
Joseph  M.  Hayes,  Scribe.     This  chapter  was  the  most  prosperous 


248  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

and  flourishing  Masonic  body  in  the  city  for  three  years,  and  having 
accomplished  its  object  it  consolidated  with  the  mother  chapter, 
May  6,  1879,  under  the  style  and  name  of  Montgomery  and  St. 
Bernard  Chapter,  No.  2. 

Montgomery  and  St.  Bernard  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  No.  2,  was 
constituted  May  6,  1879,  by  the  consolidation  of  Montgomery 
Chapter,"No.  2,  and  St.  Bernard  Chapter,  No.  23,  with  Horatio  A. 
Duncan,  High  Priest.  The  Past  High  Priests  are  H.  A.  Duncan, 
W.  Scott  Shorey,  David  R.  Wylie,  John  W.  Ballou,  Hiram  Welch, 
Charles  A.  Coombs,  Turner  McCarty,  Oscar  F.  Williams,  Walter  S. 
Russell,  Charles  W.  Clifford. 

Dunlap  Commandery,  No.  5,  Knights  Templars,  was  chartered 
May  3,  1864.  Past  Eminent  Commanders  are  David  Owen,  Charles 
H.  McLellan,  John  W.  Ballou,  H.  A.  Duncan,  John  O.  Shaw,  Hiram 
Welch,  Joseph  M.  Hayes,  Edwin  M.  Fuller,  William  D.  Mussendcn, 
George  H.  Clark,  William  B.  Palmer,  George  L.  Thompson. 

Polar  Star  Lodge.  —  This  lodge  was  founded  by  those  who 
were  identified  with  the  Bath  Solar  Lodge,  among  whom  were 
Andrew  J.  Fuller,  David  Owen,  John  H.  McLellan,  and  David  T. 
Stinson,  charter  members,  and  there  were  ten  others.  The  lodge 
was  organized  March  7,  1863,  with  A.  J.  Fuller,  Worshipful  Master, 
and  was  constituted  May  8,  1863.  The  Masters  have  been  Andrew 
J.  Fuller,  John  W.  Ballou,  Charles  W.  Larrabee,  Charles  H.  McLel- 
lan, Hiram  A.  Turner,  Timothy  B.  Curtis,  William  C.  Duncan, 
Edwin  M.  Fuller,  Charles  W.  Arras,  Walter  S.  Russell,  William  B. 
Palmer,  William  H.  Swett,  Augustus  C.  Sprague,  George  H.  Clark. 
This  lodge  has  221  names  on  its  roll  of  membership. 

Other  Orders.  —  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Lin- 
coln Lodge,  chartered  August  1,  1844.  reorganized  later;  Sagadahoc 
Encampment;  Canton  King;  Queen  Esther  Daughters  of  Rebecca. 
Independent  Order  of  Good  Templars,  Popham  Lodge;  Hath 
Lodge;  Juvenile  Lodge;  Good  Cheer  Lodge;  White  Cross  Lodge. 
Knights  of  Labor.  Royal  Arcaneum,  William  King  Lodge. 
Knights  of  Pythias,  Acadia  Lodge,  organized  1876;  Patten 
Lodge;  Bath  Division,  Uniform  Rank.    A.  O.  F.,  Sagadahoc  Lodge. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  249 

American  Brotherhood  of  Steamboat  Pilots,  Sasanoa  Lodge. 
United  Order  of  the  Golden  Cross,  Katahdin  Commandery. 
Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  organized  March  26,  1889. 


ASSOCIATIONS. 


Bath  Loan  ant?  Building  Association;  Sagadahoc  Club; 
Sagadahoc  Association  for  Protection  of  Fish  and  Game; 
Sedgwick  Post  of  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic;  Sedgwick  , 
Relief  Corps;  Sagadahoc  Gun  Club;  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union;  Philharmonic  Orchestra;  Bath  Rowing 
Club;  The  Young  Woman's  Temperance  Union,  styling  them- 
selves the  Y's;  Young  People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor; 
Missionary  and  Charitable  Society;  William  King  Council 
of  Law  and  Order  League;  The  Bees,  a  charitable  association  of 
young  women;  Olympian  Club,  for  debate  by  young  men;  The 
King's  Daughters;  King's  Sons. 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  —  The  association  was 
organized  Jan.  4,  1889,  and  held  its  first  religious  service  the 
4th  of  the  following  February.  An  excellent  suite  of  eleven 
rooms  was  opened  to  the  young  men  June  17th  of  the  same 
year.  Galen  C.  Moses  was  its  first  president  and  W.  J.  Chad- 
bourne  its  first  general  secretary.  Its  board  of  directors  includes 
some  of  the  most  prominent  and  successful  business  men  in  the 
city.  The  membership  of  the  organization  numbered,  Nov.  1,  1890, 
260  young  men. 

Evening  educational  classes,  sociables,  entertainments,  lectures,  and 
Bible  classes  have  been  among  the  attractions  and  privileges  offered 
young  men.  The  boarding-house  register,  correspondence  desk,  and 
the  department  of  visitation  of  the  sick  are  important  factors  in  the 
work. 

During  the  year  ending  May,  1892,  the  applications  for  em- 
ployment were  40;  directed  to  employment,  26;  destitute  young 
men  assisted,  13.     Forty  young  men's  meetings  were  held  during 


250  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

the  year  with  a  total  attendance  of  2,236;  average  attendance,  56. 
Ten  young  men  professed  conversion;  some  of  whom  joined  the 
churches.  Several  sick  young  men  were  called  on  and  assisted  in 
various  ways. 

The  rooms  are  open  daily  and  evenings  as  a  quiet  resort,  where 
there  are  papers  and  periodicals  for  gratuitous  use. 

This  association  is  now  (1893)  engaged  in  erecting  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  Summer  and  Front  streets  a  large  building  for  its 
uses;  the  lower  story  to  be  rented  for  business  purposes. 


THE  SAGADAHOC  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  region  of  country  of  which  the  Lower 
Kennebec  is  the  center  is  rich  in  historical  lore,  it  was  believed  by 
some  of  the  citizens  of  Bath  having  a  taste  for  historical  matters 
that  an  effort  should  be  made  to  gather  up  and  preserve  facts  of 
local  history,  and  to  collect  and  preserve  relics  of  the  past  while  yet 
in  existence.  To  accomplish  these  purposes,  a  meeting  of  persons 
interested  in  antiquarian  research  was  held  in  the  common  council 
room,  Oct.  5,  1877,  and  consisted  of  Edwin  Reed,  then  mayor  of 
the  city,  C  A.  Packard,  George  Prince,  Samuel  V.  Dike,  George  A. 
Preble,  Joseph  M.  Hayes,  Elisha  Upton,  John  G.  Richardson,  Har- 
old M.  Sewall,  Levi  P.  Lemont,  A.  G.  Page,  R.  D.  Bibber,  Chapin 
Weston,  J.  L.  Douglas.  Of  this  meeting  Edwin  Reed  was  chair- 
man and  Elisha  Upton,  secretary.  It  was  decided  to  organize  a 
historical  society,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of  J.  G.  Richardson, 
Elisha  Upton,  Edwin  Reed,  J.  M.  Hayes,  and  George  Prince,  was 
appointed  to  prepare  a  constitution  and  by-laws. 

A  second  meeting  was  held  on  December  4,  1877,  at  which  the 
society  was  organized  under  the  title  of  the  Sagadahoc  Historical 
Society,  with  Edwin  Reed,  president,  and  Charles  A.  Packard, 
vice-president.  For  the  year  1878,  the  board  of  officers  were 
re-elected.  At  the  annual  meeting  of  1879,  the  same  officers 
were  again  chosen  and  R.  1).  Bibber  was  elected  treasurer,  which 
office  he  held  till  1890.  In  1880,  C.  A.  Packard  became  president 
and  A.  G.  Page,  vice-president,  and  the  other  officers  were  re-elected 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  25 1 

for  1 88 1.  In  1882,  Albert  G.  Page  became  president  and  James  D. 
Robinson,  vice-president,  and  were  re-elected  each  succeeding  year 
until  1887,  when  Parker  M.  Reed  was  elected  president  and  J.  D. 
Robinson,  vice-president,  who  were  re-elected  the  two  succeeding 
years.  In  1889,  Parker  M.  Reed  was  again  chosen  president  and 
John  G.  Richardson,  vice-president.  In  1890,  R.  D.  Bibber  was 
elected  president,  J.  G.  Richardson,  vice-president,  and  W.  W.  Rob- 
inson, treasurer,  all  of  whom  were  re-elected  in  1891  and  1892,  with 
the  exception  of  George  E.  Newman,  vice-president.  For  1893  the 
former  officers  were  re-elected.  J.  L.  Douglas  has  been  secretary 
since  the  existance  of  the  society. 

During  the  presidency  of  Mr.  Page  and  by  his  efforts,  a  course  of 
lectures  was  held  one  winter  with  success,  and  at  various  times 
other  single  historical  lectures  have  been  given  by  historians  from 
neighboring  towns.  At  the  meetings  of  the  society  many  papers 
have  been  read  by  its  members,  treating  of  local  historical  events 
and  of  prominent  men  of  early  times. 

Since  1883  annual  Field-day  excursions  have  been  taken  by  the 
sbciety  and  its  friends.  For  the  first  year,  under  the  auspices  of 
President  Page,  a  small  steamer  was  chartered  for  the  day,  and  a 
select  party  of  forty  ladies  and  gentlemen  enjoyed  a  day's  outing 
at  Arrowsic,  the  site  of  ancient  "  New  Town,"  where  the  party 
visited  the  spot  where  stood  the  old  Georgetown  meeting-house  and 
the  ancient  cemeteries,  and  then  proceeded  to  Fort  Popham. 

On  the  Field-day  of  1884,  a  crowded  steamer  took  the  historical 
party  to  Sheepscot  River,  making  a  landing  at  the  Edgecomb  block- 
house of  1809. 

In  1885,  the  Maine  Historical  Society  united  with  the  Sagadahoc 
Society  and  went  on  steamer  to  Stage  Island  and  Popham. 

In  1886,  the  society  with  friends  took  a  carriage  ride  to  Cape 
Small  Point,  where  members  were  the  invited  guests  of  M.  B. 
Spinney  at  the  Spinney  Cottage  Hotel.  A  paper  on  the  history  of 
ancient  Augusta  by  P.  M.  Reed  was  read  by  his  son,  A.  A.  Reed, 
followed  by  brief  addresses  from  A.  G.  Tenney  and  H.  O.  Thayer; 
the  remains  of  the  fort  of  ancient  Augusta,  of  17 16,  at  the  Harbor, 
and  other  historical  points,  were  visited. 


252  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

In  1887,  the  steam  yacht  Juno,  owned  by  Mr.  Amory  M.  Hough- 
ton, was  placed  at  the  service  of  the  society  by  the  courtesy  of  Mr. 
John  R.  Houghton  for  a  trip  to  the  Upper  Kennebec,  when  the  old 
Pownalborough  court-house  of  1761  and  site  of  Fort  Shirley  were 
visited,  proving  to  be  points  of  much  historical  interest. 

In  1888,  the  excursion  was  to  the  uPot  holes"  at  Riggsville, 
Boothbay  Harbor,  and  the  Inner  Heron  Island,  by  a  large  party 
invited  by  a  committee  of  ladies  of  the  society. 

On  the  Field-day  of  1889,  the  Pejepscot  Historical  Society  of 
Brunswick  came  over  by  the  cars  and  joined  the  Sagadahoc  Society 
in  a  visit  to  Pemaquid,  as  was  the  case  in  1893. 

Parlor  Meetings.  —  In  the  winter  of  1 888,  a  series  of  meetings 
were  held  at  residences  of  members  of  the  society,  termed  parlor 
meetings,  under  the  auspices  of  the  president,  and  papers  on  local 
historical  subjects  were  read.  These  meetings  were  kept  up  the 
following  winter  with  success. 

Ladies  were  admitted  to  membership  by  a  constitutional  amend- 
ment in  1888,  and  many  joined  the  society. 

The  Society's  New  Room.  —  The  meetings  of  the  society  had 
been  held  in  the  common  council  room  in  the  City  Hall  up  to  1891 ; 
the  papers  and  relics  belonging  to  the  society  having  been  kept  in 
a  chest  in  the  basement  of  the  custom-house  for  safety.  Members 
had  long  believed  it  important  to  have  a  suitable  room  of  their  own. 
Accordingly,  when  plans  were  drawn  for  a  Public  Library  Building, 
a  successful  effort  was  made  by  the  president  of  the  society  — 
Parker  M.  Reed  —  to  secure  a  room  in  the  building  for  the  society's 
occupancy,  by  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Galen  C.  Moses,  the  donor  and 
builder  of  the  library  edifice.  A  room  in  the  second  story  of  ample 
capacity  was  assigned  to  this  purpose,  which  the  generosity  of 
Mr.  Moses  completed  with  fittings  of  elegance  and  utility  equal  to 
those  of  the  library  apartments,  providing  likewise  equal  free 
advantages  of  heating  and  lighting.  The  society  was  at  the  expense 
only  of  necessary  furniture,  and  is  very  handsomely  and  commo- 
diously  accommodated.  The  society  took  possession  of  its  new 
room  in  January,  1891. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  253 


BOARD  OF  TRADE. 


On  May  26,  1863,  at  a  meeting  of  business  men  held  in  the 
common  council  room,  a  Board  of  Trade  was  organized,  and  George 
A.  Preble  was  elected  president.  One  thousand  dollars  were  esti- 
mated to  be  necessary  for  the  expenses  in  fitting  up  a  room,  for 
telegraph  despatches,  newspapers,  clerk  hire,  fuel,  a  bulletin  board, 
and  books.  A  list  of  125  subscribers  was  obtained,  whose  annual 
dues  were  fixed  at  five  dollars;  $200  were  raised  by  voluntary  sub- 
scription, which  with  the  annual  dues  were  appropriated  for  current 
expenses.  The  organization  was  named  the  Merchants'  Exchange 
Association  of  Bath.  A  reading  room  was  procured  and  fitted  up. 
July  6,  1864.   This  is  the  last  record  of  a  meeting  of  the  association. 

Nov.  20,  1871,  an  association  of  citizens  met  in  the  custom-house 
building  and  organized  themselves  as  the  Bath  Board  of  Trade, 
and  elected  A.  J.  Fuller,  President,  Thomas  S.  Lang,  Vice-President, 
and  William  D.  Haley,  Secretary.  In  January,  1872,  the  Board 
ordered  the  publication  of  five  hundred  circulars  for  public  distri- 
bution. Feb.  5,  1872,  President  A.  J.  Fuller  read  his  first  annual 
address.  March  11,  1872,  the  act  granted  by  the  legislature  for 
incorporating  the  Bath  Board  of  Trade  was  accepted.  In  188 1, 
the  Board  caused  to  be  prepared  and  printed  in  book  form  "The 
Annual  Report  of  the  Bath  Board  of  Trade,"  which  was  prepared 
and  published  by  Jarvis  Patten  for  that  year  and  1882,  1883,  1884, 
and  by  Albert  A.  Reed  for  1886,  1887,  and  1889,  and  largely  circu- 
lated throughout  the  maritime  sections  of  the  country. 

There  have  been  earnest  and  repeated  discussions  at  the  meetings 
of  the  Board  relative  to  the  matter  of  encouraging  the  introduction 
of  manufactures  into  the  city,  and  committees  appointed  to  take 
active  measures  to  induce  manufacturers  who  might  be  looking  for  a 
favorable  point  to  establish  business  to  locate  in  Bath. 

The  "Spanish  Treaty"  of  1885  received  extended  criticism,  in 
which  a  large  number  of  prominent  business  men  took  part,  ending 
in  passing  resolutions  against  the  ratification  of  the  treaty. 


254  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Commencing  during  June,  1886,  the  subject  of  introducing  water 
into  the  city  by  a  system  of  water  works  was  freely  and  repeatedly 
discussed,  and  favorable  recommendation  adopted,  asking  the  city 
government  to  proceed  to  perfect  the  scheme,  which  was  accom- 
plished in  1887. 

The  matter  of  establishing  iron  ship-buildIng  in  Bath  received 
protracted  debate  for  several  years,  commencing  in  November,  1887, 
ending  at  the  establishment  of  a  plant  for  that  purpose,  and  the 
contract  to  construct  two  gun-boats  in  1890,  and  in  1891  a  contract 
for  the  Ammen  Ram  was  obtained  by  the  Bath  Iron  Works. 

Much  attention  has  been  given  by  the  Board  to  the  securing 
Congressional  aid  by  subsidy  to  deep  sea-going  ships  in  carrying 
freight  and  mails,  in  order  to  enable  American  ships  to  compete 
with  those  of  foreign  build  that  enjoy  subsidies  by  the  governments 
under  whose  flags  they  sail.  To  forward  this  purpose,  in  1886,  the 
Board  invited  the  members  of  the  Maine  delegation  in  Congress  to 
visit  Bath  and  examine  its  facilities  for  building  ships  both  for  the 
merchant  marine  and  government  navy,  tendering  them  a  banquet 
on  the  occasion.  Senator  W.  P.  Frye  and  Representatives  Dingley 
and  Boutelle  responded  by  attendance.  Tables  were  spread  at  the 
Sagadahoc  House  and  seats  were  occupied  to  tlicir  utmost  capacity. 
Addresses  were  made  by  Messrs.  Frye,  Dingley,  and  Boutelle,  and 
by  President  Fuller,  J.  M.  Hayes,  president  of  the  Board  of  Alder- 
men, representing  the  Mayor  in  his  absence,  Thomas  W.  Hyde, 
Galen  C.  Moses,  and  William  Rogers. 

The  Board  made  an  earnest  effort  in  1887  to  bring  about  making 
of  the  ferry  and  bridges  leading  into  Bath  free.  The  scheme  was 
balloted  upon  by  the  towns  interested  and  defeated  by  five  votes. 

In  1866,  there  was  a  bill  before  Congress  to  authorize  ships  built 
in  foreign  countries  to  be  admitted  to  free  registry  in  the  United 
States.  The  Board  took  active  and  decisive  measures  to  aid  in 
defeating  the  measure,  and  after  full  discussion  in  regular  session,  a 
public  meeting  was  held  by  the  Board  in  the  City  Hall  and  delegates 
chosen  to  proceed  at  once  to  Washington.  For  that  purpose,  a 
committee   of    the   Board  raised   by    subscription   ample  funds  to 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  255 

pay  the  expenses  of  the  delegates,  whose  services  did  much  to  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  the  bill. 

In  the  February  of  1888  a  Banquet  was  held  by  the  Board  at 
the  Sagadahoc  House,  at  which  there  was  a  large  attendance,  and 
brief  speeches  were  made  by  a  large  number  of  members  of  the 
Board  and  its  guests. 

Officers.  —  Presidents,  George  A.  Preble,  1863;  Andrew  J.  Fuller 
from  187 1  to  1892;  William  Rogers,  1892-1893;  Vice-Presidents, 
Thomas  S.  Lang,  Jarvis  Patten,  Albert  G.  Page,  Parker  M.  Whit- 
more  from  1885;  Secretaries,  Henry  W.  Fuller,  William  D.  Haley, 
John  O.  Shaw,  Frank  W.  Weeks  from  1879  to  1889  (also  treas- 
urer), Eugene  Greenleaf,  E.  C.  Plummer  from  1892.  In  January, 
1892,  A.  J.  Fuller  declined  to  be  a  candidate  for  president,  on 
account  of  his  age  and  long  service,  and  William  Rogers  was  elected. 

Young  Men's  Business  Club.  —  In  1886,  a  Young  Men's 
Business  Club  was  formed  with  John  O.  Patten,  president,  which 
held  spirited  meetings.  In  1890,  the  club  was  reorganized  and  E. 
M.  Fuller  became  president,  Mr.  Patten  having  moved  out  of  the 
city;  later  it  was  merged  into  the  Board  of  Trade. 


KNOW  NOTHING  PARTY. 


In  1853,  a  political  party  suddenly  came  up  and  was  called  the 
American  party.  In  towns  and  cities  secret  orders  were  formed, 
composed  of  adherents  to  the  views  that  none  but  native  Americans 
should  have  a  voice  in  ruling  America.  They  held  secret  meetings, 
and  when  questioned  concerning  their  movements  simply  said  noth- 
ing or  that  they  "  did  not  know  anything."  Thus  they  were  given 
the  name  of  "  Know  Nothings."  Haranguers  traveled  through  the 
country  to  stir  up  the  people  and  the  idea  took  wonderfully.  A 
taking  point  with  them  was  an  onslaught  against  Catholics.  The 
party  carried  some  states  in  1854,  among  which  was  Massachusetts. 
The  career  of  this  party  ended  with  one  year's  triumph.  This  new 
movement  greatly  agitated  Bath  and  led  to  mob  violence. 


256  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

On  Thursday  evening,  July  6,  1854,  there  was  witnessed  in  this 
city  the  destruction  by  a  mob  of  the  property  of  citizens.  A  street 
preacher  held  forth  to  those  who  chose  to  listen  to  him  against 
Popery.  He  harangued  Wednesday  and  Thursday  evenings.  On  the 
first  night  there  was  no  disturbance  attending  the  gathering,  although 
there  was  a  large  crowd  in  attendance,  and  many  sympathized 
strongly  with  the  sentiments  of  the  speaker.  Thursday  night  the 
crowd  was  still  larger  and  was  composed  of  many  of  the  most 
respectable  citizens,  among  them  large  numbers  of  master  me- 
chanics, tradesmen,  and  professional  men.  There  was  also  enough 
inflammable  material — as  the  sequel  shows — to  do  violence,  despite 
the  law  and  order  sentiments  that  prevailed  with  the  greater  portion 
of  the  company. 

The  lecturer  had  nearly  finished  his  harangue  without  disturbance 
when  a  hack  was  driven  through  the  crowd  towards  the  depot. 
Nothing  was  thought  of  this  by  the  crowd,  which  opened  to  the 
right  and  left  to  give  it  an  opportunity  to  pass.  It  immediately  re- 
turned, however,  and  the  crowd  then  acted  on  the  supposition  that 
the  driver  and  passengers  were  designing  to  break  up  the  meeting, 
and  refused  to  let  it  go  through,  but  stopped  the  horses  and  turned 
them  about.  This  event  appeared  to  be  the  starting  point  of  excite- 
ment. Much  feeling  was  expressed,  and  cheers  and  groans  were 
given  in  rapid  succession,  ending  by  raising  a  shout,  "To  the  old 
South  church! "  From  the  custom-house,  the  scene  of  the  excite- 
ment, the  crowd  rapidly  dispersed,  the  majority  of  them  going  to 
the  old  South  church,  which  was  being  used  for  a  place  of  worship 
by  the  Catholics.  The  crowd  broke  in  doors  and  windows,  entered 
the  building,  rang  the  bell,  waved  the  American  ensign  from  the 
belfry,  and  lastly  set  fire  to  it.  The  flames  spread  with  great  rapidity 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  building  was  in  ruins.  The  firemen  were 
early  at  the  fire,  but  nothing  could  be  done  towards  staying  it. 
The  building  was  owned  principally  or  wholly  by  William  M.  Rogers, 
John  Patten,  and  Jeremiah  Robinson.  There  was  no  insurance. 
The  city  lost  a  clock,  which  was  in  the  steeple.  The  mob  com- 
menced their  riotous  proceedings  about  quarter  past  eight  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  and  continued  to  have  entire  and  unmolested  control  of 
the  city  the  whole  night. 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  257 

Soon  after  this,  the  mob  endeavored  to  force  an  entrance  into  the 
Sagadahoc  House,  but  by  the  interposition  of  the  mayor  and  from 
other  causes  they  at  length  desisted  from  that  purpose.  They 
then  marched  through  the  streets,  threatening  with  violence  the  per- 
sons they  supposed  had  attempted  to  disturb  the  native  American 
and  anti-Catholic  speaker.  The  mob  obtained  a  cannon  during  the 
night  which  they  discharged  several  times.  They  visited  a  house 
occupied  by  several  Irish  families,  notified  them  to  leave  town  in 
two  days  or  they  would  destroy  the  building.  About  midnight  they 
surrounded  the  house  of  a  good  but  Catholic  citizen,  uttering  cries  of 
"  Fire  the  house,"  "  Pull  it  down."  When  he  inquired  what  was  the 
cause  of  the  disturbance,  he  was  told  that  they  had  burned  his 
church  and  also  that  any  other  place  of  Catholic  worship  would  be 
destroyed  the  same  way.  They  told  him  he  must  drink  a  toast  of 
"  Death  to  the  Pope,"  which  he  refused  to  do. 

Mayor  Putnam  read  the  riot  act  on  the  steps  of  the  City  Hall 
and  also  made  an  energetic  address  to  the  masses  before  him,  which 
had  a  salutary  effect,  but  not  to  the  extent  of  dispersing  the  rioters, 
lty  order  of  the  mayor  the  City  Grays  were  called  out  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  E.  K.  Harding;  were  under  arms  in  their 
armory  ready  for  duty  to  aid  the  police  if  resort  should  be  had  to 
their  services,  and  they  were  on  duty  on  both  Friday  and  Saturday 
nights.  Sunday  night  it  rained  and  quiet  reigned.  On  Monday  an 
additional  force  of  one  hundred  policemen  were  on  duty  and  the 
City  Grays  also.  The  military  were  not  used  to  quell  the  riot,  but 
the  knowledge  of  their  being  in  readiness  may  have  had  its  influ- 
ence. On  Monday  Ira  Mason  was  arrested  as  a  leader  of  the  mob, 
and  on  Tuesday  was  examined  before  Judge  Smith  and  ordered  to 
recognize  in  the  sum  of  $1,500  for  his  appearance  before  the  Su- 
preme Court  in  August.  And  this  judicial  proceeding  seemed  to 
be  the  signal  for  the  final  dispersion  of  the  mob,  which  had  densely 
blocked  the  streets  from  the  town  hall  to  Front  street,  and  as  far 
down  Front  as  Elm  street. 


258  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 


PRESIDENT   BENJAMIN    HARRISON'S    VISIT   TO 

BATH    IN    1889. 


In  the  early  part  of  August,  Hath  was  honored  by  a  visit  from 
President  Harrison,  accompanied  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Navy  and 
other  distinguished  men.  Among  the  courtesies  extended  to  his 
excellency  was  a  sail  upon  the  river,  by  which  he  was  afforded  an 
opportunity  to  become  acquainted  with  the  unsurpassed  advantages 
of  the  city's  magnificent  harbor.  By  a  committee  from  the  city 
government  and  Board  of  Trade,  his  attention  was  called  to  the 
great  length  and  width  of  the  harbor,  and  its  uniform  great  depth, 
rendering  it  capable  of  accommodating  fleets  of  vessels  of  the 
largest  tonnage,  while  the  long  approach  from  the  ocean,  passing 
between  high,  commanding  banks,  could  be  fortified  beyond  the 
possibility  of  entrance  by  a  hostile  power,  while  the  twelve  miles 
that  intervene  between  the  city  and  the  sea  render  a  bombardment 
by  a  fleet  stationed  at  the  river's  mouth  wholly  out  of  the  question. 

His  excellency's  attention  was  also  directed  to  the  lofty  hills  that 
surround  the  harbor  upon  every  side, — a  complete  safeguard  from 
land  attack  and  a  splendid  opportunity  for  the  establishment  of  a 
signal  station,  one  point  in  particular  commanding  a  view  of  the 
whole  sea-coast  for  many  leagues  in  all  directions.  All  of  these 
features  were  duly  appreciated  by  his  excellency,  who  expressed  his 
admiration  of  the  great  shipping  city's  maritime  advantages  in  no 
stinted  terms. 

He  was  also  afforded  an  opportunity  to  view  the  ship-yards,  which 
for  over  a  century  have  given  Bath  the  prestige  of  the  leading  ship- 
building city  in  the  world.  He  also  visited  the  Marine  Iron  Works 
and  the  site  of  the  proposed  iron  ship-yard  was  viewed.  The  fact 
that  all  Bath  needs  is  a  little  government  encouragement  to  enable 
her  to  begin  the  building  of  iron  ships  was  made  very  apparent  to 
his  excellency,  who  expressed  the  hope  that  in  the  near  future  the 
award  of  at  least  one  contract  for  the  construction  of  a  steel  cruiser 
would  give  the  shipping  city  the  impetus  which  she  so  greatly  needs. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  259 

In  his  remarks  to  the  citizens,  from  the  custom-house,  President 
Harrison  said  that  he  had  appreciated  his  warm  reception  in  Bath, 
but  above  all  had  appreciated  the  wonderful  facilities  of  the  city 
and  its  shipping  interests.  He  felt  very  sorry  that  time  and  oppor. 
tunities  forbade  his  holding  a  public  reception,  for  he  would  be 
delighted  to  welcome  the  good  people  of  the  city.  He  had  more 
than  enjoyed  his  brief  stay,  and  believed  from  its  evidences  that  he 
should  be  more  than  ever  delighted  with  the  Pine  Tree  State.  In 
closing  he  said:  "  I  now  need  say  good-by;  I  hope  you  will  allow 
me  once  again  to  thank  you  for  your  cordial  welcome  and  to  bid  you 
prosperity  and  happiness  for  all  time  to  come.,,  The  presidential 
party  was  then  driven  to  an  inspection  of  the  Hyde  Iron  Works. 


VISITS  OF  UNITED  STATES  STEAMSHIPS. 


In  the  summer  of  1843,  the  United  States  steam  frigate  Missouri, 
in  command  of  John  T.  Newton,  came  into  the  river  and  anchored 
off  the  city.  During  her  stay  of  several  days  she  was  visited  by  the 
entire  people  of  Bath  and  thousands  from  the  surrounding  towns. 
The  officers  were  entertained  on  shore  by  private  citizens,  who  in 
turn  were  entertained  on  board  the  ship.  This  naval  vessel  was  of 
two  thousand  tons,  and  the  largest  steamship  in  the  world. 

At  a  later  date  the  Saratoga  was  here,  and  the  occasion  was 
attended  with  about  the  same  performances  as  took  place  with  the 
Missouri. 

In  1890,  Portland  had  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Maine  department  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  the  United  States  cruisers  Baltimore,  Dolphin,  Petrel, 
and  Kearsarge  were  in  that  harbor  to  aid  the  occasion.  They  were 
under  the  command  of  Admiral  Gherardi.  Later  they  were  ordered 
to  come  into  the  Kennebec.  They  came  to  anchor  off  the  city  at 
five  o'clock  p.m.,  July  12,  1890.  In  view  of  the  coming  of  these 
vessels,  the  city  government  took  measures  to  make  all  possible 
arrangements  to  entertain  the  officers,  in  which  effort  leading  citi- 
zens joined.     On  the  same  evening  a  reception  was  given  to  the 


26o  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

officers  of  the  squadron  at  the  house  and  grounds  of  Gen.  T.  W. 
Hyde,  which  the  leading  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  city  attended. 

On  Sunday  some  of  the  officers  attended  the  different  churches, 
the  admiral  at  Grace  church.  Monday,  at  ten  o'clock,  a  carriage 
procession,  composed  of  the  officers  and  distinguished  citizens,  rode 
through  the  principal  streets  and  to  Whizgig  and  the  cemeteries. 
In  the  afternoon  there  was  a  reception  by  the  admiral  in  the  alder- 
men's room  in  the  city  building,  to  which  the  citizens  generally  were 
invited  to  shake  hands  with  this  officer  of  distinction.  In  the  even- 
ing a  reception  and  ball  were  held  in  the  Alameda,  to  which  the 
leading  people  were  invited,  and  a  crowd  attended.  The  music  was 
by  the  Togus  Band.     The  ships  left  for  Bar  Harbor  the  next  day. 

There  was  a  procession  of  the  sailors  and  marines  from  the  ships, 
marching  through  the  principal  streets.  There  was  also  a  clambake 
on  a  large  scale  at  Foster's  Point,  at  which  the  admiral  and  officers 
of  the  fleet  were  present,  and  a  large  concourse  of  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen, invited  guests  of  the  city. 

During  the  stay  of  the  ships,  large  numbers  of  the  people  of  Bath 
and  vicinity  visited  them,  the  flag-ship  Baltimore  attracting  the  most 
attention,  while  the  Kearsarge,  for  her  historic  fame  of  having  sunk 
the  rebel  cruiser  Alabama,  was  an  object  of  great  interest.  She 
was  painted  black,  while  all  the  others  were  white.  The  flag-ship 
was  anchored  off  the  city  landing,  the  Petrel  south  of  her,  the 
Dolphin  south  of  her,  and  the  Kearsarge  north  of  all  of  them. 

Bath  was  again  visited  by  the  North  Atlantic  Squadron  Sept.  2, 
1 89 1,  the  ships  anchoring  off  the  city  for  two  days.  Admiral 
Walker  and  his  staff  and  the  fleet  officers  were  entertained  by  a 
reception  and  ball  at  the  Alameda  Opera  House,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Sagadahoc  Club.  The  next  day  there  was  an  excursion  in 
honor  of  the  visitors  on  the  large  Boston  and  Kennebec  steamer 
Kennebec  to  Popham,  where  a  clam-bake  was  prepared  for  the 
large  company. 

The  ships  were  the  Chicago,  Capt.  J.  N.  Miller  (the  flag-ship 
of  Admiral  Walker);  the  Newark,  Capt.  Silas  Casey;  the  Atlanta, 
Capt.  J.  W.  Phillips;  the  Boston,  Capt.  G.  C.  Wiltse;  the  Concord, 
Capt.  O.  A.   Batchelder;    the  Yorktown,   Capt.  R.  D.   Evans;    the 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  26 1 

Vesuvius,  Capt.  Seaton  Schroeder;  the  Cushing,  Capt.  C.  W.  Wins- 
low.  The  fleet  made  a  fine  display,  riding  in  line  on  the  river,  the 
flag-ship  stationed  immediately  opposite  the  city  landing,  where 
conveniences  were  placed  for  boats  plying  between  the  ships  and 
the  shore.  In  all  there  were  one  hundred  and  thirty-eight  com- 
missioned officers  on  board  the  ships.     The  ships  left  Sept.  4th. 


AN  ANCIENT   STREAM. 


Originally  a  deep  cove  made  in  from  the  Kennebec  north 
and  contiguous  to  the  old  town  landing,  now  the  Eastern  Steamboat 
Company's  wharf.  Small  vessels  came  up  in  it  to  Front  street  as 
late  as  the  last  half  of  the  last  century,  within  the  recollections  of 
aged  men  now  living.  In  1820  a  long  bridge  was  built  that  extend- 
ed from  the  foot  of  Elm  street  to  near  Summer  street,  and  a  branch 
bridge  which  is  now  the  foot  of  Elm  street,  was  built  leading  from 
the  main  bridge  along  what  is  now  Elm  street  to  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  Water  street.  Some  of  the  dock  is  now  to  be  seen  as  far 
inland  as  the  rear  of  stores  on  the  west  side  of  Front  street  imme- 
diately south  of  the  eastern  extremity  of  Elm  street.  King's  dock, 
as  it  was  termed,  extended  south  to  near  the  city  hay  scales,  which 
was  bridged  by  William  King  in  1824  and  is  now  a  part  of  Water 
street.  King  owned  the  clock  in  his  day  on  both  sides  as  far  as 
Center  street.  From  Water  street  it  became  a  stream;  it  trended 
north  and  then  south,  crossing  Center  street  near  the  "corner,"  turn- 
ing west  a  little  north  of  the  railroad  crossing  at  King  street.  It 
next  turned  north  on  a  line  with  the  railroad  track,  on  the  west  of 
which  there  is  now  a  vacant  lot  on  the  south  side  of  Center  street, 
where  bricks  were  made  by  Elijah  Low,  and  there  are  those  living 
who  have  seen  gondolas  come  up  to  the  brick  yard  as  late  as  1830 
to  discharge  wood  for  use  in  burning  the  bricks.  From  thence  the 
water  became  a  small  stream,  on  the  bed  of  which  is  now  the  rail- 
road track  extending  north.  Isaiah  Crooker,  Sr.,  built  a  vessel  on 
his  own  l.ind  on  the  west  bank  of  this  stream,  opposite  the  dwelling 
of  John  R.  Houghton.  This  vessel  was  of  seventy  tons  and  when 
rea  dy  for  sea  was  loaded  with  lumber  for  the  Island  of  Madeira. 


262  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

The  stream  extended  up  this  miniature  valley  a  short  distance, 
whence  it  turned  north,  ending  in  a  pond  of  considerable  extent,  now 
a  marsh.  There  was  another  pond,  on  both  of  which  the  youngsters 
a  half  a  century  ago  found  superb  skating.  From  the  northern  ex- 
tremity of  this  pond  there  was  a  small  stream  that  emptied  into  the 
"  King's  Dock,"  later  known  as  the  Peterson  and  later  as  the  Har- 
ward  Docks. 

It  was  up  this  stream  that  an  exploring  party  from  Waymouth's 
ship,  that  lay  at  anchor  in  the  river  in  1606,  proceeded  on  a  tour  of 
exploration  of  the  country  as  far  north  as  Whizgig,  as  alluded  to  in 
the  earlier  pages  of  this  volume. 


OLD    ROADS. 


During  the  first  part  of  the  eighteenth  century  few  roads  had 
been  made,  and  the  settlements  being  on  the  banks  of  the  rivers  and 
the  sea-coast,  the  usual  mode  of  traveling  was  by  water,  and  for  many 
years  after,  country  roads,  connecting  one  township  with  another, 
were  entirely  unknown,  in  summer  the  canoe  held  the  place  of  the 
wheeled  carriage,  while  in  winter  the  icy  surface  of  the  frozen  river 
formed  the  principal  road  for  the  sleigh  and  for  the  ox-sled  with  its 
heavy  load.  A  map,  still  in  existence,  shows  that  in  17  18  there  was 
a  "road"  that  is  now  High  street  in  Bath,  the  only  avenue  of  travel, 
and  on  which  the  dwellings  of  the  few  inhabitants,  who  were  farmers, 
were  situated.  Between  that  "  country  road  "  and  the  river  was  a 
forest. 

In  1740,  a  road  to  Brunswick  was  the  only  one  leading  out  of 
town.  At  this  time  travel  was  on  foot  or  horseback.  High  street  at 
first  extended  as  far  south  as  the  old  Pettengill  farm.  Down  the  hill 
below  his  house,  now  the  McCutcheon  house,  is  a  narrow  opening  in 
the  hill.  Through  this  opening  they  built  the  road,  it  being  the  only 
gap  to  get  over  the  hills.  This  road  was  nearly  a  southwest  course 
over  to  Berry's  Mill  Pond ;  here  the  road  turned  to  the  left  to  go  to 
Phipsburg,  and  to  the  right  to  Brunswick,  going  westerly  around  the 
head  of  Mill  Cove  Pond,  hence  west  around  Short  Cove,  then  around 
Long  Cove,  coming  out  to  where  later  was  Brown's  Ferry,  on  the 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  263 

New  Meadows  River,  thence  north  to  the  head  of  the  river,  which  it 
crossed  and  ran  down  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  to  what  is  now 
the  Adams  farm,  thence  about  a  southwest  course  over  to  the  old 
Woodward  Meeting- House,  thence  westwardly  to  Brunswick,  or 
turn  to  the  left  to  Harpswell  Neck  and  Harpswell  Island. 

There  was  another  road  from  Brown's,  running  north  to  the  old 
Witch  Spring  Meeting-House,  called  the  Rocky  Hill  road.  It  ran 
through  the  woods  and  came  out  to  what  is  now  known  as  Foster's 
Point  road  to  a  point  which  later  was  Brown's  Ferry,  and  thence 
north  along  the  river  to  the  head  of  Stevens  River. 

The  reason  why  the  road  for  travel  between  Bath  and  Brunswick 
was  along  the  sides  of  the  river,  was  that  settlements  were  near  the 
river,  on  both  banks,  necessitating  roads  near  and  on  the  line  of  its 
course.  At  a  very  early  date  there  was  only  a  foot-path  through  the 
woods,  crossing  Whizgig  Creek  on  stepping-stones. 

In  1774,  a  county  road  was  surveyed  from  the  county  line  at 
New  Meadows,  beginning  on  land  of  John  Ham,  passing  over 
Whizgig  Creek  to  north  end  of  High  street,  and  thence  to  Harden's 
Ferry.  It  was  some  years  later  that  this  road  was  actually  built, 
and  stages  from  Portland,  crossing  the  ferry,  ran  to  eastern  points. 

In  1780,  the  only  roads  leading  into  town  from  the  west  were  one 
by  the  head  of  New  Meadows  River  and  one  crossing  the  river  at 
Brown's  Ferry,  which  was  at  a  point  a  mile  or  two  below  where  is 
now  Bull  Rock  Bridge.  The  "  old  road  "  to  Brunswick  was  laid  out 
in  1789,  but  it  was  not  made  passable  until  1795.  It  was  decided 
necessary  to  build  a  bridge  at  Whizgig,  on  the  road  leading  around 
the  head  of  the  river,  and  the  inhabitants  petitioned  the  General 
Court  for  permission  to  raise  funds  for  the  purpose  by  a  lottery, 
which  was  refused. 

In  1728,  the  High  street  road  was  extended  to  the  New  Meadows 
by  way  of  what  is  now  Winthrop  street  and  the  "  stone  house." 

For  making  South  street  the  land  was  given  by  Jonathan  Davis 
and  originally  called  Davis  Lane. 

In  1806,  Center  and  South  streets  were  laid  out  by  commissioners 
to  connect  Washington  street  with  the  town  road,  which  is  now 
High  street.  The  same  year  Washington  street  was  extended  to 
Day's  Ferry  and  the  bridge  at  Peterson's  dock  built. 


264  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

In  1802,  the  bridge  at  Winnegance  was  built  and  the  present 
road  to  Phipsburg  laid  out  and  built  to  connect  with  it. 

The  reason  that  the  date  of  the  construction  of  Bull  Rock  bridge 
and  the  roads  connected  with  it  is  not  here  given  is  on  account  of 
the  town  Fecords  having  been  destroyed  by  fire  in  1837. 

Bridges.  —  Up  to  1849  there  had  been  thirty-six  bridges  con- 
structed wholly  and  in  part  within  the  limits  of  the  city;  the  most 
costly  was  Bay  bridge,  at  an  outlay  by  Bath  of  $20,000. 

In  1887,  an  effort  was  made  to  make  all  bridges  leading  into  the 
city  and  the  ferry  free;  a  ward  vote  by  ballot  was  taken  and  the 
project  defeated  by  five  votes. 


THE  SURPLUS  REVENUE  OP  1834. 


The  John  Quincy  Adams  administration  was  a  marked  era  of  a 
high  tariff,  accumulating  a  large  surplus,  for  the  times,  in  the  United 
States  Treasury.  This  accumulation,  from  necessity,  continued  into 
the  first  term  of  Jackson's  presidency,  aud  after  awhile  ceased  on 
account  of  a  different  revenue  policy.  After  lengthy  deliberation  in 
Congress,  it  was  decided  to  make  a  distribution  of  this  surplus 
money  to  the  several  states  according  to  their  population,  and  it  was 
done,  to  the  amount  of  $40,000,000,  in  the  nature  of  a  loan  to  be 
called  for  when  wanted. 

The  proportion  to  Maine  was  made  over  by  the  state  to  the  re- 
spective towns  to  use  as  they  should  see  fit,  and  nearly  all  of  them 
voted  to  distribute  their  portion  per  capita,  on  the  ground  that  it 
rightly  belonged  to  the  people  de  facto.  This  application  of  the 
money  was  overwhelmingly  popular.  The  per  capita  share  of  each 
man,  woman  and  child  was  three  dollars.  It  was  a  God-send  to 
poor  men  with  large  families.  It  was  likewise  a  benefit  to  the  towns, 
for  there  were  men  who  had  not  paid  taxes,  or  even  a  poll  tax,  for 
years ;  therefore,  when  taking  an  order  from  the  selectmen  upon  the 
treasurer,  for  their  money,  the  over-due  taxes  were  deducted  by  that 
official. 

The  Town  of  Bath  held  a  town  meeting  upon  the  subject.  It 
was  an  object  to  heavy  tax-payers  to  apply  the  money  to  public 


HISTORY    OF  BATH.  265 

improvements.  There  was  to  come  to  the  town  about  ten  thousand 
dollars.  One  of  the  leaders  in  town  meetings  was  Gen.  Joseph 
Sewall,  and  he  submitted  a  motion,  that  passed,  to  appropriate  in 
aid  of  the  new  ferry  $2,000,  the  same  amount  for  the  improvement 
of  the  cemetery,  and  the  balance  to  put  into  a  town  hall.  The 
authorities  proceeded  accordingly  to  use  the  money  as  voted.  But 
after  awhile  there  came  a  growl  from  the  rank  and  file  as  they  were 
getting  nothing  directly  from  the  surplus,  which  they  believed  their 
due.  They  found  that  other  towns  distributed  per  capita,  and  asked 
why  a  poor  man  with  ten  children  in  his  family  should  pay,  for  these 
improvements,  ten  times  more  than  a  rich  man  with  no  family. 
Accordingly  another  town  meeting  was  called  at  a  later  period, 
and  it  was  overwhelmingly  voted  that  the  town  make  a  loan  to  re- 
place the  surplus  that  had  been  applied  to  improvements  and  the 
money  divided  per  capita,  which  was  done. 

The  Town  Mall  was  built  by  Couillard  &  Weeks,  a  firm  of  ma- 
sons. It  was  not  finished  off  down  stairs  as  it  is  now.  There  were 
two  stores  underneath,  one  used  for  a  millinery  store  and  one  for  a 
harness  shop.  Those  doors  on  each  side  of  the  main  entrance,  now 
boarded  over,  were  where  the  entrances  were  then.  The  steps  ran 
the  whole  length  of  the  front  of  the  building.  In  the  rear  was  a 
small  lecture  room  ;  the  Universalists  had  it  some  time  for  their 
church  services,  and  a  select  school  was  kept  there  at  times.  Up 
stairs  it  has  always  been  about  the  same ;  winding  stairs  came  up 
into  the  hall ;  where  the  doorways  are  now  were  the  town  offices. 
Major  Shaw  was  town  clerk  in  those  days,  and  Cushing  Allen, 
treasurer,  who  had  his  office  in  the  other  corner.  It  was  said  to  be 
the  best  town  hall  in  the  state,  and  was  completed  in  about  1837. 
It  was  remodeled  when  the  city  received  its  charter  in  1847,  and 
the  stores  underneath  taken  out  and  the  present  offices  put  in.  The 
police  station  was  changed  at  the  same  time.  Old  residents  heard 
some  wonderful  speeches  in  the  old  hall.  Charles  Sumner  spoke  in 
it  in  abolition  days,  and  there  were  grand  old  Free  Soil  speeches 
made  in  it.  Fred  Douglass  spoke  in  it  when  he  was  an  escaped 
slave,  and  with  a  hoe  showed  how  the  plantation  negro  works,  doing 
just  as  little  as  he  possibly  could,  as  this  author  well  remembers. 


266  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

The  Old  Turnpike  to  Brunswick.  —  This  thoroughfare  was 

in  existence  before  there  was  any  bridge  across  the  New  Meadows 
River.  A  charter  was  obtained  by  William  King  in  1804.  It  was 
chiefly  owned  by  William  King,  who  had  the  management  of  it. 
This  end  of  it  was  on  High  street,  where  is  now  the  north  side  of 
the  court-house,  and  ran  directly  to  the  river,  which  it  crossed  by  a 
bridge  built  by  the  company  midway  between  the  location  of  Bull 
bridge  and  the  railroad  bridge,  it  was  at  the  bridge  that  toll  was 
taken.  On  the  building  of  the  old  Brunswick  road,  going  by  the 
stone  house,  the  turnpike  was  discontinued,  and  subsequently 
Center  street  was  extended  west  on  the  line  of  the  turnpike  to  its 
present  terminus.  In  1806  there  was  another  turnpike  to  Bruns- 
wick by  the  way  of  Brown's  Ferry. 

Ferries. — The  first  ferry  crossing  the  Kennebec  River  was  at  the 
Chops.  It  was  known  as  Maynes  ferry.  Access  to  it  from  the 
west  was  by  a  path  only  for  foot  or  horseback.  It  was  this  ferry 
that  John  Quincy  Adams  crossed,  coining  from  Boston  on  horseback 
when  he  was  a  young  practicing  attorney,  to  conduct  a  lawsuit  be- 
fore the  Court  of  Sessions  for  Lincoln  County. 

In  the  year  1762,  Samuel  Harnden  was  licensed  by  the  Court 
of  Sessions  to  keep  and  run  a  ferry,  and  it  was  probably  run 
at  a  much  earlier  period.  In  1769,  a  license  was  granted  his  son, 
Brigadier  Harnden,  by  the  same  court.  Licenses  were  also  granted 
to  several  successors  of  the  Harndens  until  in  1830,  when  Thomas  P. 
Stetson  applied  for  and  received  an  act  of  incorporation  by  the  Leg- 
islature to  run  a  horse  ferry  under  the  name  of  Bath  Horse  Ferry, 
he  having  come  into  the  possession  of  the  grounds  and  landings  on 
both  sides  of  the  river.  From  1788  it  was  called  Day's  Ferry,  from 
one  of  the  former  owners. 

March  7,  1834,  John  Parshley,  Win.  M.  Rogers,  Nathaniel  Wells, 
Asa  Palmer,  Oliver  Moses,  Peter  Knight,  George  Kicker,  Edward 
Hodgkins,  Wm.  V.  Moses,  Richard  Nutter  and  Jonathan  Hyde  were 
incorporated  as  the  Sagadahoc  Ferry  Company.  A  steam  ferry 
boat  was  procured,  landings  built,  and  the  running  commenced 
in  1837. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  267 


MILITARY. 


The  first  company  of  the  second,  parish  of  Georgetown  was 
organized  with  Patrick  Drummond,  Captain,  John  Stinson,  Lieuten- 
ant, and  there  were  eighty-seven  members.  There  was  an  alarm 
watch  composed  of  Lieut.  Joseph  Berry,  Ensign  Ebenezer  Preble, 
Ensign  Samuel  Arnold,  Lieut.  John  Lemont,  James  Thornton,  and 
Deacon  Purington.  The  above  certified  to — York,  May  4,  1757 — 
"  by  Samuel  Brown,  clerk  of  the  foot  of  militia  in  Georgetown." 

Revolutionary  Period. —  The  relation,  on  page  53,  of  "  Detach- 
ments sent  to  the  Army"  in  1775  was  taken  largely  from  accounts 
handed  down  from  traditional  authorities.  Later  researches  reveal 
a  difference  in  the  details  of  the  actual  proceedings  of  that  import- 
ant and  interesting  period  in  the  history  of  Bath,  the  facts  of  which  ' 
are  now  given. 

Records  found  in  Massachusetts  Archives  of  ancient  date  con- 
sist of  muster  rolls  of  soldiers  drawing  pay  for  services  from  the 
government  of  the  commonwealth  during  the  Revolutionary  war. 
Details  of  the  service  have  no  mention  in  those  records.  The  call 
for  these  soldiers  is  indicated  under  different  headings,  the  first  of 
which  was 

"  Lexington  Alarm." 

The  battle  took  place  on  the  19th  of  April,  1775,  anc*  upon 
news  of  the  event  reaching  Bath,  a  small  company  of  soldiers  was 
raised  to  proceed  to  the  seat  of  war.  The  record  reads  "A  minute 
roll  of  Capt.  Samuel  McCobb's  company."  Samuel  McCobb,  Cap- 
tain; Benjamin  Pattee,  Sergeant;  John  Riggs,  Corporal;  Stephen 
Sampson,  Stephen  Ludlow,  John  Wheeler,  John  Mehoney,  John 
Linnen,  Isaac  Hall,  James  Fleming,  Joseph  Brown,  Joseph  Cham- 
berlin,  Obadiah  Wetherell,  Francis  Green,  Richard  Berwick,  Pri- 


268  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

vates.     The  date  of  the  enlistments  was  April  24,  which  was  five 
days  after  the  Lexington  battle. 

This  company  of  fifteen  men  were,  evidently,  spontaneous  volun- 
teers, the  officers  had  no  commissions,  they  were  simply  a  body  of 
ardent  patriots  to  serve  when  and  where  their  services  would  be 
available.  Reliable  tradition  informs  us  that  there  was  no  legal 
authority  to  enlist  soldiers,  and  no  public  money  to  supply  these 
men  with  an  outfit,  and  that  Capt.  McCobb,  who  was  a  man  of 
means,  fitted  out  his  men  for  service  at  his  own  expense.  Tradition 
also  informs  us  that  they  left  at  once  for  the  front,  whose  center 
was  at  Cambridge.     They  served  from  April  24  to  May  1,  1775. 

Competent  historians  are  of  the  opinion  that  this  company 
started  to  march  to  Cambridge,  and  before  reaching  there  were  met 
with  tidings  that  their  immediate  services  were  not  needed,  and 
that  they  returned.  This  company  was  recognized  by  Massachusetts 
Dec.  19,  1775,  and  on  Feb.  23,  1776,  was  paid  for  seven  days'  ser- 
vice and  ninety  miles'  travel  to  the  amount  of  £14  5s.  6d.  by  "John 
Lowell,  Dep'y  Sec'y,  pro  tetn" 

44  Siege  of  Boston." 

The  records  show  that  Samuel  McCobb  was  in  his  seat  as  a 
member  of  the  Provincial  Congress  at  Watertown  in  May,  and  on 
the  17th  of  that  month  he  enlisted  in  a  company  that  was  raised  in 
Lincoln  County  to  join  in  the  siege  of  Boston.  There  is  "  A  muster 
roll  of  the  company  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Samuel  McCobb 
in  Col.  John  Nixon's  regiment  to  the  first  of  August,  1775."  Upon 
this  roll  are  the  names  of  Benjamin  Pattee,  Lieutentant,  John  Riggs, 
Ensign,  and  the  dates  of  their  enlistments  were,  the  captain,  May 
17,  and  lieutenants,  May  19,  1775.  *ms  r°H  contains  the  names, 
besides  those  of  the  commissioned  officers,  of  fifty-nine  "  rank  and 
file,"  a  total  of  sixty-two  men.  The  dates  of  the  enlistments  of 
those  men  extend  from  May  20  to  June  9,  the  greater  number  of 
them  bearing  date  of  June  1.  They  were  drawn  from  the  towns  of 
Georgetown,  Woolwich,  Gardinertown,  Newcastle,  Winthrop,  Pow- 
nalboro,  Haverhill,  Hallowell,  Pleasant  Pond,  Bristol,  St.  George, 
Winslow,   and  Wiscasset.      Those   from   Georgetown    were   James 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  269 

Fleming,  James  Buck,  Thomas  Foot,  Martin  Hall,  Peter  Heal;  from 
Woolwich,  Abner  West,  Solomon  Whittier,  Nathaniel  Webb,  Samuel 
Williams.  One  man  from  Winslow  deserted  July  13.  The  company 
was  in  service  two  months  and  about  nineteen  days.  They  drew 
clothing,  guns,  and  cartridge  boxes  from  the  commissary.  This 
company  reached  Cambridge,  its  destination,  before  the  battle  of 
Bunker  Hill,  in  which  it  participated  in  the  command  of  General 
Putnam. 

On  page  56  of  this  volume  is  a  copy  of  the  roll  of  this  company 
dated  at  Winter  Hill,  Oct.  7,  1775,  which  is  not  in  the  handwriting, 
of  its  commander,  and  was  prepared  during  the  time  of  its  service 
on  Arnold's  expedition  to  Quebec,  evidently  for  the  purpose  of 
adjusting  the  pay  of  its  members,  which  amounted  to  ^144  3s.  8d. 
and  was  paid  by  the  "  Colony."  As  that  roll  states  that  forty-four 
men  only  went  to  Canada,  one  had  deserted  and  eight  left  behind  at 
Winter  Hill,  it  is  evident  that  there  had  been  a  decrease  of  the 
number  of  men  originally  enlisted  of  about  eight,  and  it  is  possible 
that  these  may  be  accounted  for  as  casualties  in  the  battle  of  Bun- 
ker Hill. 

Artillery. — "  Pay  roll  of  Capt.  Jordan  Parker's  company,  in  Col. 
Samuel  McCobb's  command,  in  the  service  of  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts,  Dec.  1,  1781."  Jordan  Parker,  Captain,  enlisted 
May  3;  Josiah  Hinkley,  Lieutenant,  enlisted  May  3;  George  Ulmer, 
Lieutenant,  enlisted  May  10;  Elisha  Shaw,  Ensign,  enlisted  May  15. 
The  roll  contains  the  names  of  fifty-one  "  rank  and  file,"  the  larger 
portion  serving  nearly  seven  months,  the  pay  of  the  entire  company 
amounting  to  £987  3s.  5d.,  and  were  discharged  Dec.  1,  1781.  The 
pay  of  the  commander  was  sixty  dollars  a  month;  the  men,  fifteen 
dollars  a  month.  There  is  nothing  on  record  to  indicate  the  line  of 
service  of  this  artillery  company.  Jordan  Parker  resided  at  Phips- 
burg  and  was  a  deacon  of  Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson's  church. 

Reinforcements  to  the  Continental  Army.  —  A  detail  was 

made  of  troops  from  the  county  of  Lincoln  "for  filling  up  the 
fifteen  battalions  of  Continental  troops,"  and  thirty-three  men  were 


270  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

raised  and  sent  to  Fishkill  May  28,  1778,  under  the  command  of 
Theophilus  Batchelder,  by  "  Samuel  McCobb,  superintendent."  Of 
these  men  there  were  eleven  from  Georgetown  and  three  from 
Woolwich. 

July,  1778,  there  were  sent  to  reinforce  the  regular  army  a  detail 
of  forty-nine  men  and  officers  under  the  command  of  Benjamin 
Lemont,  Captain,  and  Samuel  Berry,  Lieutenant,  from  the  regiment 
of  Col.  Samuel  McCobb  and  brigade  of  Gen.  Charles  Gushing. 

Winter  Hill. — Immediately  north  of  the  original  Bunker  Hill  is 
Winter  Hill,  which  has  a  Revolutionary  record  of  interest  to  the 
people  of  Bath.  As  appears  on  page  56  of  this  History,  a  military 
company  of  sixty-two  officers  and  men  was  formed  at  Bath  soon 
after  the  battle  of  Lexington  and  marched  to  Cambridge  and  took 
part  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  after  which  the  company  was 
encamped  at  Winter  Hill  as  part  of  Col.  John  Nixon's  regiment. 
Here  the  regiment  threw  up  a  fortification  which  stretched  across 
the  top  of  the  hill,  extending  east  and  west  on  a  line  that  passed 
where  now  is  a  Methodist  church.  In  excavating  for  a  foundation 
for  this  building,  two  six-pound  round  shot  were  found.  In  building 
the  church,  the  lower  half  of  which  is  of  stone,  these  balls  were 
inserted  in  the  stone  of  the  main  door-way,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  door,  half  the  round  ball  protruding,  showing  age  and  wear  of 
the  elements. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  when  Washington  took  command  of  the 
army  he  established  a  cordon  of  fortifications  surrounding  Boston, 
placing  it  in  a  state  of  siege.  At  these  points  were  stationed  dif- 
ferent regiments,  Winter  Hill  being  assigned  to  this  regiment.  At 
one  time  during  its  stay  there,  General  Washington  visited  it  and 
remained  over  night  in  a  house  within  the  fortification.  A  flat  stone 
which  formed  a  step  on  which  he  must  have  trod  when  entering  it  is 
now  a  choice  relic  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Brown,  whose 
residence  is  near  the  spot  where  stood  the  ancient  house. 

On  the  south  declivity  of  this  hill  a  granite  tablet  has  been  placed 
which  is  firmly  set  into  the  ground  and  is  in  dimensions  about  half 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  27 1 

a  foot  thick,  four  feet  in  height,  and  two  and  a  half  feet  in  width. 
It  has  on  it  this  inscription:  — 

Paul  Revere 
passed  over  this  road  on  his 

midnight  ride 

To  Lexington  and  Concord. 

April  18,  1775. 

Site  of  the  ''Winter  Hill  Fort," 

a  stronghold  built  by 

the  American  forces 

while  besieging  boston, 

1775-6. 

So  far  as  the  site  of  the  fort  is  concerned  the  location  of  this 
tablet  is  misleading,  inasmuch  as  there  is  conclusive  evidence  that 
the  fortification  was  at  the  apex  and  across  the  hill,  its  lines  having 
been  identified  by  aged  people  now  living  (1893)  at  the  "  Hill."  Its 
height  is  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  above  tide  water. 

After  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne,  several  hundred  Hessian  pris- 
oners were  quartered  on  this  hill,  and  bones  of  some  of  their  dead 
have  been  dug  up  there  since  1850,  when  excavating  to  make  foun- 
dations for  buildings.  These  Hessian  prisoners  went  to  work, 
remained  there  permanently,  and  their  children  became  good  citi- 
zens, retaining  in  some  degree  the  foreign  brogue  to  the  present  day. 

The  name  of  Winter  Hill  was  derived  from  that  of  an  early 
settler  of  that  name  who  lived  there,  as  told  by  an  aged  lady  who 
died  twenty-six  years  since,  when  eighty  years  of  age.  This  historic 
locality  can  be  reached  by  lines  of  street  cars  from  Boston.  It  is 
now  a  part  of  North  Somerville,  having  been  set  off  from  Charles- 
town  in  1843. 

After  the  Revolutionary  war  a  reorganization  of  the  military 
system  of  Massachusetts  was  effected,  and  it  was  put  on  a  more 
thorough  basis.  Every  man  from  the  age  of  eighteen  to  forty-five, 
except  in  certain  cases  exempt,  was  compelled  by  law  to  be 
placed  as  a  soldier  on  the  roll  of  a  company,  which  met  for  drill 
in  military  tactics  four  days  in  a  year.  This  service  was  afterwards 
changed  in  the  State  of  Maine  to  a  half  day  twice  a  year,  one 


272  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

in  May  and  one  in  September,  and  also  general  muster  of 
the  regiment  in  the  fall,  usually  in  September.  Absence  from  either 
subjected  the  delinquent  to  a  fine.  He  was  also  required  to  appear 
on  parade  with  a  gun  and  equipments  under  the  penalty  of  a 
fine.  The  towns  were  compelled  to  keep  on  hand,  under  heavy 
fine,  ammunition  specified  by  law.  Bath  had  two  companies  and 
belonged  to  the  first  regiment,  first  brigade,  and  eleventh  division, 
until  Maine  became  a  state,  when  it  belonged  to  the  fourth  division. 
There  was  also,  nearly  always,  a  "  uniformed  "  infantry  company  in 
Bath,  and  at  times  a  rifle  company  and  an  artillery  company.  For 
fifty  years  a  lively  military  spirit  was  kept  up,  as  there  were  wars 
and  rumors  of  wars.  In  time  military  service  lost  its  interest  and 
few  men  after  1830  were  willing  to  accept  military  office,  and  the 
ranks  became  thin.  But  the  "Aroostook  war"  of  February  and 
March,  1839,  temporarily  aroused  the  martial  spirit,  until  the 
legislature  in  the  winter  of  1844  abolished  the  entire  military  sys- 
tem, giving  commissioned  officers  honorable  discharge.  The  change 
was  followed  by  the  volunteer  system  of  "  uniformed  "  companies, 
with  equipments  supplied  by  the  state,  to  drill  at  their  own  option, 
with  one  general  muster  four  days  in  the  year  with  pay  and  rations. 
These  organizations  were  not  kept  up  during  the  civil  war,  but  new 
companies  were  formed  after  its  close,  and  the  state  now  has  a  very 
respectable  militia.  For  the  era  comprised  between  the  time  of 
the  abandonment  of  the  old  militia  system  in  1844,  and  the  com- 
mencement of  the  civil  war  in  186 1,  Bath  had  no  company  but  the 
City  Grays. 

"  The  exact  time  of  the  formation  of  any  of  the  militia  companies 
subsequent  to  the  Revolution  is  not  known.  In  1788  the  1st  regi- 
ment of  the  1  st  brigade  and  6th  division  of  the  Massachusetts 
militia  mustered  for  the  first  time  where  the  Bath  Hotel  formerly 
stood.  John  Lemont,  of  Bath,  was  Colonel,  and  John  Reed,  of 
Topsham,  Lieutenant-Colonel,  of  this  regiment"  {vide  History  of 
Brunswick). 

In  1795  the  inhabitants  of  Bath  raised  an  artillery  company. 
Their  guns  were  brass,  three-pounders,  and  their  first  gun  house 
was  on  the  south-east  corner  of  High  and  South  streets,  where 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  273 

Francis  Adams'  house  stands.  The  first  corps  of  officers  were: 
Captain,  John  Moodey;  1st  Lieut,  William  Blasland;  2d  Lieut, 
Caleb  Lincoln. 

According  to  Lemon t,  there  was  a  company  under  the  command 
of  Capt  J.  W.  Mitchell,  numbering  ninety-four  men,  liable  to  mili- 
tary duty,  the  roll  of  which  is  dated  May  4,  1802;  the  only  men 
living  in  December,  1866,  were  Andrew  Heath,  Gilbert  Trufant, 
David  Sewall,  and  Joshua  Sewall. 

"May  6,  1806,  the  Bath  Light  Infantry  was  organized  and 
voted  to  dress  in  red  coats  and  turn  out  in  uniform  for  the  first 
time  on  May  12th,  and  on  the  24th  received  an  elegant  standard 
from  William  King  "  {per  Z.  Hyde). 

Besides  "  uniformed  companies/'  Bath  always  had  of  later  years 
two  companies  of  militia  of  the  line,  the  records  of  which  are  not 
at  hand. 

March  8,  1808,  William  King,  having  been  appointed  major- 
general,  was  escorted  into  town  on  coming  from  Boston  by  troops 
of  Topsham,  Brunswick,  and  Bath.  He  had  not  filled  any  previous 
commissioned  office  in  the  militia.  He  served  until  after  181 7.  In 
that  year  Governor  Strong,  of  Massachusetts,  came  down  to  Bath 
and  reviewed  the  Bath  regiment  at  its  annual  muster.  It  was  a 
great  occasion. 

May  5,  182 1,  Bath  Rifle  Corps  was  organized  with  Joshua  Bow- 
man, Captain;  Barnard  C.  Bailey,  Lieutenant,  and  Harris  Gurney, 
Ensign. 

In  182 1,  a  Rifle  Corps  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Joshua  Bow- 
man, and  Bath  Light  Infantry  company  under  Lieut.  Davis  Hatch, 
took  part  in  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration. 

Aug.  9,  182 1,  Davis  Hatch  was  promoted  to  Captain  of  the  Bath 
Light  Infantry ;  Gershom  Hyde  promoted  Lieutenant,  and  Thomas 
S.  Marsh,  Ensign. 

In  1825,  Alexander  Drummond,  Jr.,  of  Phipsburg,  was  Colonel  of 
the  regiment ;  William  M.  Reed,  Lieutenant-Colonel ;  Capt  Thomas 
M.  Reed,  acting  Major. 


274  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

When  Lafayette  visited  Portland,  in  1825,  the  Bath  Light  In- 
fantry, by  invitation,  marched  to  Portland  and  took  part  in  the  pro- 
cession. 

In  1788,  the  muster  ground  was  immediately  south  of  where 
Phoenix  Hotel  now  is.  Later  there  was  a  muster  field  near  the 
present  poor-house  farm;  later,  on  Hospital  Point,  and  the  last  mus- 
ter of  uniformed  militia  was  in  the  old  Sewall  Meld  in  about  1848, 
when  E.  K.  Harding  was  commander,  the  Bath  Grays  in  existence, 
and  Portland  Light  Infantry  present  on  duty. 

Sept.  21,  1836,  there  was  a  muster  of  the  first  brigade  of  the 
fourth  division,  under  command  of  Brigadier-General  Jeremiah 
Millay  of  Bowdoinham,  at  Brunswick,  on  the  plain  east  of  the 
village,  with  attached  independent  companies,  the  First  or  Bath 
regiment  participating.  All  the  companies  of  the  regiment  were 
on  duty.  Nathaniel  C.  Reed  was  in  command  of  a  Phipsburg 
company. 

The  Aroostook  War  Of  1839.  — In  February,  1839,  Bath 
was  called  upon  to  furnish  a  draft  of  men  from  the  ranks  of  its 
militia  companies  to  serve  in  a  campaign  in  the  Aroostook  River 
region,  where  hostilities  were  imminent  between  Maine  and  New 
Brunswick  relative  to  the  right  of  possession  of  a  "disputed  territory  " 
connected  with  an  undefined  line  between  the  two  governments,  the 
crisis  having  been  brought  on  by  the  plundering  by  lumbermen  of 
New  Brunswick  of  valuable  timber  from  land  claimed  by  the  State 
of  Maine.  In  attempting  to  drive  off  the  invaders  by  force  of  arms 
collisions  had  ensued,  and  in  consequence  both  Maine  and  New 
Brunswick  made  preparations  for  actual  war. 

This  state  of  things  raised  a  tremendous  excitement  throughout 
the  state,  arousing  the  military  spirit  that  had  long  remained  dor- 
mant. Augusta  became  filled  with  troops,  and  within  a  week  ten 
thousand  soldiers  were  on  duty  in  that  city  or  on  the  march  to 
Aroostook.  Before  regular  hostilities  had  time  to  commence,  Gen. 
Scott  came  down  from  Washington  with  his  staff,  early  in  March, 
and,  to  the  general  disappointment  of  the  greater  portion  of  the 
drafted  men,  made  a  truce  between  Gov.  Fairfield,  of  Maine,  and 


>" 


/^•A  '- 


ts^'  /'<*.*.. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  ,    275 

Gov.  Harvey,  of  New  Brunswick.  Within  a  year  the  disputed  lines 
were  settled  by  the  treaty  of  Washington,  negotiated  by  Daniel 
Webster,  Secretary  of  State,  and  Lord  Ashburton,  Ambassador  from 
England. 

This  brief  episode  of  war  found  the  militia  of  the  state  in  a  con- 
dition of  demoralization  and  inspired  it  to  renewed  activity,  which 
lasted  to  a  considerable  extent  until  the  abolishment  of  the  militia 
system  at  the  session  of  the  legislature  of  1844. 

When  the  act  was  passed  by  the  Maine  legislature  abolishing  the 
militia  system  in  1844,  all  officers  then  in  commission  received  from 
the  state  authorities  a  certificate  declaring  their  honorable  discharge. 
Consequently  there  was  no  enrolled  militia  until  after  1848,  when 
a  law  was  passed  providing  for  the  formation  of  volunteer  com- 
panies, the  arms  and  equipments  to  be  provided  at  the  expense  of 
the  state. 

The  Bath  City  Grays.— Under  the  militia  law  of  1848,  fifty- 
two  young  men,  of  Bath,  of  the  highest  standing  enrolled  their 
names  for  the  formation  of  a  military  company,  which  was  organized 
Aug.  3,  1850,  electing  Edward  K.  Harding,  Captain;  John  G.  Rich- 
ardson, 1  st  Lieutenant;  Thomas  S.  Bowles,  2d  Lieutenant;  Galen 
Clapp,  3d  Lieutenant;  James  T.  Patten,  4th  Lieutenant,  and  A.  J. 
Farnsworth,  Orderly  Sergeant.  In  September  of  the  same  year 
the  enrollment  had  increased  to  seventy-four  members,  and  up  to 
Aug.  22,  1859,  the  entire  enrollment  had  been  one  hundred  and 
eight,  which  included  members  who  had  dropped  out  from  time 
to  time.  They  made  their  first  public  parade  Oct.  24,  1850, 
accompanied  by  the  Bath  brass  band.  After  marching  through 
the  principal  streets,  at  1 1  o'clock  a.m.  they  took  a  special  train  for 
Brunswick,  where  they  partook  of  a  collation  at  the  residence  of 
Mr.  J.  C.  Cleveland,  one  of  their  members,  and  a  dinner  at  the 
Tontine  Hotel.  Their  fine  appearance  as  they  marched  through  the 
streets  and  went  through  various  military  evolutions  elicited  the 
hearty  applause  of  the  citizens  of  that  village.  Capt.  Harding 
was  promoted  to  colonel  of  the  regiment  to  which  the  company  was 
attached,  when  J.  G.   Richardson  became  captain,  and  upon  his 


276  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

resignation  William  Rogers  was  elected  captain  and  served  during 
the  continuance  of  the  company's  organization. 

This  company  was  in  existence  at  the  time  of  the  notable  Know 
Nothing  riot  of  1854,  and  was  called  out  by  the  mayor  and  rendez- 
voused at  its  armory  on  Front  street  ready  for  any  emergency.  It 
performed  some  delicate  duty  in  quelling  the  mob  without  resort  to 
the  use  of  their  arms.  The  Grays  proved  themselves  equal  to  the 
occasion,  acting  promptly  and  fearlessly.  They  were  under  the 
command  of  Capt.  £.  K.  Harding. 

The  City  Grays,  by  invitation,  went  to  Boston  in  the  summer  of 
1853,  and  took  part  in  the  celebration  of  the  completion  of  the  city 
water  works,  on  which  occasion  the  company  with  full  ranks  made  a 
notable  display.  It  also  went  on  several  other  occasions  to  take 
part  in  public  parades  on  many  notable  excursions  in  and  out 
of  the  state,  and  entertained  visiting  companies  from  other  parts  of 
the  state. 

Bath  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.— "The  Bath  City  Grays, 

which  had  been  formed  in  1850,  was  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war  of  the  Rebellion  the  only  organized  company  left  in  the  state 
under  the  voluntary  militia  law  "  (  Maine  Archives).  When  the  war 
of  the  Rebellion  came  on,  and  the  regiments  of  Maine  volunteers 
were  to  be  formed  under  the  first  call  for  troops,  Governor  Coburn 
sent  a  requisition  to  Bath  for  two  hundred  men.  With  the  City 
Grays  as  a  basis,  the  requisite  number  enlisted  and  were  formed 
into  two  companies.  William  Rogers  remained  Captain  of  one 
company,  with  Reuben  Sawyer  and  W.  1).  Haley,  Lieutenants;  C. 
A.  L.  Sampson  was  elected  Captain  of  the  other  company,  with 
William  H.  Watson,  1st  Lieutenant,  and  Warren  Matson,  2d  Lieu- 
tenant. They  were  ordered  to  Augusta  and  went  there  by  steamer. 
While  there  Captain  Rogers  resigned,  and  1st  Lieut.  Reuben  Sawyer 
was  promoted  to  the  command,  with  W.  D.  Haley  and  J.  S.  Wiggin, 
Lieutenants.  These  companies  were  mustered  into  the  Third  Maine 
Regiment,  which  rendezvoused  at  Augusta,  and  was  organized  June 
4,  1 86 1,  of  which  O.  O.  Howard  was  Colonel.  The  Bath  com- 
panies became  Company  A,  Capt.  Reuben  Sawyer,  and  Company 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  277 

D,  Capt.  C.  A.  L.  Sampson.  Joseph  S.  Smith,  of  Bath,  was  a  private 
in  Company  1  of  this  regiment,  was  promoted  to  quartermaster- 
sergeant,  and  Nov.  14,  1861,  commissioned  captain  in  the  commis- 
sary departmenWof  the  army. 

When  Captain  Sampson  was  appointed  Lieutenant-Colonel,  1st 
Lieut.  W.  H.  Watson  became  Captain  of  Co.  D  in  the  fall  of  1861. 
When  Captain  Sawyer  died,  while  in  service,  George  W.  Harvey,  of 
Co.  A,  was  promoted  to  the  command  of  the  company,  and  Lieut.  J. 
S.  Wiggin  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of  Co.  I  of  the  Third 
Regiment. 

When  the  Seventh  Regiment  was  organized  at  Augusta,  Aug.  21, 
1 86 1,  Thomas  W.  Hyde  joined  it  from  Bath  with  Company  D,  and 
soon  after  it  was  mustered  in  Capt.  Hyde  was  appointed  major  of 
the  same  regiment.  In  this  company  George  C.  Morse,  of  Bath, 
went  out  a  lieutenant,  and  afterwards  became  a  captain. 

The  Ninth  Regiment  rendezvoused  at  Augusta,  Sept.  22,  1861, 
and  a  Bath  company  with  Zina  H.  Robinson,  Captain,  was  mus- 
tered therein. 

The  Nineteenth  Regiment  rendezvoused  at  Bath  and  organized 
Aug.  25,  1862,  with  F.  D.  Sewall,  of  Bath,  Colonel.  Company  K, 
of  Bath,  with  Charles  S.  Larrabee,  Captain,  was  mustered  into  this 
regiment. 

The  Bath  companies  served  chiefly  in  the  army  of  the  Potomac. 
Of  the  original  members  of  the  Bath  City  Grays,  thirty-six  went 
into  the  war  of  the  Rebellion,  serving  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac, 
some  of  them  attaining  rank  of  all  grades  up  to  colonels  and 
generals. 

There  were  Bath  men  who  entered  the  Cavalry  service,  but  as 
they  formed  no  distinct  organization,  there  is  no  special  record  of 
their  names  or  services. 

One  hundred  and  ten  men  was  the  quota  for  Bath  and  vicinity  for 
service  in  the  navy,  and  that  number  enlisted;  among  those  belong- 
ing to  Bath  were  John  O.  Shaw,  D.  L.  Wylie,  W.  H.  Fogg,  H.  M. 
Hagan,  V.  Elton,  C.  W.  Price,  A.  Dunham,  sailing  master. 

Soldiers9  Monument.  —  The  soldiers'  monument,  standing  on 
High  street  in  front  of  the  court-house,  was  erected  by  the  city  gov" 


278  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

eminent  in  1867,  a  worthy  tribute  to  those  patriotic  citizen  soldiers 
who  gave  up  their  lives  that  the  undivided  government  might  live. 
The  names  of  the  officers  inscribed  on  this  handsome  marble  shaft 
are  Captains  George  W.  Harvey,  Ashbury  C.  Richards,  Alfred  S. 
Merrill,  Reuben  Sawyer,  Lieut.  Luther  Small,  and  there  are  106  pri- 
vates. 

Those  officers  who  went  from  this  city  to  the  front  and  survived 
the  war  were,  Generals,  Thomas  W.  Hyde  and  F.  D.  Sewall;  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel, Charles  A.  L.  Sampson;  Major,  Zina  H.  Robinson; 
Captains,  A.  W.  Turner,  J.  S.  Wiggin,  W.  H.  Watson,  George  S. 
Morse,  Alfred  Robinson,  James  L.  Hunt,  George  W.  Bicknell, 
Charles  S.  Larrabee,  George  W.  Prince;  Lieutenants,  R.  C.  Harris, 
George  H.  Hutchinson,  W.  D.  Haley,  Samuel  M.  Donnell,  F.  R. 
Smith;  Engineer,  David  R.  Wylie. 

Two  hundred  and  two  men  of  Bath  lost  their  lives  in  the  war  of 
the  Rebellion. 

Companies  of  the  Reserved  Militia.  — In  June,   1883,  the 

Bath  Light  Infantry  was  formed  and  Henry  E.  Stetson  was  elected 
Captain;  John  O.  Patten,  1st  Lieutenant,  and  William  K.  Ballou, 
2d  Lieutenant.  In  September,  1886,  this  company  was  reorganized 
with  Henry  W.  Howard,  Captain;  Albert  A.  Reed,  1st  Lieutenant, 
and  E.  H.  Sawyer,  2d  Lieutenant.  In  the  spring  of  1887,  Albert 
A.  Reed  became  its  Captain;  A.  C.  Harris,  1st  Lieutenant;  E.  H. 
Sawyer,  2d  Lieutenant. 

In  April,  1887,  this  company  held  a  Governor's  Reception,  at 
Gardiner,  of  an  evening.  For  the  music  the  celebrated  Reeves 
American  Band  came  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  the  first  time  it  had 
been  in  this  state,  and  on  the  evening  before  the  governor's  reception 
gave  a  concert  in  the  Alameda  Opera  House,  Bath,  to  a  large  audi- 
ence. The  company  went  to  Gardiner  to  give  an  exhibition  drill  at 
the  governor's  reception,  and  its  performance  was  exceedingly  cred- 
itable. In  attendance  were  Gov.  Frederick  Robie  and  his  staff, 
all  of  the  military  officers  of  the  higher  grades  in  the  state  and 
those  on  duty  at  the  Togus  Veterans'  Home,  together  with  ladies 
and  prominent  gentlemen  from  several  cities  in  the  state. 


HISTORY  OF    BATH.  279 

By  special  invitation  this  company  with  full  ranks,  Capt  A.  A. 
Reed,  went  to  Portland,  July  4,  1887,  and  took  part  in  a  notable 
parade  on  the  streets,  in  which  the  regiments  of  the  state  militia 
and  the  military  from  three  naval  ships,  lying  in  the  harbor,  took 
part  in  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration.  During  the  succeeding  winter 
the  commissioned  officers  resigned  and  new  officers  were  chosen. 
The  Captain  was  George  H.  Clark;  1st  Lieutenant,  I.  A.  Harris; 
2d  Lieutenant,  John  T.  Parris.  Efforts  had  been  made  to  have  this 
company  mustered  in  under  the  state  laws  as  state  troops,  and  the 
adjutant-general  had  acceded  to  the  proposition,  but  as  a  number 
of  the  rank  and  file  objected  to  enlistment  the  scheme  was  aban- 
doned and  the  company  disbanded. 

Hyde  Light  Guards  was  organized  May  15,  1890,  with  Charles 
F.  Nealey,  Captain,  who  resigned  Oct.  29,  189 1,  when  James  B. 
Hill  was  elected  Captain.  This  company  composes  a  part  of  the 
volunteer  militia  of  Maine.  It  carries  a  banner  presented  by  Judge 
William  L.  Putnam,  Portland,  a  native  of  Bath. 


FIRE  DEPARTMENT. 


The  first  fire  company  that  was  formed  in  Bath  was  composed  of 
the  most  prominent  men  of  the  town.  It  was  the  "  Bath  Fire  So- 
ciety," instituted  March  3,  1803.  In  its  rules  were  specified  that 
"  each  member  shall  pay  seventy-five  cents,  and  shall  provide  him- 
self with  two  leather  buckets,  two  bags,  and  a  knapsack  for  the 
purpose  of  carrying  the  bags ;  the  bags  to  be  made  of  raven's  duck, 
to  have  strings  at  their  open  ends,  and  to  be  each  one  and  a  half 
yard  in  length  and  three-fourths  of  a  yard  in  width.  The  buckets, 
bags,  and  knapsack  shall  be  constantly  kept  together  in  some  con- 
spicuous part  of  his  dwelling-house,  shall  always  be  preserved  in 
good  order,  shall  be  used  on  no  occasion  except  on  alarms  of  fire, 
and  shall  be  marked  with  the  first  letter  of  his  Christian  name  and 
his  surname  at  length,  on  penalty  of  twenty-five  cents  for  neglect  in 
each  particular ;  one  or  both  buckets,  one  or  both  bags,  and  knap- 
sack shall  be  considered  an  article." 


28o  •       HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

The  members  of  the  company  at  one  period  of  its  existence  were : 
Barnard  C.  Bailey,  J.  Henry  McLellan,  William  M.  Rogers,  Samuel 
G.  Stinson,  Samuel  Swanton,  Richard  Nutter,  Oliver  Moses,  Richard 
R.  Smith,  Converse  L.  Owen,  Johnson  Rideout,  George  Wood, 
Amasa  Soule,  Daniel  Larrabee,  Denny  Kelley,  John  Peterson,  B. 
Stinson,  Peter  Knight,  D.  D.  Hodgkins,  Samuel  D.  Haley,  James 
Wakefield,  Henry  C.  Donnell,  Barzilla  Gannett,  Charles  Clapp,  Jr., 
David  T.  Stinson,  John  Elliot,  E.  Ayers,  Thomas  Eaton,  Jr.,  J.  Far- 
rin,  R.  P.  Morse,  Elisha  Clark,  J.  Haley,  2d,  Asa  B.  Robinson,  Levi 
P.  Lemont,  George  Davis,  Thomas  Gilpatrick,  David  P.  Low, 
Edward  Hodgkins. 

"Upon  an  alarm  of  kirk  every  member  shall  immediately  repair 
thereto  with  his  buckets,  bags,  and  knapsack ;  and  shall,  in  a  special 
manner,  direct  his  exertions  to  the  preservation  of  those  buildings 
and  effects,  belonging  to  the  members  of  this  society,  more  imme- 
diately exposed  to  destruction.  And  should  any  member  lose  his 
buckets  or  bags  at  a  fire,  and,  after  diligent  search  and  inquiry, 
should  be  unable  to  recover  them,  the  loss  shall  be  repaired  by  the 
society." 

"  Should  any  member  of  this  society  be  reduced  in  his  circum- 
stances by  fire,  he  shall  be  presented  by  the  society  with  whatever 
sum  they,  considering  his  situation,  may  think  proper.  The  same 
assistance  and  protection  shall  be  extended  to  the  widows  of 
deceased  members  that  their  husbands  would  be  entitled  to  were 
they  living." 

At  the  scene  of  the  fire  a  line  would  be  formed  leading  to  a  water 
supply,  where  the  pails  would  be  filled  and  passed  from  hand  to 
hand  until  emptied  upon  the  flames,  when  they  would  be  passed 
back  again  in  the  same  manner.  On  some  occasions  a  second  line 
would  be  formed  to  pass  the  emptied  buckets  back  again.  When 
the  crowd  had  become  pressing,  a  rope  would  be  drawn  in  the  rear 
of  the  bucket  line  and  kept  taut.  When  the  men  in  the  line  fell 
short,  lookers-on  would  be  pressed  into  service  by  a  town  ordinance. 

The  first  engine  brought  into  the  town  was  a  "tub,"  into  which 
water  would  be  poured  from  the  pails,  and  from  thence  thrown  upon 
the  fire  by  the  use  of  brakes.     This  was  in  1804.     The  first  suction 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  28 1 

engine  was  the  Kennebec,  now  in  existence,  and  was  purchased  in 
1838.  The  next  was  the  Deluge.  The  Torrent  was  bought  in 
Boston,  Aug.  9,  1843,  costing  $955,  and  was  called  No.  2.  A 
new  engine  company  was  formed  with  Edwin  A.  Morse,  fore- 
man. The  machine  was  purchased  by  subscription,  each  member 
of  the  company  taking  a  share  at  five  dollars.  As  every  able-bodied 
man  must  belong  to  a  fire  company  or  be  liable  to  do  military  duty, 
membership  rapidly  increased,  starting  with  seventeen  men.  A 
peculiarity  of  the  fire  system  was  that  of  the  appointment  of  war- 
dens, in  which  capacity  William  King  and  Joseph  Sewall  were 
chosen  as  such  in  1837,  and  performed  the  duty  of  carrying  a  long 
rod,  on  the  upper  end  of  which  was  a  bright  round  knob  to  use  in 
keeping  firemen  close  to  their  work. 

Chief  Engineers. — 1804,  Joseph  Torrey;  1849,  Jeremiah  Ells- 
worth; 1850-5,  John  G.  Richardson;  1856-7,  C.  D.  Elmes; 
1858-9,  L.  G.  Litchfield;  1860-4,  Samuel  L.  Allen;  1865-6,  Read 
Nichols;  1867-8,  William  Ingalls;  1869,  Solomon  Reed;  1870-1, 
William  Hodgdon;  1872,  Charles  L.  Turner;  1873-4,  William  C. 
Duncan;  1875-6,  Thomas  F.  Craven;  1877-8,  John  T.  Cook; 
1879-81,  Andrew  R.  Cahill;  1882-3,  Jonn  R-  Knowlton;  1884-6, 
Oscar  F.  Williams;  1887,  Sidney  B.  Knight;  1888,  George  S.  Brown; 
1889,  James  H.  Scott;  1890,  Sidney  B.  Knight;  1891,  James  H. 
Scott;   1893,  John  R.  Knowlton. 

Old-Time  Fires. — February  27,  1829,  a  fire  broke  out  at  the 
corner  of  Commerce  and  Front  streets,  in  the  store  of  James  C. 
Tallman,  and  spread  north  through  the  stores  of  Elbridge  G. 
Sprague,  Clark  &  Sewall,  John  Bosworth,  and  James  H.  McLellan, 
to  the  large  store  of  General  McLellan.  At  that  time  all  stores  con- 
tained groceries,  hardware,  wooden  ware,  dry  goods,  salt,  flour,  and 
liquors  of  all  kinds.  The  utmost  exertion  was  required  to  prevent 
the  fire  from  crossing  the  street  to  the  west.  The  old-fashioned 
hand  tubs  were  the  only  things  provided  to  fight  fire  with,  and  as  it 
was  low  water,  lines  had  to  be  formed  across  the  flats  to  pass  the 
water  from  the  river  to  them. 


282  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

December  12,  1829,  another  fire  occurred  greater  than  the  other. 
It  commenced  on  the  west  side  of  Front  street,  directly  opposite 
Ferry  street,  and  spread  south;  and  to  the  north  to  Elm  street,  and 
was  stayed  at  the  store  of  Edmund  Freeman ;  on  the  west  it  took 
a  number  of  small  buildings.  The  buildings  burned  were  owned  by 
Charles  Clapp,  Thomas  Haley,  James  Foster,  John  Hodgkins,  and 
Charles  Crooker.  The  tide  was  out,  as  at  the  former  fire,  and  a 
storm  prevailed  which  interfered  much  with  the  work  of  saving 
goods. 

The  Great  Fire  of  1837. — The  winter  of  1837  was  one  of 
terrible  severity,  and  on  one  of  the  coldest  nights  of  that  cold  win- 
ter a  fire  broke  out  in  a  building  on  the  north-west  corner  of  Front 
street,  corner  of  Ferry  street,  on  the  evening  of  Feb.  5th,  originating 
in  the  boot  and  shoe  store  of  Samuel  Foote.  The  wind  caused  it  to 
spread  to  the  west  side  of  Front  street,  sweeping  everything  before 
it.  The  fire  machines  consisted  of  two  old-fashioned  hand  tubs, 
which  had  to  be  supplied  by  a  long  line  of  buckets,  passing  from 
hand  to  hand ;  and  such  a  freezing  night  as  that  to  pass  the  water. 
The  wind  blowing  from  the  north-east,  almost  a  gale,  nothing  could 
stay  the  progress  of  the  flames.  They  spread  in  every  direction, 
carrying  destruction  and  misery  in  their  path.  Thirty  stores  and 
houses  were  burned  to  ashes,  including  Parsons  Smith,  Hartley 
Gove,  Ainmi  R.  Mitchell,  William  M.  Rogers,  Otis  Kimball,  Mrs. 
Swazey,  Mr.  Ferrin,  Mr.  Larrabee,  Mr.  Haley  and  his  son,  Mr. 
Foote,  Mr.  Hogan,  R.  R.  Smith,  Davis  Hatch,  Mr.  Bovey,  John 
Hayden,  Mr.  Stevens,  Converse  Owen,  the  two  Barbers,  John  Heals' 
tavern,  Samuel  Anderson,  Mr.  Donnell's  watch-maker's  shop,  Jacob 
Robinson's  store,  Mrs.  Brown,  and  others. 

"The  fire  took  the  adjoining  buildings  and  crossed  the  street, 
taking  all  the  buildings  on  the  west  side  from  the  store  of  what  is 
now  Walter  S.  Russell's  to  the  store  now  occupied  by  Charles  A. 
Harriman,  the  high  brick  wall,  extending  above  the  roof  covered 
with  slate,  with  copper  gutters,  and  no  perforations  for  sky  lights, 
sufficed  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  flames.  About  eight  inches 
of  snow  fell  that  night  and  the  mercury  showed  four  degrees  below 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  283 

zero.  The  goods  in  the  stores  and  shops  were  taken  out  and  scat- 
tered in  every  direction  in  the  snow.  A  large  part  of  what  was 
taken  from  the  burning  buildings  was  lost  in  the  snow.  It  was  past 
four  o'clock  before  active  exertion  ceased.  The  sun  rose  bright  and 
beautiful  the  next  morning  to  shed  its  rays  on  a  heap  of  ruins. 
The  old  tubs  were  all  we  had  and  they  soon  froze  up  and  were 
useless.  But  for  that  brick  7va//,  nearly  all  the  houses  and  stores  to 
the  south  would  probably  have  been  destroyed  as  far  down  as 
Winnegance.  With  the  exception  of  the  Elliot  House  and  a  three 
story  building  nearly  all  the  buildings  were  two  stories  in  height.  A 
very  singular  circumstance  occurred  at  this  fire.  Among  the  goods 
saved,  a  great  many  odd  boots  and  shoes  were  found  with  no  mates 
to  match  them.  Of  course  they  were  valueless,  the  underwriters  pay- 
ing for  them  as  for  a  total  loss.  The  loser  soon  after  took  another 
shop  and  opened  a  good  assortment  of  boots  and  shoes,  apparently 
as  large  as  he  had  before  the  fire,  although  no  one  knew  of  his  going 
anywhere  to  get  them." — IFaydcn. 

It  was  felt  at  the  time  to  be  a  great  blow  to  the  industry  and  capi- 
tal of  Bath,  as  there  was  little  insurance  on  either  stores  or  stocks. 
The  work  of  rebuilding  was,  however,  begun  while  the  ashes  of 
the  fire  were  still  warm,  and  better  buildings  than  those  burned 
were  soon  completed  on  the  devastated  district. 

In  the  winter  of  1838,  Kelley's  block  on  Center  street,  nearly 
opposite  the  present  City  Hall,  was  burned.  In  it  were  the  town  of 
Bath  record  books,  which  were  entirely  destroyed. 

One  of  the  greatest  fires  that  has  ever  occurred  in  Bath  was  that 
in  the  yard  of  the  New  England  Ship-building  Company  in  the  fore- 
noon of  July  15,  1887.  Fire  originated  in  a  building  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  yard,  in  which  was  the  office  of  the  company, 
also  a  paint  shop  and  oakum  loft,  in  the  latter  of  which  the  fire 
originated.  The  wind  was  blowing  strongly  from  the  north-west, 
sweeping  the  flames  directly  upon  the  yard,  which  had  no  fire  appa- 
ratus, and  there  was  delay  in  the  fire-engines  arriving  upon  the 
ground  on  account  of  the  horses  being  employed  on  a  distant  street 
doing  city  work.  Besides  the  burning  of  the  building  named,  which 
was  of  two  stories,  there  was  a  dwelling-house  with  stable,  black- 


284  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

smith  shop,  a  1,200  and  an  800-ton  schooner  on  the  stocks,  which 
were  being  built  for  outside  parties,  one  valued  at  $20,000,  the  other 
at  $5,000,  a  tug  valued  at  $10,000,  a  large  quantity  of  ship  material 
in  the  yard,  machinery  and  appliances  damaged,  and  a  vessel  on  the 
marine  railway  caught  fire,  but  was  saved  by  heroic  effort,  led  by  a 
reporter  of  the  Times.     The  property  lost  was  valued  at  $150,000. 

In  June,  1893,  this  company  lost  its  mill  by  fire  in  the  day-time, 
when  it  was  not  in  operation.  Valuable  machinery  was  destroyed, 
as  also  chests  of  tools  stored  there  by  workmen  off  duty.  The  loss 
was  estimated  at  $15,000. 

In  April,  1893,  the  Columbian  Opera  House  and  Revere  House, 
on  the  west  side  of  Forest  street  between  Elm  and  Summer  streets, 
were  burned. 

After  the  great  Portland  fire,  July  4,  1866,  the  city  government 
sent  $2,000  in  aid  of  the  sufferers,  and  in  addition  citizens  sent 
large  quantities  of  provisions  and  clothing.  In  October  of  the  same 
year  there  was  a  destructive  fire  in  Wiscasset,  and  Mr.  John  Hay- 
den,  then  mayor  of  Bath,  raised  by  subscription  $1,000  in  money 
and  the  people  sent  quantities  of  necessary  goods. 

