Skip to main content

Full text of "History of Brunswick, Topsham and Harpswell, Maine : including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot"

See other formats 


Google 


This  is  a  digital  copy  of  a  book  that  was  preserved  for  generations  on  Hbrary  shelves  before  it  was  carefully  scanned  by  Google  as  part  of  a  project 

to  make  the  world's  books  discoverable  online. 

It  has  survived  long  enough  for  the  copyright  to  expire  and  the  book  to  enter  the  public  domain.  A  public  domain  book  is  one  that  was  never  subject 

to  copyright  or  whose  legal  copyright  term  has  expired.  Whether  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  may  vary  country  to  country.  Public  domain  books 

are  our  gateways  to  the  past,  representing  a  wealth  of  history,  culture  and  knowledge  that's  often  difficult  to  discover. 

Marks,  notations  and  other  maiginalia  present  in  the  original  volume  will  appear  in  this  file  -  a  reminder  of  this  book's  long  journey  from  the 

publisher  to  a  library  and  finally  to  you. 

Usage  guidelines 

Google  is  proud  to  partner  with  libraries  to  digitize  public  domain  materials  and  make  them  widely  accessible.  Public  domain  books  belong  to  the 
public  and  we  are  merely  their  custodians.  Nevertheless,  this  work  is  expensive,  so  in  order  to  keep  providing  this  resource,  we  liave  taken  steps  to 
prevent  abuse  by  commercial  parties,  including  placing  technical  restrictions  on  automated  querying. 
We  also  ask  that  you: 

+  Make  non-commercial  use  of  the  files  We  designed  Google  Book  Search  for  use  by  individuals,  and  we  request  that  you  use  these  files  for 
personal,  non-commercial  purposes. 

+  Refrain  fivm  automated  querying  Do  not  send  automated  queries  of  any  sort  to  Google's  system:  If  you  are  conducting  research  on  machine 
translation,  optical  character  recognition  or  other  areas  where  access  to  a  large  amount  of  text  is  helpful,  please  contact  us.  We  encourage  the 
use  of  public  domain  materials  for  these  purposes  and  may  be  able  to  help. 

+  Maintain  attributionTht  GoogXt  "watermark"  you  see  on  each  file  is  essential  for  informing  people  about  this  project  and  helping  them  find 
additional  materials  through  Google  Book  Search.  Please  do  not  remove  it. 

+  Keep  it  legal  Whatever  your  use,  remember  that  you  are  responsible  for  ensuring  that  what  you  are  doing  is  legal.  Do  not  assume  that  just 
because  we  believe  a  book  is  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  the  United  States,  that  the  work  is  also  in  the  public  domain  for  users  in  other 
countries.  Whether  a  book  is  still  in  copyright  varies  from  country  to  country,  and  we  can't  offer  guidance  on  whether  any  specific  use  of 
any  specific  book  is  allowed.  Please  do  not  assume  that  a  book's  appearance  in  Google  Book  Search  means  it  can  be  used  in  any  manner 
anywhere  in  the  world.  Copyright  infringement  liabili^  can  be  quite  severe. 

About  Google  Book  Search 

Google's  mission  is  to  organize  the  world's  information  and  to  make  it  universally  accessible  and  useful.   Google  Book  Search  helps  readers 
discover  the  world's  books  while  helping  authors  and  publishers  reach  new  audiences.  You  can  search  through  the  full  text  of  this  book  on  the  web 

at|http  :  //books  .  google  .  com/| 


r 


HARVARD 
COLLEGE 
LIBRARY 


•^ 


.J 


VJL 


^y/i^^^-z^i^  (.y6-€/L£^^^^ 


• 


J  A  . 


J  ■ 


r 


HISTORY 


OF 


BRUNSWICK, 


TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


MAINE, 


INCLUDING  THE  ANCIENT  TERRFrOltY   KNOWN   A8 


$fjep8rot. 


GEORGE    AUGT'STUS    WHEELER,     M.D., 

AXD 

HENRY     WARREN     WHEELER. 


ii 


JliMories  moke  men  in'^t'."  —  Bacon. 


BOSTON : 

ALFRED    MUDGK    &    SOX,     PKINTKKS. 

1878. 


•   \  r. 


\  ■  '■' 


•  I    / 


CoPTVieBT : 
Bt  GEORGE  A.  AVD  HENRT  W.  WHEELER. 

1«7. 


/ 


^ 
v 


M 


TO 

E\f9  iVemots  of 

THE  ESTEEMED  GITIZEM, 

AVI} 

FAITHFUL  AND  EARNEST  HISTORICAL  STUDENT, 

TBB  LATE 

M\  McKeen,  Esqdii\e, 

WHOSE  RESEARCHES  IN  THE   EARLY  HISTORY  OF  THE 

PBJEPSCOT  REGION 

JUSTLY  ENTITLE  HIM  TO  OUR  GRATEFUL 
REMEMBRANCE, 

EtHs  Volume  fs  SetKcateti. 


PREFACE. 


The  labor  of  compiling  a  local  historj',  though  not  necessarily  re<iulring  a 
very  liigh  order  of  talent,  docs  require  a  careful  and  conscientious  examina- 
tion of  a  large  amount  of  miscellaneous  material.  The  ditllculties  attending 
a  compilation  of  this  kind  are  numerous  and,  many  of  them,  not  easily  to  be 
anticipated  In  the  words  of  Sterne,  **  When  a  man  sits  down  to  write  a  his- 
tory, though  it  be  but  the  history  of  Jack  Hickathrift  or  Tom  Thumb,  he 
knows  no  more  than  his  heels  what  lets  and  confounded  hindrances  he  is  to 
meet  with  in  his  way.'* 

So  much  is  said  by  way  of  apology  for  the  unavoidable  errors  that  may, 
perchance,  lie  discovered  in  this  volume.  The  undertaking  itself  needs  no 
apoh)gy,  as  the  value  of  such  compilations,  not  only  to  the  writers  of  general 
history,  but  also  to  the  public  more  immediately  interested,  is  now  everywhere 
admitted. 

The  aim  of  the  compilers  has  been  to  furnish  a  work  which  should  be  valu- 
able rather  than  merely  entertaining.  Ihey  have  endeavored  to  give  a  faith- 
ful and  complete  histnry  of  the  three  towns,  and  although  they  have  tried  to 
make  the  volume  more  interesting  by  the  introduction,  when  proper,  of  nar- 
ratives and  traditions,  yet  this  they  have  considered  of  secondary  importance. 

The  methodical  arrangement  of  a  work  of  this  kind,  so  as  to  embrace  all 
that  is  desired  and  at  the  same  time  to  avoid  fre(|uent  repetition,  is  involved 
with  dilliculties,  and  is,  after  all,  somewhat  a  matter  of  taste.  In  this  work 
the  arrangement  by  the  topics  into  which  the  subject  is  most  naturally  divided 
has  been  adopted  as,  on  the  whole,  the  l)est.  Each  division  of  tlie  sulyect 
has,  however,  been  arranged  in  chronological  order,  and  for  further  conve- 
nience of  reference  full  indexes  have  been  appended. 

It  is  proper,  in  this  place,  to  acknowledge  the  jLssistance  which  the  com- 
pilers have  received,  in  various  ways,  in  the  proseeutit)n  of  their  work.  Their 
very  great  indebtedness  to  the  hibors  of  the  late  John  McKeen,  Kstjuire,  has 
already  been  shown,  and  is  still  further  shown  by  the  fnrquent  reference  to 
him  throughout  the  book;  but  they  desire  also  to  acknowledge  the  kindness 
of  Miss  Frances  A.  McKeen  in  fkirnishing  them  with  the  private  pajiers  of  her 
father. 

The  name  of  the  late  Moses  E.  Woodman,  Es(iuire,  is  also  entitled  to  be 
held  in  gratet^ll  remembrance  for  the  work  he  did  in  collecting  and  tracing  the 
genealogy  of  Topshauj  families. 

Much  interesting  inlbrniatiou  has  also  been  obtained  from  notes  made  by 
the  late  James  McKeen,  M.  D. 


VI  PREFACE, 

It  is  proper  also  to  acknowledge  to  the  public  the  great  obligations  of  the 
compilers  to  the  late  Doctor  John  I)  Lincoln,  both  for  the  material  assistance 
rendered  by  him,  and  for  his  steadfast  encouragement  in  their  undertaking, 
flrom  its  very  inception  up  to  his  last  hours. 

The  thanks  of  the  compilers  are  also  especially  due  to  Mr.  A.  G.  Tcnney, 
for  his  personal  help  and  advice,  as  well  as  for  the  great  assistance  afforded  by 
his  file  of  the  Brunsicick  Telegraphy  and  for  the  many  courtesies  extended  by 
him ;  to  Professor  A.  S.  Packard,  for  valued  advice  and  assistance,  and  for  his 
kindness  in  affording  unusual  facilities  for  examining  the  books  and  papers  in 
the  historical  and  college  libraries ;  to  Groneral  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain,  Hon- 
orable Charles  J.  Oilman,  Professor  Stephen  J.  Young,  and  Professor  George 
L.  Vose,  for  valuable  advice  and  assistance ;  to  Reverend  Elijah  Kellogg,  for 
his  manuscript  lecture  on  the  history  of  Harpswell ;  to  Messrs.  Charles  J. 
Noyes,  Stephen  Purinton,  Edwin  Emery,  Professor  Henry  Carmichael,  Rever- 
end George  T.  Packard,  and  Doctor  Asher  Ellis,  for  assistance  in  the  collec- 
tion and  preparation  of  material  for  the  work ;  and  to  the  many  others  who 
have,  in  one  way  or  another,  assisted  them,  the  compilers  return  their  sincere 
thanks. 

The  various  illustrations  given  in  the  book  will,  it  is  hoped,  be  satisfactory 
to  the  public.  The  portraits  were  flimished  by  and  inserted  at  the  expense  of 
the  friends  of  the  persons  whom  they  represent. 

The  Pejepscot  plan  of  the  Brunswick  and  Topsham  lots  was  made  from  two 
of  the  original  plans,  and  was  reduced  and  engraved  by  the  photo-lithographic 
process,  by  J.  H.  Bufford's  Sons,  Boston.  The  map  of  Brunswick  and  Tops- 
ham  villages  in  1802  was  compiled  from  a  written  description  of  Brunswick  by 
the  late  John  McKeen,  Esquire,  and  from  verbal  descriptions  of  Topsham  by 
Mr.  James  Wilson  and  the  late  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Green. 

All  of  the  maps  and  most  of  the  illustrations  are  from  drawings  made  by 
Mr.  Charles  G.  Wheeler,  Bowdoin,  Class  of  1876. 

Whatever  praise  or  censure  may  be  due  the  authors  for  the  manner  In  which 
they  have  executed  their  work  should  be  equally  divided  between  them,  as  it 
has  been  a  joint  production,  in  which  they  are  themselves  unable  to  specify 
their  respective  claims  of  authorship. 

In  conclusion :  To  the  citizens  of  the  three  towns,  and  more  especially  to 
those  of  Brunswick  and  Harpswell,  whose  interest  in  the  work  has  been  so 
fUUy  shown  by  their  liberal  appropriations  In  aid  of  its  publication,  this  vol- 
ume is  offered  with  gratitude  and  respect,  and  its  favorable  reception  will  be 
deemed  an  ample  remuneration  for  their  labors  by 

The  Authors. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  r. 

CU  AFTER  PAOE 

I.    Aboriginal  Inhabitants 1 

II.    Pejepscot  Puuciiask  and  Prior  Skttlkmknts 7 

III.  Doings  ok  tiik  Pejkpscot  Proprietors  and  Settlements 

UNDER  THEM 27 

IV.  Period  of  the  Indian  Wars 49 

PART  II. 

I.    Boundaries  and  Notable  Features 75 

II.    Municipal  History  of  Brunswick 104 

III.  Harpsweli 155 

IV.  Topsham 180 

V.    General  and  Social 205 

VI.    Fires  and  Fire  Companies 257 

VII.     Courts  and  Trials,  Crimes  and  Criminals,  Lawyers     .     .  277 

VIII.    Taverns  and  Public  Halls,  Mails,  Newspapers,  Ert\    .     .  200 

IX.    Diseases  and  Accidents,  FRh>iiiErs 311 

X.     Stages,  Railroads,  Navigation,  Tklecjraph,  etc 323 

XI.    Burial- Places  and  Epitaphs 339 

XII.    Ecclesiastical  History  of  Brunswick 352 

XIII.  Topsham 406 

XIV.  Harpsweli 436 

XV.    Educational  History  of  Bri'nswick 456 

XVI.                                                     Topsham          482 

XVII.                                                     Harpsweli 493 

XVIII.      BOWDOIN    COLLE<JE   AND    MkDICAL    ScIIOOL   OF    MaINB       .      .       .  498 

XIX.    Public  Lands,  Roads,  Bridges,  etc 521 

XX     Commercial  History  of  Brunswick 552 

XXI.                                                 Topsham C03 

XXII                                                    Harpswell 618 

XXIII.    Forts,  Garihsons,  C-iiurcurs,  etc;,  Brunswick 625 


•  •  • 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CflAPTFR  PACK 

XXIV.    Forts,   G\RiasoNS,   Churches,  etc.,  Topsham  and  H.\rp<»- 

WKLL 051 

XXV.    Interesting  Relics 670 

XXVI.    Military  History  of  the  Three  Towns 676 

PART  III. 

I.      Blr>GUAPniCAL   SKETCHES          709 

II.    Family  Histories .  827 

APPENDICES. 

APPENDIX 

I.    List  of  Early  Settlers 865 

II.    List  of  Soldiers  in  the  Indian  Wars 875 

III.  Revolution 880 

IV.  War  of  1812-U 887 

V.                                                 Rebellion 896 

VI.    List  of  National  and  State  Officers  from  these  Towns  916 

VII.                 Town  Officers 919 

General  Index 937 

Index  of  Names  in  Biographies  and  Family  Histories 956 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Portrait  of  John  McKeex,  Esquiuk rrontispiece. 

VAGM 

The  Stocks,  Brukswicfc 281 

tontixb  iiotel,    "           295 

President  Allen's  Academy,  Bkuxswick 476 

FR-iNKLiN  Family  School,  Topsham 489 

BowDOix  College  in  1821 498 

Androscoggin  Bridge  and  Falls  in  1828 649 

Old  Hay-Scales,  Topsham 618 

Fort  George,  Brunswick 627 

Town  House,           •*             636 

First  Mekting-House,  Brunswick 637 

Third  Meeting-House  of  First  Parish,  Brunswick 641 

Cornelius  Thompson  House,  Brunswick 646 

Court  House,  Topsham 657 

Old  Hunter  Tavern,  Topsham 658 

Walker  Homestead,            "           661 

Interior  of  Old  Meeting-Hoitse,  Harpswell 664 

Andrew  Dunning  House,                        **            668 

Joseph  Orr  House,                                  **            669 

Portrait  of  Kev.  George  E.  Adams,  D.  I) 710 

President  Appleton 714 

Piior.  Parker  Cleaveland 719 

EiJENEZKR  Everett,  Esquhu? 740 

Mr.  Joseph  Griffin 746 

Gen.  John  C.  Humphreys 764 

Dr.  Isaac  Lincoln 760 

Dr.  John  1).  Lincoln       761 

President  McKekn 763 

Major  Naiium  Perkins 785 

Mr.  William  S.  Perry 786 

Mr.  Francis  T.  Purinton 797 

Prof.  William  Smyth 803 

Mr.  Charles  Thompson 810 

Kev.  a.  I).  Wheeler,  D.  D 820 

MAPS  AND  PLANS. 
Pejepscot  Company's  Plan  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham      ,    .    .   Cover. 

PAGE 

Settlements  in  1752 40 

Brunswick  and  Topsham  Villages  in  1802 72 

Roads  in  1765 631 


1 


I  . 


PART  I. 


**  This  is  the  place,  —  stand  still,  my  steed, 
Let  me  review  the  scene. 
And  summon  from  the  shadowy  past, 

« 

The  forms  that  once  have  been ! " 

LosGKKLLOW,  A  (Heam  of  Snnshinc 


I' 

1  t 


i 


HISTORY 


OF 


Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Harpswell. 


CHAPTER    I. 

ABORIGINAL   IXnABITANTS. 

The  Indian  race,  formerly  occupying  the  territory  now  embraced 
by  the  State  of  Maine,  was  divided,  as  most  authors  state,  into  two 
considerable  nations,  called  the  Etechemins  and  the  Abenrfkis.  The 
former  nation  occupied  the  region  east,  and  the  latt^ir  that  west,  of 
the  Penobscot  River.* 

The  Abenaki  nation  was  composed  of  four  principal  tribes,  viz  :  — 

1.  Tlie  Sokokis,  who  had  their  principal  encampments  upon  the 
Saco  River. 

2.  The  Anasagunticooks,  who  occupied  the  entire  valle}'  of  the 
Androscoggin  River. 

3.  The  Canibas,  who  dwelt  upon  the  Kennebec,  from  its  tide  waters 
to  its  source. 

4.  The  Wawenocks,  who  reside  between  the  Sagadahock  and  the 
river  St.  George,  and  upon  the  latter.^ 

The  Anasagunticooks  were,  at  the  first  advent  of  Euro|)eans,  a  very 
numerous,  i)owerful,  and  warlike  tribe.  The  Pejepscot  Indians  were, 
in  all  probabilit}',  a  sub-tribe  of  the  Anasagunticooks.  They  had  cus- 
tomary places  of  resort,  if  not  permanent  places  of  residence,  at  the 
Brunswick  Falls,  at  Maquoit,  and  at  Mair  Point.  It  is  now  considered 
probable,  from  the  remains  and  relics  found  there,  that  the  latter  was 
the  place  of  one  of  their  villages  in  the  sixteenth  century.^ 

Like  most  of  the  native  tribes,  the  Anasagunticooks  were,  at  first. 


1  Willis,  Maine  Historical  Colk'ntion,  4,  p.  90.     Vetromile,  The  Ah(>iwk'is,  p   17. 
^Kidder,  Maine  Historical  Collection^  0,  p.  235      Williamson  awl  othfsrs. 
^Johii  MoKeeUj  Manuscript  Lecture. 
1 


2  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

probablj'  friendly  to  the  whites.  At  least,  our  settlers  are  reprcvsented 
as  living  with  them  upon  the  most  friendly  terms  up  to  about  the  time 
of  King  Philip's  War.i 

They  soon,  however,  became  extremely  and  inveterately  hostile  to 
the  settlers  upon  their  domain,  and  until  their  extermination  by 
disease  and  by  the  aggressions  of  the  whites,  they  continued  to  exhibit 
their  animosity  by  frequent  attacks  upon  isolated  settlements  and  habi- 
tations and  by  lying  in  ambush  for  individuals  or  small  parties. 

The  plague  which  broke  out  among  them  about  the  3'ear  1615  or 
1616  so  reduced  them  that,  in  the  latter  year,  they  numbered  only 
1,500  warriors.'-^ 

They  were  still  further  reduced  in  number  by  warfare  and  other 
causes,  so  that  there  were,  according  to  one  authorit}',^  on  November 
24,  1726,  only  five  Indians  in  the  tribe  over  sixteen  years  of  age. 
John  Hegon  was  their  sachem  at  this  time. 

Twentv-five  years  later  there  were  one  hundred  and  sixty  warriors  in 
the  tribe.'*  Tbis  is  a  large  increase  in  number,  but  yet  it  shows  how 
weak  the  tribe  had  become. 

The  most  celebrated  sagamores  of  this  tribe  were  Danimkin,  Wo- 
rumbo,  and  Hodgkins,  —  called  sometimes  Hawkins.  Of  the  former 
but  little  is  known,  except  that  he  was  the  father  of  Terramugus,  and 
on  several  occasions  served  as  orator  for  the  tribe. 

Worumbo  is  better  known  on  account  of  his  deed  to  Richard  Whar- 
ton, Jul}'  7,  1684,  confirming  to  him  the  lands  formerly  conveyed  to 
and  possessed  by  'Thomas  Purchase. 

Hodgkins  (or  Hawkins),  whose  Indian  name  was  Kankamagus, 
was,  in  realit}',  a  sachem  of  the  Pennacooks,  but  he  joined  the  Andros- 
coggins  about  1684,  and  lived  with  Worumbo. 

Mugg  is  thought  to  have  been  another  of  their  sachems,-^  although 
by  some  authors  he  is  supposed  to  have  belonged  to  the  Penobscot 
tribe.^  He  was  very  conspicuous  in  the  Indian  war  of  1676-77.  On 
October  12,  of  the  former  year,  he  assaulted  Black  Point,  now 
Scarborough,  with  one  hundred  men,  and  captured  it.  In  1677  he 
again  besieged  that  garrison  for  three  days,  and  killed  three  men  and 
took  one  captive.  He  was  himself  killed.  May  16  of  that  year.  Prior 
to  this  war  he  had  lived  for  some  time  with  the  English,  and  had  been 
veiy  friendly  to  them.7 


1  McKecn^  MbS,  Lecture.     Woodman,  Mamucript  History  of  Pejepscot. 

2  Williamson,  1,  p.  4H3.     '  Gyles' 8  Statement'  Maine  Historical  Collection,  3,  p  357. 
*  Williamson,  1,  p.  483.  «  Drake.  Bixtk  of  Indians,  3,  p.  1 10. 
^History  of  Pemaquid,  p  122.  ''Drake,  Book  of  Irulians,  3,  p.  110. 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS.  3 

This  chief  must  not  be  confounded  with  Mogg,  —  generally  known 
as  Mogg  Megone,  —  who  was  killed  at  the  time  of  liasle's  death 
(1724),  and  who  belonged  to  the  Saco  Indians. 

Another  of  their  sagamores  was  Philip  Will,  originally  a  Cape  Cod 
Indian ;  he  was  captured  by  the  French,  at  the  siege  of  Louisbui^, 
when  onh'  fourteen  3'ears  of  age.  Remaining  with  the  Abenaki  In- 
dians, he  became,  eventually,  a  chief  of  this  tribe.  Will  was  brought 
up  in  the  famil}'  of  a  Mr.  Crocker,  in  which  he  was  taught  ''  to  read, 
write,  and  cipher."  He  prevented,  for  many  years,  the  final  extinc- 
tion of  his  tribe.  He  was  six  feet  three  inches  in  height,  and  pos- 
sessed a  good  development.^ 

The  fact  that  the  lands  occupied  by  the  whites  were  duly  purchased 
of  and  conveyed  to  them  by  the  Indians  themselves,  and  that  the  earlier 
settlers  in  this  region  endeavored  to  conciliate  and  make  fnends  of 
them,  seems  to  have  had  but  little  effect  in  restraining  the  savage 
disposition  of  the  natives.  After  the  first  outbreak,  they  rarely  lived 
on  reall}'  peaceable  terms  with  the  settlers,  and  when  there  were  no 
actual  hostilities  going  on,  they  were  continually  strolling  about  and 
annoying  the  inhabitants,^  and  even  isolated  acts  of  friendship  on  the 
part  of  individuals  amongst  them  were  comparatively  rare. 

The  settlement  of  the  region  occupied  by  this  tribe,  subsequent  to 
the  time  of  King  Philip's  War,  presents  continual  scenes  of  carnage 
and  destruction,  midnight  massacres  and  conflagrations,  until  the  tribe 
itself  became  extinct. 

The  language  of  the  Abenaki  nation  has  been  carefully  studied  by 
man}'  competent  students,  but  the  difficulties  in  the  way  of  thoroughly 
understanding  the  different  dialects  are  so  great  that  much  uncer- 
tainty still  exists,  both  as  to  the  correct  pronunciation  and  derivation, 
and  also  as  to  the  meaning,  of  very  many  of  the  names  formerly 
applied  to  localities.  The  Indian  names,  and  their  signification  in 
English,  of  some  of  the  more  important  places,  will,  nevertheless, 
prove  interesting,  and  are  therefore  given  in  this  connection. 

Abagadusset  River  and  Point.  —  The  original  lyime  of  the  point 
was  Nagiisset.3  At  a  later  day  it  was  called  Point  Agreeable. 
Abagadusset,  or  Bagadusset,  one  of  its  forms,  means  "'  to  shine," 
the  reflection  of  the  light  from  the  waters  of  the  bay  probably  giving 
the  name.**  This  river  and  point  is  not  included  within  tiie  present 
territor}'  of  either  of  the  three  towns,  but  was  within  the  limits  of  the 
Pejepscot  tract  as  originall}'  claimed,  and  reference  to  it  is  often  made. 


1  WiUianison,  1,  p.  481.  ^  McKeen,  MSS.  lecture.  8  Prjrpsrot  Papirs, 

*  Dr.  Ikilkird  in  tlie  United  States  Coast  iiurvey  Report,  1868,  p.  246. 


4  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

An-ME-LAii-coG-NETUit-cooK,  which  means  a  place  of  much  game, 
of  fish,  fowl,  and  beasts,  was  the  Indian  name  for  Brunswick  near  the 
Falls.  1 

Androscoggin.  —  The  river  now  known  as  the  Androscoggin,  and 
from  which  the  tribe  inhabiting  its  shores  received  its  name,  was 
variously  called  the  AnusafjunticnoJc,  the  AnconganunUeook^  Aniaaa- 
qufint'-g^  and  Amascongan.  The  latter  is  the  original  of  Androscog- 
gin, as  appears  by  the  deix>sition  of  the  Indian  Perepole.^  The 
name  has  been  written  in  some  sixty  different  forms,  as  its  sound  was 
received  b}'  the  ancient  hunters,  owners,  and  settlers.  There  seems 
to  have  been  a  disposition  to  make  it  conform  to  known  words  in  the 
English  usage.  The  name  "  Coggin"  is  a  familj-  appellation  in  Xew 
England ;  and  it  was  easy  to  place  before  it,  according  to  each  man's 
preference,  other  familiar  names,  and  to  call  the  stream  ''  Ambrose 
Coggin,"  ''Amos  Coggin,"  "Andrews  Coggin,"  "  A  ndros  Coggin," 
and  ''  Andrus  Coggin."  ^  Vetromile**  says  that  Coggin  means  "  com- 
ing"; that  Amnutscoggin  means  "fish  coming  in  the  spring."  and 
that  Androscoggin  means  "  Andros  coming,"  referring  to  the  visit  of 
a  former  governor  of  the  province.  But  the  visit  of  Governor 
Andros  was  not  made  until  1G88,  while  the  river  is  called  Andros- 
coggin in  an  indenture,  made  in  1639,  between  Thomas  Purchase  and 
Governor  Winthrop.^ 

Another  authority  ®  sa3'8  the  word  means  "  the  Great  Skunk  River." 
By  another.'  it  is  said  to  be  derived  from  v<mmas  (fish),  kees  (high), 
and  auke  (i)lace),  and  to  mean  "the  high  fish  place."  According 
to  Reverend  Dr.  Ballanl,®  its  derivation  is  from  the  word  nam  as 
(fish),  abbreviated,  as  is  the  frequent  practice,  by  dropping  the  first 
letter,  and  Skaughigan  (Skowhegan),  a  fish-spear.  The  name  may 
therefore  be  translated  the  Fish  Spear,  or  Fish  JSpearhif,  The  name, 
as  ftiruished  by  Perepole,  with  his  description,  marked  the  part  of  the 
river  above  the  Amitigonpontook  —  that  is,  the  "  Clay-land  Falls  "  at 
Lewiston,  —  upward  to  *''' Arockumecook"  that  is,  the  "  Iloe-land," 
at  Canton  Point.  ^  The  rips  and  shallows  in  this  portion  were  favora- 
ble for  spearing  fish  be3'ond  any  part  below. 

BuNGANUNGANocK,  coinmoul}'  shortened  to  Bunganock,  is  the  name 

— — — —  1 

1  Pejt'pscot  Papers, 

^}faine  Historical  Collection,  3,  p.  333,  taken  from  tlie  Pvjcpscol  Papers. 

^Dr.  Ballard  in  United  States  Coast  Survey,  1868,  p.  247. 

*  History  of  the  Ahenakis,  p.  24.  *»  See  next  chapter. 

«  Willis,  hfaiae  Historical  Collection,  4,  p.  115. 

7  Potter.  Maine  Historical  Collection,  4,  p.  189. 

»  Report  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  18C8,  p.  247. 


ABORIGINAL  INHABITANTS.  5 

of  a  small  stream  flowing  into  Maquoit  Bay.  It  runs  at  the  bottom  of 
a  deep  ravine,  suggesting  the  name  of  Bunganunganock,  which  means 
the  ''  High-bank  Brook."  i 

Catiianxe  River,  pronounced  by  the  Indians  Kat-Juih-nis^  is  said 
b}'  them  to  mean  bmt^  or  cr/ioA>d.^ 

Maquoit  means  the  *'  bear-place  "  or  "•  bear-ba}'." 

Merricone.vg.  —  This  name  was  originally  applied  only  to  the  In- 
dian "carrying-place"  at  the  upi^er  end  of  Ilarpswell  Neck,  but 
fiualh'  denoted  the  whole  peninsula.  The  word  in  full  would  be  Jfer- 
rucoonegan^  from  merru  (swift,  quick),  and  ooncgnn  (portage),  mean- 
ing the  "  quick  carrying-place."  ^ 

Pejepscot.  —  That  portion  of  the  Androscoggin  River  extending  from 
Brunswick  Falls  to  Merrymeeting  Ba}',  and  the  adjacent  land  upon  the 
south,  was  called  Pejepscot.  The  word  was  originally  applied  to  the 
water,  and  meant  "  crooked,  like  a  diving  snake."  ^ 

QuABACooK,  meaning  ''the  duck  water  place," ^  was  the  Indian 
designation  of  Merrymeeting  Bay.  The  English  name  of  this  bay,  ac- 
cording to  one,  and  the  most  probable,  tradition,  had  its  origin  from 
the  meeting  of  the  waters  of  five  rivers.  According  to  another  ac- 
count, the  name  was  due  to  the  meeting  of  two  sur^'eying  parties,  and 
their  enjoyment  of  the  occasion  upon  its  shores.^ 

Sawacook,  as  the  land  upon  the  north  side  of  the  river  where  Top- 
sham  is  situated  was  called,  signifies,  according  to  one  authorit}',^ 
''  the  burnt  place " ;  according  to  other  authorities  it  means  either 
'•  a  tree  forking  in  many  branches,"  or  else  it  means  -'  the  place  to 
find  many  cranberries."® 

Sebascudegax  is  the  Indian  name  of  the  Great  Island  in  Harpswell. 
This  name  is  supposed  to  be  derived  from  k'tche  (great)  and  Vhasco- 
degan  (measure),  and  this  solution  of  the  name  shows  that  the  na- 
tives had  taken  some  means  of  measurbig  the  island  and  had  found  it 
gr^at,^ 

There  are  other  Indian  names  of  localities  in  the  vicinit}'  of  Bruns- 
wick, Topshara,  and  Haipswell  which  have  been  preserved  by  tradi- 

!/>;•.  Balliird  in  United  SUitcs  Coast  Survey  Report  for  1S(W,  j).  248.  ^Ibid. 