The  Fire  Alarm  System. — In  December,  1891,  the  city  gov- 
ernment authorized  a  contract  with  the  Gamewell  Company  to  place 
its  fire  alarm  system  (experimentally  for  six  months)  in  the  city  at  a 
cost  of  $3,500,  to  comprise  thirteen  boxes  and  to  include  all  the 
machinery  necessary  for  operating  the  works. 

The  system  can  be  used  in  stormy  weather  to  notify  schools 
whether  there  will  be  one  session  or  two.  The  system  worked  ex- 
cellently well  and  was  adopted.  In  June,  1893,  an  alarm  was  placed 
in  the  Bath  Iron  Works. 


WATER   WORKS. 


In  1884,  the  question  of  water  supply  became  seriously  agitated 
and  discussed  by  business  men,  resulting  in  obtaining  a  charter  from 
the  legislature  in  January,  1885,  by  a  company  of  citizens  of  the 
city.     In  the  spring  of  1886,  the  company  instituted  a  survey  of 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  285 

water  sources  and  of  facilities  for  piping  the  streets.  For  the  water 
supply  it  was  decided  that  that  from  Thompson's  Brook  was  the 
purest  obtainable.  Expert  engineers  reported  that  with  extensive 
excavations  sufficient  good  water  could  be  secured  from  this  source, 
and  it  was  decided  to  adopt  this  as  the  source  of  supply,  and  it  has 
proved  to  be  the  purest  in  the  state. 

In  the  summer  of  1886,  a  contract  for  preparing  the  brook,  put- 
ting in  the  works  and  service  pipe  was  awarded  to  F.  B.  Darley,  of 
Norwich,  Conn.  He  commenced  the  work  September,  1886,  and 
completed  it  in  September,  1887.  The  water  at  Thompson's  Brook 
is  at  a  point  in  Brunswick  near  Harding  Station,  between  the 
line  of  the  Maine  Central  Railroad  and  Trotting  Park.  The  pond 
is  from  100  to  150  feet  wide  and  400  feet  long.  The  water-shed  is 
over  six  miles  square,  and  the  supply  has  been  estimated  to  be  suf- 
ficient for  a  city  of  10,000  inhabitants.  The  soil  for  miles  about 
the  pond  is  sandy.  The  pipes  are  of  iron ;  the  main  pipe  crosses 
the  New  Meadows  River  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile  above  the  rail- 
road bridge.  The  pumping  station  is  situated  within  short  distance 
of  the  brook.  It  is  a  fire-proof,  brick  building.  The  stand-pipe  is 
situated  on  Paradise  Hill,  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  from  the 
court-house,  on  the  highest  ground  between  the  pumping  station  and 
the  city,  and  can  be  seen  for  miles  around.  The  dimensions  of  this 
large  reservoir  are  75  feet  high,  34  feet  6$  inches  at  the  bottom,  and 
33  feet  8  inches  at  the  top,  made  of  refined  iron,  50,000  pounds 
tensil  strength.  The  hydrant  system  for  use  in  case  of  fire  extends 
over  the  principal  part  of  the  city  from  Cowin's  store  to  Pine  street, 
and  from  Commercial  to  Lincoln  street.  There  are  one  hundred 
and  twenty-one  in  number,  four  four-nozzle,  four  three-nozzle,  and 
ninety-two  two-nozzle  hydrants. 

The  following  are  the  members  and  incorporators  of  the  Bath 
Water  Supply  Company :  Arthur  Sewall,  Charles  Davenport,  L.  W. 
Houghton,  John  S.  Elliot,  Thomas  W.  Hyde,  John  H.  Kimball, 
Franklin  Reed,  F.  H.  Patten,  Galen  C.  Moses,  Charles  H.  McLellan, 
John  W.  McLellan,  Frank  O.  Moses,  John  W.  Marr,  F.  B.  Torrey, 
John  O.  Patten,  Henry  W.  Swanton,  A.  H.  Shaw,  George  Moulton, 
Jr.,  Samuel  D.  Bailey,  George  H.  Nichols. 


286  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Following  is  the  official  report  of  the  statistics  of  1892  of  the 
Water  Supply  Company:  Source,  Thompson's  Brook,  located  at 
Brunswick;  system,  pumping  to  stand-pipe;  stand-pipe  capacity, 
550,000  gallons;  two  Worthington  pumps,  daily  capacity,  2,000,000 
gallons;  hydrants,  121,  Ludlow;  pipe,  24  5-8  miles,  12  to  2  inches 
in  diameter;  61  valves;  9  meters,  various;  quality  of  water,  extra 
good;  pressure,  domestic,  72  to  105  pounds;  fire,  the  same;  works 
owned  by  Company;  cost  of  construction,  $275,000. 


THE  CEMETERIES. 


Within  the  limits  of  this  city  there  are  four  cemeteries,  the  largest 
being  Maple  Grove  and  Oak  Grove  cemeteries.  The  oldest  burying- 
ground  is  known  as  the  David  Trufant  cemetery,  at  the  head  of 
Spring  street.  It  is  about  an  acre  in  extent  and  has  not  been  used 
for  nearly  half  a  century.  Many  head-stones  have  been  blown  down 
and  the  graves  broken.  A  slate  head-stone  marks  the  grave  of 
David  Trufant,  who  was  known  as  "  King  David  "  and  for  whom  the 
grave-yard  was  named.  The  inscription  on  the  stone  is :  "  David 
Trufant,  who  died  Dec.  14,  18 13,  Alt.  72  years,  7  months."  The 
oldest  head-stone  is  dated  Nov.  12,  1795. 

The  next  oldest  cemetery  is  at  the  corner  of  Dummer  and  Beacon 
streets,  and  is  known  as  the  Dummer  Sewall  burying-ground.  In 
this  cemetery  lie  the  remains  of  Dummer  Sewall.  According  to  the 
inscription  on  a  ten-foot  granite  monument,  he  died  aged  94  years. 

About  1800,  the  town  of  Bath  purchased  of  the  estate  of  Hetherly 
Foster  three  acres  of  land  for  use  as  a  burying-ground.  From  time 
to  time  since,  the  cemetery  has  been  enlarged  by  land  purchased  of 
William  D.  Sewall.  This  cemetery  is  now  known  as  Maple  Grove. 
About  1854,  the  city  wished  to  enlarge  the  ground  by  purchase  of  a 
strip  of  land  on  the  northern  end,  but  concluded  to  try  elsewhere 
on  account  of  what  the  city  fathers  considered  an  exorbitant  price. 
Four  miles  from  the  city  a  large  tract  of  land  was  bought,  but  it 
turned  out  not  to  be  a  wise  move,  as  not  half  a  dozen  graves  were 


4 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  287 

made  there  by  reason  of  the  distance  from  the  city.  This  cemetery 
is  still  owned  by  Bath  and  is  covered  by  a  dense  growth  of  pine  and 
other  trees.  The  city  enlarged  Maple  Grove  cemetery  at  a  later 
day  at  less  than  one-half  the  price  first  asked.  Maple  Grove  is 
kept  in  excellent  condition  and  is  one  of  the  best  arranged  ceme-  , 
teries  in  the  state.  In  Maple  Grove  lie  the  remains  of  William 
King,  Maine's  first  governor,  who  died  June  17,  1852,  aged  84  years. 
A  large  granite  monument,  erected  by  the  state,  marks  the  spot. 

In  the  north-west  part  of  the  city  is  Oak  Grove  cemetery,  which 
was  formerly  known  as  the  Sewall  burying-ground,  and  was  pur- 
chased by  the  city  of  heirs  of  Charles  Sewall  in  1872.  This  ceme- 
tery is  well  laid  out  in  regular  squares,  with  broad  avenues.  A  large 
amount  of  money  has  been  expended  in  beautifying  the  grounds,  and 
it  can  be  said  that  no  other  place  in  the  state  has  a  more  beautiful 
resting  place  for  the  dead.  The  oldest  head-stone  in  Oak  Grove 
bears  date  of  Jan.  22,  1777. 

On  the  Berry's  mill  road,  a  few  rods  south  of  "Witch  Spring," 
there  is  an  old  cemetery,  which  is  now  occasionally  used  for  burials. 
This  cemetery  was  once  owned  by  Bath,  when  it  was  a  town,  but 
when  a  portion  of  Bath  was  set  of!  and  made  the  town  of  West 
Bath,  the  cemetery  went  with  it.  The  oldest  head-stone  in  this 
cemetery  bears  date  of  May  1st,  1760.  On  one  head-stone  is  cut : 
"  Solomon  Page,  who  was  educated  at  Harvard  College.  He  de- 
parted this  life  May  12th,  1788,  aged  76  years."  He  had  been  a 
Bath  minister. 


THE  PARK. 


For  years  after  the  purchase  by  the  city  of  the  Park  property 
from  the  Peleg  Tallman  estate,  the  fences  that  enclosed  it  remained 
in  a  dilapidated  condition;  but  when  Edwin  Reed  was  mayor  the 
fences  were  removed,  which  very  much  improved  the  appearance  of 
the  grounds.  Some  years  previously  the  city  purchased  the  lot  on 
the  south-west  corner  of  Washington  and  Summer  streets  and  added 
it  to  the  Park.  All  the  attention  the  grounds  received  for  a  number 
of  years  was  the  annual  mowing  of  the  grass,  that  produced  an 


288  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

abundant  crop,  and  was  looked  upon  as  simply  a  public  common. 
To  make  it  something  more  than  that  and  so  improve  it  that  it 
would  become  a  credit  and  an  ornament  to  the  city,  an  effort  was 
inaugurated  in  1883,  and  by  private  donations  decayed  oaks  were 
removed  and  the  pavillion  built.  A  few  years  subsequently  an 
earnest  effort  was  made  to  raise  a  Park  improvement  fund,  which 
resulted  in  realizing  the  amount  of  $1,463.58.  Of  this  fund  the 
larger  donors  were.  Charles  E.  Moody,  $200;  John  Patten,  $100; 
Charles  £.  Patten,  $100;  Arthur  Sewall,  $100;  John  H.  Kimball, 
$100.  To  the  fund  was  added  $155  by  the  city  government,  result- 
ing from  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  under  the  management  of  the 
mayor,  G.  H.  Nichols. 

With  this  money  the  Park  was  greatly  improved;  the  ledge  on 
the  east  side  was  blasted  away  sixteen  feet  from  the  sidewalk  on 
Front  street,  the  ground  was  graded,  trees  planted,  flowers  arranged, 
running  vines  cultivated,  and  rustic  baskets  placed  in  artistic  posi- 
tions, all  of  which  changed  the  open  common  to  a  gem  of  beautiful 
and  picturesque  Park  grounds.  Later  a  fund  was  raised  by  sub- 
scription for  the  purpose  of  making  a  pond  at  the  south-west  end  of 
the  grounds,  which  was  completed  and  a  fountain  added,  using  the 
city  water. 


PAYING   STREETS. 


The  first  paving  in  the  city  was  undertaken  in  the  summer  of  1891, 
by  the  city  government.  The  work  extended  on  Front  street  from 
the  south  corner  of  Bank  block  to  Arch  street,  and  on  Center  from 
Front  to  Water  street.  The  work  was  done  on  contract,  using  small- 
sized,  brick-formed  granite  blocks  on  a  gravel  foundation.  By  doing 
away  with  water  courses  the  paving  widened  the  available  part  of  the 
streets  and  did  away  with  the  necessity  of  cross  walks. 

In  1892  the  paving  of  Front  street  was  extended  to  Elm  street, 
requiring  the  raising  of  some  of  the  buildings  abutting  on  Front  and 
on  Elm  streets.  In  making  this  improvement  the  grade  of  the  street 
had  to  be  raised,  necessitating  also  the  raising  of  buildings  occupy- 
ing the  lower  portion  of  the  streets. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  289 


THE  OLD  CANNON. 


According  to  tradition,  the  ancient  cannon  was  once  a  part  of 
the  armament  of  the  English  frigate  Glasgow,  but  more  recently  it 
has  been  traced  to  the  British  man-of-war  Somerset,  which  ship  was 
in  lk)ston  harbor  at  the  time  of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  but  did 
not  take  part  in  that  memorable  action.  This  vessel  afterwards 
sailed  for  England,  and  while  on  her  return  voyage  to  this  country 
was  wrecked  on  Cape  Cod,  in  1777.  The  gun  is  a  nine-pounder  and 
bears  the  royal  stamp. 

This  gun  was  recovered  from  the  lost  ship  and  was  one  of  those 
mounted  on  the  earth-works  of  Coxs  Head  in  the  war  of  18 12. 
After  the  war  the  cannon  was  taken  to  Hallowell  for  some  unknown 
reason.  Some  years  since  people  of  Bath  succeeded  in  bringing  it 
down  to  this  city  and  mounted  it  on  "  Meeting-house  Hill,"  a  car- 
riage having  been  made  for  it  in  Boston.  This  carriage  not  proving 
suitable,  it  was  condemned,  and  Capt.  Waterman,  a  Bath  mechanic, 
constructed  one  that  lasted,  with  its  out-door  exposure,  for  many 
years.  It  is  now  well  mounted.  It  has  been  used  on  all  occasions 
requiring  salutes  by  the  city. 


RINGING  OF  THE  TOWN  BELL. 


Before  there  was  a  bell  on  the  town  hall,  that  of  the  old  North 
church  was  used  as  the  town  bell,  and  was  rung  at  one  o'clock  at 
noon  for  dinner  and  at  nine  o'clock  at  night.  '  Mechanics  and  work- 
ing men  dined  at  twelve  and  professional  men  and  merchants  went 
home  to  dinner  at  the  ringing  of  the  one  o'clock  bell.  Finally  the 
mechanics,  of  whom  large  numbers  worked  in  the  ship-yards, 
became  dissatisfied  with  the  hour  for  ringing  the  noon  bell,  and  a 
town  meeting  was  called  to  have  a  vote  taken  upon  the  question  of 
having  the  bell  rung  at  twelve  instead  of  one  o'clock.  There  was 
much  excitement  over  the  question,  both  parties  rallied  all  of  their 
forces,  and  the  vote  was  by  ballot.  The  mechanics  won  the  vote, 
and  the  noon  bell  has  made  the  dinner  hour  twelve  o'clock  to  this 


290  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

day.  The  adoption  of  "standard  time,"  in  1886,  revived  the  agita- 
tion concerning  the  noon  bell ;  the  mechanics  succeeding,  however, 
in  continuing  to  have  the  noon  bell  rung  on  local  time,  while  the 
town  clock  was  set  to  standard  time,  until  in  1890,  when  a  vote  of 
the  city  government  had  the  clock  set  on  local  time  to  correspond 
with  the  adherence  of  the  working  classes  to  local  time.  In  1891, 
it  was  again  changed  by  vote  of  the  city  government  to  standard 
time,  and  the  bell  rings  to  correspond. 


BATH  GAS  AND  ELECTRIC  COMPANY. 


The  original  Gas  Company  received  its  charter  Feb.  22,  1853,  the 
incorporators  being  John  Patten,  D.  C.  Magoun,  G.  W.  Kendall, 
and  Oliver  Moses.  The  capital  stock  was  $150,000,  of  which 
$70,000  only  was  paid  in.  By  the  charter,  the  city  of  Bath  was 
entitled  to  make  a  contract  for  gas  for  public  use  for  thirty  years, 
and  its  supply  was  put  on  Oct.  1,  1853.  After  the  expiration  of  the 
term,  the  city  supply  was  continued  until  the  Gas  Company  was 
consolidated  with  the  Electric  Light  Company. 

The  gas  house  was  originally  near  the  foot  of  North  street,  which 
continued  in  use  until  1891,  when  it  was  rebuilt  on  the  same  site. 

The  Bath  Electric  Light  and  Power  Company  was  organized 
March  29,  1887.  Sept.  23,  1890,  this  company  was  reorganized 
under  the  name  of  the  Bath  Gas  and  Electric  Company,  and  the 
old  Gas  Company  and  the  Electric  Company  were  consolidated 
about  that  time. 

The  works  are  located  on  Washington  street,  immediately  south 
and  east  of  the  rope-walk.  The  plant  comprises  two  600  fifty-light 
Westinghouse  alternating  dynamos,  one  fifty-light  2,000  candle- 
power  (American  machine),  one  thirty-five-light  200  candle-power 
(American  machine),  one  thirty-five-light,  Thomson-Houston,  1,200 
candle-power.  Of  engines  there  are  two,  one  of  125  horse-power 
and  one  of  250  horse-power  (Cross*  compound).  The  125  horse- 
power engine  has  been  used  for  operating  the  Bath  street  railway 
cars  since  August  19,  1893,  and  in  October  following  the  power  of 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  291 

the  plant  was  increased  by  the  addition  of  the  250  horse-power 
engine. 

Official  statistics  for  1892:  Capital  stock,  $125,000;  total  bonds 
outstanding,  $119,000;  process  of  manufacture,  coal;  population, 
10,000;  price  of  gas  in  1892,  for  light,  $2.75;  for  fuel,  $1.66; 
approximate  annual  output,  5,000,000;  candle-power,  21. 

Electrical  Department. —  Operate  American  and  Thomson - 
Houston  System  of  Arc  Lights,  no  lights;  Westinghouse  Alternat- 
ing System  of  Incandescent  Lights,  1,800  lights.  Price  of  arc  lights 
for  public  lighting  per  light,  per  year,  $100.  Price  of  commercial 
arc  lights  per  light,  per  year,  $100.  Total  lighting  hours  per  annum, 
moon  scale. 


STREET   CABS. 


Early  in  1^93,  a  charter  was  obtained  for  the  right  of  way  and  the 
laying  of  tracks  for  the  operating  of  electric  street  cars  on  some  of 
the  streets  of  the  city,  in  June  the  work  was  begun,  and  August  19th 
three  cars  commenced  regular  trips  with  success,  the  line  running 
from  Winnegance,  along  the  traveled  road,  to  the  lower  end  of  the 
McCutcheon  field,  which  it  crosses  diagonally,  as  also  the  Hospital- 
Point  field,  to  the  lower  end  of  Lemont  street,  where  it  enters 
Washington  street,  up  which  it  runs  to  Center  street,  to  Front,  to 
Linden,  to  Washington,  up  which  it  continues  to  the  apex  of  the 
hill  immediately  south  of  the  bridge  that  spans  the  Harward  dock. 
The  company  is  composed  of  Bath  people.  Commencing  with  three 
cars,  the  company  has  now  eight  cars  in  its  equipment. 

In  October,  1893,  the  Bath  Street  Railway  Company  purchased 
the  franchise  of  the  Brunswick  Company  with  the  purpose  of 
extending  the  Bath  railway  to  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  a  distance 
of  nine  miles,  using  the  public  road  for  the  purpose.  The  road  will 
also  be  extended  to  Popham  and  Small  Point.  The  members  of  the 
Company  are :  Galen  C.  Moses,  F.  H.  Twitchell,  A.  H.  Shaw,  of 
Bath;  and  A.  F.  Gerald,  of  Fairfield. 


292  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 


ANCIENT    LAND   GRANTS. 


Old  English  Grouts. — "Up  to  the  year  1649  there  was  a  doubt- 
ful contest  in  the  government  of  Great  Britain,  between  the  King 
and  Parliament,  which  had  a  very  peculiar  effect  on  the  purchases 
from  the  Indians.  The  lands  had  all  been  granted  by  the  Crown, 
and  a  grant  had  been  lately  made  to  several  noblemen,  of  all  the 
lands  in  North  America.  If  King  Charles  the  First  was  able  to 
support  his  contest  against  Parliament,  the  Indian  titles  would 
become  nugatory  and  held  as  void ;  but  if  the  Republican  cause 
should  prevail,  then  the  Indian  deeds,  as  opposed  to  Royal  Grants, 
would  be  held  valid."  The  Republican  Parliament,  under  Cromwell, 
won,  thus  causing  Indian  titles  to  hold  good.  Consequently  Crown 
Grants  did  not  over-ride  the  claims  of  the  native  inhabitants  to  the 
country  they  occupied.  They  were  adjudged  to  have  possessary 
rights,  and  their  deeds  of  specific  tracts  held  good  over  all  other  pre- 
sumed conveyances  when  brought  to  the  test  of  judicial  decisions. 
The  proof  of  an  Indian  deed  before  the  governor,  which  was 
sometimes  done,  was  at  once  given  a  sanction  to  all  purchases  of 
that  kind,  and  a  complete  acknowledgement  of  the  Indians'  right  to 
convey.  North  Bath  was  thus  deeded  to  Christopher  Lamson;  South 
Bath  to  Alexander  Th waits ;  Bath  to  Robert  Gutch ;  Woolwich  to 
John  Brown  and  Edward  Bateman ;  Arrowsic  to  John  Richards ; 
Georgetown  to  John  Parker;  Winnegance  to  Alexander  Th  waits; 
Phipsburg  to  the  second  John  Parker. 

Indian  Titles* — All  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  Lower  Ken- 
nebec was  deeded  by  the  Sachem,  Robin  Hood,  and  native  Saga- 
mores, to  the  early  settlers  upon  it,  and  these  deeds  were  often 
duplicated.  It  would  seem  that  the  natives  believed  they  were  con- 
veying the  right  of  occupancy  only,  while  they  reserved  to  them- 
selves their  natural  right  to  fish,  hunt,  set  traps,  and  grow  corn, 
which,  seemingly,  covered  all  their  wants.     Consideration  for  these 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  293 

deeds  was  merely  nominal,  usually  being  a  few  pumpkins,  a  little, 
corn,  and  some  rum  annually. 

In  1792,  there  was  an  enactment  by  the  Massachusetts  Legislature 
which  declared  that  the  Indians  were  not  allowed  to  be  dispossessed 
of  their  planting  grounds  and  fishing  berths,  though  all  territorial 
purchases  of  them,  followed  by  five  years'  quiet  possession,  accorded 
to  the  occupants,  especially  in  Maine,  an  indisputable  title.  There 
was  another  enactment  forbidding  the  taking  of  Indian  deeds,  but 
not  applying  to  deeds  made  prior  to  this  enactment. 

On  the  Resettlement,  after  the  peace  with  the  Indians  by  treaty  at 
Portsmouth,  in  17 13,  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  laid  out  by  survey 
all  the  territory  from  Atkins  Bay  to  Whizgig  in  tracts  of  three- 
quarters  of  a  mile  frontage  on  the  Kennebec,  extending  to  the  New 
Meadows  River.  Their  claims,  however,  were  overruled  in  favor  of 
prior  claims  of  the  Plymouth  Company,  as  adjudicated  by  litigation 
and  compromise,  in  1766. 

Old  Landmarks* — Joseph  Heath  was  surveyor  for  the  Pejepscot 
Company,  taking  pay  for  his  services  in  land.  By  an  original  map 
this  tract  is  definitely  located,  apparently  comprising  the  Peterson 
and  Harward  farms,  as  it  lies  exactly  opposite  "Winslow's  Rocks," 
running  from  the  Sagadahoc  to  "Stevens  Creek"  [New  Meadows 
River]. 

"The  land  between  the  two  black  lines  [as  is  represented  on  map] 
contains  four  hundred  acres  situated  and  being  on  the  west  side  of 
Long  Reach  in  Sagadahoc  River,  part  of  wch  Land  was  Quit  claimed 
and  Delivered  to  the  Pejepscot  Company  by  Nicholas  Lyddiard  and 
his  wife,  and  the  said  four  hundred  acres  of  Land  was  exactly  sur- 
veyed and  is  herein  Truly  Disscribed.     November  18,  17 16. 

Pr.  Joseph  Heath." 

"This  plat  made  by  Adam  Winthrop  at  the  desire  of  Capt.  Joseph 
Heath,  laid  before  Messrs.  Saml.  Waldo,  J.  N.  Lewis  &  Nathaniel 
Conningham,  as  they  met  upon  November  11,  1731,  to  consider  of 
the  Pejepscot  affairs,  for  their  approbation  &  they  did  so  far  as  they 
were  concerned  approve  thereof  as  the  Grant  formerly  made  to 
sd  Heath  Provided  it  do  not  exceed  the  quantity  of    Land   therein 


294  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

expressed  and  that  sd  Heath  proceed  to  settle  a  family  thereon  the 
next  Summer.     Boston,  Nov.  24th,  1736. 

Attested  by        Adam  Winthrop." 

About  where  is  now  the  old  Peterson  house,  was  "  The  Heath 
house,"  "where  John  Tarp  has  lived  since  1731,"  —  as  by  a  drawing 
of  the  house. 

This  map  defines  the  north  line  of  the  Gutch  tract,  as  starting 
from  Winslow's  Rock  and  running  diagonally  southwest  across  the 
north  end  of  Bath,  touching  the  New  Meadows,  evidently  at  Foster's 
Point.  The  Heath  line  appears  to  overlap  the  Gutch  line  slightly  at 
its  eastern  end.  "A  west  line  to  Small  Point  Bay  from  Winslow's 
Rocks."  "A  west  line  to  Small  Point  Bay  being  the  northerly 
bound  of  Mr.  Robert  Gutch's  Indian  Grant,  made  in  the  year  1660." 

The  Register  of  Deeds  of  old  York,  states  that  there  does  not 
appear  on  record  any  deeds  of  lands  from  the  Gutch  heirs  to 
Nathaniel  Donnell,  but  "July  10,  1753,  there  is  on  record  a  'Par- 
tition of  a  tract  of  land  owned  by  Nathaniel  Donnell  and  others, 
said  tract  formerly  belonging  to  Robert  Gutch,  lying  and  being  on 
Kennebec  River,  of  3,480  acres  of  land  laid  out  by  Committee.' " 

This  survey  of  that  portion  of  the  Gutch  tract  that  was  sold  by 
his  heirs,  comprises  territory  extending  from  Trufant's  or  Ropewalk 
Creek  to  south  of  Harward  farm.  A  map  was  made  of  the  plan,  which 
divided  it  into  quarters,  commencing  at  the  southern  boundary. 
Quarter  No.  1  is  set  down  as  sold  to  Capt.  Nathaniel  Donnell,  entire; 
quarter  No.  2  to  N.  Donnell,  six  hundred  acres,  from  river  to  river, 
with  three  hundred  acres  to  Win.  Johnson  which  covered  one-third 
of  this  quarter  on  its  northern  side;  quarter  No.  3,  one-half  to  Capt. 
N.  Donnell,  comprising  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  acres,  the  other 
half  to  John  Milliken;  quarter  No.  4  is  laid  down,  in  part,  to  Elkins' 
heirs,  comprising  one-third  of  the  quarter,  the  balance  of  the  quarter 
being  blank  on  the  map.  "Some  of  these  divisions  ran  from  river 
to  river,  others  only  part  way,  the  copy  of  the  plan  not  showing  cross 
lines.  Lamont  and  Philbrook,  Sr.,  had  lands  west  of  Milliken,  at 
north  line  beyond  the  creek." 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  295 

Margaret  Lovering,  a  granddaughter  of  Robert  Gutch,  married 
William  Johnson,  and  it  is  stated  she  "took  possession  of  the  family 
estate  in  1734;  that  she  became  a  widow,  and  while  such  lived  and 
died  in  the  house  of  James  Springer/'  to  whom  she  and  her  hus- 
band, in  1753,  deeded  several  hundred  acres  of  land  to  which  she 
was  heir  from  the  Gutch  estate.  It  is  stated  by  writers  that  James 
Springer  kept  tavern  near  where  is  the  David  T.  Percy  homestead, 
on  High  street,  and  to  have  been  the  first  inn  kept  at  Long  Reach. 
The  boundaries  of  this  tract  were  apparently  northerly  on  North 
street,  southerly  on  Academy  street,  easterly  on  the  Kennebec 
River,  and  westerly  on  New  Meadows  River,  with  a  deviation  on  its 
western  portion. 

A  Famous  Lawsuit. — The  title  to  the  tract  on  which  the 
principal  part  of  Bath  stands  was  early  the  subject  of  a  famous 
litigation.  "It  was  claimed  by  David  Jeffries,  in  1761,  by  purchase 
from  the  Kennebec  proprietors,  who,  by  the  name  of  the  Kennebec 
Purchase,  claimed  the  title  to  this  territory  under  a  deed  from  the 
Plymouth  Company.  In  1766,  Jeffries  brought  his  action  for  the 
premises,  being  about  12,000  acres  [Williamson  says  1,200  acres], 
describing  them  precisely  according  to  the  present  boundaries  of  the 
town.  In  this  action  Nathaniel  Donnell,  of  York,  who  had,  many 
years  before,  purchased  from  the  descendants  of  Robert  Gutch  a 
part  of  the  demanded  premises,  was  admitted  to  defend,  he  having 
in  the  meantime  fcold  a  considerable  portion  of  it.  Mr.  Donnell 
disclaimed  all  except  that  part  of  the  demanded  premises  which  lies 
between  the  north  line  of  the  Edmund  Pettengill  farm  and  the  north 
[should  be  south]  line  of  the  John  Peterson  farm,  and  as  to  that 
pleaded  the  general  issue  in  such  actions. 

"The  plaintiff,  to  prove  his  title,  relied  upon  the  grant  from  the 
Council  of  Plymouth,  in  England,  to  William  Bradford  and  his  asso- 
ciates, Jan.  13,  1630,  commonly  called  the  Plymouth  patent,  and 
sundry  mesne  conveyances  to  his  lessor. 

"  The  defendant  denied,  first,  the  right  of  the  plaintiff  to  the  prem- 
ises, and  second,  that  if  he  had  a  colorable  right,  the  right  of  entry 
was  taken  away.     The  original  grant  having  included  a  tract  of 


296  HISTORY   of   BATH. 

land  on  the  Kennebec,  it  was  contended  that  the  tract  sued  for  was 
not  included  within  it,  inasmuch  as  it  lay  on  the  Sagadahoc,  which 
means  the  mouth  of  rivers.  The  defendant  traced  his  title  from 
the  heirs  and  descendants  of  Robert  Gutch,  who  resided  on  the 
premises  prior  to  1670,  and  who  purchased  the  same  of  Robin  Hood, 
a  noted  Sachem  of  one  of  the  Indian  tribes,  by  deed  dated  May  29, 
1660. 

"This  action  was  tried  at  the  Supreme  Court  at  Falmouth,  June, 
1766,  and  a  verdict  rendered  in  favor  of  Donneil,  upon  which  a 
motion  was  made  by  the  plaintiff  *  for  an  appeal  to  his  Majesty  in 
council';  and  having  been  heard  thereon  by  council,  the  motion 
was  denied,  it  being  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the  Court  that  an 
appeal  doth  not  lie  by  the  Royal  Charter  in  this  case.  The  counsel 
for  the  plaintiff  were  Jeremiah  Gridley,  James  Otis,  Sr.,  and  William 
Cushing;  for  the  defendant,  William  Parker,  Daniel  Farnham,  and 
David  Sewall "  (yitie  Joseph  Sewall).  Mr.  Thayer  states  that  a  new 
trial  was  allowed,  but  never  occurred,  the  chances  for  success  having 
been  too  uncertain,  and  Donneil  held  title  to  his  purchase.  This 
decision  must  have  settled  the  validity  of  all  contemporary  titles  to 
land  covered  by  the  Gutch  deed. 

Christopher  Lawton's  possession  of  a  tract  of  land,  at  North  Bath, 
by  Indian  title,  was  mortgaged  to  a  Mr.  Walker  who  died,  and  the 
land  came  into  the  possession  of  the  widow ;  she  subsequently  mar- 
ried Ephraim  Savage,  who  was  the  executor  of  thu  Richard  Wharton 
landed  estate,  and  sold  his  wife's  right  to  the  Lawton  tract  to  John 
Butler  who  married  a  daughter  of  this  widow.  There  is  a  cove  at 
North  Bath,  on  Merrymeeting  Bay,  called  Butler's  Cove,  deriving 
its  name  presumingly  from  this  Butler  who,  it  is  inferred,  lived  at  or 
near  it.  At  the  time  of  the  Indian  raids  of  1719-20,  upon  the  set- 
tlers on  this  bay  and  the  Kennebec,  Butler  retired  to  lower  Arrowsic 
for  better  security. 

What  became  of  the  subsequent  ownership  of  this  tract,  as  well  as 
of  that  composing  the  rest  of  the  territory  of  North  Bath,  has  not 
been  definitely  ascertained.  It  was  afterwards  claimed  by  the 
Pejepscot  Company. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  297 


OLD    FAMILIES. 


It  is  men  who  make  history,  and  the  character  of  a  place  is  deter- 
mined by  the  character  of  its  inhabitants.  It  becomes,  therefore,  a 
matter  of  historical  interest  to  give  an  account  of  some  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  and  women  of  past  generations  who  were  the  makers 
of  Bath  history,  as  far  as  pertained  to  the  period  contemporaneous 
with  their  lives  ;  who  gave  character  to  the  society  of  their  day ; 
were  identified  with  its  business  and  with  its  domestic,  religious,  and 
political  welfare.  Consequently  as  much  space  in  this  book  as  could 
be  spared,  has  been  devoted  to  this  department  of  local  history. 

The  Early  Settlers  were  stalwart  men,  ranking  with  the  leading 
men  of  the  state,  while  the  women  —  intelligent  and  attractive  — 
were  truly  worthy  of  their  companionship.  They  were  of  Scotch 
and  English  blood,  which  is  the  best  in  European  history. 

"The  men  who  were  the  early  settlers  of  Bath  were  reckoned  to 
be  half  a  head  taller  than  those  of  any  other  community  in  the 
country.  There  were  no  small-sized  men  among  them  and  but  very 
few  who  were  of  medium  size.  They  might  well  be  termed  a  race 
of  giants.  There  were  few  who  weighed  less  than  one  hundred  and 
eighty  pounds  and  they  were  five  feet  and  six  inches  to  six  feet 
and  two  inches  in  height." — Lctnont. 

The  Early  Construction  of  Dwellings. —  In  making  a  location 

in  this  uncultivated  territory,  with  its  lack  of  sawed  lumber,  the 
pioneer  settlers  were  under  the  necessity  of  making  their  houses  of 
logs,  which  abounded  in  the  forest  surrounding  them,  by  placing 
one  above  another,  hewn  on  the  inner  side,  for  the  walls,  roofing 
them  with  birch  bark,  the  openings  for  windows  being  covered  with 
transparent  skins  of  the  wild  animals  of  the  woods.  Hovels  for 
cattle  were  constructed  in  a  similar  but  ruder  manner.  So  rude 
were  the  fittings  of  these  abodes  of  families  that  rocks  were  used 
for  andirons,  on  which  to  place  huge  logs  of  hard  wood,  the  smoke 


298  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

ascending  through  chimneys  built  of  clay  mortar.  Those  who  came 
later,  and  were  possessed  of  more  means,  constructed  their  dwellings 
of  timber  hewn  on  the  four  sides,  laid  lengthways  one  above  another, 
.  and  dovetailed  together  at  the  ends.  Some  of  these  had  port-holes 
from  which  to  fire  upon  the  approach  of  hostile  Indians.  These 
were  generally  comfortable  dwellings. 

In  the  closer  settlements  there  were  buildings  of  larger  dimen- 
sions, capable  of  temporarily  housing  several  families,  to  which  they 
would  resort  when  signals  of  danger,  from  the  Indians,  were  given. 
They  were  termed  garrison-houses,  block-houses,  and  forts.  They 
usually  were  of  two  stories,  the  upper  projecting  over  the  lower  to 
prevent  the  foe  from  entering  to  the  floor  above,  as  well  as  to  afford 
facilities  for  firing  upon  them  when  approaching  the  building.  There 
was  a  sentry-box  on  top,  and  port-holes  through  the  outer  walls ; 
flankers  on  two  ends  from  which  to  enfilade  the  sides  and  ends  of 
the  fortification ;  and  the  windows,  without  glass,  were  protected  by 
stout  shutters. 

Huddled  together  in  the  garrisons,  each  family  contributed  its  share 
of  the  provisions.  The  men,  and  boys  that  were  old  enough,  had 
to  go  out  of  the  garrison  in  the  day-time  to  work  at  the  risk  of  being 
killed  and  scalped  before  night;  the  women  and  little  children  keep- 
ing in  the  house.  The  men,  collectively  or  alone,  had  to  carry  guns 
or  some  kind  of  weapons  of  defence,  and  whenever  they  would  hear 
the,  report  of  a  gun  anywhere  they  suspected  the  Indians  were  kill- 
ing somebody,  which  generally  proved  true. 

SoillC  Of  the  Old  IIOIISCH.  —  The  Edward  H.  Page  house  was 
built  by  his  grandfather,  Joshua  Philbrook,  in  1753.  Because  it  was 
of  two  stories  and  larger  than  any  other  in  the  settlement,  it  was 
termed  "the  great  house  on  the  hill."  Its  site  was  on  High  street, 
a  little  south  of  where  is  now  the  soldiers'  monument  —  the  second 
house  from  the  southeast  corner.  A  portion  of  it  is  still  in  exist- 
ence, forming  the  rear  portion  of  a  frame  house,  the  original  front 
door  now  remaining.  Major  Page  kept  it  as  a  tavern,  and  was  by 
trade  a  tanner. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  299 

The  Isaiah  Crooker  house  originally  stood  where  is  now  the  Cath- 
olic parsonage,  on  the  west  side  of  High  street,  and  was  built  in 
1756.  In  this  Mr.  Crooker  lived  and  died.  It  is  yet  in  exis- 
tence, moved  to  the  rear  of  the  catholic  buildings,  partly  occupied 
for  a  Catholic  Old  Ladies'  Home.  It  is  a  framed  building,  not  a 
timber  house  as  has  been  generally  supposed.  He  was  the  village 
blacksmith,  having  his  shop  across  the  street  from  his  house.  His 
barn  was  where  the  old  High  street  Academy  building  now  stands. 

Joseph  Lambert's  house  was  on  the  west  side  of  High  street,  north 
of  the  Sewall  houses,  and  is  now  in  existence.  He  kept  tavern,  and 
in  it  was  imprisoned  the  English  timber  agent  that  was  arrested  at 
the  time  the  hewers  were  driven  off,  in  connection  with  the  War  of 
the  Revolution. 

Where  now  is  the  brass  foundry  of  F.  B.  Torrey,  was  a  large  build- 
ing occupied  by  Joseph  Stockbridge  for  a  tavern,  and  subsequently 
called  the  Mansion  House.  It  was  at  this  house  that  the  town 
authorities  found  quarters  for  Governor  Gore,  of  Massachusetts, 
when  he  visited  Bath  in  18 10. 

Capt.  Simeon  Turner  owned  and  lived  on  the  Peterson  place  up 
to  the  year  1798,  when  he  sold  it  to  Capt.  John  Peterson.  He  also 
built  a  house  on  the  "  Point." 

In  1800,  when  Samuel  Davis  was  in  the  zenith  of  prosperity,  he 
built  the  original  house  that  is  now  the  Orphan  Asylum,  and  subse- 
quently purchased  by  William  M.  Rogers,  by  whom  it  was  enlarged 
and  improved  for  his  dwelling.  His  son,  William  Rogers,  succeeded 
to  its  ownership  and  occupancy.  It  had  been  the  most  imposing 
dwelling-house  in  town  and  notable  for  its  ample  and  highly  adorned 
grounds.  Some  of  the  walks  of  its  surroundings  are  underlaid  with 
white  chalk  that  at  an  early  day  had  been  brought  as  ballast  in 
Davis'  ships,  and  of  no  special  value. 

Among  the  other  houses  that  were  notable  nearly  a  century  ago, 
were  those  of  William  King  and  David  Shaw  on  the  "  Point,"  David 
Trufant  on  Pine  street,  now  occupying  the  position  of  an  ell  to  a 
more  modern  house  near  that  street,  and  the  White  timber  house. 

The  earliest  settlers  who  came  from  the  old  countries  were  gener- 


300  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

ally  better  educated  than  their  children  born  in  this  country,  for  lack 
of  schools.  When  peace  and  prosperity  were  firmly  established,  and 
facilities  became  favorable  for  improvements,  a  better  class  of  houses 
were  erected.  When  their  vessels  took  cargoes  of  timber,  fish,  and 
furs  to  England,  English  furnishings  composed  a  part  of  their  return 
freight.  These  articles  of  furniture,  of  great  solidity  and  fine  work- 
manship, are  highly  prized  now  by  their  descendants  who  are  so 
fortunate  as  to  possess  some  of  them. 

How  the  Pioneers  Lived. — They  were  an  industrious  and 
thrifty  people.  Domestic  animals  raised  by  the  older  settlers  brought 
handsome  prices,  a  good  yoke  of  oxen  often  selling  for  fifty  pounds 
sterling.  Money  was  scarce,  and  all  kinds  of  grain,  with  sheep, 
goats,  and  pigs,  were  considered  as  good  as  legal  tender.  People 
paid  money  or  furs  for  clothing,  which  were  then  brought  from  Eng- 
land, and  it  was  soon  found  important  to  raise  flax  and  wool,  from 
which,  with  the  use  of  great  hand  looms,  they  wove  strong  cloth  for 
bedding  and  wearing  apparel.  Until  about  this  time,  too,  all  the 
meal  and  flour  used  were  brought  from  Massachusetts  or  ground  in 
the  mills  at  Sheepscot  or  Arrowsic,  so  there  was  a  great  demand  for 
more  mills  for  grain,  as  well  as  for  sawing  lumber.  This  demand 
was  further  increased  by  the  opening  of  a  trade  in  lumber  with  the 
West  Indies,  by  which  the  settlers  could,  in  return,  have  molasses, 
sugar,  coffee,  spices,  and  other  tropical  products,  which  they  had 
before  done  mostly  without. 

Scotch-Irish  Settlers. —  As  a  considerable  portion  of  the  earli- 
est settlers  who  came  from  the  Old  Country  to  this  section  of  the 
New  World,  were  from  the  north  of  Ireland,  it  may  be  pertinent 
to  illustrate  who  were  their  ancestors.  By  birth  Scots,  they  were 
Irish  by  adoption  only,  by  virtue  of  having  settled  in  the  north  of 
Ireland  at  some  remote  period  of  their  history. 

The  title  that  has  been  given  to  this  truly  stalwart  people,  who 
came  to  this  country  at  an  early  date,  is  not  justly  applicable,  as  not 
a  drop  of  Irish  blood  coursed  in  their  veins.  Their  ancestors  came 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  the  north  of  Ireland.     The  first  immi- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  3OI 

gration  from  Scotland  to  Ireland  was  chiefly  from  the  Highlands,  in 
1608,  for  the  purpose  of  bettering  their  condition.  There  had 
been  a  rebellion  of  the  Irish-Catholics  in  the  northern  section  of 
Ireland,  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  and  when  it  was  quelled  the 
estates  of  the  insurgents  were  confiscated.  These  lands  were  .the 
best  on  the  Island  and  included  the  province  of  Ulster.  The  gov- 
ernment of  James  I.  held  out  attractive  inducements  for  its  resettle- 
ment by  a  Protestant  population,  which  many  Scotchmen  accepted. 
This  territory  was  at  the  extreme  north,  within  twenty  miles  of  the 
coast  of  Scotland.  At  a  later  date  there  was  a  larger  exodus  to  Ire- 
land from  the  Lowlands  of  Scotland,  which  consisted  of  a  class 
superior  to  those  of  the  Highlands.  They  were  Protestants  escaping 
from  Papal  persecutions.  These  people  never  assimilated  with  the 
Irish  race  nor  did  they  intermarry. 

The  Irish-Catholics  were  bitter  enemies  of  the  Protestants.  Their 
religious  rancor  may  have  been  intensified  by  the  occupancy  of  these 
lands  by  a  people  of  another  nation,  who  increased  in  prosperity 
through  their  great  thrift.  The  Catholics  annoyed  these  new-comers 
in  every  possible  way — making  raids  upon  their  farms,  carrying  off 
their  products  and  stock.  This  state  of  continuous  beligerancy 
culminated  in  civil  war,  which  ended  in  the  famous  siege  of  London- 
derry and  the  deeisive  battle  of  Boyne,  in  both  of  which  the  Prot- 
estant cause  triumphed. 

Then  came  the  dawn  of  the  New  World.  Beholding,  in  the  dim 
distance,  the  opening  of  prospective  civil  and  religious  liberty  in  this 
wilderness  land,  Scotchmen  in  Ireland  crossed  the  ocean,  preferring 
to  court  fortune  among  the  savages  in  this  new  country  to  remaining 
in  a  land  inhabited  by  a  relentless  and  hostile  race,  with  whom  they 
could  never  affiliate.  Many  came  direct  from  Londonderry  and  the 
Boyne  to  the  Kennebec.  Large  numbers  landed  in  Boston  and 
diffused  themselves  throughout  New  England,  and  their  sturdy 
independence  and  tenacious  Protestantism  did  more  for  the  country 
than  the  much  vaunted  influence  of  Plymouth  Pilgrims  and  Massa- 
chusetts Puritans.  Those  of  this  generation  who  trace  their  ancestry 
back  to  the  Scotch-Irish  may  well  be  proud  of  it.  They  had  to 
struggle  with  the  hardships  of  the  wilderness ;  the  dangers  of  the 


# 


302  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

savage  foe ;  the  rigor  of  a  sterner  climate  than  that  of  their  native 
land ;  the  privations  of  a  settler's  life ;  the  alternating  neglect  and 
oppression  of  the  mother  country; — but  they  struggled  successfully 
with  all  these  disadvantages.  To  them  is  due  the  credit  of  intro- 
ducing into  New  England  the  cultivation  of  flax,  and  utilizing  this 
useful  fabric  with  the  hand-card,  the  foot-wheel,  and  the  loom,  enabling 
whole  families  to  be  clothed  by  their  own  industry. 

Numerous  living  descendants  of  the  early  settlers  of  Maine,  and 
of  the  Kennebec  valley,  can  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  Scotch- 
Irish  race,  whose  fruitful  blood  permeates  the  veins  of  untold  num- 
bers of  the  past  as  well  as  the  present  generations.  Those  who 
inherit  it  may  well  be  thankful  for  the  impress  it  has  imparted  to 
their  traits  of  character,  raising  them  above  the  characteristics  of 
their  less  favored  contemporaries.  Maine  owes  much  to  those  of  the 
founders  of  its  civilization  who  came  to  its  shores  as  Scotch- Irish 
settlers,  and  who  were  as  distinct  from  the  Irish  race  as  though 
their  remote  ancestors  had  never  left  the  heaths  and  mountains  of 
Scotland. 

The  Pllilbrook  Family. — The  ancestors  emigrated  from  Lin- 
colnshire, England,  to  Watertown,  Mass.,  in  1630.  Thomas  Phil- 
brook  soon  after  moved  to  Hampton,  and  had  three  sons,  Jonathan, 
Samuel,  and  William.  William  settled  in  Greenland,  N.  H.  He  left 
three  sons,  Jonathan,  Samuel,  and  Walter.  This  Jonathan  moved 
from  Greenland,  N.  H.,  to  Saco,  in  1738,  and  to  Hath  in  1742.  lie 
owned  and  occupied  land  that  is  now  the  site  of  the  custom-house, 
also  that  of  the  court-house  and  Old  North  Meeting-house. 

In  1743  Jonathan  Philbrook  purchased  land  of  Nathaniel  Donnell, 
and  built  a  residence  on  the  site  where,  more  than  a  quarter  of  a 
century  later,  stood  the  mansion  of  William  King.  This  Mr.  Phil- 
brook  subsequently  built  a  house  on  High  street  about  opposite  the 
site  of  the  South  Church,  where  he  lived  with  his  son,  Job  Philbrook. 
He  built,  in  1753,  the  timber,  bullet-proof  house  afterwards  owned 
and  occupied  by  Maj.  Edward  H.  Page.  He  built  the  first  vessels 
on  the  west  shore  of  Long  Reach,  as  it  was  then  called,  very  near 
where  the  custom-house  stands.     One  of  his  daughters  married  a 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  303 

Thompson  of  Brunswick,  and  one  married  Isaiah  Crooker,  Sr. 
Joshua,  one  of  the  sons,  married  and  died  in  Bath  at  the  advanced 
age  of  94  years. 

In  1742  there  were  but  eight  families  in  what  is  now  Bath  and 
West  Bath,  and  Joshua  Philbrook  said  he  had  but  one  playmate 
near  his  age  of  fourteen  years.  Some  families  moved  away  in  fear 
of  the  Indians,  as  they  were  very  troublesome.  In  the  years  1746 
and  1747,  the  Indians  were  so  troublesome  that  four  of  the  eight 
families  moved  to  some  larger  settlement  for  better  protection,  while 
the  courageous  built  a  bullet-proof  block-house  for  their  better 
security.  The  settlement  was  consolidated  into  one  household.  Mr. 
Jonathan  Philbrook's  family  numbered  ten,  with  five  sons  and  three 
daughters;  the  other  three  families  averaging  eight  each,  which 
made  a  household  of  thirty-four  souls.  The  nine  males,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  females,  could  repel  an  attack. 

Joshua  Philbrook  was  born  in  Greenland,  N.  H.,  October  10,  1727. 
He  married,  June  15,  1750,  Miss  Elizabeth  Alexander,  who  was 
born  in  Georgetown,  September  8,  1729.  Her  father  was  shot  in 
Topsham  by  an  Indian  and  the  widow  married  Mr.  Bryant  Robinson 
of  Long  Reach.  Joshua  Philbrook  in  his  minority  was  employed  in 
furnishing  game,  mostly  water  fowl  that  were  very  numerous  in  the 
creeks  and  coves  of  the  Sagadahoc.  Joshua  related,  that  he  one 
one  day  went  in  his  float  to  Whizgig  Creek  and  firing  into  a  dense 
flock  of  teal,  killed  twenty-four  at  one  shot.  One  spring  Mr.  Phil- 
brook was  up  in  the  wilderness,  as  was  his  custom  two  months  at  a 
time,  with  traps,  a  bag  of  meal,  and  a  blanket  strapped  on  a  very 
light  hunter's  sled,  a  pair  of  snow-shoes,  a  Bible  that  he  carried  in  his 
pocket,  with  his  pocket  compass.  He  spoke  of  these  latter  as  his  im- 
portant guides.  As  the  spring  advanced,  he  made  preparations  for 
returning  home  by  felling  a  birch  tree  to  make  a  canoe.  He  arrived 
home  safely,  coming  in  contact  with  no  Indians.  It  was  a  very  dan- 
gerous but  profitable  business;  he  paid  for  his  farm  by  means  of  his 
traps  and  disposing  of  his  pelts.  Mr.  Philbrook  and  wife  would  go 
to  Boston  in  one  of  their  sloops  with  their  pelts  and  buy  whatever 
articles  they  were  in  need  of  for  the  next  year ;  some  years  having 
an  overplus  of  a  stocking  full  of  silver  dollars.     They  often  shipped 


i 


304  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

to  Boston  a  load  of  white  oak  rift  staves,  the  first  kind  of  lumber 
that  was  shipped  and  sold  in  Boston.  Rift  shingles  and  clapboards 
were  the  next  articles  shipped  to  Boston  from  Long  Reach  before 
the  time  of  saw-mills.  In  1761-62,  Mr.  Joshua  Philbrook  had  a 
commission  and  warrant  from  Governor  Shirley  of  Massachusetts, 
under  George  III.  of  England,  authorizing  him  to  collect  a  tax  from 
the  tax  payers  of  the  second  parish  of  Georgetown,  the  money  to  be 
appropriated  to  paying  for  the  building  of  the  meeting-house  in  the 
present  West  Bath,  which  duty  he  performed. 

Joshua  worked  with  his  father  at  building  vessels  and  farming. 
When  he  married  he  bought  a  lot  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres 
of  Mr.  Donnell,  of  York,  extending  from  the  Kennebec  River  to  the 
dividing  line  between  Bath  and  West  Bath,  one-third  of  which  later 
belonged  to  the  City  of  Bath,  extending  from  the  east  line  of  the  old 
cemetery  to  the  west  by  SewalPs  Mill  Pond.  The  first  house  Joshua 
built  was  of  logs.  In  1790  he  built  a  log  house  near  the  county 
road,  about  three  rods  northwest  of  Mrs.  Elisha  Wiggins'  house. 
He  built  the  latter  house  with  his  son  Daniel. 

The  first  born  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joshua  Philbrook,  was  Sarah,  said 
to  be  the  first  white  child  born  in  Long  Reach.  She  married  John 
Donnell,  of  Brunswick,  and  died  April  15,  1822.  George  Philbrook 
was  born  September  18,  1752,  and  married  Deborah  Lambert, 
daughter  of  Mr.  Luke  Lambert.  George  Philbrook  served  during 
all  the  years  of  the  Revolutionary  War  with  honor,  and  was  present 
at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  He  was  29  years  of  age  on  returning 
home.  Mr.  Thomas  Philbrook,  at  Durham,  has  the  gun  which 
George  carried  all  through  the  war.  There  is  in  existence  a  letter, 
102  years  old,  written  at  Ticonderoga  to  his  father,  also  one  99  years 
old  to  his  brother.  George  Philbrook  was  present  at  the  farewell 
address  of  General  Washington  to  his  soldiers  and  officers. 

Hannah  was  born  February  22,  1755,  married  Edward  H.  Page, 
who  bought  the  timber  house  of  Jonathan  Philbrook,  on  High  street. 
Elizabeth  was  born  April  23,  1757,  married  David  Lemont  of  West 
Bath,  and  died  January  8,  1830.  Susannah  was  born  September  17, 
1759,  and  continued  with  her  parents  as  a  loving  and  dutiful  child 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  305 

to  the  end  of  their  days.  After  the  death  of  her  parents,  Susannah 
at  the  age  of  60  years,  in  18 19,  was  married  to  Deacon  Reuben 
Higgins,  of  West  Bath.     She  died  December  3,  1847. 

Daniel  Philbrook  was  born  January  17,  1762.  At  the  age  of  16 
years  he  assisted  his  father  in  transplanting  the  first  apple  orchard 
in  this  vicinity,  some  trees  of  which  are  still  vigorous  on  High  street 
and  that  neighborhood.  In  July,  1778,  Daniel  volunteered  (then  17 
years  of  age)  as  soldier  in  the  expedition  to  Bagaduce,  after  which 
defeat  he  returned  home,  crossing  the  Penobscot  at  Bucksport  to 
Wiscasset,  through  a  wilderness,  enduring  suffering  and  almost  star- 
vation. In  1780,  he  served  a  term  at  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  In 
1790,  he  helped  his  father  build  their  third  house  on  High  street 
(now  the  Elisha  Higgins  house),  and  owned  and  lived  in  half  of  the 
same.  The  Philbrook  blood  permeates  a  large  portion  of  the  fami- 
lies of  Bath,  and  good  blood  it  is. 

This  dwelling-house  of  the  ancient  Philbrooks  is  now  in  existence, 
and  in  a  state  of  occupancy,  on  the  east  side  of  High  street,  imme- 
diately north  of  the  residence  of  John  H.  Kimball.  There  lived  in 
it,  John,  Joshua,  and  George,  who  were  brothers.  George  was 
unmarried  and  "  carried  on  the  farm."  A  large  orchard  extended 
down  to  near  the  North-end  school-house,  and  the  school  boys  were 
shrewdly  bought  off,  by  "Uncle  George,"  from  stealing  apples;  when 
the  season  for  apples  came  around  he  was  accustomed  to  call  the 
boys  together  and  say  to  them :  "  Now  my  good  fellows  if  you  will 
not  touch  the  apples  on  the  trees,  you  may  have  all  those  on  the 
ground."  To  this  proposition  the  youngsters  readily  agreed  and 
stood  honorably  to  it.  Thus  "  Uncle  George "  saved  all  the  apples 
that  were  of  any  value  to  him,  the  boys  getting  the  "windfalls."  Dur- 
ing the  term  of  this  contract,  if  any  boy  showed  symptoms  of  dis- 
honesty by  wanting  to  shake  a  tree,  the  others  would  not  permit  him 
to  do  so. 

Philbrook's  Cove,  later  owned  and  used  as  a  ship-yard  and  wharf 
by  the  Moses  brothers,  was  one  of  the  best  salmon  privileges  on  the 
west  Long  Reach  shore.  A  net  set  once  a  week  for  twenty-four 
hours  would  bring  a  supply  for  the  neighborhood  for  days.     The 


j 


306  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

salmon  were  then  cured  by  salting  and  smoking.  Used  fresh,  their 
richness  soon  cloyes,  as  was  shown  by  a  judge  from  Boston  attend- 
ing court  at  Pownalborough  court-house  (Dresden),  who  remarked 
on  the  food  at  table :     "  Fresh  salmon,  same  old  diet  1 " 

In  1765,  there  was  no  market  for  salmon.  When  in  later  years 
there  was  a  demand  in  Boston  for  this  fish,  the  price  increased  from 
2  cents  to  $1.00  a  pound,  of  which  the  Phipsburg  traders  availed 
themselves  in  1820-25.  *n  l&lS*  a^ter  tne  close  of  the  war  with 
England,  New  York  was  a  good  market  for  smoked  salmon  and 
pickled  shad,  the  trade  being  carried  on  by  dealers  from  Connecticut 
River.     Sturgeon  were  used  for  food  in  1770. 

John  Barnard  kept  a  small  stock  of  goods  in  a  store  at  the 
water's  edge,  a  little  south  of  the  brick  store  of  Gilbert  Trufant,  at 
the  south  end.  This  stock  consisted  of  the  actual  necessaries  of 
life.  As  this  John  Barnard  was  knighted  and  bore  a  title,  it  may  be 
well  enough  to  say  something  further  of  him.  He  was  not  a  man 
of  fortune.  Though  not  rich,  he  was  proud.  He  performed  all  his 
journeys  from  the  Reach  to  Boston  on  foot,  invariably  in  a  week. 
He  would  start  on  Monday  by  the  road  leading  round  by  the  old 
meeting-house,  then  north  to  the  head  of  the  New  Meadows  River, 
near  the  old  Indian  carrying  place  leading  from  the  bay  to  the  head 
of  the  river,  then  down  the  river,  passing  the  house  of  old  Esquire 
Hinkley,  and  then  west  to  the  old  road,  which  led  him  to  Stone's 
tavern,  near  the  old  fort  at  Brunswick  Falls,  making  the  distance 
traveled  between  fourteen  and  fifteen  miles.  He  did  not  halt  there 
long,  but  would  advance  so  as  at  night  to  reach  Falmouth,  now  Port- 
land. His  dress  was  always  a  genteel  cocked  hat  with  cockade,  knee 
breeches  and  shoes  with  silver  knee  and  shoe  buckles,  coat,  waistcoat, 
and  stockings  to  match.  He  traveled  with  a  pair  of  saddle  bags,  con- 
taining some  extra  clothes,  with  specie  in  gold  and  silver  to  pay  for  his 
goods.  He  was  six  feet  in  height;  his  body  was  after  the  model  of 
the  greyhound;  his  face  was  thin,  with  penetrating  eyes.  Just  pre- 
vious to  the  Revolutionary  War,  he  left  and  went  to  Barbadoes, 
where  he  held  office  under  the  King.  He  never  married.  He  was 
a  man  of  great  integrity  of  character,  and  was  much  esteemed  by 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  307 

the  people  of  the  Reach.     Mr.  William  Swanton  named  a  son,  John 
Barnard  Swanton,  for  him. 

Mr8.  Susannah  Shaw,  the  wife  of  Elisha  Shaw,  was  born  in 
Quincy,  Mass.  Her  maiden  name  was  Susannah  Clark.  She  was 
married  in  1752,  and  came  to  Bath  with  her  husband  in  1761.  They 
bought  a  piece  of  land  north  of  Pine  street,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
road,  now  called  High  street,  and  built  a  log-house.  Mrs.  Shaw  was 
a  woman  of  uncommon  strength  and  courage,  as  for  instance:  They 
kept  a  few  sheep,  and  one  fine  day,  as  they  were  grazing  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road,  the  dog  gave  loud  barks  of  alarm.  Mrs. 
Shaw  ran  out,  and  saw  that  a  large  bear  had  seized  one  of  the 
sheep  and  was  slowly  carrying  it  off  in  his  paws.  Mr.  Shaw  being 
from  home,  Mrs.  Shaw  hastened  into  the  house,  seized  the  King's 
arm,  which  ornamented  the  kitchen  mantel,  found  the  cartridge-box, 
both  of  which  her  husband  had  used  at  the  reduction  of  Louisburg 
in  1758-9.  She  loaded,  primed,  and  ran  out  with  the  gun  in  her 
hand.  She  soon  discovered  the  bear  with  his  booty.  She  levelled 
over  the  log  fence,  fired,  and  brought  down  the  bear,  wounded. 
Captain  Pettengill,  a  neighbor,  who  was  on  the  road  at  the  time; 
hearing  the  report  of  the  gun,  he  ran  to  her  assistance,  and  by  the 
aid  of  an  ax  soon  ended  what  little  life  there  was  left  in  bruin.  His 
skin  and  meat  amply  compensated  for  the  death  of  the  sheep.  Of 
her  ten  children,  eight  lived  to  mature  age.  They  were  John,  Joshua, 
Elisha,  David,  Elizabeth,  Hannah,  Jane,  and  Eunice,  some  of  whose 
descendants  are  still  living  in  Bath.  Her  sons  were  all  remark- 
able for  physical  strength.  Joshua  and  Elisha  were  soldiers  in  the 
Revolutionary  War,  both  fearless  and  undaunted.  Elisha  Shaw,  the 
father  of  these  children,  died  December,  1775.  His  wife  survived 
him,  lived  to  bring  up  and  see  all  her  children  married,  and  died  in 
1795.  She  was  distinguished  for  her  piety,  good  morals,  and 
physical  courage. 

Major  David  Shaw  was  the  youngest  son  of  Elisha  and  Hannah 
Shaw,  who  were  married  in  1752,  at  Braintree,  Mass.,  and  removed 
to  the  second  parish  of  Georgetown,  which  included  the  present  city 
of  Bath  and  West  Bath,  where  David  was  born,  August  10,  1764. 


308  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

He  was  of  a  family  of  ten  children,  of  whom  four  girls  and  four  boys 
lived  to  arrive  at  full  age.  The  father  bought  a  tract  of  land  near 
the  junction  of  High  and  Pine  streets,  and  built  a  log-house  where 
David  was  born.  The  mother  was  she  who  shot  the  bear.  At  that 
time,  not  a  sailing  vessel  was  owned  by  an  inhabitant  of  the  parish, 
nor  were  there  any  saw-mills  for  manufacturing  lumber,  so  that  the 
inhabitants  depended  principally  on  farming  and  fishing  for  support. 
Some  cord  wood  was  shipped  to  Boston  by  vessels  from  abroad  and 
exchanged  for  goods. 

In  1770,  the  father  exchanged  his  farm  at  the  Reach  for  one 
more  eligibly  situated,  now  in  West  Bath,  and  the  same  formerly 
owned  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Richardson.  This  was  on  the  salt  water 
of  New  Meadows  River,  where  fish  and  clams  abounded,  and  where 
he  found  greater  facilities  for  supporting  his  wife  and  children.  The 
father  died  in  1775,  the  same  year  that  hostilities  commenced  be- 
tween the  Colonies  and  England.  Two  brothers  left  their  home  and 
entered  the  army  at  Cambridge,  and  were  at  Dorchester  Heights 
under  Washington  in  1776,  when  he  drove  the  British  troops  out  of 
Boston.  David,  being  the  youngest,  stayed  at  home  and  performed 
filial  duties.  Salt  works  were,  about  this  time,  established  near 
Berry's  Mills,  as  no  salt  could  be  had  from  abroad.  David  worked 
at  that  business,  taking  his  pay  in  salt,  and  applied  the  proceeds 
towards  the  support  of  his  mother  and  sisters,  while  his  brothers 
were  in  the  army.  At  the  time  of  his  birth,  there  were  only  three 
houses  in  Bath,  and  they  were  all  on  High  street. 

At  the  age  of  nineteen,  he  commenced  work  as  a  ship-carpenter, 
and  had  a  natural  faculty  for  drafting  vessels.  In  January,  1793,  he 
married  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Mitchell,  who  resided  at  Berry's 
Mills;  with  her  he  lived  for  a  little  more  than  sixty-three  years.  He 
built  several  ships  for  General  King  and  Jonathan  Davis,  Jr.,  and 
was  engaged  in  trade  and  commerce  up  to  the  time  of  the  long 
embargo,  which  embarrassed  his  business.  In  1803,  he  was  chosen 
Town  Clerk  of  Bath,  and  did  the  duties  of  the  office  forty  years  in 
succession.  He  was  so  popular,  that,  amid  all  the  conflicts  of  the 
people  on  the  subject  of  politics  and  parish  affairs,  he  was  always 
unanimously   elected   Town    Clerk.      He   was   also    a    Magistrate 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  309 

for  more  than  fifty  years,  and  his  decisions  were  marked  by  integ- 
rity and  good  sense.  He  was  the  last  surviving  military  officer  of 
Col.  John  Reed's  regiment.  He  was  a  professor  of  religion  for  more 
than  fifty  years,  and  had  sat  under  the  preaching  of  every  minister 
from  the  time  of  Rev.  Francis  Winter  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He 
was  a  man  of  great  equanimity  of  temper,  dignity  of  character,  with 
respect  for  himself  and  for  his  fellow-men.  It  may  be  said  that  he 
never  aspired  to  fill  public  stations.  He  had  a  great  soul,  and  acted 
well  his  part  for  three  generations.  At  the  time  of  his  decease  there 
was  not  living  in  Bath,  a  person  who  was  alive  at  the  time  of  his 
birth.  He  witnessed  great  prosperity  in  the  growth  of  his  native  town. 
He  was  a  conspicuous  member  of  the  Masonic  order,  having  been 
admitted  a  member  of  Solar  Lodge,  Bath,  January  10,  1805.  Major 
Shaw  died  in  Bath,  February  22,  1856,  at  the  advanced  age  of  91 
years,  6  months.  His  wife  survived  him,  and  was  in  her  91st  year 
at  the  time  of  his  death.  They  had  living  at  that  time  three  chil- 
dren, David,  who  resided  in  Brunswick,  John,  cashier  of  the  Lincoln 
Bank,  and  Mrs.  Gurney,  of  Providence,  R.  I.  He  was  buried  from 
the  Central  Church,  and  a  large  concourse  of  people  followed  his 
remains  to  their  last  resting  place. 

Charles  Clii]>p  was  a  ship-carpenter,  and  afterwards  an  extensive 
ship-builder,  a  native  of  the  old  colony,  a  lineal  descendant  of  Puritan 
ancestry,  and  was  enterprising  and  energetic.  He  did  much  to 
advance  the  commercial  prosperity  of  Bath.  He  lived  to  be  over  80 
years  of  age.  His  children  were  Charles  Clapp,  Jr.,  Mrs.  Oliver 
Moses,  Galen  Clapp,  Mrs.  Lucy  Harriman,  of  Boston,  Mrs.  Rachel 
Parker,  and  Mrs.  N.  E.  Nash,  of  Portland. 

InsiIuIi  Crookcr,  Sr.t  was  one  of  five  brothers  who  came  from 
the  vicinity  of  Glasgow  to  the  shores  of  Cape  Cod,  at  Scituate. 
Two  of  them  remained  in  Massachusetts;  the  other  three  came  in  1748 
to  the  .almost  wilderness  of  the  District  of  Maine.  One  was  a  phy- 
sician and  settled  somewhere  east  of  the  Kennebec  ;  one  went  into 
Oxford  County,  and  Isaiah  came  to  Long  Reach,  which  then  com- 
prised only  half  a  dozen  farms.  Mr.  Crooker  purchased  one  of 
these  farms,  together  with  Rocky  Hill,  and  as  far  west  as  the  New 


3IO  HISTORY    OF    BATH. 

Meadows  River.  He  married  Betsey,  a  daughter  of  Jonathan  Phil- 
brook.  Their  daughter,  Priscilla,  was  born  in  1757,  and  married  a 
Lunt.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  second  wife  of  the  Reverend 
Silas  Stearns.  Mrs.  Crooker  died  and  he  soon  after  married 
Hannah  Harding.  Prior  to  this  event,  this  lady,  together  with  her 
sister  and  three  brothers,  left  Truro,  Cape  Cod,  in  a  packet  com- 
manded by  a  Captain  Turner,  and  were  wrecked  on  Seguin,  from 
whence  they  were  taken  up  the  New  Meadows,  and  reached  where 
is  now  Harding's  Station,  where  their  father  had  a  settlement.  Of 
this  union  there  were  ten  children.  These,  together  with  the  daugh- 
ter by  the  first  wife,  were  all  born  in  the  homestead  now  in  exis- 
tence. His  Bible  bears  the  date  of  1756  and  records  that  Isaiah 
Crooker,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1764.  They  were  both  heavy  men,  the 
father  weighing  four  hundred,  and  the  son  two  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds.  The  senior  was  so  portly  that  he  had  to  have  a  chair  made 
to  order,  which  is  still  a  choice  relic  with  his  descendants.  Isaiah 
Crooker,  Jr.,  was  also  a  blacksmith  and  a  vessel  builder,  fol- 
lowing the  occupations  of  the  father.  Of  the  daughters  by  the 
second  wife  of  Isaiah  Crooker,  Sr.,  one  of  them  married  John 
Whitmore  ;  another  William  Webb,  and  the  youngest,  Hannah,  mar- 
ried Gen.  Denny  McCobb.  She  died  in  1856  in  Bath.  His  seven 
sons  married  and  settled  in  Bath,  where  their  descendants  are 
innumerable.  The  last  vessel  built  by  the  elder  Isaiah  Crooker  was 
a  short  distance  north  of  Center  street,  where  once  was  a  stream, 
now  a  valley,  occupied  by  the  track  of  the  Maine  Central  Railroad. 
The  yard  was  on  the  west  bank  of  the  stream.  Mr.  Crooker  died  in 
1796.  He  was  a  very  prominent  man  of  his  day.  The  place  of 
business  of  the  younger  Isaiah,  also  a  prominent  man,  was  where  are 
now  the  yards  of  the  railroad,  and  his  dwelling  on  the  west  side 
of  Washington  street,  near  the  railroad  track.  He  had  a  black- 
smith shop,  a  three-storied  store,  and  built  vessels  at  the  same 
locality. 

Christopher  Clisllillg,  Sr. — The  youngest  daughter  of  Joshua 
Philbrook  was  Eleanor,  who  married  Christopher  Cushing,  a  dealer  in 
boots  and  shoes.  He  bought  a  lot  of  land  bounded  on  the  north 
by  J.  Philbrook's,  east  by  the  Kennebec  River,  south  by  south  side 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  311 

of  North  street,  and  west  by  High  street.  His  dwelling  was  on  the 
corner  of  North  and  High  streets.  He  gave  North  street  to  the 
town,  and  sold  the  lot  for  the  Female  Academy  on  North  street,  in 
1804.  Mr.  Gushing  dying  soon  after  giving  a  deed  for  the  site  of 
the  old  school  house,  the  price  named  in  the  deed  was  probably 
never  paid.  Martin  Cushing,  a  brother  of  Christopher,  built  the 
school-house,  Caleb  Leavitt  and  Robert  Lemont  serving  with  him  as 
apprentices,  nnd  Joseph  Donnell  as  journeyman.  Christopher 
Cushing  died  in  1805,  and  Mrs.  Cushing  married  William  Lee,  of 
Phipsburg,  who  lived  on  Lee's  Island,  in  181 1.  Mr.  Cushing  was 
one  of  Bath's  thrifty  and  prominent  pioneer  citizens. 

Jonathan  Davis  was,  in  his  day,  the  first  merchant  of  Bath.  He 
lived  in  a  house  nearly  opposite  the  site  of  the  Old  South  Meeting- 
house, on  High  street,  which  he  bought  of  Sir  John  Barnard,  who 
had  built  it  before  the  Revolutionary  War.  Mr.  Davis  built  and 
occupied  the  wharf  and  store  that  was  occupied  by  Levi  Hough- 
ton during  his  business  life,  and  is  now  in  existence,  north  of  the 
offices  of  Houghton  Brothers.  It  is  now  about  one  hundred  and  six 
years  old.  This  Mr.  Davis  was  the  father  of  Jonathan  Davis,  Jr., 
of  Boston,  and  Samuel  Davis  who  built  the  house  that  is  now  the 
Orphans'  Home.  Davis,  Sr.,  was  a  Calvanist,  but  was  so  much 
engrossed  in  his  business  as  a  merchant  that  he  took  no  part  in  the 
theological  controversy  then  existing  between  the  two  parties  of  the 
Bath  p.irish.  None  of  the  descendants  of  Mr.  Davis  remain  in  this 
city,  and  his  large  real  estate  has  passed  into  the  hands  of  others. 
It  is  believed  that  Mr.  Davis  died  in  Boston. 

David  Trufant,  called  King  David,  was  deputy  collector  for 
this  portion  of  the  collection  district  of  Massachusetts  before  the 
adoption  of  the  United  States  Constitution.  "This  Mr.  Trufant  was  a 
man  of  an  iron  will.  He  would  not  turn  out  of  the  way  he  thought 
right  to  save  his  life.  He  had  one  daughter,  Mrs.  Snipe,  who  lived 
on  Arrowsic  Island,  to  the  advanced  age  of  more  than  84  years; 
one  of  his  sons,  Gilbert  Trufant,  was  a  prominent  merchant  of  Bath. 
His  grandchildren  were  Gilbert  C.  Trufant,  of  the  former  ship-build- 
ing firm  of  Trufant,  Drummond  &  Co.,  Mrs.  Wm.  D.  Sewall,  Win.  B. 


312  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Trufant,  and  Mrs.  John  N.  Smith.  Mr.  David  Trufant  left  two 
sons  at  his  death,  in  December,  1815,  Joshua  and  Seth,  who,  it  is 
believed,  left  no  descendants  in  direct  line." 

John  Peterson  was  a  native  of  Duxbury,  Old  Colony,  and  a 
descendant  of  the  old  Pilgrim  stock.  He  first  settled  on  the  Bruns- 
wick side  of  the  New  Meadows  River,  where  he  built  vessels  and 
extensively  carried  on  the  West  India  trade.  He  built  a  dam  and 
tide  mills  on  the  New  Meadows,  and  dug,  with  others,  a  canal  con- 
necting the  head  of  that  river  with  Merrymeeting  Bay.  This  canal 
did  not  answer  his  expectations,  though,  for  some  time,  he  ran  logs 
through  it  to  his  mills.  His  business  increased,  and  as  early  as 
1798  he  removed  to  Bath,  and  occupied  the  small  house  now  stand- 
ing on  the  point  immediately  above  his  ship-yard.  His  son  Daniel 
owned  and  occupied  the  Major  Harwarcl  house  and  farm.  John 
Peterson  was  the  owner  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  extending  east 
and  west,  from  the  Kennebec  to  the  New  Meadows  River,  contiguous 
to  his  homestead,  known  as  the  Peterson  farm.  He  carried  on  busi- 
ness extensively  in  building  and  sailing  ships,  and  about  the  year  1809 
he  left  Bath  for  Liverpool.  He  carried  with  him  two  ships  and  their 
cargoes,  all  owned  by  himself.  One  of  these  ships  he  called  the  Fair 
Lady.  Of  this  he  took  command.  He  sold  both  ships  and  cargoes 
in  Liverpool  and  returned  to  Newport,  R.  I.,  and  settled  in  Ports- 
mouth, on  the  island  where  he  died  at  an  advanced  age.  One 
daughter  was  Mrs.  Abigail  Stewart,  Bath  ;  one  of  his  sons,  Daniel 
Peterson,  Portland  ;  one  grandson,  John  Bosworth,  merchant,  at 
Bath  ;  Miss  Lucy  Peterson,  Boston,  Mrs.  John  Patten,  and  Miss 
Jane  R.  Peterson.  Mrs.  S.  H.  Jenks  and  Daniel  Peterson  were 
grandchildren  of  John  Peterson,  and  children  of  his  son,  Capt.  Levi 
Peterson. 

Levi  Peterson,  who  was  a  ship-master  and  ship-builder,  was 
known  as  a  man  of  noble  bearing  and  a  Hercules  in  size  and 
strength.  But  he  is  now  nearly  "  forgotten  in  the  city  "  where  he 
once  passed  in  and  out,  and  filled  the  measure  of  his  friends'  and 
children's  hopes.  The  wife  of  Levi  Peterson  was  the  daughter 
of  Col.  John  Reed,  of  Topsham,  who  was  a  brave  offcer  in  the  Amer- 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  313 

ican  army  under  General  Gates,  fought  at  Bemis  Heights  and  at 
Saratoga,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne.  The  other 
grandchildren  of  Colonel  Reed  in  this  city  were  Col.  Edward  K. 
Harding,  Mrs.  James  F.  Patten,  Mrs.  Charles  W.  Holmes,  Mrs.  Dr. 
T.  G.  Stockbridge,  David  T.  Stinson,  David  Patten,  Lincoln  Patten, 
Miss  Rachel  Patten,  and  Lucy  Stinson,  who  married  J.  W.  Elwell,  of 
New  York.     Mr.  Peterson  weighed  four  hundred  pounds. 

John  Lc  111  Out,  ancestor  of  all  bearing  the  name  in  this  vicinity, 
if  not  in  New  England,  was  born  in  the  County  of  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  in  the  year  1704.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he.  emigrated  to 
America,  and  settled  first  in  Georgetown,  now  Phipsburg,  in  that 
part  of  the  town  known  by  the  name  of  Dromore.  His  farm 
contained  from  three  to  four  hundred  acres,  and  extended  from 
Dromore  to  New  Meadows  River.  Here  he  built  a  rude  hut,  in 
which  he  resided  for  forty  years.  In  1762,  becoming  dissatisfied 
with  the  farming  land  at  Dromore,  on  account  of  its  being  much 
broken,  he  sold  his  farm  to  William  Butler,  of  Georgetown,  and 
removed  to  the  banks  of  the  New  Meadows  River,  in  what  is  now 
West  Bath,  where  he  cleared  a  farm  and  built  him  a  log-house, 
which  was  of  necessity  the  primitive  style  of  all  dwellings  built  by 
the  pioneers  of  our  state.  He  built  vessels  at  the  New  Meadows 
River.  His  son,  John  Lemon t,  Jr.,  was  born  in  West  Bath  in  1740. 
lie  entered  the  colonial  military  service  in  1758,  and  was  made  a  ser- 
geant; was  at  the  taking  of  Ticonderoga  and  Crown  Point  from  the 
French,  in  1759,  prior  to  the  capture  of  Quebec  by  General  Wolf. 
When  the  tidings  reached  Bath  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  in  April, 
1775,  two  companies  of  militia  were  raised  for  active  service,  to  one 
of  which  he  was  appointed  captain,  and  with  his  command,  in  Col. 
Samuel  McCobb's  regiment,  joined  Washington's  army,  and  under 
Colonel  Bradford  was  in  the  battles  of  White  Plains,  Ticonderoga, 
and  Saratoga,  where  he  witnessed  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne. 
After  his  return  home  he  became  Colonel  of  the  Bath  regiment,  and 
was  commissioned  by  Governor  Hancock,  of  Massachusetts,  in 
1788.  The  other  field  officers  were  John  Reed,  Lieutenant-Colonel, 
Topsham,  and  Edward  H.  Page,  Bath,  Major.      The  regiment  mus- 


314  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

tered  the  same  year,  1788,  for  the  first  time,  immediately  south  of 
the  ground  where  subsequently  was  built  the  Bath  Hotel,  which  was 
erected  in  1806.  At  the  age  of  seventy-four  years  he  joined,  as 
lieutenant,  the  famous  large  company,  composed  of  those  exempt 
from  military  duty,  formed  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  the  regular 
forces  in  protecting  Bath  from  threatened  attacks  by  barges  from 
the  British  blockading  ships  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec,  and 
was  called  out  for  active  duty  at  the  "great  alarm"  of  June,  18 14. 
Captain  Lemont  died  at  Bath,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-six 
years,  in  1827.  He  left  numerous  descendants  of  respectability, 
the  youngest  of  whom  bearing  the  name  in  the  male  line  was 
Charles  B.  Lemont,  who  inherited  the  ancestral  military  spirit  and 
raised  a  company  of  young  men,  the  "  Bath  Cadets,11  in  Bath  in 
1840  or  1 84 1,  of  which  he  was  captain,  making  an  unusually  fine 
officer.  He  married  Miss  Mary  B.  Rouse,  of  Bath,  daughter  of 
William  Rouse,  a  most  amiable  and  worthy  lady,  and  they  had  a 
numerous  family  now  living  in  Boston  and  Waltham.  His  father 
was  Levi  Peterson  Lemont,  who  was  an  an  old  resident  of  Bath,  and 
compiled  and  published  a  book  of  "  Dates  "  pertaining  to  historical 
local  events  of  this  city  and  surrounding  country.  His  last  years 
were  passed  with  a  married  daughter  in  Clinton,  Iowa,  dying  at  a 
very  advanced  age. 

PelO£  Tall llUlll. —  In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century,  Peleg 
Talhnan  was  one  of  the  magnates  of  this  ship-building  city.  In 
person  he  stood  over  six  feet  high,  of  commanding  figure  and  car- 
riage, with  face  smoothly  shaven  after  the  fashion  of  the  times. 
While  in  no  sense  a  dandy,  he  paid  suitable  attention  to  his  personal 
appearance,  and  was  a  good  representative  of  the  old-time  prosperous 
Bath  merchant.  He  was  one  of  a  trio  of  Bath  magnates  who 
kept  their  coach  and  pair,  the  others  being  Governor  King  and  Capt. 
William  Sylvester. 

Squire  Tallman  built  his  ships  in  the  yard  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  street  from  the  Public  Library  Building.  To  the  north  of  this 
was  his  wharf,  which  was  extended,  in  after  years,  to  its  present 
length,  forming  the  present  Boston  steamer  landing.     On  this  wharf 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  315 

stood  his  old  store,  now  in  existence  though  remodeled.  It  was 
here  the  young  boys  of  that  day,  contemporaneous  with  the  respected 
citizen,  John  Hayden,  were  accustomed  to  gather  in  search  of  bits 
of  old  rope  from  which  to  pick  oakum,  the  sale  of  which,  at  six  cents 
a  pound,  would  serve  to  keep  these  youngsters  in  spending  money. 
When  the  "Old  Squire"  looked  amiable  the  boys  obtained  their 
rope ;  when  the  old  gentleman  was  in  bad  humor,  they  got,  instead, 
"the  rope's  end"  laid  over  their  jackets  by  the  nimble  ship-builder, 
who  would  chase  them  of!  his  premises  with  great  enjoyment. 

Mr.  Tallman  purchased  the  then  modern  two-story  house  situated 
on  grounds  now  the  City  Park.  It  stood  where  is  the  pavilion  and 
flag-staff.  The  property  connected  with  the  dwelling  comprised  the 
Park  grounds,  and,  extending  north,  took  in  the  territory  between 
Front  and  Washington  streets,  as  far  as  Oak  street.  The  house 
faced  east  and  the  entrance  to  the  grounds  was  through  the  northeast 
corner,  on  Front  street.  On  the  west  was  a  magnificent  orchard, 
and  the  entire  grounds  were  a  well-kept  lawn.  A  railing  ornamented 
the  roof  of  the  house,  and  flower  beds  the  grounds. 

When  Mr.  Tallman  had  nearly  reached  four  score  years  and  ten, 
and  lay  on  his  dying  bed,  his  wife  urged  him  to  have  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Ellingwood  sent  for,  but  the  old  man  declined  until  the  last  day, 
when  he  remarked  to  her  :  "Well,  Rena  [Eleanor],  you  may  now 
send  for  the'minister,  it  would,  perhaps,  be  more  decorous."  The 
clergyman  came  and  the  eminent  ship-builder  and  public  man  died 
with  the  blessings  of  Christian  ministry. 

Of  his  family,  his  sons  were  Scott,  Benjamin  Franklin,  James,  and 
Henry;  the  daughters  became  Mrs.  Tileston,  of  Boston,  Mrs.  George 
11.  Gardiner,  Mrs.  Sturtevant,  and  Mrs.  Smith.  During  the  life  of 
his  mother,  Scott,  the  eldest  son,  managed  the  estate.  He  defined 
the  northern  boundery  of  the  Park  by  laying  out  Linden  street,  on 
the  north  side  of  which  he  erected  several  dwelling  houses,  one  of 
which  is  now  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske.  Mrs.  Tallman  was  a 
daughter  of  Capt.  John  C.  Clark,  a  wealthy  business  man  of  Bath. 

From  the  Tallman  estate  the  Park  was  sold  to  the  city  for  $10,000. 
The  old  mansion  house  was  sold  at  auction,  for  $200,  to  Crosby 


316  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Sewall,  and  now  stands  on  the  corner  of  Oak  and  Front  streets  and 
is  occupied  for  a  store  with  tenements  above.  In  its  day  it  was  the 
largest  and  only  three-storied  house  in  town. 

During  the  embargo,  non-intercourse,  and  war  of  1812,  Sweden 
was  a  neutral  nation  and  much  commercial  business  was  done  by 
her  merchants  with  this  country.  Through  Peleg  Tall  man,  who  was 
accredited  resident  consul  for  Sweden,  at  the  Port  of  Bath,  consider- 
able business  was  transacted  by  that  nation  in  Maine.  The  trade 
extended  to  New  Hampshire,  where  there  was  a  United  States 
Custom  House. 

Patrick  DrumniOlld. — It  was  on  the  line  of  the  Winnegance 
Carying  Place,  on  the  south  border  of  it,  that  Captain  Patrick  Drum- 
mond  established  himself  soon  after  his  arrival  from  the  old  country 
in  1729,  with  his  father,  Alexander  Drummond  and  family. 

This  location'  was  about  equi-distant  from  the  head  of  Winne- 
gance Creek  to  the  Bay,  over-looking  the  length  of  the  Indian  trail. 
He  erected  a  timber  garrison-house  on  a  ledge,  which  was  used  also 
for  a  warehouse,  and  later  a  dwelling  near  it.  The  spot  where  stood 
the  house,  is  now  enclosed  in  a  field  a  little  east  of  the  garrison 
where  there  are  a  few  small  trees  and  a  slight  depression  in  the 
ground,  as  found  in  1888  by  some  of  his  descendents. 

There  he  traded  with  the  Indians,  cut  lumber,  and  worked  his 
farm,  and  acquired  a  title  to  a  large  tract  of  land.  He  wisely  made 
friends  of  the  natives,  acquired  their  language  and  was  never 
molested  by  them.  He  brought  up  a  large  family  of  sons  and 
daughters  who  married,  had  large  families,  whose  descendants  are 
found  in  West  Bath,  Bath,  and  other  immediate  localities,  some 
of  whom  bear  the  name  of  Williams,  Campbell,  Elliot,  Page,  Reed, 
Drummond,  and  others  prominent  and  innumerable.  Mr.  Drummond 
and  his  wife  lived  to  a  great  age,  and  tablets  to  their  memory  can  be 
seen  in  the  Drummond  Cemetery  in  Phipsburg.  Captain  Drum- 
mond's  house  was  the  only  one  on  the  west  side  of  the  Sagadahoc 
River  not  destroyed  by  the  savages  in  their  raids  upon  the  settlers 
in  this  region  during  the  first  half  of  the  eighteenth  century     He 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  317 

was  Captain  of  the  first  Company  of  Militia  formed  at  Long  Reach, 
in  1757,  and  was  prominent  in  all  public  affairs  of  this  locality. 

Benjamin  Riggs. — One  of  the  most  prominent  men  that  ever 
lived  in  old  Georgetown,  was  Benjamin  Riggs.  He  was  born  in 
Gloucester,  Mass.,  in  1759.  His  father  having  been  lost  at  sea 
when  he  was  quite  young,  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  man  engaged  in 
the  coasting  business,  and  in  early  life  became  a  skilful  sailor.  He 
was  master  of  a  vessel  before  he  attained  his  majority.  He  carried 
on  a  large  freighting  business  between  various  towns  on  the  coast  of 
Maine  and  those  in  Massachusetts,  principally  Boston,  Salem,  and 
Gloucester. 

Early  in  the  Revolutionary  War  he  was  anxious  to  join  the  army, 
but  could  not  get  the  consent  of  his  master,  and,  although  never 
connected  with  the  army  or  navy,  he  was  taken  prisoner  five  times 
by  the  British  during  the  war.  He  often  owned  a  part  of  the  vessels 
which  he  commanded,  and  also  a  part  of  the  cargo,  and  these  in 
every  case  were  destroyed  or  confiscated. 

On  his  last  capture,  while  on  a  voyage  to  Boston,  he  was  taken  to 
Bagaducc,  kept  all  summer,  and  when  discharged  on  parole,  started 
on  foot  for  his  home.  He  was  assisted  on  his  journey  by  the  inhabi- 
tants along  the  route,  in  ferrying  him  over  the  bays,  rivers,  and 
creeks  that  lay  in  his  path,  until  his  arrival  at  the  house  of  Major 
Pearl,  an  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  in  Edgecomb,  on  the 
Damariscotta  River — foot  sore,  weary  and  "penniless. 

In  the  spring  previous  to  his  capture  he  and  Miss  Ruth  Pearl, 
daughter  of  the  Major,  had  made  their  intention  of  marriage  pubile, 
according  to  the  laws  of  the  times,  but  his  imprisonment  had  post- 
poned the  consummation.  However,  in  September,  1782,  they  were 
married,  and  two  years  after  purchased  the  farm  at  the  entrance  of 
Robin  Hood's  Cove  (now  Riggsville),  which  has  been  the  homestead 
of  the  Riggs  family  for  more  than  a  century.  It  has  ever  been  the 
home  of  hospitality  and  refinement.  Mrs.  Riggs  was,  indeed,  a 
Pearl  of  great  price.     No  better  or  nobler  woman  ever  lived. 

Mr.  Riggs  was  often  a  member  of  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, before  the  division  of  the  State,  and  also  of  the  Legislature 


318  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

of  Maine,  when  it  met  in  Portland.  At  one  time  Phipsburg  petitioned 
for  a  division  of  old  Georgetown.  Mr.  Riggs  was  a  member  of  the 
General  Court.  He  was  strongly  opposed  to  the  measure  and 
exerted  his  large  influence  against  it.  Hut,  distrusting  his  own 
ability  as  a  speech-maker,  he  engaged  a  young  lawyer,  (a  member), 
to  speak  in  opposition.  This  he  did  to  the  great  delight  of  Mr. 
Riggs.  That  young  lawyer  was  Daniel  Webster.  Their  united 
efforts,  however,  were  unavailing,  for  Phipsburg  was  incorporated 
in  1814. 

The  foreign  commerce  of  Mr.  Riggs  was  wholly  with  the  West 
Indies.  He  was  often  the  sole  owner  of  vessel  and  cargo,  and  he 
also  built  many  vessels.  In  theology  he  was  a  Calvinist  Baptist  of 
the  old  school,  and  in  politics  a  Democrat.  He  was  a  man  of 
commanding  presence  and  of  remarkable  native  ability.  His  event- 
ful life  closed  January  2,  1846,  at  the  age  of  87  years,  leaving  a 
large  property.  Mr.  Riggs  was  identified  with  Bath  in  commercial 
pursuits,  and  a  large  owner  in  real  estate. 

David  Stinson,  son  of  Elder  Samuel  Stinson,  was  born  at  Wool- 
wich in  1770.  In  1793  he  was  a  sea-captain  and  followed  that  busi- 
ness until  1 80 1.  He  accumulated  a  handsome  estate  and  settled  in 
Bath.  In  1802  he  built  a  house  on  Front  street,  now  occupied  as  a 
store  corner  of  Front  and  Arch  streets.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife  Jane  Reed,  daughter  of  Col.  John  Reed,  of  Topsham.  Capt. 
Stinson  was  Postmaster  of  Bath  about  twenty-seven  years.  He 
died  instantly  in  the  Old  South  Meeting-house  in  1842.  His  wife 
died  the  previous  year.  Samuel  G.  Stinson,  David  T.  Stinson,  and 
Mrs.  James  W.  Elwell,  of  New  York,  were  his  children. 

Samuel  Winter  was  a  notable  citizen  of  his  day.  He  was  a 
son  of  the  Reverend  Francis  Winter,  Bath's  first  minister.  Samuel 
Winter  commenced  business  life  sailing  as  supercargo  in  Bath  ves- 
sels engaged  in  the  West  India  trade.  There  were  few  commission 
houses  at  foreign  ports  in  those  early  times,  and  young  men  were 
sent  out  in  vessels,  bound  on  foreign  voyages,  to  transact  the  vessel's 
business.     Eventually,  Mr.  Winter  established  himself  in  commercial 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  319 

business  in  his  native  city,  trading  wholesale  chiefly  in  what  was 
then  termed  West  India  goods,  such  as  sugars,  molasses,  and  liquors, 
and  owned  a  wharf  at  the  upper  portion  of  the  town.  Those  were 
the  days  when  New  England  rum  was  a  prime  factor  in  trade.  This 
was  made  from  molasses,  and  this  was  a  great  port  for  the  importa- 
tion of  that  article  from  the  West  Indies.  The  lower  grades  of 
smaller  cost  were  well  adapted  to  be  distilled  into  rum.  Accord- 
ingly Mr.  Winter  established  a  distillery  a  little  south  of  where  is 
now  the  gas  house.  He  was  having  a  fair  degree  of  prosperity 
when  he  made  a  large  purchase  of  molasses  on  speculation,  and  the 
price  fell  while  his  purchase  was  on  his  hands.  lie  saw  ruin  ahead, 
and  being  of  a  very  proud  spirit  he  could  not  face  a  failure.  He 
lived  a  widower,  with  his  two  unmarried  daughters,  in  a  modest  cot- 
tage on  the  north  part  of  Middle  street.  One  night  he  sat  up  after 
all  the  others  of  his  household  had  retired,  wrote  a  note,  which  he 
left  on  the  sitting-room  table,  walked  down  to  his  wharf,  tied  some 
stones  to  his  feet  and  jumped  into  the  river.  The  note  told  where 
his  body  could  be  found,  which  it  was  the  next  day.  His  sudden 
and  tragic  taking  off  was  universally  regretted,  and  the  more  so  as 
very  soon  following  this  event  molasses  had  a  sudden  rise  in  the 
market,  which,  if  he  had  lived,  would  have  restored  his  losses. 

Mr.  Winter  was  an  unusually  handsome  man,  tall,  straight,  and 
well-proportioned,  always  well-dressed,  of  suave  manner,  marked 
ability,  and  a  leader  in  the  old  Whig  party.  At  one  time  he  was 
Sheriff  of  the  County,  and  held  other  local  offices. 

Major  Joshua  Shaw  was  an  older  brother  of  Major  David 
Shaw.  He  was  a  sergeant  at  the  capture  of  Burgoyne.  His  mother 
was  the  lady  who  shot  the  bear  on  the  west  side  of  the  road  leading 
to  Phipsburg,  about  one  hundred  rods  south  of  the  residence  of 
T.  W.  Hyde.  The  widow  of  Joshua  Shaw  afterwards  lived  and 
died  at  Galveston,  Texas,  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  She  was  his 
second  wife,  and  they  had  had  two  children. 

Major  Joshua  Shaw  was  also  a  merchant  of  distinction;  he 
bought  all  the  land  of  the  White  lot,  from  High  street  to  the  river, 
embracing  the  point  and  the  tract  now  covered  by  the  old  erudition 


320  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

school-house,  and  north  to  where  stood  the  house  of  N.  Groton,  and 
so  east  to  the  river;  for  this  he  paid  $650.  He  afterwards  sold  so 
much  of  it,  in  lots,  as  amounted  to  $40,000  in  cash.  He  entered 
largely  into  mercantile  business,  but  was  overcome  by  the  pressure 
of  the  embargo. 