^Jfr.  Billiard  in  Cnittd  States  Coast  Survey  Report  for  \H^}i<,  jq).  24S,  258. 
♦  n '////,<,  in  }faine  Historical  Collect  ion,  4, />.  108. 

5  Pejepsc<»t  J'apcrs,  J*en pole's  Deposition.  Also,  Dr.  True,  in  lirunsicick  Tcletjraph, 
18Gi. 

^Dr.  Bollard  in  United  States  Coast  Survey  Report  for  l>i«W,  p.  253. 

'Dr.  X  T.  True,  of  Bethel. 

^Potter,  yfaine  Ilislorind  Collection,  A, p.  191. 

»/>>•.  Ballard  in  United  States  Coast  Survey  Report  for  18()8,  p.  258. 


6  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

tion,  but  those  that  have  been  mentioned  are  the  best  known.     The 
others  hardly  require  particular  mention  in  this  connection. 

The  Indians,  in  their  travels  from  place  to  place,  went  by  water 
whenever  possible.  The  places  where  they  were  obliged  to  leave  the 
water,  either  to  go  around  falls  and  rapids  or  to  cross  from  the  salt 
water  to  the  fresh,  or  from  stream  to  stream,  were  called  carrying- 
places,  because  at  these  places  tliey  were  obliged  to  leave  the  water 
and  caiTj' their  canoes.  The  paths  they  made  from  one  carrying-place 
to  another  were  called  trails.  The  principal  carrying-places  were  in 
Harpswell,  at  Condy's  Poixt,  Sebascodegan,  the  trail  leading  across 
the  point,  and  at  Indian  Point  Landing,  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Sebascodegan.  There  was  also  one  across  the  upper  end  of  Merri- 
CONEAG  Neck.  In  Brunswick,  the  chief  carrying-places  were :  The 
Upper  Carrying-Place.  This  was  at  the  bend  of  the  river  above  the 
falls,  and  was  tlie  place  where  the  Indians  left  the  river  on  their  wa}' 
to  Maquoit.  The  name  was  given  to  distinguish  it  from  the  lower  or 
Stevens's  Carrying-Place.  The  latter  was  at  the  narrow  neck  of  land 
between  the  New  Meadows  River  and  Men*}- meeting  Ba^'.  The  land 
was  owned  in  1G73  bv  Thomas  Stevens,  hence  its  name.  Wigwam 
Point,  a  small  point  of  land  extending  into  the  New  Meadows  River, 
a  short  distance  above  the  dike  or  bridge  at  the  foot  of  Ham's  Hill, 
though  not  strictly  a  carrjing-place,  was  a  landing-place  of  the  Indians, 
who  probably  had  a  wigwam  there.     It  was  once  called  Indian  Town. 

In  Topsham,  the  chief  carrj'ing-place  was  at  the  Androscoggin 
River,  above  Merrill's,  and  the  ti*ail  led  to  Cathance  Pond.  It  is 
probable  there  was  another  carrjing-place  at  the  head  of  Muddy 
River,  with  trails  leading  to  the  Androscoggin  and  Cathance  Rivers. 

After  Love  well's  war,  the  Indians  dwelling  on  the  Androscoggin, 
finding  they  were  too  weak  to  protect  themselves  either  from  the  set- 
tlers or  from  other  tiibes,  moved  to  Canada  and  joined  the  Saint 
Francis  tribe.  P^ven  the  bones  of  their  ancestors  are  no  longer  to  be 
found,  and  naught  but  a  few  names  remains  to  remind  us  of  the  exist 
ence  of  this  once  powerful  tribe. 


PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMENTS. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE   PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,    AND   PRIOR   SETTLEMENTS,    1805-1714. 

The  earliest  voyage  of  discovery  made  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  Androscoggin  River  was  possibly  that  of  Captain  George  Wey- 
mouth, in  the  spring  of  1605.  lie  is  supposed  to  have  come  up  to  the 
falls.^  That  it  was  the  Sagadahoc  River,  and  not  the  St  George's  or 
the  Penobscot,  which  Wej'mouth  visited,  has  not,  however,  been  fully 
settled. 

[1607.]  He  was  followed  in  the  year  1607  by  Captain  George 
Popham,  who  arrived  near  Monhegan,  Jul}'  31,  in  two  vessels,  the 
"Gift  of  God  "  and  the  "  Mar}-  and  John,"  carrying  one  hundred  and 
twenty  planters.  From  Monhegan  they  went  to  Cape  Small  Point, 
and  built  a  fort  on  Atkins  Bay.  This  fortification  was  named  Fort 
Saint  George.  Though  the  place  was  abandoned  the  next  summer,  it 
was  intended  to  be  a  permanent  settlement,  and  was  occupied  suffi- 
ciently long  to  establish  its  claim  to  be  called  the  first  English  settle- 
ment on  the  New  England  coast. 

[1G20.]  In  the  year  1620  a  charter  wa^  granted  by  King  James  I 
to  fort}'  '•  noblemen,  knights,  and  gentlemen,"  constituting  them  a 
body  coq)oratc,  called  the  Council  of  Pl^-raouth.  Their  ten'itorial 
limits  extended  from  the  fortieth  to  the  fort3'-eighth  parallel  of  lati- 
tude, and  from  sea  to  sea. 

The  Council  of  Plymouth,  in  addition  to  the  grant  to  the  Plymouth 
Company  of  New  England,  granted  patents  in  the  Province  of  Maine 
to  the  Kennebec  (or  New  Plymouth)  Company,  the  Muscongus 
(or  Waldo)  Company,  and  to  the  Pemaquid  Company. 

[1632.]  They  also,  June  16,  1632,^  granted  a  patent  to  Thomas 
Purchase  and  George  Way.  By  some  this  patent  is  thought  to  have 
emanated  directl}'  from  King  James. ^  The  patent  itself  was  lost,**  and 
no  record  of  it  has  been  found.  It  is  known  to  have  existed  from  the 
frequent  references  to  it  in  old  deeds  and  other  documents.^ 

^MrKcen,  Maine  Historical  CoUcrtions,  5.  y>.  3.'i5. 

2  Willis,  Jlistonj  of  Portland,  p.  G4.        8  Prjepsrot  Records,  Statement  of  Title. 

*  Very  likely  trhen  Purchase's  house  was  burned. 

*  '*^  Pattent  for  a  Plantation  att  Pechipscot,**  is  recorded  in  the  "  Cattaloyne  ofsxich 


8  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

The  Thomas  Purchase  above  named  was  undoubtedly  the  first 
individual  to  settle  in  this  region  of  the  Androscoggin.  lie  came 
about  the  year  1628,  before  the  issue  of  the  patent,  therefore,  and 
located  himself  somewhere  within  the  limits  of  the  present  town  of 
Brunswick.  Whereabouts  he  established  his  house  is  a  matter  of 
doubt.  The  question  is  discussed  at  some  length  in  the  Pejepscot 
Records.^  Abram  Whitney,  who  lived  at  Little  River  in  1796, 
Samuel  Wilson,  Symonds  Baker,  a  Mr  Tebbetts,  and  Andrew  Dun- 
ning all  testified,  about  1796,  that  according  to  common  repoit, 
prevalent  during  their  childhood,  Thomas  Purchase  lived  at  the  Ten- 
Mile  Falls  (Little  River),  and  that  they  had  seen  there  an  old  chimne}' 
and  a  cellar,  which  the  aged  people  called  Purchase's  cellar.  John 
Moulton,  Gideon  Ilinkley,  and  Richard  Ifnowles  testified  in  1794, 
Thomas  Thompson  and  James  Hunter,  of  Topsham,  in  1795,  to  the 
effect  that  thej^  had  been  told  by  their  parents  and  other  aged  people 
that  Purchase  formerly  lived  at  New  Meadows  River,  at  a  place  after- 
wards known  as  "  Stevens's  Carrying- Place."  A  great  many  others 
testifv,  on  one  side  or  the  other,  and  a  certain  number  of  them  to  the 
effect  that  his  residence  was  at  the  Pejepscot  Falls.^ 

The  opinion  has  been  expressed  b}'  some  that  Purchase,  on  first 
settling  down  as  a  trader  with  the  Indians,  dwelt  at  what  was  subse- 
quently known  as  Stevens's  Carrj'ing-Place,  and  that  when  the  English 
settled  in  somewhat  near  proximity  to  him,  he,  in  ordar  to  monopo- 
lize, as  much  as  possible,  the  trade  with  the  natives,  moved  up  to  the 
Pejepscot  Falls,  and  subsequently  to  the  Ten-Mile  Falls.  Since  it  is 
known,  however,  that  he  very  early  went  into  the  fishing  business,  it 
would  seem  quite  as  probable  that  he  first  settled  at  the  falls,  and 
afterwards,  when  too  old  to  carr}'  on  the  fishing  business,  took  a  farm 
at  New  Meadows.  There  is,  probabl}',  no  reasonable  basis  for  the 
supposition,  entertained  by  some,  that  there  were  three  individuals  of 
the  same  name,  situated  near  each  other.^ 

Nothing  has  been  found  to  show  that  George  Way  was  ever  settled 
in  this  vicinity.  At  the  time  the  patent  was  issued  Way  lived  in 
Dorchester,  England ;  and  though  his  widow  and  sons  afterwards 
resided  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  it  is  not  known,  with  certainty,  that  he 
himself  ever  came  over  to  this  country. 

Pattentes  as  I  know  (/ranted  for  making  Plantacons  in  New  England,''  No.  H5,  Vol  2, 
Colonial  Records,  in  the  Public  Record  Office^  London.  (See  Main^  Historical  C^Akctions, 
Memorial  Volume,  p.  124  )  ^Statement  of  Title. 

*  There  are  said  to  be  nearly  one  hundred  depositions  in  the  Pejepscot  Records,  in  rej- 
erence  to  the  residence  of  Thomas  Purchase. 

*See  Sketch  of  Purchase  in  Part  IIL 


PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMENTS,  9 

The  gi'ant  to  Purchase  and  Waj'  was  not  very  extensive.  It  is 
defined  as  ^'  certain  lands  in  New  England  called  the  river  Bishops- 
cotte,  and  all  that  bounds  and  limits  the  main  land  adjoining  the 
river  to  the  extent  of  two  miles"  only.^  The  river  called  Bishops- 
cx>tte  is  undoubtedly  that  portion  of  the  Androscoggin  known  as  the 
Pejepscot.  The  old  patents  were  apt  to  be  indefinite,  and  oftentimes 
conflicted  with  one  another,  but  this  grant  seems  unusuall}'  defiiute  as 
to  its  width,  and  tallies  well  with  the  following  indenture,  between 
Thomas  Purchase  and  Governor  Winthrop :  — 

'*  This  indenture,  made  the  22**»  day  of  the  b^  M°,  @  1G39,  betweene 
Thomas  Purchas,  of  Pagiscott,  gentleman,  of  the  one  parte,  and  John 
Winthrope,  Esq:  Govemo'  of  the  Massachusets,  on  the  behalfe  of 
himselfc,  the  Govemo'  &  Company  of  the  Massachusets,  on  the  other 
parte,  witnesseth,  tlvat  the  said  Thomas,  for  divers  good  causes  cfe  con- 
siderations him  there vnto  moveing,  hath  given  &>  granted,  &.  by  these 
p'sents  doth  give  &  grant,  vnto  the  said  John  Winthrope  &>  his  suc- 
cessors, the  Governo'  &  Compau}'  of  the  Massachusets,  forever,  all 
that  tract  of  land  at  Pagiscott  aforesaid,  vjxjn  both  sides  of  the  ryver 
Androscoggin,  being  four  miles  square  towards  the  sea,  w"*  all  liber- 
ties &  priviledges  thercvnto  belonging,  so  as  they  may  plant  the  same 
w"*  an  Inglish  colony  when  they  shall  see  fit,  and  shall  have  as  full 
power  to  exercise  iunsdiction  there  as  they  liave  in  the  Massachusets ; 
provided,  that  the  interest  &  possession  of  such  lands  as  the  said 
Thomas  now  vseth,  or  shall  make  vse  of,  for  his  owne  stock,  & 
improvement  w***  in  seavcn  yeares  next  ensuing  the  date  hereof,  shall 
bee  &  remaine  to  the  said  Thomas  &  his  heires  &  assignees  forever 
vuder  the  iurisdiction  aforesaid  ;  and  as  well  the  said  Thomas  hiuiselfe, 
&  his  famil}',  &  his  heires  &  assignes,  as  all  other  the  inhabitants  \\yo\\ 
said  lands,  are  forever  to  bee  vnder  the  due  ptection  of  the  said  Gov- 
emo''  &  Compau}',  by  order  of  the  Generall  Court,  as  other  inhabi- 
tants of  the  same  iurisdiction  are :  This  grant  by  approbation  of  the 
said  Generall  Court  to  bee  recorded  and  exemplified  vnder  the  comon 
scale,  or  otherwise  to  be  vo\'de  —  In  witnes  whereof  the  parties  above 
said  have  herevuto  interchangabl}'  set  their  hands  &  scales  the  day 
&  3'eare  first  above  written. 

TlIOMAS    PURCHES. 

Sigued,  scaled  &  lU'Iiv'ed  in  the  p''esence  of 
Stephkx  Wixtiihope 
Thom  :    Ltx^Hi'oiti) 
Amos  Uic'hakdsox* 


^ Maine  IIist<'i'k-(ti  C'l'llcrthns,  {,]>.  152. 

'^  Records  of  Uie  Colony  of  the  MaasdchuSi^ttH  Bay  in  New  Enjhindy  1,  pp.  272,  27iJ. 


10  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL 

It  is  generally  considered  that  this  deed  gives  the  right  of  jurisdic- 
tion only,  and  not  the  right  to  the  soil.  The  "  four  miles  square 
towards  the  sea"  can  onl}-. refer  to  the  direction  towards  Casco  Bay, 
which  is  only  about  four  miles  distant.  Up  to  this  time  Purchase  was, 
probabl}',  the  only  settler  within  the  limits  of  what  constitutes  the 
present  towns  of  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Ilarpswell. 