David  C.  HagOlin  commenced  business  in  Bath,  as  an 
auctioneer,  in  182 1;  afterwards  was  engaged  in  navigation,  building 
and  sailing  his  own  vessels,  mainly  in  the  West  India  trade;  kept  a 
retail,  and  subsequently  a  wholesale,  grocery  store,  doing  an  exten- 
sive business;  was  interested  in  banking;  was  much  in  politics, 
affiliating  with  the  Whig  party  as  a  leader;  was  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  Senator,  a  member  of  the  Governor's 
Council,  and  the  first  Mayor  of  Hath;  was  a  high  Mason,  and  a 
member  of  Winter  Street  Church.  He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
executive  ability  and  unswerving  integrity  of  character.  He  died  in 
1872,  at  the  age  of  82  years,  leaving  children,  of  whom  there  are 
three  sons  now  living. 

Mr.  Magoun  married  a  daughter  of  William  Webb,  Bath's  first 
Collector,  who  lived  in  the  Webb-Torrey  house,  the  site  of  which  is 
now  occupied  by  the  Public  Library  Building.  She  was  grand- 
daughter of  Isaiah  Crooker,  senior.- 

Abraham  Hailimatt  came  to  Bath,  from  Plymouth,  Mass.,  early 
in  this  century,  and  was  engaged,  for  many  years,  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  cordage.  His  factory  was  situated  between  Raymond's 
court  and  Middle  street,  and  from  Centre  street  to  the  Crooker  line. 
The  double  house  on  the  east  side  of  Raymond's  court  was  head 
house  to  his  rope-walk. 

"Mr.  Hammatt  was  truly  a  wonderful  man.  His  knowledge  was 
universal,  and  very  accurate  upon  every  subject  of  literature  and 
science,  having  no  equal  in  town;  possessing  uncommon  presence  of 
mind,  and  a  most  extraordinary  memory.  He  was  a  great  reader 
and  diligent  student,  retaining  everything  he  had  learned  to  the 
degree  that  he  was  in  himself  a  complete  encyclopedia,  more  accurate 
than  the  best  of  such  publications  on  many  subjects.    He  took  great 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  32 1 

pleasure  in  imparting  his  knowledge  to  others,  in  a  manner  that 
was  delightful  to  listen  to,  while  his  statements  proving  truthful, 
implicit  confidence  was  placed  in  them." 

Having  obtained  a  competency,  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  acquisi- 
tion of  knowledge  for  which  he  had  ample  opportunity,  having  been 
a  bachelor  until  he  reached  the  age  of  fifty-five  years,  when  he 
married  Mrs.  Dodge,  of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  to  which  place  he  removed 
in  1836,  where  he  passed  the  remainder  of  his  days  with  this  highly 
esteemed  lady,  who  was  well-fitted  in  intellectual  attainments  to  be 
the  companion  of  such  a  man. 

Mr.  Hammatt  was  something  of  an  orator,  and  delivered  an 
address  at  a  Fourth  of  July  celebration  in  Bath,  to  great  acceptance 
to  those  who  heard  it.  Mr.  Hammatt  was  one  of  the  most  notable 
men  in  Bath  of  his  day. 

Nicholas  Loring  Mitchell  was  of  Pilgrim  stock,  and  born  in 
North  Yarmouth,  October  10,  1765.  His  father,  David  Mitchell, 
was  a  graduate  cf  Harvard,  and  during  his  life  occupied  many 
important  public  offices.  The  son,  Nicholas  L.,  came  to  Bath  and 
entered  into  the  mercantile  and  ship-building  business,  and  was  a 
deacon  of  the  Old  North  Church.  He  married,  for  his  first  wife, 
Dorcas  Drinkwater,  of  Portland,  by  whom  he  had  two  children.  His 
second  wife  was  Nancy  McCobb,  daughter  of  Gen.  Samuel  McCobb, 
of  Georgetown,  and  they  had  ten  children. 

Alillili  Rllliaitiall  Mitchell  was  born  in  Yarmouth,  September 
24,  1787,  his  father  having  been  Deacon  Jacob  Mitchell,  who  held 
high  positions  of  public  trust.  Ammi  R.  became  a  citizen  of  Bath, 
where  he  entered  into  mercantile  business,  filled  important  municipal 
offices,  was  a  deacon  of  the  Old  North  Church,  and  died  May  1, 
1875.  His  first  wife  was  Susan  M.  White,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children.  His  second  wife  was  Nancy  Jones,  married  July  15,  1817, 
and  she  died  September  17,  1867.  Their  children  now  living  are: 
Greenville  Jones  Mitchell,  who  was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  is  a 
merchant  of  the  highest  standing,  a  leading  member  of  the  Winter 
Street  Church,  and  a  citizen  of  probity  and  honor;  Mrs.  Eiizabeth 


322  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

T.  Simpson,  Caroline  G.  Mitchell,  and  Mrs.  Julia  Cutler  Ring. 
The  Yarmouth  Mitchells  have  had  five  deacons  in  their  families, 
and  have  been  termed  "the  Deacon  Mitchells." 

The  Hyde  Family. — Jonathan  Hyde,  second  son  of  Zina  Hyde, 
Sr.,  and  Sarah  Goodwin,  was  born  July  20,  1772,  in  Lebanon,  Conn. 
He  was  a  half-brother  of  Zina  Hyde.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1792  he 
made  his  first  trip  to  Kennebec,  in  pursuit  of  health.  With  health 
improved  he  for  several  years  traded  there  in  summer,  and  returned 
in  autumn,  passing  most  of  his  time  while  on  the  river  either  at 
the  settlement  near  Jones  Eddy,  at  Georgetown,  or  at  Pownalboro, 
now  Dresden,  which  were  then  the  principal  seats  of  commerce 
on  the  Kennebec,  and  spending  his  winters,  more  or  less,  in  teach- 
ing school  in  his  native  state. 

In  1799  he  began  his  permanent  residence  in  Bath,  and  opened  a 
store  for  retail  trade.  In  later  years  his  attention  was  mostly  given 
to  the  trade  in  iron  and  steel. 

In  1802,  his  half-brother,  Zina  Hyde,  came  to  Bath  to  be  with  him 
as  an  apprentice.  In  1803,  their  sister,  Sarah,  came  to  keep  his 
house.  She  married  Rev.  Jonathan  Belden,  in  1809;  they  settled 
in  Bristol,  Me.,  where  she  died,  March  25,  18 12.  In  1809,  Gcrshom 
Hyde  came  as  an  apprentice,  and  his  brother  Henry  soon  followed 
and  settled  here  in  181 1.     They  were  cousins  of  Jonathan  Hyde. 

In  1807,  Mr.  Jonathan  Hyde  built  the  brick  store  and  wharf 
he  occupied  for  many  years,  on  Water  street,  and  which  was  taken 
down  in  1886.  From  1810  to  1822,  business  was  done  there  under 
the  firm  of  Jonathan  &  Zina  Hyde.  Previous  to  this,  and  after- 
wards, one  or  both  were  more  or  less  engaged  in  navigation. 
About  the  year  1838,  James  Thomas  Hyde,  his  eldest  son,  became 
a  partner  with  his  father.  On  February  4,  1809,  Jonathan  Hyde 
married  Deborah,  daughter  of  Dr.  James  Thomas,  of  Lebanon, 
Conn.     They  came  to  Bath  in  an  open  sleigh. 

He  was  a  staunch  Federalist,  of  the  Washington  and  Trumbull 
school,  and  at  a  time  when  party  politics  ran  high,  he  was  firm  but  not 
violent.  In  1809  he  was  sent  a  Representative  to  the  Legislature  of 
Massachusetts,  in  which  he  continued  for  three  years,   under  the 


-v*y^ 


s^ 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  323 

administrations  of  Governors  Strong,  Gore,  and  Gerry,  but  the 
influence  of  the  Democratic  party  having  been  strengthened,  they 
succeeded  in  carrying  their  candidates.  He  was  again  elected, 
and  represented  the  town,  in  18 15  and  181 6.  In  18 16  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Convention  that  met  at  Brunswick,  to  determine  the 
question  of  separating  Maine  from  Massachusetts. 

He  was  Director  in  the  Lincoln  Bank  for  more  than  twenty  years, 
and  for  twelve  years  of  the  most  difficult  financial  period  of  the 
country  he  was  President  of  the  Bank.  To  old  age  he  continued  to 
enter,  with  zeal  and  intelligence,  into  the  public  interests  and 
improvements,  and  to  aid  in  the  support  of  the  benevolent  insti- 
tutions  of    the   day.     He   died   October  18,  1850,  aged  78  years. 

His  wife,  Deborah  Thomas,  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  April 
2,  1782.  After  the  death  of  her  husband,  the  house  on  South  street 
was  sold,  and  a  house  built  on  High  street,  opposite  the  Zina  Hyde 
place,  where,  with  her  sons,  Rodney  and  Adolphus,  she  lived  until 
her  death,  December  3,  1863,  at  the  age  of  81  years. . 

Zilia  Hyde  was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  October  14,  1787,  and 
died  in  Bath,  September  19,  1856.  He  married  Miss  Harriet  Buck, 
at  Bucksport,  Me.,  June  10,  1816,  and  she  died  in  Bath,  January  2, 
181 7.  Mrs.  Hyde  was  born  September  4,  1789,  and  came  from  a 
distinguished  family,  her  father  being  Colonel  Buck,  for  whom  the 
town  in  which  he  lived  was  named.  She  was  a  very  amiable  and 
intellectual  woman. 

On  April  13,  1840,  Major  Hyde  married  Eleanor  Maria  Little, 
widow  of  Israel  Little,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Lydia  Davis.  She 
was  born  November  21,  1803,  and  died  in  London,  July  28,  1885, 
where  she  was  residing  for  her  health,  and  where  her  son  Thomas  W. 
was  present  with  her  in  her  last  days.  There  children  were  Thomas 
W.,  and  Mary  Eleanor  who  was  born  November  4,  1842. 

Major  Hyde  was  prominently  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  Bath  ;  commencing  by  learning  the  trading  business  with  his  half- 
brother,  Jonathan  Hyde,  dealing  in  general  merchandise,  he  shortly 
became  a  partner  in  the  store  for  many  years  at  the  south  end,  in  a 
brick  building,  when  he  finally  opened  business  for  himself,  corner 
of  Broad  and  Front  streets,  as  Zina  Hyde  &  Co.,  dealing  in  hardware 


324  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

and  ship-chandlery,  and  the  establishment  became  the  leading  one 
on  the  river. 

As  has  been  noted  elsewhere  in  this  volume,  Major  Hyde  was 
actively  identified  with  the  State  Militia  when  he  was  a  young  man, 
rising  from  the  office  of  Seargent  of  a  "  unifom  "  Company  in  Bath, 
to  Adjutant  of  the  Regiment  and  Brigade  Major ;  doing  efficient 
service  at  the  time  the  soldiery  were  on  duty  for  the  protection  of 
Bath  in  the  war  1812,  while  the  town  was  in  danger  from  the  hostil- 
ity of  blockading  British  men-of-war. 

Major  Hyde  was  the  first  to  take  an  abiding  and  active  interest  in 
the  movement  for  temperance  reform,  at  the  time  when  to  use 
spiritous  liquors  as  a  common  beverage  by  all  classes  of  people  was 
a  universal  custom.  He  was  from  early  life  of  devoted  Christian 
character,  and  first  was  a  member  of  the  Old  North  Church ;  became 
an  intimate  friend  of  Dr.  W.  Jenks,  of  the  Old  South  Church,  who 
together  were  embued  with  growing  liberal  religious  principles,  and 
he  finally  became  a  firm  believer  in  the  new  doctrine  of  the  Sweden- 
borgian  faith,  in  which  belief  he  lived  and  died,  and  had  been  the  chief 
founder  of  that  church  in  Bath.  He  had  travelled  extensively 
abroad,  and  brought  with  him,  from  the  shores  of  Europe,  only  a 
more  devoted  attachment  to  the  institutions  of  his  own  country, 
and  if  such  a  thing  were  possible  with  him,  a  broader  and  deeper 
love  of  his  race.  His  exquisite  tastes  were  displayed  in  the  many 
treasures  of  art  which  adorned  his  residence  in  this  city.  As  a  man 
of  business  he  was  active,  upright,  reliable,  and  free. 

Edward  C.  Hyde,  son  of  Jonathan  Hyde,  when  a  young  man 
followed  the  sea  for  a  time.  He  afterwards  engaged  in  business 
in  Bangor,  and,  while  there,  was  active  in  the  promotion  of  an  enter- 
prise which  has  much  interest  in  connection  with  the  early  history  of 
steam  navigation  in  this  country,  in  the  building  of  the  first  iron  sea- 
going steamer  in  America,  a  twin  screw  propeller  to  run  as  a  passen- 
ger and  freight  boat  between  Bangor  and  Boston.  The  vessel  was 
built  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  under  the  personal  supervision  of  Mr. 
Hyde.  The  enterprise  was  brought  to  an  untimely  end,  by  the  loss 
of  the  vessel  by  fire,  on  her  second  trip  from  Boston.  Mr.  Hyde 
returned  to  Bath,  and  was,  for  several  years,  superintendent  of  the 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  325 

Kennebec  &  Portland  Railroad,  and  afterwards  held  several  public 
positions  of  trust  in  his  native  city,  and  since  1870,  up  to  1893,  the 
position  of  City  Treasurer  of  Bath,  a  period  of  twenty-three  years. 

He  married  Miss  Rebecca  Tibbetts  of  Lisbon,  at  Little  River, 
whose  father  was  Hon.  Moses  Tibbetts,  who  held  many  offices.  He 
was  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Town  Treasurer,  first  Selectman  of  the 
town  for  forty  years,  Representative  of  Lisbon  from  1820  to  1840, 
and  Senator  for  Lincoln  County. 

Thomas  Worcester  Hyde,  son  of  Zina  Hyde,  was  born  January 
15th,  1841,  at  Florence,  Italy;  only  son  of  Zina  Hyde  of  Hath,  Me., 
who  was  a  Brigade-Major  in  the  war  of  181 2.  His  mother  was 
Miss  Eleanor  Davis  of  Jamaica  Plains.  Was  graduated  at  Bowdoin 
College  in  the  Class  of  186 1,  and  also  graduated  the  same  year  at 
Chicago  University.  He  enlisted  in  a  Chicago  regiment  which 
was  not  accepted  on  Lincoln's  first  call  for  seventy-five  thousand 
men.  Returned  home  and  obtained  papers  to  raise  a  company 
for  the  Seventh  Maine  Infantry.  On  going  into  camp  with  his 
company  at  Augusta  was  elected  Major,  and  in  the  absence  of 
the  Colonel  and  Lieutenant-Colonel,  took  the  regiment  to  the  field. 
Was  present  with  his  regiment  at  the  Seige  of  Yorktown,  and  battles 
of  Williamsburg  and  Mechanicsville  and  all  of  the  seven  day  battles 
in  front  of  Richmond.  Commanded  the  regiment  in  the  battles  of 
the  Second  Bull  Run,  Cramptons  Gap,  and  Antietam.  In  this  latter 
fight  the  regiment  was  ordered  late  in  the  afternoon  to  take  a  place 
where  Stonewall  Jackson  had  his  headquarters.  They  broke  through 
the  lines  of  the  enemy,  suffering  and  inflictering  great  loss,  losing  all 
but  sixty  five  men  and  three  officers.  In  this  fight  Major  Hyde's 
horse  was  three  times  shot  under  him  and  he  was  slightly  wounded. 
After  this  battle  the  Seventh  Maine  was  ordered  to  Maine  to  recruit, 
and  its  first  battallion  took  the  field  the  following  spring.  Major 
Hyde  was  soon  after  appointed  Acting  Inspector  General  of  the 
Left  Division,  Army  of  the  Potomac;  when  that  organization  was 
disbanded,  was  retained  upon  the  staff  of  the  Sixth  Corps  by  Gen- 
eral Sedgwick,  as  Aide-de-camp  and  Provost  Marshal.  Was  present 
with  General  Sedgwick  at  the  storming  of  Mary's  Heights,  and  was 


326  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

with  his  regiment  at  the  battle  near  Salem  Church.     After  which 
battle  he  was  selected  to  present  the  flags  captured  from  the  enemy, 
to  General  Hooker,  and  was  recomended  for  brevet  promotion.     He 
was  with  General  Sedgwick  at  Gettysburg  and  all  the  battles  follow- 
ing in  which  the  Sixth  Corps  was  engaged,  and  was  by  his  side  when 
he  was  killed  near  Spottsylvania.     About  this  time   was  promoted 
Lieutenant-Colonel  and  remained  on  the  staff  of  the  Sixth  Corps  until 
his  three  years  expired,  when  he  was  commissioned  Colonel  of   the 
First  Maine  Veteran  Volunteers,  a  regiment  organizaed  from  the 
veteran  Volunteers  of  the  Fifth,  Sixth  and  Seventh  Maine  Infantry. 
He  joined  his  regiment  in  the  valley  and  was  immediately  put  in 
command,  but  twenty-three  years  of  age,  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  Sixth  Army  Corps,  whose  Commander,  General  Bidwell,  had 
just  been  killed  at  Cedar  Creek.     He  commanded  this  Brigade  to 
the  close  of  the  war,  leading  with  it  the  famous  "wedge"  assault  of 
the  Sixth  Corps,  which  broke  the  enemy's  lines  around  Petersburg. 
Was  present  at  Sailor's  Creek  and  at  the  surrender  of  Lee,  and  after- 
wards sent  with  a  column  under  Sheridan  to  attack  Joe  Johnston 
in  North  Carolina.     On  this  march  took  possession  of  the  town  of 
Danville,  and  Johnston  having  surrendered,  was  military  Governor 
of  Danville  and  the  adjoining  counties  for  two  months.     Mustered 
out  in  the  summer  of  1865    after  four  years'  service.     Was  breveted 
Brigadier-General  and  selected  to  command  a  brigade  in  a  Provis- 
ional Corps  then  proposed  to  be  formed  out  of  the   Army  of  the 
Potomac  for  duty  in  the  South.     Then  mustered  out  of  service  and 
went  into  the  iron  business  in  his  native  town,  Bath,  Maine,  in  which 
business  he  is  engaged  at  the  present  writing,  1893.     In  1873  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  where  he  served  three  terms,  two  of 
which  as  President  of  the  body.     The  years  1876  and   1877  ne  was 
Mayor  of  the  city  of  Bath.     In  1877  he  was  appointed  one  of  the 
Board  of  Visitors  to  West  Point.     In   1883   he  was  appointed  by 
Congress  one  of  the   Board  of    Managers  of   the   Soldiers'  Home. 
-Married  Jn.i 866  to  Annie,  daughter  of  John  Hayden  of  Bath,  Me., 
and  has  six  children.     President  of  the  Bath  Iron  Works,  an  industry 
he  has  built  up,  employing  in  1889,  190  men.     He  has  always  been 
a  strong  republican  and    in  religious  faith  a  Swedenborgian.     Is 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  327 

Commander  of  the  Maine  Commandery  of  the  Loyal  Legion,  and 
President  of  the  Sagadahoc  and  a  member  of  the  Cumberland, 
Somerset,  and  Metropolitan  Clubs.  He  has  been,  for  twelve  years, 
a  director  of  the  Maine  Central  Railroad. 

Charles  E.  Hyde,  son  of  Edward  C.  Hyde,  was  born  in  Bath, 
November  26,  1855;  attended  the  city  schools,  graduating  from  the 
High  School,  after  which  he  spent  three  years  in  the  School  of  Tech- 
nology at  Worcester,  and  one  year  in  the  Massachusetts  School  of 
Technology,  Boston;  then  went  on  a  trip  to  Europe  for  the  purpose 
of  examining  the  ship  yards  and  engine  works  of  the  old  country, 
obtaining  much  valuable  information  in  his  specialty.  Upon  his 
return  he  worked  as  a  machinist  in  the  Portland  Machine  Works; 
then  as  draughtsman  in  the  Columbian  Iron  Works  at  Baltimore, 
being  the  first  work  he  had  undertaken  as  draughtsman;  then  in  a 
drawing  office  of  the  Crampts  one  year;  chief  draughtsman  for 
Ward,  Stanton  &  Co.,  Newburg,  N.  Y.,  builders  of  all  classes  of  fast 
vessels,  affording  him  the  advantage  of  working  with  Mr.  Samuel 
Stanton,  who  is  a  man  of  remarkable  ability  as  a  designer  of  marine 
engine  work.  Returning  to  his  native  city  he  entered  the  employ  of 
the  Goss  Marine  Iron  Works,  in  1884,  as  chief  draughtsman  and 
superintendent  of  the  works.  While  in  the  employ  of  these  works 
he  introduced  the  practical  use  of  the  triple  expansion  engine,  the 
first  used  in  this  country,  now  become  universal.  When  these  works 
changed  ownership,  Mr.  Hyde  engaged  with  the  Bath  Iron  Works 
Company  and  has  continued  its  daughtsman  and  constructing 
engineer  to  the  present  time.  In  the  construction  of  the  government 
naval  vessels,  the  Machias,  the  Castine,  and  the  Katahdin,  Mr. 
Hyde  was  chief  draughtsman  and  constructor  of  the  engines  and 
machinery  work  for  all  of  these  war  vessels. 

As  a  citizen  of  Bath,  Mr.  Hyde  has  taken  interest  in  local  public 
matters,  as  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  and  several  terms  on  the 
Board  of  Aldermen  and  one  term  its  president. 

June  10,  1885,  he  married  Miss  Georgiana  Miller,  of  Newburg; 
they  have  four  daughters,  whose  names  are  Margaret,  Emily, 
Dorathy,  and  Annie;  and  has  a  pleasant  residence  on  the  attractive 
banks  of  the  Kennebec. 


328  HISTORY    OP   BATH. 

Rodney  Hyde  followed  the  sea  for  several  years ;  was  a  clerk 
with  Zina  Hyde,  and  since  1842  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Bath, 
unmarried.  In  1892  he  gave  a  free  deed  of  land  for  a  site  for  a  con- 
templated "  Home  for  Aged  Couples  and  Old  Men/'  on  Weeks  street. 

WILLIAM  KINO,   Maine's  First  Governor.— Of  all  the 

eminent  men  who  have  been  citizens  of  Maine,  less  has  been 
published  of  the  career  of  William  King  than  that  of  any  of  his 
contemporaries;  yet  few  have  placed  their  mark  so  conspicuously 
upon  the  public  affairs  of  the  state  as  he.  To  accomplish  a  full 
history  of  his  life  and  his  services  at  this  day  is  attended  with 
difficulties.  Among  his  voluminous  papers  few  can  be  found  of 
value  to  the  historian. 

For  over  fifty  years,  William  King  was  a  resident  of  Bath,  yet  his 
name  and  fame  belong  to  the  whole  state,  as  it  was  his  energy  and 
perseverance,  in  a  great  measure,  that  sundered  the  tie  to  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts  and  placed  Maine  as  an  independent 
state  in  the  Union.  Bath,  however,  is  identified  with  him  in  that 
close  and  more  sympathetic  tie  that  results  from  familiar  companion- 
ship in  the  more  quiet  walks  of  life ;  from  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
his  manly  character,  his  honorable  dealing  in  matters  of  business, 
his  devotion  to  right,  his  undoubted  intellectual  ability  and  states- 
manlike qualities,  all  of  which  he  used  freely  for  the  benefit  of  the 
town  as  well  as  the  state. 

His  grandfather  was  Richard  King,  who  came  to  this  country 
from  Kent,  England;  his  father  was  also  of  the  name  of  Richard 
and  came  from  Watertown,  Mass.,  to  Scarboro  in  1745.  His  father 
was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  died  in  1759,  having  had  a  son  and 
two  daughters.  Rufus  King  was  the  son  of  this  marriage,  and  was 
one  of  the  great  men  of  the  day  of  Washington,  Adams,  and  Jeffer- 
son. His  second  wife  was  Mary  Black,  of  York,  from  which  union 
there  was  three  daughters  and  two  sons,  Cyrus  and  William.  William 
was  born  in  1768,  at  Scarboro.  William  was  less  fortunate  than  his 
brothers,  in  the  matter  of  a  liberal  education,  as  his  father  died  when 
William  was  only  seven  years  of  age,  leaving  the  bulk  of  his  estate 
in  lands  that  did  not  yield  much  income ;  William  had  therefore  to 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  329 

make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and  went  to  work  in  a  saw-mill  at 
Saco.  When  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age  a  division  of  his  father's 
estate  was  made,  and  his  portion  was  a  yoke  of  two-year  old  steers. 
With  these,  in  the  the  spring  of  the  year,  he  started  east  to  seek  his 
fortune.  '  He  stopped  at  many  of  the  houses  on  the  way  offering  to 
work  for  his  board  without  finding  employment.  It  was  cold  when 
he  reached  Bath,  and  came  into  town  barefoot,  not  being  able  to  own 
either  shoes  or  stockings.  Failing  to  find  any  employment  he  went 
to  Topsham  where  he  went  to  work  in  a  saw-mill  and  by  industry 
and  frugality  soon  owned  half  a  saw  and  afterwards  a  whole  mill. 
After  a  while  he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  Dr. 
Benjamin  Jones  Porter,  and  opened  a  store,  which  was  conducted  by 
Porter,  King  continuing  his  lumber  business.  Mr.  King  was  one 
of  the  incorporators  of  the  toll  bridge  crossing  the  river  at  Topsham. 
The  first  cotton  mill  in  Maine  was  at  Brunswick,  erected  in  1809,  and 
King  was  one  of  the  incorporators  and  one  of  the  principal  owners. 
While  living  at  Topsham  he  built  five  vessels,  consisting  of  one  ship, 
two  brigs,  and  two  schooners.  His  first  vessel  was  built  at  Bruns- 
wick in  1793,  another  in  1793;  a  ship  at  Bath  in  1794  ;  a  brig  at 
Topsham  in  1799;  a  brig  at  Bath  in  1798;  from  1800  to  1815  he  built 
four  ships  and  five  brigs  at  Bath,  and  was  owner  and  manager  of 
other  vessels. 

When  General  King  first  came  to  Bath,  in  1800,  he  opened  a  store 
in  connection  with  Peter  H.  Green.  He  also  had  wharfs  and  ware- 
houses. He  organized  the  first  bank  opened  at  Bath,  of  which  he 
was  president,  having  full  control.  He  possessed  much  real  estate 
in  Bath  and  other  parts  of  the  state.  Originally  he  owned  the  terri- 
tory of  what  is  now  the  town  of  Kingfield,  in  Franklin  County,  which 
was  named  for  him.  He  was  accustomed  to  visit  his  town  once  or 
twice  a  year,  going  up  from  Bath  in  a  carriage  with  his  family.  He 
took  great  delight  in  Kingfield,  where  he  had  much  land  under  culti- 
vation. He  owned  the  stone-house  farm,  some  two  miles  from  Bath 
on  the  Brunswick  road.  It  was  originally  built  for  a  shooting-lodge 
by  a  party  of  English  sportsmen.  It  was  notable  for  its  large  orchard 
of  five  hundred  fruit  trees  of  great  variety,  and  on  it  were  raised 
large  quantities  of  potatoes  for  shipment  to  the  West  Indies. 


i 


330  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

When  the  State-house  at  Augusta  was  built,  he  was  at  the  head 
of  the  commissioners  who  superintended  the  building. 

In  General  King's  day  the  military  had  a  high  prestige,  and  as  a 
military  man  he  was  conspicuous,  lie  was  popular  with  officers 
and  men  under  his  command,  and  this  was  particularly  shown  when 
he  received  the  appointment  of  Major-General,  at  Boston,  and  on 
his  coming  home  the  military  of  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Bath 
turned  out  to  escort  him  into  town.  Besides  in  service  as  Major- 
General  of  militia,  he  had  a  commission  of  Colonel  of  the  United 
States  army  as  recruiting  officer  of  United  States  volunteers,  in  the 
District  of  Maine,  upon  the  declaration  of  war  in  June,  1812.  He 
recruited  a  regiment  in  Bath  early  in  18 14,  and  was  engaged  in 
recruiting  another  when  the  war  closed. 

He  began  his  political  career  in  Topsham,  at  the  early  age  of 
27  years,  by  representing  the  town  at  General  Court  in  Boston 
in  1795  and  1796.  In  1800,  he  was  elected  Representative  to  the 
Legislature  of  Massachusetts,  from  Bath,  for  three  years;  and  1807 
and  1808,  was  elected  Senator  to  represent  the  Lincoln  district. 

General  King  was  a  leader  by  nature,  in  military,  civil  and  citi- 
zen life;  when  appointed  on  a  committee,  King  was  the  committee. 

During  the  many  years  which  General  King  served  in  public  life, 
his  record  shows  a  desire  to  legislate  for  the  people.  The  so  called 
"  Betterment  Act "  was  of  special  significance.  The  pioneer  settlers 
went  into  the  edges  of  our  forests,  made  clearings,  and  prepared 
homes  for  their  wives  and  children.  Speculators  then  came  forward 
and  claimed  a  right  to  the  entire  property  and  proceeded  to  eject 
the  settlers;  they  rose  in  rebellion,  a  surveyor  for  the  proprietors 
was  shot  and  suspected  men  were  put  in  jail ;  a  rescue  was  attempt- 
ed and  the  militia  companies  were  called  out. 

In  1802,  General  King,  then  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Legislature,  took  the  matter  in  hand  and  framed  a  bill  that  gave  the 
original  proprietors  the  choice  to  sell  the  land  to  those  occupying  it 
at  its  appraised  original  value  or  pay  for  the  improvements.  King 
pressed  the  measure  through  by  the  force  of  his  character.  He  was 
likewise  the  father  of  the  famous  "Toleration  Act/'  which  annulled 
the  law  that  had  compelled  towns  to  support  a  minister;  a  grand 
work  of  entire  religious  freedom. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  33 1 

The  public  services  of  General  King  will,  however,  be  the  most 
recorded  in  history  in  connection  with  the  leading  part  he  took  in 
the  question  of  the  separation  of  the  District  of  Maine  from  Massa- 
chusetts. He  battled  seven  years  for  separation  in  every  political 
convention  of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  it  would  not  be  much  of 
a  convention  without  King.  The  separation  being  effected  he  was 
president  of  the  convention  that  framed  the  constitution  of  the  new 
state,  and  no  state  ever  entered  the  Union  with  a  better  constitution. 

The  people  of  the  new  state  proved  their  appreciation  of  the 
eminent  services  he  had  rendered  them,  by  unanimously  electing 
him  its  first  governor.  During  his  term  of  office,  he  resigned  to 
accept  appointment  as  commissioner  for  the  general  government  to 
settle  claims  in  Florida. 

His  state  did  him  the  honor  of  selecting  him  out  of  all  his  dis- 
tinguished contemporaries  to  be  its  representative  in  the  national 
statuary  at  Washington.  This  statue  of  Maine's  first  governor  was 
executed  by  Franklin  Simmons,  at  Rome, — a  native  of  Maine — repre- 
senting him  as  in  the  prime  of  life.  It  has  been  said  to  be  the  finest 
in  the  whole  collection,  which  is  made  up  of  the  most  eminent  men 
from  every  state  in  the  Union.  On  the  occasion  of  the  presentation 
of  this  statue  to  the  government,  Senator  Hanibal  Hamlin,  James  G. 
Blaine,  Thomas  13.  Reed,  Mathew  H.  Carpenter,  Roscoe  Conklin,  and 
other  eminent  statesmen,  paid  tribute  to  General  King's  character. 

Upon  the  institution  of  Solar  Lodge  at  Bath,  in  1804,  William 
King  was  one  of  the  charter  members,  and  its  first  Master,  and  also 
Worshipful  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Maine. 

His  mansion  which  he  built  in  Bath  stood,  in  the  Governor's  time, 
near  the  banks  of  the  Kennebec,  on  the  site  of  the  present  Custom 
House.  The  grounds  were  extensive ;  old-fashioned  flowers  and 
shrubs  filled  the  front  yard,  while  on  the  west  and  north  was  an 
extensive  orchard  of  fine  fruit  trees,  the  pride  of  the  Governor,  and 
which  was  enclosed  by  a  high  stone  wall.  This  house,  in  its  palmy 
days,  with  its  ample  hall,  broad  stair-case,  its  chambers,  with  high 
post  bedsteads  and  draperies,  the  coat-of-arms  on  the  wall,  the  par- 
lor, with  its  massive  furniture,  and  French  plate  mirrors  over  the 
mantel,  the  silver  service,  with  convex  mirrors,  the  candles  blazing 


332  HISTORY  OP  BATH. 

in  the  winter  twilight  above  the  glowing  fire  on  the  broad  hearth, 
all  going  to  make  a  picture  of  beauty  and  comfort.  He  was  a  great 
entertainer.  With  unbounded  hospitality  his  house  was  the  resort, 
from  time  to  time,  of  eminent  men  and  women  of  this  and  foreign 
lands.  There  was  not  one  who  could  outdo  him  in  table  argument, 
and,  though  often  forcible  and  abrupt  in  his  speech  to  men,  his 
manners  were  always  gentle  and  courteous  to  ladies  and  children. 
His  evenings  were  often  devoted  to  whist,  and  it  was  even  a  common 
thing  in  those  days  to  devote  a  portion  of  the  day  to  cards,  and 
General  King's  card  parties  came  to  be  a  decided  feature  in  Bath 
society.  There  was  the  Governor  in  the  showy  costume  of  the  day, 
ruffed,  starched  and  frilled,  seated  in  state  in  his  long  parlor,  where 
his  friends  assembled.  They  would  sit  at  cards  until  late  in  the 
evening,  not  forgetting  a  cup  of  tea  for  the  ladies  and  a  glass  of  wine 
for  the  gentlemen.  There  used  to  be  hot  rubbers.  The  gay  dames 
of  a  quiet  day,  sitting  around  the  parlor,  and  the  fresh  breeze  blow- 
ing through  the  open  windows,  where  one  could  sit  and  look  up  and 
down  the  Kennebec ;  then  in  the  twilight  his  servant  would  harness 
up  the  span  and  drive  the  guests  to  their  homes. 

In  1802  General  King  married  Miss  Ann  Frazier,  of  Scarboro. 
The  marriage  proved  a  very  happy  one.  At  the  next  meeting 
after  the  marriage  ceremony,  as  was  the  custom  of  the  time,  Gen- 
eral King  and  his  bride  "appeared  out."  The  services  were  held 
in  the  "  Erudition "  school-house.  Everybody  was  there  in  good 
season.  At  the  proper  time  the  couple  walked  deliberately  in,  when 
the  General,  with  his  commanding  figure  and  dignified  mien,  with 
his  beautiful  bride  by  his  side,  made  a  pleasing  sensation.  Mrs. 
King  was  welcomed  into  Bath's  best  society,  became  a  leader,  and 
all  through  her  life  universal  deference  was  accorded  her  many 
lovely  traits  of  character. 

Characteristics. — Some  reminiscences  of  General  King  may  best 
illustrate  his  traits  of  character.  A  meeting  was  held  to  arrange 
for  a  celebration  of  "Independence  Day,"  and  King,  as  a  matter  of 
course,  presided.  The  customary  resolutions  were  prepared  by 
Judge  Ames,  who  was  a  man  of  wide  attainments  and  patriotic.    He 


HISTORY   OP   BATH.  333 

evidently  took  in  the  situation  as  a  fine  opportunity  to  air  his  gifts 
as  a  rhetorician.  He  had  prepared  an  elaborate  preamble  to  his 
resolutions,  spending  much  time  on  it,  calling  upon  his  friends  for 
the  purpose  of  reading  the  paper  to  them  for  criticism  on  both  the 
matter,  its  writing  and  his  style  of  reading,  and  completed  the  doc- 
ument to  his  entire  satisfaction,  ready  for  the  meeting  to  which  he 
looked  forward  as  his  coming  triumph.  The  eventful  day  arrived, 
and  when  called  upon  for  the  resolutions  he  commenced  reading  his 
eloquent  preamble,  and  had  hardly  gone  through  with  the  first  sen- 
tence when  General  King  exclaimed,  in  his  decisive  way :  "  Never 
mind  the  preamble,  Judge,  never  mind  the  preamble,  it  is  always 
about  the  same  thing  you  know,  never  mind  it,  give  us  the  resolu- 
tions." Thus  spread  eagle  rhetoric  was  squelched  by  a  presiding 
officer,  who  at  the  time  was  truly  "king." 

When  General  King  was  in  his  prime  he  was  quick  witted  as  well 
as  profoundly  intellectual.  During  the  time  he  was  one  of  the 
commissioners  under  the  Florida  treaty  he  was  walking  the  streets 
of  Wasington  one  bright  moonlight  evening  in  company  with 
another  gentlemen,  when  two  girls  flourishingly  dressed  came  up 
close  behind  them  apparently  endeavoring  to  attract  their  attention. 
To  avoid  annoyance  they  turned  a  corner,  but  in  vain  ;  the  girls  fol- 
lowed close;  they  turned  another  corner,  the  girls  still  following, 
when  General  King  faced  about  and  thus  addressed  them:  "Ladies, 
1  can  only  say  to  you  that  we  are  not  members  of  Congress. "  The 
girls  followed  them  no  longer. 

Although  friendly  to  the  cause  of  temperance,  he  never  gave  up 
the  use  of  wine  and  always  had  it  on  his  table.  On  one  occasion  a 
judge  was  dining  with  him  and  refused  wine  on  the  plea  that  he  was 
a  member  of  a  temperance  society.  Melons  were  brought  in  at 
dessert  and  the  General  poured  wine  on  his;  his  guest  did  the  same; 
a  short  time  after  a  physician  was  dining  with  the  General,  he  also 
refused  wine,  when  King  bluflly  remarked,  "Won't  you  have  a  spoon 
Doctor?  recently  Judge  Blank  was  dining  with  me  and  he  would  not 
drink  my  wine  but  he  ate  it  with  a  spoon." 

It  has  been  said  that  when  some  worthy  ship-master,  on  returning 
from  a  voyage,  would  unroll  before  him  the  long  columns  of  his 


334  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

accounts,  the  restless  Governor  would  interupt  the  whole  by  the 
exclamation,  "Ah,  that  will  do.  We  will  lay  these  two  accounts  of 
debt  and  credit  on  the  floor  and  find  the  difference  by  pacing 
them  off." 

A  zealous  member  of  the  church  to  which  he  belonged,  felt  it  his 
duty  to  labor  with  the  Governor  on  account  of  his  occasionally 
allowing  the  use  of  cards  in  his  house.  In  his  efforts  to  convince 
Governor  King  of  the  evil  influences  of  such  amusement,  his  fellow 
member  remarked  that  it  led  to  cheating,  and  that  he  always  used 
to  cheat  whenever  he  played.  "  Ah!"  said  the  General,  "I  dare  say 
this  is  true,  but  you  need  have  no  fear  for  me ;  1  never  allow  myself 
to  play  in  such  company  as  yours." 

Early  one  morning  the  stage  drove  up  to  the  door  of  King's  resi- 
dence, and  when  his  wife  was  about  to  enter  it  he  discovered  inside 
the  stage,  a  Frenchman  with  his  dog.  "  Driver!"  thundered  the  irate 
General,  "take  this  dog  out."  The  frightened  foreigner,  dog  and  all, 
leaped  from  the  stage,  muttering;  "I  have  seen  the  King  of  England; 
the  King  of  France,  and  other  Kings,  but  this  King  of  Bath  is  the 
biggest  King  I  ever  saw." 

In  about  1834  a  club  of  young  men,  the  Zetetic  Club,  was  formed 
in  contradistinction  to  a  lyceum  of  older  and  more  conservative 
men,  and  the  members,  after  a  long  discussion  of  the  education 
question,  prepared  to  act  in  concert  at  an  annual  town  meeting  on 
a  measure  to  be  offered  to  improve  the  schools.  It  was  arranged  to 
proceed  in  this  wise :  An  order,  prefaced  by  suitable  remarks,  was 
to  be  offered  by  a  member  designated,  to  raise  for  schools  an  addi- 
tional sum  of  $3, 000  more  than  was  required  by  law  to  do,  and 
consequently  would  provoke  strong  opposition  from  large  tax  payers. 
It  was  arranged  that  a  dozen  or  so  should  be  ready  to  reply  in  turn 
to  the  opposition,  and  that  they  should  be  well  distributed  in  the 
house  so  as  not  to  appear  to  act  in  concert.  Town  meeting  was 
held  and  the  "order"  offered,  and  immediately  assailed  by  General 
King,  who  did  not  make  any  lengthy  remarks,  seeming  to  be  confi- 
dent, as  he  had  always  before  "carried  the  town,"  that  it  was 
only  necessary  to  make  known  his  wishes  to  have  them  fully  carried 
out.     To  his  manifest  surprise,  however,  no  sooner  had  he  taken  his 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  335 

seat  than  a  vigorous  reply  was  made  to  his  remarks  by  the  man  who 
had  offered  the  order  and  between  whom  and  King  there  had  been 
some  previous  sparring  on  some  other  question.  To  effectually  silence 
him,  King  arose,  looking  straight  at  his  opponent,  with  the  remark 
that  he  "would  willingly  favor  the  appropriating  more  money  for  the 
support  of  schools  if  it  would  result  in  preventing  the  children  of 
some  men  from  being  as  ignorant  as  their  fathers  have  shown  them- 
selves here  to-day."  No  sooner  was  the  general  seated  when 
another  advocate  of  the  measure  was  on  his  feet  in  a  distant  part  of 
the  room,  presuming  to  antagonize  the  long-time  dictator.  Amazed 
at  this  audacity,  General  King  rose  again  and  with  more  extended 
remarks  apparently  thought  he  had  silenced  the  reformers.  Then  a 
voice  from  a  far  corner  of  the  house  is  heard,  dashing  aside  his 
arguments  with  audacity,  Again  General  King  takes  the  floor,  and 
no  sooner  is  he  seated  than  Robert  Babb  assails  him  and  evidently 
pitches  into  his  feelings  to  some  purpose.  King  inquires  of  those 
around  him,  "  who  is  he  ? "  and  arising  with  glaring  eyes  looking 
around  the  room,  says  he :  "  Mr.  Moderator,  I  should  like  to  know 
what  we  arc  coming  to !  Who  is  this  Mr.  Roberty  Bobberty  Babb, 
and  the  rest  of  them,  are  they  going  to  rule  the  town?"  The 
other  members  continuing  to  reply  and  assail  him,  General  King, 
thoroughly  amazed  at  this  audacity,  inquired  of  a  neighbor  what  it 
all  meant,  "this  happening  in  such  a  manner,"  and  he  arose  in  his 
mighty  indignation  to  say:  "Ah,  Mr.  Moderator,  I  have  just  learned 
where  all  this  mischief  comes  from;  it  is  the  Zetetic  Club;  and  what 
do  we  see?"  pointing  with  his  finger,  "Why,  its  cockadodle  here, 
and  its  cockadodle  there,  and  its  cockadodle  everywhere;  and  what 
does  it  all  mean?"  But  the  " cockadodles "  carried  their  point  with 
the  complete  overthrow  of  King  rule. 

When  General  King  and  others  seceded,  in  the  year  1802,  from  the 
North  Church  and  Society  of  Bath,  and  built  the  South  Church, 
congregational  clergymen  declined  to  install  Mr.  Jenks  who  had  been 
engaged  for  pastor,  on  the  ground  that  there  was  no  church.  When 
this  state  of  facts  was  made  known  at  a  meeting  of  the  South 
Society,  Mr.  King  promotly  exclaimed,  "We  must  have  a  church, 
must  we?     Til  have  one  immediately."     He  sat  down  and  wrote  a 


336  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

document  to  be  signed  by  such  as  were  willing  to  enroll  themselves 
as  members.  To  quiet  any  conscientious  scruples  any  might  have 
in  belonging  to  a  church  when  not  a  professor  of  religion,  he 
explained  that  their  wishing  to  organize  a  church  was  simply  a  form 
and  matter  of  business.  Signing  the  paper  himself,  he  took  it 
around  for  others  to  sign,  and  very  soon  obtained  the  required 
number.  On  returning  home  from  the  meeting,  he  explained  to  his 
wife  what  he  had  done,  and  asked  her  to  head  the  list  for  lady  mem- 
bers. She  said,  "I  cannot,  I  cannot."  "Why  not?"  asked  he. 
Said  she,  "  I  am  not  good  enough,  you  know  I  am  not  a  Christian." 

"Ah,"  said  he,  "jine,  Annie,  jine,  I  have  jined,  and  you  are  a  d d 

sight  better  Christian  than  I  am."  She  "jined"  and  the  church 
was  founded. 

The  Governor  had  a  commanding  figure  above  middle  height, 
bright  piercing  eyes,  shadowed  by  heavy,  coal-black  eye-brows,  which 
retained  their  color  even  after  his  hair  become  white.  It  was  said 
that  in  anger  or  when  filled  with  righteous  indignation  his  eyes  had 
a  flash  that  few  cared  to  encounter.  Many  still  remember  him 
attired  in  his  military  cloak  with  scarlet  lining,  and  his  dignified  mein 
and  distinguished  countenance  made  him  always  an  object  of  interest 
in  public  or  private  life. 

The  family  of  his  son,  Cyrus  W.  King,  consisting  of  a  widow,  son 
and  daughter,  reside  in  Brunswick,  the  son  a  physician  and  the 
daughter  an  artist. 

When  General  King  died,  June  17,  1852,  he  was  buried  with 
military,  masonic,  and  civic  honors,  the  Governor  and  distinguished 
officials  being  in  attendance.  He  was  enterred  in  the  old  cemetery, 
where  the  state  placed  a  monument  of  granite  of  suitable  propor- 
tions to  his  memory,  his  wife  resting  at  the  same  spot. 

The  Patten  Family. — As  far  back  as  1119  mention  is  made 
of  a  Patten  family  at  Pattine,  near  Chalmsford,  Essex  County,  Eng- 
land. Various  Richard  Pattens  are  spoken  of  in  different  eras  as 
men  of  worth  and  filling  high  positions,  particularly  in  church  gov- 
ernment. In  the  fifteenth  century  a  number  of  families  of  that 
name  emigrated  to  Scotland  from  Essex  County,  and  from  thence  to 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  337 

Ireland  in  1630.  It  is  supposed  that  Actor,  or  Hector  Patten  as  the 
English  call  it,  was  a  descendant  of  this  branch.  He  was  born  in 
Belfast,  county  of  Deny,  about  1693,  and  immigrated  to  this  country 
in  1727.  He  was  accompanied  by  his  brothers,  William  and  Robert. 
Actor  came  to  Saco  with  his  brother  William,  settling  in  that  portion 
now  known  as  Old  Orchard.  After  living  here  forty  years  he  made  a 
new  home  at  Frenchmans  Bay,  now  Sullivan,  in  the  then  District 
of  Maine,  a  short  time  before  the  Revolutionary  War. 

His  first  wife's  family  name  was  Sotor ;  his  second,  whom  he  mar- 
ried in  this  country,  was  a  Mrs.  Armstrong.  He  had  three  sons,  John, 
William,  and  Mathew.  John,  his  eldest  son,  was  born  in  17 17.  He 
married  Miss  Maria  Means,  of  Saco,  a  pious  and  worthy  woman. 
He  settled  in  Topsham,  Me.,  and  lived  on  a  farm  pleasantly  situated 
in  sight  of  Merrymeeting  Bay. 

His  grandson,  John  Patten  of  Bowdoinham,  from  whom  these 
genealogical  records  have  been  gleaned,  says  of  him :  "He  lived  to 
a  green  old  age,  beloved  by  his  friends  and  respected  by  all.  He 
was  honest,  industrious  and  upright  in  all  his  dealings.  Besides  attend- 
ing to  the  cultivation  of  his  farm  he  did  all  the  blacksmith's  work  of 
the  vicinity.  Later  he  engaged  in  ship-building,  and  accumulated 
coniderable  property.  He  was  a  man  of  good  appearance,  quick  and 
active  in  his  movements.  He  raised  a  family  of  eight  sons  and  six 
daughters.  The  daughters  married  into  the  Fulton,  Randall,  Jame- 
son, Harward,  Maxwell,  and  Winter  families.  The  descendants  of 
the  sons  were  numerous.  John  Patten  was  a  deacon  in  the  Congre- 
gational Church  in  Topsham  and  was  always  an  exemplary  Christian; 
strict  in  his  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  he  enforced  like  rigor  on  his 
house-hold.  He  died  in  1795,  aged  77.  His  son  Thomas  was  born 
in  Saco  in  1761,  and  married  Catherine  Fulton  of  the  same  place. 
He  came  to  Topsham  with  his  father,  and  there  were  born  to  him 
there  several  sons  and  daughters,  among  whom  were  George  F., 
James  F.,  and  John,  all  of  whom  settled  in  Bath  while  young  men." 

John  Pat  ten,  of  Bath,  was  born  in  Topsham,  August  27,  1789. 
He  followed  the  sea  during  his  early  years.  In  the  war  of  18 12-15 
he  was  mate  with  Capt.  Levi  Peterson  and  was  taken  prisoner  five 
times.   Through  these  mishaps  he  found  himself  penniless  at  the  close 


338  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

of  the  war,  and  was  obliged  to  use  his  month's  advance  to  purchase  an 
outfit,  but  through  his  energy  and  ability,  we  find  him  in  1816  owner 
and  master  of  the  brig  "Ann  Maria,11  of  153  tons  register,  of 
Topsham. 

Captain  Patten  came  to  Bath  in  1820  and  formed  a  partnership 
with  his  brother,  George  F.,  in  1821,  under  the  firm  of  George  F. 
&  J.  Patten,  a  partnership  that  lasted  forty  years.  Their  ship-yard 
was  next  south  of  the  present  office  of  A.  Sewall  &  Company.  Their 
first  vessel  was  the  brig  Jasper  of  222  tons.  The  remaining  forty 
vessels  built  by  these  brothers  were  mostly  ships.  After  the  dissolu- 
tion of  this  firm,  Captain  Patten  entered  into  partnership  with  his 
son,  Gilbert  £.  R.  Patten,  and  they  occupied  the  yard  adjacent 
to  that  of  Major  Harward.  The  first  vessel  by  this  firm  was  the 
Nimbus  in  1869.  Captain  Patten  always  retained  an  interest  in  other 
shipping,  becoming  part  owner  in  steamers  and  ships  built  by  other 
firms.  It  has  been  estimated  that  he  was  an  ownet  in  sixty-five  ves- 
sels. The  following  published  at  the  time  of  his  death  gives  an 
idea  of  various  positions  of  trust  held  by  Captain  Patten  and  the 
various  benevolent  acts  scattered  through  a  long  life.  "For  several 
years  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  a  Trustee  of  the  Bath 
Savings  Institution,  Old  Ladies'  Home,  and  Director  of  the  Lincoln 
Bank.  He  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Merchants  Exchange, 
afterwards  known  as  the  Bath  Board  of  Trade;  was  a  stockholder, 
and  for  many  years  manager  of  the  Bath  Gas  Light  Company,  and 
president  of  the  Patten  Library  Association.  He  was  largely  inter- 
ested in  building  the  Sagadahoc  House  and  gave  a  large  sum  for  its 
completion.  Endowed  with  a  benevolent  heart,  he  gave  largely  to 
churches,  public  institutions,  and  private  enterprises.  He  gave  sev- 
eral thousand  dollars  to  the  Old  Ladies'  Home,  a  goodly  sum  towards 
the  erection  of  the  High  School  Building,  and  the  Soldiers'  Orphan 
Home  was  frequently  a  receipient  of  his  bounty."  He  was  a  con- 
stant attendant  upon  the  public  services  of  the  Central  Church  and 
gave  liberally  to  religious  objects,  although  not  a  church  member. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  first  City  Council  of  Bath,  and  served  the 
city  as  Mayor  in  1851  and  1852.  He  also  represented  the  city  one 
term  in  the  Legislature. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  339 

Captain  Patten  was  31  years  old  when  he  made  his  home  in  Bath, 
yet  he  lived  here  an  ordinary  life-time.  Very  few  attain  to  his  age 
of  97  years  and  6  months,  with  perfect  health  and  unimpaired  fac- 
ulties, and  it  is  a  rare  instance  where  one  of  advanced  age  has  been 
able  to  give  personal  attention  to  business  to  the  very  last  days  of  his 
life.  His  gentle,  beaming  countenance  was  a  pleasant  sight  for  old 
and  young.  The  restless  spirit  that  so  strongly  marks  this  age,  seems 
to  have  passed  him  by;  he  moved  serenely  in  our  midst,  receiving  the 
respect  and  regards  of  the  entire  community,  and  at  each  recurrence 
of  his  birthday  of  later  years,  a  large  number  of  citizins  were  accus- 
tomed to  assemble  at  his  dwelling,  to  do  honor  to  the  good  citizen 
and  venerable  man. 

Captain  Patten  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Miss  Betsey 
Bates  of  I  Jos  ton.  They  had  two  children,  Thomas  and  Gilbert  E. 
R.  Patten.  Thomas  became  a  sea-captain  and  died  at  middle  age; 
Gilbert  also  went  to  sea,  commanded  his  father's  ships,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  his  life  retired  from  the  sea  and  joined  his  father  in 
building  ships.  The  mother  of  these  sons  having  died,  the  father 
married  a  daughter  of  Levi  Peterson  of  this  city.  They  had  a 
daughter  who  died  young,  and  a  son,  John  L.,  who  died  just  as  he 
reached  maturity. 

Captain  Patten  survived  his  second  wife  thirty  years.  The  follow- 
ing extracts  from  Rev.  Mr.  DunnoU's  sermon  on  Captain  Patten's 
life  and  character  are  fitting  tributes  to  an  active,  harmonious,  and 
peaceful  life  :  "It  is  not  as  a  person  valuable  for  his  age,  it  is  not 
as  a  successful  money  getter,  one  estimated  by  the  figures  of  his 
taxes,  but  pre-eminently  as  a  man  that  Captain  Patten  stands  within 
our  memory.  His  remarkable  health  one  may  safely  say  to  have 
been  partially  due  to  the  robust  nature  of  his  moral  character.  His 
physician  states  that  to  the  last  of  his  life  there  was  no  organic  diffi- 
culty undermining  his  physical  life.  He  had  never  impaired  his 
constitution.  Though  a  little  remarkable  for  a  sea-faring  man,  he 
was  not  addicted  to  the  use  of  tobacco  in  any  form.  Although 
brought  up  in  a  period  when  spirituous  liquors  were  used  with  a  free- 
dom we  can  hardly  comprehend  to-day,  he  never  used  them  in  any 
but  the  most  moderate  degree,  and  of  late  years  not  at  all.     His 


34°  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

even,  cheerful  disposition  was  a  great  moral  factor  in  his  physical 
life.  He  was  a  man  who  never  allowed  himself  what  is  popularly 
called  the  *  blues.'  Gloom  was  not  a  companion  that  he  tolerated  in 
his  home.  He  was  what  we  would  call  a  successful  man  and  I  only 
speak  of  it  to  point  out  another  way  in  which  his  manliness  has 
impressed  itself  upon  us.  His  success  shows  his  character,  because 
it  was  his  own.  He  was  in  every  sense  a  self-made  man.  I  can 
testify  from  what  1  have  personally  heard  him  say  that  he  was  sensi- 
tive to  anything  which  seemed  to  reflect  on  a  man  of  small  begin- 
nings. He  had  the  keenest  feelings  about  the  value  of  a  self-made 
life.  'There  are  few  of  us,'  he  said,  'who  have  not  worked  up 
from  the  smallest  start.'  It  was  not  often  we  spoke  together  on 
religious  themes,  but  whenever  we  did  he  always  talked  without 
reserve. — *  Jesus  has  done  everything  for  me.'  This  was  the  expres- 
sion which  he  coined  himself,  and  which  he  repeated  again  and 
again.  Surely  no  one  who  knew  his  life  would  be  slow  to  believe 
that  it  had  such  a  source.  His  spirit  can  be  easily  understood,  when 
I  remind  you  of  a  simple  incident.  As  he  was  one  day  on  his 
way  from  his  office  to  his  home,  a  poor  man  stopped  him,  asking 
if  he  would  not  help  to  procure  a  coat,  when  Captain  Patten 
quickly  removed  his  own,  gave  it  to  the  man  in  need,  and  himself 
proceeded  homeward  without  any.  Any  unworthy  person  rarely 
received  from  him.  He  was  discriminating  as  well  as  generous. 
Truly  there  was  fulfilled  in  him  the  promise  to  the  godly — 'with  long 
life  will  I  satisfy  him  and  show  him  my  salvation.'  " 

George  P.  Patten  was  born  in  Topsham,  the  home  of  his  ances- 
tors, September  18,  1787.  His  advantages  for  an  early  education 
were  limited,  but  his  natural  capacities  made  him  a  peer  with  all 
with  whom  he  associated  in  his  after  life,  whatever  may  have 
been  their  training.  His  early  start  in  business  life  was  in  that 
branch  in  which  he  continued  ever  afterwards.  Having  been  engaged 
in  building  boats,  and  later  some  small  vessels,  at  his  native  town,  he 
sought  better  advantages  for  ship-building  by  coming  to  Bath. 

In  this  city  he  established  a  yard  in  which  he  built  ships  during 
his  entire  life,  having,  at  different  times,  his  brothers,  John  and 
and  James  F.  Patten,  associated  with  him,  being  himself  the  builder. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  34 1 

His  regular  build  was  one  ship  a  year  and  he  managed  them  all. 
The  Patten  fleet  became  the  largest  in  the  United  States.  He  was 
the  builder  of  forty  ships  and  other  classes  of  vessels.  He  first 
built  the  brig  Statira,  of  188  tons,  in  18 19,  at  Topsham.  The  first 
he  built  at  Hath  was  the  brig  Jasper,  in  182 1,  which  was  of  223 
tons;  his  last  ship  built  at  Bath,  in  1868,  was  the  Japan,  of  1,252 
tons.  He  built  two  steamers  to  run  on  the  Pacific  coast,  during  the 
years  of  early  California  enterprises.  The  greater  portion  of  the 
vessels  of  his  building  were  ships  of  the  larger  class  for  those  days. 
While  his  brothers,  John  and  James  F.  Patten,  continued  going  to 
sea  they  were  in  command  of  ships  of  the  firm. 

On  coming  to  Bath  to  reside,  not  many  years  elapsed  before 
Captain  Patten  became  a  very  prominent  man,  both  in  businees  and 
as  a  citizen.  He  was  a  large  stockholder  in  the  banks  of  Bath, 
especially  of  the  Lincoln  Bank.  He  was  a  Whig  and  later  a  Repub- 
lican in  politics.  Never  seeking,  or  indeed  desiring,  public  positions, 
yet  his  fellow-citizens  called  him  to  responsible  trusts,  he  having 
served  several  terms  in  the  Legislature  and  in  the  City  Government. 

He  was  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  our  first  railroad,  of  which  he 
was  one  of  the  original  projectors,  lifted  the  first  spadeful  in  its 
construction,  and  was  one  of  its  most  powerful  supporters  in  the 
difficulties  which  its  construction  encountered. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College; 
of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Missions;  was  Vice- 
President  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society,  and  by  far  the  largest 
individual  contributor  to  its  funds.  While  in  the  prime  of  his  man- 
hood, this  eminent  man  became  a  professor  of  religion  and  a  member 
of  the  Winter  Street  Church,  of  which  the  Rev.  Dr.  Fiske  was  the 
pastor,  and  who  has  warmly  testified  to  his  "true  and  sincere 
Christian  character." 

Captain  Patten  was  large  in  statue,  commanding  and  distin- 
guished in  his  personal  appearance.  While  always  possessing  more 
than  ample  means,  his  mode  of  life  was  that  of  comfortable  sim- 
plicity, and  his  house  was  one  in  which  there  was  always  generous 
hospitality. 

Captain  Patten  never  went  to  sea,  and  derived  his  title  of  Captain 


342  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

from  having  been  in  command  of  a  company  of  the  militia  at  the 
time  he  was  living  at  Topsham.  During  the  last  war  with  Great 
Britian,  he  was  on  duty  at  the  head  of  his  company  when  the  troops 
were  called  out  to  protect  Bath,  when  the  British  men-of-war  were 
off  the  mouth  of  the  river,  alarming  the  town  in  June,  and  again 
in  September,  1814. 

Captain  Patten  married  in  1820,  Miss  Hannah  Thomas  who 
was  born  in  Lebanon,  Conn.,  in  1795.  Their  children  were 
Catharine  T.  Patten,  George  M.  Patten,  Statira  Patten,  James  F.  Pat- 
ten, Pauline  Patten,  Ann  Augusta  Patten,  George  Maxwell  Patten, 
and  Hannah  T.  Patten.     George  F.  Patten  died  September  26,  1869. 

James  Fulton  Patten  was  born  in  Topsham,  June  28,  1790, 
and  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  town.  He  then  com- 
menced a  sea-faring  life,  during  which  he  made  his  home  in  Bath, 
rising  to  the  command  of  vessels.  He  sailed  in  Bath  ships,  chiefly 
those  built  by  his  brothers,  John  and  George  F.  Patten ;  himself 
eventually  becoming  a  member  of  the  firm,  in  which  he  continued 
until  retiring  from  active  business. 

He  married  a  granddaughter  of  Col.  John  Reed  of  Topsham,  and 
their  children  were  Charles  E.  Patten  and  Frederic  H.  Patten. 
Captain  Patten  died  in  Bath,  January  14,  1883,  aged  82  years. 

Charles  E.  Patten,  son  of  James  F.  Patten,  was  born  in  Bath, 
January,  1834,  was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  and  when  16  years 
of  age  began  life  on  the  sea,  making  his  first  voyage  with  Capt.  J. 
Q.  A.  Reed,  in  the  ship  Italy.  He  won  deserved  promotion  and  was 
captain  of  the  ship  Britania  in  1856.  Until  1882  he  continued  in 
command  of  different  ships,  and  retired  after  thirty-two  years'  ser- 
vice. In  1857  he  married  Miss  Jessie  Jones  in  London.  Since  his 
return  from  the  sea  he  has  continued  his  interest  in  shipping,  and  is 
one  of  Bath's  heaviest  tax-payers.  He  was  elected  Mayor  in  1890 
and  served  one  year  with  credit,  and  in  1892  was  elected  Alderman 
in  a  ward  that  is  Republican,  when  he  is  an  old-time  Democrat. 
Since  retiring  from  the  sea  Captain  Patten  has  been  a  large  stock- 
holder and  for  years  a  director  in  the  the  Lincoln  Bank.  Himself 
and  wife  are  liberal  to  the  poor,  and  he  has  made  generous  dona- 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  343 

tions  to  the  support  of  the  Free  Public  Library  and  other  objects  of 
benevolence. 

Gilbert  E.  B.  Patten  was  born  in  Boston,  February  28,  1825. 
The  home  of  the  Patten  family  was  in  Topsham,  Me.,  but  Capt 
John  Patten,  the  father  of  Gilbert,  made  a  permanent  residence  in 
Hath  during  his  son's  infancy.  Gilbert  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  and  his  life  associations  and  deepest  interest  centered  in 
the  home  of  his  adoption  on  the  Kennebec. 

Like  the  majority  of  young  men  of  his  time,  he  made  the  sea  his 
profession  and  entered  upon  it  at  the  early  age  of  fifteen  years. 
Manifesting  unusual  ability  for  his  chosen  career  he  easily  gained 
promotion,  and  at  twenty-one  was  captain  of  the  ship  Haleyon,  one 
of  the  youngest  commanders  that  ever  sailed  out  of  the  Kennebec. 
One  who  knew  him  well  writes:  "I  was  with  Captain  Patten  when 
he  first  stepped  upon  the  active  stage  of  life,  in  the  first  ship  he 
commanded,  and  although  1  believe  not  yet  two  and  twenty,  he 
exhibited  abilities  far  in  advance  of  his  years:  sound  judgment, 
coolness  and  self-possession  in  clanger,  and  a  faculty  to  command, 
qualities  so  necessary  to  carry  the  ship-master  safely  through  the 
thousand  difficult  passages  that  are  sure  to  lie  in  his  way.  I  remem- 
ber him  in  his  second  voyage  as  master  in  a  most  perilous  situation, 
one  which  called  for  the  best  qualities  of  the  seaman  to  extricate  his 
ship  and  save  her  from  imminent  wreck.  He  was  equal  to  the  emer- 
gency. With  quick  decision,  he  adopted  the  course  which  the  event 
proved  was  the  only  one  that  could  have  brought  him  out  of  the 
jaws  of  destruction,  and  the  decision,  made  with  a  coolness  and  pre- 
cision that  would  have  done  honor  to  a  veteran,  carried  his  plan 
to  a  successful  issue.  Even  in  those  early  days,  he  was  governed 
in  his  dealings  and  in  his  intercourse  with  men  by  principles  of  high 
honor,  and  I  well  remember  the  impression  he  made  upon  those 
with  whom  he  was  thrown  in  business  relations  in  different  countries, 
and  the  many  words  1  heard  spoken  in  praise  of  his  trustworthiness 
and  integrity." 

On  leaving  the  sea,  Captain  Patten  became  junior  partner  in  the 
ship-building  firm  of  John  Patten  &  Son,  and  continued  in  that  busi- 
ness until   his  health  failed  him  in  the  prime  of  life  and  he  was 


344  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

forced  to  seek  its  restoration  in  various  parts  of  our  own  land 
as  well  as  in  foreign  climes.  This  practically  closed  a  highly  pros- 
perous and  eminently  successful  business  career,  and  crippled 
energies  that  were  freely  given  to  enhance  the  prosperity  of  Hath 
and  add  to  the  happiness  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Endowed  with  a 
capacity  for  friendship,  he  formed,  and  retained  through  life,  the 
regard  and  respect  of  a  large  circle.  His  kindly  disposition  and 
genial  smile  remained  undimmed  through  years  of  physical  suffering, 
which  he  bore  unflinchingly,  while  his  resigned  and  truly  Christian 
spirit  enlisted  the  sympathy  of  both  his  older  and  later  friends. 

He  married,  in  1859,  Miss  Emma  M.  Owen,  daughter  of  Henry 
W.  Owen,  of  Bath,  formerly  of  Wayne,  in  this  state.  Captain  Patten 
built  a  commodious  and  stately  home  on  Washington  street,  where 
he  died  January  12,  1882.  He  left  a  son  and  daughter:  John  (). 
Patten;  Clara  M.  Patten,  married  Richard  E.  Goodwin,  of  Augusta, 
February  10,  1887,  and  has  one  daughter. 

Frederic  H.  Patten,  the  younger  son  of  James  F.  Patten,  was 
born  in  Bath,  May  13,  1838,  where  he  obtained  such  education  as 
was  afforded  by  the  schools  of  his  native  place.  When  entering 
upon  the  business  of  life,  he  went  to  New  York  City  and  engaged  in 
the  shipping  business.  Upon  the  decease  of  his  father  in  1883,  who 
left  him  a  large  property,  he  returned  to  Bath  where  he  remained 
during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  attending  to  the  business  of  his 
estate.  On  April  26,  1883,  he  married  Miss  Clara  Allan  Kendrick 
of  Bath,  who  was  a  devoted  wife  till  his  death,  July  23,  1889. 

Mr.  Patten  was  a  quiet,  unassuming  gentleman,  of  striking  personal 
appearance  and  genial  manners,  whose  departure  in  the  prime  of 
life  has  been  greatly  missed  by  his  numerous  friends  and  acquain- 
tances. 

John  Owen  Patten  was  born  in  Bath,  April  20,  1 86 1,  and  his 
parents  are  Gilbert  E.  R.  Patten  and  Emma  M.  (Owen)  Patten. 
He  acquired  his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city,  after- 
wards taking  a  special  course  at  Johns  Hopkins  University,  Balti- 
more, Md.  He  went  to  Boston,  secured  a  position  on  the  repor- 
torial  staff  of  the  Boston  Post  in   1884,  and  subsequently  purchased 


HISTORY    OF  BATH.  345 

an  interest  in  the  paper,  of  which  he  was  afterwards  managing 
editor.  He  subsequently  severed  his  connection  with  the  Post 
and  became  executor  of  his  grandfather's  large  estate  (Captain 
John  Patten),  in  connection  with  his  brother-in-law,  Richard  E. 
Goodwin. 

On  February  23,  1886,  Mr.  Patten  married  Miss  Lucy  W.  Larrabee, 
daughter  of  Mr.  Charles  W.  Larrabee,  attorney-at-law,  in  Bath, 
moved  to  Boston  to  reside,  and  later  returned  to  Bath. 

Mr.  Patten  has  been  a  somewhat  extensive  traveler,  having  doub- 
led Cape  Horn  and  made  a  sailing  voyage  to  Madeira  and  England 
with  his  wife.  In  1887-8  they  made  a  trip  around  the  world,  visiting 
many  countries  in  Europe,  as  well  as  Turkey,  Greece,  Syria,  Pales- 
tine, Egypt,  India,  Ceylon,  Java,  China,  Japan,  and  California,  and 
in  1892-3  passed  a  winter  in  Spain  in  the  study  of  the  Spanish  lan- 
guage. Mr.  Patten  has  never  lost  his  liking  for  journalism,  and 
has  lately  become  owner  and  editor  of  the  Daily  Times  of  his  native 
city,  which  he  has  considerably  improved,  both  as  to  circulation  and 
influence.  Mr.  Patten  is  president  of  the  Bath  branch  of  the 
Sagadahoc  Loan  and  Trust  Company,  and  a  director  of  the  Bath 
National  Hank. 

The  Pattens  have  collectively  and  individually  built  from  18 19 
to  1875,  thirty-eight  ships,  four  barks,  three  brigs,  two  steam 
vessels,  and  one  schooner. 

The  Houghton  Family. — The  Houghtonsof  Milton  and  Bolton, 
Mass.,  trace  their  family  line  back  to  the  Hoghtons  in  Lancashire, 
England,  the  founder  of  the  family  having  come  to  England  with 
William  the  Conqueror,  and  having  been  assigned  large  estates  in 
Lancashire  as  a  reward  for  his  military  services.  The  family  was  an 
active  one,  taking  part  in  public  affairs  and  the  civil  wars. 

The  branch  of  the  family  in  Massachusetts,  from  which  the 
Houghtons  of  Bath  are  descended,  was  founded  by  Ralph  Houghton. 
The  legal  proof  of  Ralph's  parentage  does  not  now  exist,  owing  in 
part  to  the  fact  that  Ralph,  having  been  chosen  clerk  of  his  town  in 
Massachusetts,  was  attacked  by  Indians  and  his  office  and  all  of  its 
records  were  burned.    He  came  to  America  for  the  purpose  of  enjoy- 


346  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

ing  in  freedom  his  religious  and  political  opinions.  He  had  fought 
under  Cromwell  against  Charles  I.  He  landed  at  Charlestown,  Mass., 
some  time  between  the  years  1635  and  1647.  In  1647,  he  and  nine 
others  founded  the  town  of  Lancaster,  Mass.  In  1682,  he  settled 
at  Milton,  and  after  a  brief  residence  meanwhile  at  Lancaster,  he 
built  at  Milton  in  1689  or  1690  the  old  Houghton  homestead,  which 
has  ever  since  been  occupied  by  his  descendants. 

LeYi  Honghton  came  from  Boston  to  Bath  in  the  schooner 
Sophronia,  Capt.  William  Hayden,  father  of  John  Hayden,  in  1802. 
He  went  into  business  in  the  northeast  corner  of  a  building  located 
about  fifty  rods  southwest  from  Davis1,  now  Houghton  Brothers', 
wharf.  His  stock  in  trade  did  not  amount  to  over  two  hundred 
dollars,  the  chief  portion  of  which  consisted  of  ladies'  and  children's 
shoes. 

He  early  commenced  taking  an  interest  in  vessels.  The  first 
vessel  in  which  he  invested  was  the  brig  Betsey,  which  went  out  on 
a  voyage  to  the  West  Indies  and  was  lost.  When  Samuel  Davis 
failed,  in  1808,  Mr.  Houghton  purchased  his  property  and  went 
largely  into  the  grocery  business,  supplying  vessels  during  the  war  of 
18 1 2  and  later.  In  1820  he  began  building  ships  on  his  own  account, 
which  he  continued  until  far  advanced  in  age,  when  he  relinquished 
his  business  to  his  sons.  His  vessels  were  all  built  at  the  foot  of 
South  street.  He  managed  his  own.  vessels.  He  eventually  relin- 
quished keeping  store,  but  retained  trade  in  salt,  wholesale  and 
retail,  his  ships  bringing  in  yearly  cargoes  from  Cadiz  and  Liverpool 
on  their  return  voyages  from  Europe. 

Mr.  Houghton  was  a  member  of  the  Central  Church  for  many 
years  and  one  of  its  deacons. 

Levi  Houghton  was  the  son  of  Jonas  and  Lucy  Houghton,  and 
was  born  in  Bolton,  Mass.,  September  3,  1783.  He  married  Char- 
lotte Reed,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  Reed,  in  Bolton,  Novem- 
ber 3,  1813.  She  was  born  May  29,  1793;  her  father  was  born 
February  13,  1756;  her  mother  was  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and 
Abagail  Clark,  and  was  born  July  15,  1760. 

The  successors  to  the  business  of  Dea.  Levi  Houghton  were  his 
sons,  Levi  Warren,  Silas  Amory,  John  Reed,  and  Henry  L.  Hough- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  347 

ton.  At  a  later  date  Amory  died.  The  same  line  of  building  ships 
and  dealing  in  salt  has  been  pursued  by  them  as  was  that  of  their 
father,  and  with  the  like  success.  Outside  of  this  they  make  no 
speculative  ventures,  and  are  largely  interested  in  banks  in  the  city, 
especially  so  in  the  Lincoln  Bank,  the  oldest  institution  of  the  kind 
in  Bath,  and  of  which  L.  W.  Houghton  has  been  on  the  board  of 
directors  many  years,  as  also  one  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the 
Bath  Savings  Institution.  They  are  citizens  who  are  notable  for 
attention  to  their  own  business,  and  whose  word  is  as  good  as  their 
signatures.  Levi  Houghton  and  Houghton  Brothers  have  built 
thirty-six  ships,  three  barks,  and  four  brigs. 

James  McLellan,  long  identified  with  the  business  interests 
of  Bath,  was  born  in  Gorham,  May  7,  1777,  and  died  in  Bath, 
October  26,  1854,  at  the  age  of  77  years.  His  father  was  Capt. 
Alexander  McLellan,  who  led  a  company  to  the  siege  of  Biguyduce 
during  the  Revolutionary  War  in  1779.  His  son  James  commenced 
life  a  house  carpenter  at  Monmouth,  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine 
settled  at  Bath,  in  1806,  established  a  mercantile  business,  first 
under  Music  Hall,  and  afterwards  at  the  foot  of  Summer  street, 
near  which  was  his  ship-yard.  He  had  Gen.  Dwelly  Turner  for 
partner  until  his  death  in  1827,  and  afterwards  his  son,  J.  H. 
McLellan,  keeping  a  store  and  building  vessels  for  the  West  India 
trade  on  their  own  account. 

In  his  political  life  he  was  a  staunch  Democrat,  and  though  never 
seeking  office  was  one  of  the  electors  for  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  during  the  War  of  18 12;  was  a  member 
of  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives  in  18 16  and  18 17, 
and  later  was  a  member  of  the  Executive  Council.  Entering  the 
military  service,  he  became  Captain  of  a  Bath  company,  from  which 
he  rose  to  Major,  and  through  all  the  regimental  grades  to  that 
of  Major-General  in  1822,  always  an  active  and  distinguished 
officer. 

In  religious  matters  he  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  denomination 
and  was  conspicuous  as  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Wesley  Church, 
of  which  he  was  a  life-long  member. 


348  HISTORY  OF    BATH. 

His  house,  at  the  top  of  the  "  hill "  on  Washington  street,  was 
ever  the  home  of  generous  hospitality,  clergymen  finding  always  a 
hearty  welcome,  one  of  whom  married  his  eldest  daughter. 

Prior  to  his  coming  to  Bath  to  reside  he  married  Lydia  Osgood, 
at  Hallowell,  in  1799,  and  their  children  were:  Harriet  £.  (Mrs. 
Husted),  J.  H.  McLellan,  Mary  O.  (Mrs.  Robinson),  Lydia  (Mrs. 
Hawkes),  Charles,  Samuel,  Caroline  (Mrs.  Dr.  Rogers),  Sarah  B. 
(Mrs.  Snow),  Louisa  H.  (Mrs.  E.  K.  Harding),  Adaline  D.  (Mrs.  J.  H. 
Allen,  afterwards  Mrs.  Roberts),  and  Rufus.  The  mother  of  these 
children  was  notable  for  her  traits  of  womanly  character,  and  was 
an  enthusiastic  member  of  the  Methodist  denomination. 

General  McLellan  had  the  reputation  of  a  man  of  strict  integrity, 
active  in  business,  and  was  one  of  the  old-time  merchants  and 
prominent  characters  of  Bath.  He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary 
energy  and  persistency,  —  a  model  specimen  of  the  Anglo-Saxon 
Yankee  character,  —  and  through  all  the  revulsions  of  commerce 
and  trade  for  forty-six  years  maintained  his  credit.  He  built  and 
owned,  during  the  time  he  continued  in  active  business,  more  than 
twenty-five  ships  and  brigs,  and,  by  his  enterprise  and  example,  was 
instrumental  in  doing  much  for  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  city. 

The  Moody  Family. — Joshua  Moody,  son  of  William  Moody, 
one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Newbury,  Mass.,  was  born  in  England 
in  the  year  1633,  about  one  year  before  his  father  came  to  this 
country.  As  he  was  prepared  for  admission  to  college  by  the  Rev. 
Thomas  Parker,  he  was  undoubtedly  well  fitted  to  enter  college, 
having  enjoyed  the  instruction  of  this  eminent,  classical  scholar. 
Mr.  Moody  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1653;  after  which  he 
commenced  the  study  of  Divinity,  and  very  early  began  to  preach. 
He  had,  before  leaving  Cambridge,  made  a  public  profession  of 
religion,  and  joined  the  church  in  that  town. 

Mr.  Moody  commenced  his  ministerial  labors  in  Portsmouth,  N. 
H.,  early  in  1658,  at  which  place  he  laid  the  foundation,  and  event- 
ually gathered  the  first  Congregational  church  in  that  town.  In 
1660,  the  town  passed  a  vote  for  his  establishment  in  the  pastoral 
office,  yet  for  some  reason  he  was  not  ordained  until  167 1,  at  which 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  349 

time  the  first  church  was  gathered.  As  a  minister,  Mr.  Moody  was 
zealous  and  faithful.  The  church  flourished  under  his  pastoral  care, 
and  he  was  distinguished  by  his  independent  and  faithful  preaching. 

The  Governor  of  the  Province  suspected  that  the  general  influence 
of  Mr.  Moody  was  the  chief  obstacle  for  the  accomplishment  of  his 
own  plans  of  self-aggrandizement.  He  accordingly  determined  to 
drive  Mr.  Modoy  out  of  town  by  a  series  of  persecutions,  which 
culminated  in  1684  in  getting  him  into  prison,  by  the  perjury  of  a 
witness,  but  he  was  soon  after  released. 

After  this  persecution  he  went  to  Boston,  May  3,  1684.  The 
First  Church  made  an  arrangement  for  him  to  co-operate  with  Rev. 
Mr.  Allen  as  assistant  preacher.  He  was  highly  esteemed  there, 
as  a  man,  a  scholar,  and  a  theologian.  Upon  the  death  of  Presi- 
dent Rogers,  July  2,  1684,  he  was  elected  President  of  Harvard 
College,  which  position  he  declined.  His  usefulness  was  seriously 
abridged  by  the  anathemas  which  his  manly  resistance  to  the  witch- 
craft delusion  drew  upon  him.  It  was  chiefly  by  his  moral  courage 
that  a  gentleman  and  his  wife,  who  had  been  lodged  in  jail  in  Boston, 
were  saved  from  the  cruel  doom  which  the  laws  awarded  to  persons 
suspected  of  witchcraft. 

At  length  by  the  earnest  entreaties  of  his  former  congregation  he 
returned  to  Portsmouth,  in  1692,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  days  with  his  affectionate  people.  He  died  on  the  Sabbath  of 
July  4,  1697,  in  the  65th  year  of  his  age.  Dr.  Cotton  Mather 
preached  his  funeral  sermon.  The  ninety-third  volume  of  his  man- 
uscript sermons  is  in  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 

For  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  brick  building  at  Harvard  College, 
in  1689,  Mr.  Moody,  by  his  exertions  at  Portsmouth,  aided  in  obtain- 
ing the  desired  subscription  for  that  object  of  £Go  per  annum,  for 
seven  years. 

Rev.  Samuel  Moody,  son  of  Rev.  Joshua  Moody,  was  a  graduate 
of  Harvard  College,  in  1689,  and  was  for  several  years  a  preacher 
at  New  Castle,  N.  H.  After  a  few  years  he  laid  aside  his  calling* 
and  assumed  that  of  a  military  commander  with  the  rank  of  Major. 
He  took  command  of  a  body  of  men  in  an  expedition  against  the 
Indians,  and  frequently  held  a  "talk"  with  them  upon  matters  in  dis- 


35°  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

pute.  Mr.  Moody  eventually  located  himself  with  the  new  settlers 
at  Falmouth,  and  has  always  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  principal 
persons  who  assisted  in  building  up  that  colony.  Mr.  Moody  was 
at  the  head  of  the  committee  who  invited  Rev.  Thomas  Smith  to 
settle  in  the  town.  Maj.  Samuel  Moody  may  justly  be  called 
the  leader  of  the  little  colony  at  Falmouth.  In  1705  he  had  the 
command  of  forty  men  stationed  at  St.  John's  fort,  Newfoundland. 
In  1709,  he  commanded  the  fort  at  Casco.  While  here,  he  had 
some  correspondence  with  Father  Ralle,  the  French  missionary  at 
Norridgewock.  He  became  the  organ  of  communication,  repeatedly, 
during  the  war  between  the  Indians  and  our  government. 

Maj.  Samuel  Moody  had  two  sons.  Joshua,  the  eldest,  was  grad- 
uated at  Harvard  College  in  1715  ;  Samuel  his  second  son,  was  born 
at  New  Castle,  N.  H.,  October  29,  1699,  and  graduated  from  the  same 
college,  in  1718;  studied  medicine,  and  was  a  surgeon  in  the  army 
of  1722.  He  afterwards  received  a  military  appointment,  and  died  at 
Brunswick,  Me.,  while  commanding  officer  at  Fort  George,  Sept  22, 
1758,  having  nearly  completed  his  59th  year,  and  is  buried  in  the 
ancient  cemetery  at  Brunswick. 

While  Dr.  Moody  was  in  command  of  the  fort  his  sister's  family, 
(Mrs.  Esther  Wheelwright),  resided  in  the  fort  for  safety.  She  had 
two  small  children,  a  boy  and  girl.  They  were  sent  out  to  school 
every  day,  a  servant  accompanying  them  to  and  from  school.  On 
one  occasion,  by  some  mistake,  the  man  neglected  to  call,  for  them. 
On  their  return  alone,  they  were  stolen  by  Indians,  carried  to  Can- 
ada and  by  them  sold  to  the  French.  The  girl  was  placed  in  a  nun- 
nery. She  became  the  "Lady  Abbess."  After  many  years  her 
friends  learned  where  she  was,  and  endeavored  to  induce  her  to  return 
to  them,  but  she  preferred  to  remain  in  the  nunnery.  She  frequently 
communicated  with  her  relatives,  sending  them  little  souvenirs, 
and  also  her  portrait,  an  oil  painting,  which  is  in  the  possession 
of  one  of  the  Moody  descendants. 

Samuel  Moody  of  Portland,  son  of  Dr.  Samuel  Moody,  was  a 
commissioned  officer  in  the  army  at  the  time  the  English  Frigates 
came  into  Casco  Bay,  with  the  intention  of  burning  the  town  of 
Portland.     Mr.  Moody,  being  a  Free  Mason,  was  granted  the  priv- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  35 1 

ilcge  of  removing  his  furniture  in  a  small  vessel  that  he  owned.  In 
the  haste  and  excitement  of  the  moment,  a  feather  bed  was  rolled 
up  where  the  youngest  child,  a  babe,  was  sleeping;  it  was  not  dis- 
covered until  it  was  placed  on  board  the  vessel.  When  the  child 
was  found,  it  was  nearly  suffocated  but  it  revived,  and  lived  to  a 
good  old  age.  Mr.  Moody  removed  his  family  to  Mere  Point,  a  por- 
tion of  the  town  of  Harpswell,  where  they  resided  for  several  years. 
Members  of  the  family  now  have,  in  their  possession,  a  few  chairs 
that  belonged  to  their  grandfatiicr,  which  were  purchased  for  him 
in  l^ndon,  and  were  among  the  furniture  that  was  removed  in  . 
the  little  vessel  from  Portland  to  Mere  Point.  After  a  number  of 
years,  Mr.  Saiiuel  Moody  removed  from  Mere  Point  to  Bath,  where 
several  of  his  descendants  continue  to  reside.  Many  of  them  were 
graduates  of  Harvard  College  —  became  men  of  eminence — clergy- 
men of  note,  and  attained  honorable  success  in  their  various  pursuits 
of  life.  In  the  early  history  of  Bath,  those  of  the  Moody  family 
have  been  conspicuous  in  the  many  and  different  relations  of 
society.  In  the  formation  of  the  first  orthodox  church  in  1797,  the 
"Old  North,"  there  are  enrolled  on  the  list  of  members  several  of  the 
Moody  family.  All  accounts  of  the  family  agree  that  the  name 
is  a  synonym  of  traits  of  character  of  the  best  and  highest  type, 
straightforward,  outspoken,  of  marked  ability  and  generous  impulses. 

John  Minot  Moody,  son  of  Samuel  Moody,  and  father  of  the  pres- 
ent generation,  commenced  ship-building,  with  his  brother  Samuel, 
at  an  early  day  in  Bath,  which  was  at  that  period  considered  a  large 
business.  Their  vessels  were  engaged  in  foreign  trade.  The  first 
vessel  built  by  the  Moodys,  was  the  schooner  Fair  Lady;  several 
followed  in  succession,  among  them,  the  brig  Amity,  and  top-sailed 
schooners,  not  a  few.  The  schooner  Marcus  was  commanded  by 
Samuel  Moody,  Jr.  She  sailed  from  Bath,  March  17,  1798,  for 
Barbndoes,  with  a  cargo  of  lumber  and  fish.  On  the  5th  of  May, 
he  fell  in  with  two  French  Privateers,  which  captured  his  vessel, 
plundering  her,  and  placing  on  board  a  prize  master  and  five  men, 
permitting  Captain  Moody  and  one  of  his  crew  to  remain  on  his 
vessel,  and  ordered  her  steered  for  Cayenne.  On  the  18th  of 
May,  Captain  Moody  managed  to  get  the  Privateer  men  into  the 


352  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 

cabin,  locked,  and  securely  fastened  them  there,  supplying  them 
with  food,  by  lowering  it  from  the  stern,  to  be  taken  in  at  the  cabin 
windows.  Upon  resuming  command  of  his  vessel,  he  sailed  for 
Barbadoes,  arriving  there  in  six  days,  and  sold  his  cargo.  On  the 
23d  of  June  he  sailed  with  his  return  cargo  for  Bath.  The  first  of 
July  he  again  encountered  a  French  Privateer,  which  captured  him, 
taking  from  the  vessel  much  that  was  valuable,  and  placing  on  board 
fourteen  American  seamen,  their  prisoners ;  directed  Captain  Moody 
to  sail  for  the  United  States,  which  he  did,  arriving  at  Norfolk  about 
the  middle  of  July.  For  a  period  of  years,  when  France  was  at 
war  with  several  nations,  the  ocean  was  infested  with  piratical 
vessels,  and  Captain  Moody  was  particularly  unfortunate,  in  being, 
for  the  third  time,  captured  by  another  of  those  French  Privateers. 
He  had  sailed  on  the  nth  of  May,  1799,  from  the  Island  of  Jamica, 
for  Bath,  with  a  valuable  cargo;  after  being  out  only  six  days  was 
taken,  a  prize-master  and  three  men  placed  on  board  his  vessel, 
taking  all  hands  from  the  Marcus,  excepting  the  Captain,  ordering 
him  to  steer  for  the  port  of  Campache,  where  they  arrived  on  the  23d 
of  the  same  month.  The  Captain  was  robbed  of  all  his  effects  and 
left  destitute,  to  take  care  of  himself  as  best  he  could.  The  Span- 
ish government  took  possession  of  the  vessel  and  cargo,  appropri- 
ating the  proceeds  to  their  own  benefit.  The  ship-yard  of  Messrs. 
Moody  was  just  north  of  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Charles  E. 
Moody,  which  is  the  original  homestead  of  his  father ;  now  remod- 
eled and  enlarged,  with  all  modern  improvements  added.  It  has  the 
most  attractive  surroundings  of  any  home  in  Bath.  When  the  last 
war  with  England  commenced,  the  Messrs.  Moody  had  two  of  their 
vessels  laden  with  lumber  lying  at  their  wharf.  When  the  river 
became  blockaded  with  English  men-of-war,  and  Bath  apparently  in 
danger,  their  vessels  were  scuttled,  and  remained  sunken  with  their 
cargo  until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  they  were  raised,  and  sent 
with  their  cargoes  to  Havanna,  where  the  lumber  was  sold  at  a  very 
high  price,  although  a  portion  of  it  had  become  decayed.  The  ves- 
sels on  their  return  brought  sugar  to  Boston,  where  it  sold  at  profitable 
prices. 

Mr.  John  M.  Moody,  although  much  engaged,  and  interested  in 


«►♦ 


HISTORY   OP   BATH.  353 

shipping  and  mercantile  pursuits,  was  also  equally  interested  in  the 
affairs  of  his  town  and  state,  and  occupied  several  offices  of  trust 
and  importance ;  was  Captain  of  the  Militia,  and  Representative  to 
the  State  Legislature. 

Charles  E.  Moody,  son  of  John  Minot  Moody,  was  born  in  the 
ancestral  home  in  Bath,  and  at  an  early  age  went  to  Boston  to  com- 
mence his  business  life,  where  with  no  capital  but  native  ability, 
energy,  and  persevering  industry,  with  a  firm  and  fixed  principle  of 
dealing  fairly  and  honestly  with  all  men,  his  career  was  attended 
with  mirked  success,  chiefly  in  the  wholesale  grocery  business. 
Having  inherited  a  love  for  shipping,  he  had,  in  consequence,  been 
accustomed  to  invest  in  some  of  the  large  ships  built  in  Bath; 
had  some  vessels  built  solely  for  himself;  was  a  member  of  the 
New  England  Ship-building  Company  of  this  city,  in  which  he 
invested  a  large  amount  of  money  without  profit  to  himself. 
Although  having  spent  the  larger  portion  of  his  life  in  Boston, 
Mr.  Moody  ever  retained  a  warm  interest  in  the  city  of  his 
birth,  had  of  late  years  made  it  his  legal  residence,  and  had  ever 
been  liberal  in  aid  of  its  business  and  public  improvements,  con- 
tributing liberally  to  the  Winter  Street  Society  and  also  to  the  build- 
ing of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  edifice  in  1892. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  American  Shipping  and  Industrial 
League,  the  Home  Market  Club,  the  Pine  Tree  State  Clnb,  the 
Commercial  Club,  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  the  Wholesale 
Grocers'  Association,  and  was  a  director  of  several  corporations. 

Through  his  efforts  in  the  direction  of  practical  legislation  in  the 
vital  matter  of  pure  food  and  medicine,  a  question  far-reaching  and 
lasting  in  effects,  Mr.  Moody  crowned  a  career  that  has  proved 
alike  useful  and  honorable.  He  was  father  of  the  important  bill 
that  provided  for  this  object,  and  his  unceasing  efforts  secured  its 
passage  through  the  Massachusetts  Legislature. 

Mr.  Moody  died  October  29,  1893,  leaving  two  sisters,  the  only 
surviving  members  of  the  family. 

The  Page  Family  are  descended  from  John  Page,  who,  with 
his  wife  Phebe,  came  from  Dedham,  England,  with  Governor  Win- 


354  HISTORY    OP   BATH. 

throp,  in  1630.  He  settled  in  Dedham,  Mass.,  and  was  admitted 
in  1631.  He  died  in  1676,  aged  96.  Joshua  Page,  descendant  of 
John  Page,  was  born  in  Atkinson,  N.  H.,  July  1,  1782,  and  the  old 
homestead  there,  on  the  land  originally  granted  to  the  family,  is  still 
occupied  by  members  of  the  Page  family. 

Joshua  Page  was  the  youngest  of  ten  children.  He  fitted  for  Har- 
vard College,  but  gave  up  his  plans  for  a  college  education  and  came 
to  Bath  in  1805.  Here  he  made  his  home  at  the  Mansion  House, 
which  was  kept  by  Capt.  Joseph  Stockbridge,  and,  in  18 16,  married 
Captain  Stockbridge's  daughter  Keziah.  They  resided  at  the  Man- 
sion House  for  several  years  and  then  removed  to  the  house  on  the 
corner  of  High  and  Academy  streets  where  the  family  still  resides. 
Mr.  Page  taught  for  many  years  in  the  old  Erudition  School-house 
on  High  street,  and  died  January  27,  1861.  The  following  article 
was  published  in  a  Bath  paper  soon  after  his  death  : 

"Joshua  Page. — The  columns  of  this  paper  have  already  recorded 
the  decease  of  this  esteemed  and  venerable  citizen.  Fie  was  born 
in  Atkinson,  N.  H.,  July  1,  1782,  of  a  family,  as  his  own  character 
gave  good  evidence,  that  inherited  the  true  Puritan  blood  and  train- 
ing, and  removed  to  this  place  while  he  was  yet  a  young  man.  Many 
of  our  citizens — some  of  whom  are  considerably  advanced  in  life  — 
remember  him  well  as  their  faithful  teacher  in  the  rudiments  of  use- 
ful learning.  For  thirty-two  years  he  occupied,  in  this  place,  the 
honorable  post  of  an  instructor  of  youth.  We  have  had  no  one  who 
has  stood  here  in  the  same  capacity  so  long.  He  has  Tilled  other 
responsible  positions,  and  when  he  resigned  or  completed  his  trusts, 
so  far  as  is  known,  he  has  always  merited  the  plaudit,  'Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servant.' 

"  He  was  a  man  of  great  probity  and  single-hearted  devotion  to 
doing  exactly  right.  Attentive  to  his  business,  quiet  and  retiring, 
remarkably  reserved  in  communicating  his  personal  feelings,  never 
disposed  to  thrust  himself  into  public  notice,  yet  his  eye  keenly 
observed  whatever  was  passing  His  judgment  was  sound,  and  the 
case  must  be  rare  indeed  in  which,  when  his  opinion  was  finally 
formed,  and  his  stand  fairly  taken,  he  could  be  pronounced  to  be  in 
the  wrong, 


HISTORY   OP   BATH.  355 

"Those  who  had  not  penetrated  through  his  habitual  reserve  could 
hardly  have  suspected  how  warm  and  affectionate  and  gentle  a  spirit 
he  possessed.  In  his  own  family  and  in  the  immediate  circle  of  his 
friends,  these  traits  of  character,  added  to  those  others  of  which  the 
public  also  had  some  knowledge,  made  him  to  be  prized  as  only 
something  less  than  perfect." 

Capt.  Joseph  Stockbridge,  the  father  of  Mrs.  Joshua  Page,  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Revolution  and  one  of  Lafayette's  light  infantry  in 
1780,  when  he  was  about  twenty  years  of  age.  Forty-four  years 
later,  when  Lafayette  re-visited  this  country  in  1824,  Captain  Stock- 
bridge  went  to  Portland  to  see  him.  When  Lafayette  saw  the  old 
soldier  he  recognized  him,  threw  his  arms  about  his  neck  and  kissed 
him.  Captain  Stockbridge  often,  in  after  years,  told  the  story  of 
this  meeting  to  his  children  and  grandchildren. 

"In  this  town,  on  Sunday,  the  9th  instant,  Capt.  Joseph  Stock- 
bridge,  in  the  76th  year  of  his  age.  Captain  Stockbridge  was  a 
soldier  of  the  Revolution.  He  entered  the  army  in  the  winter  of 
1776,  was  at  Dorchester  Heights  when  the  British  evacuated  Boston, 
was  at  the  battle  and  retreat  from  Long  Island,  at  Bemis  Heights, 
and  the  capture  of  Burgoyne  in  1777,  at  Monmouth  in  June,  1778, 
at  the  storming  of  Stony  Point  under  General  Wayne  in  1779, 
wintered  at  Valley  Forge,  was  one  of  General  Lafayette's  light 
infantry  in  1780,  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis,  and  one  of  the 
forlorn  hope  that  stormed  a  British  redoubt  under  Lafayette  at  the 
siege.  Few  men  among  us  were  better  informed  on  the  subject  of 
the  history  of  our  country. 

"  Dignified  in  his  manners,  honest  in  his  intercourse  with  others, 
brave  and  decided  in  his  course  of  acting  and  thinking,  he  was  an 
example  of  moral  firmness  that  claimed  the  respect  and  love  of  all 
with  whom  he  was  associated." — Bath  Paper. 

Albert  Gallatin  Page  was  born  in  Bath,  June  10,  18 17.  He 
attended  the  schools  here  and  later  was  sent  to  the  academy  at 
Limerick.  When  fifteen  years  old  he  went  to  sea  for  a  year  with 
Capt.  John  Barker.  Upon  his  return  he  went  to  Ohio,  where  for 
two  years  he  was  engaged  in  business.     As  the  western  climate  did 


35^  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

not  agree  with  him,  he  returned  to  Bath  and  entered  the  grocery 
business,  for  many  years  occupying  the  store  on  Front  street  oppo- 
site the  Columbian  House.  After  this  he  had  an  office  on  Front 
street  and  entered  into  the  insurance  and  real  estate  business. 

He  was  quite  largely  interested  in  shipping  and  all  public  affairs, 
and  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  city  government.  He  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Bath  National  Bank,  one  of  the  first  directors 
and  afterward  president  of  the  Bank.  He  was  ever  interested  in 
the  history  of  the  surrounding  country,  and  for  several  years  presi- 
dent of  the  Sagadahoc  Historical  Society. 

He  married  Maria  L.  Drummond,  daughter  of  Col.  Alexander 
Drummond  of  Bangor.  Their  children  are :  Maria,  Albert  G.  (mer- 
chant in  Buth),  William  D.,  Mary  D.,  Frank  E.  (lawyer  in  Chicago), 
Fred  (jeweler),  and  Carrie  R.  D.  Page.    Mr.  Page  died  Jan.  15,  1889. 

William  Drummond  Page,  second  son  of  Albert  G.  Page,  was  born 
in  Bath,  where  he  went  through  the  city  graded  schools,  graduating 
from  the  High  School  in  187 1 ;  entered  Yale  College,  from  which  he 
graduated  in  the  class  of  1875 ;  took  a  course  in  the  Columbia  Law 
School  in  New  York,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  New  York  in 
1878.  During  the  time  he  was  studying  law  he  worked  for  city 
papers  in  the  capacity  of  reporter,  for  financial  aid,  working  nights 
and  studying  law  days.  In  this  employment  he  made  himself  so 
successful  that  he  was  invited  by  leading  newspaper  managers  to 
make  journalism  his  profession,  but  that  complimentary  appreciation 
did  not  induce  him  to  forego  the  pursuit  of  the  profession  he  had 
chosen.  In  1878  he  opened  a  law  office  in  the  city  and  continued 
in  practice,  with  merited  success,  until  his  death. 

Having  established  himself  in  an  increasing  business  he  married, 
October  31,  1882,  Miss  Helen  Jesup  Grinnell,  a  daughter  of  George 
B.  Grinnell,  who  is  one  of  the  distinguished  family  of  that  name 
known  as  successful  merchants  and  prominent  citizens  of  New  York 
city.  Their  residence  is  at  Audubon  Park  and  their  children  are 
Laura,  Frank,  Rutherford,  Sylvia,  and  Donald. 

Mr.  Page  was  a  popular  citizen  and  honorable  lawyer,  ranking 
with  the  able  attorneys  of  this  metropolis.  Mr.  Page  died  in  New 
York  in  September,  1893. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  357 

The  Harnden  Family, — Capt.  Samuel  Harnden,  of  Wilming- 
ton, Mass.,  came  to  Nequasset,  now  Woolwich,  about  1737.  He 
was  one  of  the  Andover  proprietors.  -  He  settled  and  had  a  garrison 
on  what  was  called  Burying  Point,  now  Days  Ferry.  He  married 
Mary  Preble.  They  had  eight  children;  and  he  died  July  9,  1768. 
His  son,  Capt.  Samuel  Harnden,  Jr.,  called  "Brigadier,"  was  born  in 
Boston,  Mass.,  August  28,  1751. 

By  enactment  of  Massachusetts  Legislature,  General  Harnden 
was  empowered  to  call  a  meeting  "for  incorporating  the  Second 
Parish  in  Georgetown,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln,  into  a  separate 
town  by  the  name  of  Bath,"  and  "  March  19,  1781,  Samuel  Harnden, 
of  Woolwich,  presided  at  Bath's  first  town-meeting. 

Gen.  Samuel  Harnden's  life  is  of  historical  character.  He  lived 
in  Indian  times  and  their  warfares,  becoming  a  military  man  of 
some  distinction,  to  whom  was  given  the  title  of  "Indian  fighter." 
The  Indians  made  several  different  attacks  upon  his  fort,  but  were 
successfully  repulsed.  At  the  time  of  the  "Preble  massacre,"  in 
1758,  the  Indians  attacked  the  fort  and  were  repulsed,  but  a  grand- 
daughter of  the  General,  who  happened  to  be  outside  of  the  fort  at 
the  time,  was  captured  by  the  savages  and  was  carried  with  the 
Preble  children  to  Canada,  but  subsequently  was  brought  back  by 
General  Harnden,  together  with  the  Preble  captives.  The  sister  of 
Gen.  Samuel  Harnden,  Sr.,  mirried  the  Captain  Preble  in  command 
at  the  Preble  garrison  house  in  1758.  General  Harnden  was  an 
extensive  landed  proprietor,  the  establisher  of  Harnden's  ferry,  was 
of  stalwart  stature,  commanding  mein,  and  a  trusted  leader  in  the 
community  where  he  lived.  He  was  twice  married,  and  died  May 
21,  1808,  aged  77  years. 

Lemuel  White  Harnden,  a  grandson  of  Capt.  Samuel  Harnden, 
married  Elizabeth  Grace  McKown,  daughter  of  Capt.  Robert 
McKown  of  Bath.  They  settled  on  one  of  the  family  homesteads 
in  East  Woolwich,  where  six  children  were  born  to  them :  Richard, 
Alice  Sophia  Tallman,  Robert- McKown,  William  Abner,  Lucy  Jane, 
and  George  Lemuel.  Capt.  William  A.  Harnden,  one  of  his  children, 
was  in  command  of  a  Bath  ship  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and 
settled  in  Bath,  on  High  street,  in  the  house  now  occupied  by  his 


358  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

daughter,  Mrs.  Charles  D.  Clarke.  He  followed  the  sea  up  to  the 
time  of  his  early  death  at  38  years  of  age,  and  had  the  good  fortune, 
during  all  the  years  of  his  command  as  ship-master,  never  to  have 
met  with  a  serious  accident.  Robert  McKown  Harnden  settled  on 
the  family  homestead  in  Woolwich,  where  he  still  resides;  the 
original  house,  however,  having  been  destroyed  by  fire. 

Freeman  Clark  was  born  in  Conway,  Mass.,  May  23,  1795,  and 
removed  to  Bath,  Me.,  in  1807,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  May 
17,  1867.  He  was  senior  partner  of  the  well-known  ship-building 
firm  of  Clark  &  Sewall,  and  was  president  of  the  Bath  National  Bank 
for  several  years.  He  was  three  times  married :  first,  to  Frances 
Lincoln,  of  Leominster,  Mass.;  second,  to  Nancy  Stevens,  of  Port- 
land, Me. ;  third,  to  Miss  Sarah  G.  Hyde,  of  Bath.  He  had  two 
children  by  his  first  wife:  Henry  Scotto,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Frances  Lincoln,  afterwards  Mrs.  Whiting  Griswold,  of  Greenfield, 
Mass.,  now  deceased.  He  had  one  child  by  his  second  marriage, 
Agnes  Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  S.  Smith,  of  Bangor;  and  one  by 
his  third  wife,  Augusta  Hyde,  who  died  in  infancy.  He  purchased 
a  house  of  Jonathan  Hyde,  on  South  street,  and  lived  in  it  during  his 
life.  Mr.  Clark  was  one  of  the  prominent  and  wealthy  men  of  Bath,  a 
ship-builder  and  a  merchant,  keeping  a  general  store.  In  connection 
with  William  D.  Sewall  he  put  a  large  fleet  on  the  water.  Thomas 
M.  Reed  built  largely  and  constantly  with  the  firm.  It  was  they  who 
built  the  ship  Rappahannock  in  184 1,  the  largest  merchant  ship  then 
afloat,  though  only  a  little  more  than  1,100  tons.  Her  appearance 
on  the  Kennebec,  in  New  York  and  New  Orleans,  was  a  sensation, 
receptions  being  held  on  board  of  her  at  all  these  places. 

Captain  John  C.  Clark  was  born  in  England,  lived  in  Boston 
during  the  Revolutionary  War,  was  one  of  the  "Indians"  who  threw 
the  tea  overboard;  coming  to  Bath  soon  after  that  event  he  became 
a  wealthy  and  prominent  citizen.  The  wife  of  Peleg  Tallman  was 
his  daughter. 

The  SwailtOll  Family. — William  Swanton,  the  ancestor  of  all 
the  Bath  Swantons,  has  been  mentioned  in  full  on  pages  140  and 
141,  in  this  volume.     He  had  a  son,  William. 


y&ZvAAs  4B^~jLi/r 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  359 

John  Bernard  Swanton  was  born  in  Bath,  in  1782,  and  married 
Lydia  Bosworth  in  18 14.  He  was  Collector  of  the  Port  of  Bath 
from  1825  to  1829.  He  afterwards  retired  to  a  farm  in  Dresden, 
where  he  died  in  185 1. 

John  Bosworth  Swanton,  son  of  John  Bernard  Swanton,  was  born 
in  Bath,  Nov.  29,  1804,  and  Nov.  6,  1828,  married  Catherine  Wood 
Reed,  of  Boston,  who  was  born  Feb.  7,  1804.  They  had  seven  chil- 
dren, of  whom  three  are  now  living,  Henry  W.,  Louisa  Josephine,  and 
Mary  Augusta.  Mr.  Swanton  died  in  Bath,  January,  1890.  He 
had  been  in  the  hardware  and  ship-chandlery  business  sixty  years, 
in  Bath,  commencing  as  partner  in  the  firm  of  Zina  Hyde  &  Co., 
and  ending  as  member  of  the  firm  of  Swanton,  Jameson  &  Co.  He 
was  Deputy  Collector  of  the  Port  of  Bath,  being  appointed  in  1825. 

Henry  W.  Swanton,  son  of  John  Bosworth  Swanton,  was  born  in 
Bath  in  1833,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and  graduated 
from  the  Bath  High  School.  He  succeeded  his  father  in  the  hard- 
ware business  of  Swanton,  Jameson  &  Co.,  was  on  the  board  of 
directors  of  the  First  National  Bank  for  thirty  years,  a  trustee  of 
the  Bath  Savings  Institution  for  twenty-five  years,  a  member  of  the 
Common  Council  and  Board  of  Aldermen  from  1869  to  J^73»  an(*  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate  of  1890  and  1892. 

Charles  Davenport. —  The  father  of  Mr.  Davenport  was  Capt. 
Benjamin  Davenport,  of  Bath,  Me.,  who  married  Lucy  Eames, 
December  16,  1804.  Their  children  were  Benjamin,  Charles,  Lewis, 
and  William.  He  commanded  a  Bath  company  when  the  regiment 
was  at  Coxs  Head  in  18 14.  Charles  Davenport  was  born  in  Bath, 
May  9,  1809,  and  married,  November  6,  1836,  Catharine  Trevett 
Duncan,  an  estimable  woman,  who  was  born  February  24,  18 14. 
They  have  had  five  children. 

Mr.  Davenport  had  a  good  common-school  and  academical  educa- 
tion, and  after  leaving  study  was  for  some  years  engaged  as  clerk 
and  book-keeper.  His  father  died  before  the  son  was  fourteen 
years  of  age.  Subsequently  he  went  into  trade  on  his  own  account, 
with  a  fair  degree  of  success  until  1853,  since  which  time  he  has 
been  more  extensively  engaged  in  commerce  and  navigation.     He 


360  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

has  held  several  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility  in  his  native  town 
and  city,  both  in  benevolent  institutions  and  in  the  local  offices  of 
selectman,  overseer  of  the  poor,  assessor,  school  committee,  and 
under  the  city  form  of  government  served  several  years  as  alderman 
and  member  of  the  Common  Council,  and  has  been  president  of 
both  boards. 

Mr.  Davenport  was  a  member  of  the  board  of  managers  of  the 
Maine  Mutual  Marine  Insurance  Company  during  its  existence,  and 
was  the  first  president  of  the  Lincoln  Mutual  Fire  Insurance  Com- 
pany. He  was  one  of  the  managers  of  the  Hath  Military  and  Naval 
Orphans  Asylum  for  some  years  from  its  organization,  and  also  its 
treasurer  from  1869  to  1872.  He  assisted  in  establishing  the  Old 
Ladies  Home  in  Bath,  was  one  of  its  first  board  of  managers  and 
still  continues  in  that  office,  and  was  its  treasurer  in  1876  and  1877. 
He  was  for  several  years  a  director  of  the  Bath  Gas  Light  Company. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders,  a  large  stockholder,  and  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Goss  Marine  Iron  Works.  He  was,  some  years 
since,  president  of  the  first  total  abstinence  society  in  Bath,  under 
the  name  of  "The  New  Temperance  Society."  He  has  been  admin- 
istrator and  executor  in  the  settlement  of  several  estates.  He  has 
been,  and  still  is,  largely  interested  in  shipping  and  as  managing 
owner.  He  was  for  a  year  or  more  cashier  of  the  Lincoln  Bank, 
occupying  the  position  temporarily  on  the  decease  of  the  cashier, 
but  resigned  the  office  as  soon  as  a  satisfactory  substitute  could 
be  procured.  He  was  then  elected  a  director  in  the  sime  bank,  in 
which  capacity  he  has  served  many  years,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  its  president.  He  has  been  a  trustee  of  the  Bath  Savings  Insti- 
tution since  its  first  incorporation  in  1852,  and  its  president  for  the 
last  forty  years. 

From  youth  Mr.  Davenport  has  been  devoted  to  the  principles 
and  work  of  the  Methodist  societies  of  the  city.  Although  he  has 
never  been  a  member  of  the  church,  he  has,  by  his  generous  dona- 
tions to  both  the  Wesleyan  and  the  Beacon  Street  societies,  been 
their  chief  financial  pillar,  at  the  same  time  adding  the  weight  of  his 
moral  character  to  the  promotion  of  their  prosperity.  He  has  served 
as  superintendent  in   the   Sunday   Schools  of    these   societies  and 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  361 

chorister  to  the  present  day.  He  was  one  of  the  originators  of 
the  Maine  Wesleyan  Board  of  Education  and  for  many  years  its 
treasurer. 

The  moral  character  and  reputation  of  Mr.  Davenport,  for  honesty 
and  strict  integrity,  stands  deservedly  high  in  this  community.  He 
has  a  strong  regard  for  truthfulness,  and  was  never  known,  even 
from  his  boyhood,  to  utter  a  falsehood  or  to  use  profane  language, 
is  conscicntiouly  careful  in  the  proper  observance  of  the  Sabbath, 
and  a  consistent  temperance  man. 

John  Haydcn. —  About  the  middle  of  the  last  century  a  family 
immigrated  from  Scotland  and  came  to  Maine.  A  young  man 
(George  Heddenn)  came  with  them  and  subsequently  married  one  of 
the  daughters.  He  settled  on  a  farm  in  Brunswick  and  had  sons 
and  daughters.  William,  born  November  n,  1771,  was  the  father  of 
John,  who,  when  he  became  of  age  and  went  into  business,  had  his 
name  changed,  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  to  Hayden,  for  the 
reason  that  it  was  always  pronounced  so,  thereby  following  the 
example  of  an  illustrious  countryman  of  his  ancestors,  the  poet 
Robert  Burns,  whose  name  was  originally  "  Burness,"  as  is  shown  in 
his  earlier  autographs  on  his  monument  in  Edinburgh. 

John  Hayden  was  born  in  Bath,  September  20,  1808.  With  a 
common-school  education  he  became,  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  an 
apprentice  to  the  watch  and  jewelry  trade,  where  he  continued  until 
March  20,  1829,  when  he  set  up  for  himself,  being  then  twenty  years 
of  age.  He  carried  on  that  business,  increasing  with  the  times,  until 
1863,  when  he  sold  out  to  Howland  &  Donnell,  both  of  whom  had 
been  his  apprentices  and  journeymen.  He  went  to  Europe  that 
year,  spending  some  time  in  Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent,  and 
made  the  same  trip  the  next  year,  all  in  the  way  of  business.  In 
1865  he  went  to  the  Chincha  Islands  and  took  charge  of  a  ship 
whose  master  had  been  lost  overboard,  and  took  her  to  Hamburg 
with  a  cargo  of  guano. 

In  1850  he  was  elected  a  representative  to  the  Legislature  and 
served  as  a  Whig  in  that  only  summer  session  that  ever  occurred  in 
Maine.     He  declined  a  unanimous  re-nomination  at  that  time,  but 


362  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

subsequently  served  in  the  Legislature  as  a  Republican,  in  1862  and 
1863.  He  was  always  a  strong  advocate  for  freedom  and,  of  course, 
in  the  former  times  was  stigmatized  as  an  Abolitionist.  In  1866  he 
was  elected  mayor  of  Bath. 

Mr.  Hayden  was  well  versed  in  Bath  history,  was  a  diligent  student, 
and  had  a  remarkable  memory.  Having  travelled  extensively,  he 
was  well  informed  in  the  history  and  conditions  of  all  countries.  He 
married  Miss  Martha  A.  Brown,  February  13,  1831,  the  Rev.  John 
Ellingwood  performing  the  ceremony.  The  children  now  living  are: 
Mrs.  Emma  Eames,  Mrs.  Gen.  T.  W.  Hyde,  and  Col.  J.  F.  Hayden, 
of  this  city.  Mr.  Hayden  was  a  grandfather  to  Mrs.  Emma  Eames 
Story,  the  renowned  singer. 

At  his  death  a  most  notable  figure  passed  from  Bath  streets  —  a 
sturdy,  active  citizen,  who  took  a  lively  interest  in  all  the  affairs  of 
the  city  while  he  had  the  vigor  to  engage  in  them. 

William  Richardson,  when  a  young  man,  loft  his  native  town 
of  Leominster,  Mass.,  and  came  into  Maine,  and,  after  a  brief 
sojourn  in  Berwick  and  Topsham,  reached  Bath  where  he  perma- 
nently settled.  Mr.  Richardson's  first  employment  of  which  there  is 
authentic  knowledge,  was  going  as  supercargo  of  a  large  vessel 
bound  to  London,  the  successful  voyage  becoming  so  lucrative  that 
he  received,  for  his  share,  sufficient  profit  to  give  him  a  start  in 
business,  which  was  in  navigation,  not  going  to  sea  himself.  He 
developed  into  a  merchant  and  ship-owner;  was  a  shrewd,  square- 
dealing  man  of  ability  and  thrift,  becoming  one  of  Bath's  prominent 
business  men  and  greatly  respected  throughout  his  life.  He  was 
notable  as  a  man  of  reticence,  attending  strictly  to  his  own  business 
and  not  entering  into  politics  or  accepting  office,  excepting  to  serve 
as  senator  from  Lincoln  senatorial  district  when  the  session  was 
held  in  Portland,  but  was  known  to  be  a  generous  supporter  of 
worthy  public  enterprises  and  institutions,  of  strict  integrity  and 
perfect  uprightness,  enjoying  the  confidence  of  every  person  who 
truly  knew  him.  He  acquired  a  large  property  from  which  he 
donated  liberally  to  benevolent  institutions. 

Mr.  Richardson  was  born  in  Leominster,  Mass.,  October  26,  1786, 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  363 

and  comes  down  from  distinguished'  ancestry.  He  married,  on 
March  13,  1814,  Harriet  Leland,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  Joseph 
Leland,  of  Saco,  and  her  mother  was  Dorcas  King,  sister  of 
Rufus  King  and  William  King,  and  her  family  relations  were  among 
the  most  prominent  professional  and  literay  men  of  New  England. 
He  was  twice  married;  his  second  wife  was  Mrs.  Maria  (Ogden) 
Ward,  daughter  of  Jonathan  Ogden,  and  widow  of  Marmaduke 
Ward,  of  New  York,  a  merchant  of  note. 

His  eight  children  were  all  by  his  first  wife.  Of  his  sons,  Frederic 
Lord  Richardson  is  a  resident  of  Boston  and  treasurer  of  the  Hill 
Manufacturing  Company,  of  Lewiston,  Me.;  is  a  son-in-law  of  Homer 
Bartlett,  of  Boston;  has  his  office  on  State  street,  and  a  summer 
residence  at  Swampscot. 

John  Green  Richardson  was  born  in  Bath,  and  married  Miss 
Mary  Lincoln;  was  well  educated;  has  been  in  mercantile  business; 
served  in  both  branches  of  the  City  Government;  been  mayor  two 
terms  (1878  and  1879);  has  held  other  responsible  municipal  offices 
of  trust;  has  been  vice-president  of  the  Sagadahoc  Historical 
Society;  was  captain  of  the  renowned  Bath  City  Grays;  one  of  the 
trustees  and  managers  of  the  Bath  Soldiers  and  Naval  Orphan 
Asylum;  was  Blaine  elector  in  1884.  They  have  one  daughter 
living.  Mr.  Richardson  has  been  largely  identified  with  the  public 
affairs  of  the  city  and  has  proved  true  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him; 
has  devoted  much  time  yearly  as  overseer  of  the  poor;  as  an  officer 
of  the  school  board  has  taken  a  lively  interest  in  the  educational 
interests  of  the  city,  and  for  years  has  had  the  sole  management  of 
the  children  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Orphan  Home. 


364  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


David  Thomas  Percy # — The  name  of  Percy  comes  down  from 
the  illustrious  ancestry  of  the  English  Percys,  famous  in  history. 
The  advent  of  the  family  of  Percy  from  the  old  country  to  the  Ken- 
nebec region  was  in  1730,  when  Thomas  Percy  came  over  with  his 
wife,  two  sons,  and  three  daughters,  and  settled  on  Swan  Island. 
Subsequently  he  changed  his  habitation  to  Hunniwells  Point,  and 
was  there  at  the  time  of  the  French  and  Indian  War  of  1756.  The 
two  sons  of  the  original  Thomas  were  Arthur  and  Francis. 

Arthur  settled  in  Phipsburg,  and  from  him  descended  the  entire 
race  of  Percys  in  this  section  of  the  state.  He  married,  first,  a 
Gilmore,  resided  on  a  farm  in  the  south  part  of  Phipsburg,  and  had 
six  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  first  wife  deceased  and  he  then 
married  Margaret  Porterfield,  daughter  of  the  Mrs.  Portcrfield  nota- 
ble in  the  early  history  of  Georgetown.  They  had  one  son,  Thomas, 
who  became  prominently  known  as  Deacon  Thomas,  from  having 
long  held  that  office  in  the  old  Georgetown  and  Phipsburg  Congre- 
gational Church.  He  married  Martha  Gilmore,  in  1763,  and  had 
three  sons  and  six  daughters. 

The  descent  of  David  T.  Percy  was  from  the  second  son  of  the 
ancient  Arthur  Percy,  whose  name  was  also  David,  who  was  born 
November  20, 1791,  and  married  Elsie  Grace,  who  was  born  February 
21,  1795.  They  were  married  May  26,  18 16,  and  settled  in  Bath- 
He  died  February  9,  1867,  and  she  January  3,  1866.  They  had 
nine  children,  of  whom  David  Thomas  Percy  was  the  fourth  son, 
born  August  15,  1831,  and  married  Adriana  Bosworth,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Robert  Bosworth^at  Bath,  January  5,  1854. 

On  the  maternal  side,  the  great-grandparents  of  David  T.  Percy 
were  James  and  Jane  Grace,  who  came  to  this  country  with  Alexander 
Drummond  in  1729,  and  Jane  was  his  granddaughter.  His  grand- 
father was  William  Grace,  who  was  born  April  13,  1764,  and  married 
Sarah  Andrews,  of  Bath,  born  May  30,  1757,  and  they  had  nine 
children. 


^7^ 


HISTORY    OF  BATH.  365 

David  T.  Percy  and  his  wife  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
six  sons  are  living:  Frederick  B.  graduated, at  Yale  and  the  Boston 
Medical  University,  and  is  in  practice  in  Brookline,  Mass.  George  E. 
graduated  at  the  Bath  High  School  and  the  Boston  Medical  Univer- 
sity, and  is  practicing  his  profession  in  Salem,  Mass.  Frank  H.  is 
manager  of  the  crockery  store  of  the  firm  of  D.  T.  Percy  &  Sons,  in 
Hath.  Augustus  A.  conducts  the  business  of  the  dry  goods  and 
carpet  departments  of  the  firm.  Arthur  S.  is  in  the  lumber  business 
in  Boston.  David  Thomas,  Jr.,  is  a  graduate  of  Exeter,  the  Harvard 
Medical  College,  the  Boston  Medical  University,  and  has  settled 
in  Arlington,  Mass. 

David  T.  Percy,  Sr.,  is  at  the  head  of  the  firm  of  D.  T.  Percy  & 
Sons,  in  the  dry  goods,  carpet,  and  crockery  business,  the  largest 
establishment  in  those  lines  in  this  part  of  the  state.  He  has  long 
been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade,  taking  an  active 
part  in  all  measures  designed  to  advance  the  prosperity  of  the  city. 
In  politics  he  adheres  to  the  Democratic  party  without  being  a  par- 
tisan. Mr.  Percy,  for  a  number  of  years,  has  been  one  of  the 
deacons  of  the  Winter  Street  Church,  superintendent,  for  several 
years,  of  the  Sabbath  School  of  that  society ;  has  been  a  member  of 
the  City  Government,  serving  in  the  Common  Council  and  on  the 
Board  of  Aldermen ;  and  has  been  the  candidate  of  the  minority 
party  for  the  highest  offices  within  the  gift  of  the  city.  Deacon 
Percy  has  ever  been  forward  in  every  good  work ;  has  been  open- 
hearted  and  liberal  in  all  benevolent  movements,  an  unceasing 
worker  in  the  temperance  cause,  and  one  of  the  most  reliable  and 
genial  of  Bath's  citizens. 

WlUlnni  Maxwell  Reed  was  a  native  of  Phipsburg  and  third 
son  of  Col.  Andrew  and  Beatrice  McCobb  Reed.  He  was  born  at 
the  Reed  farm,  on  the  banks  of  the  Kennebec  River,  about  one  mile 
below  the  Centre  Village,  on  the  14th  of  March,  1800.  His  educa- 
tion was  derived  from  the  local  schools,  one  of  which  was  conducted 
for  many  years  by  his  eldest  brother,  John,  who  was  a  fine  type  of  the 
school-master  of  that  day.  William  also  taught  school  for  a  while 
in  his  native  town.     Although  young  in  years,  he  displayed  in  his 


366  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

school  discipline  the  same  energy  and  force  of  character  that  were 
such  important  factors  in  his  subsequent  career.  The  monotony  and 
enforced  quiet  of  the  school-room  was,  however,  irksome  to  his 
naturally  active  temperament  and  he  soon  forsook  the  desk  and 
became  the  manager  of  his  father's  farm.  This  was  an  extensive 
plantation  and  required  many  laborers. 

Having  faithfully  and  successfully  conducted  this  business  for 
several  years,  his  father  compensated  him  with  the  gift  of  a  small 
farm  adjoining  the  main  one.  On  this  land  stood  the  old  John 
Parker  timber-house,  which  had  begun  to  decay.  Mr.  Reed  took 
down  this  ancient  and  well-known  landmark,  on  the  site  of  which 
he  erected  a  house  for  himself  in  1824.  He  was  married,  November 
25,  1825,  to  Miss  Caroline  Drum  mo  nd,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Capt. 
Alexander  Drummond  of  Phipsburg  Centre.  After  this  event  he 
devoted  himself  to  his  own  farm,  at  the  same  time  was  interested 
in  operating  a  lumber  mill  at  the  Centre  Village.  Two  years  after 
his  marriage  and  occupancy  of  this  house,  it  was  burned  by  the 
carelessness  of  a  carpenter  who  was  giving  the  house  some  finishing 
touches.     A  new  house  was  ready  for  occupancy  in  a  few  months. 

In  1835  Mr.  Reed  sold  his  farm,  purchased  and  occupied  the  colo- 
nial house  of  his  uncle,  Parker  McCobb,  at  Phipsburg  Centre,  also 
purchasing,  in  partnership  with  James  Drummond,  the  double  saw- 
mill owned  by  the  heirs  of  Thomas  McCobb.  From  this  time  he  was 
engaged  for  many  years  in  the  lumber  business.  In  connection  with 
two  other  business  men,  he  inaugurated  the  building  of  the  lumber 
mills  at  Parkers  Head,  by  making  Parkers  Bay  a  mill-pond  and 
inducing  lumber-men  to  erect  the  dam  and  mills. 

His  first  attempt  at  ship-building  was  the  schooner  Madawaska,  in 
1832,  which  he  built  in  a  yard  near  his  first  dwelling  on  the  Reed 
farm.  The  launching  of  this  vessel  was  memorable  as  it  took  place 
during  a  snow  storm  in  the  month  of  June. 

Colonel  Reed  inherited  a  tendency  toward  a  military  career  from 
his  ancestors  on  both  the  paternal  and  maternal  side,  and  when  only 
nineteen  years  of  age,  was  unexpectedly  elected  from  the  ranks  to 
lieutenant  of  a  military  company,  at  a  time  when  such  promotion 
was  no  small  honor,  rising  to  captain,  major,  and  lieutenant-colonel. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  367 

In  1844  Colonel  Reed  moved  to  Bath  and  engaged  permanently  in 
ship-building,  buying  a  yard  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town,  where 
he  built  ships  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  under  the  firm  of  William 
M.  Reed  &  Son.  At  the  organization  of  the  Sagadahoc  Bank,  he 
was  one  of  its  founders  and  a  director,  and  in  1861  became  its  pres- 
ident, a  position  he  filled  until  his  death.  When  the  enterprise  of 
building  the  Kennebec  &  Portland  Railroad  was  inaugurated  he  was 
among  the  first  to  aid  the  undertaking  with  money  and  influence. 

Mr.  Reed's  public  career  began  at  twenty-eight  years  of  age,  when 
he  was  elected,  by  the  town  of  Phipsburg,  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives, and  was  continually  re-elected  until  1840,  when  he  was 
elected  senator,  serving  two  terms ;  later  was  a  member  of  the  Gover- 
nor's Council  two  terms ;  when  Lincoln  was  first  candidate  for  Pres- 
ident was  one  of  the  electors;  has  served  several  times  in  the  Com- 
mon Council  and  was  one  of  the  first  aldermen  of  the  city. 

Originally  an  ardent  Whig  and  anti-slavery  in  his  political  senti- 
ments, he  became  a  Republican  upon  the  formation  of  this  party, 
and  was  ever  active  in  its  cause,  supporting  the  War  of  the  Rebellion 
with  zeal.  In  the  performance  of  his  public  trusts,  he  gave  the 
same  attention  to  their  duties  as  he  gave  to  his  own  private  business, 
to  the  obligations  of  which  he  was  ever  prompt,  discreet,  and  active. 

Hon.  Isaac  Reed,  of  Waldoboro,  was  a  member  of  the  same 
Senate  as  Mr.  Reed,  and  thus  publicly  wrote  of  him  since  his  death : 
44  That  honest,  Christian  gentleman  was  my  room-mate  during  two 
sessions  of  the  Legislature."  From  his  earliest  years  he  was  sur- 
rounded with  Christian  influences,  inherited  genuine  religious  tend- 
dencies,  and  early  in  life  he  and  his  wife  united  with  the  church. 
In  Bath  he  attended  the  Winter  Street  Church.  Mr.  Reed  developed 
in  his  youth  those  noble  traits  of  character  that  led  to  decision,  dis- 
interestedness, and  unswerving  integrity. 

For  forty-one  years  he  and  his  wife  made  their  house  one  of  open 
hospitality.  The  poor  found  in  him  a  constant  friend,  and  he  was 
always  ready  to  assist  any  worthy  object  whose  claims  were  presented 
to  him.  He  always  manifested  a  particular  interest  in  young  men, 
and  one  never  applied  to  him  in  vain.  Wm.  M.  and  Franklin  Reed 
built  fifteen  ships,  three  barks,  one  brig,  and  three  schooners. 


368  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Colonel  Reed  died,  while  in  the  midst  of  a  useful  life,  January  12, 
1866,  in  his  sixty-sixth  year.  His  wife  died  April  12th  of  the  same 
year.     They  were  buried  in  the  Maple  Grove  Cemetery  at  Bath. 

Of  a  family  of  eight  children,  there  are  now  living:  Franklin, 
resident  of  Bath,  and  Edwin,  Victoria,  and  Ellen  Drummond  (wife  of 
Henry  Churchill  Goodspeed),  residents  of  Massachusetts. 

Franklin  Reed  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  and  is  the  second  son  of 
William  M.  and  Caroline  Drummond  Reed.  He  attended  school  at 
the  Academy  in  Bath  and  later  at  a  private  school  in  Portland. 

At  twenty  years  of  age  he  formed  a  partnership,  in  B.ith,  in  the 
dry  goods  business,  with  Henry  W.  Field,  under  the  firm  of  Field  & 
Reed.  He  continued  in  this  business  five  years,  when  he  accepted 
the  secretaryship  of  an  insurance  company,  of  which  Capt.  John 
Fisher  was  president.  In  1857  ne  started  an  insurance  business  on 
his  own  account,  his  brother,  Edwin,  joining  with  him  in  i860.  For 
twenty  years  the  firm  of  F.  &  E.  Reed  did  a  large  business  and  were 
well  known  in  all  shipping  circles.  In  1880  Edwin  removed  to  Bos- 
ton and  the  firm  was  dissolved. 

In  1853  Franklin  became  a  member  of  his  father's  ship-building 
firm,  and  after  the  death  of  the  latter,  in  1866,  he  continued  the 
business  in  connection  with  his  brother,  Edwin.  They  launched  a 
number  of  large  vessels  from  their  yard  in  the  southern  part  of  the 
city.  Mr.  Reed  was  elected  director  of  the  Sagadahoc  Bank  while 
his  father  was  president,  an  office  he  held  until  1874,  when  he  was 
elected  president,  a  position  he  still  retains.  He  was  president  also 
of  the  Twenty-five  Cent  Savings  Bank  for  some  years.  In  1885  he 
held  the  presidency  of  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural  Society,  but 
declined  a  re-election.  While  a  young  man  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Bath  City  Grays,  a  military  company  that  was  favorably  known 
throughout  the  state. 

Although  strong  in  his  feelings  politically,  he  has  never  taken  an 
active  part  in  politics.  In  his  earlier  years  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Republican  party  and  filled  a  number  of  offices  in  the  city  govern- 
ment under  the  administration  of  that  party.  He  joined  in  the 
Greeley  movement  after  the  war  and  eventually  became  a  Democrat, 
being  the  nominee  of  that  minority  party  for  Congress  in  1881. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  369 

Mr.  Reed  developed  an  aptitude  for  business  from  his  earliest 
years,  and  has  achieved  success  in  the  various  branches  he  has 
undertaken.  Cautious  and  careful  in  details,  devoting  himself  with 
unceasing  zeal  to  his  duties,  both  public  and  private,  his  reliability 
and  good  judgment  have  won  for  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  fellow-townsmen. 

On  November  5,  1857,  Franklin  Reed  married  Sarah  Augusta 
Weeks.  They  had  two  children :  Ada  Frances,  who  died  when  an 
infant,  and  Frederic  Clinton,  who  was  born  October  9,  1855,  was 
educated  in  the  Bath  public  schools  and  Cornell  University,  read  law 
with  Charles  W.  Larrabee,  in  Hath.  He  died  in  Brunswick,  in  1887, 
and  is  interred  in  Oak  Grove  Cemetery. 

Nchcniiah  Harding  was  a  life-long  sea-captain,  sailing  in  the 
vessels  of  William  King,  continuing  as  long  as  able  to  go  to  sea. 
He  was  born  at  Truro,  Mass.,  and  came,  with  his  father,  to  the  New 
Meadows  to  a  farm  when  two  years  old.  When  old  enough  he 
commenced  going  to  sea,  and,  working  his  way  up,  became  a  very 
successful  commander.  He  married  Miss  Rachel  Reed,  at  Pleasant 
Point,  Topsham,  and  they  had  three  sons  and  three  daughters.  He 
lived  until  86  years  old,  dying  Angust  2,  1865.  His  wife  died  Jan- 
uary 19,  1834,  aged  47  years.  His  descendants,  in  Bath  and  else- 
where, are  numerous,  taking  high  rank  in  business,  society,  and 
public  positions. 

Edward  K.  Harding. —  From  the  Boston  Traveller  we  take  the 
following  notice  (published  soon  after  his  death)  of  our  late  respected 
citizen,  who  was  well  known,  through  commercial  and  social  inter- 
course, in  Boston,  New  York,  and  New  Orleans : 

"  Edward  Kelloran  Harding,  son  of  Capt.  Nehemiah  Harding,  was 
born  in  Bath,  Me.,  in  September,  18 16.  His  father  was  an  extremely 
energetic  and  successful  ship-master,  and  sailed  from  that  port  over 
forty  years.  He  attended  the  usual  schools  of  the  town,  and  at  13 
entered  a  store  at  some  trivial  rate  of  wages,  all  of  which,  however, 
he  saved  for  a  year  and  expended  in  a  silk  dress  for  his  mother  (then 
and  there  an  uncommon  article,  even  among  the  wealthy  families  of 
the  district).     He  then  entered  the  counting-room  of  Messrs.  Clapp 


37°  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

&  Boynton,  ship-builders,  where  he  remained  four  or  five  years,  when, 
with  letters  of  recommendation  from  Messrs.  Clapp  &  Boynton,  he 
went  to  New  Orleans  and  entered,  as  clerk,  in  the  ship-chandlery  and 
cordage  house  of  Messrs  S.  S.  Green  &  Co.  Here  he  rapidly  rose 
to  a  position  as  one  of  the  firm,  and  purchasing  the  interest  of  one 
of  the  partners,  the  firm  name  was  changed  to  that  of  Green  & 
Harding.  Here  his  large  Northern  acquaintance  and  many  friends 
increased  the  business  to  many  times  the  original  amount. 

"In  1841  he  married  Miss  Louisa  H.  McLellan,  daughter  of  Gen. 
James  McLellan,  of  Bath,  and  in  1853  finally  retired  from  the  New 
Orleans  house  and  permanently  returned  to  his  early  home.  Here 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  C.  S.  Jenks,  and  commenced  the 
building  of  ships  which  he  continued  until  1857  or  1858,  under  the 
name  of  Jenks  &  Harding,  building  a  number  of  very  fine  ships  and 
barques.  Besides  his  ship-building  he  held  very  large  contracts  with 
the  City  of  New  Orleans  for  granite  paving  blocks,  of  which  and 
pressed  hay  he  shipped  immense  quantities. 

"  For  some  years  before  his  final  retirement  from  his  New  Orleans 
firm  he  passed  much  of  his  time  in  the  North,  and  in  1850  he  organ- 
ized the  Bath  City  Grays,  a  company  composed  of  leading  citizens 
of  Bath,  which  company  held  their  organization  as  such  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  they  became  Company  A,  of  the 
Third  Regiment,  Maine  Volunteers.  This  company  was  uniformed 
similarly  to  the  Boston  Tigers,  and  were  the  "crack"  company  of 
the  State.  They  participated  in  the  great  Boston  Railroad  Jubilee, 
in  1851  or  1852.  Besides  his  commission  as  Captain  of  this  com- 
pany, in  1850,  he  was  commissioned  aide-de-camp  to  Governor 
Crosby  in  1853,  with  rank  of  Colonel,  and  Colonel  Second  Regiment, 
Second  Brigade,  Fifth  Division,  Maine  State  Militia,  in   1855* 

"At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  desired  to  offer  his  service 
to  the  government,  which  his  fondness  for  and  familiarity  with 
military  command  would  have  rendered  invaluable  at  that  juncture, 
but  yielding  to  the  desire  of  the  Governor  and  Adjutant-General  of 
the  State  he  accepted  the  position  of  Acting  Quartermaster-General 
of  the  State  of  Maine,  and  equipped  every  regiment  that  left  the 
State  during  the  war,  personally  superintending  all  details  and  cor- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  37 1 

respondence.  To  illustrate  his  business  activity,  in  addition  to  his 
state  duties  at  this  time  he  was  also  the  largest  supplier  to  the  gen- 
eral government  of  forage,  and  shipped  largely  from  the  ports  of 
Bangor,  Wiscasset,  Belfast,  Bath,  and  Portland,  besides  having 
buyers  all  over  the  state. 

"He  was  at  one  time  president  of  the  City  Bank,  president  of 
the  Marine  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  president  of  the  Boston  & 
Maine  Steamship  Company,  president  of  the  International  Telegraph 
Company,  Hinkley  Knitting  Company,  Nequasset  Lake  Ice  Com- 
pany, and  had  been  prominently  identified  with  many  other  local 
interests. 

"He  was  the  most  energetic  business  man  of  his  time — always 
prompt,  always  to  his  word,  and  although  he  was  generally  con- 
sidered one  of  the  most  " wide-awake"  business  men,  yet  no  person 
ever  heard  it  intimated  that  he  had  ever  over-reached  to  the  amount 
of  a  single  penny.     He  had  not  an  enemey  in  the  world. 

"  As  a  husband  and  a  father  he  seemed  to  his  family  perfection, 
—  never  even  an  angry  word  or  look.  The  latter  years  of  his  life 
he  was  not  actively  engaged  in  business,  except  in  occasional  ventures. 
He  died  of  dropsy,  August  21,  1874,  aged  57  years  and  11  months, 
after  an  illness  of  three  months." 

Colonel  Harding  married  Louisa,  daughter  of  Gen.  James  McLel- 
lan,  an  estimable  young  lady,  and  still  living.  The  children  of 
Colonel  Harding  are:  George  Edward,  who  went  through  a  course  of 
education  in  the  Bath  schools,  graduating  at  the  High  School,  and 
graduated  at  the  Columbia  College,  New  York,  became  an  architect 
and  civil  engineer,  and  commenced  business  in  New  York,  where  he 
has  continued  with  the  success  that  has  placed  him  in  the  front  rank 
of  his  profession.  He  married  in  that  city  and  has  two  children. 
Mr.  Harding  was  the  architect  of  the  Bath  Public  Library  building, 
the  drafting  of  which  was  a  valuable  gift  to  the  city,  and  is  a  model 
of  adaptedness  and  beauty  of  design.  Henry  McLellan  Harding, 
having  received  his  early  education  at  Bath,  ending  with  the  High 
School,  graduated  at  Yale  College  in  1875,  anc^  *s  by  profession  an 
electrical  engineer,  was  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  electric  railways 
in  the  United  States,  being  associated  with  F.  J.  Sprague,  of  New 


J 


372  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

York,  and  George  Westinghouse,  of  Pittsburg,  Pa.  He  married 
Florence  Agnes  Powers,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  has  one  child,  Marion 
Powers  Harding.  The  daughters  are  Mrs.  D.  W.  Russell,  who  lives 
at  Brookline,  Mass.,  and  has  three  children ;  the  younger  daughter 
married  Fritz  H.  Twitchell,  of  Bath,  and  they  have  one  daughter. 

The  Morse  Families,  of  Bath,  descended  from  Samuel  Morse,  a 
Puritan,  who  came  to  this  country  from  England,  to  Massachusetts, 
prior  to  1635,  and  settled  at  Dedham,  which  town  he  was  instru- 
mental in  incorporating.  One  of  the  descendants  of  this  lineage 
was  Jonathan  Morse,  who  came  to  Maine  and  settled  at  Small  Point, 
Phipsburg,  from  whom  are  descended  many  of  the  name  in  Bath, 
Phipsburg,  and  other  parts  of  the  state. 

Of  this  branch  was  J.  Parker  Morse,  who  was  born  in  Phips- 
burg, March  12,  18 10.  His  father  was  Richard  Morse,  who,  with 
his  three  sons,  Parker,  Alden,  and  John,  was  largely  engaged  in  the 
lumber  business  and  ship-building  at  Winnegance,  and  later  built 
ships  at  Bath.  In  December,  1844,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Foster 
Henry  (one  of  the  large  ship-builders  of  Bath),  and  had  one  son 
and  three  daughters.  The  eldest  daughter,  Isabella,  mrrried  William 
F.  Hooper,  of  Fall  River,  Mass.,  where  they  reside  and  have  one 
child,  Parker  Morse  Hooper.  His  second  daughter,  Clara,  married 
Dr.  F.  W.  Payne  of  Boston. 

As  a  Republican  Mr.  Morse  was  twice  elected  to  represent  Bath 
in  the  House  of  Representatives,  in  which  he  served  in  the  sessions 
of  1867  and  1868,  and  in  the  Senate  in  1869  and  1870.  While,  a 
member  of  the  Legislature,  Mr.  Morse  was  largely  instrumental  in 
procuring  an  act  establishing  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Orphans 
Home  at  Bath. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Morse  was  Jane  Parker  Morse,  whose  parents 
were  Jacob  Parker  and  Isabella  McCobb  Parker,  connected  with  the 
historic  Parkers  and  McCobbs  of  the  Kennebec.  He  died  March 
19,  1872,  and  his  wife  June  24,  1883. 

Benjamin  Wyman  Morse. —  No  man  has  been  better  known 
on  the  Kennebec  River  than  Capt.  B.  W.  Morse.  While  still  young 
he  went  with  his  father  Wyman  Morse  in  the  memorable  side-wheel 


nwf.huruts 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  373 

steamer  Bellingham,  a  very  early  tow-boat  on  the  river,  proved  him- 
self very  capable  and  trustworthy,  and,  upon  the  death  of  his  father, 
succeeded  to  the  command  of  the  boat  when  eighteen  years  of  age, 
subsequently  having  command  of  newer  and  larger  side-wheel 
boats,  one  of  which  was  the  Ellen  Morse,  the  first  beam  engine  side- 
wheeler  built  on  the  river.  Then  followed  the  era  of  screw  propellers, 
the  first  of  which  on  the  Kennebec  was  the  Fearless,  with  Captain 
Morse  in  command.  The  towage  business  increasing,  Captain 
Morse  was  instrumental  in  forming  the  Knickerbocker  Steam  Tow- 
age Company,  by  act  of  the  Legislature,  in  which  he  successively 
occupied  the  positions  of  treasurer,  superintendent,  and  finally  presi- 
dent of  the  company,  holding  that  office  till  his  death. 

From  the  tow-boat  business  Captain  Morse  extended  his  enter- 
prises to  coastwise  navigation.  Besides  owning  "pieces"  in  many* 
vessels  he  built  in  his  ship-yard,  after  1879,  seventeen  of  the  largest 
class  of  coastwise  vessels,  and  purchased  schooners  from  other 
builders  so  that  he  managed  the  largest  coastwise  fleet  belonging 
to  any  one  port. 

Commencing  in  the  winter  of  1876  the  Morse  Company  was  among 
the  first  to  undertake  the  enterprise  of  cutting  and  storing  ice  on  the 
upper  Kennebec  and  shipping  it  to  southern  cities,  extending  the 
business  to  Boothbay  and  the  Hudson  River.  His  vessels  were 
largely  employed  in  the  transportation  of  ice  with  return  cargoes  of 
coal  for  northern  ports,  and,  of  later  years,  using  barges  also  for 
colliers,  purchasing  small-sized  ships  and  converting  them  into 
barges.  Since  his  death  this  same  line  of  business  has  been  con- 
tinued by  his  successors,  Morse  &  Co. 

Capt.  B.  W.  Morse  was  born  in  Bath,  April  1,  1825,  and  was 
a  grandson  of  Jonathan  Morse,  of  Phipsburg,  and  married  Miss 
Anna  E.  J.  Rodbird,  who  was  born  in  Bath,  April  10,  1830.  They 
were  married,  in  New  York,  July  19,  1853,  by  the  Rev.  E.  H.  Chapin. 
Their  children  are:  Jennie  Rodbird  Morse  and  Charles  Wyman 
Morse.  Captain  Morse  died  May  30,  1887,  an^  was  interred  in  Oak 
Grove  Cemetery,  where  a  magnificent  granite  monument  has  been 
erected  to  his  memory  by  his  family,  representing  an  oak  broken  off 
twenty  feet  from  the  ground  —  a  very  fitting  memorial  of  his  strength 


374  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

of  character  and  life.  He  enjoyed,  to  a  high  degree,  his  home 
where  he  had  a  library  of  rare  books,  of  which  he  was  a  constant 
reader,  He  always  led  an  upright  and  exemplary  life,  dealing 
squarely  in  every  phase  of  his  business  transactions. 

Charles  Wyman  Horse  was  bom  in  Bath,  October  21,  1856; 
graduated  from  the  High  School  in  1873,  and  Bowdoin  College  in 
1877,  after  which  he  went  on  a  tour  of  Europe.  On  his  return  he 
engaged  in  business  with  his  father,  B.  W.  Morse.  In  1884  he 
became  treasurer  of  the  Knickerbocker  Towage  Company,  and  in 
1888  its  president;  has  been  a  director  in  the  Lincoln  Bank  since 
1887 ;  and  is  the  head  of  the  house  of  Moses  &  Co.,  of  New  York 
City,  having  an  office  and  building  vessels,  barges,  and  tug-boats  at 
Bath.  April  14,  1884,  he  married  Miss  H.  B.  Hussey,  of  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  where  they  reside,  and  have  several  children. 

Oliver  Hoses  came  to  Bath  a  tin-worker,  and  with  his  brother, 
William  V.  Moses,  kept  a  stove  store,  operated  a  foundry,  and  built 
vessels.  He  engaged  in  banking,  was  instrumental  in  inducing  Bath 
to  invest  in  the  building  of  the  Knox  &  Lincoln  Railroad,  and  was 
chief  manager  in  its  construction. 

William  Vaughn  Hoses. —  The  buisness  life  of  Mr.  Moses  was 
connected  with  his  brother,  Oliver,  in  the  firm  of  W.  V.  &  O.  Moses. 
The  two  sons  of  Mr.  Moses,  William  O.  and  Albert,  having  com- 
pleted their  education  in  the  High  School  of  their  native  city, 
united  with  their  father  in  ship-building,  in  1856,  making  the  firm 
W.  V.  Moses  &  Sons.  The  vessels  built  by  them  were:  ships  W.  V. 
Moses,  N.  Larrabee,  Sarah  Freeman,  bark  Rome,  ships  Fannie  Lar- 
rabee,  Thos.  Freeman,  Riverside,  North  Star,  Invincible,  Franconia, 
Palestine,  Lucy  Melville,  G.  Strickland,  Oleron,  Frank  Haynie,  and 
Lizzie  Moses. 

The  business  career  of  William  V.  Moses  was  one  of  success. 
This  was  well  earned  by  his  unvariable  attention  to  his  business, 
his  strict  integrity,  and  pleasing  manners.  With  a  fine  physique 
was  added  a  uniformly  cheerful  countenance.  In  his  just  and 
upright  walk  he  made  no  enemies.  Without  taking  active  part  in 
political  party  matters  he  was  ever  a  solid  Democrat.     In  religious 


^-zit-fc-t_ 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  375 

sentiments  he  affiliated  with  the  Swedenborgian  denomination,  and 
was,  through  life,  a  practical,  temperate  man  in  all  things.  Of  such 
a  man  it  may  be  unnecessary  to  add  that  he  lived  and  died  a  most 
respected  citizen. 

Galen  Clapp  Moses,  second  son  of  Oliver  Moses,  was  born  in 
Bath,  August  30,  1835,  anc*  nas  made  his  home  in  his  native  place- 
He  received  a  thorough  education,  going  through  all  the  grades  of 
the  city  schools,  and  was  graduated  with  honor  from  Bowdoin  Col-1 
lege  in  the  class  of  1856.  Entering  upon  his  business  career  he 
was,  for  a  time,  secretary  of  the  Bath  Mutual  Marine  Insurance  Co., 
and  subsequently  was  a  partner  with  William  H.  McLellan,  in  the 
wholesale  grocery  business  until  1865,  when  he  took  the  management 
of  the  Worumbo  Manufacturing  Co.,  whose  woolen  mills  are  located 
at  Lisbon  Falls.  To  the  successful  building  up  of  this  great  indus- 
try he  has  given  the  best  years  of  his  life. 

In  1882  he  succeeded  his  father  as  President  of  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Bath,  which  office  he  still  holds.  In  1883,  upon  the 
re-organization  of  the  Twenty-five  Cent  Savings  Bank,  he  became 
its  president,  and  continued  to  hold  the  office  for  six  years,  until  the 
old  assets  of  the  bank  were  liquidated  and  the  bank  placed  squarely 
upon  its  feet  again.  In  1875  he  became  deeply  interested  in  the 
organization  of  the  Old  Ladies  Home,  becoming  one  of  its  man- 
agers, and,  on  the  death  of  B.  C.  Bailey,  became  its  second  president. 
In  1888,  upon  the  re-organization  of  the  New  England  Ship  Building 
Co.,  as  the  New  England  Co.,  he  became  its  president,  holding  the 
office  at  the  present  time.  When  the  Bath  Iron  Works  undertook  to 
go  into  iron  ship-building  to  obtain  government  work,  which  resulted 
in  the  contracts  for  Gun-boats  Nos.  5  and  6  and  the  Harbor  De- 
fense Ram,  Mr.  Moses  gave  most  valuable  financial  and  other 
assistance,  being  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Bath  Iron  Works.  In 
1887  Mr.  Moses  offered  to  give  a  public  library  building  to  the 
city,  which  has  since  been  completed,  and  is  a  credit  both  to  the 
architect,  George  Edward  Harding,  formerly  of  Bath,  and  the  gener- 
ous donor.  Mr.  Moses  also  contributed  liberally  to  the  purchase  of 
the  land  for  the  library  site.  He  has  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Board  of  Trade ;  has  served  upon  the  school  committee  for  six 


376  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

years,  and  has  been  identified  with,  and  prominent  in,  the  organi- 
zation and  management  of  many  other  private  and  quasi  public 
corporations.  In  1886  he  became  a  member  of  Winter  Street 
Church,  to  the  support  of  which  he  has  been  a  liberal  contributor. 
He  is  also  a  leader  in  contemporaneous  religious  movements  of 
which  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  the  most  notable, 
and  of  which  he  is  president.  In  1889  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  State  Historical  Society,  and  takes  an  active  part  in  its  pro- 
ceedings. 

Although  a  life-long  Democrat  Mr.  Moses  takes  no  active  part  in 
party  politics.     He  has  been  twice  married. 

Frank  Oliver  Hoses  married,  October  1 6,  1855,  Miss  Ann 
Maria  Swanton  Larrabee;  daughter  of  Stephen  Larrabee,  and  has 
four  children:  Orville  Bowman  Moses,  Emma  Pcdrick  Moses,  Lydia 
Clapp  Moses,  and  Olive  Moses.  Orville  Bowman  Moses  married 
Jennie  Cate  of  Dresden.  Mr.  Moses  was  educated  at  the  Bath 
schools,  graduating  from  the  High  School.  Following  his  father's 
later  business  of  ship-building,  he  built  the  ships  Oliver  Moses, 
Robert  Cushman,  Frank  Boult,  John  Carver,  H.  V.  Baxter,  and 
James  Wright;  barks  Andaman,  Niphon,  and  Annie;  and  schooner 
Orville.     In  1869  he  retired  from  active  business. 

Henry  Wilson  Owen  resided  in  Wayne  when  he  married  Clara 
M.  Martin,  who  was  born  in  Hallowell,  August  15,  1810.  They 
were  wedded  in  Augusta,  June  20,  1832,  and  settled  in  Wayne,  where 
there  were  born  to  them  a  daughter  and  son,  and  two  sons  in  Bath, 
and  one  in  Brunswick,  of  whom  there  are  now  living:  Emma  M.,  who 
married  Gilbert  E.  R.  Patten  of  Bath;  Frederick  Elwell,  who  married 
Miss  I.  Gilchrist,  of  Ohio,  July  27,  1886,  and  Henry  W.,  who  married 
Miss  E.  Brown.  Mr.  Owen  was  a  merchant,  and  in  the  latter  years 
of  his  life  was  in  the  dry  goods  trade  in  Bath,  where  he  did  an 
extensive  business  and  was  greatly  respected  by  his  fellow-citizens. 
His  death  occurred  in  Bath,  February  26,  1866. 

Isaiah  Percy. —  This  eminently  Christian  citizen  was  the  son  of 
Francis  and  Jane  Wyman  Percy,  and  was  born  in  the  "  Percy  neigh- 
borhood "  in  Phipsburg,  December  23,  1806. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  377 

On  January  29,  1833,  he  married  Beulah  B.  Bowker,  eldest  daugh- 
ter of  Major  James  Bowker,  a  lady  of  many  womanly  and  religious 
traits.  He  first  settled  in  Phipsburg,  and  in  1840  moved  to  West 
Bath,  where  he  raised  a  family  of  eight  children  who  have  all  done 
honor  to  their  parentage  in  their  mature  life.  He  owned  and  lived 
on  a  farm,  but  during  his  active  life,  pursued  his  trade  of  ship-joiner, 
working  in  Bath  ship-yards.  He  joined  the  Congregational  Church 
of  his  native  town,  and  later  the  Central  Church  of  Bath,  of  which 
he  became  the  senior  deacon. 

His  wife  died  April  22,  1885,  and  after  that  time  he  lived  in 
his  ripe  old  age  in  the  devoted  care  of  his  eldest  daughter.  Deacon 
Percy  has  always  been  known  as  an  uncommonly  substantial  man 
from  youth  upwards.  He  was  a  man  of  reading  and  thought, 
and  if  he  had  had  the  advantages  of  early  education  and  oppor- 
tunity, would  have  made  a  public  man  of  value.  In  early  life  he 
became  a  professed  Christian  and  ever  lived  up  to  its  require- 
ments. He  belonged  to  the  ancient  Georgetown  branch  of  the 
Percy  family,  whose  ancestors  were  among  the  early  settlers  at  the 
lower  end  of  Phipsburg,  and  whose  genealogy  has  been  traced  back 
to  the  noble  blood  of  the  English  Percys.  His  father  was  conspicu- 
ous as  a  devout  Christian  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  he  was 
a  grandson  of  Thomas  Percy,  who  had  been  a  deacon  of  the  same 
church  half  a  century,  and  was  known  by  way  of  distinction  as 
"  Deacon  Thomas,"  who  was  of  conspicuous  character  as  well  as  a 
notable  citizen. 

Isaiah  Percy  was  a  man  universally  esteemed  for  his  thoroughly 
upright  character,  and  his  bright  intellect  and  keen  judgment  in  all 
matters.  He  represented  West  Bath  twice  in  the  Maine  House  of 
Representatives,  and  repeatedly  served  the  town  as  selectman,  and 
in  other  positions  of  trust. 

For  forty-nine  years  he  lived  in  the  Percy  homestead,  where  a 
family  of  boys  and  girls  were  raised.  There  are  five  children: 
Timothy,  of  Portland;  Gershom,  of  Los  Angeles;  George,  of  San 
Francisco;  Mrs.  John  P.  Cobb,  of  Bowdoinham,  and  a  daughter 
not  married. 

He  was  one  of  the  earliest  advocates  of  abolition,  not  that  he 


378  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

would  free  the  slaves  without  compensation  to  their  owners,  but  on 
the  ground  that,  as  slavery  was  a  national  sin  and  crime,  the  nation 
should  procure  the  liberty  of  the  slaves  at  any  cost. 

Seth  T.  Snipe  was  born  is  Arrowsic,  February  5,  1839.  **e 
passed  his  youthful  days  in  that  town,  and  on  May  22,  1864,  married 
Miss  Ann  Maria  Spinney  of  the  same  place.  When  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  commenced  he  was  living  in  Massachusetts,  and  when  the 
Forty-fourth  Regiment  of  that  state  was  organized  he  enlisted  in  its 
ranks,  in  1862.  Going  to  the  front  the  regiment  was  in  active  service 
in  North  Carolina,  participating  in  five  or  six  battles.  At  the  close 
of  the  term  of  his  enlistment,  he  came  to  Hath,  in  1868,  and  entered 
into  the  grocery  business,  in  which  he  has  continued  ever  since. 

Mr.  Snipe  has  served  two  years  in  the  Common  Council,  of  which 
he  was  president  in  1890-91;  five  years  on  the  Hoard  of  Aldermen 
and  two  years  its  president;  has  been  treasurer  of  the  People's  Ferry 
Company  nine  years;  trustee  of  the  Military  and  Naval  Orphan 
Asylum  ten  years,  and  its  president  five  years;  has  been  clerk  of 
the  Winter  Street  Church  since  1883;  a  deacon  since  1876;  senior 
deacon  since  1888;  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  School  since  1886. 
As  member  of  Sedgwick  Post  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
of  Maine,  he  has  been  commander,  adjutant,  quartermaster,  and  was 
a  delegate  to  the  National  Encampment  in  Minneapolis,  in  1884,  San 
Francisco,  in  1886,  and  Detroit,  in  1891. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snipe  have  one  son,  Langdon  T.  Snipe,  who  was  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College  in  1889,  and  is  a  graduate  of  the  Medical 
Department  of  Columbia  College,  New  York.  In  1893  he  com- 
menced medical  practice  in  Hath. 

Mr.  Snipe  is  a  descendant  of  the  men  of  that  name  who  were 
prominent  residents  of  ancient  Georgetown,  of  whom  Charles  Snipe 
was  a  member  at  the  formation  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Emerson's  church  at 
that  place,  in  1765,  thus  inheriting  the  religious  sentiments  of  the 
Congregational  denomination,  to  which  he  has  always  remained 
attached. 

John  0.  Shaw  was  born,  in  Hath,  in  1838.  He  was  educated  in 
the  city  schools.     In  1854  he  went  to  sea,  but  coming  home  during 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  379 

the  war  he  entered  the  United  States  Navy,  as  ensign,  and  served  in 
the  East  Gulf  Squadron  under  Admiral  Bailey.  After  the  war  Mr. 
Shaw  engaged  in  the  book  and  stationery  business  in  Bath  in  1865. 
He  has  been  a  member,  for  several  years,  of  both  branches  of  the 
City  Government,  and  was  president  of  the  Common  Council  four 
years.  In  1890  and  1892  he  was  elected  representative  to  the  Leg- 
islature, and  in  1893  was  elected  mayor  of  Bath. 

Having  been  made  a  Mason  in  1864,  he  has  held  the  higher  offices 
in  Solar  Lodge,  was  High  Priest  of  Montgomery  Chapter  five  years, 
has  been  Eminent  Commander  of  Dunlap  Commandery,  has  filled 
several  offices  in  the  Grand  Masonic  Bodies  of  Maine,  and  was 
Grand  Commander  of  the  Grand  Commandery,  Knights  Templar,  of 
Maine,  for  1886-87. 

In  August,  1864,  he  married  Mary  E.  Macloon,  daughter  of  Capt. 
E.  C.  Macloon,  of  this  city.  They  have  had  seven  children,  four  boys 
and  three  girls,  of  whom  three  boys  and  one  girl  are  now  living. 

The  ancestors  of  Mr.  Shaw  were  notable  pioneers  in  the  settle- 
ment of  Bath,  were  of  stalwart  character,  arid  the  name  of  Shaw  is 
indelibly  identified  with  the  history  of  the  town,  both  in  private  and 
public  capacities.  Of  these  characteristics  Bath's  present  mayor  is 
a  worthy  representative.  Inheriting  patriotic  impulses  he  joined  the 
Union  forces  in  the  late  war,  cheerfully  serving  the  country  in  its 
time  of  need.  Since  his  return  from  the  front  he  has  taken  a  promi- 
incnt  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  city,  serving  several  years  in  the  city 
government,  and  president  of  the  Common  Council  many  years,  until 
his  almost  unanimous  election  to  the  office  of  mayor,  in  the  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  of  which  the  city  feels  certain  of  ability,  honesty, 
and  economy.  As  senior  warden  of  Grace  Church  he  has  ever  been 
one  of  its  chief  pillars,  and  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  School. 
His  children  living  are :  Wallace  E.,  Fred  P.,  John,  and  Rachel  L. 
Wallace  E.  is  with  him  in  his  business.  Fred  P.  carries  on  a  book- 
store in  Brunswick.     John  is  employed  at  the  Bath  Iron  Works. 

Fritz  H.  Twitcliell  was  born,  in  Portland,  in  1855,  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  graduated  from  Portland  High  School.  For 
several  years  he  was  in  the  wholesale  dry  goods  business  in  Portland, 


380  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

with  the  firms  of  Locke,  Twitchell  &  Co.,  and  Twitchell,  Chapman 
&  Co.  He  came  to  Bath  in  1879,  and  in  1881  married  Miss  Emma 
Patten  Harding,  daughter  of  the  late  Col.  E.  K.  Harding. 

He  is  connected  with  many  manufacturing  and  gas  and  electric 
corporations,  being  clerk  and  buyer  of  the  Worumbo  Manufacturing 
Company,  of  Lisbon  Falls,  treasurer  of  the  Androscoggin  Water 
Power  Company,  treasurer  of  the  Bath  Gas  and  Electric  Company, 
and  Bath  Street  Railway  Company. 

He  has  taken  considerable  interest  in  Masonry  and  Knights  of 
Pythias,  having  been  Eminent  Commander  of  Dunlap  Commandery, 
Knights  Templar,  and  is  now  an  officer  in  the  Grand  Commandery 
of  Maine;  has  been  Chancellor  Commander  of  Patten  Lodge  and 
Grand  Chancellor  of  Maine,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  City  Council  in  1883,  1885,  1886,  1887, 
1888,  and  1890,  and  four  of  these  years  was  president  of  that  body. 
He  was  mayor  of  Bath  in  1891  and  1892,  and  a  member  of  the 
House  of  Representatives,  of  Maine,  for  1893-94. 

Francis  Adams  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  July  18,  1824, 
and  is  a  descendant  of  Francis  Adams,  one  of  the  early  Plymouth 
settlers.  His  father  was  Richard  Adams,  and  his  mother  was  of 
the  family  of  Hunter,  of  Topsham,  to  which  town  they  moved  and 
settled  on  a  farm.  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  in  1850, 
with  rank  that  admitted  him  to  membership  with  the  Phi  Beta 
Kappa  Fraternity  of  that  institution. 

He  then  spent  two  years  in  part  reading  law  in  the  office  of 
Ebenezer  Everett,  in  Brunswick,  and  in  teaching  in  the  high  school 
in  that  town,  after  which  he  taught  in  the  Topsham  Academy  and 
Litchfield  Institute.  In  1857  he  entered  the  law  office  of  W.  (2. 
Barrows,  in  Brunswick,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  Sagadahoc 
County  in  1859,  and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  at 
Topsham,  and  soon  after  succeeded  to  the  law  business  of  Judge 
Barrows,  on  his  promotion  to  the  Bench.  In  1869  he  removed  to 
Bath. 

While  residing  in  Topsham  he  served  several  years  on  the  boards 
of  superintending  school   committee  and  selectmen  of  that  town. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  38 1 

He  was  county  attorney  for  Sagadahoc  County  from  1864  to  1874. 
On  July  8,  1867,  Mr.  Adams  married  Miss  Clara  Jane  Hildreth, 
of  Topsham.  They  have  had  five  daughters  and  one  son  —  Mar- 
garet Jane,  Sarah  Angeline,  Clara  Augusta,  Alice  Fairfield,  Francis, 
Pauline  Hildreth — all  living  but  Alice  Fairfield,  who  died  in  infancy. 

(jcorgc  Evans  HllgliOS  was  born  in  Boston,  January  19,  1852. 
His  education  was  commenced  in  the  schools  of  Bath,  graduating 
from  the  High  School  in  1869,  and  having  fitted  for  college  he 
entered  Bowdoin  in  1873.  *n  !^74  ne  t0°k  charge  of  Bath  High 
School  and  was  principal  of  it  until  1884,  when  he  resigned  to  enter 
upon  the  practice  of  law,  of  which  he  had  made  a  study  during  his 
years  of  teaching.  In  1884  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Sagada- 
hoc County,  and  opened  an  office  in  Bath. 

Although  not  entering  largely  into  party  politics,  Mr.  Hughes 
acceded  to  the  wishes  of  the  Democratic  party  of  the  city  to  run  as 
its  candidate  for  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1884,  and  for  mayor 
in  1888,  and  at  each  election  received  a  large  complimentary  vote  in 
a  city  overwhelmingly  Republican. 

In  July,  1884,  Mr.  Hughes  married  Miss  Susan  M.  Nealley, 
daughter  of  L.  S.  J.  Nealley,  who  was  for  many  years  collector  of  the 
Port  of  Bath. 

William  Edgar  Hogail  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children, 
and  was  born  in  Bangor,  August  1,  1849,  an(*  early  found  that 
his  way  in  the  world  must  necessarily  be  from  his  own  exer- 
tions, and  later  in  life  became  the  stay  of  the  family  many  years. 
He  took  to  books  and  liked  study,  and,  going  through  all  the  grades 
of  the  Bath  schools,  he  graduated  from  the  High  School  in  the  class 
of  1867.  He  then  went  to  Phillips  Academy,  Andover,  to  prepare 
for  a  college  course;  remaining  there  two  years  he  entered  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1870;  was  admitted  to  the  Sophomore  class,  and 
graduated  in  1872.  During  his  course  in  college  Mr.  Hogan  taught 
school  two  winters,  and,  after  graduation,  taught  in  a  Grammar 
School  in  Bath  three  years,  studying  law  at  the  same  time  with 
Washington  Gilbert.  In  1876  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar,  and  has 
been  in  the  practice  of  law  in  Bath  ever  since ;  was  register  of  deeds 


382  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

four  years;  postmaster  of  Bath  from  January,  1882,  until  1885, 
and  was  again  appointed  in  1889.  He  has  ever  been  an  active 
Republican  in  politics. 

Joseph  HcCobb  Trott  was  born  in  Bath  in  1853;  educated  in 
the  public  schools  of  Bath;  studied  law  with  Judge  Washington 
Gilbert;  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1879,  anc*  at  once  entered  upon  the 
practice  of  the  law  at  Bath. 

Franklin  Pierce  Sprague  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  June  28, 
1852,  and,  on  September  26,  1883,  he  married  Miss  Ida  B.  Bailey, 
who  was  born  in  Anson,  Me.,  March  23,  1863.  He  was  a  citizen  of 
Phipsburg  until  March,  1882,  when  he  became  a  citizen  of  Bath, 
where  all  his  three  children  were  born. 

Mr.  Sprague  started  in  his  business  life  with  a  good  education, 
acquired  solely  by  his  own  exertions.  After  going  through  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  his  native  town,  he  attended  courses  of  instruction  at 
the  Maine  State  Seminary  and  Nichol's  Latin  School,  Westbrook 
Seminary,  Bates  College,  and  in  the  winters  of  1 890-1,  the  law 
department  of  the  Boston  University. 

In  March,  1875,  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  schools,  and  again 
in  March,  1880;  was  elected  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature  in 
September,  1880,  from  Phipsburg  and  its  classified  towns;  was 
elected  to  the  Common  Council  of  Bath  in  1885,  1890,  and  1893, 
having  refused  a  nomination  in  1891.  Mr.  Sprague  is  a  member  of 
the  Maine  Bar  Association,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Patten  Lodge 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  has  ever  been  a  strong  Republican. 
After  a  course  of  study  of  law  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
April,  1880,  and  to  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  in  1888, 
practicing  in  Bath. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Lombard,  who,  with  her  husband,  lived  at  West  Bath 
at  so  early  a  date  as  1760,  was  the  first  to  professionally  attend  the 
sick  within  the  region  around  about  Bath.  Her  specialty  was  attend- 
ance at  childbirth  in  the  duties  of  which  she  was  expert,  and,  for 
such  in  particular,  was  called  from  far  and  near.  To  be  ready  for 
a  summons  in  the  night  her  custom  was  to  be  in  readiness  at  a 
minute's  warning,  and  as  she  often  had  to  ride  on  a  "pinion"  on 


*4 


o  s-nj?  ctcJbftJHl 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  383 

the  horse,  behind  the  man  who  came  after  her,  she  kept  her  pillion 
ready  at  hand.  At  such  times  when  the  man  came  within  hailing 
distance  of  her  dwelling  he  would  call  out  loudly,  "Granny  Lombard! 
Granny  Lombard! "  Quick  to  hear,  she  would,  at  the  first  sound  of 
his  voice,  leap  from  her  bed,  hastily  dress,  seize  her  pillion,  emerge 
from  the  house,  and,  from  a  neighboring  high  rock,  mount  behind  her 
patron, and  speed  to  her  destination.  Her  "call"  ended,  she  was 
paid  a  silver  dollar,  her  regular  fee,  and  conveyed  home  in  the  same 
manner  she  came. 

Dr.  Samuel  Eaton  Duncan  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  by 
one  of  his  descendants,  Chapin  Weston,  near  the  Harding  Station 
of  the  Maine  Central  Railroad.  The  doctor  came  from  Topsham 
and  bought  the  farm  on  which  this  house  stands,  in  1772,  and  died 
there,  June  30,  1782,  at  39  years  of  age.  His  practice  extended 
to  Hath.  Doctor  Duncan  is  ancestor  of  all  those  who  are  residents, 
of  Bath  of  that  name.  He  had  the  reputation  of  possessing  great 
skill  in  his  profession.  He  was  born  in  1743  and  married  a  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Donnell,  Sr.  In  17 18  he  was  living  in  the  house  situated 
on  High  street,  south  of  South  street. 

In  1788  a  Doctor  Sampson  practiced  medicine  at  Bath — Lcmont. 

Dr.  John  Hart  was  born  in  Ipswich,  October  13,  175 1  ;  studied 
medicine  with  the  eminent  Dr.  John  Calif;  came  to  Bath  at  the  age 
of  19,  and  secured  a  large  practice. 

Dr.  Dclshazza  Stilkey  was  born  in  Hamburg  and  came  to  this 
country  during  the  Revolutionary  War,  as  surgeon  of  a  Hessian 
regiment.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  settled  in  Brunswick,  and  his 
practice  extended  to  Bath. 

Dr.  Samuel  Adams  was  born  in  Killingly,  Conn.,  in  1745,  and 
descended  from  Henry  Adams  who  came  to  New  England  in  1630 ; 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Nathaniel  Freeman,  of  Sandwich,  Mass.; 
practiced  in  Truro ;  served  as  a  surgeon  during  the  Revolutionary 
War,  in  the  artillery  department,  under  General  Knox,  and  was  fre- 
quently in  company  with  General  Washington.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  settled  in  Bath,  when  he  was  the  only  physician  in  the  place, 
and  had  an  extensive  practice.      He  married  four  times  and  had 


384  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

nine  children,  to  all  of  whom  he  gave  the  best  education  ai 
able  at  that  day.  He  was  a  charter  member  of  Solar  Lodge 
its  second  Master,  in  1805  and  1806.  He  died  in  Bath,  W 
14,  1819,  aged  74  years.  He  was  said  to  have  been  "the 
intelligent  and  successful  practitioner  of  medicine  in  the  state.' 

Dr.  Benjamin  D.  Bartlctt  was  reputed  a  skillful  physi 
had  notable  social  qualities,  and  enjoyed  universal  esteem.  H< 
Master  of  Solar  Lodge  in  1820  and  1821.     He  moved  from  Ha 

Dr.  Hoses  Holbrook  was,  for  some  years,  in  practice  in  : 
and  had  the  reputation  of  skill  in  his  profession,  as  he  was  al 
the  art  of  Masonry,  and  was  Master  of  Solar  Lodge  in  the  yea 
1813,  1814,  and  1815.  Subsequently  he  became  a  resider 
Charleston,  S.  C. 

Dr.  Timothy  Waldroil  lived  in  the  fourth  house  north  of 
Ropewalk  Creek;  was  surgeon  during  the  War  of  1812  in 
Andrew  Reed's  regiment,  and  was  in  the  campaign  at  Coxs  I 
He  had  two  sons,  Timothy  and  Charles.  The  latter  becai 
physician  in  Bath.  He  married  the  widow,  Mrs.  Welch,  e 
daughter  of  Dr.  Prescott,  a  popular  lady.  The  father  died  Oci 
6,  1836,  at  55  years  of  age. 

Dr.  Joslnll  PrCSCOtt  came  to  Bath  about  1825  and  prac 
here  all  his  life,  on  the  allopathic  system,  and  was  a  lea 
physician. 

Dr.  AniOS  Nourse  had  been  a  prominent  citizen  and  practiti 
at  Hallowell,  where  he  had  been  for  a  number  of  years  a  lea 
physician. 

Dr.  John  Stockltridgc  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  G.  Hitchi 
in  Pembroke,  Mass. ;  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  at  Darin- 
College  and  finally  settled  in  Bath,  where  he  practiced  unti 
death.  J.  Gilman  Stockbridge,  son  of  John,  was  born  in  1 
gradauted  at  Medical  School  of  Bowdoin  College,  commenced 
tice  at  Bath  in  1827,  and  continued  there  during  his  life, 
married  Miss  Mary  R,  Harding  and  had  no  children.  , 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  385 

Dr.  Israel  Putman  was  born  in  Sutton,  Mass.,  December  25, 
1805,  anc*  was  *ne  son  °*  Israel  and  Hannah  (Le  Barron)  Putman. 
His  father  was  a  cousin  and  intimate  friend  of  Major-General  Israel 
Putman.  He  graduated  at  Brown  University  and  Bowdoin  Medi- 
cal School,  commenced  practice  in  Wales,  Me.,  and  removed  to 
Bath  in  1835,  where  he  attained  an  extensive  practice  in  his 
profession  and  became  actively  connected  with  municipal  affairs. 
He  was  chairman  of  the  town  council,  and  after  the  formation  of 
the  city  government  was  chosen  mayor,  holding  the  office  from 
1859  to  1865,  and  again  in  1867.  During  this  official  period  he 
won  very  marked  approval  for  his  administration,  especially  during 
the  very  arduous  years  of  the  war.  Other  municipal  positions  which 
he  held  were  more  or  less  connected  with  his  profession.  His  char- 
acter, alike  as  a  physician,  a  magistrate,  and  a  citizen,  commanded 
universal  confidence  and  high  respect.  Doctor  Putman  was  an  off- 
hand man  in  everything  he  said  or  did,  bluff  in  his  ways,  but 
withal  genial,  outspoken,  and  honest.  He  was  well  read  and  a 
physician  by  nature.  His  generous  disposition  forbade  him  from 
collecting  his  just  fees  from  those  whom  it  would  distress  to 
pay  him,  and  he  was  liberal -to  the  poor  almost  to  a  fault.  His 
death  occurred  June  30,  1876,  aged  70  years  and  6  months.  The 
manner  in  which  he  first  acquired  practice  is,  perhaps,  worth  relating. 
Doctor  Prescott  had  become  of  that  age  when  he  did  not  care  to 
answer  calls  at  night.  The  old  doctor  owned  what  was  then  a  fine 
dwelling,  now  standing  on  the  southwestern  corner  of  Washington 
street  and  the  railroad  track.  He  found  confidence  in  the  young 
man,  and  one  day  he  said  to  him,  "  You  buy  my  house  and  I  will 
turn  over  to  you  my  night  practice;  when  there  is  a  call  at  my 
door  I  will  put  my  head  out  of  the  window  and  say  that  I  cannot  go, 
but  if  you  will  call  Doctor  Putman  he  will  do  just  as  well."  The 
house  and  practice  were  at  once  secured  by  the  young  doctor. 

His  sons  are  William  L.  Putnam,  judge  of  the  United  States  Cir- 
cuit Court;  Edwin  Putnam,  who  entered  the  united  States  Navy 
when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  going  into  service  in  the  War  of 
the  Rebellion,  joining  the  Nahant,  one  of  the  iron-clads  that  was 
immediately  engaged  in  the  terrific  and  successful  bombardment  of 


386  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

the  forts  in  Charleston  harbor,  served  through  the  war  and  since, 
and  is  paymaster-inspector  on  active  duty. 

Dr.  Andrew  J.  Fuller  was  born  in  Paris,  Oxford  County,  Sep- 
tember 15,  1822.  His  parents  were  Caleb  and  Hannah  Perkins 
Fuller.  He  studied  at  the  Maine  Medical  School,  at  the  University 
of  New  York,  and  at  Jefferson  Medical  School  in  Philadelphia.  He 
graduated  from  the  Maine  Medical  School  in  1841 ;  settled  in  Sears- 
mont,  and  in  1847  moved  to  Bath.  Among  his  successful  major 
operations  have  been  amputation  at  the  hip  joint  and  resection  of 
the  humerus.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Maine  Medical  Association 
and  its  president  in  187 1.  Previous  to  the  war  he  served  seven 
years  as  surgeon  of  the  Second  Maine  Infantry,  and  was  post-sur- 
geon at  Bath  during  the  war.  He  served  as  president  of  the 
Bath  Board  of  Trade  many  years,  has  served  one  term  as  trustee 
of  the  Maine  Insane  Hospital,  and  is  one  of  the  consulting  physicians 
and  surgeons  of  the  Maine  General  Hospital.  In  July,  1843,  ne 
married  Miss  Harriet,  daughter  of  George  Marston  of  Bath,  and  has 
had  three  children,  one  of  whom,  Mrs.  Samuel  C.  Barker,  is  living 
and  has  one  child,  Byron  F.  Barker,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  in  1893. 
Doctor  Fuller  has  ever  manifested  a  strong  interest  in  all  matters  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  his  adopted  city,  standing  high  in  the 
esteem  of  all  its  people.  His  conscientious  and  persevering  labors  in 
behalf  of  Bath  shipping  interests  have  attracted  world-wide  attention 
and  have  been  of  appreciable  benefit.  Doctor  Fuller  has  had  a  life- 
long membership  in  the  Masonic  Order,  ranking  high  in  its  offices. 

Dr.  Samuel  Anderson  was  born  in  Deering,  N.  H.,  March  9, 
1807,  and  died  in  Bath,  Me.,  April  22,  1873.  He  was  the  third  of  ten 
children  of  John  and  Nancy  Anderson,  of  Deering,  N.  H.  His 
ancestors  came  to  New  England  from  Londonderry,  in  the  north  of 
of  Ireland,  in  17 18.  They  were  Scotch  Presbyterians,  driven  from 
their  homes  by  religious  persecution.  The  grandfather,  named 
Samuel,  was  captain  of  one  of  the  ships  that  brought  over  these 
Londonderry  immigrants,  most  of  whom  settled  in  New  Hampshire 
and  named  their  settlement  "  Londonderry,"  in  memory  of  their 
old  home, 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  387 

Doctor  Anderson  was  married,  November  20,  1829,  to  Katharine 
Emerson  of  Edgecomb,  who  descended  from  the  Emersons  of  Mass- 
achusetts. She  was  great-granddaughter  of  the  Rev.  John  Emerson, 
fourth  parson  of  Topsfield.  Doctor  Anderson  came  to  Bath  in 
1834.  A  few  years  later  he  commenced  the  study  and  practice  of 
medicine  and  subsequently  opened  a  drug  store,  where  he  continued 
in  business  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  had  five  children,  Edward 
Francis,  Climcna  Katharine,  Samuel,  Jr.,  Nancy  Elizabeth,  and  Laura 
Ann.  Samuel,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Bath,  September  7,  1835.  He 
entered  his  father's  drug  store  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  was  afterward 
received  as  partner,  and  has  continued  in  the  drug  business  ever 
since.  He  married  Almina  Martha  Norton,  of  Phillips,  Me.  Their 
children  were  Harry  Warren  and  Herbert  Morrell.  Harry  Warren 
graduated  at  the  College  of  Pharmacy  in  Philadelphia,  in  1884,  and 
has  since  been  in  the  drug  business  in  Exeter,  N.  H. 

Doctor  lift cbll I'll  received  his  professional  education  in  the  medi- 
cal colleges  of  Edinburg  and  Glasgow,  and  then  entered  the  English 
army  as  surgeon.  He  came  to  this  country  as  surgeon  in  the  British 
army  in  the  War  of  1812,  after  which  as  a  common  sailor  before 
the  mast  of  a  merchant  ship  he  came  to  Thomaston.  While  there 
an  accident  occurred  which  required  skilled  surgery  beyond  that  of 
the  physicians  of  the  town.  Raeburn  successfully  accomplished  the 
operation,  and  the  reputation  it  gave  him  caused  his  settlement,  in 
practice,  in  Warren,  where  he  remained  several  years.  Later  he 
came  to  Bath  and  acquired  celebrity  as  a  surgeon,  which  was  a 
specialty  with  him,  and  was  accounted  exceedingly  skillful.  He 
died  about  1840,  leaving  an  American  wife. 

He  was  an  eccentric  man,  bold  and  daring  in  his  practice. 
Faith  in  his  skill  went  a  great  ways  with  credulous  people;  they 
flocked  to  see  him  and  he  was  called  to  their  houses.  His  prescrip- 
tions were  off-hand  and  odd.  His  style  may  be  illustrated  in  a  case 
when,  at  her  house,  a  woman  patient  asked  him  what  she  should  eat, 
when  he  quaintly  replied,  "  Anything  but  the  poker  and  bellows." 

Dr.  Edwin  M.  Fuller. — The  Freemasons  Repository  says:  "Edwin 
M.  Fuller  was  born  in  Portland,  January  8,  1850.     When  about  one 


388  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 

year  of  age  his  father  moved  to  South  Paris,  Me.,  where  he  resided 
until  i860;  from  thence  he  located  in  Turner,  where  the  homestead 
still  remains.  He  fitted  for  college  at  Westbrook  Seminary  and 
graduated  from  there  in  June,  1869.  In  September  of  the  same 
year  he  entered  Tufts  College  and  received  the  degree  of  Master 
of  Arts  from  that  institution. 

"He  received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine  from  Bowdoin 
College,  and  further  pursued  his  medical  studies  in  the  leading  hos- 
pitals of  New  York,  and  in  France,  Germany,  and  England.  At  the 
close  of  his  medical  studies  he  settled  in  Bath,  where  he  is  still 
residing,  actively  engaged  in  his  calling. 

"  He  delivered  the  first  oration  before  the  Alumni  Association  of 
Westbrook  Seminary  in  June,  1877.  He  was  subsequently  elected 
a  trustee  of  the  institution,  and  is  now  connected  with  the  school 
in  that  capacity.  He  has  always  been  greatly  interested  in  sanitary 
reforms,  and  has  written  many  essays  on  the  subject.  In  1876  he 
received  the  prize  from  the  Maine  Medical  Association  for  an  essay 
on  'Hygiene  of  our  Country  Towns  and  Villages.'  He  is  interested 
in  educational  matters  and  has  served  for  several  years  as  a  member 
of  the  school  board  in  Bath.  In  his  profession  he  has  made  a 
specialty  of  surgery,  and  many  can  testify  to  his  skill.  In  189 1  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  Maine  Medical  Asssociation. 

"He  was  made  a  Master  Mason  in  Nezinscott  Lodge,  Turner,  in 
187 1,  and  joined  Polar  Star  Lodge  at  Bath  in  1875.  He  was  exalted 
a  Royal  Arch  Mason  in  Montgomery  R.  A.  Chapter,  in  1875.  He 
received  the  orders  of  Knighthood  in  Dunlap  Commandery,  1876. 
He  is  a  Past  Master  of  Polar  Star  Lodge;  Past  High  Priest  of 
Montgomery  R.  A.  Chapter,  and  Past  Commander  of  Dunlap 
Commandery.  He  has  served  in  the  Grand  Commandery  of  Maine 
as  Grand  Warder,  Grand  Junior  Warden,  Grand  Generalissimo, 
Deputy  Grand  Commander,  in  1890  was  elected  Grand  Com- 
mander, and  declined  a  re-election  in  May,  1891.  Past  Grand 
Commander  Fuller  is  an  active,  progressive  Mason  and  Knight 
Templar,  and  has  rendered  a  large  amount  of  service  to  the  Craft.  " 

During  the  first  term  of  President  Cleveland's  administration  he 
wa§   United   States   Pension  Examiner;  was  in  1893  elected  alder- 


yfcL^*^£€s  ^r/^-^Jt^t/  hv. ! 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  389 

man  of  the  city;  has  been  again  appointed  pension  examiner  on  the 
Pension  Board  at  Bath ;  is  consulting  surgeon  at  the  Central  Maine 
General  Hospital  at  Lewiston ;  is  consulting  surgeon  at  the  Maine 
Eye  and  Ear  Infirmary,  Portland;  was  appointed  surgeon  of  the 
Second  Regiment,  National  Guards,  State  Militia  of  Maine,  in  1893, 
with  rank  of  Major.  He  married  Lizzie  E.  Gross  of  Brunswick, 
and  has  three  children,  of  whom,  Fred.  A.  Fuller  entered  Harvard 
University  in  the  fall  of  1893. 

Dr.  Randall  Doyle  Bibber  was  born  in  Brunswick,  September 
1,  1845,  and  when  four  years  of  age  came  to  Bath  with  his  father's 
family,  where  he  has  lived  to  the  present  time,  obtaining  his  education 
in  the  city  schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  sea,  which  he 
followed  six  years.  Returning  home  he  undertook  the  study  of 
the  medical  profession  at  the  age  of  twenty-two.  He  attended  a 
regular  course  of  study  at  the  Portland  Medical  School,  and  at  the 
Medical  Department  of  Bowdoin  College,  graduating  in  187 1.  With 
limited  means  he  then  commenced  practice  in  Bath,  and  has  worked 
his  way  up  to  a  successful  business. 

He  is  a  member  of  the  Maine  Medical  Association;  acting 
assistant  surgeon  in  the  Marine  Hospital  Service  since  1872;  city 
physician  and  member  of  the  board  of  overseers  of  the  poor  eight 
years;  on  the  board  of  health  and  pension  examiner  a  number 
of  years;  has  been  president  of  the  Sagadahoc  Historical  Society 
three  years;  its  treasurer  many  years;  is  a  resident  member  of  the 
Maine  Historical  Society,  and  member  of  the  Patten  Free  Library 
Association.  His  father  is  John  D.  Bibber,  and  mother  Mehitable 
Cowen  ( Hall)  Bibber.  February  6,  1873,  he  married  Miss  Sarah 
Aborn  Thornton  and  they  have  one  son,  Harold  Thornton  Bibber. 
Doctor  Bibber  has  ever  been  active  in  forwarding  benevolent  under- 
takings, efficient  in  raising  funds  in  aid  of  the  public  library  and 
other  worthy  objects,  contributing  liberally  to  the  proposed  estab- 
lishment of  an  Old  People's  Home,  of  which  he  was  the  originator. 

Dr.  James  B.  Wescott  was  born  in  Gorham,  May  21,  1841, 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  after  which  he 
passed  eight  years  in  North  Jay,  and  then  in  Portland  until  he  entered 


390  HISTORY  OP  BATH. 

the  volunteer  army  as  a  private,  August  22,  1862,  in  the  Twentieth 
Maine  Regiment;  was  promoted  to  hospital  steward  and  assistant 
surgeon,  and  was  honorably  discharged  at  the  close  of  the  war.  He 
then  came  to  Bath,  where  he  worked  at  mechanical  employment 
while  studying  medicine;  took  four  courses  of  lectures  at  the  Maine 
Medical  School,  graduating  in  1881,  having,  unaided,  worked  his  way 
through,  and  has  since  that  time  been  in  successful  practice  in  Bath. 
He  has  been  United  States  Pension  Examiner  since  1889,  and  served 
the  city  as  member  of  the  Common  Council  in  1876  and  1877.  On 
December  31,  1869,  he  married,  in  Bath,  Miss  Eliza  M.  Taylor.  She 
died  in  January,  1879,  leaving  two  young  daughters. 

Dr.  Charles  Applctou  Packard,  A.M.,  was  born  in  Brunswick, 
Me.,  and  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1848.  After  graduation 
he  studied  and  practiced  civil  engineering  four  years;  then  studied 
medicine,  graduating  from  Maine  Medical  School  in  1857.  He  first 
practiced  medicine  in  Waldoboro  for  nine  years;  then,  moving  to 
New  York  State,  was  in  practice  at  Fordham  for  four  years.  In 
1870  he  married  Miss  Caroline  E.  Payne,  of  Erie,  Pa.,  who  died  in 
1 88 1.  He  came  to  Bath,  in  1873,  where  he  has  continued  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession  up  to  this  time. 

Dr.  M.  H.  FergllSOIl  was  born  in  Dixmont,  Penobscot  County, 
May  31,  1855.  His  father  is  the  Hon.  W.  B.  Ferguson  of  Brewer; 
his  mother,  now  dead,  was  Rebecca  Goodwin  of  Monroe.  Dr.  Fer- 
guson was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  at  the  Maine  Central 
Institute.  He  taught  school  for  seven  winters  in  Veazie,  Winter- 
port,  Frankfort,  and  Belfast.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  A.  C. 
Hamlin,  in  Bangor,  and  graduated  at  Dartmouth  Medical  College  in 
1879.  In  1886  he  took  a  post-graduate  course  in  New  York  City  at 
the  New  York  Poly  Clinic.  Dr.  Ferguson  has  practiced  medicine 
in  Phipsburg  since  1880,  and  served  the  town  as  selectman,  auditor, 
health  officer,  and  for  ten  years  as  supervisor  of  schools.  In  1887 
and  1893  he  represented  the  town  of  Phipsburg  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature. He  has  had  a  large  practice  in  the  town,  and  is  often  called 
to  Georgetown,  Harpswell,  Bath,  Woolwich,  West  Bath,  and  Arrowsic. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  391 

Dr.  William  E.  Payne.— The  first  introduction  into  Bath  of 
the  homoeopathic  system  was  by  a  foreigner  by  the  name  of  Blazin- 
ski,  who  remained  in  town  a  short  time.  He  was  a  Polander,  and 
invited  all  the  doctors  to  a  private  lecture  on  the  Hannamann  sys- 
tem, and  some,  if  not  all,  of  them  attended,  among  whom  was  Dr. 
William  E.  Payne,  who  was  a  graduate  of  the  regular  school  and  a 
new-comer  to  Bath.  He  undertook  experiments  with  it,  which 
resulted  in  his  adopting  its  practice  in  about  1840,  and,  after  a  hard 
experience,  succeeded  in  its  introduction ;  undoubtedly  his  pleasing 
personality  having  considerable  to  do  with  his  success.  He  was 
aided  in  this  by  a  novel  way  of  advertising.  Samuel  Anderson  was 
trying  to  introduce,  at  the  same  time,  the  "Thomsonian  system" 
of  "  purely  vegetable "  remedies,  and  they  united  in  a  newspaper 
battle  upon  the  respective  merits  of  the  two  systems.  It  attracted 
attention  and  brought  them  business.  In  185 1  or  1852  Dr.  Jotham 
Young  came  to  Bath  and  commenced  practice  in  this  mode  of  treat- 
ment; remained  about  two  years.  No  practitioner  of  that  persuasion 
could  successfully  compete  with  Doctor  Payne. 