[1657.]  There  was  about  this  time  considerable  uncertainty  as  to 
what  government  had  jurisdiction  over  this  region.  It  was  deter- 
mined, in  the  j'ear  1657,  by  an  action  brought  for  the  purpose,  b}* 
the  widow  Elizabeth  Wa}'  against  P^irchase.^  The  matter  was 
referred  to  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts.  In  the  legislature 
there  was  a  difference  of  opinion  on  the  subject,  and  that  body  ap- 
pointed Mountjoy  to  run  the  easterl}-  line  of  Massachusetts.  lie  did  so, 
and  it  was  found  that  it  extended  to  the  mouth  of  the  Sagadahock.^ 

[1669  to  1676.]  About  the  year  1669  Thomas  Gyles  settled  at 
Pleasant  Point,  on  Merrymeeting  Bay,  in  w^hat  is  now  Topsham.  He 
purchased  a  tract  of  land  two  miles  long  and  one  mile  broad,  on  the 
left  bank  of  the  Pejepscot,  of  Thomas  Watkins,  one  of  the  residents 
on  the  Kennebec,  and  also  of  the  Indian  sachem,  Darumkin.^  His 
brother  James  settled  near  him,'*  as  did  also  James  Thomas  and  Sam- 
uel York,  wlio,  Jul}'  20,  1670,  bought  of  Robinhood  and  Daniels  all 
the  tract  of  land  between  Gyles's  lot  and  Terramugus^  Cove.^ 

In  1675  Thomas  Purchase  added  to  the  land  granted  b}'  the  Council 
of  Plymouth,  a  large  tract  on  the  river,  which  he  had  bought  of  the 
Indians."^  Jul}'  3d  of  this  year,  Thomas  Stevens,  who  had  previously 
owned  land  in  North  Yarmouth,  settled  at  New  Meadowp,  and  bought 
a  tract  of  land  on  the  New  Meadows  River,  of  three  Indian  saga- 
mores, Robinhood,  Eramket  Daniels,  and  Manessumet.®  He  had  pre- 
viously bought  land  of  Thomas  Purcliase.^ 

The  land  purchased  of  the  above-mentioned  sagamores  was  "a 
certain  piece  or  parcel  of  land  adjoining  to  Pejepscot  River,  butted 
and  bounded  as  follows :  To  the  land  of  Thomas  Stephens,  now  in 
possession,  cast,  and  to  Alister  Coombs,  his  land,  south,  and  from 
the  head  of  Alister  Coombs,  his  marsh,  westerly,  to  a  certain  path, 

^  MasMtdwsptts  Bay  Colony's  Records,  Vol.  4,  Part  1,  p.  334. 

a  McKecn,  J/6>.  lecture. 

«  York  County  Records,  10,  p.  82.  *  Gyles  Memorial,  p.  103,  et  seq. 

*  This  cove,  named  for  an  Indian  chief,  is  between  the  flour  mill  of  Purinton,  Beav- 
nvont,  &  Co.y  on  the  ^'Granny  Hole  "  stream,  and  the  Topsham  end  of  the  railroad 
hridye. 

^  Maine  Ilistorical  Collection,  3,  p.  315,  et  seq.  '  WiUiamson.    Hubbard. 

8  York  County  Records,  9,  p.  254.  *  Maine  Historical  Collection,  3,  p.  315. 


PEJKPSCOT  PUnCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMENTS.  1 1 

called  the  cam'ing  path,  or  carrying  place,  and  from  said  path  upon  a 
strait  line  to  a  certain  island,  common]}*  called  the  Stave  Island, 
standing  at  the  lower  end  of  Pejepscot  Narrows,  and  to  Pejopscot 
River  north,  and  to  the  aforesaid  land  of  Thomas  Stephens  easterly, 
to  hold  in  fee  with  general  warranty."* 

June  30,  1676,  Stevens  sold  the  above-described  piece  of  land  to 
Lancellot  Pierce,  who  resided  there  for  '*  some  time."  What  became 
of  him  is  not  known,  but  as  William  Pierce,  of  Milton,  in  1715, 
claimed  this  land  as  heir  of  Lancellot  Pierce,^  it  is  probable  that 
the  latter  moved  to  Milton  or  that  vicinit}',  and  died  there.  Stevens 
probably  Uved  on  the  land  which  he  bought  of  Purchase. 

In  1672  Nicholas  Cole  and  John  Purrington  bought  of  Sagettawon 
and  Robin  Hood,  Indian  sagamores,  '^  all  the  Land  Lying  &  Being 
between  the  Two  Carrj-ing  Places  Upon  Merriconeag  Neck  Bogiiming 
at  the  head  of  the  Westermost  Branch  of  Wiggen  Cove  so  directly 
over  to  Wester  Bay  to  the  Bight,  and  so  up  along  the  neck  from  side 
to  Side  untill  the}'  come  to  the  Uppermost  Carr3*ing  place  at  the  head 
of  the  Wester  Bay  at  the  Meadow  which  George  Phipping  has  formerh' 
mowed,  so  over  to  the  head  of  the  crick  that  Comes  in  from  the  Easter 
Bay"  ;  also  "*  That  whole  Tract  of  Meadow  which  they  have  formerly 
possessed  Ujwn  the  Great  Island  lying  and  being  at  the  head  of  the 
Cove  against  the  Little  Cove  on  Great  Jebege  Island  "  The  deed  was 
witnessed  b}*  Thomas  Stevens  and  his  wife,  Margaret.^  It  is  probable 
that  Purrington  himself  did  not  occupj'  this  land.  If  he  did,  he  after- 
wards moved  to  Anindel.^ 

Nicholas  Shapleigh,  of  Kittery,  had,  about  the  3'ear  1659,  though  the 
exact  date  is  unknown,  purchased  and  caused  to  be  settled  Merri- 
coneag (Ilarj^swell)  Neck  and  the  island  of  Sebascodegan.  The  pur- 
chase was  made  of  the  Indians,  and  the  price  paid  for  the  deed  was 
*'  a  considerable  sum  of  wampumpeag,  several  guns,  and  a  parcel  of 
tobacco."^  There  is  no  special  reason  for  supposing,  however,  that 
Shapleigh  aetuall}'  settled  there  himself. 

[1G><3.]  This  land  of  Purchase  and  Wa}',  and  of  Nicholas  Shap- 
leigh, all  came  into  the  hands  of  Richard  Wharton,  a  Boston  merchant. 
July  4,  1G83,  John  Shapleigh,  the  heir  of  Nicholas,  sold  to  Richard 
Wharton  ''  all  that  tract  or  neck  of  land  called  Merry coneg  in  Casco 
Bay,  Province  of  Maine,  and  is  bounded  at  head  or  upper  end,  with 
the  plains  of  Pejepscot  or  lands  late  belonging  to  or  claimed  by  Mr. 


I  Pf'jfpsrot  Pn)n'rn,  Statement  of  Title.  ^  Ptjepsrot  Papfi's. 

8  Pejepscot  PnjM^rs.  *  Ibid.  ^  Ptjejtscot  Records, 


12  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

Puixhase,  and  on  all  other  sides  or  parts  is  incompasscd  and  bounded 
with  and  by  the  salt  water ;  and  also  all  that  the  aforesaid  island 
oalled  Sebasco,  alias  Sequasco-diggin."  * 

October  10,  1683,  Eleazer  Wa}',  of  Hartford,  son  and  heir  of  George 
Way,  the  partner  of  Thomas  Purchase,  sold  to  Richard  Wharton,  for 
£100,  "  one  moiety  or  half  part,  or  whatever  share  or  proix)rtion,  be  the 
same  more  or  less,  he  the  s*  Eliazer  Waj',  now  hath,  may,  might,  should, 
or  in  an}' wise  ought  to  have  or  claim,  of,  in  or  to  a  certain  tract  or 
parcel  of  land  coraraonlj'  called  and  known  by  name  of  Pejepscot^ 
situate,  lying,  and  being  within  the  Province  of  Maine  in  New  Eng- 
land aforesaid,"  together  with  one  half  of  all  lands,  uplands,  meadows, 
etc.,  belonging  to  the  same,  *'  which  said  tract  of  land  and  premises  for 
the  space  of  fort}'  years,  or  thereabouts,  before  the  late  wiir  with  the 
Indians,  was  in  the  actual  possession  and  improvement  of  Mr.  Thomas 
Purchase,  and  was  actually  given  by  patent  from  the  Council  of  Plym- 
outh within  said  Kingdom  of  England,  to  the  said  George  Way,  and 
Thomas  Purchase,  deceased."  ^ 

October  25,  1683,  John  Blaney,  of  Lynn,  and  Elizabeth,  his  wife, 
the  fonner  widow  of  Thomas  Purchase,  of  Pejepscot,  deceased,  and  the 
administratrix  of  his  estate,  testified  "  that  said  Eliazer  Wa}'  had  sold 
his  [Purchase's]  moity  to  s*  Wharton  in  s*  Patent  b}'  the  consent  of 
the  children  of  s**  Purchase  for  their  supjiort  and  settlement  for  £150," 
reser\-ing  seven  lots  which  were  secured  to  tlie  children  by  articles  in 
the  deed.  Tlie  portion  sold  was,  "  All  that  moiety,  half  deal  and 
remaining  share,  whatsoever  the  same  is  or  may  be,  of  the  said  lands 
late  belonging  to  the  s*  Thomas  Purchase  by  virtue  of  the  said  patent 
or  an}'  other  right  in  partnership  with  the  said  George  or  Eliazer  Way, 
and  all  the  right  and  title,  propriety  and  interest  which  the  said 
Thomas  Purchase  died  seized  of,  or  that  he  might,  should,  or  ought 
to  have  had  in  the  said  Province  of  Maine."  The  children  of  Pur- 
chase signified  their  consent  to  the  sale  on  the  deed  itself.  ^ 

It  will  be  seen,  from  the  above  extracts,  that  at  this  time  Wharton 
owned  the  whole  of  what  is  now  the  town  of  Harps  well,  —  except  a  few 
islands,  —  the  greater  portion  of  Brunswick,  and  a  tract  on  the  river  in 
what  is  now  the  town  of  Topsham. 

[1684.]  On  July  7,  1684,  Worumbo  and  five  other  Indian  saga- 
mores signed  and  delivered  to  Wharton  the  following  deed  :  — 

''  To  ALL  People  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come,  Know  Yee  that 
whereas  near  three  score  years  since  M""  Tliomas  I*urehase  deceas'd 


1  Pfjejtscot  Pap.'rSj  Slatetnent  of  Title,  2  ji,ia.  »  Ibid. 


PE.TEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AXD  PRIOR  SkTTLEMEXTS,  13 

came  into  this  Countre}'  as  wee  liave  been  informed  and  did  as  well  by 
Power  or  Patent  derived  from  the  King  of  England  as  bj'  consent  con- 
tract &  agreement  with  Sagamores  &  Proprietors  of  all  the  Lands 
hing  on  the  Easterly-  Side  of  Casco  Bay  &  on  the  ]>oth  sides  of 
Androscoggen  River  &  Kennebeck  River,  enter  upon  &  take  posses- 
sion of  all  the  Lands  lying  four  Miles  Westward  from  the  uppermost 
Falls  in  S**  Androscoggan  River  to  Maquoit  in  Casco  Bay  &  in  the  Lands 
on  the  other  side  Androscoggan  River  from  above  s*  Falls  down  to 
Pejepscot  and  Merr^-meeting  Ba}'  to  be  bounded  by  a  South  West  A 
North  East  Line  to  run  from  the  upper  part  of  s*  Falls  to  Kennebeck 
River  &  all  the  Lands  from  Maquoit  to  Pejepscot  &  to  hold  the  same 
Breadth  where  the  Land  will  bear  it  down  to  a  place  called  Atkins  his 
Bay  near  to  Sagadahock  or  the  Westerly'  side  of  Kennebeck  River  A 
all  the  Islands  in  the  S*^  Kennebeck  River  &  Land  between  the  said 
Atkins  his  Baj'  &  Small  Point  Harbour  the  Lands  &  Rivers  &  Pond 
interjacent  containing  in  breadth  about  three  English  Miles  more  or 
less,  And  whereas  we  are  well  assured  that  Maj'  Nicholas  Shapleigh 
in  his  lifetime  was  both  by  purchase  from  the  Indian  Sagamores  our 
Ancestors  and  consent  of  M'.  Gorges  Commissioner  possessed  &  d^'ed 
Seized  of  the  remainder  of  all  the  Lands  lying  &  adjoining  upon  the 
Maine  &  all  the  Islands  between  the  said  Small  Point  Harbour  A 
Maquoit  afores'd  &,  particularly'  of  a  Neck  of  Land  Merryconege  &  an 
Island  called  Sebasco  Diggin.  And  whereas  the  Relicts  &  Heirs  of 
said  Mr  Purchase  and  Maj'  Nicholas  Shapleigh  have  reserved  accom- 
modations for  their  several  Families  sold  all  the  remainder  of  the 
aforesaid  Lands  &,  Islands  to  Richard  Wharton  of  Boston  Merch*, 
And  for  asmuch  as  the  said  M'  Purchase  did  personally  possess 
improve  &  inhabit  at  Pejepscot  afores*^  near  tlie  Centre  or  Middle  of 
all  the  Lands  afores**  for  near  fifty  years  before  the  Late  unhappj'  War, 
And  Whereas  the  s**  Richard  Wharton  hath  desired  an  enlargement 
upon  and  between  tlie  s^  Androscoggen  &  Kennebec  Rivers  &  to  en- 
courage the  Said  Ricliard  Wharton  to  settle  an  P^nglish  Town  &  i)ro- 
mote  the  Salmon  and  Sturgeon  Fishing  by  whic^h  we  promise  our  Selves 
great  Supplycs  &  Relief.  Therefore  &  for  other  good  causes  &  consid- 
eration, &  ospt'cially  for  &  in  consideration  of  a  Valuable  Sum  received 
from  the  S"*  Wharton  in  Merchandize.  Wee  Warum))ee,  Darumkine, 
Wihikermet,  Wedon-Domhegon,  Neonongasset,  &  Ninibaiiowet  Chief 
Sagamores  of  all  the  aforesaid  and  other  Rivers  &  Land  Adjacent  have 
in  conformation  of  the  said  Richard  Whartons  Title  &  Propriety  full^' 
freely  and  absolutely  given  granted  ratifyed  &  conlinned  to  him  the  said 
Richard  Wharton  all  the  afores**  Lands  from  the  uppermost  part  of 


14  lUSTOBY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HAKPSWELL, 

Androscoggax  Falls  Four  Miles  Westward  &  so  down  to  Maquoit  & 
by  Sftid  River  of  Pejepscot  &  from  the  other  side  of  Androscoggan  Falls 
all  the  Laud  from  the  Falls  to  Pejepscot  &  Merrj'meeting  Bay  to  Ken- 
elieck  &  towards  the  Wilderness  to  be  Iwimded  by  a  South  West  & 
North  East  Line  to  extend  from  the  upi>er  part  of  the  said  Andros- 
coggan UPPER3IOST  Falls  to  the  said  River  of  Kenebeck  &  all  the  Land 
from  Maquoit  to  Pejepscot  &  to  run  &  hold  the  same  Breadth  Where  the 
Land  will  bear  it  unto  Atkins  his  Bay  in  Kenebeck  River  &  S 31  all  Point 
Harbour  in  Casco  Bay  and  all  Islands  in  Kenebeck  &  Pejepscot  Rivers 
&  Merrymeeting  Ba}'  &  within  the  afores*  Bounds.  P]s|)eciall3^  the 
aforesaid  Neck  of  Land  called  Merryconege  &  Island  called  Sebasco 
Deggin  Together  with  all  Rivers  Rivulets  Brooks  Ponds  Pools  Waters 
Watercourses.  All  wood  Trees  of  Timber  or  other  Trees  &  all  IVIines 
Miueralls  &  Quarries  and  especially  the  Sole  &  absolute  use  &  benefit 
of  Salmon  and  Sturgeon  Fishing  in  all  the  Rivers  Rivulets  or  Bays 
afores*  <Sc  in  all  Rivers  Brooks  Creeks  or  Ponds  within  an}'  of  the 
Bounds  aforesaid.  And  also  Wee  the  Said  Sagamores  have  upon  the 
considerations  aforesaid  given  granted  bargained  &  sold  enfeoffed  & 
confirmed  &  do  by  these  presents  give  grant  bargain  sell  aliene  enfe- 
offe  &  confirm  to  him  the  said  Richard  Wharton  all  the  Land  lying 
Five  Miles  above  the  upi)ermost  of  the  said  Androscoggan  P'alls  in 
Breadth  cfe  Length  holding  the  same  Breadth  from  Androscoggan  Falls 
to  Kenebeck  River  &  to  be  bounded  by  the  afores*  South  West  and 
North  East  Line  &  a  parcell  of  Land  at  Five  Miles  Distance  to  run 
from  Androscoggan  to  Kennebeck  River  as  afores**  Together  with  all 
the  Profits  IMviledges  Commodities  Benefits  &  Advautages  &  particu- 
larly the  Sole- Propriety  Benefit  &  Advantage  of  the  Salmon  &  Stur- 
geon Fishing  within  the  Bounds  &  Lunits  aforesaid  To  have  &  to 
hold  to  him  the  said  Richard  Wharton  his  heirs  &  assignes  for  ever  all 
the  aforename<l  Lands  Priveledges  &  Premises  with  all  benefits  rights 
appurtenances  or  advantages  that  now  do  or  hereafter  shall  or  may 
belong  unto  an}'  part  or  parcell  of  the  Premises  fully  freely  &  abso- 
lutel}'  acquitted  &  discharged  from  all  fonner  &  other  gifts  grants 
bargains  sales  mortgages  &  Incumbrances  whatsoever,  And  Wee 
the  said  Wannnliee  Derumkine  Wihikermet  Wedon-Domhegon,  Neon- 
ODgasset  &  Numl>enewet  do  covenant  &  grant  to  &  with  the  said 
Richard  Wharton  that  we  have  in  our  selves  good  right  &  fuU  power 
thus  to  confinn  &  convey  the  premises  &  that  we  our  heirs  and  suc- 
cessors shall  &  will  warrant  &  defend  the  said  Richard  Wharton  his 
heirs  &  assignes  for  ever  in  the  peaceable  enjoyment  of  the  IVcmises 
&  ever)'  part  thereof  against  all  and  every  pereon  or  persons  that  may 


PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AXD  PBIOR  SETTLEMENTS.  15 

legally  claim  anj'  right  Title  Interest  or  Propriety  in  the  Premises  by 
from  or  under  us  tlie  ahovenamed  Sagamoi*es  or  any  of  our  Ancestors 
or  Predecessors,  Provided  nevertheless  that  nothing  in  this  Deed  be 
construed  to  deprive  us  the  S**  Sagamores  our  Successors  or  People 
from  improving  our  antient  planting  grounds  nor  from  hunting  in  an}' 
of  the  said  Land  being  not  inclosed  nor  from  fishing  for  our  own  pro- 
vision so  long  as  no  Damage  shall  be  to  the  English  Fishery,  Provided 
also  that  nothing  herein  contained  shall  prejudice  an}'  of  the  English 
Inhabitants  or  Planters  being  at  present  actually  possessed  of  any  of 
the  Premises  &  legally  deriving  riglit  from  S**  Mr.  Purchase  &c  or 
Ancestors.  In  witness  hereof  we  the  aforenamed  Sagamores  well 
understanding  the  Purport  hereof  do  set  to  our  hands  &  Scales  at 
Pejepscot  the  seventh  Da}'  of  July  in  the  thirty  fifth  3'ear  of  the  Reign 
of  our  Sovereign  Lord  King  Charles  the  Second  One  Thousand  Six 
hundred  eighty  four. 

The  mark  of  Warumbee  %y>    [His 

^^      seal] 

•  The  mark  of  Darumkine  y^     [Seal] 

Sealed  and  Deliv- 
ered    In     pres-  ^j^ 

ence  of  The  mark  of  Wiiiikermet  ^tt     [Seal] 


/O/  [Seal] 


John  Blaxey 

James  Andrews      The  mark  of  Wedon  Domheoon 
Henry  W.^lters 

JonX   PVUKER 

Geo.  Felt  The  3IARK  of  Nehoxongasset  \JL^     [Seal] 

m 

The  mark  of  Xumbexewet  CV^  [Seal]'* 

Upon  this  deed  was  the  following  indorsement :  — 
'*  Upon  the  da\'  of  date  of  the  within  written  deed  the  several  Sag- 
amores whose  names  arc  subscribed  thereto  &  inserted  therein  did  at 
the  Fort  at  Pejepscot  deliver  quiet  and  peaceable  possession  of  the 
premises  with  liver}-  and  seizen  to  Mr.  John  Blane}'  and  wife  in  their 
own  right  as  she  is  administratrix  of  the  estate  of  Thomas  Purchase 
dec'd  and  in  the  rin^ht  of  his  children.  Also  the  S*^  Mr.  Blanev  Attor- 
nc}'  to  Mr.  Eleasar  Way  did  the  same  day  deliver  quiet  &  peaceable 
possession,  with  Livery  &  Seizen  of  the  Premises  to  !Mr.  Richard 
Wharton,  the  (^uantit}'  of  Seven  hundred  Acres  of  Land  being 
excepted  according  to  a  Former  Agreement."  This  was  signed  b}' 
Henry  Waters  and  John  Parker,  and  sworn  to  July  19,  1084,  before 


16       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Edward  Tyng,  justice  of  the  peace.  On  July  21  following,  Wanim- 
bee,  for  himself  and  the  other  sagamores  who  sealed  and  delivered 
the  foregoing  deed,  acknowledged  it  to  be  his  and  their  free  and  voliin- 
tarj'  act,  before  the  sajne  justice.  James  Andrews,  on  Jul}'  21,  1684, 
and  John  Parker,  July  9, 1684,  two  of  the  subscribing  witnesses,  made 
oath  before  the  same  justice,  that  they  saw  this  deed  signed,  sealed, 
and  delivered 

John  Parker  furthermore  swore,  at  the  same  time,  and  before  the 
same  justice,  that  he  saw  possession  given,  together  with  livery  and 
seizin  of  the  premises,  in  presence  of  the  several  witnesses  before 
named,  and  further  stated  that  upon  the  eleventh  day  of  Jul}',  he  with 
Henry  Waters  was  present  and  saw  AVorumbo  deliver  possession  and 
livery  and  seizin  "by  a  turf  and  twig  and  a  little  water  taken  by  him- 
self off  the  land  and  out  of  the  main  river  above  Androscoggin  Falls, 
to  Richard  Wharton  in  full  compliance  with  the  conveyance  of  tlie 
premises  within  granted  and  confirmed." 

This  deed,  with  tlie  several  proofs  thereof  and  possession  given 
thereon,  were  recorded  in  the  Province  (York)  records,  Jul}*  26,  1684.^ 

Wharton  found  his  deed  encumbered  b}'  prior  deecfs,  one  of  which 
was  an  Indian  deed,  dated  1659,  to  John  Parker,  the  consideration  for 
which  was  * '  one  Beaver  skin  received  and  the  yearly  rent  of  one 
bushel  of  corn  and  a  quart  of  liquor,  to  be  paid  on  or  before  the  25^ 
of  December.'*  ^  It  is  probable  that  this  was  the  same  tract  of  land 
(Sebascodegan)  which  Wharton,  in  behalf  of  his  son  William,  sold  to 
John  Parker  on  July  20,  1684.3 

The  fort  referred  to  in  this  Worumbo  deed  was  not,  as  will  be 
noticed  by  the  date,  the  one  built  by  Governor  Andross  in  1689,  nor 
Fort  George,  which  was  built  still  later. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  proper  to  speak  of  the  claim  of  the  Eaton 
family  to  the  territory  now  comprising  the  town  of  Brunswick.  Ac- 
cording to  tradition,  Jacob  Eaton  came  here  from  Salisbury',  Massa- 
chusetts, about  1680,  or  earlier,  with  one  Michael  Malcom,  as  a  trader 
and  trapper  with  the  Indians.  They  are  said  to  have  bought  this 
tract  of  land  of  the  Indians,  and  the  famil}*  believe,  and  it  has  been 
thouglit  b}'  members  of  the  legal  profession,  that  there  was  a  valid 
claim.  There  are  no  deeds  in  possession  of  the  family,  and  none  were 
found  in  the  York  Couutv  records  to  substantiate  this  claim.  It  is 
very  pro))able,  however,  that  there  was  such  a  purchase-  from  the  In- 
dians, and  that  this  was  one  of  the  "  prior  claims  "  referred  to  as  com- 

1  Pijepscot  Records,       2  j^/j.       8  York  County  Records,  4,  p.  10. 


PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMENTS,  17 

plicating  Wharton's  deed.  Unfortunately  for  the  family,  however,  a 
deed  from  the  Indians  would  not  be  valid  if  there  was  at  an}-  time  a 
grant  from  the  throne  of  England  covering  the  same  territoiy.  Such 
a  grant  Purchase  and  Way  undoubtedlj'  had,  and  as  this  land  came 
legally  into  the  possession  of  Wharton,  and  as,  at  a  later  day,  the  claim 
of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  was  acknowledged  to  be  valid  b}'  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts,  there  can  be  no  question  that,  whatever 
claim  the  Katons  may  have  once  had,  it  is  now  irrecoverably  lost. 
The  case  woul  I  be  no  better  if  the  Eaton  claim  should  be  proved  to 
have  been  derived  from  the  Kennebec  or  Plymouth  Company. 

[1691.]  About  the  year  1G91,  one  Nicholas  Cole,  who  had  pren- 
ouslj' settled  on  Harpswell  Neck  under  a  title  derived  from  the  Indians, 
set  up  his  claim  to  possession  under  an  old  title  of  Hansard  College. 
It  seems  that  on  February  7,  1682,  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts granted  ''  Merriconeag  Neck  with  1,000  acres  of  land  adjacent," 
to  the  President  and  Fellows  of  Har\'ard  College.^  The  same  j'ear 
the  same  Court  also  granted  to  Richard  Wharton  1 ,000  acres  of  land 
**  in  the  Province  of  Mayne,  either  upon  any  free  Island  or  place  upon 
the  Mayne."  ^  The  college  afterwards  became  anxious  to  secure  the 
grant  which  had  been  made  in  1682,  and  applied  to  the  legislature  for 
its  confirmation ;  the  decision  was,  however,  in  favor  of  the  Pejepscot 
proprietors,  into  whose  possession  the  property  had  come.  The  col- 
lege obtained  permission  to  review  the  case,  but  were  again  defeated. ^ 

Notwithstanding  these  decisions,  the  General  Court,  on  May  7, 
1684,  granted  ''to  the  Honoured  Deputy,  Goveruour  Thomas  Dan- 
forth,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Province  of  Maine,  and  to  Surauer 
Nowell,  Esq.,  for  their  great  Pains  and  good  Service,  done  by  order 
of  this  Court,  in  the  expedition  in  several  Jounie3's  to  Casco,  for 
which  no  Recompense  hath  been  made  them,  an  Island  called  Shebis- 
codego,  in  Casco  Ba}',  in  the  Province  of  Maine,  Provided  they  take 
the  said  Island  in  full  satisfaction  for  all  serv^ice  done,  referring  to  the 
Settlement  of  the  Province  of  Maine  to  this  day."  ^ 

OTHER  EARLY   SETTLERS. 

[1653.]  In  1653  the  General  Court  of  New  Plymouth  appointed 
Thomas  Prince  a  commissioner  to  institute  a  civil  government  in 
this  i>ortion  of  the  Province  of  Elaine.  A  meeting  of  the  inhabi- 
tants was  notified  bv  Prince,  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Ash- 


1  AtUitted  Copy  <\f  Court  Record  in  Pejepscot  Papers.  2  /&/(/. 

^McKan,  J/^'6'.  fjerture. 

*  Attested  copy  of  Court  Record  in  Pejejscot  Papers. 
2 


18'  lUSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

lej'  at  Merrjmeeting  Bay,  in  what  is  now  called  Dresden,*  on  May  25, 
1654. 

At  this  meeting  "Thomas  Purchase  of  Pejepscot"  was  chosen 
*'  Assistant  to  the  Government,"  and  John  Ashley,  constable.  Prince, 
also,  at  this  meeting,  administered  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  sixteen 
men. 2  The  residence  of  these  men  was,  for  the  most  part,  on  the 
east  bank  of  the  Kennebec  and  on  the  Sagadahoc.  Alexander  Thwait, 
one  of  the  number,  was  settled,  according  to  McKeen,  on  the  part  of 
Merr^'meeting  Bay  opposite  Fulton's  Point,^  and  if  this  was  the  case, 
he  and  Richard  Collicutt,  who  lived  near  him  soon  after,  must  have 
been  Mr.  Purchase's  nearest  neighbors.  Sewall,^  however,  locates 
Thwait  at  Wiiniegance. 

[1658.]  Thomas  Ilaynes  is  thought  to  have  settled  this  year  at 
Maquoit,*  where  he  retained  land  as  late  as  1678.  His  wife's  name 
was  Jovce.^ 

[1672.]  Richard  Potts  was  settled  as  earlj'  as  1672,^  and  prob- 
abl3'  a  year  or  two  earlier,*'  on  what  was  known  as  New  Damariscove 
Island.  In  1673  he  owned  and  lived  upon  the  point  which  still  bears 
his  name,  at  the  extremit}'  of  Harpswell  Neck.^ 

The  foUowino;  individuals  are  known  to  have  been  settled  about 
this  time,  certainly  prior  to  1700,  within  the  limits  of  what  was  after- 
wards called  the  Pejepscot  purchase :  at  Middle  Bay,  John  Cleaves ; 
on  White's  Island,.  Nicholas  White ;  at  Mair  Point,  James  Carter, 
Thomas  Ilaynes,  Andrew  and  George  Phippeny ;  at  Macjuoit  Bay, 
John  Swaine,  Thomas  Kimball,  of  Charleston,  who  settled  on  Iloeg 
Island  in  1658,*®  John  Sears,  Thomas  Wharton,  Samuel  Libby,**  who 
subsequently  resided  in  Scarlwrough,  Henry  Webb,  Edward  Creet  (or 
Creek), *^  and  Roliert  Jordan  ;  on  Smoking  Fish  Point,*^  Cliristopher 
Lawson,  an  Antinomian  ;  at  or  near  New  Meadows,  in  1675,  was 
Alister  Coombs.** 

The  island  of  Sebascodegan  was  settled  as  early  as  1639  b}' 
Francis  Small  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  whose  child  was  the  first  born 
on  the  island,  of  P^nglish  parents.     He  was  from  Kittery,*^  and  was  a 

iMcKeeiiy  ^fSS.  Jjccture.  ^  Maine  Historical  Collections,  5,  p.  11)4. 