Dr.  Hilton  Story  Briry  was  born  in  Bowdoin,  May  17,  1825. 
His  grandfather  was  Thomas  Briry,  who  came  to  Maine  from  Lin- 
colnshire, England,  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  and  settled  in 
Bowdoin.  Joseph,  the  youngest  of  his  sons,  was  the  father  of 
Doctor  Briry,  who  was  educated  at  Litchfield  Academy;  studied 
medicine  at  the  Bowdoin  Medical  School,  after  which  he  was  assist- 
ant to  Doctor  Haley  at  Quebec.  From  there  he  came  to  Bath  and 
studied  the  homoeopathic  system  of  medical  treatment  with  Dr. 
William  E.  Payne,  and  settled  in  this  city  in  practice,  which  he  has 
continued  to  the  present  time  with  success,  sustaining  an  extensive 
practice.  During  Doctor  Briry's  residence  in  Bath  he  has  taken  a 
prominent  part  in  municipal  affairs,  having  served  four  years  as  a 
member  of  the  Common  Council,  three  years  on  the  Board  of 
Aldermen,  on  that  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor  twenty-two  years, 
physician  to  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Orphans  Home  eight  years, 
and  to  the  Old  Ladies  Home  many  years.  He  has  always  been 
closely  identified  with  the  temperance  cause  as  one   of  its  most 


392  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

active  workers,  never  prescribing  liquor  in  any  form  in  his  practice. 
Doctor  Briry's  children  are:  Ernest  M.,  Edward  E.,  Mary  E.,  John 
F.,  and  William  L.  Briry. 

Dr.  Edward  £•  Briry,  having  obtained  a  classical  education  at 
Bowdoin  College,  and  a  full  medical  education  at  Boston  University 
School  of  Medicine,  practiced  in  Boston  in  1883  and  1884,  and 
since  that  time  has  been  in  practice  in  Bath ;  has  been  city  physi- 
cian, member  and  secretary  of  the  board  of  health,  member  of 
school  board,  and  boarding  officer  for  this  port,  serving  in  these 
capacities  for  many  years. 

Dr.  James  W.  Savage  was  born  January  21,  1830,  in  Wool- 
wich ;  received  an  academical  education  in  Bath ;  entered  the  office 
of  Dr.  William  E.  Payne  in  1858,  graduating  from  the  Homoeo- 
pathic Medical  College  of  New  York  in  1862,  and  is  in  successful 
practice  in  Bath. 

John  Hazen  Kimball,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  Ayer  and  Eliza 
(Hazen)  Kimball,  of  Concord,  N.  H.;  born  in  Concord  July  14, 
1823;  married,  November  5,  1851,  Annie,  daughter  of  John  Camp- 
bell and  Angeline  (Whitmore)  Humphreys,  of  Brunswick,  Me.  She 
was  born  November  19,  1828,  and  died  December  11,  1890.  Their 
children  are  five  sons,  viz.:  Edward  Hazen,  born  August  24,  1854. 
He  was  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  1876,  Boston  University  Law 
School,  1879,  and  is  now  in  the  wholesale  grain,  flour,  and  grocery 
business  in  Bath.  He  married,  June  13,  1883,  Anna,  daughter  of 
Rev.  Dr.  Samuel  F.  and  Miriam  (Worcester)  Dike  of  Bath.  She  was 
born  January  16,  1855.  Their  children  are:  Anne,  born  in  Lewiston, 
April  16,  1884;  Phillips,  born  in  Lewiston,  February  20,  1886; 
Miriam  Worcester,  born  in  Bath,  July  8,  1890.  Samuel  Ayer,  born 
August  22,  1857.  He  graduated  at  Yale  College,  1879,  Harvard 
Medical  School,  1882,  and  Boston  University  Medical  School,  1883, 
and  is  in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  Boston,  Mass.  He  married, 
October  17,  1883,  Belle  C.  Trowbridge,  daughter  of  Charles  I.  and 
Caroline  (Lane)  Trowbridge,  of  Portland.  She  was  born  in  Portland, 
July  29,  1859.     Their  children  are:  John  Hazen,  born  in  Melrose, 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  393 

Mass.,  May  6,  1886;  Joseph  Stickney,  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  May  20, 
1889.  Frederic  Humphreys,  born  Feb.  25,  1861.  He  graduated 
at  the  Bath  High  School  in  1880,  and  is  in  business  with  his  brother, 
Edward,  under  the  firm  name  of  Kimball  Brothers.  He  married 
Mary  E.,  daughter  of  Milton  G.  and  Eunice  (Hinckley)  Shaw,  of 
Bath,  October  19,  1892.  She  was  born  in  Greenville,  Me.,  Septem- 
ber 6,  1865.  John  McKinstry,  born  November  14,  1863.  He 
graduated  at  the  Bath  High  School,  1880,  and  at  the  Bates  Mill  in 
Lewiston.  He  is  now  agent  of  the  Slatersville  Mills,  in  Slatersville, 
R.  I.  He  married,  September  13,  1893,  Sally  Burnside,  daughter  of 
John  C.  and  Mary  (Dresser)  Small,  of  Portland.  Harry  Whitmore, 
born  December  13,  1865.  He  graduated  at  the  Massachusetts  Insti- 
tute of  Technology,  in  1887,  and  learned  the  cotton-mill  trade  at  the 
Tremont  &  Suffolk  Mills,  of  Lowell,  Mass. 

John  H.  Kimball  was  educated  at  Concord,  Fryeburg,  and  Phillips 
(Andover)  Academies.  In  1843  he  went  South  and  taught  school 
in  Charles  County,  Maryland,  for  two  years;  was  in  Washington, 
I).  C,  during  the  winter  of  1845-6.  Returning  North  he  studied 
law  with  Judge  Samuel  Wells,  in  Portland,  and  was  admitted  to  the 
Cumberland  County  Bar,  December,  1846,  when  he  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  at  Kezar  Falls,  in  Parsonsfield.  In  1848  he  removed 
to  Topsham,  and  in  August,  1849,  to  Bath,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  For  a  few  years  he  practiced  law  and  then  became  actively 
engaged  in  the  insurance  business  and  navigation.  He  was  also 
interested  in  railroads,  and  for  many  years  was  director  in  the 
Androscoggin  and  Central  Vermont  Railroads,  and  is  now  concerned, 
with  many  others,  in  the  ownership  of  land  and  cattle  in  the  far 
West.  He  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  Bath  Savings  Institution, 
which  office  he  held  for  twenty-five  years;  was  presidential  elector  in 
1872;  representative  in  the  State  Legislature  in  1878  and  1879,  and 
senator  from  1883  to  1887.  *n  religion  he  was  brought  up  a  Con- 
gregationalism and  in  politics  has  always  been  a  Republican. 

John  Stockbridge. —  1.  John  Stockbridge  came  to  New  Eng- 
land on  the  ship  Blessing,  of  which  John  Liecester  was  master,  June, 
1635,  when  twenty-seven  years  old,  and  settled  in  Scituate.     He 


394  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 

became  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land,  purchased  near  "  Stockbridge 
Mill  Pond/'  where  he  owned  one  of  the  first  grist-mills  that  were  built 
in  the  colony.  In  1656  he  built  the  Stockbridge  Mansion  House, 
which  was  a  garrison  in  Philip's  War.  2.  Charles  Stockbridge  lived 
in  Boston,  and  in  Scituate  in  his  father's  house,  and  built  the  second 
water-mill,  in  Plymouth,  in  1676.  3.  Charles  S.,  son  of  Charles  (2),  was 
selectman  of  Hanover  in  1727.  4.  Thomas,  son  of  Charles  (2),  mar- 
ried Sarah,  daughter  of  Thomas  Reed.  5.  Joseph,  son  of  Charles  (2), 
married  Margaret,  daughter  of  Joseph  Turner.  6.  Benjamin,  son  of 
Charles  (2),  married  Mary  Tilden.  7.  Samuel,  son  of  Charles  (2), 
married  Lydia,  daughter  of  William  Barrel!,  in  1703.  8.  Thomas, 
son  of  Thomas  (4).  9.  David,  son  of  Joseph  (5),  married  Deborah, 
daughter  of  Judge  John  dishing.  10.  William,  son  of  David  (9), 
married  Ruth,  daughter  of  John  Bailey,  October  8,  1774.  11.  Hon. 
David,  son  of  David  (9),  married  Ruth,  daughter  of  Hon.  James 
Cushing.  12.  John,  son  of  William  (10),  studied  medicine  with 
Dr.  Gad.  Hitchcock,  in  Pembrook,  Mass.,  settled  in  Topsham  in 
1804,  moved  to  Bath  in  1805,  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from 
Dartmouth  College  in  1822,  practiced  forty-eight  years,  and  died 
May  3,  1849. 

Dr.  John  (12)  had  children  as  follows:  T.  G.  Stockbridge,  physi- 
cian at  Bath  in  1827,  married  Mary  R.  Harding;  John  W.,  lived  at 
New  Orleans;  Maria  E.,  born  March  25,  18 15,  died  September,  1823; 
Mary  G.,  born  June  12,  18 18,  married  Capt.  William  Drummond, 
and  now  lives  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  Theodosia,  born  September  20, 
18 19,  lives  at  Utica,  N.  Y.;  Francis  B.,  born  April  9,  1826,  went  to 
Chicago  in  1847,  and  to  Michigan  in  1851,  was  in  the  Legislature 
in  1849-50-51,  and  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  in  January, 
1887,  re-elected  in  1893,  lives  at  Kalamazoo,  Mich.,  is  married  and 
has  no  children;  Cornelia  L.,  married  T.  P.  Sheldon,  and  lives  at 
Kalamazoo;  Joseph  H.,  born  February  18,  1831,  died  June,  1844; 
March  E.,  born  October  27,  1832,  married  W.  D.  Houghleting,  and 
lives  in  Chicago,  111. 

Isaac  H.  Merritt  was  born  in  Harpswell,  at  the  portion  that  is 
known  as  Condys  Harbor.  His  education  was  such  as  could  be 
obtained  in  the  public  schools.     When  still  young  he  adopted  a  sea- 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  395 

faring  life,  and  in  due  course  of  service  rose  to  the  command  of  the 
vessels  in  which  he  sailed.  His  early  voyages  were  to  the  West 
India  ports,  and  later  in  the  European  trade.  He  was  uniformly 
fortunate  as  a  commander,  and,  having  accumulated  sufficient  means 
to  warrant  him  to  do  so,  he  retired  from  the  sea  to  be  with  his 
family,  making  his  home  in  Bath,  where  he  built  a  fine  residence, 
and  entered  into  mercantile  business  which  he  continued  as  long 
as  he  lived. 

While  yet  a  young  man,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Ann  Batchelder, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Timothy  Batchelder,  with  whom  he  sailed  in  his 
his  early  voyages.  His  wife  had  been  a  young  lady  of  the  highest 
standing  in  her  native  town,  and  was  notable  for  her  superior  mental 
culture  and  personal  accomplishments.  They  had  two  sons  who  are 
now  living  in  San  Francisco,  where  Mrs.  Merritt  has  resided  for  many 
years  since  the  death  of  her  husband.  Captain  Merritt  had  native 
traits  of  character  that  were  genial,  outspoken,  and  generous,  which 
endeared  him  to  those  with  whom  he  associated.  He  possessed  a 
well  developed  and  handsome  presence.  While  in  the  prime  of  life 
and  in  apparant  health  his  sudden  death  was  a  shock  to  the  com- 
munity and  regretted  by  all  classes  of  citizens. 

Alfred  Lemon t  was  born  in  Bath,  April  5,  1808,  and  married 
Miss  Malinda  Hoadsdon,  of  Wales,  Me.,  in  December,  1836.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Aramede  Snow  Lemont,  who  was  born  in  Bath, 
February  9,  1845,  and  married  Capt.  Henry  C.  Tarbox  in  1866,  and 
they  live  in  Bath.  In  his  early  life  Mr.  Lemont  worked  at  the 
blacksmith  business  in  Bath  thirty  years,  when  he  relinquished  it 
and  commenced  ship-building.  The  first  vessel  he  built  was  the 
schooner  Eliza  Ann,  at  a  yard  north  of  Thomas  Harward's,  in  1835. 
She  was  employed  in  the  coasting  trade,  and  eventually  was  lost  on 
Seal  Rock  while  endeavoring  to  make  the  harbor  at  Eastport,  to 
which  port  she  was  bound  to  load  with  plaster.  In  1835  ne  began 
building  ships  at  Winnegance  with  Richard  Morse  &  Sons,  and  con- 
tinued to  build  with  them  until  185 1,  when  he  established  a  yard  of 
his  own  in  Bath,  in  which  he  built  vessels  until  1865,  when  he  relin- 
quished the  business,  but  to  the  present  time  has  continually  owned 


> 


396  HISTORY  OP  BATH. 

in  various  vessels.  He  has  been  connected  in  banks  in  Bath  twenty- 
five  years,  as  a  director  in  the  Sagadahoc  National  Bank  and  an 
incorporator  in  the  Twenty-five  Cent  Savings  Bank.  He  is  now 
living  in  retirement  on  a  farm  at  West  Bath,  realizing  a  green  old  age, 
at  a  finely  located  residence,  fronting  the  beautiful  Campbells  Pond. 

Andrew  Tarbox  was  a  leading  and  influential  townsman  of 
Woolwich,  who  commanded  Bath  ships,  and  owned  and  occupied, 
for  many  years,  the  fine  old  Governor  Phips  estate,  in  that  town. 
Late  in  life,  Captain  Tarbox  purchased  the  Judge  Groton  property, 
on  High  street,  in  this  city,  and  built  thereon  a  new  house,  and 
passed  his  declining  years  in  the  midst  of  his  children.  Captain 
Tarbox  was  a  staunch  Republican  through  all  the  eighty-four  years 
of  his  life,  and  served  his  adopted  city  repeatedly  in  both  branches 
of  the  city  government. 

Henry  C.  Tarbox  was  born  on  Phips*  Point,  Woolwich,  December 
2,  1836,  and  was  brought  up  on  the  old  Phips  farm.  His  father, 
Andrew  Tarbox,  being  a  ship-master,  Henry  C.  early  imbibed  the 
attractions  of  a  sea-faring  life,  and,  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  went  to 
sea  with  his  father.  His  early  education  was  in  the  district  schools, 
but  eventually  he  attended  the  academies  of  Pittston  and  Litchfield, 
where  he  obtained  the  rudiments  of  an  English  education  and  the 
theory  of  navigation.  From  that  time  on  he  sailed  in  separate  ships 
from  that  of  his  father,  serving  the  regular  grades  of  seamanship  to 
the  command  of  bark  Samuel  Tarbox  in  1858,  commanding  her  six 
years,  most  of  the  time  in  the  Chincha  Islands  trade,  coming  home  in 
1865,  and  remaining  one  year;  rejoined  the  Tarbox,  lost  her  in  a 
hurricane  sailing  from  Baltimore  for  Aspinwall,  and  was  rescued 
after  three  days  without  food.  He  then  commanded  the  ships 
Ataska,  Alexander,  bark  Almira  Robinson,  and  retired  from  the  sea 
in  1884,  living  in  Bath.  On  February  15,  1865,  Captain  Tarbox 
married  Aramede  Lemont,  only  daughter  of  Alfred  Lemont,  of  Bath, 
and  they  have  three  sons  and  two  daughters. 

Parker  Merrill  Whitiiiorc—  His  father,  Dea.  William  H. 
Whitmore,  was  a  prominent  man  of  his  day.  He  lived  in  Arrowsic, 
nearly  opposite  the  City  of  Bath,  where  he  had  a  farm  which  he 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  397 

cultivated,  and,  in  the  earlier  portion  of  his  life,  followed  the  sea; 
later  on  he  studied  for  the  ministry  and  was  licensed  to  preach  but 
never  ordained.  He  devoted  the  winter  months  to  teaching  school, 
in  which  avocation  he  was  very  successful.  He  was  a  deacon  in  the 
Congregational  Church,  at  Phipsburg,  for  a  long  number  of  years, 
and  was  always  known  as  a  bright  and  active  Christian,  notable, 
ready,  and  earnest  in  prayer  and  exhortation.  In  person  he  was  of 
a  compactly  and  fully  developed  build,  the  perfect  man,  with  a  fresh, 
cheerful,  and  hearty  presence,  and  liked  by  all  who  knew  him.  He 
was  a  great  reader  of  the  Bible  and  read  it  through  twenty-eight 
times.  His  days  were  long  in  the  land,  having  lived  to  the  age  of 
89  years,  departing  this  life  October  13,  1877. 

P.  M.  Whitmore  comes  down  in  the  line  of  the  fifth  and  sixth  gen- 
eration. His  grandfather  was  Andrew  Whitmore,  born  October  2, 
1760,  and  his  grandmother  was  Lucy,  only  child  of  James  and  Mary 
Couilliard,  born  January  29,  1768,  both  living  to  a  good  old  age,  and 
both  dying  aged  99  years.  His  father  was  William  H.  Whitmore,  of 
Arrowsic,  bprn  September  10,  1788,  married,  first,  Charlotte, 
daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  Parker,  of  Phipsburg,  and  second, 
Phebe,  daughter  of  John  Hayden,  of  Bowdoinham,  having  children 
by  both  wives.  In  early  life  Captain  Whitmore  followed  the  sea,  but 
just  after  the  Civil  War  he  settled  in  Richmond  and  later  in  Bath, 
where  he  built  several  ships.  Of  late  years  he  has  occupied  himself 
as  a  ship-broker,  which  business  he  is  in  at  the  presesnt  time.  He 
was  twice  married  but  is  now  a  widower.  His  first  wife  was  Martha 
C.  daughter  of  Samuel  F.  and  Elizabeth  G.  Blair,  of  Richmond,  Me., 
by  whom  he  had  one  daughter,  who  only  lived  one  year;  his  first  wife 
dying,  he  married  Mary  E.,  a  sister  of  his  first  wife,  who  died  June 
1,  1870;  by  his  second  wife  he  had  four  children,  Eugenia  Antoinette, 
Mary  Parker,  Harriet  Louise,  and  Lizzie  Parker. 

William  Evarts  Whitmore  is  the  eldest  son  of  William  H.  Whit- 
more by  his  second  wife,  Phebe  Hayden,  and  was  born  at  Arrowsic, 
November  22  1835.  While  young  he  entered  upon  a  sea-faring  life, 
became  master  of  ships  sailing  out  of  the  Port  of  Bath,  and  retiring 
from  the  sea,  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  engaged  in  the  coal  trade  in 
Bath,  in  which  business  he  is  now  occupied. 


398  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Denny  HcCobb  Humphreys,  son  of  John  C.  Humphreys,  of 
Brunswick,  was  born  in  Brunswick,  October  1 1,  1838,  and  on  January 
27,  1863,  married  Miss  Carrie  Augusta  Owen,  who  was  born  in 
Topsham,  April  30,  1839.  They  have  had  seven  children,  of  whom 
there  are  living,  Lillius  Barrows  (Mrs.  A.  F.  Dunn  el  Is),  Agnes  Whit- 
more,  John  Campbell,  Grace  Thomson,  Alice  Mary,  and  Frederic 
William.  Captain  Humphreys  followed  the  sea  in  his  early  life, 
commanding  some  of  the  best  ships  of  Bath  build.  He  retired 
from  the  sea  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  made  his  residence  in 
Bath,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the  insurance  business. 

John  Henry  Humphreys  was  born  in  Brunswick,  June  11,  1825, 
and  July  27,  185 1,  he  married  Miss  Frances  Wilson,  who  was  born 
in  Topsham,  August  23,  183 1.  They  had  one  son,  Frederick  W. 
Humphreys,  who  was  born  May  31,  1852,  and  died  in  Bath,  of  con- 
sumption, May  11,  1876.  He  was  a  very  promising  young  man. 
Mr.  Humphreys  moved  from  Brunswick  to  Bath  in  1866.  In  his 
business  life  Mr.  Humphreys  was  engaged,  with  his  father,  J.  C. 
Humphreys,  in  milling  and  ship-building  in  Brunswick;  was  employed 
in  the  Bath  Custom  House  when  his  father  was  collector;  was  treas- 
urer of  Bath  Savings  Institution  from  1861  till  his  death,  a  period 
of  thirty  years;  was  a  member  of  Polar  Star  Lodge  and  of  Dunlap 
Commandery.  In  1891  he  went  to  California  for  the  benefit  of  his 
health,  and  on  his  return  died  in  Bath,  June  6,  1891,  and  was  interred 
with  Masonic  honors.  He  left  an  amiable  wife,  who  is  a  member 
of  Grace  Episcopal  Church  and  highly  esteemed  in  society. 

Charles  Nichols  Delano. — The  ancestor  of  the  Delano  family 
was  Hopestil  Delano,  grandfather  of  Charles  N.,  who  was  born  in 
Kingston,  Mass.,  in  1734.  He  became  captain  of  a  schooner,  and 
while  sailing  to  the  Kennebec  he  purchased  a  farm  in  Woolwich  and 
settled  upon  it,  and  died  there  in  1829,  when  95  years  of  age.  His 
son,  John  Delano,  was  the  father  of  Charles  N.,  who  was  born  at 
Woolwich,  February  19,  18 19.  He  married,  August  17,  1843,  Miss 
Frances  Caroline  Larrabee,  daughter  of  Robert  Larrabee,  of  Phips- 
burg.  She  was  born  January  26,  1824.  Their  children  were  four 
sons  and  three  daughters.     His  wife  died  November  4,  1864,  and  he 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  399 

married  her  twin  sister,  Beatrice,  November  17,  1865.  Captain 
Delano  followed  the  sea  and  was  in  command  of  sea-going  vessels 
from  1844  to  1868,  when  he  retired  and  was  in  the  mill  and  lumber 
business,  in  Portland,  until  1883,  making  his  residence  during  that 
time  in  Bath,  where  his  widow  still  resides  in  a  pleasant  home.  In  * 
i860  he  joined  the  Winter  Street  Church,  and  was  one  of  its  deacons 
fourteen  years.  He  accumulated  a  handsome  property.  Deacon 
Delano  was  a  most  upright  man  and  an  exemplary  Christian.  His 
death  occurred  December  5,  1887,  when  he  was  68  years  of  age. 

Abel  E.  Work. —  James  Work,  the  great-grandfather  of  Capt. 
Abel  E.  Work,  of  Bath,  was  born  in  the  City  of  Cork,  near  Dublin ; 
his  great-grandmother  was  Elizabeth  Work,  but  no  relation  of  her 
husband.  They  came  to  America  about  1722;  resided  thirteen  years 
on  Birch  Island;  in  1735  they  moved  to  Topsham  and  settled  on 
a  farm  of  one  hundred  acres,  bought  of  the  Pejepscot  Proprietors, 
on  the  Bay  road;  both  died  about  1760.  They  had  two  sons  and 
three  daughters. 

The  grandfather,  Ebenezer  Work,  was  born  on  the  passage  from 

Europe,  in  1722.     He  married  Olive  Sullivan,  of  Scituate,  Mass., 

born  in  1724.     They  lived  and  died  on  the  old  farm,  he  in  December, 

1826,  and  she  in   December,   1827.     Their  children  were:    John, 

James,  David,  William,  Margaret,  Jane,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Lydia,  and 

Mary. 

The  father,  David  Work,  the  third  son  of  the  above,  was  born  in 

Topsham,  in  1777  ;  married  Mary  Eaton,  of  Topsham,  1801  or  1802; 
she  was  born  in  1784  and  died  in  1876;  he  died  in  1861,  when 
nearly  84  years  of  age.  They  lived  and  died  on  the  homestead 
farm.  Their  children  were  fifteen,  of  whom  eleven  lived  to  grow 
up:  Oliver,  Lucy,  David,  Joseph,  Benjamin,  Catharine,  Charles, 
Susan,  Lewis  M.,  Harriet,  Humphrey,  Statira,  Abel  E.  Those  liv- 
ing are  David,  Susan,  and  Abel  E.  David  lives  on  the  homestead, 
and  married  Mrs.  Hannah  Griffin,  of  Topsham,  in  1882. 

Abel  E.  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm,  and  commenced  going 
to  sea  in  1850,  when  sixteen  years  old,  and  became  captain  in  1862, 
commanding,  successively,  the  brig,  President  Benson  of  Baltimore; 
bark,  Halcyon,  and  ships,  Bombay,  Oregon,  and  Thomas  M.  Reed 


400  HISTORY  OP  BATH. 

of  Bath;  never  met  with  an  accident  in  twenty-six  years;  only 
lost  one  man  by  sickness,  and  one  lost  overboard.  On  June  13, 
1874,  he  married  Augusta  Fisher,  who  was  born  in  Arrowsic,  Septem- 
ber 11,  1843,  daughter  of  A.  D.  Fisher;  has  one  child,  Ruth  Pearl, 
born  in  Bath,  April  1,  1877. 

JaillCS  Todd  Morse,  a  retired  ship-master,  was  born  in  Phips- 
burg,  April  17,  1822.  His  father  was  Francis  Morse,  and  his  mother, 
Nancy  (Todd)  Morse.  His  grandfather  was  Jonathan  Morse,  of 
Small  Point.  The  boyhood  of  Captain  Morse  was  spent  on  his 
father's  farm,  on  the  old  Lithgow  place,  and  his  education  was  in 
the  district  schools.  On  October  29,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet W.  Lowell,  daughter  of  Capt.  Abner  Lowell,  of  Small  Point. 
She  was  born  August  26,  1827,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  of 
whom  four  are  living. 

Mr.  Morse  commenced  going  to  sea  in  1840,  when  he  was  eighteen 
years  old,  sailing  in  Bath  ships,  and  rose  to  be  master  of  a  ship,  in 
regular  course  of  promotion,  in  eight  years,  and  commanded  some  of 
the  best  ships  of  Bath  build,  for  many  years.  In  1867  he  was  in 
command  of  the  ocean  steamer,  Tiogo,  running  between  New  York 
and  New  Orleans,  via  Havana;  she  was  consumed  by  spontaneous 
combustion.  Ending  his  sea-faring  life,  in  187 1,  he  settled  in  Phila- 
delphia, being  employed  as  Marine  Superintendent  of  the  steamer  line 
between  Philadelphia  and  Antwerp,  in  which  he  continued  until  1884, 
when  he  retired  from  active  business  life  to  the  old  family  homestead 
in  Phipsburg. 

John  S.  Lowell,  son  of  Capt.  Abner  Lowell,  Jr.,  was  born  at 
Small  Point,  Phipsburg,  and  went  to  sea  at  the  age  of  17  years. 
He  married  Miss  C.  M.  Campbell,  of  Phipsburg,  and  they  have  had 
two  boys  and  two  girls.  When  21  years  old  he  became  captain,  and 
successively  commanded  the  ships  Armoriel  and  Tiger,  barque  Alice 
Minot,  ships  M.  E.  Riggs  and  Merom,  sailing  in  C.  V.  Minot's 
employ  twenty-one  years,  after  which  he  moved  to  Bath,  where  he 
still  resides  during  the  summer  season,  and  in  Charlestown,  Mass., 
winters.  Captain  Lowell's  wife  died  when  he  was  on  a  voyage  to 
China,  and  he  subsequently  married,  after  three  years,  the  widow  of 


/Wm    Ohav/ 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  401 

Captain  Plummer,  of  Newburyport;  Charleston,  S.  C,  being  her 
native  place.  The  last  few  years  of  his  going  to  sea  he  had  charge 
of  the  ship,  Studson,  until  she  was  sold.  Captain  Lowell  has  been 
fortunate  in  his  sea-faring  life. 

Samuel  Woodnrd  Cusliiug  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  July  27, 
182 1.  He  is  a  descendant  of  the  ancient  families  of  Philbrook, 
dishing,  and  McCobb.  Mr.  Cushing  obtained  such  an  education 
as  was  afforded  by  the  public  schools  of  that  day,  together  with 
three  years  in  school  in  Bangor.  During  his  stay  in  Phipsburg  his 
home  was  on  Lees  Island,  where  his  immediate  ancestors  resided, 
owning  this  notable  island.  In  1854  Mr.  Cushing  transferred  his 
residence  to  Bath,  where  he  pursued  trade  with  success,  retiring 
therefrom  in  1892.  September  26,  184.8,  he  married,  in  Phipsburg, 
Miss  Mary  Ann  Mereen,  daughter  of  Capt.  Abel  Mereen,  who  was 
born  July  26,  1831.  They  have  five  sons  and  two  daughters,  who 
have  been  well  educated  at  high  schools  and  colleges,  five  of  them 
becoming  teachers  in  the  higher  departments  of  learning. 

William  Lee  Cushing  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  July  24,  1849;' 
graduated  at  the  Bath  High  School  in  1868,  entered  Yale  College  in 
1869  and  graduated  with  the  degree  of  A.  M.  in  1872 ;  taught  school 
in  New  Haven,  Conn., — Hopkins  Preparatory  School — several  years ; 
went  to  Europe  and  spent  four  years  studying  at  Athens ;  returned 
to  this  country  in  1887  ;  became  teacher  in  Yale  College.  In  1889 
he  founded  "  Westminster  School "  at  Dobbs  Ferry,  N.  Y.,  which  he 
is  conducting  successfully.  April  6,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
Strong,  of  Hartford,  and  they  have  three  children.  In  the  spring 
of  1 89 1  he  went  on  a  trip  to  Europe. 

John  M.  Cushing  was  born  on  Lees  Island,  Phipsburg,  February 
26,  1 85 1 ;  came  to  Bath,  when  three  years  old,  with  his  father,  Sam- 
uel W.  Cushing;  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  the  class  of 
1868;  commenced  a  sea-faring  life,  in  November  of  the  same  year, 
in  the  ship  Ellen  Goodspeed ;  subsequently  went  in  other  Bath  and 
Brunswick  ships ;  became  captain  in  December,  1872,  in  command 
of  the  ship  John  O.  Baker  of  Brunswick,  when  twenty-one  years  of 
age;  in  November,  1875,  *°°k  charge  of  the  ship  Oregon;  later  was 
in  the  employ  of  the  Red  Star  Line  of  steamers,  plying  between 


402  HISTORY  OP   BATH. 

New  York  and  Antwerp;  was  in  the  ship  brokerage  business  at 
Puget  Sound  four  years ;  came  back  and  was  in  the  employ  of  the 
American  Line  of  steamers,  running  between  Philadelphia  and  Liv- 
erpool ;  in  August,  1886,  was  chief  executive  officer  of  the  Vander- 
bilt  steam  yacht,  Alva;  in  June,  1887,  took  charge  of  the  steam 
yacht,  Susquehanna,  owned  by  Mr.  Joseph  Stickney,  and  is  now  in 
command  and  part  owner  of  a  ship.  He  married  Emma  Smith,  of 
Bangor,  December  31,  1872,  and  has  two  boys  and  a  girl.  She  died 
in  February,  1884. 

Samuel  Dayton  Cushing  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  March  30,  1853; 
graduated  at  the  Bath  High  School  in  1871;  went  to  Europe 
in  September,  1872,  and  pursued  the  study  of  music  at  I*eipsic, 
Germany,  three  years,  as  also  at  London,  where  he  took  lessons  on 
the  organ  six  weeks;  returning  home  he  became  organist  for  the 
Springfield,  Mass.,  Congregational  Church,  at  the  same  time  teach- 
ing music;  from  thence  went  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  where  he  is  organist 
for  a  Congregational  Society  of  that  city. 

Charles  Elbridge  Cushing  was  born  in  Bath,  August  11,  1863; 
graduated  at  the  Bath  High  School  in  1881,  and  Yale  College  in 
1885,  on  which  occasion  he  was  class  poet  and  the  poem  was  pub- 
lished in  book  form;  taught  school  in  New  Jersey  one  year,  and  then 
at  Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  and  later  in  the  Commercial  College  at  Port- 
land; thence  went  to  the  City  of  Colorado  Springs,  Colo.,  where  he 
was  engaged  in  teaching;  and  went  to  Europe  in  1890.  He  is  now 
teaching  in  his  brother's  school  at  Dobbs  Ferry. 

The  youngest  son  of  S.  W.  Cushing  is  Frank  Delano  Cushing, 
born  in  Bath,  December  15,  187 1,  and  who  is  in  Westminster  School 
preparing  to  enter  college. 

Charles  Albert  Coombs  was  born  in  Brunswick,  October  17, 
1836,  came  to  Bath  when  a  youth,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  and 
private  schools.  In  commencing  his  business  life  he  served  as  clerk 
in  several  stores,  and  at  the  age  of  nineteen  went  into  the  grocery 
business  on  his  own  account,  afterwards  a  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Moores  &  Coombs.  He  went  to  the  far  western  country  in  1857  ; 
was  one  of  General  Lane's  celebrated  Kansas  rangers  during  the 
Kansas-Nebraska  difficulties ;  then  became  a  pioneer  to  Colorado  in 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  403 

the  spring  of  1859  *n  tne  pursuit  of  gold  mining;  traveled  in  Texas 
and  New  Mexico ;  returned  to  Bath  ;  was  the  very  first  to  enroll  his 
name  under  the  first  call  for  troops  at  the  commencement  of  the 
Rebellion ;  was  mustered  in  Company  A,  Third  Maine  Regiment  of 
three  years'  men,  of  which  O.  O.  Howard  was  Colonel ;  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks  in  June,  1862,  and  taken  to  David's 
Island,  on  Long  Island  Sound,  to  recruit ;  returned  to  the  army  in 
May,  1863,  as  clerk  in  the  Quartermaster's  department,  served  in 
that  capacity  in  Sheridan's  Cavalry  until  the  close  of  the  war; 
returning  to  Bath  he  went  to  Canada  in  the  oil  business ;  coming 
back  to  the  States  he  entered  upon  his  subsequent  career  of  railroad 
employ;  was  three  and  a  half  years,  in  1867  and  1871,  station  agent 
at  Lewiston ;  was  appointed  the  first  superintendent  of  the  Knox  & 
Lincoln  Railroad,  in  September,  187 1;  resigned  March  31,  1886,  to 
accept  the  office  of  general  manager  of  the  Boston,  Hoosac  Tunnel 
and  Western  Road ;  when  that  road  was  sold  to  the  Fitchburg  Com- 
pany he  became  general  manager  of  the  New  York  &  Northern; 
resigned  in  one  year  to  accept  the  general  management  of  the 
Annapolis  &  Baltimore  Road,  which  position  he  still  holds,  while  his 
family  continues  to  reside  in  Bath,  where  he  married,  July,  1866, 
Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Cowin,  daughter  of  Capt.  Joseph  Cowin. 
They  have  had  one  son  and  two  daughters.  Mrs.  Coombs  was  born 
in  Bath  in  1840.  When  Mr.  Coombs  resigned  from  the  superin- 
tendency  of  the  Knox  &  Lincoln  Road  his  friends  in  Bath  gave,  in 
his  honor,  a  banquet  at  the  Sagadahoc  House,  with  numerous  guests. 

Francis  Winter  Weeks,  youngest  son  of  John  Weeks  and  Mary 
Pettengill,  was  born  in  Bath,  February  26,  1844.  He  received  a 
good  business  education,  which  was  completed  in  the  high  school. 
His  business  career  was  commenced  as  purser  on  the  steamship 
Montana,  plying  between  San  Francisco  and  Portland,  Ore.,  in  which 
employment  he  was  engaged  in  1865,  1866,  and  March,  1867.  Sub- 
sequently, returning  to  the  East,  he  entered  the  office  of  Franklin  & 
Edwin  Reed  at  Bath.  For  the  period  of  fourteen  years  he  was  in 
the  insurance  business.  In  1883  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Frederick  E.  Reed  in  insurance  and  private  banking.  That  con- 
nection having  been  dissolved,  he  was  chosen  treasurer  of  the 


404  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

People's  Twenty-five  Cent  Savings  Bank,  in  January,  1886,  which 
position  he  is  now  filling,  and  he  has  been  county  treasurer  since  1889. 
Mr.  Weeks  has  been  a  prominent  member  of  the  Bath  Board  of  Trade 
and  its  secretary  many  years.  He  served  in  the  Common  Council  in 
1879,  *88of  1885,  1891,  1892,  and  1893,  and  was  its  president  the 
latter  year;  also  on  the  Board  of  Aldermen  in  1886,  1887,  and  1888. 
For  twenty-five  years  Mr.  Weeks  has  been  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  having  joined  Solar  Lodge  in  1868,  and  the  Commandery  in 
1886.  On  September  12,  1876,  he  married  Frances  Almira  Delano, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Charles  N.  and  Caroline  Delano.  She  was  born 
May  5,  1854.  Their  children  are :  Mary  Eveleth,  Caroline  Beatrice, 
Charles  Nichols,  and  Olive  Metcalf  Weeks. 

B.  W.  Hatliorne  was  born  in  Wiscasset,  August  28,  1839.  His 
early  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  when,  at  eighteen  years  of 
age,  he  went  to  sea  three  years,  after  which  he  was  employed  on  a 
steamer  on  Lake  Ponchartrain,  Mississippi,  until  i860,  when  he 
went  to  California  and  engaged  in  gold  mining  with  success; 
returned  to  Bath  in  1870;  went  into  trad$  at  Varneys  Mills;  in 
187 1  bought  out  the  store  of  goods  where  he  has  conducted  the 
grocery  business  to  the  present  time.  He  has  served  two  years  in 
the  City  Government.  December  31,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Eliza 
A.  Morse,  a  sister  of  B.  W.  Morse,  a  very  estimable  lady,  and  their 
residence  is  on  the  site  of  the  Old  South  Church,  High  street. 

Charles  Henry  Morse  was  born  in  Somerville,  Mass.,  June  17, 
1830,  and  came  to  Bath  when  a  child,  with  his  parents,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  commenced  life  by  learning  the  trade  of  ship- 
joiner,  at  which  he  worked  six  years,  lie  then  began  running  on 
steamboats  on  the  Kennebec,  soon  taking  command.  In  1862  he 
was  placed  in  command  of  a  government  steamer,  built  at  Wiscasset, 
and  took  her  to  service  in  Southern  waters,  where  she  was  employed 
during  the  war  as  a  transport  of  men  and  supplies.  On  one  occasion 
this  boat  did  invaluable  service  in  saving  Washington  from  a  raid  of 
General  Early,  when  its  defenses  were  weak,  by  being  the  only  boat 
on  the  Potomac,  of  sufficient  light  draft,  to  bring  to  the  city  a  detach- 
ment sent  to  head  off  the  enemy,  the  Union  army  being  then  (1864) 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  405 

before  Richmond.  Returning  from  the  war,  Captain  Morse  com- 
manded steamboats  on  the  Kennebec  until  1885,  when  he  became 
superintendent  of  the  Knickerbocker  Steamboat  Company,  holding 
the  position  to  the  present  time. 

Aldeil  Morse  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  and  is  a  son  of  Richard 
and  Jane  Morse.  He  worked  with  his  father,  cultivating  a  large  farm 
and  operating  a  saw-mill,  during  his  minority,  after  which  he  became 
interested,  with  his  father  and  brothers,  in  the  manufacture  of  lum- 
ber at  Winnegance,  doing  an  extensive  and  lucrative  business  which 
they  continued,  in  connection  with  the  building  of  ships,  at  Winne- 
gance and  subsequently  at  Bath,  on  a  large  scale.  Mr.  Morse  was 
always  a  worker,  and  while  operating  a  buzz-saw  in  his  mill  had  the 
misfortune  to  meet  with  a  fatal  accident,  prematurely  ending  his  days 
while  in  the  prime  of  life,  May  7,  1875.  ^e  married  Miss  Louisa 
Lee,  by  whom  he  had  a  son,  Charles,  and  a  daughter,  Jane.  His 
wife  dying,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Elizabeth  Averill,  of  Wiscasset, 
and  their  children  are  Horace  Gray,  John  Alden,  and  Clarence 
Morse.  The  two  elder  brothers  when  of  an  age  to  enter  business, 
in  1888,  commenced  ship-building,  launching  three  large  schooners, 
at  Bath,  in  1890.  Horace  G.  had  the  misfortune  of  being  run  over 
in  Bath,  by  a  hose-cart  of  the  fire  department,  while  trying  to  assist 
during  a  fire,  and  was  killed.  The  brother,  John  A.,  still  continues 
the  business.  Mrs.  Morse  moved  to  Bath,  where  the  family  now 
reside.  In  1870,  when  the  ice  business  had  commenced  on  the 
Kennebec,  Mr.  Alden  Morse  undertook  the  enterprise  of  purchasing 
and  converting  the  Parkers  Head  mill-pond  into  an  ice-pond,  and 
taking  his  brother,  John,  into  partnership,  successfully  carried  on 
the  ice  business. 

William  L.  White  was  born  October  10,  1825,  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio.  His  father*  was  a  native  of  Essex  County,  Mass.,  and  was  a 
lineal  descendant  of  Peregrine  White  of  old  Plymouth  Colony  fame. 
Coming  to  Massachusetts  when  he  was  two  years  old,  he  came  to 
Maine  in  185 1,  and,  with  others,  owned  the  stage  line  that  ran 
between  Bath  and  Rockland  until  the  completion  of  the  Knox  & 
Lincoln  Railroad,  when  the  travel  east  from  Bath  was  changed  from 


406  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

stage  to  rail.  On  this  road  he  was  a  conductor  until  1885,  when  he 
became  successor  of  C.  A.  Coombs  as  manager,  and  has  been  con- 
tinued in  that  office  since  the  road  has  become  a  part  of  the  Maine 
Central  system. 

Frederic  Henry  Low,  son  of  David  P.  Low,  a  life-long  and 
esteemed  resident  of  the  city,  was  born  in  Bath,  June  27,  1849, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  public  schools.  He  then 
entered  the  counting-room  of  J.  S.  Milliken  &  Co.,  as  book-keeper, 
where  he  served  three  years;  was  then  in  the  employ  of  George  H. 
Nichols  in  the  dry  goods  business  twelve  years;  became  treasurer  of 
the  Knox  &  Lincoln  Railroad  Company  in  1883;  when  the  road  was 
sold  to  other  parties,  in  1890,  he  was  continued  in  the  same  posi- 
tion; elected  treasurer  of  the  Bath  Savings  Institution  upon  the 
death  of  John  H.  Humphreys,  in  189 1,  and  was  elected  cashier  of 
the  Lincoln  Bank  in  1893.  Mr.  Low  served  as  alderman  in  1889, 
and  has  been  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  for  the  years  1883, 
1892,  and  1893,  serving  on  important  committees. 

Read  Nichols  was  born  in  Bowdoin,  March  11,  1822,  and  came 
to  Bath  in  1839  t0  learn  the  masons'  trade,  which  business  he  has 
followed  to  the  present  time,  and  to  which  he  has  added  dealing  in 
baled  hay,  drain  tile,  cement,  lime,  and  brick.  He  has  served  in 
the  Common  Council  three  terms  and  as  an  overseer  of  the  poor 
five  years;  was  chief  engineer  of  the  lire  department  two  years, 
having  worked  his  way  up  to  that  position  in  a  twenty  years'  service. 
He  helped  work  the  historical  Kennebec  engine  when  its  tub  had  to 
be  filled  by  the  use  of  buckets.  In  1890  he  extended  his  business 
by  establishing  a  brick-yard  at  the  western  end  of  Western  Avenue 
at  Round  Meadow.  January  26,  1846,  he  married  Rachel  Ann 
Little,  daughter  of  Capt.  Charles  Little  of  Bath,  and  their  children 
living  are:    Charles  L.,  Clara  A.,  and  Emma  A.  (Mrs.  Daniel  Pierce). 

Henry  Eames  has  been  assistant  cashier  and  cashier  of  the 
Sagadahoc  National  Bank  continuously  since  1853,  a  period  of  forty 
years.  That  he  has  been  constant  to  the  duties  of  this  position  is 
shown  in  the  fact  that,  in  all  these  years,  he  has  not  been  absent 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  407 

from  his  desk  at  the  office  a  single  day.  Mr.  Eames  has  always 
resided  in  Bath,  where  he  was  born  February  3,  1834.  He  had  the 
advantages  of  a  good  city  school  education.  January  22,  1857,  he 
married,  in  Bath,  Miss  Adelia  Fredeline  Morse,  who  was  born  in 
Gardiner,  May  8,  1836.  They  have  three  children:  Frederick 
Henry,  Ella  Florence,  and  William  Morse.  Ella  Florence  graduated 
from  Smith  College,  Northampton,  and  married  Edward  E.  Wood,  of 
Northampton,  Mass,  September  8,  1885,  and  they  reside  in  that 
city.  F.  H.  and  W.  M.  Eames  graduated  from  Bowdoin  College  and 
from  the  Massachusetts  College  of  Pharmacy,  and  are  in  the  drug 
business  in  Manchester,  N.  H. 

George  W.  JollllSOll  was  born  and  educated  in  Bath;  was 
assistant  postmaster  several  years ;  when  the  Patten  Car  Works  were 
built  he  was  book-keeper  for  that  company  two  years,  then  was 
elected  treasurer  of  the  People's  Twenty-five  Cent  Savings  Bank, 
which  position  he  held  until  January,  1886.  Edward  F.  Johnson 
was  employed  at  Swanton,  Jameson  &  Co.'s  for  eighteen  years,  as 
was  also  Ernest  A.  Johnson  for  about  nine  years,  as  salesmen,  thus 
gaining  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  hardware  trade,  so  valuable  to 
them  in  carrying  on  their  own  business  in  the  same  line.  The  firm 
is  composed  of  George  W.  Johnson,  Edward  F.  Johnson,  and  Ernest 
A.  Johnson,  all  of  whom  are  active,  enterprising,  business  men, 
dealing  in  general  hardware  and  ship  chandlery,  both  wholesale  and 
retail,  occupying  their  own  store  in  Elliot  House  Block,  which  was 
first  occupied  by  Kendall  &  Richardson,  then  by  S  D.  Bailey  & 
Co.,  who  were  succeeded  by  George  Fisher,  and  then  by  Johnson 
Brothers  in  1885. 

Alfred  D.  Stetson  was  born  in  Brunswick  and  educated  in  its 
public  schools.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  commenced  work  in  the 
furniture  business,  in  which  lie  has  ever  since  been  engaged  in  this 
city,  with  the  exception  of  one  year,  when  he  was  in  the  army  at  the 
time  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  having  raised  a  company  at  Bruns- 
wick in  1862,  in  which  he  became  second  lieutenant.  This  company 
was  stationed  at  Arlington  Heights  and  Chantily  during  portions  of 
the  time  of  1862  and  1863.     After  being  mustered  out  of  the  army 


408  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

he  came  to  Bath  in  July,  1868,  purchased  the  furniture  stock  of  J. 
C.  Ledyard,  and  has  continued  the  business  in  the  same  store  to  the 
present  time.  He  served  three  years  on  the  board  of  trustees  of 
the  Military  and  Naval  Orphan  Asylum,  and  in  the  Common  Coun- 
cil of  the  city  about  the  same  length  of  time.  His  sons  are  Harry 
£.  and  Arthur  H.  Stetson ;  the  latter  graduated  at  the  high  school 
and  is  in  Bowdoin  College,  Junior  class  of  1893. 

Joseph  Marston  Hayes  is  a  son  of  the  notable  temperance 
advocate  of  olden  times,  Joseph  Hayes,  and  his  mother  was  Austress 
Davis  Hayes.  He  was  born  in  Bath,  June  4,  1833,  and  graduated 
from  the  high  school  in  1848,  when  only  fifteen  years  of  age.  He 
then  learned  the  trade  of  printer  with  John  T.  Gilman,  in  Bath,  and 
other  printers,  and  worked  as  journeyman  in  Bath  and  Damariscotta. 
At  the  latter  place  he  published  the  weekly  American  Sentinel  until 
1856,  when  it  was  sold  to  Bath  parties  and  he  moved  with  it  to  this 
city,  and  was  foreman  of  its  office  until  1863,  when  he  was  appointed 
clerk  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  Sagadahoc  County,  and  has,  by  elec- 
tion, held  the  office  to  the  present  date,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year.  He  has  also  served  in  the  City  Government  twenty-three  years 
as  member  and  clerk  of  the  Common  Council  and  Alderman,  and 
was  president  of  the  former  board  several  terms.  In  Masonry  he 
has  been  quite  prominent,  having  filled  the  various  offices  in  his 
Lodge,  Chapter,  Council,  and  Commandery,  in  this  city,  and  been 
Grand  High  Priest  of  the  Grand  Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Maine,  and 
Senior  Grand  Warden  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 

D.  Howard  Spear  was  born  in  Bowdoinham,  Me.;  came  to 
Bath  at  an  early  age  and  afterwards  learned  the  blacksmith 
trade;  was  foreman  blacksmith  at  Goss,  Sawyer  &  Packard's  for 
thirteen  years;  married  Ada  Sawyer  in  1876;  January,  1887,  com- 
menced building  vessels  in  the  firm  of  Kelley,  Spear  &  Co. 

James  F.  Mlirpliey  was  born  in  Bath,  March  31,  1850.  His 
father  was  James  K.  Murphey,  who  was  a  ship-carpenter  in  Hough- 
ton Brothers'  employ,  dying  in  1879.  Captain  Murphey  married 
Miss  Maria  Higgins,  of  Bath,  and  they  have  a  daughter  and  a  son. 
He  commenced  going  to  sea  in  1863,  became  captain  in   187 1,  and 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  409 

has  commanded  the  ships  David  Brown,  Alexander,  North  Hamp- 
ton, Yorktown,  W.  F.  Babcock,  and  is  now  in  the  ship  Shenandoah, 
which  is  one  of  the  largest  wood  ships  that  has  ever  floated  on  the 
ocean,  and  under  Captain  Murphey's  handling  has  proved  superior 
to  the  most  speedy  deep-sea-going  ship  of  the  day.  He  has  sailed 
in  the  Se walls'  employ  twelve  years ;  has  had  an  interest  in  all  the 
ships  of  which  he  has  had  the  command,  and  owns  largely  in  the 
Shenandoah.  In  all  the  years  of  his  service  as  captain  he  has 
never  had  occasion  to  call  upon  underwriters  for  a  dollar. 

John  Loiiville  Purington  is  a  son  of  John  H.  Purington,  and 
was  born  in  Bath,  January  31,  1833.  He  married  Miss  Mary  Ann 
Larrabee,  of  Bath,  July  2,  1862.  She  was  born  August  26,  1838, 
and  they  have  had  four  children  —  William,  John  L.,  Edward  C,  and 
Arthur  K.  Purington.  Mr.  Purington  was  educated  in  the  schools 
of  his  native  city;  commenced  active  life  by  going  to  sea  in  Septem- 
ber, 1850,  and  continuing  seven  years  in  deep-sea-going  ships;  return- 
ing from  the  sea,  he  was  in  the  coal  business  in  Dorchester  for  three 
years,  when  he  again  went  to  sea  for  one  year,  making  his  home 
with  his  mother,  in  Bowdoinham,  a  portion  of  the  time.  In  the 
summer  of  1861  he  came  to  Bath  and  entered  the  dry  goods  business 
in  company  with  T.  D.  Percy;  then  in  the  firm  of  Blair  &  Purington, 
later  as  Purington  &  Carr,  and,  after  April,  1868,  continuing  in  the 
same  business  in  his  own  name,  moving  into  his  store  in  Bank  Block, 
December  14,  1877,  w'ln  n*s  son»  John  Larrabee  Purington,  assistant. 
Mr.  Purington  died  in  Bath,  at  which  time  the  Bath  Daily  Times  thus 
spoke  of  him :  "  He  had  been  a  member  of  Solar  Lodge  for  some 
time.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  character,  untarnished  reputation, 
good  business  habits,  and  an  earnest  Christian,  having  been  an 
active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  for  many  years."  Since  the 
death  of  Mr.  Purington,  his  sons,  John  L.  and  Edward  C,  have 
united  in  continuing  the  business  their  father  left,  having  remodeled 
the  store  into  a  first-class  establishment  and  making  the  firm  name 
J.  L.  Purington's  Sons. 

William  Dayton  Hill  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  December  14, 
1824,  and  is  a  descendant  of  James  McCobb,  the  earliest  permanent 


4IO  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

settler  at  Phipsburg  Centre,  and  of  the  early  Cushing  and  Philbrook 
families  of  Bath.  His  education  was  in  the  public  and  special 
schools  of  his  native  town,  to  which  he  added,  at  a  later  date,  that 
of  commercial  business,  in  the  counting-room  of  D.  C.  Magoun,  in 
Bath,  and  by  private  study.  His  first  start  in  the  business  of  life 
was  employment  in  the  office  of  Magoun  &  Clapp,  wholesale 
grocers,  in  1849,  as  book-keeper  four  years,  when  he  engaged  for 
more  compensation  in  doing  the  writing  of  the  ship-building  firm  of 
Hall  &  Snow,  and  returning,  after  the  close  of  his  engagement  for 
one  year,  to  Magoun  &  Clapp;  was  appointed  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Commercial  Bank,  becoming  afterwards  its  cashier ;  then  was 
assistant  cashier  of  Bath  City  Bank,  and  its  cashier  eleven  years, 
and  subsequently  became  cashier  of  Bath  National  Bank  from 
1865  to  the  time  of  his  death,  April  8,  1893. 

November  9,  1847,  Mr.  Hill  married  Miss  Cordelia  Hill  Morrison, 
daughter  of  Capt.  Pierson  Morrison,  a  wealthy  ship-master  and  ship- 
builder at  Phipsburg.  She  was  born  April  11,  1828.  They  have 
had  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom  there  were  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  and  there  are  living  William  Pierson,  Silie  Cushing, 
and  Frederick  Dayton  Hill.  William  Pierson  married  Kate  H. 
Fisher,  and  Silie  Cushing  married  Frank  R.  Mason.  Frederick  D. 
graduated  at  the  high  school  and  Eastman  Commercial  College; 
was  employed  in  the  office  of  the  Maine  Central  Railroad,  and  suc- 
ceeded his  father  as  cashier  of  the  Bath  National  Bank. 

Mr.  Hill  was  a  member  of  the  Solar  Lodge  of  Masons,  of  Bath, 
for  many  years,  and  also  of  the  Commandery,  having  held  some  of 
the  higher  offices  in  each  of  these  bodies.  He  was  also  a  member 
of  the  Winter  Street  Church. 

Mr.  Hill  met  with  success  in  life  solely  through  his  own  merits 
and  unaided  exertions,  having  ever  been  eminently  true  to  his 
integrity  and  business  responsibilities,  of  an  irreproachable  charac- 
ter, and  was  one  of  the  most  respected  citizens. 

Albert  H.  Shaw  was  born  in  Greenville,  Me.,  April  21,  1857, 
and  married  Martha  Ellen  Mansell,  August  19,  1879.  They  came  to 
Bath  to  reside  in  April,  1883.     The  education  of  Mr.  Shaw  was 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  411 

such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  schools  of  his  native  place,  where, 
after  leaving  school,  he  went  into  trade  and  at  the  same  time  had 
an  interest  in  lumber  operations.  In  October,  1878,  he  became  a 
member  of  the  firm  of  M.  G.  Shaw  &  Sons  in  the  manufacturing  of 
lumber.  His  father  is  the  Hon.  M.  G.  Shaw,  a  large  owner  of  tim- 
ber lands  in  the  forests  of  Maine,  and  who  was  for  several  years 
one  of  the  board  of  selectmen  of  Greenville,  served  one  term  in 
the  State  Legislature,  and  now  resides  in  Bath. 

John  McDonald  is  one  of  the  heavy  ship-builders  at  the  south 
end,  and  had  built  considerably  before  he  came  to  Bath.  He  has 
built  here  the  ships,  St.  Lucia,  St.  Nicholas,  St.  John,  W.  R.  Grace, 
St.  Paul,  M.  P.  Grace,  St.  David,  Santa  Clara,  St.  Steven,  A.  J. 
Fuller,  John  McDonald,  St.  Francis,  St.  James,  Henry  B.  Hyde; 
barks,  W.  B.  Flint,  Factolus;  schooners,  C.  R.  Flint,  Alice  McDon- 
ald, Myra  B.  Wheeler,  Kate  S.  Flint.  A  total  of  fourteen  ships,  two 
barks,  and  four  schooners. 

Parker  McCohb  Reed  bears  a  name  representing  well-known 
families  on  the  lower  Kennebec  River,  dating  back  to  its  earliest 
settlement.  Parker  was  derived  from  the  John  Parkers  who  were 
pioneers  at  the  mouth  of  the  river,  and  whose  names  are  now  found 
in  Parkers  Island,  Parkers  Head,  and  Parkers  Flats.  McCobb  is 
identified  with  those  of  that  name  who,  as  early  residents  of  George- 
town, assisted  in  the  conquest  of  Quebec  and  achieved  high  military 
rank  in  the  struggles  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  in  our  second 
war  with  Great  Britain. 

Mr.  Reed's  paternal  grandfather  was  Col.  Andrew  Reed,  the 
pioneer  of  Boothbay;  his  father  was  also  Andrew  Reed,  who  com- 
manded a  regiment  in  the  War  of  18 12,  and  he  was  brother  of  Hon. 
William  M.  Reed,  who  was  a  resident  of  Bath.  Mr.  Reed  was  born 
in  Georgetown,  now  Phipsburg,  April  6,  18 13,  at  the  Reed  farm, 
when  his  father,  with  his  regiment,  was  fortifying  the  heights  at  Coxs 
Head,  near  Fort  Popham.  His  mother,  Beatrice  McCobb  Reed,  was 
daughter  of  Brig.-Gen.  Samuel  McCobb,  and  granddaughter  of  Maj. 
Samuel  Denny,  who  was  prominent  in  Church  and  State  at  Old 


412  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

Georgetown  early  in  the  eighteenth  century,  and  whose  ancestry  is 
traced  back  to  1400,  in  England,  where  the  Denny  home  of  that 
period  still  stands  well  preserved,  and  was  occupied  by  a  Samuel 
Denny  in  1880. 

Mr.  Reed's  education  was  acquired  in  the  district  schools  of  his 
native  town  and  at  the  High  Street  Academy,  in  Bath,  under  the 
instruction  of  Jonas  Burnham.  He  began  his  business  career  as 
clerk  to  his  brother,  Thomas  M.  Reed,  at  Phipsburg  Centre.  When 
eighteen  years  of  age  he  became  clerk  in  the  wholesale  and  retail 
book-store  of  Pendleton  &  Hill,  94  Broadway,  New  York  City, 
opposite  Trinity  Church.  This  store  was  the  fashionable  literary 
emporium  of  New  York  City  at  that  day.  Mr.  Reed  afterwards  was 
clerk  to  Samuel  Byron  Halliday,  who  subsequently  entered  the  min- 
istry and  was  assistant  pastor  to  Henry  Ward  Beecher  at  Plymouth 
Church.  After  a  trip  to  Havana,  in  1833,  Mr.  Reed  returned  to 
Phipsburg  and  engaged  in  school  teaching,  and  later  took  the  man- 
agement of  his  father's  large  farm,  being  the  last  of  a  numerous 
family  to  remain  at  the  homestead.  Inheriting  a  taste  for  military 
life,  he  was  appointed  sergeant-major  of  the  Bath  regiment  of  militia 
for  the  Aroostook  War,  and  later  was  made  captain  of  a  company. 

The  uncongenial  work  of  farm  life  led  to  his  removal  to  Massa- 
chusetts, where  he  studied  medicine  under  Dr.  Winslow  Lewis,  Jr., 
in  Boston,  and  afterwards  attended  lectures  at  the  Medical  College 
in  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  where  the  eminent  Austin  Flint  and  Frank  H. 
Hamilton  were  professors.  He  practiced  his  profession,  in  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin,  until  1866,  when  he  was  induced,  by  the  tender  of  a 
lucrative  position,  to  enter  journalism,  for  which  he  was,  in  a 
measure,  prepared,  as  for  many  years  he  had  continuously  contrib- 
uted articles  for  the  Boston  Traveller  and  other  newspapers,  East  and 
West.  In  1866  he  became  directly  connected  with  the  Wisconsin, 
and  later  the  Sentinel,  the  leading  newspapers  of  Milwaukee,  and  the 
Post  and  Inter-Ocean  of  Chicago.  He  was  closely  identified,  in  the 
establishment  of  the  latter  paper,  with  Mr.  William  Penn  Nixon, 
its  corner-stone;  J.  Y.  Scammon,  its  founder;  E.  W.  Halford,  later 
private  secretary  to  President  Harrison,  and  F.  W.  Palmer,  after- 
wards government  printer  at  Washington.      As  a  newspaper  man, 


6  tjl^c^-xA.  ryyu>-^ci 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  413 

Mr.  Reed  achieved  distinction  in  the  Northwest,  attaining  much 
influence  and  made  many  warm,  personal  friends,  both  in  business 
and  political  life.  He  wrote  and  published,  in  1882,  the  "Bench  and 
Bar  of  Wisconsin,"  a  large  quarto  volume,  which  was  accepted  as  a 
work  of  much  value. 

In  the  fall  of  1882  he  returned  to  Maine,  and  became  a  resident 
of  Bath.  Interesting  himself  particularly  in  historical  matters,  he 
became  a  member  of  the  Sagadahoc  Historical  Society  and  was  its 
president  for  three  years.  In  1888  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Maine  Historical  Society.  In  1889  he  prepared  and  began  the  pub- 
lication of  the  "  History  of  the  Lower  Kennebec,"  in  a  series  of 
numbers,  and  at  the  same  time  was  at  work  on  "The  History  of 
Bath  and  Environs."  He  was  induced  to  undertake  this  latter  work 
by  the  solicitations  of  public-spirited  citizens  who  commendably 
desired  that  the  annals  of  Bath  should  be  put  on  permanent  record, 
by  one  of  the  few  surviving  citizens  who  had  a  personal  knowledge 
of  the  men  and  events  of  past  years.  Endowed  from  his  childhood 
with  a  love  of  historical  research,  he  has  added  honesty  of  purpose, 
perseverance,  and  great  power  of  endurance  in  collecting  and  con- 
densing the  enormous  amount  of  facts  necessary  in  producing  a 
history  of  a  large  and  important  district. 

In  April,  1846,  Mr.  Reed  married  Miss  Harriet  S.  Elliot  of  Phips- 
burg.  Their  children  are:  Emma  Beatrice  and  Albert  Alfred  Reed, 
the  former  living  in  Bath  and  the  latter  a  journalist  in  Boston. 

Oliver  H08CS  came  to  Bath,  from  Portland,  in  February,  1826. 
He  had  learned  the  trade  of  tinsmith  in  that  city  and  noticing  that 
a  newspaper  recommended  Bath  as  a  good  opening  for  that  business 
came  at  once  to  this,  then,  village  and  opened  a  shop.  With  his 
natural  energy  and  industry  he  worked  in  his  shop  evenings.  He 
was  a  single  man  and  boarded  with  Mrs.  Rachel  Trott,  the  first-class 
boarding-house  of  that  clay.  A  year  later,  his  brother,  William  V. 
Moses,  who  likewise  learned  the  trade  of  tinsmith  in  Portland  and 
coming  from  Gardiner,  entered  into  partnership,  and  the  firm  of  W. 
V.  &  O.  Moses  eventually  became  one  of  the  most  noted  on  the 
river. 


414  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

From  tin  they  enlarged  their  business  gradually  into  dealing  in 
iron  and  like  goods.  Iron  fire  frames  coming  into  use,  they  dealt 
largely  in  those,  and  when  stoves  were  introduced  they  were  the 
first  to  deal  in  them  in  Bath  and  the  business  became  immense. 
Square  dealing  brought  the  best  of  custom  to  the  establishment. 
The  demand  for  stoves  became  large,  and  there  was  profit  in  hand- 
ling them.  In  connection  with  this  business  there  was  a  demand 
for  iron  castings.  With  the  enterprise  for  which  Mr.  Moses  was 
always  remarkable  the  firm  established  a  foundry.  The  foundry 
was  first  on  Vine  street,  where  Emery's  wool  warehouse  now  is,  and 
the  plant  was  subsequently  removed  to  Water  street,  the  present 
location  of  the  Bath  Iron  Works.  When  the  marine  railway  was 
built  in  Bath  the  castings  for  it  were  made  in  the  Moses  foundry. 
The  brick  building  occupied  for  so  many  years  by  the  firm  on  Front 
street,  opposite  the  head  of  Broad,  was  built  by  them.  Like  the 
generality  of  Bath  business  men,  the  firm  had  taken  interests  in 
vessels  and  finally  relinquished  their  other  business  to  enter  into 
ship-building.  For  this  purpose  they  established  a  yard  at  the  foot 
of  Pearl  street  in  1844,  where  they  built  a  large  number  of  ships 

« 

and  other  vessels. 

The  Moses  Brothers  possessed  a  laudable  ambition  for  improving 
the  city  by  the  erection  of  buildings  and  blocks,  among  which  were 
the  Columbian  Hall  and  Hotel  and  the  First  National  Bank  Block. 
Mr.  Oliver  Moses  built  the  Church  Block  on  Front  street  in  i860, 
and  the  Universalist  Church  on  Washington  street  the  same  year, 
paying  largely  for  it  himself.  He  also  became  largely  interested  in 
railroads;  was  president  of  the  Androscoggin  Railroad  Company 
and  superintended  the  construction  of  the  road;  was  president  of 
the  Knox  &  Lincoln  Railroad  and  was  active  in  its  construction. 

In  1 86 1  Mr.  Moses  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  founding  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Bath,  the  first  established  in  the  state  and  num- 
bered sixty-one  in  the  United  States;  was  the  first  president  of  the 
bank  and  continued  in  the  office  until  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
February  11,  1882,  at  the  age  of  79  years.  Mrs.  Moses  died  May 
1,  1886.  He  was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Bath  Savings 
Institution  and  served  as  one  of  the  directors. 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  415 

With  the  above  record  of  his  business  career  it  would  be  super- 
fluous to  add  that  the  life  of  Mr.  Moses  had  been  one  of  exceeding 
activity.  He  was  known  as  a  man  of  indomitable  energy,  decision, 
and  force  of  character.  With  unerring  judgment  and  innate  fore- 
sight, all  his  undertakings  uniformly  resulted  in  success.  He  was  a 
believer  in  force  of  will  and  that  what  one  man  had  accomplished 
another  man  could.  Starting  in  life  as  he  did  with  a  limited  educa- 
tion, with  nothing  but  his  own  unaided  arms  and  brain  with  which 
to  work,  he  steadily  advanced  from  a  humble  avocation  to  a  position 
of  wealth  and  influence  second  to  none  in  the  community  in  which 
he  lived,  and  in  competition  with  those  who  had  from  the  start 
superior  advantages.  In  person  Mr.  Moses  was  above  the  medium 
size  and  well  developed,  with  native  courtesy  and  personal  magnet- 
ism, clear  cut  in  words  and  ways,  and  true  to  his  convictions.  All 
his  life  an  ardent  Democrat,  he  had  no  aspirations  for  office.  In 
religious  matters  he  affiliated  with  the  Universalist  denomination 
and  was  one  of  the  chief  supporters  of  that  society  in  this  city. 
Temperance  in  all  things  and  strict  morality  were  marked  features 
of  his  long  and  active  life. 

Mr.  Moses  was  born  in  Scarboro,  Me.,  May  12,  1803.  On  July 
9,  1829,  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Ham  Clapp,  daughter  of  Charles 
Clapp  of  Bath.  They  had  five  children:  Frank  Oliver,  Galen 
Clapp,  Harriet  Sylvester,  Anna  Elizabeth,  and  Wealthy  Clapp. 

Bernard  C.  Bailey  was  a  grandson  of  Col.  John  Bailey,  of  Han- 
over, Mass.,  who  was  an  officer  in  the  Continental  service  in  1775, 
having  command  of  a  regiment  in  May  of  that  year,  held  the  com- 
mission of  colonel  in  1776  and  served  during  the  Revolutionary  War 
with  the  reputation  of  a  brave  and  faithful  officer.  Bernard  C.  was 
born  in  Hanover,  May  17,  1796,  and  married  Jane  Doten  Donnell, 
who  was  born  in  Hanover,  May  3,  1797. 

Coining  to  Bath  at  an  early  age,  Mr.  Bailey  entered  upon  active 
business  in  navigation,  merchandise,  and  manufacturing,  in  all  of 
which  he  met  with  success.  In  1853  and  1854  he  was  elected  mayor, 
and  his  administration  was  notable  for  the  needed  improvement  of 
the  streets  of  the  city,  into  the  work  of  which  he  entered  with  vigor 


416  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

and  efficiency.  When  the  Marine  National  Bank  was  organized  Mr. 
Bailey  was  one  of  its  founders  and  its  first  president,  which  position 
he  held  until  his  death  in  June,  1876,  when  eighty  years  of  age.  He 
was  mayor  at  the  time  of  the  Know  Nothing  riot  of  1854.  Mr.  Bailey 
was  a  very  enterprising  business  man,  straightforward  in  all  his 
dealings,  of  exceedingly  pleasant  manners,  and  as  a  prominent  citi- 
zen was  greatly  esteemed. 

Samuel  D.  Bailey,  son  of  the  above,  was  in  partnership  with  his 
father  in  ship-building  and  other  branches  of  his  business,  and  suc- 
ceeded him  in  the  presidency  of  the  Marine  National  Bank,  continu- 
ing in  the  position  to  the  present  time,  devoting  himself  exclusively 
to  banking  business.  He  was  mayor  in  1870,  elected  on  a  citizens' 
ticket,  and  is  president  of  the  Eastern  Steamboat  Company  and 
interested  in  other  corporations.  Mr.  Bailey  has  ever  been  one  of 
Bath's  solid  citizens  and  of  the  highest  integrity. 

Sewall  Watson  was  born  in  Leicester,  Mass.,  in  1795,  and  went 
to  Castine,  Me.,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years  and  was  clerk  in  a  store 
when  that  town  was  occupied  by  the  British  in  18 12.  During  his 
residence  in  Castine  he  was  town  clerk  for  seven  years,  sheriff  of 
Hancock  County  in  1830,  and  clerk  of  courts  in  1838.  He  came  to 
Georgetown  in  1846,  where  he  was  in  business  for  nearly  twenty 
years.  While  there  he  was  chairman  of  the  board  of  selectmen  for 
five  years;  was  state  senator  in  1856  and  a  member  of  the  Gov- 
ernor's Council  during  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  He  removed  to 
Bath  in  1866,  and  died  in  this  city  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  87  years. 
Mr.  Watson  was  twice  married,  his  first  wife  being  Anstress  Little, 
by  whom  he  had  seven  children.  She  died  in  1843.  His  second 
wife  was  Mrs.  Alice  Delano  of  Georgetown.  She  died  in  Bath  in 
1874.  Two  of  Mr.  Watson's  sons,  Sewall  J.  and  William  H.,  have 
been  residents  of  Bath  since  1848. 

William  H.  Watson  was  born  in  Castine  in  1830;  came  to 
Bath  in  1848;  learned  the  tin  and  plumbing  trade,  and  has  been  in 
the  stove  and  plumbing  business  since  1854  until  the  present  time, 
with  the  exception  of  about  five  years  spent  in  the  West,  California, 
and  in  the  army  during  the  Civil  War.     He  was  married  to  Ellen  C. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  417 

Hatch,  in  1858,  and  has  three  daughters;  served  as  lieutenant  and 
captain  of  Company  D,  Third  Maine  Infantry,  in  the  war,  1861-2; 
has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Council  six  years  and  president  of 
the  board  in  1885;  has  served  as  trustee  and  secretary  of  the  Bath 
Military  and  Naval  Orphan  Asylum  since  1882  to  the  present  time; 
is  an  active  member  of  Sedgwick  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  Grace  Epis- 
copal Church. 

Jollll  It.  Kellcy  is  one  of  Bath's  successful  ship-masters  and 
ship-builders,  having  in  his  early  life  followed  the  occupation  of  his 
father  by  going  to  sea,  and  rising  through  all  the  grades  of  seaman- 
ship to  commander.  He  has  sailed  deep-sea-going  vessels  of  Bath's 
best  build,  including  steamers  sent  to  the  Pacific  coast,  retiring  while 
in  the  prime  of  life,  investing  in  ships,  and  eventually  becoming  a 
ship-builder  and  ship-manager.  Captain  Kelly  is  a  native  of  Phips- 
burg,  born  June  14,  1828.  His  great-grandfather  was  William 
Kelley,  his  grandfather  John  Kelley,  and  his  father  was  Francis 
Kelley,  who  was  born  March  1,  1803,  and  married  Mary  Rook,  at 
Phipsburg,  September  20,  1827,  she  having  been  born  April  5,  1806. 
Capt.  Francis  Kelley  commenced  a  sea-faring  life  at  the  age  of  fifteen 
years,  and  followed  that  occupation  until  his  retirement  when  verging 
on  old  age,  having  first  been  in  command  of  coastwise  vessels  and 
then  deep-sea-going  ships,  in  which  he  was  a  part  owner.  During 
his  later  years  he  made  his  residence  in  Bath,  where  he  died  at  a 
very  advanced  age. 

Although  inclined  to  shun  rather  than  seek  positions,  Capt.  J.  R. 
Kelley  has  been  an  alderman  of  the  city,  a  trustee  and  is  president 
of  the  People's  Savings  Bank,  and  has  held  other  positions  of  trust 
and  responsibility  requiring  sound  judgment  and  reliability.  Com- 
mencing in  1887,  his  firm,  Kelley,  Spear  &  Co.,  have  built  twenty- 
eight  schooners,  one  bark,  one  barkentine,  two  steam  barks,  one 
steamer,  two  barges,  and  seven  smaller  crafts. 

Gardner  0.  Dcering  has  been,  for  a  long  series  of  years,  a  con- 
stant ship-builder,  and  for  a  number  of  years  was  in  partnership  with 
W.  T.  Donnell,  the  firm  having  been  Deering  &  Donncll.  The  firm 
dissolved  in  the  last-named  year,  since  which  date  Mr.  Deering  has 


418  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

been  alone  in  his  business,  building  a  vessel  every  year  to  this  time. 
He  was  a  native  of  Edgecomb,  which  is  said  to  be  a  good  place  to 
emigrate  from.  He  came  to  Bath  when  twelve  years  of  age,  and  has 
become  prominent  as  a  ship-builder  and  in  municipal  affairs,  having 
served  in  the  Common  Council  four  years  and  then  refusing  a  nom- 
ination for  alderman.  Mr.  Deering  was  born  October  18,  1833,  and 
married  Lydia  M.  Robbins,  daughter  of  Chancy  Robbins,  of  Hath, 
and  of  six  children  there  are  living:  Emma  H.,  Frank  M.,  Harry  G., 
and  Carroll  A.  Emma  H.  married  Calvin  W.  Rogers,  who  is  in  trade 
in  Bath.  Besides  vessels  built  by  the  firm  of  Deering  &  Donnell, 
Mr.  Deering  has  built  the  schooners  William  T.  Donnell,  Oliver  S. 
Barrett,  Horatio  L.  Barker,  John  C.  Haynes,  Lydia  M.  Deering, 
William  C.  Turner,  John  S.  Deering,  Edwin  R.  Hunt,  David  P.  Davis, 
John  S.  Ames,  Wesley  Inoler. 

C.  B.  Harrington  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia,  in  1831,  came  to 
Bath  in  1847.  He  learned  the  joiner's  trade  and  worked  at  it  several 
years  and  when  about  twenty-two  years  of  age  began  work  in  the 
ship-yard  with  his  father  who  had  been  a  ship-builder  in  Nova  Scotia; 
learned  drafting  and  the  use  of  ship-carpenters'  tools  which,  with  his 
former  knowledge  of  joiner  work,  made  him  a  boat  builder,  at  which 
he  has  worked  ever  since,  and  has  built  a  great  many  boats  of  all 
kinds,  as  well  as  a  large  number  of  yachts  for  Boston  parties.  He 
has  built  one  hundred  and  ten  vessels  and  boats  that  have  been 
registered,  viz. :  twenty-one  schooner  yachts,  twenty-live  sloops  (most 
all  yachts),  twenty-five  fishing  schooners,  and  thirty-nine  steamboats. 
He  married  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  and  has  had  a  family  of 
nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living,  two  sons  and  five 
daughters.     The  sons  are  both  iron  workers. 

Charles  W.  Taylor  was  born  in  Bath,  February  14,  1849,  and 
married  Mary  J.  Lewis,  at  New  Bedford,  October  26,  1871.  He  grew 
up  in  Bath;  was  educated  in  the  city  schools  and  Maine  Wesleyan 
Seminary,  Kent's  Hill;  was  thirteen  years  in  the  employ  of  the 
Eastern  Express  Company  in  Boston,  and  seven  years  in  the  employ 
of  the  Pullman  Company  in  Montreal ;  is  now  in  the  coal  business 
in  Bath;  in  1891  and  1892  was  a  member  of  the  Common  Council, 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  419 

and  an  alderman  from  Ward  Six  for  1893.     In  political  sentiments 
he  is  a  Republican. 

William  Pelhnm  Larrabcc  was  a  native  of  Phipsburg.  He 
became  a  sea-faring  man,  sailing  in  Bath  ships,  among  them  the 
Hamburg,  built  by  him  at  Phipsburg  Centre,  and  the  ship  Moro. 
built  also  by  him  in  the  John  Henry  yard  in  Bath,  and  eventually 
was  a  resident  of  this  city.  His  ancestry  goes  back  to  Walter 
Beath,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Boothbay,  coming  directly  there  from 
the  siege  of  Londonderry.  He  derives  the  name  of  Pelham  from 
his  grandfather,  Joseph  Beath,  who  married  into  the  English  Pelham 
family.  He  married,  at  Boothbay,  Miss  Ann  Phillips  Smith,  sister 
of  Seba  Smith,  who  wrote  the  "  Jack  Downing "  letters  that  were 
celebrated  three-quarters  of  a  century  ago  for  their  rich  humor. 
The  loss  of  his  life  at  sea,  together  with  two  young  daughters,  is 
related  elsewhere  in  this  volume.  Of  his  family  there  were  several 
daughters,  all  married,  and  one  son,  Charles  Smith  Larrabee,  who 
was  engaged  in  the  publishing  business  in  New  York  until  the 
breaking  out  of  the  Rebellion,  when  he  went  into  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  captain  of  a  Bath  company  in  the  Nineteenth  Maine 
Regiment,  after  having  served  as  mustering  officer  in  Maine.  After 
honorable  discharge  he  engaged  in  business  in  Germany  with  suc- 
cess; returning  from  which  he  makes  his  home  in  Bath,  where  he  mar- 
ried, in  1862,  Ellen  M.  Conant. 

Joseph  Toppan  Bunnell  was  born  in  Newburyport,  Mass.,  in 
the  year  1815,  where,  with  his  father,  who  carried  on  the  business 
of  rope-making,  he  learned  the  trade,  and  in  the  year  1843,  together 
with  his  brother,  George,  came  to  Bath  and  built  the  rope-walk  and 
carried  on  the  business  of  rope-making  and  the  manufacture  of  all 
kinds  of  cordage  under  the  firm  name  of  G.  &  J.  T.  Donnell.  In 
1880,  owing  to  the  decease  of  George,  the  name  of  the  firm  was 
changed  to  J.  T.  Donnell,  which  continued  until  1890,  when  the 
business  was  changed  into  a  corporation  under  the  name  of  the 
Donnell  Cordage  Co.  Mr.  Donnell  withdrew  from  any  active  par- 
ticipation in  the  business,  although  he  held  the  position  of  president 
of  the  new  corporation.      Mr.  Donnell  was,  at  different  times,  a 


420  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

member  of  both  branches  of  the  City  Government,  but  had  no  polit- 
ical ambitions.  He  was  a  very  successful  business  man,  though 
conservative,  and  carried  on  for  forty-seven  years  one  of  the  very 
few  manufacturing  establishments  of  Bath.     He  died  in  July,  1893. 

Charles  R.  Donnell,  a  son  of  J.  T.  Donnell,  was  born  in  Bath, 
in  1846;  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1863,  and  immediately 
went  into  the  rope-walk  of  G.  &  J.  T.  Donnell  and  learned  the  trade 
and  business.  In  1880  he  made  one  of  the  firm  of  J.  T.  Donnell  & 
Co.  In  1890  he  was  instrumental  in  forming  the  Donnell  Cordage 
Co.,  of  which  he  was  elected  treasurer  and  general  manager,  which 
position  he  now  holds,  1893.  He  married,  in  1874,  Ella  M.  Mooers, 
and  they  have  two  children,  a  daughter,  Florence  E.,  and  a  son, 
Charles  J. 

James  D.  Robinson  comes  down  from  a  long  line  of  distin- 
guished ancestry,  of  which  he  has  a  place  in  the  sixth  generation. 
He  commenced  his  business  life  at  Bath,  and  was  for  many  years 
employed  in  the  store  of  Jeremiah  Robinson  on  Water  street,  oppo- 
site where  is  now  the  Bath  Iron  Works.  He  became  interested  in 
navigation  and  was  master  of  the  schooners  Comet  and  the  Planet, 
plying  as  packets  between  Bath  and  Boston,  for  eight  years,  from 
which  service  he  acquired  the  title  of  captain.  Retiring  from  a  sea- 
faring life,  in  1840,  he  entered  into  business  on  his  own  account, 
which  he  continued  with  success;  having  been  a  constant  owner  in 
shipping,  dealer  in  timber,  a  half  owner  in  the  Parkers  Head  Ice 
Company,  and  holding  largely  in  real  estate.  Though  always  in- 
clined to  refuse  office,  he  served  the  city  on  both  boards  of  the  City 
Government  and  was  twice  mayor;  was  city  assessor  several  years; 
was  a  member  of  the  board  of  directors  of  the  First  National  Bank 
from  its  organization;  was  vice-president  of  the  Sagadahoc  Histor- 
ical Society  many  years,  and  was  one  of  the  solid  men  of  Bath,  of 
perfect  integrity.     He  died  April  28,  1893. 

He  had  been  twice  married.  The  first  wife  was  Mary  Elizabeth, 
eldest  daughter  of  Jeremiah  Robinson,  his  employer  at  the  time. 
His  second  wife  was  Caroline  Dresser,  of  Castine,  whose  father  was 
born  at  Scarboro.     Mrs.  Robinson  has  considerable  literary  taste  and 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  42 1 

is  a  member  of  the  school  committee  of  the  city.  Captain  Robin- 
son had  two  sons  and  a  daughter  by  his  first  marriage,  and  by  his 
second  marriage  one  daughter  and  a  son,  W.  W.  Robinson. 

George  Moilltoil,  Jr.,  was  born  March  4,  1840.  His  father  was 
George  Moulton,  now  an  aged  citizen  of  this  city,  a  native  of  Par- 
sonfield,  and  who  came  to  Bath,  from  Limerick,  in  1828,  entered  upon 
the  business  of  blacksmith  and  carriage  work,  and  later  operating  a 
machine  and  boiler  shop,  of  which  he  made  a  success,  retiring  at  a 
green  old  age,  now  reaching  86  years.  He  has  served  in  the  city 
government  as  a  member  of  the  Common  Council  during  the  Know 
Nothing  excitement  of  1854,  and  has  ever  been  a  useful  and  respected 
citizen.  After  having  completed  his  education  in  the  city  schools, 
his  son,  George,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  went  to  work  with  his  father; 
was  taken  into  partnership  in  January,  1862,  and  upon  the  retire- 
ment of  his  father,  in  1879,  became  sole  proprietor  of  the  business, 
continuing  to  the  present  date.  Mr.  Moulton  has  been  prominent 
as  a  citizen,  as  a  Republican,  and  as  a  member  of  the  City  Govern- 
ment, having  served  in  the  Common  Council  one  year,  on  the  Board 
of  Aldermen  four  years,  mayor  in  1889,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Registration. 

On  November  16,  1864,  he  married  Fannie  E.  Shaw,  and  their 
children  are:  George  F.,  Mary  M.,  Jane  D.,  Ruth  K,  Fannie  M., 
Charles  D.,  John  O.,  and  Carrie  E.  They  are  graduates  of  the  High 
School;  two  of  the  daughters  are  engaged  in  teaching;  Mary  M. 
married,  in  1886,  Fred  H.  Morse,  who  is  in  business  in  Philadelphia, 
where  they  reside;  George  F.  was  born  September  12,  1865,  gradu- 
ated from  the  Boston  School  of  Pharmacy,  and  is  in  a  drug  store  in 
Stockbridge,  Mass. 

ticorge  E.  and  Frank  N.  Thompson  are  natives  of  Bath,  sons 
of  John  L.  and  Lucy  D.  Thompson,  old  residents  of  the  city.  The 
young  men  commenced  the  business  of  clothiers  by  having  the  sole 
charge  of  a  store  in  this  city,  employed  by  a  Boston  firm,  several 
years,  making  the  business  a  success.  In  1888  they  opened  a  store 
for  themselves  as  Thompson  Brothers,  in  Church  Block,  drawing  a 
heavy  trade  from  the  start,  having  as  large  a  stock  of  goods  in  that 


422  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

line  as  any  establishment  of  the  kind  in  this  section  of  the  state, 
and  their  well-known  square  dealing  has  assured  them  a  thrifty  busi- 
ness. George  E.  was  born  September  3,  1859,  and  is  married  to 
Lizzie  Low,  daughter  of  David  P.  Low,  an  old  citizen  of  Hath. 
Frank  N.  was  born  July  20,  1856,  and  his  wife  was  Miss  Erne, 
daughter  of  F.  L.  Hodgdon  of  Boothbay. 

Milton  G.  Shaw  is  a  native  of  Industry,  Me.,  has  passed  the 
larger  part  of  his  business  life  at  Greenville,  which  town  he  has 
been  chiefly  instrumental  in  building  up,  and  where  he  and  his  sons 
have  large  real  estate  interests.  It  is  the  center  of  their  extensive  lum- 
bering operations;  is  contiguous  to  much  of  their  large  area  of  tim- 
ber lands;  and  is  where  they  have  a  large  farm.  Mr.  Shaw  has  been 
in  the  lumber  business  since  1841  continuously.  While  a  resident 
there  he  filled,  at  different  times,  all  the  offices  of  the  town  of  any 
importance,  and  was  a  member  of  the  Legislature  at  the  session  of 
1859.  In  1883  he  and  his  sons  built  the  large  "Shaw  Mill"  at  Hath, 
contemporaneous  with  which  he  passed  a  portion  of  his  time  in  the 
city,  and  in  1883  purchased  a  dwelling  and  established  his  residence 
here.  Mr.  Shaw  is  of  the  same  age  as  that  of  the  State  of  Maine, 
having  been  born  in  1820;  has  a  family  that  consists  of  wife,  one 
daughter,  Mary  (Mrs.  Frederic  H.  Kimball),  and  sons,  Charles  1)., 
Albert  H.,  and  William  M.  Shaw.  Charles  1).  and  William  M.  con- 
duct the  business  of  the  firm  at  Greenville,  and  the  father  and 
Albert  H.  manage  it  at  Hath.  The  Shaws  have  large  interests  in 
the  recent  improvements  at  Rumford  Falls.  Since  becoming  a  citi- 
zen of  Bath  Mr.  Shaw  has  done  much  in  aiding  legitimate  business 
enterprises  in  the  city,  making  real  estate  improvements  and  owning 
in  schooners  built  in  the  city.  Mr.  Shaw's  business  ventures,  with 
sound  judgment,  square  dealings,  far-sighted  abilities,  and  life-long 
industry,  have  resulted  in  eminent  success. 

William  T.  DoiUiell  is  a  native  of  Bath,  born  in  1837;  is  a  son 
of  Benjamin  Donnell,  who  was  a  ship-joiner,  and  William  T.  was 
brought  up  to  the  same  employment.  lie  eventually  engaged  in 
ship-building,  which  he  has  followed  thirty  years.  He  built  with  G. 
G.  Deering  for  a  number  of  years,  since  which  time  he  has  built 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  423 

with  his  son,  Harry  H.,  as  assistant.  Mr.  Donnell  married  Clara 
Hitchcock,  daughter  of  Harry  Hitchcock,  an  old  ship-builder,  and 
their  children  are:  Harry  H.,  Clara  A.,  William  R.,  and  Addie  E. 
Mr.  Donnell  has  been  a  member  of  the  City  Government  many 
years,  serving  in  both  boards,  to  the  present  time,  and  is  a  member 
of  the  National  Association  of  Captains  and  Vessel  Owners.  In 
his  own  yard  he  has  built  the  schooners  Katie  J.  Barrett,  George  R. 
McFaddcn,  George  P.  Davenport,  Clara  A.  Donnell,  Independent, 
Mary  E.  H.  G.  Dow,  and  has  a  1,200  ton  schooner  now  on  the 
stocks.  Harry  H.  is  a  graduate  of  the  high  school,  of  the  class  of 
'83,  is  in  the  ship-building  business  in  Hath,  and  built  in  1890  the 
schooner  Addie  P.  McFadden  and  in  189 1  the  schooner  Leora 
McFaddcn. 

James  B.  Drake  has  been  one  of  Bath's  active  business  men 
for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century,  having  been  extensively  known  as 
representing  some  of  the  leading  fire  and  marine  insurance  com- 
panies of  this  country  and  England;  united  with  this  business  he  is 
largely  engaged  in  buying  and  selling  and  is  a  large  owner  and 
manager  of  vessels.  He  has  long  been  a  large  stockholder  in  the 
Kennebec  &  Boston  Steamboat  Company,  and  on  its  re-organization, 
in  1889,  became  its  president.  His  management,  as  president  of 
the  company,  commenced  with  the  building  and  adding  to  the  line 
the  steamer  Kennebec,  the  conducting  of  which  he  has  made  an 
eminent  success.  Mr.  Drake  is  married,  has  a  family,  and  has  for 
many  years  been  recording  secretary  of  the  Winter  Street  Congre- 
gational Society. 

Samuel  Duncan,  physician,  was  a  descendant  of  the  old  Dun- 
can family  of  Scotland,  several  families  of  whom  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Massachusetts  in  the  early  part  of  the  eight- 
eenth century.  In  about  1775  Samuel  moved  to  this  section  of  the 
state,  purchased  a  farm  in  what  is  now  called  "  Harding,"  on  the 
New  Meadows  River,  and  erected  thereon  a  large,  two-story  house, 
which  is  still  standing,  in  a  good  state  of  repair,  and  until  recently 
occupied  by  the  family  of  Chapin  Weston.  Doctor  Duncan  had  an 
extensive  practice  and  had  been  called  "  Old  Doctor  Duncan  "  for 


424  HISTORY   OF   BATH 

some  years,  although  he  was  but  thirty-nine  years  of  age  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  June  30,  1784.  He  kept  his  hair 
clipped  and  wore  a  white  wig,  as  was  the  custom,  which,  no  doubt, 
contributed  to  his  venerable  appearance.  He  was  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery,  near  Witch  Spring,  in  West  Bath.  His  family  consisted 
of  one  son  and  two  daughters :     Samuel  Eaton,  Hannah,  Lydia. 

Horatio  A.  Duncan,  a  descendant  of  Dr.  Samuel  Duncan,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  graduated  from  the  high 
school  in  1856.  In  January,  1865,  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the 
Marine  National  Bank,  newly  incorporated,  which  position  he  still 
retains.  He  has  served  in  both  branches  of  the  City  Government, 
and  was  for  two  years  president  of  the  Board  of  Aldermen.  He 
was  also  for  years  connected  with  the  fire  department,  being  at  one 
time  on  the  board  of  engineers;  is  now  a  member  of  the  school 
board  and  its  vice-chairman;  has  also  passed  through  the  chairs  of 
the  several  Masonic  organizations.  He  married,  in  1867,  Georgie 
G.  Mayhew,  daughter  of  Nathan  Mayhew,  merchant,  of  Bath,  by 
whom  he  had  six  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living:  Silas  H., 
engaged  in  clothing  manufacturing;  Arthur  B.,  watch-maker  and 
engraver;  Grace,  recently  graduated  from  Bath  High  School.  His 
first  wife  died  and  Mr.  Duncan,  in  1878,  married  Mrs.  Augusta  M. 
Hyde,  by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Georgie,  who  was  born  in  1881. 
William  C.  Duncan,  brother  of  H.  A.  Duncan,  has  been  assistant 
postmaster  at  Bath  from  1889  to  1894. 

George  A.  Preble  was  the  last  representative  of  the  main  line 
of  the  ancient  Preble  family.  Among  his  ancestors  were  Khcnczcr 
and  Jonathan  Preble,  who  were  noted  among  the  early  settlers  of 
ancient  Georgetown,  whose  home  was  a  block-house  so  well  histor- 
ically known  as  located  at  the  head  of  Arrowsic  Island,  and  where 
the  Rev.  Robert  Gutch  purchased  at  a  very  early  day.  George  A. 
was  a  grandson  of  the  Preble,  who  was  one  of  the  returned 
captives  from  Canada,  so  much  noted  in  history,  and  his  father  was 
a  sea-captain  who  died  when  George  was  five  years  old.  The 
farm  on  which  he  was  born,  and  where  his  ancestors  became  the 
victims  of  Indian  cruelty,  passed  down  through  natural  succession, 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  425 

and  became,  in  time,  the  possession  of  Captain  Preble.  George  A. 
Preble  commenced  going  to  sea  in  his  early  life,  and  worked  his  way 
up  to  the  command  of  ships,  which  became  the  business  of  his  life, 
himself  having  a  part  ownership  in  the  ships  in  which  he  sailed.  He 
retired  from  the  sea  while  in  the  prime  of  life,  having  his  residence 
in  Hath.  He  married  and  had  two  daughters,  now  living  in  Bath. 
He  was  for  many  years  an  active  member  of  the  Bath  Board  of 
Trade,  a  member  of  the  Sagadahoc  Historical  Society,  and  a  mem- 
ber of  the  City  Government,  in  which  capacity  he  did  valuable 
service.  For  some  years  he  represented  Bath  in  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  the  Knox  &  Lincoln  Railroad.  Me  died  greatly  regretted 
by  his  fellow-citizens. 

ElisllA  Clarke  was  a  descendant  of  Col.  Matthew  Clarke,  who 
fought  at  the  siege  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  1689,  and  who  after- 
ward settled  on  a  royal  grant  of  land  in  this  country,  and  was  given 
the  title  of  "  fighting  parson  "  by  becoming  a  Presbyterian  pastor. 
Elisha  Clarke  was  born  in  Bristol,  Me. ;  when  fourteen  years  of  age 
removed  to  Hallowell  and  fitted  for  college  at  the  Hallpwell  Acad- 
emy, also  learning  the  printers'  trade.  In  1836  he  married  Sarah 
Mansfield  and  moved  to  Bath,  having  purchased  the  Maine  Gazette 
and  Inquirer  and  merged  it  into  the  Lincoln  Telegraph.  In  1846  he 
purchased  and  established  a  bookstore.  While  still  in  this  business 
he  accepted  the  position,  also,  of  manager  of  the  Daily  Tribune. 
Mr.  Clarke  with  E.  Roberts  afterwards  bought  the  Tribune^  and  Mr. 
Clarke  took  editorial  charge.  In  a  short  time  he  sold  his  interest  in 
the  paper  and  entered  the  Custom  House  as  deputy  collector,  which 
office  he  held  for  twenty  years,  when  failing  health  obliged  him  to 
give  up  business  cares.  He  died  November  23,  1884.  He  was 
state  senator  in  1853  and  1854.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic* 
Solar  Lodge  and  of  Dunlap  Commandery,  Knights  Templar;  a 
charter  member  of  Lincoln  Lodge,  I.  O.  ().  F.,  and  a  Past  Grand 
Master  of  the  State  Encampment  of  the  United  States  with  John  T. 
Oilman,  E.  S.  J.  Nealley,  and  others.  He  was  a  faithful  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church,  being  made  president  of  its  first  conference, 
a  delegate  of  Wesley  to  the  Methodist  Centennial,  for  years  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School,  and  a  member  of  the  official  board 


426  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

of  the  church.  Mr.  Clarke  was  twice  married ;  his  second  wife  was 
Miss  Jane  Moore  of  Waltham,  Mass.,  who  survived  him.  His  only 
son  is  Charles  Davenport  Clarke,  the  founder  and  for  thirteen  years 
editor  of  the  Bath  Independent. 

George  H.  Nichols  was  born  in  Plaistow,  N.  H.,  March  16,  1832; 
came  to  Bath  and  was  in  the  dry  goods  business  from  1861  to  1885; 
was  mayor  in  1884;  was  postmaster  from  1885  to  1889;  kept  the 
Tontine  Hotel,  in  Brunswick,  from  1890  to  1892;  returned  to  Bath 
to  become  manager  of  the  Atkinson  Furnishing  Company.  He 
married  Miss  Susan  £.  Colby,  of  Lowell,  Mass. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  427 


NON-RESIDENT   NATIVES. 


JnillCS  W.  Elwell. — There  is  not  a  great  number  of  the  old 
New  York  merchants  still  to  be  found  among  the  younger  genera- 
tion which  has  succeeded  them,  and  in  whose  footsteps  they  are 
following.  Many  of  those  whose  faces  were  familiar  in  the  busy 
marls  of  trade,  two  and  even  one  generation  ago,  have  passed  from 
life,  or  have,  through  choice  or  necessity,  retired  from  participation 
in  the  business  enterprises  of  the  day. 

What,  then,  shall  be  said  of  such  a  representative  as  Mr.  James 
W.  Elwell,  a  man  who  has  not  only  been  a  busy  merchant  for  one 
and  two  generations,  but  for  nearly  three  decades  has  been  identified 
with  the  great  business  of  the  metropolis  of  the  western  hemisphere. 
Truly,  such  a  man,  one  who  has  not  only  been  successful  in  amass- 
ing a  large  fortune,  but  has  done  this  without  the  remotest  sugges- 
tion of  unfair  dealing  or  any  form  of  wrong  doing,  is  entitled  to 
more  than  usual  mention  with  the  other  noble  examples  of  the  ideal 
American  merchants  and  business  men.  We  must  accord  Mr.  Elwell 
a  conspicuous  place  in  the  front  rank  among  such  men  as  Horace 
13.  Claflin,  David  Dows,  Henry  E.  Pierrepont,  and  others,  of  whom 
he  is  one  of  the  few  remaining  members;  men  who,  in  their  time, 
were  not  only  successful  in  their  mercantile  pursuits,  but  left  what 
was  "rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches"  —  "a  good  name."  To 
this,  in  addition,  has  Mr.  Elwell  proved,  not  only  to  himself,  but  for 
the  comfort  and  joy  of  hundreds  of  beneficiaries  of  his  charity,  that 
"  loving  favor  is  better  than  silver  and  gold."  The  beautiful  admo- 
nition of  the  Saviour  was  never  carried  out  more  effectually  than  in 
the  life  work  of  Mr.  Elwell,  during  the  period  of  which,  it  would  be 
no  exaggeration  to  say,  he  has  given  a  million  of  dollars,  a  large 
part  of  his  fortune,  for  the  relief  of  the  deserving  poor  and  enfee- 
bled, and  in  aid  of  religious  and  benevolent  institutions. 

James  William  Elwell  was  born  in  the  old  ship-building  city  of 
Bath,   on  the  Sagadahoc  River,  Me.,  August  27,   1820.     He  is  a 


428  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 

great-grandson  of  Payn  Elwell,  who  married  before  reaching  his 
majority,  and  left  nine  children,  one  of  whom,  Payn  Elwell,  Jr., 
he,  previous  to  his  death,  had  associated  as  a  partner,  he  having 
previously  been  his  clerk  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-two.  At  a  later 
date  he  succeeded  to  his  father's  business,  and  took  one  of  his  own 
sons  into  partnership.  This  son  was  John  Elwell,  the  father  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  and  he,  following  the  example  of  his  ances- 
tors, took  his  son,  James  W.,  into  his  employ  at  an  early  age,  and  it 
will  thus  be  seen  that  he  is  essentially  "a  chip  of  the  old  block/' 
having,  from  earliest  youth,  been  brought  up  among  commercial  and 
mercantile  surroundings.  The  father,  John  Elwell,  when  first  enter- 
ing business,  confined  himself  to  general  merchandise,  but  the 
extensive  ship-building  interests  which  were  then,  and  are  at  this 
day,  identified  with  Bath,  induced  him  to  extend  his  business  into 
the  fitting  and  equipping  of  vessels,  for  fishing  cruisers  and  coast- 
ing; he  also  established,  at  the  same  time,  a  very  considerable  West 
India  trade.  He  settled  in  Brooklyn  and  commenced  business  with 
Mr.  James  B.  Taylor,  under  the  name  of  Elwell  &  Taylor,  at  No.  84 
Coffee  House  Slip,  New  York  City.  Brooklyn  was  then  but  an  insig- 
nificant village,  comparatively,  and  the  trip  from  Bath  to  New  York 
took  up  two  weeks'  time,  steam  then  being  in  its  infancy.  In  those 
days  children  were  not  usually  sent  to  school  at  such  an  early  age, 
but  James  W.  began  his  schooling  when  only  three  years  old,  and  at 
nine  was  so  well  prepared  that  he  was  admitted  to  the  Bath  Acade- 
my. The  natural  result  was  that  he  pushed  his  studies  at  an  uncom- 
monly youthful  period,  and  when  his  father  opened  store  he  was 
given  the  position  of  clerk.  Some  months  subsequent  to  this  he 
entered  the  store  of  James  R.  Gibson  —  not  a  very  lucrative  employ- 
ment —  for  in  those  days  a  clerk  had  to  work  his  way  upward  by 
slow  degrees,  and  in  the  meantime  he  was  expected  to  do  a  great 
deal  of  hard  work,  for  which  he  received  very  small  wages,  as  wit- 
ness the  terms  upon  which  young  Elwell  entered  Mr.  Gibson's 
employ,  where  he  was  to  receive  no  salary  the  first  year,  with  fifty 
dollars  the  following,  and  a  subsequent  small  annual  increase.  But 
Mr.  Gibson  was  a  man  who  recognized  merit  and  faithful  conduct, 
and  up  to  the  end  of  the  first  six  months  this  was  substantially  man- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  429 

ifested  by  the  payment  to  him  of  twenty-five  dollars,  he,  at  the  same 
time,  being  told  his  salary  would  be  fifty  dollars  for  the  first  year, 
instead  of  nothing,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  he  received  the  fifty 
dollars  in  full,  although  he  had  supposed  the  several  advances 
during  that  time  had  been  paid  on  account. 

Young  Elwell's  progress,  begun  at  this  time,  received  no  check 
thereafter;  and  in  his  eighteenth  year  he  had  charge  of  his  employer's 
business,  which  was  far  from  inconsiderable,  and  he  remained  with 
him  until  his  retirement,  May  1,  1838. 

James  W.  was  then  a  youth  of  about  eighteen  years,  but  so  well 
advanced  in  mercantile  methods  and  knowledge  that  he  was  taken 
into  partnership  by  his  father,  on  May  1,  1838,  in  his  shipping  office, 
at  No.  57  South  street,  the  firm  being  known  as  John  Elwell  &  Co. 
The  father  died  in  August,  1847,  anc*  for  five  years  thereafter  the 
business  was  conducted  by  James  W.  Elwell  alone.  During  his  part- 
nership with  his  father,  he  allowed  his  earnings  to  pay  his  father's 
obligations  in  full,  brought  about  by  the  panic  of  1837,  by  endorsing 
notes  and  signing  bonds  for  others.  He  increased  its  business, 
establishing  lines  of  sailing  vessels  between  New  York  and  the 
principal  Southern  seaports,  as  well  as  extending  its  export  and 
import  trade  to  the  East  and  West  Indies  and  South  America. 

Charles  Frederick  Elwell,  a  brother  and  a  clerk  in  his  employ,  and 
Thomas  Itesant,  his  book-keeper,  were  admitted  into  partnership  in 
1852,  the  firm  becoming  James  W.  Elwell  &  Co.  About  two  years 
later  Mr.  Besant  withdrew  from  the  firm;  but  its  title  remained,  as  it 
still  does,  the  same.     Mr.  C.  F.  Elwell  retired  from  the  firm  in  1885. 

Two  brothers  of  Mr.  Elwell  are  living,  one  of  whom  was  for  many 
years  a  ship-master,  and  is  now  engaged  in  business  in  Philadelphia, 
Pa.  The  youngest  of  the  four  brothers  was  the  former  partner.  He 
was  at  one  time  president  of  the  New  York  Maritime  Exchange. 

On  the  maternal  side  the  Elwell  family  is  descended  from  Mary 
Sprague,  one  of  the  notable  family  of  that  name,  who  came  to 
America  in  1728,  landing  in  Plymouth  and  settling  in  Duxbury  and 
Marshfield,  Mass.  Subsequently  some  of  their  descendants  removed 
into  Rhode  Island  and  Maine,  where  its  members  are  well  known 
and  influential. 


43°  HISTORY    OP   BATH. 

Mr.  James  W.  El  we  11  was  connected,  from  the  origin,  in  1838,  with 
the  old  Merchants'  Exchange,  which  subsequently  became  the  pres- 
ent Produce  Exchange  of  New  York.  He  was  for  many  years  one 
of  its  arbitration  committee,  a  tribunal  equally  as  high  in  its  powers 
as  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  State.  In  1855  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of 
of  the  Shipowners'  Association. 

In  politics  he  was  originally  a  Whig;  but  since  the  organization  of 
the  Republican  party,  he  has  not  identified  himself  with  any  one  in 
particular,  preferring  to  remain  independent  in  politics,  especially  in 
local  matters — and  in  this  he  only  votes  for  the  best  man. 

Although  he  has  been  connected  with  a  great  number  of  railroad, 
insurance  and  other  enterprises,  outside  of  his  individual  business, 
besides  charitable  and  benevolent  acts,  he  has  not  been  absorbed 
by  them ;  and  his  generous  nature  has  prompted  to  acts  of  benefi- 
cence of  the  most  liberal  character.  Few,  if  any,  men  have  done 
as  much  during  their  life-time  in  practical  and  unostentatious  charity. 
The  writer  has  been  informed  by  friends  of  Mr.  Elwell  that  he  has 
donated  substantial  aid  to  not  less  than  four  hundred  religious  and 
charitable  institutions,  besides  many  and  many  times  over,  in  his 
quiet  way,  in  private  gifts  to  the  needy.  It  would  require  many 
times  the  space  which  could  be  given  in  an  article  like  this  to  partic- 
ularize, even  briefly,  as  to  these  many  acts  of  kindness.  But  they  are 
known  to  thousands;  and  although  Mr.  Klwcll  has  not  sought  praise 
for  his  generous  acts,  the  pleasure  he  has  brought  to  this  multitude 
of  needy  ones,  must  but  reflect  itself  in  his  heart  as  a  generous 
act  well  done  in  each  instance.  The  consciousness  of  this  is,  in 
itself,  sufficient  reward  to  this  man,  who  does  a  generous  act  because 
it  is  a  pleasure  to  him.  In  the  autumn  of  life,  yet  still  vigorous  and 
active,  how  much  greater  must  be  the  gratification  to  him  than  any 
sordid  hoading  of  his  wealth  would  have  brought.  All  honor  to 
such  men  of  wealth !  They  are  too  few  to  pass  by  without  more 
than  a  word  of  commendation. 

Mr.  Elwell  married  Miss  Olivia  P.  Robinson,  of  Bath,  Me., 
in  1844.  Her  death  took  place  in  185 1;  and  he  subsequently 
married  Miss  Lucy  E.   R.   Stinson,  also  of  Bath.      He  has  three 


Ckhk*6n  SC^r- 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  43 1 

daughters  living,  one  of  them  by  his  first  wife.  He  has  attended 
Clinton  Avenue  Congregational  Church,  in  Brooklyn,  since  1854, 
having  become  a  member  January  3,  1854,  subsequently  to  which 
time  he  became  deacon,  and  has  been  a  familiar  figure  in  the  church 
in  which  way  he  has  seated  the  stranger  in  that  genial  way  which 
always  made  him  feel  at  home  and  welcome. 

In  closing,  while  we  could  say  much  more  of  Mr.  Elwell,  we  will 
be  content  to  mention  his  four  most  prominent  characteristics.  These 
arc — fondness  for  old  people;  affection  for  little  children,  love  of 
flowers,  and  generosity.  Truly  these,  also,  bespeak  the  nature  of 
the  man.  We  need  say  no  more.  Mr.  Elwell  is  identified  with  Bath 
interests  to  a  large  extent  in  the  way  of  having,  during  his  business 
life  in  New  York,  been  commission  merchant  for  many  of  Bath's 
ship-owners,  and  as  having  invested  in  many  vessels  that  have  been 
built  at  this  port. 

Orrhigton  Lunt. —  Going  "out  West"  for  the  first  time,  the 
writer  landed  at  Chicago  in  the  fall  of  1848,  then,  as  now,  the  cen- 
tral point  of  travelers  to  the  West.  Immediately  seeking  for  persons 
residing  there  who  had  come  from  Bath  or  its  environs,  he  found, 
down  on  the  lake  front,  the  brothers  Frank  and  Joseph  Stockbridge, 
old  school-mates  in  Bath,  who  were  engaged  in  lumbering  business. 
Joseph  has  since  died,  and  Frank  has  become  United  States  Senator 
for  Michigan,  to  which  state  he  had  removed  his  business  and  resi- 
dence. Near  their  office  he  found  Grrington  Lunt,  whom  he  had 
known  in  former  years  in  Maine,  and  who  was  in  a  grain  ware- 
house handling  wheat  bags,  that  seemed  to  indicate  business.  This 
was  :\  long  time  before  the  great  modern  elevator  was  dreamed  of, 
and  farmers  then  brought  their  disposable  crops  to  market  in  farm 
wagons.  Mr.  Lunt  was  known  for  a  number  years  as  one  of  the 
most  prominent  grain  merchants  of  the  Garden  City,  but  from  that 
active  and  special  business  he  retired  in  early  middle  life.  He 
became  identified  with  large  interests,  railroad  and  municipal,  and 
in  real  estate,  but  mainly  occupied  himself  with  church  and  educa-  • 
tional  matters.  He  has  always  been  a  man  of  affairs,  and  has 
made  his  activity  felt  far  and  wide.  Of  late  years  his  suburban 
home  has  been  in  Evanston,  that  beautiful  village  on  the  lake  shore 


432  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 

within  easy  distance  from  the  great  metropolis,  the  very  attractive 
location  for  a  village  which  he  was  the  first  to  discover,  and  the 
leading  founder.  The  place  has  a  world-wide  celebrity  as  the 
location  of  the  Northwestern  University,  the  Garrett  Biblical  Insti- 
tute, and  Methodist  Episcopal  Institution,  the  largest  and  most 
popular  school  of  learning  in  the  Northwest,  of  which  Mr.  Lunt 
has  been  a  foster-father,  to  which  he  has  given  his  constant,  per- 
sonal attention  and  devoted  service,  and  largely  of  his  abundant 
means.  He  was  one  of  its  founders,  one  of  the  charter  members, 
a  trustee  from  the  start,  and  for  over  twenty  years  vice-president  and 
acting  president. 

In  his  active  life  and  distinguished  career  in  the  West,  Mr.  Lunt 
has  had,  by  his  side,  the  inspiration  of  a  companion,  who,  as  a 
young  bride,  accompanied  him  to  the  new  and  unknown  country, 
and  has  stood  by  him  in  the  varying  fortunes  incident  to  untried 
ventures  in  a  strange  land,  where  the  tests  of  character  are  often 
severe  and  the  trials  frequent,  as  in  new  scenes  and  among  new  friends 
there  are  constant  calls  to  meet  unexpected  exigencies  in  which 
heroism  and  self-sacrifice  are  involved;  and  having  gone  hand  in 
hand  up  the  ladder  of  life  with  her  ever  faithful  husband  to  position 
and  more  than  independence,  she  now  has  the  satisfaction  of  enjoy- 
ing, with  him,  the  pleasures  of  a  green  old  age,  honored  and 
esteemed  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and  acquaintances. 

As  identified  with  Bath  through  his  ancestors,  the  tracing  of  the 
distinguished  career  of  Mr.  Lunt  may  perhaps  be  in  place  in  this 
volume.  His  family  traces  its  ancestry  to  Henry  Lunt,  of  Newbury- 
port,  Mass.,  who  came  from  England  to  America  in  1635.  His 
grandfather,  Joseph  Lunt,  at  an  early  day  moved  to  Hath,  where  he 
took  up  his  permanent  residence.  He  there  married  a  Miss  Crocker, 
and  their  son,  William  Lunt,  was  born  in  this  city,  subsequently 
becoming  a  citizen  of  Bowdoinham,  Me.  Mr.  William  Lunt  served 
as  a  member  of  the  State  Legislature,  and  was  an  enterprising  man 
of  affairs. 

It  was  in  the  town  of  Bowdoinham  that  Orrington  Lunt  was  born, 
December  24,  181 5.  His  grandmother  was  a  daughter  of  that  dis- 
tinguished Revolutionary  hero,  General  Vose,  an  original  member  of 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  433 

the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati,  and  a  direct  descendant  of  a  noble 
family  noted  for  its  courage  and  prowess.  Orrington  Lunt's  mother 
came  of  the  Sumner  family  of  Massachusetts,  of  which  Charles 
Sumner  was  certainly  one  of  its  most  distinguished  representatives. 
Educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  village,  Mr.  Lunt,  at  an  early 
age,  became  a  clerk  in  his  father's  store,  and,  on  attaining  his  major- 
ity, became  a  partner  with  him.  When  the  father  retired  Mr.  Lunt 
and  his  brother  continued  the  business  until  1842. 

Business  becoming  depressed  in  Bowdoinham,  Mr.  Lunt  sold  out 
his  mercantile  interests  and  went  West,  Chicago  being  his  objective 
point.  He  reached  the  city  in  November,  1842,  with  very  little 
available  capital,  having  disposed  of  his  business  in  the  East  at  a 
great  sacrifice.  After  waiting  until  spring  to  commence  business,  the 
serious  illness  of  his  wife  compelled  a  return  to  the  East. 

It  was  not  until  July,  1843,  tnat  ne  was  ab*e  to  return  to  Chicago, 
his  only  capital  being  letters  of  commendation  from  eastern  friends 
and  business  men.  Purchasing  a  set  of  books  on  credit,  he  began 
his  business  career  in  Chicago  as  a  commission  merchant.  He  at 
once  began  making  shipments  of  such  produce  as  he  could  obtain, 
and  by  the  summer  of  1844  was  fairly  started  in  the  grain  trade. 
In  1845  he  leased  a  lot  on  the  river  front  and  erected  a  warehouse, 
which  he  soon  filled  with  grain,  after  the  harvest. 

In  those  days  grain  was  delivered  by  the  western  farmers  entirely 
by  wagon.  Having  accumulated  something  like  ten  thousand  dollars, 
about  this  time  he  launched  out  upon  a  speculative  enterprise  in  the 
grain  trade.  The  result  of  this  was  that  he  lost  all  he  had  made. 
He  had,  however,  been  taught  the  valuable  lesson  of  conservatism, 
and  during  his  subsequent  business  career  met  with  no  reverses  of 
consequence.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trade  upon 
its  organization,  and  is  one  of  the  few  men  now  living  in  Chicago 
who  were  identified  with  it  during  the  pioneer  period  of  its  history. 

In  1853,  when  the  entry  of  railroads  into  Chicago  had  changed 
materially  the  condition  of  trade,  Mr.  Lunt  retired  temporarily  from 
commercial  life,  leasing  his  warehouse  at  that  time.  In  1859  he  was 
again  called  upon  to  take  charge  of  the  business  and  continued  in 
the  trade  until  1862,  handling  sometimes  as  much  as  three  and  a  half 
millions  of  bushels  of  grain  annually. 


434  HISTORY   OP  BATH. 

In  1855  he  was  elected  water  commissioner  for  the  south  division 
of  Chicago,  and  in  this  capacity  served  the  city  six  years.  He 
became  a  director  of  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  1855,  and  was  connected  with  the  road  in  this  capacity,  and 
a  portion  of  the  time  also  as  its  vice-president  until  it  became  a 
part  of  the  Chicago  &  Northwestern  Railway  Company's  system. 
Eminently  successful  as  a  business  man,  Mr.  Lunt  has  always  con- 
tributed generously  to  charitable,  benevolent,  and  educational  work. 

When  he  was  twenty  years  of  age,  he  became  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church  to  which  he  has  ever  since  been  devotedly  attached. 
This  attachment  has  made  him  a  conspicuous  figure  in  Western 
Methodism  for  more  than  forty  years.  In  Chicago  he  has  been 
identified  with  every  movement  of  consequence  designed  to  advance 
the  interests  of  the  church.  During  the  pioneer  era  of  Methodism  in 
Chicago,  when  lands  had  to  be  acquired  and  churches  built,  his  busi- 
ness sagacity  and  unselfish  devotion  to  the  church  interest  secured 
for  it  much  valuable  property,  while  his  direct  gifts  amounted  to 
many  thousands  of  dollars.  Whenever  a  struggling  church  organ- 
ization has  applied  to  Mr.  Lunt  for  assistance,  the  applicant  has 
not  gone  away  empty  handed,  although  many  of  the  churches  thus 
assisted  have  been  of  denominations  other  than  that  with  which  he 
was  affiliated. 

Under  all  circumstances,  he  has  been  recognized  as  one  of  those 
public-spirited  citizens  who  could  be  relied  upon  to  aid  every  worthy 
enterprise,  lie  was  one  of  the  builders  of  the  Chicago  Orphan 
Asylum,  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  War  Finance  Committee  of 
Chicago,  spending  the  first  Sabbath  after  the  fall  of  Fort  Sumter  in 
obtaining  supplies  and  arranging  to  start  the  first  regiment  of  troops 
sent  out  of  the  city  to  the  front. 

Of  the  Northwestern  University,  Mr.  Lunt  has  been  one  of  the 
most  generous  benefactors.  In  addition  to  numerous  smaller  gifts, 
he  bestowed  upon  the  University,  at  one  time,  a  direct  gift  of  fifty 
thousand  dollars,  and  at  another  time  realty  now  valued  at  more  than 
one  hundred  thousand  dollars.  The  gift  last  mentioned  has  been  set 
apart  by  the  university  authorities  as  the  "  Orrington  Lunt  Library 
June}."     These  munificent   donations,  valuable  as   they  have  been 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  435 

and  are  to  the  Northwestern  University,  have  been  less  valuable 
to  it  than  the  personal  services,  the  business  sagacity,  and  the  per- 
sistent efforts  of  Mr.  Lunt,  as  one  of  the  principal  officials  and 
patrons  of  the  institution. 

In  1842,  Cornelia  A.  Gray,  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel  Gray  of 
Bowdoinham — prominent  in  the  State  of  Maine  as  lawyer  and  leg- 
islator— became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lunt.  One  daughter  and  two  sons 
have  gladdened  and  honored  their  home.  The  daughter,  Miss  Cor- 
nelia G.  Lunt,  an  earnest,  cultivated  woman  of  rare  intellectual  and 
social  gifts,  is  noted  for  her  philanthropic  spirit  and  her  efficient 
services  in  behalf  of  the  advancement  of  religious,  educational,  and 
charitable  work.  The  eldest  son  is  a  lawyer  of  fine  attainments,  and 
the  second  a  business  man  of  high  character  and  sterling  integrity. 

On  the  sixteenth  day  of  January,  1892,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lunt 
celebrated  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  their  marriage.  On  that 
occasion  there  came  to  the  much  beloved  benefactor  of  Western 
Methodism  and  its  institutions,  and  to  his  equally  beloved  wife, 
the  congratulations  of  friends  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States. 
Telegrams  and  letters  from  many  of  the  bishops  and  leading  minis- 
ters of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  who  have  been  more  or  less 
intimately  associated  with  Mr.  Lunt  in  church  and  educational 
work,  bore  abundant  testimony  of  their  appreciation  of  his  labors 
and  to  the  depth  of  their  regard  for  him.  Nor  were  those  tributes 
confined  to  those  whose  church  affiliations  are  the  same  as  his. 

At  his  home  on  the  evening  of  the  sixteenth  of  January,  1892,  the 
presence  of  more  than  two  hundred  friends,  together  with  University 
officials,  members  of  the  faculty,  and  church  dignitaries,  bore  added 
testimony  to  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  in  the  community,  with 
which  he  has  been  so  long  identified  and  which  he  has  done  so 
much  to  build  up.  Dr.  Henry  Wade  Rogers,  president  of  the 
Northwestern  University,  said  on  that  occasion:  "No  man  hath 
ever  seen  in  you  anything  but  that  which  becometh  a  brave,  pure, 
and  gentle  nature.  And  no  man  lives  who  does  not  wish  you  well." 
Mr.  Davis,  in  behalf  of  the  board  of  trustees,  presented  Mr.  Lunt 
with  a  beautiful  and  valuable  hall  clock,  with  cathedral  chimes  and 
of  the  highest  order  of  horological  mechanism.     Mr.  Ridgaway  pre- 


436  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

sented  Mr.  Lunt  with  a  very  handsome  Turkish  easy  chair.  This 
substantial  and  elegant  remembrance  was  the  gift  of  the  faculty  of 
of  Garrett  Biblical  Institute.  With  these  presentations  appreciative 
addresses  were  made,  and  President  Rogers,  in  behalf  of  the  College 
of  Liberal  Arts,  delivered  an  address,  which  was  a  hearty  tribute  of 
the  confidence,  regard,  and  respect  of  the  faculty;  accompanying  the 
address  with  the  gift  of  an  elegantly  bound  copy  of  the  Century 
Dictionary.  As  mementos,  nothing  could  have  been  in  better  taste 
than  these  chaste  and  elegant  gifts,  the  more  for  their  simplicity  and 
usefulness. 

Edward  Bowdoin  Nealley,  the  eldest  son  of  Edward  S%  J. 
Nealley  and  Lucy  C.  Nealley,  was  born  in  Thomaston,  Me.,  July  22, 
1837,  and  was  educated  in  Bath,  graduating  from  the  High  School; 
was  prepared  for  college  in  North  Yarmouth  Academy,  and  graduated 
from  Bowdoin  College  in  1858.  He  then  went  to  Iowa  and  studied 
law  with  his  uncle,  ex-Senator  James  W.  Grimes.  In  1861  he  was 
appointed  to  a  clerkship  in  the  Navy  Department  at  Washington,  and 
was  afterwards  promoted  to  the  chief  clerkship  of  a  bureau  in  the 
same  department.  In  1864  he  was  appointed,  by  President  Lincoln, 
the  first  United  States  Attorney  for  the  Territory  of  Montana,  and 
while  there  he  wrote  articles  that  were  published  in  the  Atlantic 
Monthly,  Lippincotfs,  and  other  magazines,  descriptive  of  that  new 
and  distant  territory.  Upon  his  return  he  settled  in  business  in 
Bangor,  where  he  still  resides. 

He  married,  in  1867,  Miss  Mary  Ann  Drummond,  daughter  of 
Capt.  Jacob  Drummond,  of  Bangor,  formerly  of  Phipsburg.  She 
died  in  1877,  leaving  one  child,  Mary  Drummond  Nealley,  who  was 
born  September  13,  1872. 

Mr.  Nealley  has  been  much  in  public  life,  having  been  one  of  the 
Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College  since  1877;  representative 
in  the  Maine  Legislature  in  1876  and  1877;  was  speaker  of  the 
House  in  the  session  of  1877;  was  state  senator  from  Penobscot  in 
1878;  was  mayor  of  Bangor  in  1885  and  1886;  is  president  of  the 
Merchants  Insurance  Company  (Marine),  of  Bangor,  and  president 
of  the  Bangor  &  Piscataquis  Railroad  Company.     At  the  Centennial 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  437 

Celebration  of  the  organization  of  the  town  of  Thomaston,  in  1877, 
he  delivered  the  oration,  as  he  also  did  at  the  Centennial  Celebra- 
tion at  Bath,  in  1881.  Every  position  in  life  in  which  Mr.  Nealley 
has  been  placed  has  been  without  solicitation  on  his  part,  and  the 
duties  of  which  have  been  acquitted  with  faithfulness  and  honorable 
credit. 

E.  B.  Mallett,  Jr. — The  father  of  Mr.  Mallett  being  a  sea-captain 
and  Mrs.  Mallett  sailing  with  her  husband,  their  son  was  born  at 
sea,  in  the  ship  Devonshire.  When  old  enough  he  entered  the  public 
schools  in  Bath,  where  he  completed  his  education.  At  sixteen  years 
of  age  he  went  to  New  York  City,  where  he  remained  until  1875, 
when  he  returned  to  Bath,  purchased  and  lived  on  a  farm  in  Pownal 
in  1877,  and  eight  years  later  settled  in  Freeport,  his  present  place 
of  residence. 

Having  inherited  considerable  property  from  an  uncle,  he  has  in- 
vested it  in  business  at  Freeport,  having  in  view  the  improvement  of 
the  town.  He  has  put  up  two  large  buildings  for  shoe  factories,  which 
arc  occupied  by  parties  free  of  rent  for  ten  years ;  has  a  saw  and 
grist-mill;  a  double  store;  has  built  cottages  for  employes  to  the 
extent  of  thirty-five  rents;  has  developed  and  is  working  a  valuable 
quarry  of  very  excellent  light  granite;  has  established  a  brick-yard 
and  a  box  factory,  employing,  altogether,  one  hundred  and  fifty  work- 
men in  various  avocations. 

Besides  his  multifarious  business  Mr.  Mallett  interests  himself  in 
public  affairs,  having  been  town  treasurer  two  years,  and  chairman 
of  the  board  of  school  committee  the  same  length  of  time ;  was  a 
member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  state  in  1887  and 
1888;  was  senator  for  1891  and  1892,  and  re-elected  for  1893  and 
1894;  was  a  delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention  held  in 
Chicago  in  1888,  and  delegate-at-large  to  the  Minneapolis  National 
Convention  in  1892.  He  is  high  up  in  Masonry;  is  Past  Master  of 
Freeport  Lodge ;  is  Past  Senior  Grand  Warden,  and  thereby  a  Perma- 
nent Member  of  the  Grand  Lodge ;  is  a  member,  of  Portland  Com- 
mandery;  is  at  the  head  of  Maine  Consistory;  has  taken  the 
thirty-third  degree  and  is  thereby  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Supreme  Council,  Northern  Masonic  Jurisdiction,  U.  S.  A. 


438  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Washington  Elliot  was  bom  in  Brunswick,  November  3,  1820, 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  and,  when  commencing  his  life 
business,  came  to  Bath  and  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  Pos- 
sessing a  natural  taste  for  music  and  a  fine  voice,  he  employed  his 
leisure  time  in  teaching  vocal  music  in  Bath,  Brunswick,  and  Port- 
land, in  which  he  excelled,  especially  in  instructing  large  classes,  as 
also  in  training  church  choirs.  He  was  reputed  to  be  one  of  the 
best  tenor  singers  in  Maine,  having  a  range  of  voice  of  unusually 
high  register.  As  leader  of  male  quartettes  in  Bath  and  Portland 
he  acquired  a  wide  popularity. 

In  1852  he  left  Bath  with  his  wife  for  California  and  there  engaged 
in  mercantile  business  and  at  the  same  time  formed  a  class  in  vocal 
music,  the  first  one  ever  taught  in  California,  and  immediately  took 
position  in  a  choir  at%  seventy-five  dollars  a  month.  Soon  after  he 
became  salesman  in  a  large  grocery  store,  and  subsequently  took  a 
partner  and  went  into  business  for  himself.  He  had  a  fine  trade, 
taking  the  lead  of  all  grocers  at  that  time,  and  success  was  assured; 
but  while  all  was  moving  prosperously  his  partner,  unbeknown  to  him, 
went  into  outside  speculation,  which  resulted  in  financial  ruin. 

In  1 86 1  he  went  into  the  public  schools  of  San  Francisco,  where 
he  taught  music  for  nineteen  years.  He  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
profession  in  that  line  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  the  best  and 
most  popular  teacher  in  California.  In  1881  all  special  teachers  of 
music  and  drawing  were  dismissed  from  the  department  on  account 
of  extra  expense  and  politics.  He  then  removed  to  Alameda  and 
engaged  in  the  public  schools  there,  meeting  with  great  success.  As 
an  evidence  of  his  musical  standing  and  popularity  in  that  line  is 
the  fact  that  for  ten  years  he  received  from  one  church  one  hundred 
dollars  a  month  for  singing  tenor  and  training  the  choir,  and  for 
more  than  five  years  received  two  hundred  dollars  per  month  from 
the  schools.  He  was  also  always  more  or  less  engaged  with  male 
voice  singing,  and  had  several  very  fine  clubs  which  became  very 
popular  in  concert  singing. 

During  the  last  few  years  of  his  life  advanced  age  prevented  him 
from  taking  the  active  part  in  musical  matters  that  was  once  the  joy 
of  his  life.     But  Columbus  Day  at  Alameda  was  a  great  day  for 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  439 

him,  for  among  the  magnificent  pageant  there  were  2,500  school 
children  in  line,  and  Professor  Elliot  was  chosen  to  conduct  the 
musical  programme  for  the  day.  The  Alameda  papers  commented 
on  it  and  said:  "Prof.  Washington  Elliot  led  the  big  chorus  that 
sang  the  patriotic  airs  at  the  park,  and  it  seemed  perfectly  natural 
to  see  him  leading  the  music.  He  wielded  the  baton  with  the  vigor 
of  old." 

In  early  life  he  married  Miss  Mary  Rich,  in  Bath,  who  now  sur- 
vives him,  and  there  are  living  a  son  and  daughter,  in  California, 
who  are  prosperous  in  life,  are  married  and  have  families,  among 
whom,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  Professor  Elliot  was  enjoying  a 
green  old  age,  respected  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him  both 
East  and  West. 

Professor  Elliot  was  the  eldest  son  of  Dea.  Ephraim  Elliot,  who 
was  one  of  the  best  of  men.  After  an  absence  of  twenty-one  years 
in  California  he  visited  with  his  wife,  in  the  summer  of  1891,  his 
relatives  and  friends  in  Bath  and  neighboring  towns.  While  in  the 
city  he  was  warmly  welcomed  by  his  old  friends,  sang  in  some  of 
the  churches,  and  greatly  enjoyed  meeting  and  singing  with  his  old- 
time  musical  associates.  Before  Professor  Elliot  left  for  his  home 
in  California  he  received  his  old  friends  at  the  home  of  his  sister, 
Mrs.  Parker  M.  Reed,  on  South  street,  and  there  passed  a  very 
happy  evening.  As  he  himself  proudly  expressed  it,  "We  had  a 
good  sing."  These  same  friends  often  speak  of  this  last  evening 
with  Washington  Elliot  as  one  that  would  always  bring  pleasant 
memories. 

At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  residing  in  Alameda,  where  he 
had  a  cosy  residence.  His  son  Charles  lived  near  him  and  his 
married  daughter,  Georgiana,  resides  in  San  Francisco.  He  died 
February  19,  1893,  at  the  age  of  72  years. 

Francis  Henry  Fassctt,  of  Portland,  is  a  son  of  a  well-known 
citizen  of  Bath  of  a  former  generation.  He  was  born  in  this  city, 
in  June,  1823,  and  received  such  an  education  as  was  obtainable  in 
the  public  schools,  chiefly  under  the  excellent  instruction  of  Master 
Joshua  Page  in  the  old  Erudition  school-house,  from  which  have 


44°  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

graduated  many  Bath  boys  who  have  since  done  credit  to  the  teach- 
ing of  that  veteran  instructor  by  the  mark  they  have  made  in  the 

world. 

Mr.  Fassett  was  a  born  architect.     He  commenced  his  career  as 

an  architect  by  learning  to  handle  tools  in  the  joiner  trade,  which 
occupation  led  to  the  development  of  his  taste  and  talent  for  archi- 
tecture, the  pursuit  of  which  he  began  in  Bath.  When  he  had  so 
far  tried  his  skill  in  this  department  of  mechanics,  he  struck  out 
for  a  larger  field,  and  located  himself  in  Portland  in  1864.  The 
result  has  shown  that  he  did  not  overrate  his  capabilities,  as  the 
reputation  he  has  acquired  as  an  architect  is  widespread  as  the 
country.  His  handiwork  is  to  be  seen  in  every  part  of  the  state 
in  the  chaste  and  magnificent  style  of  construction  of  numerous 
public  and  private  edifices.  The  great  Portland  fire  of  1866  gave 
him  unexcelled  opportunities,  and  his  work  is  to  be  seen  in  the  fine 
design  of  the  best  buildings  that  rose  from  the  ashes  of  that  con- 
flagration, which  include  city  buildings,  churches,  school  buildings, 
large  residences,  and  later  the  Maine  General  Hospital  and  Baxter 
Public  Library  building. 

Ardon  W.  Coombs,  of  Portland,  was  born  in  Brunswick,  in  1847, 
and  when  two  years  old  moved  with  his  father's  family  to  Bath,  where 
he  was  educated  in  the  city  schools,  graduating  from  the  high  school 
in  1865;  studied  law  in  Bath  with  J.  S.  Baker;  admitted  to  the  Bar 
in  August,  1868,  in  Sagadahoc  County;  was  in  the  law  office  of 
Francis  Adams  in  Brunswick  one  year,  and  when  Mr.  Adams  moved 
to  Bath  he  continued  practice  at  Brunswick  another  year;  went  to 
Portland  in  January,  1870;  was  county  attorney  from  January,  1880, 
to  January,  1885;  city  solicitor  in  1888  and  re-elected  two  years, 
voluntarily  retiring  in  March,  1891. 

His  father  is  Judge  Nathan  Coombs,  who  was  a  native  of  Bruns- 
wick; moved  to  Bath  in  1849;  was  deputy  sheriff  of  Sagadahoc 
County  eight  years ;  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1875;  went  into  part- 
nership in  the  practice  of  law  with  Francis  Adams;  was  appointed 
municipal  judge  by  Governor  Bodwell  in  1887  ;  was  re-appointed  by 
Governor  Burleigh  in  1891,  and  has  served  some  years  in  the  Com- 
mon Council  of  Bath. 


HISTORY   OF    BATH.  44 1 

Thomas  G.  Harris,  of  Portland,  was  born  in  Wales,  Me., 
December  29,  1835.  When  one  year  old  he  was  moved  to  Bruns- 
wick with  his  parents,  receiving  his  education  there  in  the  public 
schools  and  with  private  teachers.  His  father  was  an  old  school- 
teacher and  merchant.  When  seventeen  and  one-half  years  of  age 
he  commenced  going  to  sea,  first  in  the  ship  Northern  Empire,  in 
1853,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  became  master  of  the 
barque  Orrella,  in  1857.  On  retiring  from  a  sea-faring  life,  in  i860, 
he  engaged  in  the  wholesale  fruit  and  grocery  trad&,  in  Bath,  which 
he  continued,  with  the  exception  of  two  and  one-half  years,  until  he 
moved  to  Portland,  in  March,  1886,  where  he  is  engaged  in  the 
same  business,  adding  that  of  brokerage,  with  success.  While 
residing  in  Bath  Captain  Harris  served  as  member  of  the  Common 
Council  in  1866  and  1869;  was  an  active  member  of  the  Board  of 
Trade  for  twelve  years;  has  always  been  a  man  of  affairs  and  a 
Republican  in  politics.  Mr.  Harris  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Pattee, 
whose  ancestors  were  residents  of  Hingham,  Mass.,  who  settled  in 
Bath  soon  after  the  Revolutionary  War. 

William  Henry  Fogg  was  bom  in  Bath,  March  2,  1837.  His 
ancestry  comprises  names  that  are  prominent  in  the  early  history  of 
Bath.  The  first  minister  in  Bath,  the  Rev.  Solomon  Page,  was  his 
great-great-grandfather  and  Maj.  Edward  H.  Page  his  great-grand- 
father. On  November  12,  1864,  he  married  Lydia  Ann  Merrow,  of 
West  Waterville,  who  was  born  March  16,  1843,  and  died  February 
17,  1887.  Their  children  living  are:  Lizzie  Mabel,  Hortense,  and 
W.  Harry. 

Immediately  on  the  commencement  of  the  late  war  Mr.  Fogg 
enlisted  in  Company  A,  Third  Maine  Regiment,  and  was  in  the  first 
battle  of  Bull  Run;  entered  the  navy  in  February,  1863,  on  the 
frigate  Savannah;  was  taken  prisoner  and  was  in  Libby,  Danville, 
Augusta,  Macon,  and  Charleston  prisons,  to  Libby  again,  and  was 
paroled  October  18,  1864;  having  been  exchanged  was  ordered  to 
duty,  December  12,  1864,  on  the  Muscoota,  then  to  the  Calipso,  next 
to  the  captured  ram  Columbia,  thence  to  the  flag  monitor  ship  Cats- 
kill.    The  war  having  closed  he  resigned  November  1,  1865.    Return- 


442  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

ing  home  Mr.  Fogg  engaged  in  dealing  in  men's  furnishing  goods  in 
Bath,  which  business  he  disposed  of  in  1888  and  moved  to  Portland. 

William  B.  Olys  was  born  in  Bath,  December  17,  1856.  His 
father  and  mother  came  from  the  County  of  Roscommon,  Ireland, 
in  1848,  to  Bath,  the  father  dying  in  1872.  Mr.  Olys  graduated 
from  the  high  school ;  was  employed  in  the  printing  and  publishing 
establishment  of  £.  C.  Allen  at  Augusta;  was  an  assistant  in  the 
management  of  several  hotels,  which  he  left,  in  1886,  to  enter  into 
the  ship  brokerage,  commission,  and  insurance  business,  building 
three  vessels  in  1889-91,  and  operated  extensively  in  ice.  In  April, 
1892,  he  went  to  Boston  and  engaged  in  real  estate  and  banking 
business. 

George  W.  liicker,  of  Rockland,  was  born  in  Bath,  September 
1,  1820.  His  father  kept  for  many  years  the  Bath  Hotel.  George 
W.  was  also  a  hotel-keeper  in  Augusta  a  considerable  length  of 
time;  has  been  engaged  in  other  business  and  is  a  prominent  man 
of  affairs.  He  married  in  Augusta  and  has  one  child,  Emma  B. 
Ricker.  In  his  declining  years  he  is  living  in  Rockland,  a  respected 
citizen. 

Edward  P.  Mitchell,  son  of  Edward  H.  Mitchell  and  Frances 
Page  Mitchell,  was  born  in  Bath,  March  24,  1852.  Going  through 
the  graded  schools  of  the  city  and  graduating  from  the  high  school, 
he  entered  Bowdoin  College,  graduating  in  187 1.  Having  a  taste 
for  journalism,  he  early  adopted  that  profession,  commencing 
employment  on  the  Boston  Advertiser,  in  1871,  where  he  continued 
until  1872;  worked  on  the  Lcwiston  Journal  in  1874  and  1875; 
accepted  a  position  on  the  morning  edition  of  the  Neiu  York  Sun 
the  latter  year;  has  continued  with  that  paper  since  that  time  and 
is  assistant  editor  to  his  chief,  Charles  A.  Dana.  In  1874  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Annie  S.  Welch,  of  Bath,  and  they  have  four  children, 
residing  in  New  York  City. 

Samuel  Harding  was  born  in  Bath,  March  n,  1809.  His 
father  was  Samuel  Harding,  who  was  born  at  Truro,  Mass.,  and  his 
mother  was   Lucy    Stetson    Harding,   who   was  born  at  Duxbury, 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  443 

Mass.  They  came  from  Truro  to  Brunswick  (New  Meadows),  Me., 
where  his  father  had  purchased  a  farm  (now  Miss  Snow's  beautiful 
place),  and  where  his  grandparents  lived  the  remainder  of  their  lives. 
His  father,  in  his  early  days,  was  a  successful  ship-master  from 
Bath,  in  the  Liverpool  and  West  India  trade.  Samuel  Harding  lived 
in  his  latter  years  in  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  where  he  died  in  1892,  when 
84  years  of  age. 

J.  0.  Dunning,  of  Springfield,  Hampden  County,  Mass.,  son 
of  Ebenezer  and  Harriet  P.  (Frost)  Dunning,  was  born  in  Bath, 
May  25,  1857.  After  graduating  at  the  Bath  High  School,  in  1874, 
he  taught  the  winter  term  at  North  Bath,  and  was  afterwards  prin- 
cipal of  the  lower  grammar  school  in  Bath  for  four  years.  While 
teaching  in  the  latter  school  he  began  the  study  of  law  with  Judge 
Washington  Gilbert,  and  afterwards  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  Boston  University,  in  1880,  with  the  degree  of  LL.B.  He 
was  admitted  to  the  Bar  of  Hampden  County  the  same  year  and 
opened  an  office  at  Springfield,  and  has  been  in  the  continuous 
practice  of  his  profession  there  ever  since.  He  was  married,  in 
1884,  to  Miss  Sadie  L.  Potter,  daughter  of  William  Potter,  of 
Arrowsic,  and  has  two  children,  Harold  G.,  born  May  17,  1884,  and 
Ray  P.,  born  December  12,  1888. 

Arthur  C.  Doillicll,  of  San  Francisco,  belongs  to  a  family  that  is 
the  oldest  in  Bath,  coming  originally  from  Scotland  and  locating  at 
Yarmouth  and  York,  believed  to  be  during  the  year  1700.  Of  this 
branch  was  Nathaniel  Donnell,  the  purchaser  of  a  large  portion 
of  what  is  now  the  territory  of  Bath  from  the  heirs  of  Robert  Gutch. 
Mr.  Arthur  Chatham  Donnell,  who  was  born  in  Bath,  in  1853,  comes 
down  from  this  ancestor,  and  his  father  was  Arthur  Donnell,  who 
had  been  an  alderman  of  Bath,  and  his  grandfather  and  great- 
grandfather had  served  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  was  educated 
in  the  city  schools,  graduated  from  the  high  school  and  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Phi  Rho  Society ;  passed  an  examination  for  Harvard, 
but  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father  went  to  California,  where 
he  was  engaged  in  civil  engineering  six  or  seven  years,  after  which 
he  entered  into  the  insurance  business,  and  is  now  a  partner  in  the 


444  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

firm  of  Okill,  Donnell  &  Co.,  managers  for  the  United  States  for  a 
large  English  insurance  company,  for  a  New  York  insurance  com- 
pany, and  for  the  Employers'  Liability  Assurance  Corporation  of 
London  for  the  Pacific  coast.  In  1734  a  kinsman  of  the  original 
Nathaniel  Donnell  resided  where  is  now  the  mansion  of  Thomas  W. 
Hyde.  He  died  in  1761.  The  same  house  was  afterwards  occupied 
by  another  descendant,  Capt.  Benjamin  Donnell. 

Bradstreet  8.  Rairden,  of  Aujer,  Java.  The  father  of  Captain 
Rairden  was  Capt.  Bradstreet  Rairden,  who  was  born  at  Georgetown, 
December  12,  1815,  and  died  at  Aujer,  Java,  May  28,  1887,  while 
living  there  with  his  son  after  the  loss  of  his  daughter,  a  year  previ- 
ous, who  was  with  her  husband  who  was  in  command  of  the  ship 
Bombay  when  she  was  lost,  with  all  on  board,  in  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 
The  father  commenced  a  sea-faring  life  at  an  early  age,  and  by  regu- 
lar promotion  rose  to  the  office  of  captain,  commanding  the  Bath 
ships  Gerard,  Gardner,  Houghton,  Ocean  Romp,  Canova,  Alexander, 
Arcturus,  and  barks  Henry  Warren,  Harriet  Hussey,  and  Evie  Reed, 
in  all  of  which  he  made  successful  and  uneventful  voyages. 

His  son,  Bradstreet  S.,  was  born  in  New  Orleans,  November  7, 
1858;  spent  his  youthful  days  in  Bath,  with  the  exception  of  one 
year  at  school  in  Portishead,  England;  commenced  going  to  sea  in 
November,  1874;  took  command  of  the  bark  Evie  Reed,  at  Portland, 
Me.,  August  18,  1 88 1,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years;  left  this 
vessel,  on  account  of  sickness  with  Java  fever,  at  Batavia,  Java, 
March,  1884,  and  settled  at  Aujer,  April,  1884,  as  ship-chandler  and 
commission  merchant.  He  was  married  to  Frances  Elizabeth  Collins 
(who  was  born  at  Bootle,  England,  July  16,  1865),  January  12,  1887. 
Their  children:  Frank  Bradstreet,  born  May  4,  1888;  Percy  Wallace, 
born  November  14,  1889;  Mamie  Lowell,  born  May  30,  1891.  In 
August,  1892,  Captain  Rairden  was  appointed,  by  President  Harrison, 
consul  to  Batavia,  Java,  and  took  charge  of  the  consulate  November 
1,  1892. 

Willlleld  Scott  Batchelder  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  in  1841, 
and  is  a  son  of  Emerson  Batchelder.  His  business  life  was  com- 
menced in  a  cotton  commission  house  in  Philadelphia,  and  when 


v„.,..fJ  J  "°»BIEM   , 
'"'■"  "'«»  S,w 


J 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  445 

the  War  of  the  Rebellion  was  in  progress  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in 
the  1 1 8th  Pennsylvania  Infantry;  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant; 
participated  in  the  battles  in  which  that  regiment  was  engaged, 
including  that  of  Gettysburg,  participating  in  the  repulse  of  Picket's 
famous  charge.  After  serving  two  and  a  half  years  in  the  army  he 
was  compelled,  by  disability,  to  retire  from  further  service.  He 
married  a  Southern  Union  lady,  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  has  two 
sons.  His  residence  is  at  Titusvillc,  Pa.,  where  he  is  general  super- 
intendent of  the  Titus  Water  Pipe  Company,  which  is  a  very 
responsible  position  and  which  he  has  filled  many  years.  His 
mother  is  a  widow,  residing  in  Bath. 

Lnther  Dorr  Emerson,  grandson  of  the  Rev.  Ezekiel  Emerson, 
and  son  of  Hawley  Emerson  and  his  wife,  Rachel  Lennan,  was  born 
in  Arrowsic,  and  married  Miss  D.  Minerva,  daughter  of  Reuben 
Crane,  of  Fayette,  Me.  Their  children  are  Alice  and  Walter  C. 
The  latter  graduated  from  Colby  University,  in  1884,  and  is  one  of 
the  editors  and  proprietors  of  the  Portland  Advertiser.  Mr.  Emerson 
was  engaged  in  the  business  of  manufacturing  scythes  and  axes  and 
was  president  of  the  Messalouskee  National  Bank  at  Oakland,  Me., 
where  he  died  in  October,  1893. 

Ocoi'gC  W.  Percy,  of  San  Francisco,  was  born  in  West  Bath, 
July  5,  1847;  went  to  sea;  returned  in  1866  and,  after  a  short  time 
at  Kent's  Hill  school,  entered  the  office  of  F.  H.  Fassett,  the  Port- 
land architect;  went  to  California  in  1869;  went  to  Chicago  after 
the  great  fire,  and  was  engaged  one  year  in  the  work  of  the  rebuild- 
ing of  that  city;  early  in  1873  went  to  Boston  and  was  in  charge  of 
the  construction  of  several  important  buildings  there  during  the 
next  three  years;  returned  to  California  and  opened  an  office  in  San 
Francisco,  where  he  has  since  been  employed  in  practical  architect- 
ure with  success.  In  1880  he  entered  into  partnership  with  F.  F. 
Hamilton.  On  December  29,  1881,  Mr.  Percy  married  Miss  Emma 
W.,  daughter  of  Mr.  D.  W.  Clark,  of  Portland,  Me.  Mr.  Percy  is  a 
son  of  Dea.  Isaiah  Percy,  who  was  a  well-known  resident  of  West 
Bath.  T.  B.  Percy,  another  son,  resides  in  Portland  and  is  a  deacon 
of  the  Second  Parish  Church. 


44^  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Joseph  Whitman  Spauldiug  was  born  in  Carratuck  Plantation, 
Somerset  County,  Me.,  August  11,  1841.  November  4,  1865,  he 
married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Clark,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who  was  born  at 
Tinmouth,  Vt.,  November  19,  1840,  and  they  have  two  children. 
Mr.  Spaulding  was  educated  at  Richmond  Academy  and  Westbrook 
Seminary,  and  received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  from 
Bowdoin,  July  10,  1878.  He  had  commenced  the  study  of  law,  but 
when  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke  out  he  resolved  to  tender  his 
services,  and  was  commissioned  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A,  of 
the  Nineteenth  Regiment  of  Maine  Volunteers,  which  was  mustered 
at  Bath,  August  25,  1862;  was  promoted  to  captain,  major,  and  lieu- 
tenant-colonel in  the  army  of  the  Potomac,  and  was  mustered  out 
while  in  command  of  the  regiment,  May  31,  1865.  Upon  his  return 
home  he  resumed  the  study  of  law,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Bar 
November  28,  1865;  to  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  for  Maine, 
April  24,  187 1,  and  to  the  courts  of  Alabama,  August,  1890.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  House  of  Representatives  of  Maine  in  1868, 
1870,  and  1879;  was  state  senator  in  187 1  and  1872,  and  held  offices 
of  trust  in  the  village  of  Richmond.  From  1880  to  1888  he  was 
reporter  of  Supreme  Law  decisions,  and  in  1881  he  prepared  a  law 
book  on  common  law  practice  in  courts,  with  the  changes  made  by 
Maine  Statutes,  which  is  cited  as  "Spaulding's  Practice."  For  many 
years  his  law  office  was  at  Richmond,  subsequently  in  Portland, 
removing  to  Fort  Wayne,  Ala.,  in  1890,  where  he  is  engaged  in 
practice,  and  became  mayor  of  the  city.  He  is  a  member  of  Rich- 
mond Lodge  of  F.  and  A.  Masons;  of  John  Merrill  Post,  G.  A.  R., 
of  Richmand,  and  of  Maine  Commandery,  Military  Order  of  Loyal 
Legion  of  the  United  States. 

Charles  Carrol  Morse  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  April  4,  1843, 

and  is  a  son  of  William  H.  and  Hannah  Reed  Morse.  His  early 
education  was  such  as  is  afforded  by  the  district  schools,  and  he 
commenced  going  to  sea  when  sixteen  years  of  age;  sailed  out  of 
Boston  five  years,  when  he  became  captain  of  the  schooner  Fleet- 
wing  of  Bath  when  less  than  twenty  years  old;  then  went  mate  of 
the  bark  Caroline  Lemont  of  Brunswick,  afterwards  taking  com- 
mand of  her;  subsequently  was  mate  with  Capt.  Charles  E.  Patten 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  447 

in  the  Bath  ship  Moravia  one  foreign  voyage,  when  the  command 
was  relinquished  to  him  by  Captain  Patten  in  1870;  afterwards  he 
was  master  of  the  ship  Ellen  Goodspeed,  the  George  F.  Manson, 
and  the  C.  F.  Sargent,  in  all  of  which  he  was  part  owner.  He  mar- 
ried at  Plymouth,  England,  in  187 1,  Mrs.  Margaret  Stevens  Webber, 
and  they  have  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters.  His  family  lived 
in  England  until  the  year  of  1888,  when  they  came  to  this  country 
and  arc  settled  in  San  Francisco,  from  which  port  Captain  Morse  is 
sailing.  In  1890  he  bought  into  the  ship  Occidental  and  is  now 
master  of  her. 

Parker  Henry  McCobb  Morrison. — Captain  Morrison  was  a 

son  of  Capt.  Pierson  Morrison  and  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  at  the 
Basin  section,  November  16,  1837.  His  education  was  such  as  was 
obtained  in  the  district  school,  and,  following  his  father's  occupation, 
he  went  to  sea  in  April,  1855,  at  seventeen  years  of  age,  as  cabin 
boy  with  Capt.  Frank  Percy  in  the  ship  Lizzie  Drew.  Adopting  the 
sea  as  his  life  occupation,  he  rose  in  the  course  of  regular  service  to 
the  position  of  captain  in  January,  1863,  taking  charge  of  the  bark 
Comet.  Subsequently  he  has  commanded  the  brig  Vincent,  bark 
Aberdeen,  bark  Amie,  ship  George  W.  Adams,  ship  Indiana,  and 
bark  Andrew  Welch  owned  by  Welch  &  Co.,  San  Francisco,  and 
later  was  given  command  of  the  fine  clipper  iron  bark  R.  P.  Rithet, 
sailing  between  San  Francisco  and  West  Pacific  ports.  When  in 
command  of  the  bark  Aberdeen,  and  at  St.  Thomas,  in  November, 
1867,  a  hurricane  and  tidal  wave  caused  every  person  to  flee  to  the 
hills,  many  lives  were  lost,  vessels  were  swept  up  into  the  streets 
making  more  or  less  total  wrecks,  the  Aberdeen  among  the  number. 
Added  to  this  calamity  the  cholera  and  yellow  fever  prevailed  in  the 
town.  Captain  Morrison  is  notable  as  a  careful  navigator  and  a 
trustworthy  man  in  charge  of  a  vessel. 

Albion  H.  Morse,  son  of  Thomas  and  Arabella  (Hillman)  Morse, 
was  born  in  Phipsburg,  December  24,  1832,  where  his  education  was 
obtained  in  the  public  schools.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he 
adopted  a  sea-faring  life,  rising,  in  a  regular  course  of  service  in  the 
merchant  marine,  to  the  command  of  deep-sea-going  ships,  and  con- 


448  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

tinued  in  that  vocation  until  1890,  when  he  retired  from  the  sea, 
having  met  with  abundant  success.  His  early  voyages  were  in  ships 
sailing  out  of  the  Port  of  Bath,  but  for  the  last  twenty-five  years  he 
commanded  steamers  in  a  regular  line  plying  on  the  coast  and  rivers 
of  China — fourteen  years  under  the  Chinese  flag.  His  long  extended 
business  with  Chinese  merchants  led  him  to  speak  of  them  as  being 
honorable,  straightforward  men.  Captain  Morse  is  unmarried  and 
resides  in  Alameda,  Cal.,  where  he  has  a  magnificent  residence. 

Llewellyn  Scott  Wyman  was  born  in  Phipsburg,  June  23, 
183 1 ;  married,  in  September,  1859,  t0  Lizzie  Merrill,  only  daughter 
of  Thomas  J.  Merrill  of  Damariscotta.  She  died  December,  1860, 
at  the  age  of  2 1  years.  Lizzie  Merrill  Wyinan,  her  daughter,  born 
November  5,  i860,  died  October  25,  1882.  He  commenced  going 
to  sea  in  1843;  took  command  of  ship  Caspian,  1853;  from  her  to 
Florence;  changed  to  bark  Rig;  from  her  to  ship  Champlain.  In 
1859  he  built,  in  part,  and  took  command  of  ship  Canada,  the  first 
ship  sailing  with  star  built  on  the  Kennebec.  All  these  ships 
were  built  and  managed  by  Messrs.  G.  F.  &  J.  Patten,  Bath.  In 
1867  he  built  with  J.  P.  Morse  ship  Belle  Morse,  and  was  in  com- 
mand of  her  three  years.  In  187 1  he  built  with  J.  P.  Morse  ship 
Harry  Morse,  and  was  in  command  of  her  until  he  retired  from  the 
sea  in  November,  1875.  Since  that  time  he  has  built  a  large  num- 
ber of  ships,  barks,  and  schooners.  Since  retiring  from  the  sea  his 
home  has  been  in  Damariscotta  and  Portland. 

Felix  U.  StillSOll,  of  Arrowsic,  was  born  in  Cuba,  November  20, 
1855;  came  to  America  in  1868;  was  adopted  by  Capt.  John  Stin- 
son,  living  at  Arrowsic.  He  went  to  the  district  school  and  worked 
on  the  farm.  In  1874  he  commenced  going  to  sea,  shipping  on 
board  of  the  ship  Storm  King,  of  Bath,  of  which  A.  P.  Boyd  was 
master,  and  in  1884  reached,  through  the  several  grades  of  service, 
the  position  of  first  officer.  He  has  sailed  as  such  in  the  ships 
Solitaire,  Frank  N.  Thayer,  Valparaiso,  Arminia,  John  R.  Kelley, 
and  is  now  in  the  largest  wood  ship  in  the  world,  the  Shenandoah, 
having  three  mates  under  him.  All  of  the  above-named  ships  in 
which  he  has  sailed  as  mate  are  vessels  of  the  larger  class  engaged 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  449 

in  the  Pacific  trade.  To  be  first  officer  of  a  ship  of  such  excessive 
tonnage  as  that  of  the  Shenandoah  is  equal  in  responsibility  to 
being  in  command  of  ships  of  a  much  smaller  tonnage. 

Frederic  W.  Payne.  —  Dr.  Payne,  son  of  the  distinguished 
William  E.  Payne,  was  born  in  Bath,  where  he  passed  through  the 
city  schools,  leaving  the  high  school  just  before  the  completion  of  a 
regular  course  to  enter  a  boarding-school  in  Newton  Centre,  where 
he  remained  two  years.  Commencing  the  study  of  medicine,  he 
graduated  from  the  Harvard  Medical  School,  of  the  class  of  1866, 
and  from  the  Homeopathic  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1867;  was  engaged  in  study  in  Europe,  at  the  hospitals  of  Paris, 
Berlin,  and  Vienna,  during  the  greater  part  of  the  years  1868  and 
1869;  has  been  in  Europe  at  the  hospitals,  mainly  those  of  Paris 
and  Vienna,  repeatedly  since  his  first  visit  to  them ;  was  associated 
with  his  father  in  practice,  in  Bath,  for  the  first  four  years  after  his 
graduation,  and  went  to  Boston  in  1872. 

Doctor  Payne  has  since  traveled  extensively  in  Europe,  Asia,  and 
America,  having  once  circumnavigated  the  globe  and  spent  some 
time  in  China  and  Japan.  He  is  a  member  of  the  International 
Hahnemann  Association,  senior  member  of  the  American  Institute 
of  Homoeopathy,  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Medical  Society 
and  of  the  Boston  Hahnemann  Association;  was  formerly  lecturer 
upon  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear  at  the  Boston  University  School  of 
Medicine,  and  lately  surgeon  in  charge  of  the  Eye  and  Ear  Depart- 
ment of  the  Boston  Homoeopathic  Dispensary.  He  has  written 
much  concerning  homoeopathic  practice  and  cases,  and  aided  in  the 
proving  of  several  remedies  for  the  homoeopathic  materia  medica. 
The  doctor  is  a  specialist  in  his  practice  in  ophthalmology  and 
otology,  and  has  been  most  successful  in  the  accomplishment  of 
surgical  and  therapeutic  means  for  the  alleviation  and  restoration  of 
sight  and  hearing  to  the  distressed. 

Doctor  Payne  married  the  daughter  of  Jacob  Parker  Morse  of 
Bath  and  has  two  sons  and  a  daughter.  He  is  in  practice  in  Boston, 
where  he  has  the  confidence  and  patronage  of  a  large  community. 


450  HISTORY   OF   BATH 

Dr.  John  H.  Payne,  of  Boston,  was  born  in  Bath,  June  14,  1855. 
He  is  son  of  the  distinguished  homoeopathic  physician,  Dr.  William 
E.  Payne  of  Bath.  His  mother  was  daughter  of  Capt.  Davis  Hatch, 
a  prominent  citizen  of  Bath  in  his  day.  Their  son,  John  H.,  com- 
menced his  education  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city,  graduating 
from  its  high  school  in  1872 ;  from  Bowdoin  College  in  the  class  of 
1876;  from  the  Boston  University  School  of  Medicine,  class  of 
1879 ;  was  in  the  Hospital  of  Paris,  France,  and  in  one  in  Austria 
during  ten  months  of  the  years  1883  and  1884. 

In  1879  he  commenced  practice  in  Boston  with  his  cousin,  Dr.  J. 
P.  Paine,  and  moved  into  the  city  proper  in  1881,  where  he  has 
continued  in  his  profession,  in  Copley  Square,  to  the  present  date, 
in  the  specialty  of  the  treatment  of  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear. 
Doctor  Payne  is  lecturer  on  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear  in  that 
department  of  the  dispensary  in  connection  with  the  Boston  Univer- 
sity School  of  Medicine,  and  also  ophthalmic  surgeon,  by  appoint- 
ment, at  the  Massachusetts  Homoeopathic  Hospital  at  Boston.  A 
few  years  since  Doctor  Payne,  with  his  wife,  went  on  a  tour  of 
Europe  for  health  and  recreation. 

William  L.  Putnam  was  born  in  Bath,  May  26,  1835.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city,  and  entered  Bowdoin 
College  in  the  class  of  1855,  graduating  with  it.  He  at  once  com- 
menced the  study  of  law,  and  the  next  winter  was  chosen  assistant 
clerk  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  and  at  about  the  same  time 
assumed  editorial  charge  of  the  Bath  Daily  Times%  which  he  retained 
for  nearly  a  year.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in  1858  and  imme- 
diately moved  to  Portland,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Me  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  be  received  into  partnership  by  Hon.  George  Evans, 
and  his  associations  with  that  brilliant  statesman  were  of  course  of 
inestimable  value.  Also,  he  was  thus  introduced  at  the  beginning 
to  the  best  class  of  clients  and  business,  and  given  plenty  of  work 
to  do,  which  was  a  powerful  stimulus,  at  that  formative  period,  of 
his  natural  propensity  for  that  thorough  and  unremitting  devotion  to 
his  legal  pursuits  that  has  been  and  is  the  dominant  feature  of  his 
life  and  the  foundation  of  its  eminent  success.     In  the  later  years 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  45 1 

of  his  law  practice  a  great  part  of  his  business  was  connected  with 
corporations  and  great  business  enterprises.  In  politics  Judge  Put- 
nam has  always  been  devoted  to  Democratic  principles,  yet  the 
citizens  of  Republican  Portland  elected  him  mayor  in  1869,  an  office 
which  he  filled  with  credit. 

In  1883  he  was  tendered  one  of  the  judgeships  of  the  Supreme 
Bench  in  this  State,  but  declined  the  honor.  In  1887  President 
Cleveland  appointed  him  a  commissioner  on  the  part  of  the  United 
States  to  negotiate  a  settlement  of  the  rights  of  Americans  in  the 
territorial  waters  of  Canada  and  Newfoundland,  a  duty  that  he  dis- 
charged with  distinguished  ability.  At  the  end  of  the  negotiations 
he  wrote  two  able  papers  in  support  and  defense  of  the  treaty. 
They  were  sent  to  the  Senate  by  the  President.  These  events  gave 
him  a  national  reputation,  and  his  latest  honor,  his  appointment, 
December,  1891,  by  President  Harrison,  to  be  judge  of  the  new 
United  States  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals,  which  was  created  March 
31,  1 89 1,  was  entirely  above  the  plane  of  politics  and  a  recognition 
universally  commended.  In  1884  he  was  elected  by  the  Bowdoin 
College  corporation  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  that 
institution,  and  simultaneously  received  from  them  the  degree  of 
LL.D.  He  was  for  several  years  president  of  the  Portland  Institute 
and  Public  Library,  and  is  now  president  of  the  corporation  of  the 
Maine  General  Hospital. 

It  was  in  cases  that  involved  a  mastery  of  the  legal  principles  and 
required  a  profound  research  and  preparation  that  Judge  Putnam's 
superiority  was  manifest.  It  was,  therefore,  in  the  law  courts  and 
in  office  business  that  his  efforts  created,  perhaps,  the  most  exten- 
sive and  valuable  clientage  of  any  of  his  contemporaries  in  the  city. 
His  thoroughness  in  details,  his  recognition  of  the  importance  of 
minor  features  that  would  not  be  apparent  to  most  opponents,  and  in 
fact  his  complete  mastery  of  the  whole  subject  is  what  has  made  his 
arguments  irresistible,  and  caused  his  judgment  to  be  relied  upon 
where  matters  of  great  importance  were  concerned. 

Mr.  Putnam,  for  many  years,  has  worked  steadily  at  his  law  office 
all  day  and  carried  home  his  green  bag  full  of  papers  to  continue  his 
work  late  in  the  evening.     He  is  one  of  the  few  men  who  can  labor 


452  HISTORY    OP   BATH. 

thus  with  their  brains,  year  after  year,  and  thrive  upon  it  He  is,  of 
course,  strong  of  mind  and  body.  He  enjoys  social  life,  both  at 
home  and  elsewhere.  Probably  no  other  Maine  man  makes  so  many 
calls  in  Washington  as  he,  or  has  a  wider  acquaintance  with  eminent 
people. 

Judge  Putnam  is  a  large  man  with  an  erect  and  imposing  carriage, 
would  attract  attention  anywhere,  and  when  he  walks  into  the  court- 
room with  his  voluminous  silk  robe  enfolding  him,  he  expresses  the 
dignity  of  the  law  to  perfection.  Judge  Putnam  is  married  and 
has  no  children. 

Henry  A.  Shorey  was  born  in  Waterville,  in  1840.  He  is  a 
journalist  by  profession,  and  for  twenty-seven  years,  in  Bath  and 
Bridgton,  has  been  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  as  editor  and 
publisher.  He  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the  first  "challenge  to  the 
fray,"  in  the  old  Bath  City  Grays  (Company  A,  Third  Maine),  but 
was  rejected  at  the  medical  examination  as  not  being  robust  enough 
for  Meld  service.  But,  nowise  discouraged,  he  recruited  a  detachment 
of  men  in  November,  1861,  and  with  them  entered  the  service  as 
second  lieutenant  in  the  Fifteenth  Maine  Regiment.  He  served 
with  the  regiment  in  the  Butler  expedition  against  New  Orleans,  and 
endured  the  privations  of  a  soldier's  life  in  the  malaria  infected 
regions  of  the  Mississippi  through  three  consecutive  summers; 
served  in  Western  Florida;  was  with  Banks'  expedition  to  Southern 
Texas ;  in  the  Banks'  Red  River  expedition,  participating  in  all  the 
battles  of  that  eventful  campaign;  was  with  Butler  at  Bermuda 
Hundreds;  was  with  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  was  "in" 
at  the  final  close  of  the  war,  commanding  his  company  in  the  famous 
Grand  Review  at  Washington  in  May,  1865;  and,  with  his  regiment, 
then  proceeded  to  Georgia  and  South  Carolina,  serving  a  full  year  in 
the  adventurous  and  exciting  service  incident  to  the  reconstruction 
period  and  the  protection  of  the  freed  people  during  that  memorable 
transition  period.  He  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  in  July,  1866, 
after  a  continuous  service  of  four  years  and  seven  months.  He  was 
promoted  to  first  lieutenant  in  1863;  served  as  adjutant  for  a  con- 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  453 

siderable  period;  promoted  to  captain  in  1865;  and  brevetted  major 
for  meritorious  service  during  the  war,  in  March,  1865. 

During  his  long  term  of  service  Major  Shorey  occupied  many 
important  detached  positions,  including  those  of  provost  marshal, 
judge  advocate  of  military  courts,  and  post  commander,  during  his 
service  in  South  Carolina  in  1865-6,  which  was  especially  varied, 
responsible,  and  exciting. 

Major  Shorey  has  held  many  important  positions  in  the  Maine 
reformatory  and  fraternal  organizations,  including  those  of  chief 
and  secretary  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Good  Templars,  and  president 
of  the  State  Odd  Fellows'  Relief  Association.  He  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  governor's  staff  (with  rank  of  lieutenant-colonel )  during 
Governor  PerhanVs  administration;  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Maine 
Insane  Hospital  for  half  a  dozen  years;  and  for  a  number  of  years 
has  been  weigher  and  gauger  at  the  Portland  Custom  House. 

Major  Shorey  has  recently  published  a  handsome  volume,  "The 
Story  of  the  Maine  Fifteenth,"  which  has  elicited  highly  compli- 
mentary notices  from  the  Maine  press. 

He  has  been  a  resident  of  Bridgton  since  1870.  He  married  Ida 
D.  Currier,  at  Bath,  in  1864,  and  has  five  children  living,  the  eldest 
being  A.  C.  Shorey,  recently  managing  editor  of  The  Times, 

William  Henry  Morse  was  a  member  of  the  Morse  family 
who  came  from  England  at  an  early  day  and  settled  in  Phipsburg, 
branches  of  which  are  closely  identified  with  the  history  of  Bath 
families.  He  obtained  a  good  public-school  education,  was  engaged 
in  salmon  trade,  had  a  store,  engaged  in  ship-building,  and  was 
selectman  of  Phipsburg,  his  native  place.  Going  to  California  dur- 
ing the  prevalence  of  the  "  gold  fever,"  he  lost  his  life  heroically  by 
entering  upon  a  hazardous  rescue  of  some  men  from  a  watery  grave, 
resulting  in  a  lung  attack  that  ended  his  life  while  in  the  prime  of 
his  manhood.  He  married  Eliza  Hannah,  daughter  of  Col.  Andrew 
Reed,  and  they  had  a  family  of  which  Charles  Carroll,  mentioned 
elsewhere  in  this  volume,  and  William  Reed  Morse  are  living.  The 
latter  resides  at  Clarks,  Neb.,  where  he  has  been  in  trade  and  banking, 
and  has  been  postmaster  and  state  senator.  He  married  Mary  Emma 
Thomas,  and  they  have  one  son  and  four  daughters  living. 


454  HISTORY   OP   BATH. 


BATH'S   NEWSPAPERS. 


To  adequately  cover  the  important  subject  allotted  to  this  article 
would  require  much  more  space  than  the  limits  of  this  work  will 
permit ;  hence  the  writer  must  content  himself  with  the  merest  out- 
line sketch  of  a  fraternity  of  industrious  workers,  who,  in  the 
aggregate,  have  probably  contributed  as  much  to  the  city's  moral  and 
industrial  upbuilding  as  any  other  profession ;  and,  it  is  no  doubt 
also  true,  that,  as  a  whole,  they  have  been  quite  as  inadequately 
compensated. 

It  is  an  interesting  historical  coincidence  that  Bath's  first  venture 
upon  the  journalistic  sea  was  in  the  identical  year  (1820)  when 
Maine  assumed  the  dignities  and  responsibilities  of  State-hood,  and 
in  which  the  city  was  honored  in  the  election  of  one  of  its  citizens 
as  the  new  state's  first  chief  magistrate.  Since  then  Bath  has 
never  been  without  a  paper.  The  local  history  of  the  ship-build- 
ing city  to  be  found  in  the  files  of  our  newspapers,  so  far  as  they  are 
complete,  covers  a  period  of  nearly  three-quarters  of  a  century;  and 
these  furnish  very  valuable,  and  well-nigh  indispensable,  data  for  the 
historian  of  to-day. 

The  newspaper  of  fifty  years  ago  was  strikingly  dissimilar  to 
the  enterprising  and  "  hustling  "  journals  of  a  later  period.  Then, 
to  a  much  greater  extent  than  now,  they  were  called  into  being  to 
serve  the  purposes  of  political  parties  and  aspiring  politicians;  and 
the  news  of  the  day,  local  or  general,  and  literary  and  miscellaneous 
matter  were  made  secondary  to  the  exigencies  of  the  political  situa- 
tion. They  were  almost  uniformly  weekly  issues,  printed  upon 
hand-presses  of  ancient  device,  with  very  imperfect  facilities  for  ink- 
distribution  and  application  to  the  "forms,"  and  were  generally  of 
limited  circulation.  The  long-drawn-out  political  essay,  or  editorial 
"  leader,"  with  political  or  philosophical  "  correspondence,"  some 
"  alleged  poetry  "  and  miscellaneous  selections,  a  lengthy  digest  of 
"foreign  news"  of  very  ancient  flavor,  with  abstracts  of  congres- 


i 


firfx 


az£Z~ 


HISTORY   OP   BATH.  455 

sional  and  legislative  reports,  constituted  the  "matter,"  with  the 
marine  report,  a  few  dull  and  unattractive  advertisements,  and  the 
inevitable  "  deaths  "  and  "  marriages,"  as  essential  incidentals.  A 
murder  or  a  suicide  or  a  destructive  conflagration  were  about  the 
only  matters  deemed  worthy  of  local  mention;  and  in  those  days  to 
have  chronicled  the  merry-makings  and  social  festivities  of  the  peo- 
ple, to  have  made  a  record  of  their  comings  and  goings,  or  to  have 
spoken  kindly  of  any  enterprise  in  which  the  business  men  were 
engaged,  would  have  been  regarded  as  infinitely  unwise,  if  not  person- 
ally offensive  to  the  subject  of  such  comment.  It  was  not  until 
many  years  later  that  the  newspaper-man  made  the  important  dis- 
covery that  the  shortest  road  to  the  average  newspaper  reader's 
heart  and  purse  was  in  the  pleasant  mentioning  of  the  aforesaid 
patron's  name  in  print;  and  by  a  singular  coincidence,  the  record 
shows  that  it  was  at  about  that  period  that  newspapers  and  news- 
paper readers  began  "  to  multiply  and  to  cover  the  earth."  The 
newspaper  as  an  educator  and  a  leader  of  public  sentiment  retired 
from  business  in  some  measure;  and  gradually  its  scope  was  rather 
conceded  to  be  that  of  furnishing  the  people  with  the  news,  con- 
tributing to  their  entertainment,  and  catering  to  their  vanities. 

The  pioneer  Bath  newspaper,  The  Maine  Gazette,  came  at  a  period 
of  comparative  quiet  in  national  politics,  and  at  its  inception  took 
little  part  therein.  It  was  during  the  Monroe  administration,  when 
there  was  little  or  no  poKtical  excitement.  It  concerned  itself  more 
with  matters  of  local  and  state  politics  incident  to  the  formative 
period  of  "the  State  of  the  Pine  Tree."  Joseph  G.  Torrey  was  the 
chief  man  of  the  establishment,  Mr.  Simpson  continuing  with  him 
only  one  year.  Torrey,  however,  continued  his  labors  for  something 
like  a  dozen  years.  He  had  a  clear  field  until  the  political  pot  com- 
menced to  "  sizzle "  in  the  national  field,  when  the  paper  was  four 
years  old.  Then  it  vigorously  advocated  the  cause  of  John  Quincy 
Adams,  and  the  supporters  of  William  H.  Crawford  rebelled.  They 
summoned,  from  the  office  of  the  Portland  Argus,  a  practical  printer, 
Thomas  Eaton  by  name,  and  launched  a  rival  paper,  The  Maine 
Inquirer.  It  run  for  nearly  eight  years.  Meanwhile  the  old  Gazette 
continued  its  course.     It  was  subsidized  by  the  national  adminis- 


456  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

tration,  being  the  recognized  organ  for  publishing  the  Public  Laws, 
while  Adams  was  President,  and  Henry  Clay  Secretary  of  State. 
The  rival  paper  gave  its  adhesion  to  the  cause  of  Andrew  Jackson, 
and  was  rigidly  Democratic. 

Mr.  Eaton  had  for  endorsers,  such  names  as  William  King, 
Peleg  Tallman,  Peter  H.  Green,  James  McLellan,  Joseph  Sewall, 
Henry  Tallman,  and  Nathaniel  Groton.  The  Gazette  contributors 
were  William  Thorndike,  Benjamin  Randall,  and  Joseph  F.  Wingate. 
The  two  papers  thus  continued  to  "dwell  together,"  if  not  in 
brotherly  unity.  In  1832,  a  Mr.  Harris  came  from  Haverhill,  Mass., 
and  bought  The  Inquirer  of  Mr.  Eaton,  run  it  about  one  year,  and  he 
in  turn  gave  way  to  J.  S.  Swift.  Mr.  Eaton  was  appointed  post- 
master of  Bath,  serving  from  1833  to  1850. 

In  1832,  under  the  Jackson  administration,  the  two  papers  were 
merged  in  one,  The  Gazette  and  Inquirer,  The  publishers,  suc- 
cessively, were  Harris,  Hamlet  Bates,  J.  S.  Swift.  Elisha  Clarke 
bought  in  1836,  changed  the  name  to  Lincoln  Telegraphy  greatly 
improved  the  paper  and  increased  the  business,  and,  occupying  the 
entire  Bath  field  for  a  greater  portion  of  his  term,  placed  the  estab- 
lishment upon  a  satisfactory  financial  basis.  In  1846,  after  ten  years' 
service,  Mr.  Clarke  sold  to  Messrs.  Chamberlain,  Haines  &  Plum- 
mer,  and  retired  upon  his  laurels. 

But,  during  these  years,  national  politics  were  becoming  very 
interesting,  and  the  local  politicians  of  the  Democratic  persuasion 
began  to  tire  of  the  diet  furnished  them  from  the  Whig  tables.  Since 
1842,  when  The  Maine  Inquirer  had  thrown  up  the  sponge,  Bath 
Democrats  had  been  without  a  paper,  and  the  exciting  national  cam- 
paign of  two  years  before — "Tippecanoe  and  Tyler  too"  —  had 
stirred  them  up  to  renewed  activity  in  this  direction.  So,  in  the 
spring  of  1842,  John  J.  Ramsay  launched  The  Maine  Enquirer  as  the 
Democratic  organ.  It  run  four  years  with  fair  success  and  was  con- 
ducted with  considerable  ability.  It  supported  James  K.  Polk; 
while  The  Telegraph  valiantly  fought  for  Henry  Clay.  Along  in 
1846,  when  the  Mexican  War  fever  was  most  intense,  John  T. 
Gilman  became  associated  with  Mr.  Ramsay.  Soon  after  Oilman 
came  in  Ramsay  went  out.     The  name  of  the  paper  was  changed  to 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  457 

Eastern  Times,  and,  a  year  later,  Gilman  sold  to  Joseph  F.  Huston, 
an  ex-profcssor  of  mathematics  in  the  U.  S.  Navy.  Three  years 
later,  1850,  an  industrious,  frugal,  and  enterprising  printer  came 
from  Boston  and  purchased  The  Times,  and  added  much  to  its  value 
and  influence.  This  was  George  E.  Newman,  still  a  resident  of 
the  city,  and  one  of  the  very  few  survivors  of  the  old-time  fraternity 
of  Bath  newspaper  publishers.  Mr.  Newman  continued  at  the  helm 
until  about  1856,  when  he  had  the  good  sense  to  accept  a  tempting 
cash  offer  "  to  sell  out "  and  to  invest  the  proceeds  in  bank  stock. 

So,  as  will  be  seen,  when  Messrs.  Chamberlain,  Haines  &  Plum- 
mcr  essayed  to  give  renewed  life  and  energy  to  the  old-time  Whig 
organ,  under  the  name  of  The  Northern  Tribune,  they  found  a  some- 
what formidable  rival  in  the  field,  flying  the  Democratic  ensign  from 
its  mast-head.  But  they  made  expensive  and  valuable  improvements 
in  their  plant  and  entered  upon  their  work  with  zeal  and  commend- 
able enthusiasm.  In  1845,  during  the  campaign  in  which  Gen. 
Zach.  Taylor  was  the  Whig  candidate  for  President,  The  Tribune 
issued  a  daily  edition,  The  Daily  Northern  IVibune,  which  was  Bath's 
first  venture  in  the  way  of  a  daily  newspaper.  But  the  experiment 
proved  unremunerative  and  was  soon  abandoned.  In  1849  Haines 
retired  from  the  firm  and  was  soon  followed  by  Chamberlain.  Mr. 
Pluinmer  was  the  sole  survivor,  but  he  had  the  good  fortune  to 
secure,  as  partner,  an  accomplished  practical  printer  from  abroad  — 
Mr.  George  Ross  —  the  firm  then  being  Plummer  &  Ross.  Soon 
Mr.  Plummer  sold  to  Benjamin  H.  Meder,  of  Brunswick.  It  was 
under  the  proprietorship  of  Meder  &  Ross  that  The  Tri- Weekly 
Northern  Iribune  appeared  in  the  place  of  the  daily  edition,  the 
weekly  being  also  continued.  Soon  Meder  retired,  leaving  Ross  as 
the  sole  proprietor.     All  these  changes  occurred  prior  to  1852. 

But  we  have  now  reached  the  Franklin  Pierce  era  in  American 
politics.  Two  weeklies,  rivals  in  politics,  and  one  tri- weekly,  did 
not  appear  to  satisfy  the  Bath  appetite  for  political  newspapers. 
Like  Oliver  Twist  it  cried  for  "more";  and  so,  in  1852  or  1853, 
Rufus  R.  Haines  and  Hiram  L.  Wing  put  a  new  paper  upon  the 
field,  The  Mirror,  weekly  at  first  and  afterwards  daily  and  weekly. 
With  a  population  of  8,020  Bath  was  then  supplied  with  three  week- 


458  HISTORY    OP   BATH. 

lies,  one  tri-weekly,  and  one  daily.  The  Tribune  establishment  was 
in  the  rooms  over  the  D.  T.  Percy  &  Sons'  crockery  store  ;  The 
Mirror  across  the  way,  where  are  now  the  billiard-rooms ;  while  The 
Eastern  Times  occupied  a  lofty  perch  in  the  third  story  of  the  brick 
block,  corner  Front  and  Arch  streets.  The  Times  was  Democratic  ; 
both  The  Tribune  and  The  Mirror  Whig,  the  latter  with  decided  Free- 
soil  proclivities.  In  its  short  career  The  Mirror  had  on  its  force  of 
publishers,  H.  L.  Whiting,  Edwin  Sprague,  and  Charles  Cobb,  in 
addition  to  its  two  founders.  But  The  Mirror's  career  was  brief 
though  brilliant.  In  the  spring  of  1855  both  Haines,  of  The  Mirror, 
and  Ross,  of  The  Tribune,  disposed  of  their  respective  interests  in 
the  two  papers,  to  George  A.  Kimball  and  Charles  Cobb.  Their 
proprietorship  continued  just  three  months.  In  this  short  space 
of  time  they  appear  to  have  made  the  discovery  that  the  newspaper 
field  was  over-crowded,  and  effected  a  consolidation.  The  Mirror 
and  The  lri~  Weekly  Tribune  were  dropped  out  entirely,  and  The 
Tribune  name  retained  for  both  the  daily  and  weekly  editions.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year,  1855,  The  Tribune  establishment  passed  into 
the  possession  of  a  wealthy  syndicate  of  influential  Bath  citizens, 
old-line  Whigs,  whose  rich  and  rare  experience  as  newspaper  pub- 
lishers will  be  long  remembered,  at  least  by  the  stockholders. 

But  there  is  still  another  newspaper  enterprise  of  this  period  to  go 
upon  the  record  —  the  coming  to  Bath,  and  its  establishment  as  a 
distinctive  Bath  institution,  of  The  American  Sentinel.  Established  at 
Damariscotta  in  the  interest  of  the  "  American "  or  "  Know  Noth- 
ing" party,  and  having  there  a  somewhat  limited  field,  zealous 
adherents  of  that  political  "  upheaval "  interested  themselves  in 
bringing  the  paper  to  Bath.  A  well-known  Bath  printer — Joseph 
M.  Hayes  —  was  in  charge  of  the  mechanical  department  of  the 
Damariscotta  establishment,  and  had  much  to  do  with  its  coming  to 
Bath.  At  all  events,  in  the  fall  of  1854,  at  that  "supreme  moment" 
when  patriotic  men  and  political  parties  were  placing  themselves  in 
line  for  the  impending  battle  between  the  hosts  of  Freedom  and 
the  votaries  of  Slavery,  a  self-appointed  syndicate  of  Bath  "  Free" 
Soilers  "  made  a  raid  upon  Damariscotta,  and,  in  a  very  limited 
space  of  time,  had  purchased  the  establishment,  placed  the  materials 


HISTORY   OP   BATH.  459 

■ 

"  upon  wheels,"  and  moved  it  to  Bath.  It  first  found  refuge  in  a 
Centre  street  livery  stable,  and  here  a  large  edition  of  the  paper  was 
" worked  off"  and  circulated  broadcast  among  the  enthusiastic 
"Native  Americans."  The  episode  created  considerable  of  a  sensa- 
tion in  the  local  political  world.  After  a  few  issues  James  M. 
Lincoln  was  installed  as  editor  and  proprietor,  the  quarters  vacated 
by  The  Mirror  secured,  and  the  regular  publication  of  The  Sentinel 
continued,  with  a  large  and  constantly  increasing  constituency. 

The  year  1855,  therefore,  found  Bath  thus  supplied  with  news- 
papers :  The  Tribune,  the  Whig  organ,  daily  and  weekly ;  The  Times, 
the  organ  of  the  Democracy  ;  The  American  Sentinel,  the  champion  of 
the  element  which  afterwards  organized  the  present  Republican  party. 
"The  Tribune  Association,"  elaborately  equipped  with  the  most  glit- 
tering array  of  talent  ever  employed  upon  a  Bath  newspaper,  issued 
its  first  papers  in  September,  1855.  They  had  made  large  invest- 
ments; had  employed  an  able  and  thoroughly  trained  editorial  writer 
in  the  person  of  Albert  G.  Tenney ;  had  installed,  with  liberal 
salaries,  expert  workmen  in  all  the  various  departments;  and,  indeed, 
had  given  to  Bath  a  newspaper  and  job  printing  establishment  such 
as  could  only  be  supported  in  the  larger  cities,  as  they  learned  from 
sad  experience.  A  year  later  another  syndicate  of  Bath  politicians, 
representing  the  Breckenridge  wing  of  the  Democratic  party,  had 
come  into  possession  of  The  Times;  while  the  make-up  of  the  new 
comer,  The  Sentinel,  has  already  been  mentioned.  During  the  politi- 
cal campaign  of  1856  The  Sentinel  issued  a  campaign  daily,  which  was 
ably  conducted,  and  had  considerable  influence  in  shaping  results  in 
the  local  field.  After  the  presidential  election  of  1856  and  the 
election  of  James  Buchanan,  the  syndicates  speedily  dissolved.  "The 
Tribune  Association"  suffered  considerable  loss,  the  stockholders 
being  assessed  one  hundred  per  cent.  In  1857  they  sold,  at  a  very 
great  sacrifice,  to  Elisha  Clarke  and  Elbridge  Roberts.  At  about 
the  same  time  2'he  Times  syndicate  also  sold  to  Clarke  &  Roberts  ; 
and  the  papers  of  the  two  concerns  were  merged,  under  the  name  of 
The  Northern  Tribune  and  Eastern  Times.  The  political  flavor  was 
Democratic  and  supported  the  Buchanan  administration.  This  was 
not  satisfactory  to  the  admirers  of  Stephen  A.  Douglass,  and  to  fur- 


460  HISTORY  OP  BATH. 

nish  them  a  mouth-piece,  John  T.  Gilman  established,  September, 
1857,  a  bright  and  sparkling  weekly,  called  " The  Peoples  Organ*9 
and  for  a  season  the  warfare  between  the  rival  editors — Clarke  of 
The  Tributie  and  Times,  Lincoln  of  The  Sentinel,  and  Gilman  of  The 
Organ — was  animated  and  spicy.  In  a  few  months,  however,  Clarke 
sold  his  interest  in  The  Tribune  ami  Times  to  Gilman,  who  consoli- 
dated the  two  establishments,  continuing  the  name  given  to  the 
papers  by  Clarke  &  Roberts ;  Roberts  remained  as  business  man- 
ager, with  Gilman  as  editor.  This  alignment  continued  through  the 
momentous  political  campaign  of  i860  and  after  the  inauguration  of 
Abraham  Lincoln.  Then  all  political  subdivisions  were  swallowed 
up  in  the  patriotic  purpose  to  protect  and  defend  the  government 
and  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  the  lawfully  elected  chief  magistrate. 
There  was  no  place  for  an  "anti-war"  newspaper  in  Bath!  In 
1862  Mr.  Gilman  received  a  call  to  the  Portland  Daily  Press  as  its 
first  editor,  The  Tribune  ami  Times  establishment  was  sold  to  James 
M.  Lincoln,  The  Sentinel  establishment  was  transferred  across  the 
way,  and,  as  "the  survival  of  the  fittest,"  Mr.  Lincoln  found  him- 
self in  undisputed  possession  of  Bath's  entire  newspaper  field.  He 
named  his  weekly  and  daily  issues,  "The  American  Sentinel"  and 
"Daily  Sentinel  and  Times"  thus  preserving  for  the  weekly  the  name 
under  which  it  was  established  in  1854  and  which  it  retained  until 
the  summer  of  1893,  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years. 

The  Sentinel  and  Times  held  the  Bath  field,  as  distinctive  Bath 
newspapers,  for  many  years.  For  about  four  years,  and  during  the 
war  period,  Mr.  Lincoln  was  sole  proprietor  and  editor,  as  he  had 
been  of  his  paper  prior  to  the  consolidation,  for  eight  years  previous. 
A  faithful,  conscientious  worker,  wholly  absorbed  in  his  profession, 
and  ever  striving  for  still  higher  attainments,  he  sacrificed  himself  as 
a  victim  of  over-work,  "dying  in  the  harness,"  August,  1866,  sin- 
cerely mourned  by  the  entire  community.  The  property  fell  to  the 
hands  of  the  widow,  who,  the  same  year  (December,  1866),  sold  the 
establishment  to  Elijah  Upton  and  Maj.  Henry  A.  Shorey.  Mr. 
Upton  had  long  been  connected  with  the  Bath  press  as  an  editorial 
writer  and  had  occupied  official  position  in  the  county  for  years; 
while  Major  Shorey,  fresh  from  a  long  and  creditable  period  of  army 


HISTORY   OP   BATH.  46 1 

service,  resumed  the  vocation  he  but  temporarily  laid  aside  at  the  out- 
break of  the  war.  He  had  entered  a  Bath  printing-office  at  the  age 
of  14  and  followed  the  fortunes  of  Mr.  Newman's  Eastern  Times  until 
its  consolidation  under  Oilman  &  Roberts  in  1862.  Messrs.  Upton 
&  Shorey  made  no  essential  change  in  the  paper,  following  closely 
the  lines  pursued  by  Editor  Lincoln,  and,  like  him,  contending 
earnestly  for  the  ascendancy  of  Republican  principles,  and,  incident- 
ally, for  temperance  and  the  impartial  enforcement  of  our  prohibi- 
tory laws.  Their  proprietorship  continued  three  years  and  was 
reasonably  successful  financially.  A  favorable  opportunity  present- 
ing itself,  in  1869,  they  sold  the  establishment  to  W.  E.  Whitman, 
then  well  known  as  "Toby  Candor,"  of  the  Boston  Journal.  Mr. 
Whitman  gave  to  the  paper  a  new  dress  of  type,  changed  the  daily 
from  a  morning  to  an  evening  paper,  and  for  thirteen  months  gave 
to  the  city  very  much  more  of  a  paper  than  it  cared  to  pay  for. 
His  bank  account  sustained  some  shrinkage  in  consequence,  and,  in 
1870,  the  establishment  was  purchased  by  Elijah  Upton. 

The  Sen  tine/  and  limes  continued  to  thrive  under  Editor  Upton's 
proprietorship,  and  was  published  in  the  Upton  family  name  for 
about  eighteen  years.  The  firm  name,  after  a  few  years,  was  E. 
Upton  &  Son,  the  junior  member  being  Mr.  Joshua  F.  Upton,  who 
had  learned  his  trade  in  the  office  and  ably  assisted  his  father  in  the 
business  and  mechanical  department.  The  elder  Upton  died  in 
1886,  and  from  that  period  until  1888  the  junior  had  entire  charge 
of  the  establishment,  the  ownership  being  vested  one-third  in  the 
active  member  of  the  firm  and  the  remainder  in  the  widow  of  the 
deceased. 