^McKeeu,  MSS.  Lecture.  ^Ancient  Dominions  of  Maine,  p.  131. 

6  ^^Hlis,  Ilistoi-y  of  Portland,  p.  Oa       «  York  County  Registry  of  Deeds,  4,  p.  20. 
"  Pejepscot  Papers.  8  York  County  Records,  2,  p.  2&y. 

»  York  County  Records,  10,  p.  89.  w  York  County  Records,  2,  j).  90. 

11  York  County  Records,  various  references. 

12  York  Records,  4.  p.  20.    Land  adjoined  Thomas  Haines's. 

w  What  is  called  Ireland,  McKeen,         *♦  P(Jepscot  Paj>ers,  Statenioit  of  Title. 
^6 McKeen,  Ilarpsictll  Banner,  Oct.,  1832. 


PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMENTS.  19 

tenant  under  Colonel  Shapleigh.  The  latter  also  owned  Merriconeag 
Neck.  The  neck  at  this  time  had  a  number  of  settlers  upon  it  who 
were  all  driven  off  by  the  Indians  at  the  commencement  of  King 
Philip's  War  in  1675.1  In  1683  Shapleigh,  finding  his  property  almost 
worthless  on  account  of  the  Indian  troubles,  sold  the  neck  and  island 
to  Richard  Wliarton,  of  Boston. 

After  Wharton's  purchase  of  Sebascodegan,  the  Indians  continued 
possession  of  the  island,  for  the  purpose  of  catching  fish,  seal,  and 
porpoise.  This  prevented  any  further  settlements  there  for  some 
3*ears.*^ 

[1689.]  In  the  year  1689  that  portion  of  the  Pejepscot  tract  adja- 
cent to  Brunswick,  known  as  the  '/  Gore,"  which  formerly  belonged 
to  the  town  of  Yarmouth,  but  is  now  a  part  of  Freeport,  began  to  be 
settled.  Eight  or  ten  families  who  had  been  driven  from  Eleutheria, 
one  of  the  West  India  Islands,  by  the  Spaniards,  and  who  were 
dependent  on  Boston  for  support,  came  thither  for  a  home.^  The 
Gore  was  a  triangular  strip  of  land  left  between  the  southwestern 
boundary-  of  Brunswick  and  the  northeastern  line  of  Yarmouth. 

[1702.]  In  1702  Benjamin  Marston  received  possession  by  deed, 
of  Thomas  Potts,  of  Dover,  New  Hampshire,  son  of  Richard  Potts,  of 
the  estate  at  Potts's  Point  and  the  island  near  by,  which  was  previously 
owned  by  Potts.^     He  is  thought  to  have  made  a  settlement  there. 

Among  the  Pejepscot  Papers  is  the  following  memorandum,  which, 
though  in  part  a  repetition  of  what  has  alread}'  been  given,  is  inserted 
on  accouut  of  the  more  particular  information  it  conveys  about  certain 
matters.  No  date  or  authorship  is  given  to  the  paper,  but  there  is  no 
doubt  that  it  was  made  about  the  3*ear  1714,  by  one  of  the  Pejepscot 
proprietors. 

"AN  ACC'T  OF  THE  EASTERN  PARTS  AND  OF  THE  SEVERAL 
SETTLEMENTS  THAT  HAVE  EVER  BEEN  MADE  ON  THE  LAND^ 
FORMERLY  PURCHASED  BY  MR.  WHARTON  AND  NO\V»  BOUGHT 
BY    EIGHT   OF   US. 

' '  The  narrow  carrjing  place  that  parts  Casco  Ba}'  from  Merrj'meet- 
ing  Bay,  settled  by  Stevens,  who  has  a  son  now  at  New  Haven  mar- 
ried to  Parkers*  daughter. 

**  Settlements  on  the  Eastern  side  of  Small  Point  Neck. 

"  Next  to  above  s**  Stevens,  at  the  upj>er  Whigby,  or  Wiskege,  by 
Lawson  owned  by  Ephraim  Savage. 

UAcAVn,  Ilftt'pstrdl  Bonner,  Oct.,  1832.  ^  Mr  Keen,  Ibid. 

*McK(en,  "  GOaninf/s"  in  Jirunsicick  Telegraph,  1859. 

♦  York  (Jountfj  lOronh,  10,  p.  88. 

•  The  P^epscot  Company  teas  formed  in  1714. 


I 


14 


i 


fi 


2(1  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


"  William  Rogers  about  2  leagues  lower. 

''  Thomas  Watkins  about  a  mile  lower. 

"  Mr.  Gooch,  the  minister,  about  a  mile  lower  down  the  river. 

'•  John  Filman  about  a  mile  lower. 

"  Capt.  R«3'nolds  about  a  mile  lower. 
H  "  John  La3ton  at  the  neck  just  above  Winegance. 

"  Mary  Webber  about  2  mile  lower  —  her  son  goes  now  with  Cap- 
tain Bracket. 

'*  William  Baker  about  a  mile  lower. 

'^  Sylvanus  Davis,  now  suppose  Nelson. 

''John  Parker. 

"  Thomas  Humphreys. 

''  Ichabod  Wiswall. 

"  John  Verin. 

'*  Samuel  Newcomb. 

"  William  Cock  and  John  Cock  within  half  a  mile. 

*'  Robert  Edmunds,  said  to  be  claimed  now  by  S'  Charles  Hobb}-. 

*'  James  Mudge  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile. 

"  Thomas  Atkins,  said  to  haA'e  bo't  the  whole  neck  down  to  Small 
Point  of  Indians  and  to  have  sold  their  interest  to  the  other  inhabi- 
tants. Some  of  his  heirs  supposed  to  be  now  living  at  Roxburj'  or 
Dorchester. 

"Ambrose  Hunniwell  the  lowest  settlement  on  that  side,  about  4 
mile  short  of  Small  Point.  Hunniwell  that  works  for  Captain  Belcher, 
one  of  that  family. 

'*  On  the  western  side  of  that  neck  only  Drake  who  settled  at 
Small  Point  harbour  —  lived  there  but  a  little  while. 

"  On  Merriconege  Neck  only  2  settlements. 

''  Richard  Potts  who  lived  at  the  lower  end. 

''  John  Damarell  about  3  miles  above  him. 

"  But  one  settlement  at  Mair  Point  by  John  Phippany. 

''  But  one  settlement  at  Maquoit  by  Robert  ^  Haines. 

"  Settlements  between  Pejepscot  &  Swan  Island  on  the  north  side 
of  Merrymeeting  Ba}'. 

"  Samuel  York  about  4  or  5  mile  down  from  the  Falls  on  the  East- 
ern side.  Living  now  at  Squam,  Caj^e  Ann,  he  supposed  the  likeliest 
man  to  inform  how  far  Merriconege  Neck  or  Shaplej's  Island  have  been 
possessed  or  improved. 

*'  James  Thomas  J  a  mile  below.  He  and  his  heirs  supposed  to  be 
whollv  extinct. 

^Possibly  'Jhomaiis  meant. 


FEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMENTS,  21 

"  Williams  ^  a  mile  farther  —  only  a  man  &  his  wife — had  no  chil- 
dren —  supposed  to  be  extinct. 

"  James  Giles  about  4  miles  up  Muddy  River. 

"  Thomas  Giles  at  Point  on  south  side  of  Muddy  River  mouth. 
Of  these  families  Gyles  of  Winnissemet  Ferry  and  Giles  the  Inter- 
preter now  live  at  Salisburj'. 

"  Thomas  Watkins  at  Shildrake  Point,  between  Mudd}'  River  and 
Cathance. 

"  Alexander  Browne  east  side  of  mouth  of  Cathance  River. 

"'  Dependence  Collicut  at  point  of  Abegedasset  River  claims  that 
point  —  no  settlement  between  s*  Collicut  &  Swan  Island. 

''  One  settlement  at  Swan  Island  by  Collicut,  Alexander  Brown  and 
Humphrej'  Davis,  by  turns —  " 

Samuel  White,  in  1714,  produced  the  testimony  of  Geoi^e  Phippen 
and  wife  that  his  grandfather,  Nicholas  White,  was  settled  at  the 
upper  end  of  Mair  Point  about  forty-four  j-ears  previousl}',  and  that 
Phippen  and  his  wife  were  for  several  j'ears  the  nearest  neighbors. 
Two  other  testimonies,  of  persons  living  *'  on  Pulpit  Island  or  New 
Damariscove,"  were  given  to  the  same  effect.  The  names  of  these 
two  witnesses  are  not  recorded.^ 

ORIGIN  OF  THE  PEJEPSCOT  COMPANY. 

[1693.]  Richard  Wharton,  who  had  become  possessed  of  the 
greater  portion  of  the  lands  alread}'  mentioned,  having  died  in  P^ngland, 
administration  de  bonis  non  on  his  estate  was  granted  Dec.  30,  1C9S, 
to  Ephraim  Savage,  of  Boston. 

[1697.]  On  Oct.  26,  1697,  the  Superior  Court  at  Boston  author- 
ized and  empowered  Savage  to  sell  Wharton's  estate  in  order  to  liqui- 
date his  debts.^ 

[1714.]  On  Nov.  o,  1714,  Savage,  acting  in  accordance  with  the 
authoritj'  above  mentioned,  sold  the  whole  of  the  above  tract  of  land 
to  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Adam  Winthrop,  John  Watts,  David  Jeffries, 
Stephen  Minot,  Oliver  Noyes,  and  John  Ruck,  of  Boston,  Massachu- 
setts, and  John  Went  worth,  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  for  the 
8um  of  £140,  to  hold  in  fee  as  tenants  in  common.  The  convevance 
was  acknowledgtnl  the  next  day  and  was  recorded  in  the  York  records 
on  the  nineteenth  of  the  following  November.^ 

These  '*  tenants  in  common"  constituted  the  original  company  of 
the  Pejepscot  proprietors.     On  Oct.  20,  1714,  the  General  Court  of 

^  P^epscot  Papers,     2  Pejepscot  Records.     •  P^cpscot  Papcrsj  Statement  of  Title, 


I 


I  t 


r. 


■!i< 

f- 


t  • ' 
I.  ■■ 
.   I 


22         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


Massachusetts  passed  a  resolution  that  it  was  for  the  public  interest 
that  some  townships  be  laid  out  and  settled  in  the  eastern  coimtry, 
li  and  John  Wheelwright  and  others  were  appointed  a  committee  to 

receive  the  claims  of  all  persons  claiming  lands  there. 

[1715.]  On  the  18th  of  Februarj',  1715,  the  Pejepscot  proprie- 
tors made  certain  proposals  to  the  above-mentioned  committee :  — 

1.  That  .the  General  Court  should  give  confirmation  to  their  pur- 
chase, in  order  that  the}'  might  "  be  better  able  to  encourage  substan- 
tial farmers  to  remove  with  their  stock  from  England.'* 

2.  For  the  encouragement  of  a  fishing  town  at  Small  Point. 

3.  That  whenever  twelve  or  more  persons  offered  themselves  for 
any  new  settlement,  they  should  be  "covere^l"^  with  such  a  force 
and  for  such  a  time  as  the  General  Court  should  deem  necessan'. 

4.  That  those  settling  in  the  limits  of  the  Pejepscot  tract  should, 
,                    for  the  first  seven  3'ear8,  have  some  assistance  from  the  public  towards 

the  maintenance  of  a  ministry,  and  should  be  exempted  from  the  pay- 
1  ment  of  any  Province  tax. 

fi  The  proprietors  agreed  that,  if  the  General  Court  would  consent  to 

•r  the  foregoing  i)roposals,  they  would,  on  their  part,  agree  to  enter  into 

the  following  arrangements  :  — 

1.  To  lay  out  three  or,  if  the  land  would  admit,  four  plats  or 
towns,  and  have  them  surveyed  and  platted  that  same  summer,  at 
their  own  cost. 

2.  "In  seven  3'ears,  if  peace  continues  with  the  Indians,"  they 
would  settle  "  each  of  said  towns  with  fifb}'  families  or  more,  in  a 
defensive  manner,  having  already  offers  of  xQvy  considerable  num- 
bers, both  in  this  country  and  ftx)m  England."  And  in  order  thereto 
the}-  were  willing  to  grant  them  such  house-lots,  in  fee,  and  such 
accommodations  in  regard  to  their  lands,  as  might  induce  them  to  set- 
tle there. 

8,  That  the}'^  would  lay  out  a  convenient  portion  of  land  in  each 
town,  for  *'the  subsistence  of  the  first  minister,  the  ministry,  and  a 
school." 

4.  "Being  desirous  that  the  people  might  not  live  like  heathen, 
without  the  worship  of  God,  as  had  been  too  frequent  in  new  settle- 
ments," they  engaged,  for  the  more  speed}'  procuring  of  a  minister, 
and  to  make  it  easier  for  the  inhabitants  at  their  first  settling  down, 
that  as  soon  as  there  should  be  twenty  householders  in  each  of  the 
towns,  who  would  provide  a  frame  for,  and  raise  a  meeting-house 

1  t.'c,  protected. 


PEJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  8ETTLEMEXTS,  23 

they  would,  at  their  own  expense,  furnish  glass,  lead,  nails,  iron 
work,  and  other  materials,  and  finish  the  meeting-house  for  them,  and 
pay  towards  the  maintenance  of  an  ".orthodox  gospel  minister"  in 
each  town,  the  sum  of  £40  per  annum,  for  five  years.  These  pro- 
posals to  the  committee  received  the  signature  of  all  the  proprietors.^ 
On  the  twentj'-seventh  of  the  following  Ma3S  the  committee  reported 
favorably  on  these  proposals,  and  the  General  Court,  on  the  tenth  of 
June,  passed  resolutions  in  accordance  therewith.  Thus  this  company 
became  undoubted  legal  owners  of  the  territory  they  had  purchased. 

STATEMENT  OF  THE  TITLE. 

The  Pejepscot  tract,  in  consequence  of  the  varied  mode  of  its  acqui- 
sition and  the  uncertainty  of  its  true  bounds,  became  the  subject  of  a 
length}*  and  severe  controversy  between  the  proprietors  and  several 
other  claimants,  —  more  particularly  the  Kennebec  Company,  —  which 
lasted  until  about  1814.  In  order  to  understand  this  controversy',  as 
well  as  the  decision  arrived  at,  it  becomes  necessarv  to  state  the  sev- 
eral  questions  involved,  and  to  make  some  explanatory  remarks. 