For  a  brief  period,  in  1869,  Maj.  H.  A.  Shorey  published  a  tem- 
perance paper,  circulating  in  the  state  at  large,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Grand  Lodge  of  Good  Templars,  of  which  he  was  secretary.  It 
was  called  The  Maine  Temperance  Advocate.  It  supported  the 
Hichborn  "bolt"  against  Governor  Chamberlain's  fourth  nomination 
as  a  candidate  for  Governor;  but,  upon  the  nomination  of  Sidney 
Perham  by  the  Republicans,  the  next  year,  and  the  adoption  of  a 
prohibitory  plank  satisfactory  to  the  temperance  people  of  the  state, 
the  publication  of  The  Advocate  was  discontinued. 


462  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

During  the  Upton  administration  the  Bath  newspaper  field  was 
again  invaded  by  rivals.  The  Times  had  held  undisputed  sway  since 
1862,  when  Fen.  G.  Barker,  a  graduate  of  The  Times  office,  estab- 
lished a  sprightly  weekly  as  a  Greenback  organ.  The  material  was 
owned  by  active  Bath  Democrats.  The  venture  proving  unremuner- 
ative,  its  publication  was  suspended  and  the  material  lay  dormant 
for  some  time.  Charles  D.  Clarke  established  The  Bath  Independent 
— "The  Little  Green  'Un"  as  it  was  facetiously  termed.  It  was  a 
"local  hustler,"  struck  right  and  left,  regardless  of  consequences, 
and  soon  built  up  a  large  constituency.  It  was  printed  in  Rockland. 
When  Mr.  Clarke  retired,  in  1892,  he  sold  the  paper  to  Mr.  E.  C. 
Plummer,  at  that  time  the  city  editor  of  The  Times. 

On  the  first  day  of  January,  1889,  the  Sentinel  and  Times  estab- 
lishment was  purchased  by  Messrs.  H.  A.  Shorey,  of  Bridgton,  his 
son,  Albert  C.  Shorey,  a  recent  Bowdoin  graduate,  and  W.  S.  Shorey, 
a  well-known  Bath  book-binder  and  blank-book  manufacturer. 
Major  Shorey,  for  a  few  months,  took  editorial  control,  and  under 
his  personal  supervision  the  establishment  was  entirely  reconstructed 
and  the  paper  enlarged  and  greatly  improved  in  general  appearance 
and  journalistic  influence.  The  old  rooms  so  long  occupied  by  The 
Tribune  and  its  successors  were  vacated  and  the  establishment 
removed  to  capacious  quarters  across  the  way,  the  counting-room 
and  press-room  occupying  the  first  floor.  The  terms  of  subscription 
for  the  daily  were  reduced  from  seven  to  five  dollars  per  annum,  at 
the  same  time  that  the.  paper  was  considerably  enlarged.  The  pub- 
lishers formed  a  corporation  known  as  the  "Sentinel  and  Times 
Publishing  Co."  The  circulation  of  the  daily  was  soon  doubled  and 
the  patronage  bestowed  upon  the  new  publishers  indicated  that  their 
pluck  and  enterprise  were  appreciated.  At  the  end  of  the  first  six 
months  of  the  new  regime,  Mr.  Albert  C.  Shorey  was  installed  as 
managing  editor,  which  position  he  continued  most  acceptably  to 
fill  for  three  and  a  half  years. .  W.  S.  Shorey  was  the  treasurer  and 
business  manager,  and  also  superintendent  of  the  book-binding 
establishment.  It  is  generally  conceded  in  Bath,  that  Mr.  A.  C 
Shorey's  editorial  connection  with  the  Bath  press  was  infinitely 
creditable  to  him.     Though  a  young  man,  and  of  limited  experience, 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  463 

he  gave  to  Bath  a  clean,  able,  sprightly  paper,  and,  although  un- 
swervingly of  the  Republican  flavor,  all  parties  and  individuals  were 
accorded  a  fair  hearing  and  treated  with  uniform  courtesy.  In  fact, 
the  Shoreys  gave  to  Bath  a  much  better  paper  than  the  field  probably 
warranted.  But  they  did  a  satisfactory  business,  and  despite  the 
large  expenditures  incident  to  the  improvements  introduced,  their 
venture  proved  a  success  financially.  After  four  years'  experience 
they  yielded  to  a  tempting  offer  from  Mr.  John  O.  Patten,  and  sold 
the  establishment  to  that  gentleman,  January  1,  1893. 

Again,  during  the  latter  part  of  1889,  Mr.  Joshua  F.  Upton  estab- 
lished a  paper,  semi-weekly,  entitled  "  The  Bath  Enterprise"  Mr. 
Upton  has  built  up  a  large  local  and  suburban  circulation,  and  has 
established  a  paper  which  is  bright  and  readable,  and  no  doubt 
fairly  remunerative.  This  gave  Bath,  in-  1889,  one  daily,  one  semi- 
weekly,  and  two  weekly  newspapers. 

The  dawn  of  1893  found  the  old  Times  establishment  in  the  pos- 
session of  Mr.  John  O.  Patten,  a  Bath-born  boy,  who  was  especially 
well-equipped  in  the  fact  of  his  having  an  ample  private  fortune  at 
his  command.  He  was  financially  able  "  to  run  a  daily  newspaper," 
and  in  that  respect  differed  from  either  of  his  numerous  predecessors. 
He  is  making  a  very  lively  newspaper,  well-edited,  thoroughly  inde- 
pendent, and  has  largely  increased  the  circulation  of  the  daily.  In 
April,  1893,  he  bought,  of  Mr.  Plummer,  27ie  Independent  property, 
dropped  American  Sentinel,  which  had  stood  as  the  name  of  the 
Sagadahoc  weekly  for  forty  years,  and  gave  it  the  name  of  The  Bath 
Independent,  with  which  is  consolidated  The  American  Sentinel.  Mr. 
Charles  D.  Clarke  edits  the  weekly.  At  this  writing,  therefore,  the 
Bath  newspapers  comprise  The  Bath  Daily  Times,  The  Bath  Inde- 
pendent (its  wcely  edition),  and  Ihe  Bath  Enterprise. 

For  a  few  months,  in  1853,  J.  S.  Swift  issued  a  daily  and  weekly 
called  The  Sagadahoc  Reviciv,  and  in  1837,  Mr.  James  Nelson  run, 
for  about  a  year,  a  paper  called  The  Telescope.  Then  the  Bath  High 
School  boys  have  for  some  years  issued  an  ably  conducted  school 
paper,  called  The  Phi-Rhonian.  The  Y.  Af.  C.  A.  Magnet,  commenced 
in  1892,  is  also  worthy  of  mention. 

As  a  general  rule,  the  Bath  newspaper  men  have  not  been  able  to 


464 


HISTORY  OF  BATH. 


employ  "managing  editors,"  or  editorial  writers.  This  work  they 
have  performed  themselves.  But,  in  addition,  there  have  at  times 
been  some  able  writers  on  the  Bath  press. 

Following  is  a  complete  list  of  the  newspapers  and  newspaper 
publishers  of  Bath,  with  the  dates  of  the  origin  of  the  papers  and 
the  adoption  of  the  name  under  which  they  are  more  familiarly 
known : 

The  Mains  Gazette.  Established  x8ao.  Joseph  G.  Torrcy  and  Mr.  Simpson;  Torrey  sole  pub- 
lisher i8ai  to  183a.    Whig. 

The  Mains  Inquirer.  Established  1824  by  Thomas  Eaton.  Democratic.  Succeeded  by  Mr.  Harris 
in  183a. 

The  Gazette  and  Inquirer.  Consolidation  in  18330!  foregoing.  Whig.  Harris  first  publisher; 
then  Hamlet  Bates  until  1834;  Josiah  S.  Swift  mill  1836.    Sold  to  Elisha  Clarke. 

The  Lincoln  Telegraph.  Whig.  Continuation  of  Gazette  and  Inquirer  with  change  of  name. 
Elisha  Clarke,  editor  and  publisher,  1836  to  1846.  Sold  to  Messrs.  Chamberlain,  Haines  & 
Plummer. 

The  Telescope,  an  1837  "  yearling,"  run  by  James  Nelson.    Little  known  of  it. 

The  Maine  Enquirer.  Established  184a  by  John  J.  Ramsay.  Democratic.  John  T.  Oilman 
became  partner  of  Ramsay  in  1846  and  Ramsay  retired  soon  after.  By  Gilman  name  changed 
to  Eastern  Times. 

The  Eastern  Times.  Lineal  successor  of  Maine  Enquirer.  Democratic.  John  T.  Gilman  and 
Elbridge  Roberts;  John  T.  Gilman  alone;  Joseph  T.  Huston  1847  to  1850;  George  K.  Newman 
1850  to  April,  1850;  a  political  syndicate,  comprising  H.  W.  Owen,  Joseph  b.  Suow,  et  alt., 
until  sale  of  property  to  the  Tribune,  about  1857. 

The  Northern  Tribune,  lineal  successor  of  Lincoln  Telegraph.  Chamberlain,  Haines  &  Plum- 
v  mer  gave  it  the  name  in  1846;  commenced  publication  of  The  Daily  Nor  then  Tribune  in 
1848;  Haines  retired  in  1849,  Chamberlain  a  few  months  later.  George  Ross  joined  Plummer: 
soon  Plummer  succeeded  by  Bcnj.  K.  Meeder.  Mceder  &  Ross  withdrew  daily  and  substituted 
Tri-Weekly  Northern  Tribune.  And  again  Meeder  retired,  leaving  Ross  sole  proprietor. 
All  these  changes  between  1819  and  i8<a.  In  June,  1855,  Ross  sold  to  Geo.  A.  Kimball  and  the 
establishment  was  merged  with  the  newer  daily  and  weekly  Mirror,  preserving  the  Tribune 
name.  Cobb  &  Kimball  held  proprietorship  three  months  and  sold  {September,  1855,)  to  newly 
organized  "  Tribune  Association.  '  The  Tribune  Association  comprised  a  large  number  of  influ- 
ential Straight  Whigs.  Albert  G.  Tenucy  was  editor;  Win.  H.  Whitman,  business  manager; 
R.  R.  Haines,  general  foreman;  Simeon  Drake  and  David  Garland,  chiefs  in  the  job  department, 
etc.  Their  plant  very  elaborate  and  the  pay-roll  surprisingly  large.  They  published  a  daily  and 
weekly  edition.  The  Association  held  sway  just  two  years,  selling,  September,  1857,  to  til  bridge 
Roberts  and  Elisha  Clarke. 

The  Northern  Tribune  and  Eastern  Times.  E.  Roberts  &  Co.,  publishers;  Elisha  Clarke, 
editor;  consolidation  of  the  Tribune  and  Times  establishments,  daily  and  weekly  continued. 
Democratic.  John  T.  Gilman  succeeded  Clarke  (about  i860)  and  consolidated  his  People's 
Organ  therewith.    Finally  (in  1862)  E.  Roberts  &  Co.  sold  to  James  M.  Lincoln  of  the  Sentinel. 

The  Weekly  Mirror.  Established  in  1853  by  Ruins  R.  Haines  and  Hiram  L  Wing.  Whig  in 
politics.  A  weekly  when  first  established,  but  later  The  Daily  Mirror  was  also  issued.  The 
successive  publishers  were  H.  L.  Whiting,  Edwin  Sprague,  and  Charles  Cobb.  Joseph  M. 
Hayes  was  foreman  of  the  establishment.  In  June,  1855,  Haines  sold  his  interest  to  Charles 
Cobb,  at  the  same  time  that  Ross  of  the  Tribune  had  sold  to  Geo.  A.  Kimball,  and  the  Mirror 
and  the  Tribune  were  thus  consolidated,  the  Tribune  name  being  preserved. 

The  Sagadahoc  Review.  Established  in  1853  and  published  for  a  few  mouths  by  J.  S.  Swift.  Daily 
and  weekly. 

The  People's  Organ.  Established  by  John  T.  Gilman  in  1857.  Douglass  Democrat.  Merged  with 
Tribune  and  Times  upon  purchase  of  Clarke's  interest  by  Gilman. 

The  American  Sentinel.  Moved  to  Bath  from  Damariscotta,  1854.  Republican.  Weekly.  James 
M.  Lincoln,  editor  and  publisher,  1854  to  1862.  Daily  campaign  paper  issued  in  1856.  Paper 
merged  with  rival  papers  in  1862  and  publication  continued  by  Mr.  Lincoln  with  no  modification 
of  name  of  weekly. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  465 

The  Amsricam  Sentinel  and  Bath  Daily  Times.  Consolidation  of  all  other  Bath  papers  in  186a. 
Republican.  James  M.  Lincoln,  editor  and  publisher,  186a  to  1866,  when  he  died.  Property 
purchased  of  estate  by  Elijah  Upton  and  Maj.  H.  A.  Shorey,  1866,  and  published  under  same 
name,  firm  of  Upton  &  Shorey,  until  1869.  Then  purchased  by  W.  E.  S.  Whitman  and  pub- 
lished by  him  1869-70.  Then  purchased  by  Elijah  Upton  and  published  by  E.  Upton  &  Son 
1870-88;  the  elder  Upton  "dying  in  harness"  meanwhile.  In  January,  1889,  property  pur- 
chased by  the  Sentinel  and  Times  Publishing  Co.  (H.  A.,  A.  C,  and  W.  5.  Shorey),  and  pub- 
lished by  them  1889-92.  Sold  to  John  O.  Patten,  Jan.  r,  1893.  No  change  made  in  name  of 
paper  during  the  period  1862-93,  or  about  thirty  years. 

The  Maine  Temperance  Advocate.  Published  about  one  year,  in  i860,  under  auspices  of  Grand 
Lodge  of  Good  Templars,  by  Maj.  H.  A.  Shorey,  in  the  interest  of  Temperance  and  Enforced 
Prohibition. 

The  Bath  Commercial.    Fen.  G.  Barker,  editor  and  publisher.    Continued  but  a  short  period. 

The  Bath  Independent.  Established  by  Charles  D.  Clarke.  Local  and  Independent.  Printed  in 
Rockland;  sold  to  E.  C.  Plummer,  1892;  sold  by  Plummer  to  John  O.  Patten  and  consolidated 
with  Times  establishment,  spring  of  1893. 

The  Bvtii  Daily  Times  and  Bath  Independent.  John  O.  Patten,  publisher  and  editor;  assumed 
charge  Jan.  1,  1893.  Of  the  weekly  edition,  the  /Htfffruttfnt,  C.  D.  Clarke,  is  editor  and 
manager. 

The  Bath  Enterprise.    Joshua  F.  Upton,  editor  and  publisher.    Established  1889.    Semi-weekly. 

The  Magnet.    Y.  M.  C.  A.  organ,  published  by  the  Bath  Association.    Established  189a. 

The  Bath  Phi-Rhonian.    Published  by  Bath  High  School. 


466  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 


CHURCH    EDIFICES. 


The  Popham  Church.  —  The  Popham  Colony  erected  the 
earliest  church  edifice  on  the  Kennebec  River.  This  tenement  was 
the  first  building  completed  by  these  colonists  and  was  within  the 
palisades  of  the  Fort.  It  was  rude  in  construction  —  made  of  hewed 
timber — and  was  destroyed  in  the  conflagration,  when  the  ware- 
house and  other  buildings  were  consumed,  in  the  winter  of  1608. 

It  is  difficult  to  trace  the  history  of  the  first  meeting-house  on 
the  river  after  that  of  the  Popham  Colony.  Tradition  has  located 
one  on  Preble  Point,  in  which  the  Rev.  Robert  Gutch  is  supposed  to 
have  preached. 

Capt.  R.  P.  Manson,  a  gentleman  over  85  years  of  age,  living  in 
Bath,  and  in  his  youth  in  Arrowsic,  remembers  seeing,  in  his  youth, 
a  stone  foundation  for  a  building,  of  which  traces  are  yet  seen, 
immediately  north  of  the  conspicuous  clump  of  trees  on  the  bluff  at 
Doubling  Point,*  the  turn  of  Fiddlers  into  Long  Reach,  indicating 
the  spot  on  which  tradition  says  a  frame  of  a  church  had  been 
erected  at  an  early  day,  and  was  undoubtedly  boarded ;  at  a  later 
day  it  was  sold  to  Benjamin  Riggs,  who  took  it  down  and  re-erected 
it  on  his  "Sagadahoc  farm,"  at  the  lower  end  of  Parkers  Island, 
head  of  Sagadahoc  Bay.  According  to  tradition  it  had  been  intended 
for  an  Episcopal  Church. 

Pleasant  Cove  Meeting-house. — Col.  Arthur  Noble  owned,  at 

an  early  day,  all  the  land  that  comprises  the  Morse  farms,  bordering 
on  this  Cove.  Noble  donated  land  for  the  building  of  this  meeting- 
house, which  was  done  by  the  Presbyterian  Society  in  1736,  who 
occupied  it  until  the  completion  of  the  Old  Georgetown  Meeting- 
house on  Arrowsic  Island.  There  is  in  existence  a  draft  of  a  survey 
of  the  Pleasant  Cove  property,  showing  a  one-story  meeting-house, 
with  steeple  and  facing  easterly. 

*  Termed  Dousing  Point  because  in  entering  either  Reach  this  point  had  to  be  doubled. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  467 

At  times  when  the  Presbyterians  had  no  minister,  it  was  occupied 
by  Episcopal  preachers  who  were  employed  on  the  river  as  mission- 
aries from  the  Massachusetts  diocese,  and  this  probably  continued 
after  the  completion  of  the  house  on  Arrowsic.  The  first  record  of 
this  church  in  the  town  records  was  March  15,  1740,  and  the  town- 
meetings  of  Old  Georgetown  were  held  in  the  Pleasant  Cove  Meet- 
ing-house, from  1742  to  1762,  as  shown  by  the  town  records. 

This  building  stood  on  a  flat  ledge  immediately  in  the  rear  of  the 
William  Morse,  now  the  James  B.  Morse,  house.  After  its  abandon- 
ment it  was  used  for  a  carriage-house,  as  related  by  those  who  had 
lived  on  the  place,  and  this  author  saw  it  in  his  youthful  days.  Scott 
Morse,  who  saw  the  event,  stated  it  was  blown  down  by  a  gale  of 
wind,  one  of  its  falling  timbers  wounding  an  ox.  This  meeting- 
house had  a  double  floor,  a  beading  on  its  beams  which  were 
uncovered,  and  benches  for  seats. 

The  Old  Georgetown  Meeting-house.— This  old  church,  a 

landmark  of  the  last  century,  stood  on  an  elevation  that  overlooks  an 
extensive  country — the  Back  River  and  a  long  stretch  of  the  Ken- 
nebec above,  and  south  as  far  as  Scguin.  It  was  of  two  stories  with 
a  porch,  of  a  heavy  timber  frame,  and  never  painted.  The  body  of 
the  church,  as  all  in  those  days,  was  divided  into  square  box  pews. 
About  six  inches  above  the  tops  of  these  square  pews  was  a  railing 
against  which  Ihe  occupants  could  lean  their  heads.  The  pulpit  was 
high,  with  a  winding  stair-way  and  a  sounding-board.  Two  deacons 
sat  in  chairs  in  front  of  the  desk,  and  high  up  in  the  gallery,  opposite 
the  pulpit,  the  choir  sat  in  the  "singing  seats."  The  church  never 
contained  a  stove.  Foot-stoves  were  sometimes  used  by  the  women 
and  reheated,  between  services,  at  some  neighboring  dwelling. 

The  congregation  came  on  foot  or  horseback,  the  women  riding 
on  a  pillion  behind  the  man.  The  horse-block  was  an  indispensable 
adjunct  to  a  meeting-house  before  the  days  of  carriages,  the  women 
springing  with  agility  from  them  to  the  pillion.  Many  became  so 
skillful  in  sitting  on  their  pillions  that  they  could  maintain  their 
equilibrium  by  merely  grasping  the  crupper-strap  for  support.  An 
historic  high  rock,  at  the  rear  of  this  church,  was  its  horse-block. 


468  HISTORY  OF   BATH. 

The  site  of  the  old  building  is  now  an  orchard,  adjoining  the  old 
Denny  Cemetery.  The  land  on  which  it  stood  was  a  gift  from 
Samuel  Denny.  It  was  first  occupied  for  holding  the  annual  town- 
meeting  in  March,  1763,  and  for  church  services  in  1764,  when  Mr. 
Emerson  came  there  to  preach.  The  old  meeting-house  continued 
to  be  occupied  after  the  swallows  had  entered,  built  their  nests  under 
the  overhanging  singing  galleries,  and  flew  around  the  room  during 
service.  It  was  abandoned  after  the  church  held  meetings  only  at 
Phipsburg,  whose  church  was  built  in  1802.  The  old  church  was 
built  by  the  town. 

The  First  Bath  Meeting-house. — In  1756  there  was  not  even 
an  apology  for  a  meeting-house  or  school-house  in  the  whole  Second 
Parish.  The  inhabitants,  having  now  become  a  separate  parish, 
determined  to  have  a  meeting-house,  held  a  parish  meeting  and,  after 
much  deliberation,  voted  to  build  one.  A  committee  appointed  to 
select  a  site  for  the  meeting-house,  consisting  of  Jonathan  Philbrook 
and  others,  were  authorized  to  refer  the  matter  to  persons  of  some 
neighboring  town  in  case  they  could  not  agree  upon  a  location ; 
consequently,  failing  to  agree,  persons  of  Brunswick  were  called  in 
and  decided  upon  a  location,  Nathaniel  Donnell  donating  the  nec- 
essary land,  consisting  of  three-fourths  of  an  acre. 

Its  Location. — To  more  equally  accommodate  the  people  both 
of  Bath  and  West  Bath,  which  then  constituted  the  Second  Parish, 
they  located  the  building  half-way  between  the  Kennebec  and  the 
New  Meadows  Rivers  on  a  rise  of  ground  immediately  north  of  the 
old  cemetery,  a  short  distance  south  of  "Witch  Spring."  It  was 
raised,  boarded,  and  the  roof  shingled  the  same  year,  1756.  The 
shingles  were  made  and  laid  by  Maj.  David  Shaw.  It  was  about 
forty  feet  square  with  a  porch.  To  construct  it  the  men  contributed 
materials  and  labor.  The  nails  were  made  by  hand  in  the  black- 
smith shop  of  Isaiah  Crooker,  Sr.,  on  High  street.  The  only  cash 
article  required  was  glass,  which  was  obtained  from  Boston,  causing 
considerable  delay,  probably  in  consequence  of  lack  of  the  necessary 
money.  The  house  was  never  painted.  By  order  of  the  General 
Court,  a  special  tax  for  the  benefit  of  this  structure  was  authorized 
and  Jonathan  Philbrook  was  appointed  collector.     Finally,  by  the 


FIRST    MEETING-HOUSE    IN    BATH,    BUILT    IN    17 
The  one  built  xl  Arrowsic,  in  776},  »oi  -ub.1  until  II  y 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  469 

latter  part  of  1758,  this  "meeting-house"  was  ready  for  its  dedica- 
tion, but  no  record  has  been  found  of  the  event  excepting  the  tradi- 
tion that  the  proceedings  took  place  during  winter  severity,  and  the 
glow  of  feelings  induced  by  the  consciousness  of  having  a  church 
of  their  own  imparted  sufficient  warmth  to  the  people  worshiping 
within  its  walls.  It  was  said  that  Deacon  Philbrook  made  the 
remark  at  a  later  date  "  that  it  far  surpassed  in  size  and  architecture 
any  other  building  at  that  time  in  Bath,  and  was  regarded  with  great 
satisfaction  by  its  builders."  Parish  and  town-meetings  were  held 
in  it  until  1812,  although  religious  services  ceased  to  be  held  in  it 
when  the  North  Meeting-house  was  completed  in  1802.  It  was 
taken  down  about  1822  and  set  up  the  same  day  at  the  "Lower 
Steam  Mill "  on  "  Trufants  Point,"  where  is  now  the  "  Shaw  Mill," 
and  utilized  for  secular  purposes,  remaining  there  about  thirty  years, 
when  it  was  again  taken  down  and  rebuilt  and  used  for  the  same 
purposes.     Its  true  identity  cannot  now  be  vouched  for. 

By  enactment  of  the  General  Court  of  September  10,  1804,  incor- 
porating the  "  First  Congregational  Church  of  Bath,"  separate  from 
the  parish,  the  meeting-house  ceased  to  belong  to  that  church,  and 
its  possession  fell  to  the  society  from  which  was  formed  the  South 
Church  and  constituted  the  parish. — Groton. 

The  Old  North.  —  The  church  and  society  of  the  parish  having 
largely  increased  and  become  strong,  the  greater  portion  of  its 
members  being  residents  of  Bath  proper,  and  the  old  Witch 
Spring  meeting-house  having  outlived  its  usefulness,  the  erection  of 
a  larger  and  more  modern  edifice,  located  in  the  village,  became 
indispensable.  Accordingly  the  society  resolved  to  build  a  new 
meeting-house.  The  lot  on  the  northeast  corner  of  High  and  Centre 
streets  was  presented  to  the  society  by  Edward  K.  Page.  A  contract 
was  made  with  Martin  Cushing  and  the  building  was  completed  in 
1802.  It  was  a  capacious,  two-story  edifice,  with  gallery  on  three 
sides,  pulpit  in  the  east  end,  modern  style  of  pews,  a  singing  gallery, 
a  porch,  faced  to  the  west  contiguous  to  the  street,  and  a  lofty 
steeple  in  which  was  placed  a  bell,  in  1803,  which  was  purchased  by 
subscription.     This  bell  was  rung  for  a  long  series  of  years  as  the 


470  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

town  bell,  and  when  the  old  church  was  abandoned  and  finally  taken 
down  the  bell  was  placed  in  the  steeple  of  the  Universalist  Church 
on  Front  street,  opposite  the  Custom  House,  from  which  it  was 
eventually  transferred  to  the  belfry  of  the  City  Hall,  where  it  is  still 
used  for  the  city  bell.  "The  building  of  this  church  settled  the 
supremacy  of  Calvinism  in  Bath.  One  of  the  aged  deacons  used 
to  relate,  in  the  evening  of  his  life,  that  when  he  first  heard  the  bell 
ring  in  the  steeple  of  the  new  meeting-house  he  was  so  affected  that 
he  wept  for  joy." — Groton.     The  building  cost  (10,000. 

Its  Frontage.  —  From  careful  sifting  of  concurrent  facts,  it  is 
evident  that  the  seceding  members  of  the  Old  North  Church  who 
composed  the  church  and  society  of  the  Old  South  did  not  take  this 
step,  as  has  been  asserted,  because  the  Old  North  was  placed  to 
face  the  west  instead  of  the  east.  On  the  contrary,  it  would  have 
been  impracticable  for  the  church  to  face  the  east,  as  its  eastern  end 
stood  on  the  edge  of  a  precipitous  ledge,  affording  no  convenient 
access  on  that  side,  while  its  entrance  was  directly  on  the  street, 
fronting  the  west.  Moreover  Judge  Groton,  the  earliest  historian 
of  the  churches  of  Bath,  never  mentions  this  facing  question  as  an 
alleged  cause  of  disagreement,  and  he  had  every  facility  for  ascer- 
taining the  facts. 

The  Old  North  Meeting-house  was  the  first  in  Bath  to  adopt  a 
heating  apparatus  by  putting  in  a  wood  stove.  This  was  fifteen 
years  after  its  erection.  Mr.  Kllingwood,  who  engineered  the  change 
and  who  was  quite  a  mechanic,  having  learned  to  repair  clocks  and 
watches,  had  the  stove  at  first  placed  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  the  pipe 
passing  over  the  broad  aisle  and  going  up  in  front  of  the  singers' 
seat  to  a  brick  chimney  through  the  roof.  Iron  rods  arose  from 
some  of  the  pew  corners,  which  supported  semi-ellipses  across  the 
aisles  with  semicircles  on  which  to  rest  the  funnel.  The  uprights 
extended  above  their  connections  with  the  ellipses,  turning  outward 
in  the  form  of  a  scroll,  which  to  youngsters  appeared  the  very  acme 
of  beauty,  and  they  regretted  their  removal,  as  was  done  subse- 
quently, while  a  new  movement  progressed,  by  placing  two  stoves 
near  the  doors,  with  their  funnels  passing  under  the  galleries  to  a 
chimney  in  the  southeast  and  northeast  corners. 


HISTORY   OF  BATH.  47 1 

The  Old  Brick,  where  Baptists  worshiped,  took  in  a  stove  in  1820, 
and  the  Methodist  Meeting-house,  where  the  Wesley  Church  now 
stands,  commenced  warming  up  in  November,  1822.  At  first  there 
was  much  opposition  to  placing  stoves  in  churches.  It  has  been 
stated  that  Mr.  Ellingwood  once  related  that  when  a  stove  was  first 
put  up  in  the  North  Church,  and  when  there  was  no  fire  in  it,  a  Mrs. 
Blasland  who  was  in  the  church  arose  and  went  out,  declaring  that 
she  could  not  stand  the  heat. 

When  the  Old  North  became  vacated,  in  1844,  the  building  was 
sold  to  James  D.  Robinson,  who  took  it  down  and  rebuilt  it  on  his 
Union  wharf,  where  it  was  utilized  for  storage  purposes  for  some 
years,  when  it  was  again  sold  and  moved  intact  on  a  gondola  to  the 
north  part  of  the  town,  landed  near  the  old  ship-yard  of  the  Pattens, 
where  it  now  stands,  in  a  dilapidated  condition,  having  been  long 
used  for  purposes  connected  with  ship-building. 

The  Winter  Street.  —  In  1843,  Pr*or  to  tne  ordination  of  Mr. 
Fiske,  leading  members  of  the  church  and  parish  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  a  building  of  modern  style  and  more  centrally 
located  was  demanded.  To  carry  out  this  purpose  individuals,  on 
February  1,  1843,  inaugurated  the  undertaking  as  "  proprietors,' ' 
independent  of  the  parish,  the  necessary  funds  to  be  raised  by 
subscription,  depending  upon  the  sale  of  pews  for  reimbursement. 
This  was  readily  accomplished,  as  on  January  31,  following,  $5,250 
had  been  raised  and  eight  pews  subscribed  for.  The  site  for  the 
church  was  selected  at  the  northwest  corner  of  Washington  and 
Winter  streets,  for  which  $1,350  were  paid.  The  committee  on 
building  had  full  powers  and  consisted  of  George  F.  Patten,  Thomas 
Harward,  Caleb  Leavitt,  Charles  Clapp,  Jr.,  and  Gilbert  C.  Trufant. 
By  January,  1844,  the  edifice  was  completed.  By  selling  the  pews 
at  auction  the  proceeds  fully  repaid  the  outlay  incurred  by  the  pro- 
prietors, "  the  house  to  be  called  the  Winter  Street  Church."  Its 
dedication  took  place  February  1,  1844,  Mr.  Fiske  preaching  the 
dedicatory  sermon. 

In  1845  it  was  found  necessary  to  enlarge  the  accommodations  of 
the  church,  and  on  March  7   George  F.  Patten,  Richard  Nutter, 


472  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

William  M.  Reed,  G.  C.  Trufant,  and  Chas.  Crooker  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  make  the  enlargement,  which  was  done  by  con- 
tracting the  entry  so  as  to  add  twenty-four  pews,  and  by  carrying 
back  the  singing  gallery  four  more  pews  were  added. 

Renovation. —  During  the  summer  vacation  season  of  1890  a 
complete  renovation  of  the  interior  of  the  church  was  made,  re-ar- 
ranging the  seats,  adding  new  carpets,  cushions,  an  elegant  chande- 
lier, with  a  low  pulpit,  and  fine  new  organ  placed  in  the  rear  of  the 
preacher's  platform.     The  cost  was  $10,000,  raised  by  donations. 

Rededication. — On  Sunday,  November  16,  1890,  the  church  was 
rededicated,  a  large  congregation  attending.  With  much  appropri- 
ateness the  venerable  Dr.  Fiske  made  a  dedicatory  prayer.  At  the 
evening  service  there  were  brief  and  appropriate  addresses  made  by 
the  pastors  of  all  the  evangelical  churches  of  the  city. 

Conference  Rooms. —  For  a  long  series  of  years  the  North 
Church  occupied  a  room  for  lectures,  conferences,  prayer-meetings, 
and  other  church  meetings,  in  the  second  story  of  the  north  wing  of 
Dea.  Nicholas  L.  Mitchell's  dwelling-house,  at  the  northeast  corner 
of  Oak  and  Washington  streets,  which  was  subsequently  termed  the 
upper  conference  room.  Later  the  church  was  presented  with  a  free 
deed  of  a  hall  in  the  second  story  of  the  building  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Centre  and  Washington  streets,  then  termed  Concert  Hall. 
The  donors  of  this  property  were  Parsons  Smith,  John  Smith,  and 
Davis  Hatch.  When  sold  by  the  church  it  brought  the  sum  of  four 
hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars,  and  the  proceeds  were  appropriated 
to  the  purposes  of  Winter  Street  Church  Vestry. 

This  room  was  used  by  the  church  until  in  1864,  when  the  present 
chapel  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  the  church.  In  this  chapel  is 
an  apartment  devoted  to  the  purposes  of  a  pastor's  study,  in  which 
is  the  church  library  for  the  use  of  the  pastor.  There  is  likewise  a 
ladies'  room,  chiefly  used  for  conference  and  prayer-meetings. 

During  Doctor  Ellingwood's  pastorate  there  was  a  school  building 
where  now  (1894)  stands  a  grammar  school,  on  South  street,  that 
was  used  for  a  lower  conference  room.  It  had  also  a  Missionary 
church  building,  where  now  stands  the  Corliss  Street  Church,  and  is 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  473 

now  used  for  the  lower  grammar  school,  on  the  corner  of  Corliss  and 
High  streets. 

The  Parsonage. — This  society  never  owned  a  parsonage  until  the 
settlement  of  Mr.  Folsom,  when  a  house  was  purchased  on  the  north 
section  of  Middle  street,  which  was  occupied  by  the  pastor  until 
1889,  when  the  fine  house  north  and  contiguous  to  the  church  was 
purchased  and  the  other  house  sold.  The  attending  expenses  were 
defrayed  by  liberal  donations  from  wealthy  members  of  the  church, 
together  with  funds  raised  by  the  efforts  of  the  ladies  of  the  church 
and  society. 

The  Old  South. — About  the  year  1802  a  number  of  worshipers 
at  the  Old  North,  having  become  dissatisfied  with  the  rigid  Calvin- 
istic  doctrines  preached  in  that  house,  seceded  from  that  society, 
and  resolved  to  build  a  meeting-house  of  their  own  of  a  more 
imposing  appearance  than  the  North  edifice.  It  was  placed  on  a 
high  hill  on  the  east  side  of  High  street,  some  distance  south  of  the 
other  church,  facing  the  east  and  overlooking  a  long  stretch  of  the 
Kennebec.  The  location  was  a  delightful  one  and  long  denomi- 
nated Meeting-house  Hill.  The  master  builder  was  Tileston 
Gushing,  a  mechanic  and  citizen  of  considerable  importance.  Its 
foundation  was  laid  in  1802  and  the  edifice  completed  in  1805,  at  a 
cost  of  fifteen  thousand  dollars.  After  having  occupied  this  church 
thirty  years,  and  a  more  central  location  becoming  desirable,  a 
movement  was  made  that  had  in  view  the  erection  of  a  new  church 
building. 

By  an  act  of  the  Legislature,  March  23,  1835,  "William  M. 
Rogers,  Jacob  Robinson,  Levi  Houghton,  and  Samuel  G.  Bowman, 
and  such  others  as  may  be  associated  with  them  for  the  purpose  of 
providing  a  house  of  public  worship  in  the  town  of  Bath,  were 
incorporated  into  a  religious  society  by  the  name  of  the  Third  Par- 
ish of  Bath,"  and  at  a  legal  meeting,  May  11,  1835,  °*  tne  parish 
the  act  of  incorporation  was  accepted.  At  this  meeting  W.  M>. 
Rogers,  Levi  Houghton,  and  Jacob  Robinson  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  purchase  the  South  Meeting-house,  which  was  accord- 
ingly accomplished.     This  action  was  undoubtedly  to  transfer  the 


474  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

ownership  from  the  original  stockholders  to  the  organized  Third 
Parish,  although,  individually,  they  were,  undoubtedly,  one  and  the 
same  persons. 

The  Central.  —  At  a  meeting  of  the  Third  Parish,  March  7, 
1846,  it  was  voted  "  to  proceed  to  build  a  new  house  of  worship  for 
the  said  parish,"  and  William  M.  Rogers,  John  Patten,  Jeremiah 
Robinson,  Otis  Kimball,  and  C.  S.  Jenks  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  carry  the  vote  into  effect  by  selecting  a  lot,  and  "  erect  said  house 
as  soon  as  practicable."  June  17,  1847,  "tne  parish  committee  was 
authorized  to  sell  the  house  of  worship  now  occupied  by  the  parish 
either  at  private  or  public  sale."     This  was  the  Old  South. 

For  raising  funds  to  build  the  new  church  there  is  no  mention  in 
the  parish  records,  but  it  is  reliable  tradition  that  money  for  the 
purpose  was  pledged  by  indvividuals,  to  be  reimbursed  by  the  sale 
of  pews.  William  M.  Rogers  pledged  one-quarter,  John  Patten  and 
Levi  Houghton  the  same,  Jeremiah  and  Jacob  Robinson  jointly  the 
remaining  quarter.  The  church  was  built  as  it  now  stands,  on  the 
west  side  of  Washington  street,  about  one  block  from  Centre  street. 
The  vestry  is  in  the  western  basement.  At  a  meeting  of  the  parish, 
November  3,  1847,  it  was  "Voted  that  the  parish  accept  the  house 
of  worship  recently  erected  by  a  committee  for  them." 

The  leading  men  whose  names  appear  in  the  record  book  of  the 
parish  as  taking  an  active  part  in  parish  measures  were:  John 
Patten,  William  M.  Rogers,  Levi  Houghton,  Gershom  Hyde,  C.  S. 
Jenks,  Jacob  and  Jeremiah  Robinson,  George  W.  Kendall,  Otis 
Kimball,  L.  Warren  Houghton,  S.  G.  Bowman,  John  Bovey,  William 
Torrey,  John  R.  Houghton. 

A  committee  appointed  for  that  purpose  reported  the  name  of 
Central  Church  for  this  parish,  which  was  accepted.  The  pews  of 
the  new  building  were  sold  at  auction  at  remunerating  prices. 

About  1890  a  new  and  powerful  organ  was  purchased  by  dona- 
tions and  placed  on  the  lower  floor  in  the  rear  of  the  preacher's 
platform. 

The  Parsonage.  —  This  church  and  parish  had  no  parsonage 
until  in  1882,  when  Capt.  John   Patten  purchased  the  William  P. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  475 

Larrabee  homestead,  on  Middle  street,  for  thirty-five  hundred  dollars 
and  donated  it  to  the  parish  for  a  parsonage. 

TllO  Baptist. — After  having  held  their  meetings  in  halls  and 
school-houses  for  some  years,  revivals  connected  with  this  denomi- 
nation increased  their  congregation  so  rapidly  that  in  18 16,  with  the 
aid  of  men  of  influence  and  wealth  outside  of  the  society,  they  were 
able  to  erect  a  church  building  of  their  own.  James  McLellan, 
Joseph  F.  Wingate,  David  Stinson,  and  Samuel  Noble  on  the  part 
of  the  citizens  and  Oakman  Sprague,  Elijah  P.  Lowe,  and  T.  Lemont 
in  behalf  of  the  church  were  appointed  a  committee  to  take  the 
matter  in  hand,  and  liberal  subscriptions  were  received  from  William 
King  and  others,  in  and  out  of  town,  who  did  not  belong  to  that 
denomination.  A  fortunate  selection  of  location  was  made,  at  the 
corner  of  Elm  and  Washington  streets.  It  was  built  of  brick,  of 
two  stories,  with  a  basement  vestry.  It  was  dedicated  in  December, 
18 1 6,  Elder  Stearns  preaching  the  dedicatory  sermon.  This  house 
was  occupied  by  the  society  for  thirty-six  years,  when  it  became 
necessary  to  have  a  larger  and  more  improved  house.  The  old 
house  was  taken  clown  and  the  present  edifice  erected  on  the  same 
site.  The  city  clock  was  placed  on  the  belfry.  This  building  has  a 
large  vestry  in  the  basement  and  a  baptismal  vault.  It  was  dedi- 
cated in  February,  1853. 

The  Swcdcnborgian. — Until  1843  the  Swedenborgian  Society 
worshiped  in  a  room  on  the  lower  floor  of  the  building  on  the  north- 
east corner  of  Washington  and  Centre  streets.  During  that  year, 
by  liberal  contributions  of  the  wealthier  members,  they  were  enabled 
to  build  a  church  on  the  very  beautiful  lot  that  borders  on  Winter 
street,  including  all  the  space  between  High  and  Middle  streets, 
adorned  now  with  beautiful  trees.  The  church  is  of  the  Greek  style 
of  architecture,  of  one  story,  and  has  an  attractive  and  refined 
appearance.  In  1870  the  interior  of  the  church  was  remodeled  and 
improved. 

The  Wc8lcy. — A  two-story  building  with  pews  was  dedicated  in 
the  summer  of  1820,  which,  with  additions  and  improvements,  served 


476  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

the  society  till  1869,  when  it  was  removed  to  make  room  for  the 
erection  of  the  present  edifice.  The  old  building  was  moved  to 
Commercial  street  and  converted  into  a  store.  In  1841  a  large 
addition  was  made  to  the  chapel,  including  remodeling  of  pulpit  and 
singing  gallery.  In  1847  a  tower  and  spire  were  erected,  in  which 
was  placed  a  fine  bell,  a  present  to  the  church  by  Gen.  James 
McLellan  and  Mr.  William  D.  Crooker.  The  present  edifice  was 
erected  in  1869  at  a  cost  of  $29,000.  The  organ  was  put  in  in 
1873  at  a  cost  of  $4,000. 

The  Beacon  Street.  —  The  subject  of  building  a  Methodist 
Church  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city  had  been  agitated  for  some 
years  before  the  Beacon  Street  Church  was  built.  Fears  were  enter- 
tained that  the  cause  of  Methodism  would  be  injured  by  the  erection 
of  another  house  of  worship;  but  the  friends  of  the  cause  finally 
prevailed.  Isaac  Hatch  and  J.  W.  Shaw  had  previously  purchased 
a  site.  Charles  Davenport,  Isaac  Hatch,  and  Isaac  W.  Lynch  were 
elected  a  building  committee,  and  ground  was  broken  for  the  foun- 
dation of  the  new  church  July  22,  1852.  In  eleven  months  the 
house  was  completed,  at  a  cost  of  $9,425.  The  edifice  was  dedi- 
cated, by  Bishop  Janes,  June  15,  1853.  The  Missionary  Board  aided 
the  new  society  with  $100.  In  June,  1854,  thirty-one  pews  were 
unsold  and  there  was  a  debt  against  the  trustees  of  $3,047.  Mr. 
Charles  Davenport  generously  relieved  the  society  of  this  financial 
burden.  In  1875  and  1878  there  were  improvements  and  altera- 
tions made  in  the  church,  and  a  parsonage  built  in  the  rear  of  the 
church  at  a  cost  of  $2,000.  In  1882  the  vane  of  the  church  was 
blown  off  in  a  gale  of  wind,  and  in  1883  the  old  spire  was  taken 
down  and  a  new  one,  twelve  feet  shorter,  put  in  its  place  and  other 
improvements  added,  costing  $2,189. 

The  Ullivcrsalist. — Having  for  some  length  of  time  held  services 
in  a  room  in  the  Town  Hall,  in  the  summer  of  1839  the  Universalist 
Society  became  of  sufficient  strength  to  undertake  the  erection  of  a 
church  edifice,  which  was  done.  The  building  was  located  opposite 
the  present  Custom  House,  west  side  of  Front  street.  It  was  of 
one  story,  had  a  high  steeple  in  which  was  a  bell.     It  was  dedicated 


HISTORY  OF   BATH.  477 

in  the  fall  of  1839.  The  society  desiring  a  different  location,  the 
church  and  site  were  sold,  and  Corinthian  Hall,  on  Washington 
street,  opposite  the  Park,  was  purchased  and  converted  into  a 
church  building,  which  it  now  occupies.  In  1892  many  improve- 
ments were  made  upon  the  building  and  memorial  windows  put  in 
dedicated  to  the  memories  of  Rev.  Mr.  Brooks,  B.  W.  Morse,  and 
Oliver  Moses.    The  old  house  was  sold,  in  i860,  to  Oliver  Moses. 

The  North  Street  Free  Baptist.— The  Free  Baptist  Society 
organized  April  16,  1842,  and  worshiped  awhile  in  the  Town  Hall 
and  Music  Hall.  In  the  spring  of  1852  a  site  was  purchased,  corner 
of  North  and  Willow  streets,  and  the  house  of  worship  was  completed 
and  dedicated  the  following  December.  September  8,  1868,  this 
church  edifice  was  blown  down,  and  a  new  edifice  was  completed 
and  the  house  dedicated  in  less  than  a  year.  The  vestry  is  in  the 
basement.     The  church  has  an  organ. 

The  Corliss  Street. — The  date  of  the  construction  of  the  Corliss 
Street  Church  has  not  been  obtainable.  It  is  of  two  stories,  has  a 
steeple  and  bell;  in  189 1  a  two-story  vestry  was  added,  and  there  is 
a  parsonage  contiguous. 

The  Catholic. — There  is  a  large  Catholic  Church  building  on 
High  street,  the  site  of  which  is  on  the  historic  homestead  ground  of 
Isaiah  Crookcr,  Sr.,  and  its  erection  was  commenced  about  1855. 

The  Unitarian. — When  the  Unitarian  Society  and  Church  was 
in  existence,  they  built  a  church  on  the  south  side  of  Summer  street, 
about  half  a  block  east  of  Washington  street,  in  about  J 85 4,  which 
has  since  been  demolished. 


478  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 


CHURCH  ORGANIZATIONS. 


The  prominent  settlers  at  Bath  were  of  the  Puritan  stock,  coming 
chiefly  from  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire,  bringing  with  them 
Calvinistic  predilections.  The  Philbrooks  came  from  Greenland,  N. 
H.,  the  Swantons,  Lemonts,  Crookers,  Trufants,  Robinsons,  and  the 
Springers  from  the  south  shore  and  the  bay,  and  the  Sewalls  from 
old  York.  These  were  stalwart  men.  They  believed  in  stalwart, 
sectarian  doctrines,  and  lived  up  to  their  faith,  supplemented  by 
their  works. 

In  1754  Bath,  including  West  Bath,  was  incorporated  into  the 
Second  Parish  of  ancient  Georgetown.  At  that  date  there  were 
living  in  the  parish  twenty  families,  and  it  has  been  said  that  among 
them  was  but  one  public  professor  of  religion.  This  Christian  man 
was  John  Shaw,  yet  there  were  four  others  who  were  considered 
pious  men.  They  were  Benjamin  Thomson,  John  Bridges,  Abner 
Lunt,  and  Jonathan  Philbrook. — Groton. 

The  North. — From  1752  to  1767  various  preachers  had  been 
temporarily  employed:  Merriman,  Isaac  Livermore,  Parker,  Solomon 
Page,  Zebadiah  Adams,  John  Wyth,  Ebenezer  Champney,  Fuller, 
Bigelow,  Aaron  Kinney.  In  1765  the  Rev.  Mr.  Miller  of  Brunswick 
came  to  Bath,  formed  a  church  and  administered  the  communion. 
Finally  a  young  preacher  came  from  Boston  in  the  person  of  Francis 
Winter,  who  was  settled  and  became  distinguished. 

Rev.  Francis  Winter. — Mr.  Winter  was  a  native  of  Boston  and 
a  graduate  of  Harvard  College.  He  came  to  Bath  early  in  1767, 
and  after  preaching  on  probation  for  the  orthodox  church  was 
invited  to  settle,  which  invitation  he  accepted,  and  was  ordained  in 
the  autumn  of  the  same  year.  He  came  to  Bath  on  horseback  in 
company  with  Lemuel  Standish,  a  relative  of  Miles  Standish,  bring- 
ing the  name  to  Bath,  which  remains  here.  Mr.  Winter  came  from 
Boston,  where  he  had  associated  with  such  eminent  men  as  Adams, 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  479 

Otis,  and  Warren,  himself  becoming  an  ardent  patriot,  taking  the 
lead  in  Revolutionary  measures  adopted  in  Bath  during  that  memo- 
rable period. 

Two  years  before  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Winter  a  church  had  been 
organized,  consisting  of  seven  members.  Owing  to  some  irregu- 
larities in  its  formation  it  was  dissolved,  and  a  new  church  organized/ 
in  1767,  at  the  time  Mr.  Winter  was  ordained  in  the  new  meeting- 
house. The  salary  of  the  minister  was  fixed  by  the  vote  of  the 
parish  at  about  three  hundred  dollars,  which  was  increased  later  to 
about  four  hundred  dollars  by  vote  of  the  parish. 

Mr.  Winter  married  Miss  Abigail  Alden  in  1768.  Three  years 
later  the  couple,  in  order  to  visit  the  sister  of  Mrs.  Winter,  rode  on 
horseback  from  Boston  to  Connecticut  and  back.  From  Boston  they  • 
proceeded  to  Bath.  Mrs.  Winter  had  become  so  greatly  fatigued, 
riding  on  horseback,  that  Mr.  Winter  traded  one  of  his  horses  for  a 
carriage,  to  which  the  other  horse  was  harnessed.  It  was  the  first 
carriage  that  came  into  Maine  and  was  called  a  chaise.  The  travel- 
ing was  so  difficult  that  two  negroes  were  employed  to  accompany 
them.  To  get  the  carriage  along,  some  portions  of  the  road  had  to 
be  cleared,  and  on  several  occasions  the  vehicle  had  to  be  taken 
apart  in  order  to  get  over  fallen  trees  that  lay  in  the  path.  They 
finally  reached  Bath.  The  minister's  parishioners  thought  it  was 
putting  on  too  much  style  for  their  pastor  to  ride  in  a  carriage,  and 
in  consequence  Mr.  Winter  sold  it.  This  was  in  1771.  It  was  a 
two-wheeled  chaise,  the  body  resting  on  leather  thorough-braces, 
which  were  attached  behind  to  wooden  springs.  It  was  easy  in  its 
motion.     He  made  his  residence  on  High  street. 

Mr.  Winter,  when  ordained,  was  a  strict  Calvinist.  During  his 
pastorate  the  Arminian  doctrine  was  introduced  into  this  orthodox 
region,  and  several  neighboring  Congregational  ministers  became 
imbued  with  its  more  liberal  principles,  which  were  almost,  if  not 
quite,  Unitarian  ism.  Mr.  Winter's  people  felt  that  he  was  becoming 
interested  in  these  new  doctrines,  though  he  rather  implied  than 
expressed  it.  He  was  not  a  man  to  deny  a  change  of  religious 
sentiment,  and  this,  no  doubt,  led  to  the  differences  between  himself 
and  his  church  and  parishioners,  to  the  cutting  off  his  salary  by 


480  HISTORY    OF    BATH 

vote  of  a  parish  meeting,  and  finally  the  relinquishment  of  his 
charge,  in  1787,  after  a  pastorate  of  twenty  years.  He  made  no 
formal  resignation,  and  when  a  new  pastor  was  installed,  in  1795, 
and  a  new  church  formed,  he  did  not  become  a  member  and  his 
name  was  omitted  in  its  organization. 

He  possessed  talent  and  great  learning;  was  a  little  above  medium 
height,  of  a  strong  constitution,  a  large  frame,  broad  shoulders,  a 
plethoric  habit  of  body  of  about  two  hundred  pounds  in  weight; 
had  a  quick,  penetrating  eye  and  a  stentorian  though  musical  voice. 
He  always  rode  on  horseback,  and  wore  an  enormously  heavy  cocked 
hat  and  a  wig  that  flowed  down  over  his  shoulders.  Thus  equipped 
he  always  attracted  attention  and  was  accorded  respect. 

In  1 79 1  Mr.  Winter  purchased  a  farm  of  Samuel  Berry,  at  Berrys 
Mills  in  West  Bath,  and  resided  upon  it.  Although  retired  from  the 
ministry,  he  did  not  retire  from  the  world.  In  the  prime  of  life  still, 
he  entered  with  zest  into  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  occupied  some 
of  its  highest  offices.  He  informed  himself  in  matters  of  law,  and 
was  the  only  legal  adviser  in  town  for  some  years. 

That  he  possessed  eminent  tact  and  decision  can  be  shown  in  a 
little  transaction  that  took  place  during  his  pastorate.  "  The  parish 
had  fallen  behind  in  payment  of  his  salary.  Continental  money 
was  legal  tender,  but  the  fixed  day  was  near  when  it  would  cease  to 
be  such  and  would  be  well  nigh  worthless.  A  deacon  of  the  church 
was  treasurer  of  the  parish.  The  idea  was  entertained  to  tender  to 
Mr.  Winter  the  amount  due  him  on  the  Saturday  preceding  the 
Monday  on  which  continental  paper  money  could  not  forcibly  be 
made  to  pay  debts.  It  legally  belonged  to  the  treasurer  to  pay  out 
the  public  money,  but  the  collector  was  dispatched  with  the  worth- 
less bills  to  pay  off  Mr.  Winter  Saturday  afternoon.  Finding  the 
parson  at  his  house  he  proceeded  to  say :  *  I  think,  Father  Winter, 
you  have  a  bill  against  the  parish/  He  said  he  had.  *  I  thought,' 
said  the  collector,  'that  you  might  be  in  need  of  money,  and  so 
came  up  to  settle  with  you.'  The  parson  took  in  the  situation  at 
once  and  proved  equal  to  the  occasion.  He  knew  that  the  refusal 
of  a  legal  tender  would  forfeit  the  debt.  'Are  you  not  the  collector  ? ' 
asked  the  creditor  minister.     The  collector  replied  that  he  was.      *  I 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  48 1 

receive  my  money  from  the  treasurer,'  quickly  said  Mr.  Winter.  At 
once  the  collector  saw  the  mistake  and  hurried  back  to  send  the 
treasurer  to  the  rescue.  As  soon  as  the  defeated  collector  had  dis- 
appeared, the  triumphant  parson  donned  his  Sunday  clothes,  said  to 
Mrs.  Winter,  'Wife,  I  shall  exchange  to-morrow/  and  without  further 
explanation  mounted  his  horse  and  rode  quickly  away.  The  treas- 
urer very  soon  appeared  at  the  parson's  domicile  with  his  pocket 
full  of  continental  money.  'Where  is  Mr.  Winter?'  he  excitedly 
inquired.  'Gone  off  to  exchange/  was  the  reply.  Further  pressed, 
the  lady  persisted  that  she  '  really  did  not  know  whether  he  had 
gone  to  Georgetown  to  exchange  with  Parson  Emerson,  or  to  Harps- 
well  Neck  to  exchange  with  Mr.  Eaton.'  The  eleventh-hour-paying 
treasurer  saw  his  defeat  and  returned  from  whence  he  came  to 
deposit  the  money  in  the  treasury  of  the  parish,  and  on  Monday  it 
was  money  no  longer.  On  the  intervening  Sunday  an  '  exchange ' 
minister  occupied  the  Bath  pulpit." 

As  illustrative  of  the  old  parson's  undaunted  will,  it  has  been  told 
of  him  that  his  eldest  son  owned  and  sailed  a  schooner  that  had 
been  in  the  West  India  trade,  but  when  the  embargo  was  declared 
he  had  to  haul  her  up.  Subsequently  business  called  him  to  the 
West  Indies,  and  he  came  to  the  conclusion  to  go  in  one  of  his  own 
vessels  of  small  size,  taking  along  a  cargo.  Accordingly  he  brought 
her  around  from  the  Kennebec  to  the  New  Meadows.  He  bought 
Hour  at  Bath  with  which  to  load  her;  took  it  in  the  night  to  his 
father's  house  in  West  Bath  and  stored  it  in  the  front  entry.  Learn- 
ing of  this  movement,  custom-house  officials  secured  a  warrant  of 
search  and  seizure  and  proceeded  to  the  house  of  the  old  gentleman, 
where  a  general  search  was  made,  invading  every  part  of  the  house 
before  coming  to  the  front  entry  door.  Here  they  would  come  upon 
the  flour.  But  they  found  the  old  gentleman  there  also  to  defy 
them.  Seizing  from  the  fire-place  a  heavy  pair  of  tongs,  he  bran- 
dished them  right  before  their  faces  and  declared  that,  if  they 
advanced  another  step,  he  would  break  their  heads  open,  his  flashing 
eyes  and  attitude  showing  that  he  meant  it.  The  officials  made  a 
retreat,  leaving  the  ex-divine  master  of  the  situation. 

Mr.  Winter  was  representative  to  the  General  Court  from  1784  to 


482  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

1799;  was  town  clerk  from  1793  to  1802;  and  was  chosen  one  of 
the  selectmen  in  1804. 

When  Mr.  Winter  had  retired  from  the  ministry  and  was  settling 
with  the  church  authorities,  he  insisted  upon  having  his  pay  in  gold, 
and  it  was  weighed  out  to  him  as  he  demanded.  At  that  time, 
doubtless,  sovereigns  and  other  coins  were  in  general  use  which 
might  be  of  doubtful  weight.  *  The  identical  scales  used  in  this  trans- 
action are  now  in  existence,  latterly  in  possession  of  John  Hayden. 

The  last  public  performance  of  Mr.  Winter  was  the  delivery  of  a 
Fourth  of  July  oration  in  the  South  Meeting-house,  by  invitation,  on 
a  notable  celebration  of  that  anniversary  day  in  1825.  He  was 
more  than  eighty  years  of  age  at  the  time,  and  yet  his  address  gave 
so  much  satisfaction  that  -a  copy  was  requested  for  publication, 
which  was  done  in  pamphlet  form  for  general  circulation.  His  death 
occurred  the  next  year,  1826.  A  grandson  at  West  Bath  is  now  his 
only  lineal  descendant. 

Other  Clergymen.  —  From  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Winter,  in 
1787,  the  desk  was  supplied  by  transient  preachers  until  the  settle- 
ment and  ordination  of  Mr.  Hugh  Wallis,  December  5,  1795.  The 
exercises  were  held  in  the  old  meeting-house,  on  a  cold  day,  without 
a  fire,  the  want  of  heat  being,  it  has  been  stated,  amply  compensated 
by  the  glow  of  enthusiasm  incited  by  the  happy  event  of  having  a 
settled  pastor.  Contemporaneous  with  this  auspicious  event  the 
church  was  re-organized,  December  8,  1795,  and  denominated  "The 
Congregational  Calvinistic  Church  of  Christ,"  with  fifteen  members. 
Mr.  Wallis'  ministrations  did  not  prove  popular,  through  his  lack  of 
pulpit  eloquence,  his  rigid  Calvinism,  and  not  readily  affiliating  with 
the  people  as  a  citizen.  Some  prominent  members  of  the  church 
and  society  adopting  the  more  liberal  Arminian  doctrine,  among 
whom  were  such  influential  men  as  William  King,  John  Peterson, 
and  Francis  Winter,  the  parish  refused  to  continue  his  salary,  and 
he  resigned  July  15,  1800. 

In  1805  the  Rev.  Asa  Lyman  preached  temporarily,  and  having 
given  satisfaction  to  the  church  and  parish  he  was  given  a  call;  was 
ordained  January  1,  1806,  and  continued  until  February  4,  1808, 
when  he  resigned,  but  held  his  pastorate  to  March  9,  1808. 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  483 

The  North  Church  remained  without  a  settled  minister  the  next 
four  years.  A  man  of  future  mark  then  came  on  the  scene,  and 
proved  to  be  a  minister  "  after  their  own  hearts."  He  came  to  stay. 
This  was  John  Wallace  Ellingwood.  He  was  born  in  Beverly,  Mass. 
When  young  his  father,  who  had  been  a  sea-captain,  died.  By  his 
death  Mr.  Ellingwood  came  under  the  care  and  protection  of  his 
uncle,  who  was  also  a  sea-captain,  and  when  his  nephew  was  thir- 
teen years  old  he  took  him  to  sea.  On  his  return  he  informed  his 
uncle  that  he  should  go  to  sea  no  more.  At  this  early  period  of  his 
life  he  was  a  good  English  scholar.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he 
apprenticed  himself  to  a  silversmith  and  watch-maker  in  Beverly, 
where  he  worked  six  years  and  became  master  of  the  trade,  as  he 
was  a  natural  mechanic.  He  entered  into  business  for  himself  in 
the  same  town,  employing  two  or  three  journeymen,  and  continued 
in  trade  three  years. 

All  of  this  time  he  had  a  higher  object  in  view  and  pursued  his 
studies  during  the  intervals  of  business.  Closing  his  business  at 
Beverly  he  went  to  Leicester,  where  he  applied  himself  closely  to 
the  study  of  the  dead  languages,  and  advanced  so  far  in  learning 
that  in  the  latter  part  of  1809  ne  entered  the  Andover  Theological 
Seminary,  where  he  remained  three  years  and  completed  his  theo- 
logical course.  The  North  Church  sent  Dea.  Nicholas  L.  Mitchell 
to  Dover,  N.  H.,  to  meet  Dr.  Leonard  Woods,  president  of  the 
seminary,  who  recommended  that  the  committee  write  to  Mr.  Elling- 
wood to  preach  for  them  on  probation,  which  was  done.  Mr. 
Ellingwood  brought  a  letter  of  introduction  to  a  deacon  of  the 
church,  Mr.  Dummer  Sewall.  The  news  of  Mr.  Ellingwood's  arrival 
soon  spread  through  the  Reach  and  excited  feelings  of  joy  and  grat- 
ification in  the  hearts  of  the  members  of  the  church. 

Mr.  Ellingwood's  first  sermon  was  from  the  text,  "  There  is  a  way 
which  seemeth  right  unto  a  man,  but  the  end  thereof  are  the  ways 
of  death."  He  preached  on  probation  until  the  first  of  July,  and 
gave  such  general  satisfaction  that  he  received  a  call.  After  gradu- 
ating at  Andover  he  returned  to  Bath  for  his  ordination,  on  Novem- 
ber 4,  181 2,  in  the  North  Meeting-house.  Unusual  preparations 
were  made  and  the  house  was  filled  to  overflowing.     It  was  a  dis- 


484  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

tinguishing  event  and  an  era  in  the  history  of  the  North  Church.  It 
was  said  of  the  ministers  taking  part  in  the  services:  "Taken 
together,  New  England,  and  it  might  truly  be  said  the  world,  has 
not  nor  ever  will  produce  their  superiors,  if  it  has  or  ever  will  pro- 
duce their  equals."  *  ' 

Mr.  Ellingwood  was  most  faithful,  laborious,  and  successful  in  his 
ministry.  He  preached  for  twenty-five  years;  a  lecture  on  Tuesday 
evening  as  well  as  two  sermons  on  the  Sabbath.  He  long  and 
happily  maintained  his  Bible  class  every  other  Thursday  evening. 
He  was  diligent  and  eminently  wise  as  a  pastor,  a  man  of  great 
prudence,  zeal,  and  soundness  of  judgment,  dignified  in  deportment, 
remarkably  generous,  and  widely  influential  throughout  the  state. 
In  common  sense  he  excelled.  Three  hundred  and  eighty-two  mem- 
bers in  all  were  added  to  the  church  during  his  pastorate,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  resignation  the  church  numbered  two  hundred  and 
seventy-seven  members  and  was  strong  in  high  character  and  good 
works.  The  successor  to  Dr.  Ellingwood  was  John  O.  Fiske,  and 
the  subjoined  sketch  of  his  career  comprises  a  complete  history  of 
his  pastorate. 

Rev.  John  Orr  Fiske. — The  Fiske  family  has  been  traced  back 
to  the  reign  of  Henry  VI  in  England.  Many  of  that  name  endured 
severe  persecutions,  in  the  time  of  Queen  Mary,  on  account  of  their 
staunch  adherence  to  evangelical  principles.  It  was  the  lack  of 
religious  toleration  in  England  which  led  John  Fiske,  with  his  wife 
and  four  children,  to  embark  for  America  in  1637,  settling  in  Wen- 
ham,  Mass.  Nearly  fifty  of  their  descendants  have  been  clergymen 
or  deacons  in  the  various  evangelical  churches  of  the  land.  Perhaps 
no  other  family  in  New  England  has  contributed  so  many  members 
as  this  to  the  ministerial  office.  They  have  always  proclaimed  the 
doctrines  and  teachings  of  Christ  as  held  by  the  evangelical 
churches,  but  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  while  following  closely  in 
their  footsteps,  has  added  more  of  the  sweetness  of  Christ's  gentle 
and  loving  precepts  in  all  his  ministrations  to  his  people. 

John  O.  Fiske,  third  son  of  James  Ballou  Fiske  and  his  wife, 
Rebecca  McGaw,  of  Merrimac,  N.  H.,  was  born  in  Bangor,  July 
13,  18 19.     He  was  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  the  same  class 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  485 

with  Governor  Andrew  of  Massachusetts,  Dr.  Fordyce  Barker  of 
New  York,  and  Rev.  Dr.  Field  of  Bangor,  in  1837,  and  at  Bangor 
Theological  Seminary  in  1842. 

Destiny  seemed  to  turn  Mr.  Fiske's  footsteps  toward  the  lower 
Kennebec.  In  1842,  while  still  a  member  of  the  Theological 
Seminary  in  Bangor,  he  took  a  steamer  for  Boston  to  attend  the 
graduating  exercises  at  Harvard  College.  The  vessel  ran  aground, 
springing  a  leak,  so  that  the  passengers  were  obliged  to  disembark 
at  Rockland  and  to  continue  their  journey  by  land.  On  reaching 
Bath  a  friend  invited  Mr.  Fiske  to  call  upon  Dr.  El  ling  wood,  who 
for  many  years  had  held  a  pastorate  over  the  Old  North  Church. 
Dr.  Ellingwood  was  so  much  pleased  with  his  young  visitor  that 
he  invited  the  latter,  after  his  return  to  Bangor,  to  occupy  his  pulpit 
for  three  months,  which  invitation  he  accepted.  He  preached  his 
first  sermon  in  Bath  November  6,  1842.  The  parish,  in  view  of 
Dr.  Ellingwood's  advanced  age  and  retirement,  requested  Mr. 
Fiske,  at  the  close  of  three  months,  to  become  permanent  pastor. 
He  consented,  on  condition  that  he  should  be  granted  six  months 
for  further  study,  and  was  ordained  pastor  of  what  is  now  Winter 
Street  Church,  August  17,  1843. 

His  pleasing  manner,  rare  though tfulness,  great  tact,  and  won- 
derful memory  for  names  and  faces  made  him  an  exceptionally  and 
deservedly  popular  man.  No  man  endeared  himself  to  the  commu- 
nity more  than  Mr.  Fiske  in  his  long  residence  in  Bath.  In  the 
pulpit  his  sentences  were  forcible  and  teise,  his  language  choice  and 
appropriate.  A  largely  increased  membership  of  the  church  was 
the  natural  result  of  his  pastorate.  Dr.  Fiske  preached  two 
sermons  every  Sunday,  and  even  when  it  seemed  imperative  for  the 
sake  of  his  health  he  declined  emphatically  to  omit  the  afternoon 
service,  which  was  retained  until  after  his  resignation.  A  number 
of  Dr.  Fiske's  sermons  have  been  published,  at  the  request  of 
his  people.  His  life-long  devotion  to  the  cause  of  Foreign  Missions 
and  the  large  annual  contributions  from  the  Winter  Street  Church 
made  the  latter  in  this  respect  one  of  the  leading  churches  in  the 
state.     Nor  were  Home  Missions  neglected. 

Dr.  Fiske  was  always  conspicuous   in   the   discussions   held   at 


486  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

the  annual  sessions  of  the  Congregational  denomination  in  Maine, 
particularly  so  in  the  height  of  the  slavery  agitation,  differing  in 
regard  to  some  of  the  methods  adopted  in  the  Anti-Slavery  Reform. 
In  1864  he  went  on  the  Christian  Commission,  giving  his  services 
for  six  weeks;  joined  the  army  after  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness, 
and  later  was  at  Fredericksburg,  when  there  were  10,000  men  in  the 
hospitals.  In  consequence  of  these  labors  his  health  was  seriously 
impaired.  He  visited  Europe,  for  the  sake  of  his  health,  in  the 
summers  of  1851,  1865,  and  1882,  being  generously  aided  to  do  this 
by  the  parish.  For  eight  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of 
Overseers  and  for  thirty-one  years  a  trustee  of  Bowdoin  College; 
was  trustee  of  Bangor  Theological  Seminary  fifteen  years;  was 
president  of  the  Maine  Missionary  Society  many  years.  He  received 
the  honorary  degree  of  D.  D.  from  his  Alma  Mater  in  1868. 

On  account  of  failing  health,  Dr.  Fiske  resigned  his  charge  in 
August,  1883,  on  the  fortieth  anniversary  of  his  settlement.  In  his 
farewell  address,  from  Acts  20:  32,  he  made  the  following  interesting 
statements  of  his  work  in  the  parish :  "  Since  the  commencement 
of  my  ministry  I  have  preached  4, 1 40  sermons,  have  performed  515 
marriage  ceremonies,  have  attended  1,245  funerals,  and  baptized 
292  children  and  95  persons  of  riper  years.  I  have  also  made 
20,000  pastoral  calls.  On  only  one  Sabbath  in  all  the  forty  years 
was  there  no  service  in  this  church,  and  then  on  account  of  a  very 
severe  storm." 

After  his  retirement  he  continued  his  deep  interest  in  the  church, 
always  attending  the  Sunday  morning  service  until  prevented  by 
increasing  illness.  On  the  occasion  of  the  rededication  of  the 
church  edifice,  after  its  renovation  in  1890,  Dr.  Fiske  made  the 
dedicatory  prayer — one  long  to  be  remembered  by  all  who  heard  it. 
He  rejoiced  fully  with  the  people  in  the  beautiful  adornment  of  a 
church  that  for  him  held  the  sacred  memories  of  half  a  century. 

September  19,  1848,  Mr.  Fiske  married  Mary  Augusta  Tappan, 
daughter  of  Rev.  Dr.  Benjamin  Tappan,  who  for  thirty-nine  years 
was  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Augusta,  Me.  Through 
her  mother,  Elizabeth  Bowdoin  Temple  Winthrop,  Mrs.  Fiske  is 
directly  descended  from  the  old  Gov.  John  Winthrop  and  from  Gov- 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  487 

ernor  Bowdoin.  Two  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Fiske's  children  are  still  living: 
John  Winthrop  Fiske,  a  lawyer  in  New  York,  and  Mary  McGaw  Fiske, 
at  home  in  Bath.  The  eldest  daughter,  Katherine  Tappan  Fiske, 
died  February  1,  1877.     Dr.  Fiske  died  December  18,  1893. 

The  Winter  Street. — When  the  Winter  Street  edifice  had  been 
completed  the  "First  Church  in  Christ,"  the  Old  North,  was  reorgan- 
ized into  the  Winter  Street  Church,  or  the  First  Congregational 
Church  of  Bath,  and  the  services  of  the  pastor  were  formally  trans- 
ferred to  the  newly  formed  church. 

To  succeed  Dr.  Fiske,  several  ministers  preached  on  trial,  and 
Rev.  Omar  White  Folsom  was  invited  to  become  pastor,  which 
invitation  was  accepted.  He  is  son  of  Jesse  and  Elizabeth  (Varney) 
Folsom;  was  born  in  North  Sandwich,  Carroll  County,  N.  H.,  April 
24,  1844;  fitted  for  college  at  Gilmanton  Academy,  in  Gilmanton, 
N.  H.;  entered  Dartmouth  College,  September,  1865,  graduating  in 
the  centennial  class  of  1869;  studied  three  years  at  Andover  Theo- 
logical Seminary,  graduating  from  that  institution  in  the  class  of 
1872;  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the 
First  Church,  Newbury,  Mass.,  October  31,  1872;  continued  pastor 
of  that  church  till  June  30,  1884;  began  work  as  pastor  of  the 
Winter  Street  Church,  Bath,  July  1,  1884,  the  installation  service 
taking  place  September  16,  1884,  and  is  occupying  the  pulpit  at  the 
present  time,  1894. 

The  pastors  of  this  church  have  been :  Solomon  Page,  preached 
from  1758  to  1759 ;  Francis  Winter,  settled  from  1766  to  1787  ;  Hugh 
Wallis,  from  December  9,  1795,  to  July  15,  1800;  Asa  Lyman,  from 
January  1,  1806,  to  March  9,  1808;  John  W.  El  ling  wood,  from  Novem- 
ber 9, 1812,  to  August  17,  1843;  John  O.  Fiske,  from  August  17, 1843, 
to  August  17,  1883  ;  Omar  W.  Folsom,  from  September  16,  1884. 

The  deacons  of  the  Old  North  Church  were  :  David  Trufant, 
James  Lemont,  Jonathan  Philbrook,  Dummer  Sewall,  Caleb  Marsh, 
David  Sewall,  Ammi  R.  Mitchell,  Peleg  Sprague,  and  Nicholas  L. 
Mitchell.  Deacons  of  the  Winter  Street  Church:  Henry  Hyde, 
William  B.  Trufant,  Thomas  C.  Jackson,  Thomas  Simpson,  Charles 
N.  Delano,  Joseph  Sprague,  Seth  T.  Snipe,  David  T.  Percy,  and 
Frederic  H.  Low. 


488  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

• 

The  South.  —  During  the  latter  part  of  the  pastorate  of  Mr. 
Winter  there  was  a  secession  from  the  Old  North  of  prominent  men 
of  the  church  and  society,  in  which  Mr.  Winter  eventually  joined. 
These  men  were  such  as  William  King,  John  Peterson,  and  other 
influential  men.  The  cause  of  their  departure  was  on  account  of 
their  dissent  to  the  strong  Calvinistic  creed  of  the  orthodox  church 
and  a  strong  leaning  towards  the  more  liberal  Arminian  doctrines, 
and  they  were  termed  the  "  liberal  party."  They  built  a  church  in 
1805.  Bath  had  a  population  not  exceeding  2,000  people  in  1805. 
It  was  the  intention  of  this  party  to  form  an  independent  society. 
General  King  was  then  a  member  of  the  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  session  at  Boston.  He  was  intrusted  by  the  society 
with  the  task  of  rinding  a  minister  whose  sentiments  corresponded 
with  theirs,  and  he  was  recommended  to  call  on  the  Rev.  William 
Jenks,  with  the  assurance  that  lie  would  answer  their  expectations 
and  by  his  piety  and  learning  fill  the  place.  After  the  return  of  Mr. 
King  from  General  Court  a  meeting  was  called  and  Mr.  King,  in 
his  emphatic  style  and  manner,  stated  that  he  had  found  a  man  who 
could  fill  the  measure  of  their  most  sanguine  expectations.  It  was 
voted  to  give  Mr.  Jenks  a  call  to  settle  over  the  society. 

Mr.  Jenks,  at  this  time,  was  about  thirty  years  of  age.  lie  was 
a  thorough  scholar  and  a  man  of  culture.  He  was  well  versed  in 
the  Oriental  languages,  not  surpassed  by  any  linguist.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College.  In  his  person  he  was  above  the 
middle  height,  and  weighed  over  130  pounds.  His  face  was  an 
index  of  his  mind,  his  head  large,  his  eyes  bright  and  sparkling,  his 
manners  kind.  He  was  never  censorious  in  or  out  of  the  pulpit. 
He  united  the  noble  qualities  of  man. 

Mr.  Jenks  accepted  the  call  of  the  parish  and  was  to  be  in  Bath 
at  a  fixed  time  to  be  ordained.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  call 
on  an  assembly  of  Congregational  ministers  and  laymen  of  the 
churches  to  carry  into  effect  the  ordination.  Among  other  clergy- 
men invited  to  assist  and  take  part  was  the  Rev.  Samuel  Eaton  of 
Harpswell.  The  parish  committee  found  Mr.  Eaton  in  his  ancient 
house  on  that  point  of  land  called  Harpswell  Neck.  They  explained, 
and  he  soon  understood  their  errand  and  congratulated  them  that 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  489 

they  were  soon  to  have  the  gospel  preached  to  them  in  their  beau- 
tiful and  costly  house  in  Bath,  and  assured  them  that  he  would  be 
present  and  help  make  up  the  necessary  number  of  ministers  to 
ordain  Mr.  Jenks;  but  in  looking  over  the  copy  of  the  records  of 
the  parish  he  found  that  the  First  Parish  in  Bath  had  no  church. 
The  reply  was  they  did  not  consider  it  material,  if  the  parish  was 
legally  organized,  and  that  was  the  opinion  of  Mr.  King.  Mr.  Eaton 
replied  that  such  a  course  was  unprecedented  among  all  the  Con- 
gregational Puritan  Christians,  and  would  bring  disrespect  upon  the 
minister  settled  and  the  parish  that  settled  him;  that  he  could  take 
no  part  in  the  ordination  unless  there  was  a  church,  as  well  as  a 
congregation.  This,  too,  was  the  view  that  all  the  neighboring 
invited  clergymen  took  of  the  matter.  A  parish  meeting  was  then 
called  and  the  difficulties  presented.  The  fertile  genius  of  General 
King  soon  found  a  remedy  for  the  difficulty.  He  stated  to  the 
meeting  that  it  would  be  well  enough,  as  a  matter  of  form  and  to 
conform  with  ancient  and  universal  usages,  to  have  a  church;  and 
as  there  was  no  time  for  delay  that  they  would  make  and  form  a 
church  forthwith.  He  sat  down  and  wrote  a  paper  to  the  effect  that 
those  of  the  parish  who  signed  should  at  once  become  the  church  of 
the  First  Parish.  Mr.  King  was  the  first  man  to  sign  the  paper 
and  others  followed.     He  remarked  that  he  would  soon  fill  it  up. 

The  church  was  organized  December  24,  1805.  The  members 
were  William  Jenks,  William  King,  William  Webb,  Zacheus  Crooker, 
Nathaniel  Coffin,  Enoch  Jones,  Betsey  Jenks,  Ann  King,  Harriet 
Webb,  Mary  Coffin,  Pauline  Jones.  Mrs.  King  hesitated  about 
becoming  a  member,  thinking  it  too  serious  a  matter  and  that  it 
would  abridge  the  social  amusements  which  were  dear  to  them  at 
their  age  of  life  and  rank  in  society.  The  General  assured  her 
that  she  misapprehended  the  case;  that  the  formation  of  the  church 
was  a  matter  of  business  expediency  and  necessity  in  order  to  carry 
into  effect  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Jenks.  Mrs.  King  finally  gave  her 
signature.  The  North  Church  would  hold  no  communion  or 
fellowship  with  the  members  of  Mr.  Jenks'  church,  as  these  latter, 
with  the  one  exception  of  Zacheus  Crooker,  did  not  consider  a 
change   of    heart   and    genuine    piety    necessary    to    membership. 


490  .  HISTORY    OF  BATH. 

The  South  Church  was  reinforced  by  the  following  members : 
Levi  Houghton,  John  Stockbridge,  John  Richardson,  Green  Rich- 
ardson, Samuel  G.  Bowman,  William  Ledyard,  Jesse  Russell,  David 
Shaw,  David  Marston,  Charlotte  Houghton,  and  Sarah  Hodgkins 
Rogers.     It  was  the  "  Second  Congregational  Church  of  Bath." 

At  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Jenks,  Mr.  Winship  preached  the  ordi- 
nation sermon,  Mr.  Bradford  gave  the  charge,  the  right  hand  of 
fellowship  was  by  Mr.  Eaton,  and  the  prayer  by  Mr.  Parker.  In  this 
connection  it  might  be  interesting  to  note,  that  Mr.  Parker  was  totally 
blind  in  his  latter  years,  but  could  recite  a  hymn  or  a  chapter  of  the 
Bible,  in  the  pulpit,  and  not  miss  a  word.  At  the  ordination  Mr. 
Francis  Winter  sat  in  one  of  the  front  seats  with  his  head  covered 
with  his  large  white  wig  and  his  heavy  cocked  hat  in  his  hand.  Mr. 
Eaton  sat  in  the  pulpit  with  a  wig  not  inferior  to  that  of  Mr.  Winter's, 
and,  according  to  the  fashion  of  the  times  with  gentlemen  of  posi- 
tion and  dignity,  both  Mr.  Winship  and  Mr.  Eaton  had  beaver 
cocked  hats.  In  fact  the  general  dress  of  the  clergymen  of  that  day 
was  of  the  continental  style  of  costume,  and  in  the  pulpit  they  wore 
a  white  square  neckband.  During  the  twelve  years'  ministry  of  Mr. 
Jenks  in  Bath,  he  always  appeared  in  the  pulpit  in  continental  dress. 

A  notable  revival  in  the  Bath  churches,  in  February,  1816,  gave  to 
the  South  Church,  members  of  strong  orthodox  sentiments,  among 
whom  were  Judge  Benj.  Ames,  Nehemiah  Harding,  Daniel  Marston, 
Thomas  H.  Gage,  David  Shaw,  and  others,  and  Dr.  Jenks  became  im- 
bued with  the  more  orthodox  views.  There  then  ensued  a  lengthy 
and  annimated  correspondence  upon  this  subject  between  General 
King  and  Dr.  Jenks.  The  General  ably  contended  that  in  all 
matters  of  faith  and  practice  he  stood  the  same  as  when  he  formed 
the  church,  and  any  change  in  the  pastor  or  others  of  the  church 
members,  should  not  be  a  cause  for  his  excommunication.  This 
correspondence  led  to  a  truce  between  the  parties  which  ended  the 
controversy.  But  without  immediately  withdrawing  from  the  church, 
General  and  Mrs.  King  ever  afterwards  attended  the  North  or  Win- 
ter Street  Church. 

To  help  out  his  salary,  while  preaching  in  Bath,  Dr.  Jenks' 
friends  procured  him  the  position  of  Professor  of  Oriental  Languages 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  49 1 

and  English  Literature  in  Bowdoin  College.  In  18 17  Dr.  Jenks 
resigned  his  charge  in  Bath  and  removed  to  Boston,  by  solicitation 
of  his  admirers  in  that  city,  and  became  pastor  of  the  Green  Street 
Church.  From  181  o  to  181 2,  the  North  Church  having  no  pastor, 
Dr.  Jenks  preached  on  alternate  Sabbaths  in  each  church  until 
the  installation  of  Mr.  Ellingwood.  After  the  departure  of  Dr. 
Jenks,  till  1823,  the  South  Church  united  with  the  Old  North,  Mr. 
Ellingwood  preaching  a  portion  of  the  time  in  the  South  Meeting- 
house. 

In  1823  Mr.  Seneca  White  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  South 
Church  and  the  two  congregations  were  again  separated.  Mr.  White 
was  dismissed  from  the  pastorate  April  30,  1830.  For  five  years  the 
Old  South  remained  without  a  pastor.  Then  the  best  interests  of 
the  Christian  life  in  the  community  seemed  to  point  towards  the 
revival  of  the  Old  South  or  the  formation  of  a  new  church.  To 
accomplish  this  object  eight  members  of  the  Old  South  Church,  of 
whom  seven  were  women  and  one  man,  were  dismissed  July  5,  1835, 
from  that  church,  with  the  view  of  forming  a  new  church,  which  was 
legally  organized  as  the  Third  Church  of  Bath,  July  8,  1835. 

The  remaining  members  of  the  old  church  transferred  its  com- 
munion plate  to  the  new  church,  these  members  remaining  intact 
as  the  Second  Church  in  order  to  make  this  transfer  legal.  This 
accomplished,  these  persons  united  with  the  new  church  together 
with  others  coming  from  the  North  Church.  Among  those  trans- 
ferred from  the  North  Church  were  William  M.  Rogers  and  Levi 
Houghton. 

Gershom  Hyde  and  John  Bovey  were  chosen  deacons.  Mr.  Ray 
Palmer  was  at  the  same  time  installed  as  pastor,  and  his  pastorate 
continued  until  November  6,  1850,  when  he  was  dismissed  and 
became  pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church,  at  Albany,  N.  Y. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  a  scholarly  man,  of  very  smooth  and  quiet 
demeanor,  and  was  an  author  and  poet  whose  literary  works  were 
published  in  book  form,  making  him  somewhat  distinguished  in  the 
literary  world.     His  hymn,  "My  faith  looks  up  to  Thee,"  is  famous. 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Palmer  to  another  field  of  labor,  a 
supply  was  found  for  the  pulpit  in   Eliphalet  Whittlesey,  then  a 


492  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

young  man,  just  graduated  from  Andover  Seminary,  and  he  was 
ordained  over  the  church  October  i,  185 1.  Mr.  Whittlesey's 
pastorate  gave  good  satisfaction.  He  resigned  as  pastor  and  was 
dismissed  during  1861.  The  succeeding  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Augustus  F.  Beard  who  came  from  a  church  at  Cape  Elizabeth,  was 
installed  August  12,  1862,  and  was  dismissed,  by  resignation,  in  Jan- 
uary, 1868.  A  call  was  accepted  by  Rev.  Wm.  Hart,  of  New  York. 
He  was  installed  November  2,  1870,  and  resigned  December  30,  1878. 
A  call  was  then  extended  to  Rev.  William  R.  Richards,  which  was 
accepted,  and  he  was  installed  October  16,  1879;  resigned  April  29, 
1884;  and  was  granted  a  dissolution  of  his  pastorate  May  8,  1884, 
but  continued  to  preach  until  July  1,  1884,  as  specified  by  him  in 
his  letter  of  resignation.  Mr.  Richards  was  an  able  pulpit  orator, 
learned  and  accomplished.     He  was  popular  among  his  people. 

After  Mr.  Richards  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  temporary  preachers, 
some  of  whom  were  candidates  for  settlement,  when  Mr.  Amos 
Frederic  Dunnels  received  a  call  August  1,  1884,  accepted  August 
13,  1884,  installed  over  the  church  October  2,  1884.  He  was  a 
young  man,  coming  direct  from  Andover  Theological  Seminary.  His 
home  was  in  Boston.  He  continues  in  his  pastoral  duties  here  to 
the  present  time,  1894.  Mr.  Dunnels  is  a  pastor  of  much  ability 
and  is  a  highly  esteemed  citizen,  taking  an  active  part  in  the  com- 
munity in  all  movements  tending  to  improvement  in  religious  and 
temperance  matters.  In  July,  1885,  he  preached  a  half-centennial 
sermon  on  the  history  of  this  "Third  Congregational  Church  of 
Bath,"  which  is  of  much  value  as  detailing  the  formation  and  pro- 
gress of  the  church  over  which  he  presides.  In  1892  he  married 
Miss  Lillius  B.  Humphreys,  an  estimable  lady  of  his  church. 

The  early  deacons  of  this  church  were  Gershom  Hyde,  John 
Bovey,  Otis  Kimball,  Isaiah  Percy,  Peleg  Sprague,  and  Horace 
Wilson,  and  the  later  deacons  are  Henry  E.  Palmer  and  Franklin 
S.  Partridge. 

In  1892  the  church  had  a  membership  of  forty  men  and  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty-five  women.  Its  Sabbath  School  numbered  one 
hundred  and  ten  scholars  and  fifteen  teachers.  Connected  with  this 
church  is  a  branch  of  the  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor. 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  493 

The  Episcopal. — When  the  Popham  colony  came  from  England, 
in  1607,  and  made  a  settlement  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kennebec  River, 
the  first  act  upon  landing  was  to  have  a  sermon  preached.  This 
was  done  by  the  Rev.  Richard  Seymour,  a  clergyman  of  the  Church 
of  England,  who  was  chaplain  of  the  colony.  It  was  the  first 
sermon  in  the  English  language  preached  on  this  continent.  Church 
services  were  regularly  established  and  the  colonists  erected  a  suit- 
able building  for  the  purpose,  laying  the  foundation  of  religious 
observances  in  the  New  World. 

"They  bade  the  holy  dews  of  prayer 
Baptize  a  heathen  sod, 
And  mid  the  groves  a  church  arose 
Unto  the  Christian's  God.M 

One  of  the  avowed  objects  the  patrons  of  this  colony  had  in 
view,  was  to  spread  civilization  and  Christianity  among  the  barbarous 
nations.  In  the  subsequent  early  peopling  of  the  Lower  Kennebec 
those  of  the  Episcopal  denomination  held  a  prominent  place.  Their 
first  preacher  was  the  Rev.  William  McLanathan.  He  came  from 
Massachusetts,  in  1756,  as  a  missionary.  His  field  of  labor  covered 
Georgetown  as  well  as  Frankfort  (now  Dresden),  and  his  yearly  salary 
was  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  He  lived  in  Fort  Richmond. 
He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Bailey,  who  arrived  from 
Massachusetts  July  1,  1760.  He  lived  at  Pownalborough,  preaching 
a  portion  of  his  time  at  Georgetown.  When  destitute  of  other 
preachers,  people  of  all  denominations  attended  his  services.  He 
was  acceptable  to  the  Nobles,  Lithgows,  Drummonds,  Butlers,  and 
other  prominent  families  on  the  Lower  Kennebec. 

In  1768  the  Rev.  William  Wheeler,  who  had  taken  Holy  Orders 
in  England,  was  assigned  to  Georgetown  for  missionary  service.  He 
lived  a  portion  of  the  time  with  William  Lithgow,  while  on  the  Lower 
Kennebec.  He  remained  until  1772,  when  he  left  for  Newport,  R.  I., 
and  Mr.  Bailey  resumed  his  visits  to  Georgetown,  preaching  there 
every  third  Sunday  until  his  forced  departure  for  Halifax,  in  1779, 
on  account  of  his  disloyalty  to  the  Revolutionary  cause. 

In  the  early  forties  Miss  Smith,  daughter  of  Parsons  Smith  of  this 
city,  who  had  been  on  a  visit  to  Bangor  and  who  had  become  very 


494  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

much  interested  in  the  English  church  there,  sent  for  a  Bishop  and 
was  the  first  person  confirmed  in  this  denomination  in  this  city. 
When  Bishop  Burgess  was  appointed  over  the  diocese,  and  while  on 
a  visit  to  Bath,  he  found  about  half  a  dozen  families  who  wished  for 
a  church  in  this  city.  Rector  Fales  came  down  from  Brunswick  and 
preached  several  times  in  the  Methodist  church. .  Finally  Rev.  Dr. 
Frederic  Gardiner  also  came  here  and  conducted  services  in  Music 
Hall.  The  accomodations  were  too  small  and  Corinthian  Hall  was 
secured  as  a  place  of  worship,  a  pulpit  and  a  chancel  rail  were 
erected,  while  a  small  organ  was  also  purchased,  August  16,  1849. 
It  was  here  the  society  was  organized  and  Rev.  Dr.  Gardiner  chosen 
rector,  June  29,  1850. 

The  parish  continued  to  grow  and  wanted  a  church  of  its  own, 
therefore  the  present  Grace  Church  was  built.  The  building  com- 
mittee consisted  of  B.  C.  Bailey,  T.  D.  Wilder,  and  J.  H.  Nichols. 
Mr.  Fassett  gave  his  services  as  superintendent  during  the  work  of 
building,  and  Mr.  Gardiner,  of  Philadelphia,  was  the  architect. 
When  partially  completed  the  funds  gave  out  and,  as  the  society  saw 
no  way  of  raising  more,  it  was  to  be  covered  up  and  the  work  of  build- 
ing suspended.  But  here  Dr.  Gardiner  and  others  showed  their 
faith  and  enterprise  by  agreeing  to  take  the  responsibility  off  the 
hands  of  the  society,  and  the  building  was  completed.  The  pews 
were  sold  and  enough  money  realized  to  pay  the  cost  of  building. 
In  a  few  years  the  pews  were  given  to  the  church.  The  first  rector 
was  Rev.  Dr.  Gardiner,  a  most  excellent  man  and  preacher.  He  was 
scholarly  and  wrote  several  books,  besides  contributing  to  The  North 
American  Review.  He  remained  here  three  years,  then  studied  in 
Europe  and  became  one  of  the  faculty  at  the  Berkeley  Divinity 
School  in  Middletown,  Conn. 

Dr.  Gardiner  was  followed  by  Rev.  Mr.  Weston,  who  came  here 
temporarily;  then  Mr.  Willey,  of  Stonington,  came,  who  remained 
but  eight  months.  Rev.  Mr.  Jessup  was  the  next,  who  held  the 
position  six  years.  Up  to  this  time  the  church  had  always  received 
aid  from  the  missionary  society,  but  during  his  rectorship  it  became 
an  independent  church.  Rev.  Flavill  S.  Mines  followed  Mr.  Jessup 
and  remained  two  years.     Rev.  Mr.  Durell,  of  Calais,  was  the  next 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  495 

rector  and  remained  about  six  years.  After  Mr.  Durell  came  Mr. 
Tucker,  and  following  him  came  Mr.  Ogden,  of  New  York,  who  staid 
four  years;  succeeding  him  was  Rev.  Mr.  Hubbell,  who  remained 
but  a  few  months  and  whose  place  was  taken  by  Rev.  Mr.  Gregson 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  remained  about  five  years,  when  Mr.  DeHart 
came,  remaining  but  a  short  time.  Rev.  Mr.  Pratt  was  the  rector 
for  the  next  three  years,  when  Dr.  Robert  N.  Parke  became  the 
rector,  and  after  staying  several  years  went  to  New  York.  The  Rev. 
H.  W.  R.  Stafford,  of  New  York,  came  to  the  church  in  1889,  and  is 
the  rector  at  the  present  time,  1894. 

During  Mr.  Willey's  rectorship  the  organ  was  purchased,  and  the 
chime  of  bells  was  bought  while  Mr.  Jessup  had  charge. 

The  first  wardens  were  E.  C.  Hyde  and  Jacob  Smith.  Among  the 
wardens  at  different  times  have  been  J.  H.  Nichols,  E.  S.  J.  Nealley, 
and  J.  H.  McLellan.  The  present  wardens  are  John  O.  Shaw  and 
Charles  E.  Hyde.  The  vestrymen  are  Dr.  C.  A.  Packard,  Fred 
Klippell,  George  E.  Hughes,  and  William  H.  Watson. 

Besides  the  church  the  society  owns  a  rectory  on  the  corner  of  Oak 
and  High  streets,  and  parish  house  adjoining.  Both  of  these  build- 
ings are  conveniently  near  the  church.  In  1890,  under  the  direction 
of  the  rector,  the  Rev.  H.  W.  R.  Stafford,  the  surpliced  boy  choir 
was  instituted,  and  in  the  same  year  a  robing-room,  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  choir,  was  added  to  the  church,  the  cost,  amounting 
to  $560,  being  met  by  the  ladies  of  the  society.  The  vestments  for 
the  choir  were  also  purchased  and  made  by  them.  In  1890  the  old 
organ  in  the  loft  was  sold  to  a  Boothbay  Harbor  church,  and  from 
the  proceeds  of  this  sale,  and  by  a  generous  sum  added  by  Mrs. 
Clara  K.  Patten,  a  new  and  finely  toned  organ  was  placed  on  the 
floor  of  the  church  near  the  chancel. 

The  Swedenborgian.  —  The  doctrines  of  Emanuel  Swedenborg 
were  introduced  into  Boston,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Hill,  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  Mr.  Manning,  one  of  Mr.  Hill's  converts, 
had  married  a  sister  of  Dea.  Caleb  Marsh,  one  of  the  pillars  of  the 
Old  North  Church  of  Bath.  He  sent  books  to  Deacon  Marsh, 
which  he  probably  did  not  read  as  it  was  considered  heresy,  in  those 


496  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

days,  for  a  member  of  an  orthodox  church  to  read  these  publications. 
Capt.  Horatio  G.  Allen,  a  native  of  Hingham,  came  to  Bath,  took 
up  his  residence  in  about  1795,  and  became  one  of  its  prominent 
men.  He  read  Swedenborgian  books,  as  also  did  the  Rev.  Abraham 
Cummings,  a  learned  and  pious  Baptist  missionary  who  preached  on 
the  sea-coast  of  Maine.  Both  became  interested  in  these  works  and 
lost  some  orthodox  standing  in  consequence.  Dr.  Jenks,  of  the 
South  Church,  had  copies  of  these  works  in  his  library  and  loaned 
them  to  others.  He  said  he  found  in  them  the  primary  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  religion. 

The  seed  thus  sown  began  to  take  root  and,  from  the  year  1809, 
some  members  of  the  Old  North  and  South  Churches,  with  other 
people  of  the  town,  became  so  much  interested  in  Swedenborg's 
doctrines  that  in  the  year  18 18,  they  began  to  meet  together  for 
reading  and  conversation.  Zina  Hyde  was  one  of  the  leaders  and 
was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  a  Swedenborgian  conference  held  in  Phila- 
delphia in  18 1 7.  The  number  of  converts  increasing,  a  society  of 
the  New  Jerusalem  Church  was  formed,  and  Sabbath  services  insti- 
tuted by  Thomas  Worcester,  D.  D.,  of  Boston,  September  20,  1829. 
From  that  time  until  1840  the  ministers  preaching  to  this  society 
were  the  Revs.  Samuel  Worcester,  Adonis  Howard,  Joseph  Pattee, 
and  H.  Worcester.  In  1840  the  Rev.  Samuel  F.  Dike  was  settled 
as  pastor.  Under  his  administration  the  church  and  society  largely 
increased  in  members  and  influence.  The  total  membership  has 
been  one  hundred  and  forty  and  the  present  is  sixty.  The  Sunday 
School  numbers  seventy-five  scholars. 

Dr.  Samuel  Fui.lkr  Dikk  was  born  at  North  Bridgewater, 
Mass.,  March  17,  18 15.  In  1838  he  graduated  from  Brown  Univer- 
sity, and  having  become  an  earnest  disciple  of  Swedenborg  soon 
after  leaving  college,  he  went  to  Boston  to  study  theology  with 
Dr.  Worcester.  By  him  he  was  ordained  in  Philadelphia,  June  7, 
1840.  He  subsequently  married  Miss  Worcester,  the  daughter  of 
Dr.  Worcester.  Although  then  but  twenty-five  years  of  age,  he 
had  already  shown  his  abilities  as  a  scholar,  and  thereby  attracted 
the  attention  of  William  D.  Sewall,  of  this  city,  who  invited  him  to 
become   the   first  pastor   of    the    New   Church    Society,  then   but 


C^SJ^-    Jzi/)<y£^ 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  497 

recently  formed  in  Bath.  This  invitation  was  accepted,  and  on 
Saturday,  June  13,  1840,  he  arrived  in  the  city,  which,  for  over  half 
a  century,  has  been  and  is  still  his  home.  It  is  not  unusual  to  find 
men  who  have  been  actively  engaged  in  the  ministry  for  fifty  years, 
but  it  is  very  seldom  that  one  of  these  can  point  to  that  period  as 
spent  in  a  single  parish,  while  it  is  more  than  doubtful  if  the  state 
can  show  another  church  of  so  long  standing  which  has  had  but 
one  pastor. 

Mr.  Dike  was  installed  over  the  society  October  10,  184 1.  In 
June,  1890,  having  served  his  church  faithfully  for  fifty  years,  Dr. 
Dike  preached  his  farewell  sermon  and  withdrew  from  the  pastorate, 
much  to  the  regret  of  his  people.  Immediately  following  his  resig- 
nation, through  the  generosity  of  one  of  his  parishioners,  he  was 
enabled  to  make  a  tour  of  the  world,  taking  one  year  for  this  trip. 
In  1 84 1  the  graded  system  of  schools  was  introduced  here,  and 
Dr.  Dike  was  chosen  the  first  superintendent,  a  position  he  held 
uninterruptedly  for  twenty-four  years.  The  efficiency  of  his  work 
in  this  line  is  clearly  shown  by  the  fact  that  this  period  is  always 
referred  to  as  the  one  when  Bath  schools  were  at  their  best,  and  is 
held  up  as  a  standard  by  which  the  work  of  past  times  should  be 
judged.  Since  his  resignation  from  this  office  he  has  been  repeat- 
edly urged  to  return,  but  his  other  duties  have  prevented  him. 

For  some  twelve  years  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Maine 
State  College,  has  been  vice-president  of  the  Maine  Historical 
Society,  and  for  many  years  one  of  the  examining  committee  at 
Bowdoin  College.  For  the  last  eighteen  years  he  has  held  the 
professorship  of  church  history  in  General  Conv.'s  Theological  School 
in  Cambridge,  of  the  Church  of  the  New  Jerusalem.  In  1872 
he  received  the  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Bowdoin  College.  In  1880 
he  went  on  a  trip  through  Egypt  and  Asia  Minor,  proceeding  as  far 
east  as  Damascus,  for  the  purpose  of  fitting  himself  more  thor- 
oughly for  the  professorship  of  biblical  and  ecclesiastical  history. 
He  was  appointed  a  member  of  the  Peace  Congress  held  in  London 
in  July,  1890,  but  was  unable  to  attend. 

Dr.  Dike  has  a  pleasant  home,  situated  on  the  western  edge 
of  the  city,  with  a  garden,  orchard,  and  surrounding  fields. 


498  HISTORY   OF    BATH. 

The  Baptist.  —  The  founding  and  building  up  of  this  church 
and  society  have  been  phenominal.  Starting  with  ten  members,  this 
denomination  now  ranks  with  the  largest  churches.  From  1789  to 
the  coming  of  Elder  Stearns  there  was  occasional  preaching  by  Elders 
Isaac  Case,  John  Hames,  and  Mr.  Harriman.  From  services  held 
in  school-houses  and  halls  it  has  constructed  and  occupied  two  church 
edifices  successively.  This  growth  and  prosperity  is  largely  due  to 
the  labors  of  its  first  minister,  the  Rev.  Silas  Stearns.  Coming  to 
Bath  without  "staff  or  scrip,"  and  with  a  feeble  following,  he 
wrought  out  a  great  work  in  establishing  this  church  and  society, 
which  is  an  enduring  monument  to  his  memory. 

Mr.  Stearns  was  born  in  Waltham,  Mass.,  in  1784.  He  early 
developed  a  taste  for  theological  studies  and  determined  to  prepare 
himself  for  the  ministry.  To  accomplish  this  end  his  scant  means 
obliged  him  to  learn  a  trade.  He  apprenticed  himself  to  an  uphol- 
sterer in  Boston,  spending  his  spare  time  in  theological  studies  with 
Doctor  Baldwin,  a  distinguished  Baptist  preacher  of  that  day.  After 
the  close  of  his  apprenticeship  he  worked  at  his  trade  until  fitted  to 
enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  ministry.  He  then  came  to  Maine  and 
preached  at  Freeport,  where  he  was  ordained. 

By  invitation  he  came  to  Bath,  where  he  found  very  few  Baptist 
people.  To  these  he  preached  and  accepted  a  call  as  pastor  over 
them,  a  church  being  formed  the  same  day;  the  pastor  was  installed 
October  30,  18 10,  in  the  school-house  on  School  stieet  that  was 
taken  down  in  about  1886.  Stephen  Morse  and  Elijah  Low  were 
the  deacons.  Meetings  were  regularly  held  in  school-houses  and 
halls  until  18 16,  when  a  church  edifice  was  built  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Washington  and  Elm  streets,  a  later  built  church  now 
standing  on  the  same  site.  For  some  years  Elder  Stearns  worked 
at  his  trade  of  upholsterer  with  S.  D.  Haley  to  enable  him  to  live 
upon  a  yearly  salary  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars.  This 
author  well  recollects  having  often  seen  him  at  his  work  covered 
with  lint. 

Mr.  Stearns  was  twenty-six  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Bath  to 
live.  On  November  30,  181 5,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Sprague  of 
Boston.     This  union  proved  an  exceedingly  happy  one.     They  had 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  499 

one  son,  Oakman  Sprague  Stearns,  who  became  an  educated  Baptist 
minister,  professor  in  Newton  Theological  Institution,  and  magazine 
writer.  He  resided  at  Newton  Centre,  Mass.,  from  1855  until  his 
death,  in  1893.  Mrs.  Stearns  died  suddenly  September  20,  1824, 
and  Mr.  Stearns  married  Miss  Mary  B.  Lunt,  of  Bath,  a  grand- 
daughter of  the  elder  Isaiah  Crooker. 

By  1827  and  1828  the  Baptist  Church  had  become  strong  in  both 
numbers  and  prominent  people,  but  somewhere  about  those  years 
twenty-six  of  the  leading  members  resigned  from  the  church  and 
had  meetings  in  the  old  academy  on  North  street,  with  the  Rev. 
Henry  Kendall  for  pastor,  who  was  a  rigid  Calvinist.  This  was 
a  sore  affliction  to  Elder  Stearns,  but  eventually  the  seceding 
members  returned  to  his  church.  After  a  pastorate  of  thirty  years, 
Rev.  Mr.  Stearns  died,  in  1840,  at  the  age  of  56  years. 

The  same  month  that  Mr.  Stearns  died  a  call  was  extended  to 
Rev.  H.  G.  Nott,  of  the  Federal  Street  Church,  now  Clarendon,  of 
Boston,  to  become  pastor.  The  call  was  accepted  and  Mr.  Nott  at 
once  began  his  pastoral  labors.  In  the  beginning  of  1842  a  revival 
began  which  lasted  through  the  first  half  of  the  year.  Seventy 
joined  the  church. 

In  February,  1853,  Rev.  D.  W.  Sheldon  became  pastor,  and  he 
began  his  labors  under  most  favorable  circumstances.  A  new  and 
commodious  meeting-house  had  just  been  completed  and  was  imme- 
diately dedicated.  The  congregations  were  large  and  embraced 
some  of  the  first  families  in  the  city.  But  after  a  promising  begin- 
ning Doctor  Sheldon  developed  in  his  preaching  doctrines  that  were 
not  in  harmony  with  the  Baptist  faith.  This  fact  led  to  heated 
discussions,  and  finally  to  division  in  the  church  and  congregation. 
After  a  prolonged  contest  over  the  possession  of  the  meeting-house, 
which  was  finally  settled  by  a  legislative  committee,  Doctor  Sheldon, 
with  those  who  were  in  sympathy  with  him,  united  with  the  Unitarian 
Society  on  Summer  street,  and  the  church  proper  resumed  worship 
in  their  own  sanctuary. 

The  Pastors. — Silas  Stearns,  1810  to  1840;  H.  G.  Nott,  1840  to 
1847;  E.  H.  Gray,  1847  to  1850;  Harvey  Ham,  1850  to  185 1;  D. 
W.  Sheldon,   1852  to  1856;    S.  W.  Taylor,   1857   to   i860;    G.   P. 


5<X>  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

Mathews,  i860  to  1865;  L.  D.  Hill,  1866  to  1869;  E.  M.  Bartlett, 
187 1  to  1872;  S.  A.  Kingsbury,  1873  to  1876;  S.  D.  Moxley,  1876 
to  1878;  S.  L.  B.  Chase,  1878  to  1880;  S.  P.  Pendleton,  1880  to 
1882;  T.  F.  White,  1883  to  date,  1894. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  T.  F.  White,  began  his  pastoral  labors 
at  Bath  in  May,  1883.  During  his  pastorate  to  May,  1889,  ninety- 
two  joined  the  church,  with  further  yearly  increase.  Mr.  White  was 
born  in  Columbia,  Me.,  April  1,  1846;  graduated  from  Colby  Uni- 
versity in  1874  and  Newton  Theological  Institution  in  1879;  was 
pastor  at  Ellsworth,  Me.,  1878  to  1883,  and  has  been  in  Bath  to  the 
present  time,  1894.  His  resignation  has  twice  been  given,  but  he 
was  finally  prevailed  upon  to  remain.  He  takes  a  lively  interest  in 
the  temperance  and  other  moral  reforms.  In  the  summer  of  1889 
he  made  an  extended  trip  abroad,  visiting  Scotland,  England, 
France,  Italy,  Switzerland,  Germany,  and  Belgium.  On  May  3, 
1893,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Gertrude  G.  Carr  of  Brunswick. 

The  Methodist. — The  Wesley.  Few  people  now  living  recol- 
lect the  early  days  of  Methodism  in  this  section  of  the  country. 
Those  who  joined  the  denomination  one  hundred  years  ago  con- 
sisted chiefly  of  people  in  the  lower  walks  of  life.  They  were  not 
called  a  denomination,  but  a  persuasion,  and  services  were  held  in 
school-houses  and  private  dwellings.  Their  preachers  were  exhort- 
ers,  and  were  entertained  at  the  houses  of  the  leaders  of  the  move- 
ment. For  years  the  Methodists  were  a  persecuted  sect,  inasmuch 
as  they  were  ignored  by  the  orthodox  denominations.  This  perse- 
cution made  them  a  band  of  brothers.  Jesse  Lee  introduced 
Methodism  into  Maine.  He  came  to  Boston  from  the  South,  and 
for  want  of  an  in-door  place  he  preached  upon  the  Common,  where 
his  ardor  and  eloquence  drew  crowds  to  listen  to  him. 

In  September,  1793,  there  was  a  conference  of  Methodist  clergy- 
men for  New  England  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  at  which  eight  were  in 
attendance.  Jesse  Lee  was  one  of  the  number.  In  making  a 
division  of  their  labors,  Mr.  Lee  took  the  appointment  of  the  Dis- 
trict of  Maine  for  his  circuit,  upon  which  he  immediately  entered. 
Preaching  at  different  places  along  his  route,  he  reached  Bath 
September  15,  1793,  and  preached  in  the  town  three  times,  the  first 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  501 

Methodist  preaching  held  in  the  town.  At  the  time  there  was  no 
settled  preacher  of  any  denomination  in  the  place.  In  consequence, 
people  of  other  sects  went  to  his  meetings.  His  personal  appear- 
ance was  attractive,  his  discourses  eloquent,  and  his  doctrines  new. 
Lee  is  described  as  a  man  of  vigorous  physique,  imposing  presence, 
with  great  power  of  endurance;  his  weight  was  about  250  pounds. 
In  traveling  he  rode  on  horseback,  taking  along  two  horses  for  a 
relay,  one  following  the  other.  His  outfit  consisted  of  saddle-bags, 
packed  with  a  Bible,  hymn  book,  a  few  other  books,  and  needful 
clothing.  His  impassioned,  extemporaneous  sermons,  fervent 
prayers,  and  grand  singing  drew  crowds  to  hear  him.  His  genial 
manners  and  ready  wit  made  him  an  agreeable  guest  in  the  families 
with  whom  he  sojourned. 

"In  1796  Rev.  Philip  Wager  and  Rev.  Jesse  Stoneman,  traveling 
Monmouth  circuit,  preached  here  occasionally;  also,  Rev.  Joshua 
Hall.  The  preaching  of  Rev.  John  Broadhead,  in  1798,  awakened  a 
revival,  the  fruit  of  which  he  collected  into  the  first  class  ever 
formed  in  Bath.  It  was  composed  of  the  following  persons:  James 
Ward,  Huldah  Grace,  Widow  Gardiner,  Elizabeth  Weeks,  Betsey 
Webb,  Eleanor  Morrison.  From  this  time  to  1818  Bath  seems  to 
have  been  included  in  an  extensive  circuit,  and  was  visited  statedly 
or  occasionally  by  Robert  Yallaley,  Roger  Searle,  Enoch  Mudge, 
Epaphras  Kibby,  Peter  Jayne,  Ralph  Williston,  Peter  Nourse,  and 
others,  especially  Timothy,  Merritt,  who  labored  here  abundantly 
previous  to  1809." — Church  Records. 

John  Wilkinson,  a  minister  who  had  been  a  circuit  preacher  in 
the  state,  came  to  Bath  in  18 17.  Being  a  physician,  he  practiced 
that  profession  and  kept  a  drug  store.  He  was  a  man  of  ability 
and  amassed  considerable  property.  He  filled  the  pulpit,  in  the 
absence  of  a  regular  preacher,  to  his  latter  years.  When  it  was 
known  that  Dr.  Wilkinson  was  to  preach,  it  drew  a  large  congrega- 
tion. The  young  people,  in  particular,  liked  his  originality  and 
quaintness. 

In  18 1 7  the  Conference  appointed  the  Rev.  Mr.  Ambler  to  Bath, 
who  remained  until  18 18,  when  the  Rev.  Mr.  Chamberlain  was 
assigned,  but  for  unexplained  cause  left  in  a  few  weeks.     Mr.  Wil- 


502  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

kinson  then  preached  until  1819,  when  the  Rev.  Charles  Virgin  was 
sent.  This  preacher  had  the  advantage  of  a  commanding  presence 
and  force  as  a  speaker.  The  latter  was  an  important  element  with 
this  denomination.  The  preaching  of  that  day  must  be  spontane- 
ous and  emotional.  This  was  supplemented  by  much  singing,  in 
which  the  congregation  joined,  and  the  preacher  who  could  lead  in 
the  hymns  was  most  happily  and  acceptably  endowed. 

Pastors. — 1819-20,  Charles  Virgin;  182 1,  Sullivan  Bray;  1822, 
Bartholomew  Otheman;  1823,  Joseph  White;  1824-5,  Wilder  B. 
Mace;  1826,  Sullivan  Bray;  1827-8,  William  H.  Norris;  1829, 
John  B.  Husted;  1830,  Green  Grove  Moore;  1831,  Justin  Spauld- 
ing;  1832,  John  Atwell;  1833,  Stephen  Waterhouse;  1834,  Isaac 
Downing;  1835,  James  Thwing;  1836,  John  W.  Atkins;  1837, 
William  H.  Pillsbury;  1838-9,  Caleb  Fuller;  1840,  George  Webber; 
1841-2,  Eaton  Shaw;  1843-4,  Charles  W.  Morse;  1845,  John 
Hobart;  1846,  Stephen  Allen;  1847,  Gershom  F.  Cox;  1848,  Paul 
C.  Richmond;  1849-50,  William  F.  Farrington;  185 1-2,  Charles  F. 
Allen;  1853-4,  Parker  Jaques;  1855,  Asahel  Moore;  1856-7,  Eze- 
kiel  Robinson;  1858-9,  James  McMillan;  i860,  Silas  H.  Hyde  and 
Joseph  L.  Morse;  1861,  Rufus  H.  Stinchfield;  1862-3,  Seba  F. 
Wetherbee;  1863,  six  months,  Luther  T.  Townsend ;  1864-6,  Cyrus 
A.  King;  1867-8,  Joseph  Hawkes;  1869-71,  William  S.  Jones; 
1872-4,  James  Roscoe  Day;  1875-7,  Ammi  S.  Ladd;  1878-80, 
Abel  W.  Pottle;  1881,  William  S.  Sterling;  1882-3,  Ammi  S.  Ladd; 
1884-6,  Everett  S.  Stackpole ;  1887,  J.  L.  Hill;  1888-9,  L-  L- 
Hanscom;  1889-93,  A.  A.Lewis;  1893-94  (present  pastor),  S.  T. 
Westhafer. 

More  or  less  extensive  revivals  have  occurred  in  1830,  1834,  1841, 
1848,  1858,  1861,  1873,  1876,  1886,  1891,  and  in  latter  part  of  1893 
under  present  pastor. 

In  1820  the  membership  was  fifty-three  including  those  in  Bruns- 
wick and  Phipsburg.  In  1828  there  were  ninety-one  members;  in 
1837,  one  hundred  and  thirty-three.  In  1841  a  faction  withdrew  to 
form  the  North  Street  Free  Baptist  Church.  In  1852  Beacon  Street 
M.  E.  Church  was  built,  and  the  following  year  seventy  members 
withdrew  to  form  that  society,  leaving  one  hundred  and  sixty-one 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  503 

members.  At  this  time  "Wesley"  was  adopted  as  the  distinguishing 
name  of  this  church.  The  largest  membership  was  reported  in 
1875,  viz.,  312  members  and  41  probationers. 

Devoted  workers  in  the  Methodist  denomination  have  been  found 
in  Mrs.  Lydia  McLellan,  Gen.  James  McLellan,  Charles  Davenport, 
Elisha  Clarke,  George  W.  Duncan,  Z.  H.  Blair,  and  some  others. 

Tiik  Bracon  Strrrt. — The  original  Methodist  Church  increased 
so  rapidly,  and  a  large  number  of  the  members  residing  at  the 
North  End,  made  it  advisable  to  form  a  new  church  and  society  in 
that  part  of  the  city.  Their  house  was  built,  and  occupied  June  13, 
1853,  and  Rev.  H.  M.  Blake  was  the  pastor. 

Near  the  commencement  of  the  first  Conference  year  fifty-six 
members  and  three  probationers  were  transferred  to  Beacon  Street 
Church  from  Wesley,  and  at  the  end  of  the  year  the  membership  of 
the  new  society  was  one  hundred  and  five.  The  new  church  that 
year  raised  for  its  expenses  and  charities  a  total  of  $851.86.  Near 
the  close  of  this  year,  Charles  Davenport  promised  to  meet  any 
difficulties  of  the  ensuing  year  if  the  church  would  not  ask  aid  from 
the  missionary  board.  This  generous  offer  brought  out  other 
pledges,  so  from  that  time  on  the  Beacon  Street  became  a  self-sus- 
taining society.  During  the  winter  of  1854-5,  notwithstanding  the 
general  depression  in  business,  the  society  purchased  an  organ  at  an 
expense  of  $600.  In  1857,  when  banks  were  breaking  and  business 
firms  suspending,  the  church  nevertheless  raised  $867.41. 

In  1875  the  Conference  was  held  in  Bath  and  Rev.  Mr.  Bean 
appointed  to  Beacon  Street.  Toward  the  foreign  mission  fund 
Beacon  Street  contributed  $100  of  the  $1,000,000  raised  by  all  of 
the  Methodist  churches  of  the  country.  Mr.  Charles  Davenport, 
the  first  superintendent  of  Beacon  Street  Sunday  School,  had  been, 
for  many  years,  the  superintendent  of  the  school  at  Wesley.  In  the 
two  schools,  as  superintendent,  he  has  served  in  all  forty  years. 
Mr.  Davenport  has  also  acted  as  chorister  at  Beacon  Street  since 
the  opening  of  the  church,  his  son,  George  P.  Davenport,  serving 
under  him,  as  organist,  for  the  past  twenty-five  years.  The  present 
membership  of  the  church  is  about  175;  of  the  Sunday  School, 
about  200. 


504  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Pastors. — 1853-4,  H.  M.  Blake;  1855-6,  H.  B.  Abbott;  1857-8, 
A.  J.  Church;  1859,  H.  Nickerson;  1860-1,  S.  F.  Wetherbee; 
1862-3,  H.  M.  Blake;  1864-5,  C.  Fuller;  1866-8,  J.  E.  C.  Sawyer; 
1869-70,  Charles  Munger;  187 1-2,  Roscoe  Sanderson;  1873-4, 
Kinsman  Atkinson;  1875-7,  Leonard  H.  Bean;  1878-80,  Enos  T. 
Adams;  188 1-3,  W.  S.  Jones;  1884,  Gershom  F.  Cobb;  1885-7,  H. 
E.  Foss;  1888-9,  Thomas  Whiteside;  1890,  W.  F.  Holmes;  1891-4, 
M.  C.  Pendexter. 

The  Universalist. — For  many  years  prior  to  1837  there  was  a 
liberal  element  in  the  city,  who  could  not  believe  in  the  doctrine  of 
eternal  punishment,  and  after  their  numbers  warranted  the  move- 
ment, they  first  met  at  each  other's  houses  and  afterwards  procured 
quarters  in  the  City  Hall  building,  in  the  room  now  occupied  by 
the  Common  Council,  where  they  held  Sabbath  meetings.  Their 
numbers  increasing,  they  decided  to  form  a  Universalist  Church, 
and  in  1837-8  they  were  enabled  to  raise  a  sufficient  amount  of 
money  to  build  a  house  of  worship.  Rev.  John  T.  Gilman  was  the 
first  pastor,  and  the  church  and  society  grew  in  numbers  and  influ- 
ence under  his  pastorate  for  quite  a  number  of  years.  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  Dr.  Brooks,  who  made  a  special  effort  to  interest 
the  young,  and  with  the  help  of  his  estimable  wife  made  the  Sunday 
School  connected  with  the  society  one  of  the  largest  in  the  city. 
Dr.  Brooks  not  only  gave  character  and  standing  to  the  denomi- 
nation, but  found  time  to  devote  to  educational  matters  and  all 
moral  reforms. 

Several  different  pastors  followed  Dr.  Brooks,  among  them  Rev. 
Eliphalet  Case,  who  was  a  scholarly  man  and  published  some 
poetical  works. 

Rev.  Henry  W.  Rugg  was  the  first  pastor  in  the  new  church,  and 
brought  the  society  up  from  its  apparent  apathy  to  a  state  of  great 
interest  and  added  largely  to  its  membership  and  prosperity.  He 
took  great  interest  in  his  parish  and  in  the  Sunday  School.  He  was 
as  popular  outside  as  within  his  society,  entering  heartily  into  all 
movements  for  the  benefit  of  the  people. 

In  addition  to  those  already  named,  memorial  windows  have  been 


HISTORY    OF    BATH.  505 

placed  in  the  church  to  the  memory  of  Mrs.  Alfred  Lemont,  Mrs. 
Joseph  M.  Hayes,  Mrs.  J.  W.  Wakefield,  J.  R.  Silsby,  W.  Sanford, 
and  N.  Longley. 

Pastors.  —  J.  T.  Gilman,  1838-43;  E.  G.  Brooks,  D.  D.,  1846-50; 
F.  Hitchcock,  1850-1;  E.  Case,  185 1-2;  J.  Crehore,  1853-4;  Mr. 
Gardiner,  1855;  J.W.Hanson,  D.  D.,  1858;  H.  W.  Rugg,  D.  D., 
1860-3;  L.  J.  Fletcher,  D.  I).,  1864-6;  A.  Gunnison,  D.  D.,  1868- 
71;  J.  P.  McLean,  1872;  M.  H.  Houghton,  1874-5;  W.  W.  Nutting, 
1876-7;  C.  Weston,  1878;  E.  W.  Preble,  1880;  L.  L.Green,  1881-5; 
I.  P.  Quimby,  1886-90;  Abram  Conklin,  189 1-4,  continuing. 

Rev.  Abram  Conklin  was  born  April  13,  1858,  at  Nyack,  N.  Y.; 
was  educated  at  St.  Lawrence  University,  Canton,  N.  Y.,  graduating 
from  the  Theological  School  in  June,  1879.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  as  pastor  of  the  Universalist  Church  at  Southold,  N.  Y.,  in 
October,  1879.  He  held  pastorates  at  Reading,  Penn.,  at  Brooklyn, 
N.  Y.,  and  at  Saginaw,  Mich.,  before  coining  to  Bath.  Under  his 
pastorate  the  church  has  been  repaired  and  decorated  and  memorial 
windows  have  been  placed  in  the  church. 

Through  the  influence  of  this  church  four  ministers  have  been 
added  to  the  denomination :  G.  W.  Bicknell,  Charles  Tucker,  E.  W. 
Preble,  B.  F.  Bowles.  Among  the  men  who  were  prominent  in  the 
early  work  of  this  church  and  society  were:  Denny  McCobb,  John 
Henry,  Davis  Hatch,  Oliver  Moses,  John  Elliot,  Richard  R.  Smith, 
Anthony  C.  Raymond,  Samuel  Parker,  Nathaniel  Longley,  William 
Rouse,  William  Rodbird,  James  Wakefield,  Nelson  A.  West,  Aaron 
Donnell,  Wyman  Morse,  Bela  T.  Bicknell. 

North  Street  Free  Baptist.— This  church  was  organized  April 
16,  1842,  and  numbered  twelve  members,  one  of  whom,  Benjamin 
Danforth,  was  subsequently  licensed  to  preach.  Afterwards  Mr. 
Hathorn  became  pastor  and  remained  until  the  December  following. 
On  December  4th  Rev.  A.  Libby  came  and  remained  until  the 
following  June.  Rev.  P.  M.  Hobson  was  the  next  pastor  and 
remained  until  June,  1845.  He  was  followed  by  Revs.  H.  Deering 
and  J.  L.  K.  Staples,  each  holding  short  pastorates.      Rev.  John 


506  HISTORY    OF   BATH. 

Stevens  came  in  December,  1847,  and  remained  until  May,  1850. 
Rev.  H.  Skillings  was  pastor  after  Mr.  Stevens,  remaining  until 
April,  1853,  when  Rev.  Naham  Brooks  became  pastor,  leaving  in 
September,  1863.  During  his  pastorate  two  hundred  and  eighty 
persons  were  added  to  the  church  by  baptism  and  one  hundred  and 
nine  by  letter.  Rev.  Charles  Bean  then  acted  as  a  stated  supply 
for  nearly  a  year,  when  Rev.  A.  H.  Morrill  was  called  to  the  pas- 
torate. The  next  was  Rev.  E.  W.  Porter,  who  remained  eight  years. 
Rev.  E.  Manson  was  pastor  for  two  and  one-half  years.  In  January, 
1879,  ^ev-  **•  J*  White  was  called  and  remained  till  November, 
1884.  During  his  time  a  debt  of  $3,000  was  canceled.  For  nearly 
a  year  after  Mr.  White  left,  the  church  was  without  a  pastor,  being 
supplied  by  professors  and  students  from  the  Divinity  School  at 
Lewiston.  On  October  4,  1885,  Rev.  J.  M.  Remick  became  pastor, 
remaining  till  September,  1888.  From  September,  1888,  till  May, 
1889,  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Revs.  Nason  and  Purinton,  when 
Rev.  H.  F.  Wood  became  pastor.  Rev.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  native  of 
Maine,  a  graduate  of  Bates  College  and  Cobb  Divinity  School  Mr. 
Wood  has  traveled  extensively  through  Europe.  He  remains  pastor 
to  the  present  time,  1894.  The  deacons  have  been  J.  D.  Oliver, 
Mr.  Litchfield,  J.  B.  Moulton,  David  Harris,  George  W.  Brooks; 
the  present  deacons  are  Israel  Eastman,  E.  F.  Marston,  George  A. 
Spinney,  and  A.  B.  Dunning. 

First  Unitarian  Society. —  This  society  was  formed  December 
20,  1848.  Measures  were  taken  for  the  purchase  of  a  lot  and  the 
erection  of  a  place  of  worship.  The  society  extended  an  invitation 
to  Rev.  Edmund  Wilson,  of  Grafton,  Mass.,  to  be  their  pastor.  The 
society  was  then  worshiping  in  a  hall  on  Summer  street.  In  Octo- 
ber, 185 1,  the  society  was  obliged  to  apply  to  the  Massachusetts 
Missionary  Society  for  aid.  In  March,  1852,  M.  W.  Willis  was 
ordained  pastor,  on  a  salary  of  $1,500,  and  remained  until  February, 
1854.  In  July  of  the  same  year  Rev.  Mr.  Metcalf  became  pastor 
of  the  church,  resigning  his  pastorate  in  1857.  The  society  had 
previously  purchased  a  lot  on  Summer  street,  facing  the  common, 
and  had  erected  a  small  but  pleasant  edifice  thereon.     They  had 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  507 

also  purchased  an  organ.  When  Dr.  Sheldon  was  pastor  of  the 
Elm  Street  Church  dissensions  arose  concerning  his  doctrine,  and 
he  and  his  followers  left  the  church  and  united  themselves  with  the 
Unitarians.  A  call  was  extended  to  Dr.  Sheldon  to  become  the 
pastor,  which  he  accepted,  entering  upon  his  duties  August  11,  1857. 
He  remained  with  the  society  until  May,  1861,  when  he  resigned, 
but  at  the  request  of  the  people  remained  through  the  year.  At  his 
departure  no  further  effort  was  made  to  secure  another  minister,  and 
the  parish  held  its  last  meeting  the  first  Monday  in  January,  when 
the  First  Unitarian  Society  ceased  to  exist.  The  church  building 
was  sold  and  used  as  a  carriage  factory,  has  since  been  removed 
or  demolished,  and  the  site  is  now  occupied  by  the  house  of  Mrs. 
Alden  Morse. 

Corliss  Street  Church. — This  church  was  organized,  with  six 
members,  March  25,  1858.  The  church  was  admitted,  June,  1858, 
to  Bowdoin  Quarterly  Meeting.  At  that  time  there  was  a  church 
membership  of  one  hundred  and  one.  In  June,  1858,  the  society 
had  a  Sunday  School  numbering  eighty-eight  scholars  with  twelve 
teachers.  In  Juno,  i860,  the  membership  of  the  church  was  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  and  of  the  Sunday  School  one  hundred  and 
twenty.  A  society  has  been  formed  among  the  children  of  the 
parish,  called  the  Phillips  Mission  Society,  for  church  work.  The 
church  expresses  a  willingness  to  do  all  it  is  able  to  do  in  supporting 
missions  and  benevolent  enterprises.  December  22,  1877,  a  P>Pe 
organ  was  purchased  for  the  church  at  the  price  of  four  hundred 
dollars.  The  pastors  have  been  the  Rev.  G.  Douglas,  L.  L.  Har- 
mon, Levi  Hersey,  Otis  Andrews,  A.  VV.  Purrinton,  F.  Reed,  F.  L. 
Willey,  O.  C.  Wheeler,  W.  S.  Packard,  W.  T.  Smith,  B.  M.  Edwards, 
J.  E.  Whitmore. 

The  Roman  Catholic. —  Paynter  Patten  was  the  first  Roman 
Catholic  to  settle  in  Bath.  The  next  was  Charles  Ducett,  who  came 
from  Nova  Scotia,  and  was  of  French-American  descent.  Although 
his  parents  and  relatives  were  Protestants,  he  was  an  earnest  and 
devoted  member  of  the  Catholic  Church.  He  amassed  a  good 
property  and  gave  liberally  to  the  Catholic  Church  of  Bath,  of  which 


508  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

he  was  the  founder.  On  the  coming  of  other  Catholics  to  Bath,  he 
invited  them  to  meet  at  his  house  every  Sunday  for  religious  ser- 
vices. These  continued  for  three  or  four  years,  until  the  number 
attending  amounted  to  eighteen.  In  1849  the  Rev.  Mr.  Putnam,  a 
missionary  residing  in  Whitefield,  Me.,  came  once  a  month  to  offi- 
ciate. In  1853  the  Catholics  hired  the  Old  South  Church  and  held 
their  Sunday  services  there  until  it  was  burned  by  a  "  Know  Noth- 
ing "  mob,  in  1854,  because  it  was  used  by  the  Catholics.  After 
this  event  the  society  occupied  Corinthian  Hall,  on  Washington  street 
until  its  present  Catholic  Church  was  built.  In  1855  the  Rev.  Mr. 
McLaughlin  came  as  settled  pastor.  The  church  purchased  the 
property,  on  High  street,  of  J.  T.  Gilman,  on  which  now  stands  its 
church  building  and  rectory.  The  purchase  included  the  ancient 
Isaiah  Crooker  mansion,  which  then  faced  High  street  and  was  after- 
wards moved  to  the  rear  and  the  church  erected  on  its  original  site. 
Father  McLaughlin  occupied  this  historic  house  for  his  residence 
until  the  present  rectory  was  built.  It  is  now  used  as  a  Catholic 
Old  Ladies'  Home.  Soon  after  the  coining  of  Father  McLaughlin 
the  building  of  the  church  edifice  was  commenced.  The  corner- 
stone was  laid  in  1855,  with  public  ceremonies,  and  the  church  was 
completed  in  18.56. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  509 


BANKING   INSTITUTIONS. 


The  Until  Bank. — This  was  the  first  bank  established  in  Bath. 
It  was  chartered  June  23,  181 2,  with  a  capital  of  $100,000.  William 
King  was  its  founder  and  ils  president,  wilh  Thomas  I).  Robinson, 
cashier.  It  was  emphatically  King's  bank,  he  having  had  full  con- 
trol. A  brick  building  was  erected  for  the  purposes  of  this  bank  that 
was  commenced  in  1809  by  blasting  a  ledge  where  is  now  the  Saga-" 
dahoc  Hank,  on  the  southwest  corner  of  Front  and  Centre  streets, 
and  completed  in  1810.  General  King  had  his  private  office  over 
the  bank,  and  when  he  was  collector  of  customs  used  the  second 
floor  for  the  Custom  House.  The  charter  of  the  bank  expired 
October  1,  1831,  at  which  time  the  business  of  the  bank  was  closed. 

State  Hanks. — Although  state  banks  elsewhere  proved,  in  many 
instances,  insecure,  whose  bills  at  times  became  depreciated  or 
entirely  worthless,  none  of  the  banks  of  Bath,  during  all  the  years 
of  the  state  banks  regime,  made  a  failure,  and  not  a  note  of  any  of 
the  banks  doing  business  in  Bath  was  ever  at  a  discount.  The 
system  of  drafts  was  not  in  universal  vogue  as  now,  and  a  merchant, 
going  to  Boston  to  purchase  goods  had  to  take  his  money  with  him. 
During  the  era  of  state  banks  there  was  a  system  compelling  the 
redemption  of  their  bills  at  the  Suffolk  Bank  in  Boston,  and  was 
termed  the  "  Suffolk  System." 

Lincoln  Bank. — "On  August,  4,  18 13,  the  stockholders  of  the 
Lincoln  Bank  met  at  Lambard  Hotel  and  organized  themselves 
agreeable  to  the  act  of  incorporation;  accepted  the  report  of  a 
committee  chosen  at  an  unofficial  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  appor- 
tioning the  shares  agreeable  to  the  whole  amount  subscribed  for  in 
comparison  with  the  whole  amount  of  stock,  excepting  in  subscrip- 
tions of  12  shares  and  under,  none  being  reduced,  while  those  for 
100  are  allowed  41.  The  curtailment  allowed  J.  Hyde  30  and  Zina 
Hyde  15   shares.     In  the  choice  of  directors  Mr.  D.  Trufant  and 


5IO  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

Mr.  C.  Clapp  were  the  only  competitors,  the  others  being  selected 
with  perfect  unanimity,  viz. :  Samuel  Davis,  Peleg  Tallman,  Jerome 
Loring,  John  Richardson,  Jonathan  Hyde,  D.  Dunlap,  and  Charles 
Clapp.  They  were  appointed  a  committee  to  fix  on  a  site  and  make 
other  necessary  arrangements  for  establishing  the  bank.  The  capital 
of  the^bank  was  fixed  at  one  hundred  thousand  dollars." — Zina  Hyde, 

When  this  bank  was  established  its  building  was  erected,  during 
the  war  of  1812-5,  where  its  location  has  continued  to  the  present 
time.  It  was  of  brick  and  a  novelty  at  the  time,  as  it  was  the  second 
building  of  brick  that  had  been  put  up  in  Bath  for  business  pur- 
poses. To  erect  the  building  for  the  Sagadahoc  House,  this  edifice 
was  taken  down,  and  upon  the  completion  of  the  new  building  the 
bank  entered  upon  the  occupancy  of  its  present  office  rooms.  The 
bank  re-organized,  as  the  Lincoln  National  Bank,  in  1865.  Since 
the  Sagadahoc  Hotel  was  erected,  in  1848-9,  this  bank  has  occupied 
the  rooms  of  the  building,  corner  of  Front  and  Centre  streets. 

The  Lincoln  National  Bank  is  the  oldest  bank  now  doing  business 
in  this  city,  and  is  operating  with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  Its  presi- 
dents have  been  Jonathan  Hyde,  George  F.  Patten,  James  F. 
Patten,  Charles  Davenport;  cashiers,  Seth  Trufant,  Samuel  Davis, 
Green  Richardson,  Charles  Davenport,  John  Shaw,  William  R. 
Shaw,  Frederic  H.  Low.  The  directors  have  been  Jonathan  Hyde, 
Levi  Houghton,  Asa  Palmer,  Thomas  Harward,  William  Richardson, 
William  M.  Rogers,  William  Drummond,  J.  Parker  Morse,  George 
F.  Manson,  John  S.  Elliot;  and  are  now  Charles  Davenport,  L.  W. 
Houghton,  Charles  W.  Morse,  Charles  E.  Patten,  Charles  H.  Morse. 

The  Commercial  Bank. — This  bank  was  chartered  in  1832, 
with  a  capital  of  {50,000,  and  Parker  McCobb  was  president.  The 
directors  were  Parker  McCobb,  Jacob  Robinson,  and  William  D. 
Sewall.  Thomas  Agry  was  cashier  until  1850,  and  David  N. 
Magoun  from  that  year  until  1857,  at  which  date  the  bank  closed 
business. 

Sagadahoc  Bank  was  organized  1836;  capital  stock,  $50,000; 
increased  to  %  100,000  in  1850;  paid  stockholders  from  1836  to 
1865,  214^  per  cent.     Re-organized  as  a  National  Bank  in  1865; 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  511 

capital  stock,  $100,000;  has  paid  to  stockholders  since  1865,  225 
per  cent.,  has  a  surplus  and  profits  of  (44,000,  and  has  erected  one 
of  the  finest  brick  buildings  in  the  city.  Cashier  Henry  Eames  has 
not  missed  a  day  from  the  bank  for  forty  years,  on  account  of 
sickness. 

Presidents:  Joseph  Sewall,  1836  to  1847.  A  service  of  plate 
was  presented  to  Mr.  Sewall  on  his  retiring  from  office.  Thomas 
D.  Robinson,  1847  to  1861;  William  M.  Reed,  1861  to  1866;  Will- 
iam V.  Moses,  1866  to  1874;  Franklin  Reed,  since  1874.  The 
cashiers  have  been:  Daniel  F.  Baker,  1836  to  the  year  of  his  death, 
1853;  Henry  Eames,  assistant  cashier  to  1853,  and  cashier  since 
that  time.  The  site  of  its  building  was  that  of  the  original  Bath 
Bank,  on  which  it  erected  its  present  Bank  Block  in  1878.  There 
have  been  on  the  board  of  directors,  besides  those  who  have  been 
presidents,  Alfred  Lemont,  Alexander  Robinson,  Moses  Riggs, 
William  F.  Moses,  John  G.  Morse,  Henry  F.  Morse,  W.  Purrington, 
L.  Blackmer,  Samuel  F.  Emery,  John  N.  Smith,  Converse  L.  Owen. 

The  City  Ilailk. — This  bank  received  its  charter  in  March, 
1853,  with  a  capital  of  $125,000.  The  presidents  were  James  H. 
McLellan,  Oliver  Moses,  and  Edward  K.  Harding;  its  cashiers,  Otis 
Kimball  and  William  B.  Taylor.     Its  business  was  closed  in  1868. 

The  Bath  Itailk. — This  bank  was  chartered  as  a  State  Bank  in 
1855,  having  a  capital  of  $125,000.  It  was  organized  as  a  National 
Bank  in  1864.  Its  presidents  have  been:  Freeman  Clark,  1864; 
Albert  G.  Page,  1867;  Arthur  Sewall,  187 1  to  present  date.  Cash- 
iers have  been:  F.  Partridge,  1864;  William  D.  Hill,  1865  to  1893; 
Frederic  D.  Hill,  from  April,  1893,  to  present  time.  Directors  have 
been:  Freeman  Clark,  Roland  Fisher,  William  D.  Sewall,  Sr., 
Thomas  M.  Reed,  William  E.  Payne,  Alfred  Lemont,  Albert  G. 
Page,  Henry  W.  Owen,  George  A.  Preble,  Stephen  Larrabee,  Arthur 
Sewall,  Thomas  W.  Hyde,  John  P.  Delano,  Samuel  S.  Sewall,  Reu- 
ben S.  Hunt,  William  D.  Sewall,  2d,  Seth  T.  Snipe,  John  O.  Patten. 

Long  Reach  Bank. — This  bank  was  chartered  in  1857,  having 
a  capital  stock  of  $100,000,  with  David  C.  Magoun,  president,  and 
David  N.  Magoun,  cashier.     It  closed  business  in  1866. 


512  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

First  National  Bank. — The  first  meeting  of  the  stockholders 
under  its  charter  was  in  June,  1863.  The  capital  stock  was  placed 
at  $100,000.  The  board  of  directors  chosen  were  Oliver  Moses, 
James  D.  Robinson,  Henry  W.  Swanton,  Charles  V.  Minot,  and 
William  Rogers.     Oliver  Moses  was  chosen  president  and  William 

D.  Mussenden,  cashier.  On  the  succeeding,  August  the  bank  com- 
menced business.  In  June,  1882,  the  term  for  which  the  charter 
was  granted  expired.  In  order  to  start  anew,  the  bank  liquidated 
its  affairs  and  re-organized  under  a  new  charter,  with  the  same 
stockholders  and  same  amount  of  capital.  The  same  year  President 
Moses  died,  and  his  son,  Galen  C.  Moses,  was  immediately  elected 
to  succeed  him.  Its  present  officers  are :  Galen  C.  Moses,  presi- 
dent; William  D.  Mussenden,  cashier;  and  the  directors  are:  Galen 
C.  Moses,  Henry  W.  Swanton,  Charles  V.  Minot,  Frank  O.  Moses, 
Henry  E.  Palmer,  Augustus  Palmer,  M.  G.  Shaw,  John  R.  Kelley, 
G.  G.  Deering,  William  T.  Donnell,  Edward  W.  Hyde. 

The  Marine  National  Dank.  —  This  bank  was  organized 
December  14,  1864,  with  a  paid  up  capital  of  $100,000,  and  com- 
menced business  in  the  rooms  it  now  occupies,  under  the  Sagadahoc 
House,  on  March  1,  1865.  Its  first  officers  were:  B.  C.  Bailey, 
president;  H.  A.  Duncan,  cashier;  B.  C.  Bailey,  Wm.  Drummond, 

E.  C.  Hyde,  A.  D.  Fisher,  and  S.  D.  Bailey,  directors.  Directors 
for  1894  are  President  S.  I).  Bailey,  K.  C.  Hyde,  Joseph  M.  Hayes, 
R.  D.  Bibber,  and  Cashier  II.  A.  Duncan.  Besides  its  original 
directors,  Guy  C.  Goss,  Elisha  P.  Mallett,  H.  W.  Field,  and  P.  M. 
Whitmore  have,  at  different  times,  been  associated  in  its  manage- 
ment. 

The  Bath  Savings  Institution  was  organized  July  23,  1852, 

with  D.  C.  Magoun,  W.  D.  Sewall,  W.  V.  Moses,  W.  E.  Payne,  Wm. 
M.  Reed,  and  Charles  Davenport,  trustees;  D.  C.  Magoun,  presi- 
dent, and  J.  H.  Kimball,  treasurer.  In  1855,  D.  C.  Magoun  having 
died,  Charles  Davenport  was  chosen  president,  and  J.  H.  Kimball, 
treasurer,  who  resigned  in  1877  and  John  H.  Humphreys  was 
appointed;  at  his  death,  in  1891,  F.  H.  Low  became  treasurer,  and 
having  been  elected  cashier  of  Lincoln  National  Bank,  in  1892,  W. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  513 

J.  Shaw  was  appointed  treasurer.  The  trustees  are,  for  1894,  Chas. 
Davenport  (president),  L.  W.  Houghton,  H.  W.  Swanton,  M.  S. 
Briry,  Reuben  S.  Hunt.  Ezekiel  Drummond  and  John  H.  Kimball 
were  members  of  the  board  of  trustees  several  years. 

The  Twcnty-flvc  Cent  Savings  Bank  was  chartered  January, 
1868.  The  presidents  have  been  Barnard  C.  Bailey,  Addison  D. 
Fisher,  Franklin  Reed,  Galen  C.  Moses,  and  John  R.  Kelley,  who  is 
now  in  office;  treasurers,  A.  K.  Duncan,  Geo.  W.  Johnson,  and  the 
present  official  is  F.  W.  Weeks.  The  trustees  are  Galen  C.  Moses, 
James  D.  Robinson,  John  R.  Kcllcy,  Reuben  S.  Hunt,  and  Gordon 
S.  Preble. 

Early  Banks. — Before  the  civil  war  all  banks  were  chartered  by 
the  state  and  were  termed  state  banks.  As  they  were  not  .at  all 
under  the  auspices  of  the  national  government  they  were  obliged  to 
keep  in  their  vaults  a  prescribed  amount  of  coin,  while  the  known 
financial  standing  of  the  stockholders  and  directors  was  a  prime 
factors  in  securing  the  confidence  of  the  community. 

There  were  two  commissioners,  appointed  by  the  state  authorities, 
whose  duty  it  was  to  visit  every  bank  at  the  close  of  every  year  and 
count  the  coin  deposits.  This  author  was  knowing  to  the  fact  that 
these  commissioners  at  one  time,  1830,  came  to  Bath,  put  up  at  Mrs. 
Maj.  Joseph  Trott's,  who  then  kept  a  high-toned  boarding-house  in 
the  building  which  is  now  the  Commercial  House,  and  where  the 
best  people  visiting  town  were  accustomed  to  find  entertainment. 
The  commissioners  arrived  in  the  evening,  and  the  next  morning  the 
president  of  one  of  the  banks  called  on  them,  took  them  to  his  bank 
where  they  entered  its  vault,  and  the  bags  of  gold  and  silver  were 
delivered  to  them,  which  they  counted.  That  was  enough  work  for 
one  day  as  they  were  on  a  per  diem  salary.  On  the  next  day  they 
were  escorted  to  another  of  the  banks,  where  they  counted  the  same 
bags  of  coin  that  they  had  counted  the  day  before,  possibly  reduced 
or  increased  in  amount  to  correspond  to  the  capital  which  the  bank 
represented.  This  course  of  procedure  continued  during  the  existence 
of  state  banks  in  this  city.  During  each  night  these  bags  had  been 
conveyed  from  one  bank  to  another.     Thus  the  banks  passed  the 


514  HISTORY   OF  BATH. 

ordeal  and  were  reported  all  right.  And  they  were,  for  the  obvious 
reason  that  all  the  community  cared  to  know  was  the  assurance  that 
the  stockholders  were  all  right,  and  it  can  truthfully  be  recorded  that 
those  having  the  management  of  and  owning  these  banks  were  indi- 
vidually of  such  high  standing  that  they  were  considered  fully 
responsible  for  every  dollar  represented  by  their  bills. 

The  Lincoln  Bank,  as  the  second  oldest  of  the  Bath  banks,  had  a 
credit  in  the  city  of  New  York  that  gave  its  bills  a  circulation  at  par, 
a  standing  that  few  state  banks  enjoyed,  and  none  other  in  Bath, 
during  the  state  bank  system  of  banking.  For  doing  an  exchange 
business  the  Lincoln  Bank  kept  a  deposit  in  New  York  City.  At 
that  period  considerable  amounts  of  bills  and  coin  had  to  be  trans- 
ported from  place  to  place  in  lieu  of  drafts  or  bills  of  exchange. 

A  Bank  Incident. — Among  the  humorous  men  of  Bath  of  a 
past  generation  was  Jeremiah  Ellsworth  ("  Uncle  Jerry").  He  was 
a  man  of  much  natural  ability,  combined  with  mother  wit,  and  could 
always  be  found  wherever  mirth  and  jollity  prevailed.  One  of  his 
best  practical  jokes,  the  outcome  of  which  he  could  never  cease  to 
relate  on  the  streets,  was :  On  one  discount  day  he  handed  into 
the  Commercial  Bank  a  note  for  discount.  It  was  for  only  one 
hundred  dollars,  a  considerable  sum  for  those  days,  on  an  "  accom- 
modation note."  Jacob  Robinson  was  the  bank  president  and 
Thomas  Agry,  cashier.  The  note  was  "thrown  out"  by  the  directors. 
Upon  being  notified  of  this  fact,  Jerry  produced  a  ten-dollar  bill  of 
the  bank  and  demanded  its  redemption  in  gold;  taking  this  in  his 
hand,  he  went  into  the  nearest  store  and  asked  if  they  could  give 
him  ten  dollars  in  bills  on  the  Commercial  Bank  in  exchange  for  a 
gold  piece.  Upon  obtaining  the  bills  he  returned  to  the  bank  and 
demanded  the  gold  for  them.  He  then  went  into  another  store,  was 
accommodated  with  the  desired  bills,  and  again  demanded  gold  of 
the  bank,  and  thus  he  was  going  on  infinitum^  when  the  cashier 
began  to  realize  the  graveness  of  the  proceeding,  and  at  once  sent 
for  President  Robinson  to  come  in  post  haste  to  the  bank.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  promptly  "  there,"  and  when  Uncle  Jerry  came  to  the 
counter  again,  with  a  ten-dollar  bill  in  his  hand,  he  was  told:  "Mr. 
Ellsworth,  your  note  is  discounted."     He  drew  his  money. 


HISTORY   OF   BATH.  515 


APPENDIX. 


Trufaiits  Point.— -Immediately  south  of  the  entrance  to  Rope  walk 
Creek,  and  where  is  now  "Shaws  Mill,"  is  a  locality  with  a  diversified  his- 
tory. It  is  contiguous  to  where  was  the  starting  point  or  "head  bounds" 
of  the  ancient  Gutch  tract,  which  originally  comprised  the  territory  of  Bath. 
I-nter  this  point  of  land  was  owned  by  David  Trufant,  who,  from  his  ener- 
getic will  and  forcible  character,  was  given  the  cognomen  of  "  King  David," 
whose  residence  was  on  the  south  side  of  Pine  street,  a  portion  of  it,  now 
in  existence,  forming  an  ell  of  a  house  on  a  side  street.  On  this  "  Point," 
in  1804,  Mr.  Trufant  had  a  windmill,  a  style  of  mills  in  common  use  in  an 
early  day  on  the  Kennebec.  It  was  a  "grist-mill."  The  chief  farming 
production  was  Indian  corn,  and  corn-meal  bread  was  the  main  depend- 
ence for  the  "staff  of  life."  It  was  on  this  Point  that  Seward  Porter,  Aaron 
Tyler,  and  John  Gordon  built  the  first  mill  that  used  steam  to  operate  it, 
Gordon  acting  as  clerk  of  the  company.  This  was  in  1820,  and  the  cost  of 
the  plant  was  $ 25,000.  After  undergoing  several  alterations,  and  the  mill 
run  at  a  loss,  it  was  shut  down  in  1836.  In  1838  another  company,  con- 
sisting of  John  Henry,  S  Jewell,  and  C.  Wilson,  came  into  possession  of  the 
old  mill,  took  it  down  and  built  a  new  mill,  with  which  they  did  a  large 
business  until  1853,  when  it  was  abandoned  and  the  premises  sold  to  Joseph 
Berry  and  George  Robinson,  who  occupied  it  for  a  ship-yard  several  years, 
when  the  firm  ceased  business.  Early  in  the  season  of  1883  M.  G.  Shaw  A 
Sons  purchased  the  locality  and  put  up  their  large  lumber  mill  and  com- 
menced operating  it  the  same  year,  continuing  to  the  present  time — 1894 — 
with  success,  and  known  as  the  Shaw  Mill.  This  mill  is  fitted  with  all 
modern  improvements  of  mill  machinery  and  appliances,  and  has  a  capacity 
of  sawing  one  million  feet  of  long  lumber  during  a  month;  twenty-five 
thousand  laths,  the  same  of  shingles;  three  thousand  clapboards  per  day, 
besides  pickets,  staves,  and  broom  handles,  employing  from  seventy-five  to 
one  hundred  men. 

Pioneer  Steamboats.  —  The  first  craft  propelled  by  steam  on  the 
Kennebec  was  the  Tom  Thumb,  in  1818.  She  was  about  the  size  of  a 
small  tug  boat  of  the  present  day.  She  came  from  Boston,  towed  by  a 
sailing  packet  to  the  mouth  of  the  river,  from  whence  she  steamed  to  Bath, 
making  slow  headway  against  the  tide.  As  no  one  in  Bath  had  seen  a 
steamboat  her  arrival  created  a  sensation,  and  everybody  went  down  to  the 
wharf  to  see  her.    She  had  side  wheels,  no  deck,  and  her  machinery  was 


516  HISTORY   OF   BATH. 

open  to  view.  She  was  run  as  an  excursion  boat  up  and  down  the  river. 
This  author  well  remembers  the  old  Tom  Thumb.  She  was  rightly  named, 
as  she  was  a  little  chunk  of  a  boat  with  light  power. 

Seward  Porter  was  the  father  of  steamboating  on  the  Kennebec.  In  1822 
he  commenced  by  having  a  scow  drawn  up  on  Kings  wharf,  sawing  her  in 
two  to  lengthen  her,  putting  in  machinery  which  proved  of  insufficient 
power  to  stem  the  strong  tide.  She  was  used  for  excursions  and  named  the 
Kennebec.  He  followed  this  beginning  by  another  boat  called  the  Enter- 
prise, which  ran  to  Augusta  in  1823.  He  then  undertook  to  run  steamers 
between  the  Kennebec  and  Boston,  obtaining  aid  in  Bath  and  Portland, 
and  was  the  first  to  establish  a  Boston  and  Maine  steamboat  line,  which 
was  in  1823.  For  this  purpose  he  purchased  in  New  York  the  memorable 
steamer  Patent.  She  was  a  small,  chunky  craft,  but  a  fine  one  for  that  day. 
She  reached  Bath  August  7,  1823,  having  touched  on  her  passage  at  Boston 
and  Portland.  Henceforth  Captain  Porter  ran  boats  for  many  years. 
Nathaniel  Kimball  succeeded  Captain  Porter  as  a  long  continued  and 
famous  commander  on  the  Kennebec  and  Boston  line. 

Railroads. — Bath  men  and  their  capital  were  important  factors  in  the 
constructing  of  the  Kennebec  &  Portland  Railroad,  that  first  extended  from 
Bath  to  Portland,  and  later  to  Augusta.  When  work  was  commenced,  June 
1,  1847,  George  F.  Patten  lifted  the  first  shovelful  of  earth.  The  first  train 
was  started  from  Bath  July  4,  1849.  Flat  cars  fitted  up  with  seats  gave  free 
rides  to  a  crowd  of  citizens  a  few  days  before  to  Yarmouth.  The  eastern 
terminus  of  the  road  continued  to  be  at  Bath  until  another  enterprise 
constructed  a  road  to  Rockland,  which  was  completed  in  November,  1871. 

The  Knox  &  Lincoln  Road  was  built  with  a  financial  basis  of  aid  from 
towns  along  its  line.  Towards  this  aid  Bath  issued,  July  1,  1869,  thirty- year 
bonds  to  the  amount  of  1475,000;  a  second  issue,  of  twenty-year  bonds  of 
$177,600,  Mar.  1,  1871;  a  third  issue,  of  thirty-year  bonds  of  $243,000,  Feb.  1, 
1872;  in  addition,  thirty-year  stock  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $137,000;  a  total 
of  $1,032,600.  The  road  commenced  running  to  Damariscotta  early  in  187 1. 
Its  earnings  failed,  year  after  year,  to  pay  interest  on  the  investments,  when 
the  entire  road  was  sold  in  1890  to  a  syndicate  representing  the  Boston  & 
Maine  and  the  Maine  Central  Roads  for  the  sum  of  $1,500,000.  From  this 
sale  Bath  received  in  bonds  $486,000  and  in  cash  $74,918.50,  a  total  of 
$560,918.50.  The  city  has  an  outstanding  indebtedness,  on  account  of  this 
road,  011  stock,  $119,500;  on  bonds  of  the  first  issue,  $70,800;  second  issue 
of  bonds  has  been  paid,  and  there  is  due  on  the  third  issue  of  bonds, 
$138,500;  a  total  of  $328,800  indebtedness  in  1894.  This  road  is  now  oper- 
ated as  a  part  of  the  Maine  Central  system. 

The  Great  Fire  of  January,  1894.— On  Sunday  morning,  the 
28th  of  January,  1894,  between  eight  and  nine  o'clock,  an  alarm  of  fire  was 


HISTORY  OF  BATH.  517 

rung  out.  The  stable  in  the  rear  of  the  Sagadahoc  House  was  found  to  be 
on  fire,  from  some  unaccounted  for  reason,  and  as  the  city  water  supply  had 
been  cut  off  the  day  before,  on  account  of  a  break  in  the  main  pipe  that 
crosses  the  New  Meadows  River,  not  a  bucket  of  water  was  to  be  had  to 
put  out  the  incipient  fire.  Telegrams  were  promptly  sent,  by  Mayor  John 
O.  Shaw,  to  Brunswick,  Lewiston,  and  Portland  for  engines,  which  arrived 
during  the  forenoon,  the  efficient  aid  of  which  stayed  the  progress  of  the 
flames.  It  was  exceedingly  fortunate  that  the  day  was  calm  and  not  ex- 
tremely cold,  which  favorable  conditions  continued  during  the  next  day. 

For  the  want  of  hydrant  supply  of  water,  the  steam  engines  were  called 
out  and  compelled  to  go  to  the  river  for  water,  making  a  delay  of  nearly 
half  an  hour  l>efore  a  stream  could  l>e  brought  to  bear  upon  the  fire,  by 
which  time  the  flames  were  beyond  control,  resulting  in  the  total  destruction 
of  the  hotel  and  the  block  north  of  it  as  far  as  Webber's  drug  store,  nearly 
opposite  the  head  of  Broad  street,  where  was  a  high  and  wide  brick  wall, 
burning  out  the  Lincoln  Bank,  Harris'  drug  store,  John  O.  Shaw's  book- 
store, J.  L.  Douglas'  clothing  store,  the  Marine  National  Bank,  and  D.  T. 
Percy  &  Sons'  dry  goods  and  crockery  stores,  all  of  which  were  on  the  west 
side  of  Front  street.  On  the  second  floor  of  these  buildings  were  various 
offices  and  halls.  From  the  main  line  of  the  fire  the  flames  lapped  across 
the  street,  consuming,  or  badly  damaging,  all  the  buildings  from  opposite 
the  Sagadahoc  House  north  nearly  to  Broad  street.  In  the  centre  of  these 
was  the  People's  Savings  Bank,  which  was  totally  consumed,  while  next 
north  of  it,  the  Times  building  escaped  with  the  loss  of  editorial  room  on 
its  second  floor,  and  all  of  W.  S.  Shorey's  book-bindery  011  the  third  floor. 
All  of  the  buildings  on  the  north  side  of  Centre  street,  from  the  Sagadahoc 
House  to  the  City  Hall,  were  totally  destroyed,  the  Hall  escaping.  The 
flame  extended  its  tongue  across  to  the  buildings  on  the  south  side  of  this 
street,  badly  damaging  many  of  the  stores  with  their  stocks  of  goods,  their 
entire  destruction  being  arrested  by  the  heroic  efforts  of  the  two  fire  com- 
panies that  came  from  Brunswick  with  hand  engines. 

The  guests  in  the  hotel  readily  escaped  with  a  portion  of  their  personal 
effects;  from  the  hotel  stable  some  twenty  horses  and  some  carriages  were 
saved.  Shaw,  I  larris,  and  the  hotel  saved  little  of  value,  and  nothing  from 
the  Percy  stores,  while  from  the  other  stores  some  goods  were  saved.  The 
buildings  and  their  contents  were,  on  an  average,  fairly  insured.  The  valu- 
ables in  the  vaults  of  the  Lincoln,  the  Marine,  and  the  People's  Banks  came 
out  uninjured,  as  well  as  most  of  the  safes  in  other  buildings. 

Sunday  services  in  the  churches  were  suspended  during  the  day,  and 
about  all  of  the  people  of  the  city,  men  and  women,  were  out  to  witness 
the  fire,  which  exhibited  a  grand  as  well  as  a  sad  sight,  long  to  be  remem- 
bered by  those  witnessing  its  destructive  progress,  with  flames  and  smoke 
filling  the  air  to  be  seen  from  miles  around. 


518  HISTORY  OF  BATH. 

It  appears  that  the  incorporators  of  the  Bath  Water  Supply  Company, 
soon  after  organizing  under  its  charter,  transferred  its  franchise  to  the 
National  Water  Works  Syndicate,  whose  headquarters  are  in  Boston,  and 
this  company  contracted  with  the  City  of  Bath,  July  9,  1886,  to  construct 
the  works,  the  city  to  pay  $5,000,  annually,  for  hydrant  service.  This  Syndi- 
cate Company  sold  its  rights  to  H.  M.  Payson  &  Co.,  of  Portland,  who  sold 
it  to  Arthur  Sewall  and  others,  after  which  it  was  merged  into  the  Maine 
Water  Company,  and  the  Bath  service  is  known  as  the  Bath  Division  of  the 
Maine  Water  Company,  which  is  blamed  for  the  total  lack  of  water  at  this 
conflagration. 

A  committee  was  appointed,  from  among  the  citizens,  to  investigate  the 
the  origin  of  the  Are  and  report  to  the  City  Government.  This  committee 
decided  "  that  the  Are  was  not  incendiary  but  accidental  and  caught  from 
sparks  either  from  the  chimney  of  Shannon. &  H use's  stable  or  from  the 
chimney  of  the  northern  division  of  the  Iron  Works,  as  it  was  testified  that 
a  new  Are  was  built  there  that  morning." 

Within  a  week  work  was  begun  on  removing  the  ddbris  preparing  to 
rebuild  on  both  sides  of  Front  street  by  the  Sagadahoc  Real  Estate  Loan 
Association,  at  the  head  of  which  is  Mr.  Galen  C.  Moses,  who  is  much 
engaged  in  improvements  in  the  city,  the  association  owning  most  of  the 
territory  of  the  burnt  district  on  Front  street.  Plans  are  drawn  for  the  erec- 
tion of  a  two-story  block,  occupying  all  the  space,  for  stores  and  offices  on 
the  west  side,  on  the  east  side  a  hotel  and  stores;  the  People's  Bank  will 
rebuild,  north  of  which  buildings  were  damaged  but  not  destroyed. 

The  next  week  after  the  fire  the  citizens  of  Bath  contributed  $500  for 
the  purpose  of  presenting  $100  to  each  of  the  fire  companies  which  so 
promptly  came  to  assist  in  saving  further  destruction  to  the  city  by  their 
very  timely  services,  and  John  (").  Patten  presented  to  the  Hath  Company  a 
complimentary  sum,  in  recognition  of  their  efficient  services  in  saving  his 
Times  printing  office  from  total  destruction. 

Burning:  of  the  Bath   Iron  Works,  February,  1804.  — On 

Monday  night,  the  12th  of  this  month,  a  lire  destroyed  a  large  portion  of 
these  works.  The  buildings  burned  were  of  wood,  and  were  south  of  the 
most  valuable  machine  shop,  number  one,  the  ofiice  building,  and  boiler 
shop,  all  of  which  were  saved,  the  prevailing  north  wind  driving  the  flames 
from  them.  The  fire  originated  in  the  joiner  shop.  The  buildings  destroyed 
were  machine  shop,  number  two,  joiner  shops,  plate  shop,  bending  floor, 
moulding  loft,  and  furnace  rooms.  Tug  boats  were  in  readiness  to  take  the 
steamer  City  of  Lowell,  which  was  at  the  Iron  Works  wharf  being  com- 
pleted, and  the  steamer  Kennebec,  which  was  at  Houghton's  wharf,  out  of 
the  way  of  danger,  if  it  became  necessary.  The  Ammen  Ram  Katahdin 
was  not  injured.  The  (200,000  Slater  yacht,  which  was  on  the  stocks,  was 
damaged  and  some  stagings  around  her  destroyed.     In  the  joiner  shops 


HISTORY    OF   BATH.  5I9 

were  parts  of  the  cabins  of  the  yacht  and  the  steamer  City  of  Lowell.  These 
were  destroyed.  In  the  machine  shop  that  was  burned  a  big  150,000  steam 
windlass,  being  built  for  the  Cramps,  was  destroyed,  as  was  also  the  machinery 
and  the  tools  of  the  workmen.  The  plant  was  fully  covered  by  blanket 
policies.  The  wildest  and  coldest  snow  storm  for  years  was  prevailing  that 
night. 

Notfcs— Population  iiy  Decades.— In  1850  it  was  8,020;  in  i860  it  was 
8,078;  in  1870  it  was  7,371;  in  1880  it  was  7,875;  in  1890  it  was  8,723.  In 
i860  there  were  1,720  polls  and  estates  $5,876,993;  in  1870  there  were  1,915 
polls  and  estates  $6,402,713;  in  1880  there  were  2,285  polls  and  estates 
$5,913,192;  in  1890  there  were  2,505  polls  and  estates  $6,419,481. 

Speedy  Voyages  around  the  "Horn."  —  In  about  1852  the  clipper 
ship  Flying  Cloud  made  a  passage  from  New  York  to  San  Francisco  in 
eighty-nine  days  and  tight  hours.  This  was  during  the  period  of  the 
clipper  ships  and  this  ship  was  built  expressly  for  speed,  carrying  light 
freight.  She  subsequently  made  another  like  voyage  in  eighty-nine  days, 
sixteen  hours.  Ships  make  quicker  passages  from  San  Francisco  to  New 
York,  several  having  covered  the  distance  in  seventy-six  days. 

The  old  James  White  timber  house  that  stood  near  the  corner  of  Lincoln 
and  Centre  streets,  facing  east,  was  built  in  1755  and  taken  down  in  about 
1890. 

The  old-fashioned,  gambled-roof  house  that  stands  immediately  north  of 
the  Orphans*  Home,  of  a  story  and  a  half,  facing  north,  built  by  Isaiah 
Crooker,  Jr.,  is  now  occupied  and  in  a  good  state  of  preservation. 

The  old  Page  timber  house  was  sold  to  Solomon  Page  by  Jonathan 
Philbrook,  and  he  sold  it  to  Edward  H.  Page. 

The  correct  pronunciation  of  Gutch  is  Gooutch.  It  is  sometimes  written 
in  documents  Goutch  and  Goutche. 

In  1820  Hath  had  a  celebration  of  the  landing  of  the  Pilgrim  fathers, 
December  22,  1620,  which  consisted  of  a  military  parade,  an  oration,  and  a 
dinner  of  clams  and  parched  corn. 

During  the  latter  years  of  Dr.  Ellingwood's  pastorate  the  '•lecture"  or 
11  conference"  room  of  the  North  Church  was  discontinued  as  such,  and 
the  room  termed  Music  Hall  was  rented,  and  afterwards  was  deeded  to  that 
society,  and  used  for  lectures,  prayer-meetings,  and  Bible  classes,  the  occu- 
pancy continuing  after  the  ordination  of  Dr.  Fiske. — G.  F.  Mag  mm. 

When  the  Goss  Marine  Iron  Works  was  established,  in  1883,  citizens  had 
taken  stock  in  it  to  the  amount  of  $100,000.    It  was  transferred  to  the  New 


520  HISTORY   OF   BATH.  # 

England  Ship-building  Company  in  1885,  and  to  the  organized  Bath  Iron 
Works  in  1888. 

During  1894  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  completed  a  large 
and  elegant  edifice,  on  the  corner  of  Front  and  Summer  streets,  the  upper 
portion  devoted  to  the  uses  of  the  Association,  with  stores  on  the  ground  floor 
oh  Front  street.  Adjacent,  on  its  south  end,  a  new  block,  contemporaneous 
with  this  building,  has  been  rebuilt  by  the  Sagadahoc  Real  Estate  Loan 
Association,  on  the  site  of  Columbian  Block,  burned  in  1893,  and  contains 
an  elegant  opera  house  above  with  a  row  of  stores  underneath.  Mr.  G.  C. 
Moses  is  at  the  head  of  both  of  these  improvements. 

Bell  for  the  Old  North.— Bath,  May  16,  1803.  We,  the  subscrib- 
ers, promise  and  agree  to  pay  to  Mr.  Samuel  Davis,  in  thirty  days  from  the 
date  hereof,  the  several  sums  set  against  our  names  for  the  purpose  of 
purchasing  a  bell  for  the  new  meeting-house  in  the  town  of  Bath;  the  said 
bell  to  be  brought  to  Bath  within  the  thirty  days,  and  if  not  the  time  of 
payment  to  be  extended  till  it  is.  David  Trufant,  $50;  Samuel  Davis,  $50; 
Jonathan  Crooker,  $50;  Peleg  Tallman,  $50;  Francis  Wintergreen,  $10; 
Samuel  E.  Duncan,  {10;  James  Cogan,  $5;  Stevens  &  Heath,  |8;  James 
Sewall,  Jio;  Joshua  Raynes,  $10;  John  M.  Loring.  $10;  Nathaniel  Smynger, 
$6;  Cushing  Allen,  $5;  Horatio  G.  Allen,  $2;  Joseph  Trott,  $14;  James 
Oliver,  $7;  Aaron  Kimball,  $5;  Laban  Loring,  $15;  Christopher  Cushing, 
$13;  S.  Sewall,  $6;  John  M.  Moody,  $10;  Mathew  Paion,  $5;  Henry  Sewall, 
$5;  R.  Bosworth,  $5;  Ebed  Lincoln,  $3;  John  Mark,  $2;  Samuel  Adams, 
$5;  David  Shaw,  $10;  Hen  Richardson,  $5;  Elijah  Low,  $5;  William  Cotiill- 
ard,  $5;  Caleb  Marsh,  $13;  Joseph  Hare,  {10;  Albert  Hammond,  {5;  Caleb 
Lincoln,  $10;  Robinson  &  Towet,  (10;  Isaiah  Crooker,  $5;  Capt.  Benjamin, 
$5;  Samuel  Todd,  $2;  Stephen  Morse,  $2;  John  Richardson,  $5;  William 
Hodgkins,  $8;  Jacob  Macdonald,  {2;  William  S.  Hlassland,  $3;  Samuel  1). 
Sloan,  $2;  T.  Lowell,  $3;  Dummer  Sewall,  $  10. 

When  this  bell  was  rung  for  the  first  lime  after  being  transferred  from  the 
Old  North  to  the  Universalist  Church,  an  excited  member  of  this  society 
rushed  into  the  street,  waving  his  hat,  and  shouted:  "This  bell,  for  forty 
years,  has  rung  out  hell  and  damnation;  henceforth  it  shall  ring  out  univer- 
sal salvation." 

The  steeple  of  the  Universalist  Church  was  surmounted  by  a  figure  of  an 
angel.  Parson  Ellingwood  one  day  humorously  asked  Anthony  Raymond, 
the  builder,  if  he  had  ever  heard  of  an  angel  wearing  shoes,  whereupon 
Mr.  Raymond  asked  the  learned  divine  if  he  had  ever  known  an  angel 
barefoot. 


INDEX. 


521 


I  N  D  EX. 


PAOB 

Bath  and  Environs 9 

George  Waymouth 10 

First  Footprints  on  Bath  Torritory. . .  11 

Captive  Natives 11 

Waymonth  Home 11 

The  Plymouth  Company 12 

TlicGutch  Deed 13 

Boundaries  of  the  Gutch  Tract 16 

Gutch— His  History 16 

Christopher  Lawson 18 

North  Bath 19 

Whizgig 19 

8outh  Bath 20 

Its  Early  Settler? 20 

Relation  with  the  Indians 22 

Ancient  Georgetown 23 

Permanent  Rc-settlcmcnt  of  George- 
town    24 

Samuel  Denny 2G 

Reminiscences  of  the  Settlement 20 

Attacking  Savages 31 

Battle  of  Arrowsic 33 

Formation  of  a  Town 34 

Old  Georgetown  Records 3G 

The  Town  Comprised  Additional  Ter- 
ritory    30 

Town  Records 37 

Formation    of   the   Second    Parish, 

Long  Reach 41 

The  Act 43 

Organ izat ion 44 

Revolutionary  Era 44 

Town  Oflicers 49 

HTho  King's  Timber  Ships GO 

Arrest  of  the  King's  Agent 52 

Preparations  for  the  War 63 

Detachments  Sent  to  tho  Army 56 

Roll  of  Soldiers.  1775 5ff 

Arnold's  Quelwc  KxikmUUoii 57 

Militia  Join  General  Washington 57 

Regimental  Muster  Roll,  Georgetown  68 

At  Siege  of  Castino 69 

Deprivations  During  tho  War G4 

Bath  Men  Active  in  the  Revolution..  C5 

x Privateers 60 

Incidents  of  the  War 67 


PAOB 

Arnold  in  the  Kennebec 68 

John  Parker.. 68 

Phi  I  brook 68 

Organization  of  the  Town  of  Bath...  69 

Petition  to  the  General  Court 69 

The  Act  of  Incorporation 70 

Town  Clerks 72 

Jones  Eddy 73 

Fiddlers  Reach 74 

Rem  in  iscences 74 

Tho  Great  Embargo 76 

Vessels  Laid  Up n-"- 

Hazardous  Voyages 78 

Brig  Mary  Jane 79 

Sloop  Adoniram 83  ) 

Schooner  Three  Friends 83 

Tho  Adjustment 84 

Non-Intercourse  Act 85 

King  and  Ames  Controversy 85 

Bath  in  tho  War  of  1812 90 

The  Groat  Alarm 91 

Other  Accounts  of  tho  Alarm 94 

Military  on  Duty 104 

The  Fort 105 

Battle  with  tho  Barges IOG 

Mora  Barges 107 

Major  Zina  Hydo's  Record  of  War 

Times no 

Killing  of  Lieutenant  Baker 113 

Major  Hydo  Continues 114 

William  King 119 

Officers  of  tho  War 120 

Col.  Denny  McCobb 120 

Regimental  Orders •  121 

Roster  of  Oflicers  of  First  Regiment.  122 

Roster  at  Coxs  Head 126 

Incidents  of  the  War 127 

Tho  Kilgoro  Robbery 128 

Nautical  Adventure 129   ^ 

Opposers  of  the  War 133 

8hip-Building 134    « 

First  Vessel  Built  on  the  Kennebec..  136  — 

Tho  Second  Build 130  - 

Sir  William  Phips 130  _ 

Early  Building  at  Bath 138  — 

The  Pioneer  Builders 140  *" 


v» 


522 


INDEX. 


A  fAUM 

After  the  Revolution 142 

vjChebacco  Boats 143 

v.  Snows '. 144 

.  "Former  Mode  of  Building 144 

^Supply  of  Wood  Material 146 

^Southern  Timber 146 

^Carpenters  and  Sailors 14C 

^Steamboat  Building 148 

Restrictions  on  Commerce 149 

Commercial  Prosperity 149 

English  West  India  Ports 150 

Cotton  Carrying  Trade 151 

Nrho  Clipper  Ship 152 

"Schooners 151 

v  Effect  or  the  Rebellion 150 

Mron  and  Stool  Ship-Building 150 

-The  Bath  Ship 167 

^The  Clipper  Period 168 

■Marine  Hospital 168 

French  Spol iation  Claims 168 

Alabama  Claims 169 

Reminiscences 100 

VEra  of  Pirating 1C2 

N  Disasters  to  Bath  Sltips 1C3 

A  Total  Wreck 1G4 

Great  Gale  of  1839 106 

Ship  United  States 1G7 

Loss  of  the  Hanover 1G8 

Rebellion  Episode 109 

\  Loss  of  the  Ranier 170 

-     Ship  Thomas  M.  Heed 170 

'  Iron  Ships 171 

Shipping  Notes 172 

New  England  Company I7r> 

Striken  of  Ship-Carpenters 176 

Packets 170 

'"Prominent  Ship-Buildcre 177 

Xl'he  Build  of  Vessels 179 

Collection  of  Customs 180 

Collection  District  of  Bath 180 

Outlying  Custoni-houso  Ofliccrs 181 

Custom  Houses 181 

The  Collectors 182 

Their  History 183 

Joshua  Wingate 183 

Henry  Dearborn 183 

A  Valuable  Prize 184 

Joseph  F.  Wingate 185 

Mark  Langdon  Hill 185 

John  Barnard  Swan  ton 185 

William  King 180 

Joseph  Sewall 180 

Parker  Sheldon 180 


TAOB 


\ 


A.J.  Stone 187 

Amos  Nourse 187 

John  Campbell  Humphreys. 187 

Benjamin  Randall 188 

David  Bronson 188 

Charles  N.  Bodfish 188 

Joseph  Berry 189 

James  H.  Nichols 189 

Roland  Fisher 189 

Edward  St.  John  Nealley 190 

James  W.Wakefield 191 

Francis  B.  Torrey 192 

The  Post-Office 192 

Incidents  Connected  with  the  Postal 

Servicoat  Bath 195 

Tho  Decoy  Lotter 190       . 

Municipal  Government 197    * 

Destruction  of  the  Town  Records....  197    V 

Court  house 198 

Schools 196 

Employing  Teachers 200 

North  Street  School-house 202 

Old  "Erudition" 203 

North  Street  Academy 201 

High  Street  Academy 204 

Female  Department 906 

Graded  Schools 200 

Center  Street  School-house 208 

Private  Schools 208 

Graduates  of  the  High  School 209 

Libraries 222 

Patten  Library  Association 222 

Center  Street  Room 224 

Patti'ii  Free  Library 221 

.Soldiers'  and  Sailors' Orphans'  Home  227 

The  Present  Building 229 

Old  Ladies' Homo 232 

The  Home  Edifice 231 

Public  Beneficent  Bequests 231 

Temperance  Societies 235 

Deacon  Giles'  Distillery 230 

Bath  Distillery 230 

Retailers  of  Liquors 238 

First  Temperance  Reform  Movement  239 

Wine  at  the  Communion  Tabic 239 

First  Washington ian  Society 239 

Martha  Washington  Society 240 

An  Old-Time  liaising 241 

The  Maine  Law 241 

Prohibitory  Law 242 

The  Centenifial  Celebration 242 

Tho  Evening  Gathering 244 

The  Ball 244 


INDEX. 


523 


FACIE 

Mystic  Orders 240 

Mnsoiiic 246 

Solar  Lodge 246 

Montgomery  Royal  Arch  Chapter....  247 

Polar  Star  Lodge 248 

Other  Orders 248 

Associations 249 

Young  Men's  Christian  Association..  210 

8:1  gad al  10c  Historical  Society 250 

Parlor  Meetings 252 

The  Society's  New  Room 252 

Hoard  of  Trade 253 

Officers 255 

Young  Men's  Business  Club 255 

Know  Nothing  Party 255 

President  Harrison's  Visit  to  Bath. ..  258 
Visits  of  United  States  Steamships..  259 

An  Ancient  Stream 201 

Old  Roads 202 

Bridges 204 

Surplus  Revenue  of  1834 204 

Old  Turnpike  to  Brunswick 26G 

Ferries  2CG 

Military 2C7 

Revolutionary  Period 207 

Lexington  Alarm 207 

Siege  of  Boston 208 

Artillery 209 

Reinforcements   to  the  Continental 

Army 209 

Winter  Hill 270 

After  the  Revolutionary  War 271 

Aroostook  War  of  1800 274 

Bath  City  Grays 275 

Bath  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion....  276 

Soldiers'  Monument 277 

Companies  of  Reserved  Militia 278 

Hyde  Light  Guards 279 

Firo  Department 279 

Chief  Engineers 281 

Old-Time  Fires 281 

Great  Fire  of  1837 282 

Fire  Alarm  System 284 

Water  Works 284 

Cemeteries 280 

Park 287 

Paving  Streets 288 

The  Old  Cannon 289 

Ringing  of  the  Town  Bell 289 

Gas  and  Electric  Company 290 

Electric  Department 291 

Street  Car* 201 

Ancient  Landmarks 202 


PAOB 

English  Grants 292 

Old  English  Grants 202 

Indian  Titles 202 

Old  Landmarks 293 

Famous  Lawsuit 295  ■ 

Old  Families 297 

Early  Settlers 297 

Early  Construction  of  Dwellings 297 

Old  Houses 298 

How  the  Pioneers  Lived 300 

Scotch-Irish  Settlers 300 

Biographies 304 

Non  Resident  Natives. . : 427 

Bath's  Newspapers 451 

Church  Edifices 460 

Pleasant  Cove  Meeting-house 400 

Old  Georgetown  Meeting-house 407 

First  Bath  Meeting-house 4G8 

The  Old  North 409 

The  Winter  Street 471 

The  Old  South 473 

The  Central 474 

The  Baptist 475 

The  Sweden borgian 475 

The  Wesley 475 

The  Beacon  Street 476 

The  Universalist 476 

The  North  Street  Free  Baptist 477 

The  Corliss  Street 477 

The  Catholic 477 

The  Unitarian 477 

Church  Organizations 478 

Tho  North  Church 478 

Winter  Street  Church 487 

The  South 488 

The  Episcopal 493 

The  Swedenborgiau 495 

The  Baptist 49s 

The  Methodist GOO 

The  Wesley 500 

The  Beacon  Street 503 

The  Universalist 504 

The  North  Street  Free  Baptist 605 

First  Unitarian  8ocicty 506 

Corliss  Street  Church 507 

The  Roman  Catholic 507 

Banking  Institutions 509 

Old  Bath  Bank 609 

State  Banks 509 

Lincoln  Bank 609 

Commercial  Bank 510 

8agadahoc  Bank 510 

City  Bank 611 


5«4 


INDEX. 


TAQK 

Bath  National  Bank 611 

First  National  Bank 612 

Marine  National  Bank 612 

Bath  Savings  Institution 612 

Twenty-five  Cent  Savings  Bank 613 

Early  Banks 613 

Bank  Incident 614 

Appendix 616 


rAOB 

Trnfanta  Point 615 

8haw  Mill 515 

Pioneer  Steamboats 615  * 

Railroads 616 

A  Great  Fire 517 

Bath  Iron  Works  Fire 516  x 

Notes 610 

Bell  for  the  Old  North 020 


BIOGRAPHIES. 


Adams,  Francis 380 

Adams,  Samuel 383 

Anderson,  Samuel,  Dr 38G 

B 

Bailey,  Barnard  C 415 

Bailey,  Samuel  D 41G 

Barnard,  John 30G 

Bartlett,  Benjamin  D.,  Dr 381 

Batchelder.  W.  S 444 

Berry,  Joseph 180 

Bibber,  Randall  D.,  Dr 389 

Bodflsh,  Charles  N 188 

Briry,  Edward  E.,  Dr 302 

Briry.  Milton  8.,  Dr 301 

Bronson,  David 188 

C 

Clapp,  Charles 300 

Clark,  Freeman 358 

Clark,  John  C 358 

Clarke,  EUsha 426 

Conklin,  Abram 605 

Coombs,  Anion  W 440 

Coombs,  Charles  A 402 

Crooker,  Isaiah,  Sr 300 

dishing,  Christopher,  Sr 310 

Cushing,  Samuel  W 401 

I) 

Davenport,  Charles 350 

Davis,  Jonathan 311 

Delano,  Charles  N 308 

Deuny,  Samuel 25 

Dike,  Samuel  F 49G 

Donnell,  Arthur  C 443 

Dounell,  Charles  R 420 

Donnell,  Joseph  T 410 

Donnell,  Will iam  T 422 

Drake,  James  B 423 

Drummond,  Patrick 3K> 

Duncan,  Horatio  A 424 

Duncan,  Samuel 423 

Dunuels,  Amos  F 402 


Eames,  Henry 406 

El  ling  wood,  John  W 483 

Elliot,  Washington 438 

El  well,  James  W 427 

Emerson,  Luther  D 445 

F 

Fassett,  Francis  II 430 

Ferguson,  M.  II.,  Dr 300 

Fisher,  Roland 180 

Fisko,  John  O 481 

Fogg,  William  II 441 

Fuller,  Andrew  J.,  Dr 380 

Fuller,  Edwin  M.,  Dr 387 

O 

Gntch,  Robert ic 

II 

Hammatt,  Abraham 320 

Harding,  Edward  K 3G0 

Harding,  George  E 371 

Harding,  Henry  M 371 

Harding,  Nelicmiah 3G0 

Harding,  Samuel 442 

Harnden  Family 367 

Hamden,  Lemuel  W 357 

Harnden,  Samuel 357 

Harnden,  William  A 357 

Harrington,  C.  B 418 

Harris,  Thomas  G 441 

Hart,  John,  Dr 383 

Hathornc,  B.  W 404 

Hayden,  John 301 

Hayden,  J.  F 302 

I  lay  us,  Joseph  M 408 

Hill,  Mark  Langdou 185 

Hill,  William  D 400 

Hogan,  William  E 381 

Hoi  brook,  Moses,  Dr 384 

Houghton  Brothers 340 

Houghton  Family 345 

Houghton,  Levi 346 


525 


HhkIipb. (jii.-«.  f m 

Humphrey*.  l>onn)  M... tii 

Humphn  i".  i C... in 

Hiiitipini )-  .1  -.  ••■  !i m 

Hyrte.  l':...:!.-«  K. *W 

Hyde,  Ednnnl  C 3M 

HydeFamll) 323 

Ilyilo,  Jmintlinn 32S 

Hyde.  Itndtmy. -W 

Hydo.Tlm.mu.  W -tm 

Hyde,  /Inn 323 

J 

Jcilks,  William 4*3 

Joliiuwm.  Uoonro  w *m 

K 

Kchoy.  Join    R.        41J 

Kimball.  John  H yr? 

Kins,  William W,  32) 

Ijirrabrc.  Cliarlee  8 4ig 

Larrabco  William  p ,:J 

tamoiit.  Alfred ana 

.OIIIOIll.  .lnl.11     3ta 

l»inlmr.l.  Mm.hr. 3K 

Low  Firitcrle  II 41M 

T/>ivcll.  Join  i* ..  mo 

Liuit,  Or-inui.  ■-< 43| 

N 

Mll(H»lli.  1*1- 111  0 .TJO 

Mnllctt.K.  II... li 4jj 

McDnitnhl.  .Ii.l.i. 411 

McLclln...  Jam.*.  W7 

Morrill,  luinc  II snj 

Mitchell.  Annul  !( an 

Mitchell.  Ed«nnl  P 443 

Mitchell,  Nicholas  I 331 

Moody,  i  "l..ir  I.  «  V  303 

Moody  Family  343 

Morrison.!'  II.  M 441 

Moth,  All II.. 441 

Mono,  AMbu 4m 

Mow,  llcn)amlti  W 373 

Hone,  Charles  C, 441 

Morse,  1  "1  .-!•■■  ft 4M 

Morso,  Charles  W... 37) 

Morse  Families jig 

Mono,  J.  I'arkor. 373 

Mono,  June*  T too 

Monc.  William  II 403 

None,  William  B 453 

Mows, Frn nk  O gn 

Mows,  Oalen  C. jjh 


Moaca.  Ollror 

Moses.  William  V 

Mm-  ■■■•■.  1 1- ■••mi-,  .li  

Murpliy.  James  F 

N 

Nealloy.  Ed,  B 

Noallcy.K  8  J... 

Nlclmln.  thmrrrn  H 

Nichols,  -tallica  II 

Nlehols.  Koa.1 

Nmirar.  Ai.iob.  I>r 

O 

(My*.  William  II    

Itwwt,  Ilonry  W 

P 
Packard.  Char  I  os  A.,  Dr... 

Page,  Allien  0.  

Page,  Alberto..  Jr.  

Page.  Piimlly 

Page,  William  D. 

Patten.  Charles  R 

'■ Pn y 

Paftuii,  Frederic  II.. 

I'nttcn.  Qponrrt  F. , 

I'attcn.  Gilbert  E  R  

Patten,  ■lamoa  F 

Patten,  .lolm 

Prttim.  John  O 

Payne.  Prcdcric  W 

Pay  no.  John  II 

Pajrito,  Wltllani  K .  I* 

Percy.  David  T 

lWy.Oeorgo  W 

Percy,  Isaiah 

Peterson.  John 

Peterson,  t.evl .... 

Pl.ilhrook  Family.    

Pirhlc,  Oconee  A 

IVm-fiil.  Bodmin 

PurJiiBtOii.JotinL. 

Pot" am,  Israel.  Ur.  

Pnlnam.  William  L 

It 

IL.ii'. Doctor.  

lUli -> Bradstreot  8.  . . . 

Randal  I,  Benjamin.. 

Rood,  Franklin 

Reed.  Parkor  McColm.. ... 

Rood.  William  M 

Richardson.  John  Green, 
Richardson.  William 


526 


INDEX. 


PAOB 

Ricker,  George  W 442 

RiggB,  Benjamin 817 

Robin  son,  James  D    420 

S 

Savage,  James  W.,  Dr 302 

8ewall,  Joseph 18C 

Shaw,  Albert  H 410 

Shaw,  David 307 

Shaw,  John  0 378 

Shaw,  Joshua 310 

Shaw,  Milton  G 422 

8haw,  Susannah 307 

Sheldon,  Parker 186 

Shorey,  Henry  A 452 

Snipe,  Seth  T 378 

Spaulding,  Joseph  W 440 

Spear,  Howard  D 409 

Sprague,  Franklin  P 382 

Stearns,  Silos 408 

8tetson,  Alfred  D 407 

Stinson,  David 318 

8tinson,  Pelix  U 448 

Stockbridge,  John 303 

Stock  bridge,  John,  Dr 384 

Swanton  Family 358 

Swan  ton,  Henry  W 360 

Swanton,  John  Barnard 185,  350 

Swanton,  John  Bosworth 350 

Swanton,  William 358 


PAOB 

T 

Tallman,  Pole? 314 

Tarbox,  Andrew 306 

Tarbox,  Henry  C 306 

Taylor,  Charles  W 418 

Thompson,  George  E.  and  Frank  N..  421 

Torrey,  Francis  B 192 

Trott,  Josoph  M 382 

Tiu fant,  David 31 1 

Twitchell,  Fritz  H. 379 

W 

Wakefield,  James  W 101 

Waldron,  Timothy,  Dr 384 

Webb,  William 183 

Weeks,  Francis  W 403 

Wescott,  James  B.,  Dr. 380 

White,  Seneca 401 

White.  T.F 500 

White,  William  L. 405 

Whitinore,  Parker  M 306 

Whitmoro,  William  E 307 

Wingate,  Joseph  F 186 

Wingate,  Joshua,  Jr 183 

Winter,  Francis 478 

Winter,  Samuel 318 

Work,  Abel  E 306 

Wyman,  Scott  L 448 


PORTRAITS. 


OITOSITB   TAUB 

Bibber,  Randall  D 380 

Davoupoi-t,  Charles 3G0 

Dike,  Samuel  F 400 

Elwell,  James  W 427 

Fiske,  JolmO 104 

Harding,  Samuel 400 

Hyde,  Jonathan 3*-"2 

Lemont,  Alfred 382 

Lunt,  Orrington 431 

Moody,  John  M 100 

Moody,  Samuel 180 

Morse,  Benjamin  W 372 


orrosiTs  TAOB 

Moso8,  Galen  C 375 

Moses,  Oliver 413 

Page,  Albert  G 353 

Patten,  Gilbert  E.  R 112 

Patten,  James  F 74 

Patten,  John 4C 

Patten,  John  0 454 

Percy,  David  T 364 

Reed,  Franklin 275 

Reed,  Parker  M 474 

Reed,  William  M 168 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


*  Residence  of  Samuel  Denny 25 

*  Blockhouse  of  Samuel  Denny 31 

*  Judge  Samuel  Denny  Stocks 31 

•Erudition  School-houso 203 

v  Patten  Free  Library 224 


<  Old  South 266 

*  Old  North 287 

<  Donne  11  Homestead 444 

v  Bath's  First  Meeting-house 468 

v  Old  Georgetown  Meetinghouse 468 


V 


36  tf 


«20 


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