It  is  not,  however,  necessar}-  to  reproduce  the  exact  points  ui'ged 
by  the  opponents  of  the  Pejepscot  Compan}'.  The  questions  to  be 
considered  are  evidently  as  follows :  — 

1.  In  regard  to  the  validity  of  the  original  titles  to  the  land. 

2.  In  regard  to  the  extent  of  these  titles. 

3.  In  regard  to  the  validity'  of  the  subsequent  sales  and  convey- 
ances. 

4.  In  regard  to  the  jurisdiction. 

In  regard  to  the  first,  it  is  proper  to  state  that  the  original  claims 
to  all  lands  in  this  section  could  only  originate  in  one  of  three  ways : 
firsts  by  grant  from  the  King  of  England,  direct  or  indirect ; 
secondhj^  hy  purchase  from  the  Indians ;  thirdly,  by  right  of  occupa- 
tion of  unclaimed  land,  in  other  words,  b}-  the  right  of  '*  squatter 
sove  reign  t}'." 

The  validity'  of  the  claims  to  land  obtained  in  these  three  wa3's  may 
be  considered  as  strong  in  the  order  given.  The  riglit  in  virtue  of  a 
grant  emanating  from  the  government  holding  possession  of  the  coun- 
trj'  has  ever  been  considered  indubitable,  unless  conflicting  with  some 
prior  grant  from  the  same  source.  The  riglit  in  virtue  of  a  grant  from 
the  Indians  is  more  than  doubtful,  though  it  may,  we  presume,  some- 
times have  been  deemed  valid  in  those  cases  where  no  other  grant 

I  P^epscot  Records, 


24         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

existed,^  and  where  there  had  been  no  prior  sale  hy  parties  represent- 
ing the  same  tribe,  and  the  right  either  of  those  selling,  or  of  the  tribe 
the}^  claimed  to  represent,  was  not  contested.  The  right  b}'  virtue  of 
occupation  simply,  is  valid  after  the  lapse  of  a  certain  number  of 
years,  determined  by  legal  enactments. 

In  applying  these  principles  to  the  different  grants  of  the  Pejepscot 
lauds,  it  will  be  seen  at  once  that  the  grant  bj'  the  council  of  Pl^'moiith 
to  Purchase  and  Way  was  perfectly  valid,  unless  it  conflicted  with  a 
previous  grant,  by  the  same  council,  to  the  Kennebec  Company.  The 
evidence  that  a  grant  was  issued  to  Purchase  and  Wa}'  was  virtuallj' 
proved.  The  deed  of  land  bought  by  Purchase  of  the  Indians,  if  an}' 
such  there  was,  would  only  serve  to  strengthen  his  other  claim. 

The  title  to  the  lands,  purchased  of  the  Indians  by  Thomas,  York, 
G3ies,  and  Stevens,  should  be  considered  valid,  except  as  to  an}*  por- 
tion which  might  overlap  the  territory  belonging  either  to  Purchase 
and  Way  or  to  the  Kennebec  Compan}-.  The  purchase  of  lands  from 
the  Indians  b\-  Nicholas  Shapleigh  was  valid,  there  being  no  prior 
grant.  That  of  Wharton  from  Worumbo,  etc.,  was  equall}'  valid  for 
the  same  reason,  except  where  it  conflicted  with  the  other  gi'ants. 
The  ground  assumed  by  the  Kennebec  Company  was  that  they  owned, 
b}'  virtue  of  their  charter,  all  the  land  up  and  down  the  Kennebec 
River  for  fifteen  miles  upon  each  side,  and  that  consequently  some  of 
the  before- specified  titles,  being  later,  were  null  and  void.  They  also 
claimed  that  the  Pejepscot  Company  had  not  located  their  lands  in 
accordance  with  the  Worumbo  deed. 

The  question,  in  regard  to  the  boundaries  of  the  lands  granted,  is 
the  most  important.  The  descriptions  used  in  the  old  conveyances 
were  ollen  very  indefinite.  The  bounds,  said  to  have  been  given  in 
the  patent  to  Purchase  and  Wa}',  are,  however,  sufficiently  explicit  as 
to  one  direction,  and  Purchase's  deed  to  Massachusetts  gives  the 
bounds  in  the  other  direction.  The  territory  granted  in  the  sale  to 
Nicholas  Shapleigh  is  also  clearly  defined,  being  bounded  by  Pur- 
chase's possessions  and  by  the  sea.  The  point  of  the  long  dispute 
lay  in  the  description  given  in  the  Worumbo  deed.  This  deed  in- 
cluded all  the  lands  l)efore  granted.  Did  it  include  more  ?  It  could 
not  include  more  on  the  south  and  east,  but  it  undoubtedly  did  on  the 
west  and  north. 

The  description  reads :  — 

''  All  the  aforesaid  lands  from  the  uppermost  part  of  Androscoggin 

1  Maine  Histoncol  Collections,  2,  p.  273.  KenVs  Commentaries,  3,  p.  385.  Wheaton^s 
International  Law  {Dana),  p.  40,  note. 


PFJEPSCOT  PURCHASE,  AND  PRIOR  SETTLEMEXTS.  25 

falls  four  miles  westward  and  so  down  to  Maquoit,"  and  on  the  other 
side  of  the  river  from  the  same  falls  to  the  Kennebec,  on  a  line  running 
southwest  and  northeast 

The  principal  question  to  be  decided  is  as  to  what  falls  were  meant. 
Were  such  temis  to  be  used  in  a  deed  at  the  present  day,  there  would 
be  but  little  doubt  that  a  point  above  all  the  falls  in  the  river  was 
intended.  At  the  time  of  the  deed,  however,  the  river  was  not  so 
well  known  as  now,  and  serious  doubts  might  justly  be  entertained  as 
to  whether  the  falls  at  Lewiston,  Lisbon,  or  Brunswick  were  intended. 
If  the  Lewiston  Falls  were  meant,  the  territory  would  consist  of  about 
600,000  acres, ^  whereas  if  the  falls  at  Bnmswick  were  meant*  the 
extent  of  territor}'  embraced  by  the  deed  would  not  be  one  quarter  so 
lai^e.  The  opponents  of  the  Pejepscot  Compan}'  claimed  that  the 
Brunswick  Falls  were  the  ones  intended.  The  proprietors,  however, 
took  the  ground,  doubtless  correct,  that  the  river  below  Brunswick  was 
called  the  Pejepscot  bj-  both  Indians  and  settlers,  and  that  the  lower 
falls  were  uniformly  described,  at  that  date,  as  the  Pejepscot  Falls, 
and  consequently,  that  the  falls  referred  to  were  those  at  Lewiston. 
The  proprietors,  however,  came  to  a  settlement  with  the  Plymouth  (or 
Kennebec)  Company,  on  February  20,  1758,  and  released  to  them  all 
the  lands  to  the  northward  of  a  line  drawn  through  the  mouth  of  the 
Cathance  River,  and  running  west-noithwest  to  the  west-side  line  of 
the  Plymouth  claim. ^ 

This  settlement,  however,  proved  unsatisfactory',  and,  June  17,  1 766, 
the  southern  line  of  Bowdoinham  and  the  Kennebec  River  were  fixed 
upon  and  agreed  to  by  the  contending  parties,^  and  on  the  8th  of 
March,  1787,  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts  passed  a  resolution  to 
the  effect  that  the  Twenty  Mile  or  Lewiston  Falls  should  be  considered 
the  uppermost  falls  referred  to  in  the  Worumbo  deed."* 

The  difficulties  do  not  seem  to  have  terminated  even  then  ;  for  in  the 
year  1800,  the  Supreme  Court  of  Massachusetts,  acting  on  the  report 
of  referees,  made  substantially  the  same  decision  that  had  ))een  made 
by  the  legislature,*''*  adding,  however,  certain  stipulations  in  regard  to 
the  assignment  of  lots  to  settlers.  The  proprietors  for  a  long  time 
refused  to  abide  by  the  terms  of  the  decision,  and  the  controversy  was 
not  finally  settled  until  1814.« 

The  claims  of  individual  settlers  under  other  titles  were  disposed  of 
by  confirmator}'  grants  from  the  Pejepscot  Company',  unless  tlieir  titles 

1  Vide  Douf/lass  Sutnmanjj  1748.        ^Lincoln  Covnty  Refjistnj  of  Deed  m,  1,  p.  21. 
^Pejepscot  Records.  *  Pejepscot  Papers,  I'^tatement  of  Title. 

^Pejepscot  Records.  •  Williamson,  Ilistonj  of  Maine.  2,  p.  585. 


26         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOP  SHAM,  AND  HARP  SWELL. 

were  proved  to  be  illegal  and  void,  or  to  have  lapsed.  The  territorial 
limits  of  the  company,  at  the  time  of  the  final  decision  of  the  contro 
versy  with  the  Plymouth  Company,  embraced  the  present  towns  of 
Danville,  Lcwiston,  Greene,  a  part  of  Lisbon,  a  part  of  Leeds,  a  part 
of  Poland  and  Minot,  Durham,  Bowdoin,  Topsham,  Brunswick,  and 
Harpswell.  The  territory,  as  previously  claimed  by  the  company, 
would  have  included  Bowdoinham  and  Richmond  in  addition. 

In  regard  to  the  validity  of  the  conveyance  by  Wharton's  adminis- 
trator to  the  proprietors,  there  can,  of  course,  be  no  doubt.  There  is 
also  no  doubt  as  to  the  jurisdiction  of  Massachusetts  after  Indepen- 
dence was  declared.  As  to  prior  governments,  it  is  only  necessar}'  to 
say,  that  although  the  jurisdiction  over  this  part  of  the  present  State 
of  Maine  was  claimed  at  diflferent  periods  by  different  nilers,  and  went 
under  the  several  names  of  the  Province  of  Laconia^  (1622) ,  the  Prov- 
ince of  L3'gonia  (1630),  the  Province  of  Maine  (Gorges-1639),  and 
the  Massachusetts  Colony  (1651-1677),  5'et  the  transfer  of  jurisdic- 
tion by  Purchase  to  the  latter  gave  her  the  strongest  claim  to  the 
Pejepscot  tracts  though  the  fairness  of  her  title  to  the  Province  of 
Maine  is  still  a  mooted  question.  ^ 

At  this  early  date,  however,  the  jurisdiction  was  merely  nominal, 
there  being  but  little  actual  enforcement  of  the  laws  in  this  portion  of 
the  Province. 

1  The  grant  of  the  Province  of  Laconia  was  rather  ind^nlte,  but  as  it  included  the 
lands  "  betwixt  ye  lines  of  West  and  North  West  conceived  to  pass  or  lead  vpicards  from 
ye  rivers  of  Saf/adehock  &  Merrimack  in  ye  country  of  New  England  afores'd^**  it 
must  have  included  all  of  Maine  west  of  the  Kennebec,  and  consequently  included  the 
P^epscot  tract' 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM.       27 


CHAPTER  III. 

DOINGS    OP    THE     PEJEPSCOT     PROPRIETORS,    AND    SETTLEMENTS     UNDER 

THEM. 

Up  to  the  time  of  the  formation  of  the  Pejepscot  Company,  in  1714, 
comparative!}'  few  persons  had  made  settlements  in  this  region,  and 
there  had  been  no  organized  efforts  to  induce  settlers  to  come  hither. 
From  this  time  new  settlers  appear  oflener  than  l)efore,  though  not 
very  rapidly  at  firet. 

[1715.]  Among  other  projects  of  the  proprietors  to  encourage 
immigration  to  their  lands,  they  voted,  at  a  meeting  held  Sept.  14, 
1715,  *'  Tliat  the  present  projection  for  laying  out  the  Town  of  Bruns- 
wick in  one  Line  of  Houses  be  accepted  and  the  Town  laid  out  accord- 

"  That  each  Proprietor  will  take  up  a  Lot  and  build  upon  it  as  soon 
as  maj'  be.  That  we  consent  to  Mr.  No3'es  taking  his  Lot  next 
Maquoit  (he  promising  to  build  a  Defensible  House  thereon  next 
Spring).  That  the  Meeting  House  shall  be  in  the  midway  between 
the  Fort  &  Maquoit.  That  the  Lots  for  the  Ministry-,  the  First  Min- 
ister &  the  School  be  the  Centre  Lots,  and  as  for  the  other  Lots, 
Those  persons,  whether  Proprietors  or  others,  that  first  take  up  the 
Lots  &  build  upon  them,  shall  take  their  choice.  And  that  the  Out- 
bounds  &  the  plan  of  Topsham  be  likewise  laid  out  now,  three  Sides 
of  a  Square,  the  Houses  Twenty  Rods  distant  according  to  the  plan 
offered  to  the  Geiierall  Court."  ^ 

[171C.]  The  Pejepscot  proprietors,  some  time  in  1710,  or  perhaps 
1717,  bought  a  large  tract  of  land  extending  from  Abbacadasset* 
Point  up  the  west  side  of  the  Kennebec  River,  as  far  as  the  north  end 
of  Swan  Island,  and  thence  into  the  country  for  four  miles.  The  title 
came  from  Kennebis,  and  Clark  and  Lake,  but  mediately  through 
Richard  Collicut  and  Samuel  and  Hannah  Ilolman,  of  whom  the  pro- 
prietors bought. 

^Pejepscot  Records, 


28  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


The  proprietors  at  this  time  had  to  send  everything  necessary  for 
the  carrying  on  of  their  operations  from  Boston,  and  we  accordingly 
find  that  at  their  first  meeting,  held  Feb.  21,  1716,  they  voted  to  have 
twenty  hundred  weight  of  screwed  haj*,  for  the  use  of  their  cattle  there, 
sent  to  Brunswick  by  the  first  sloop  that  went ;  and  that  the  other 
things  that  had  been  requested  should  be  sent  to  their  servant,  James 
Irish.  ^ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  Sept.  5,  of  this  year,  it  was 
voted  :  (Agreeably  to  their  previous  vote  of  the  twenty-seventh  of  April, 
granting  liberty  to  Adam  Winthrop,  one  of  their  partners,  to  make 
choice  of  some  island,  neck,  or  tract  of  land  within  their  territory)  That 
Swan  Island  should  be  appropriated  to  Winthrop  as  his  share  of  their 
first  division,  and  that  it  should  be  reckoned  at  1,000  acres,  whether 
it  proved  to  be  more  or  less ;  "  That  Mair-Point  be  divided  into  Two 
Lots,  The  Lower  half  part  to  be  Lot  No.  2  — The  upper  half  to  be 
Lot  No.  3  " ;  that  the  portion  of  land  lying  between  Cathance  River 
and  the  eastern  part  of  Abagadasset  Point,  and  a  line  running  north- 
erly from  the  latter,  should  be  divided  into  five  lots,  equal  in  front, 
and  that  the  lot  nearest  Cathance  River  should  be  called  No.  4, 
and  that  the}-  should  be  numbered  from  that  lot,  successively,  Nos.  5, 
6,  7,  and  8 ;  that  each  lot  should  run  back  from  Merry  meeting  Bay, 
until  it  embraced  1,000  acres ;  that  if  either  half  part  of  Mair  Point 
should  fall  short  of  1,000  acres,  the  deficiency  should  be  made  up  in 
some  part  of  the  township  of  Brunswick. 

After  the  passage  of  the  preceding  votes,  the  proprietors  proceeded 
to  draw  lots  for  their  respective  choices,  with  the  following  result*  :  — 

Lot  No.  2  fell  to  John  Wentworth,  Esq. 

"  3  "  Mr.  Stephen  Minot. 

''  4  "  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Esq. 

''  5  ''  Oliver  Noyes. 

"  6  "  Mr.  John  Ruck. 

^^;^f                                ''  7  "  David  Jeffries,  Esq. 

''  8  '*  John  Watts,  Esq. 

The  above  lots  were  called  the  First  Division. 

It  was  then  voted  that  there  should  be  eight  lots  laid  out  on  Small 
Point  Neck,  etc.,  and  that  these  lots  should  be  called  their  Second 
Division. 2 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  on  the  13th  of  November  fol- 
lowing, it  was  agreed  that  they  should  give  Captain  Nowell  a  deed  of 

^  P^epscot  Records.  ^Ihid. 


PEJEP8C0T  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  VNDJlR  THEM.       29 

five  hundred  acres  of  land  within  the  township  of  Topsham,  on  the 
condition  that  he  would  build  a  house  there  and  dwell  there  for  the 
next  five  years,  and  that  he  would  not  leave  except  by  consent  of  the 
proprietors,  and  on  condition  that  the  land  allotted  him  should  be  so 
laid  out  as  not  to  interfere  with  the  plan  of  the  town.  As  no  other 
reference  is  made  to  Captain  Nowell  in  the  Pejepscot  Papers,  it  is  not 
probable  that  the  conditions  were  fulfilled. 

[1717.]  On  the  third  of  May,  1717,  Brunswick  was,  by  vote  of  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  constituted  a  township^  and  the 
Pejepscot  proprietors,  with  a  view  to  the  settlement  of  the  town, 
''^  Voted:  That  all  persons  that  shall  offer  themselves  and  be  Excepted 
Inhabitants  of  the  said  Town  And  have  a  Lott  of  Land  Laid  out  to 
them  in  S**  Township  of  ninety  five  Acres  as  also  fixe  acres  of  meadow 
in  some  Convenient  place  They  building  an  house  on  Plach  I^tt  so 
Taken  up  within  one  3'ear  next  after  their  taking  up  the  SS**  Lotts  & 
Dwelling  upon  &  improvin  their  Lands  for  the  Tenne  of  Three  Yeares, 
And  having  their  Said  Lands  Discribed  &  recorded  in  this  Town  Book 
b}'  a  Clerk  Leagually.  Chosen  &  sworne  It  shall  be  accounteil  a  Sure 
LawfuU  Title  of  an  absolute  State  of  Inheritance  in  fee  To  them  their 
Heirs  &  assignes  forever,  Provided  nevertheless  If  any  of  y*  before 
recited  Conditions  are  not  Complyed  with  by  the  said  Inhabitants 
accor<ling  to  y*  True  intent  thereof  That  then  y*  S*  Lotts  of  Land 
Shall  be  whollj*  forfited  to  y*  use  of  the  S**  Proprietors  as  fully  as  Ever 
here  to  fore  any  thing  in  this  Book  Recordeil  notwithstanding."  ^ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  propnetors,  June  13,  1717,  Lieutenant  Heath 
was  instructed  to  survey  and  make  a  plot  of  each  of  the  proprietor's 
lots.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  township  of  Topsham  be  likewise 
sur\'eyed  and  plotted  in  an  oblong  square,  if  the  land  would  allow 
it,  fronting  on  Merrymeeting  Bay,  so  as  to  leave  about  two  hundred 
acres,  and  that  this  town  plat  be  laid  out  into  fifty  lots,  each  lot  to  be 
twent}'  rods  wide. 

It  was  also  decided  at  this  meeting  to  have  a  general  plan  of  the 
whole  territory  made  as  soon  as  might  be.  The  proprietors  also 
desired  Mr.  Hutchinson  to  write  to  a  friend  in  England  for  a  copy  of 
the  patent  to  Purchase  and  Way,  and  to  send  it  to  thoni.  well  attested, 
as  soon  as  possible.^  The  document  is  not  on  file  with  the  Pejepscot 
Papers,  and  it  is  probable  that  it  was  never  obtained. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  June   17,  1717,  it   was   ''Vottfd^ 
That  a  mile  and  a  half  upwards  from  Potts's  Neck,  and  the  other  prongs 


'^Bninsicick  RecordSy  in  Pejepscot  Collections.  ^Pcjei>fco1  Records. 


30  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

of  Menyconeag  Neck,  be  left  on  the  lower  end  of  said  Merryconeag 
Neck,  for  a  Town  or  Fishing  Settlement,  the  rest  of  said  Neck  to  be 
divided  in  eight  parts  equal  in  Front,  to  run  across  said  Neck,  in  par- 
alel  lines,  from  the  North  West  to  the  South  East  side,  according  to 
the  bearing  of  the  said  land,  the  Lowest  Lott  to  be  No.  1. 
"  The  Lotts  being  fairlj'  di'awn  came  out  as  follows,  viz. :  — 

No.  1.  David  Jeffries. 

2.  John  Watts. 

3.  John  Ruck. 

4.  Adam  Winthrop. 

5.  John  Went  worth. 

6.  Oliver  No3*e8. 

7.  Stephen  Minott. 

8.  Thomas  Hutchinson."^ 

• 

[1718.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  April  23,  1718,  it 
was  "  Resolved :  That  whereas  it  will  tend  much  to  the  advantage  of 
the  Settlements  for  each  Partner  to  settle  his  Severall  Lotts  laid  out 
to  him,  and  that  it  may  be  a  means  of  preventing  Troublesome  dis- 
putes, we  agree,  as  soon  as  may  be  conveniently',  to  build  upon  our 
Severall  Divisions  and  to  put  them  under  Improvement." 

[1719.]  The  next  reference  to  this  subject  that  has  been  found  is 
in  the  proceedings  of  a  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  and  a  committee  of 
the  Pejepseot  proprietors,  held  Msly  8,  1719. 

At  this  meeting  a  vote  was  passed,  "  That  all  Persons  who  have  or 
Shall  Take  up  any  Lott  or  Lotts  in  Brunswick  &  Shall  for  y*  space 
of  halfe  a  year  neglect  to  put  Forward  Building  on  &  improving  the 
8**  Land  Shall  be  Liable  to  be  forever  Deprived  of  their  Lott  or  Lotts ; 
By  the  vote  of  this  s*  Town."  The  land  for  a  town  commonage  was 
granted  by  the  proprietors  at  this  time,  but  the  vote  passed  will  be 
given  in  connection  with  that  subject. 

[1731.]  In  1731  Phineas  Jones  was  employed  to  survey  the  lands 
and  make  plans.  He  found  Brunswick  and  the  lands  above,  on  both 
sides  of  the  Androscoggin  River,  to  be  480,5-13  acres,  Merriconeag 
Neck  to  be  4,670  acres,  and  Sebascodegan  Island  to  be  5,790  acres. 
He  made  his  survey  in  the  winter  season  with  five  or  six  assistants, 
protected  from  the  Indians  bj'  a  file  of  soldiers.  They  selected  the 
winter  because  there  were  fewer  Indians  about,  and  also  because,  the 
ponds  and  brooks  being  frozen,  they  could  travel  over  them.  lu  deep 
snow  thev  coultl  use  snow-shoes.^ 

■    ^^^^—  ^^^^  ^^^  ^^M  ■  -  -^ -  

^  PiJt.'jtscot  Papers.  ^McKeen,  MSS.  Lecture. 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS,    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM.       31 

Joseph  Heath,  fiequire,  had  been  up  to  this  time  the  agent  and 
clerk  of  the  compan}-,  but  June  30,  of  this  year.  Captain  Benjamin 
Lan'al)ee  was  appointed  agent,  and  the  record  book,  containing  the 
doings  of  the  settlers,  was  transferred  to  him.^  The  proprietor,  also, 
on  the  twelfth  of  July,  1737,  gave  John  Booker,  of  New  Meadows,  the 
power  of  attorney'  to  keep  all  unauthorized  persons  from  settling  upon 
Sebaseodegan  Island,  or  from  cutting  wood  or  timber  or  ha}'  there, 
and  to  seize  upon  and  ship  to  Boston  an}'  timber  or  wood  cut  there 
without  pennission,  one  half  the  proceeds  to  go  to  Booker  for  his  ser- 
vices, and  the  other  half  to  the  proprietors.^ 

The  proprietors  at  the  same  time  gave  the  power  of  attorney  to 
Colonel  Johnson  Harmon,  of  Merriconeag,  for  the  purpose  of  keeping 
off  intruders  from  the  Neck.^ 

Jul}'  16,  1737,  the  proprietors  gave  Benjamin  Larrabee  full  power 
of  attorney  to  execute  deeds  to  the  settlers  in  Brunswick  and  Tops- 
ham.^ 

In  a  letter  of  instructions  to  Larrabee,  dated  two  days  later,  the 
following  information  was  given  in  regard  to  the  prices  of  the  lots,  and 
as  to  his  duties  :  —  < 

"Tlie  first  settlers  were  to  pay  but  five  pounds  for  eaph  hundred 
acres — Since  that,  Giveen  and  those  near  him  were  to  pay  Sixteen 
pounds  for  each  hundred  acres — Some  that  have  nJore  lately  taken 
Lotts  at  Bnmswick  Road  Ten  pounds  for  each  hundred  Acres,  those 
at  Topsham  and  New  Meadows  Twenty  five  pounds  for  each  hundred 
acres  — 

''  As  fast  as  3'ou  can  receive  money  for  the  deeds  3'ou  execute  we 
would  have  you  appl}'  it  to  discharge  the  debts  of  the  propriety  viz : 
Mr.  Pearse  the  Carpenter  and  Mr.  Wakefield  the  Glazier  for  Bruns- 
wick Meeting  house. 

''  If  the  Lotts  at  Bnmswick  Road  to  Maquoit  and  Topsham  are  not 
all  filled  up  or  granted  you  ma}'  go  on  to  grant  tiiem  on  as  good  Terms 
as  you  can  for  the  Proprietors  —  not  lower  than  Ten  pounds  in  Bruns- 
wick and  Twenty  five  pounds  in  Topsham."  * 

[1739.]  In  June,  1739,  Mr.  Larrabee  sent  a  representation  to  the 
proprietors  of  the  dilHculties  the  settlers  labored  under,  in  regard  to 
paying  for  their  lots  in  money,  and  the  proprietors  agreed  that  they 
might  send  the  pay  for  tlieir  lots  in  wood  or  timber,  to  Boston,  without 
charge.® 
[1741.]     At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors  held  at  the  *'  Sun"  tav- 

1  P^epscot  Records.        2  P^epscot  Papers.        « Ibid.        *  Pejtpscot  Records. 
*/6id  •  Brunswick  Records  in  P^epscot  Collection. 


32         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

era,  Boston,  April  22,  1741,  it  was  voted  that  the  following  instruc- 
tions be  given  to  their  partner,  Henry  Gibbs,  to  act  upon  while  he  was 
at  Brunswick :  — 

*'  [1.]  Whereas  the  Lotts  were  laid  out  but  20  rods  wide  from 
Fort  George  to  Maquoit,  the  inhabitants  complain  they  are  too  long 
and  narrow,  therefore  for  Accommodation  of  the  settlers  it  is  now  pro- 
posed that  they  be  30  rods  wide  &  to  be  laid  out  on  one  Side  of  the 
Road  and  to  be  one  hundi*ed  acres  exclusive  of  the  marsh  &  to  be 
valued  at  Fourteen  pounds  p  Lott. 

"  [2.]  Att  every  10th  Lott  a  Road  of  four  rods  wide  to  be  laid  out 
the  whole  length  of  said  Lott  if  it  fall  out  convenient.  The  County 
Road  if  any  be  laid  out  to  be  laid  down  on  the  Town  plan  &  to  be 
reckoned  as  one  of  said  Roads  and  in  case  the  Lott  next  said  Road  be 
more  than  30  Rods  wide  j'ct  to  run  an  equal  length  with  the  rest  &  it 
be  left  to  be  appropriated  as  shall  be  Judged  Most  for  the  Interest  of 
the  Propriety. 

"  [3.]  The  Lotts  on  the  East  side  of  the  Road  to  Maquoit  to  be 
Forty  Rods  wide  as  the  Land  will  allow  because  the  Land  is  not  so 
good  &  necessary  roads  to  be  on  that  side. 

"  [4.]  -We  are  willing  that  a  Priviledge  be  granted  to  such  as  will 
undertake  to  build  a  Grist  Mill  at  a  little  stream  near  the  Fort."^ 

The  stream  re'ferred  to  in  the  preceding  paragraph  had  its  source  in 
the  swamp  which  formerly  existed  where  the  depot  is  now.  This 
swamp  extended  as  far  east  as  the  mall,  as  far  north  as  Pleasant 
street,  and  westerly  beyond  Union  Street.  The  brook  ran  along  be- 
tween Union  and  Maine  Streets,  passing  back  of  the  factor}'  store  and 
entering  the  river  about  where  the  factor^'  is  now.  After  the  swamp 
was  filled  and  drained,  of  course  the  brook  no  longer  existed. 

[1750.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  held  Jul}'  9, 
1750,  it  was  voted  that  an  advertisement  should  be  posted  upon  the 
meeting-house  at  Brunswick,  stating  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
proprietors  to  defend  the  inhabitants  of  Brunswick  and  the  neighbor- 
ing towns  in  the  propriet}',  in  their  possessions,  and  that  any  person 
who  should  be  so  imprudent  as  to  take  up  land  under  any  other  title, 
would  be  prosecuted.  At  the  same  meeting  it  was  also  voted  to  dis- 
pose of  the  vacant  land  at  New  Meadows,  viz.,  that  extending  from 
Charles  Casida's  lot  to  Wigwam  Point,  exclusive,  for  tlie  most  that  it 
would  bring,  and  out  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  to  pay  the  expense  of 
finishing  the  meeting-house  in  Brunswick.     The  remainder  was  to  be 


1  Bruntwkk  Records  in  P^epscot  CoUvction. 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM,       33 

• 

kept  subject  to  the  order  of  the  proprietors.^     A  note  at  the  bottom  of 
the  above  entr}'  in  the  records  sajs,  "  Not  accepted  by  the  Town." 

[1751.]  On  March  19th  of  this  3'ear,  1751,  a  letter  was  sent  to  the 
selectmen  of  Brunswick,  b^'  the  proprietors,  recommending  that  no 
one  should  take  a  title  of  land  from  the  PlvTnouth  Compan}^  and 
promising  them  that  if  an}'  of  the  inhabitants  of  Brunswick  or  Tops- 
ham  should  be  molested  or  disturbed  by  that  company-,  the  proprietors 
would  stand  b}"  them  and  indemnify  them  against  the  Pl3'mouth  Com- 
pan3-*s  claim. 2 

This  letter,  however,  seems  not  to  have  full}'  satisfied  all  the  set- 
tlers, as  some  few  did  take  up  land  under  titles  derived  from  the 
Plymouth  Compan}'.  Learning  this  fact,  the  proprietors,  at  a  meeting 
held  April  15,  voted,  "  to  unite  in  defence  of  their  Title  to  the  Lands 
comprehended  in  said  Township,  and  that  an  advertisement  be  forth- 
with printed,  Cautioning  all  persons  against  making  any  Encroachment, 
Strip,  or  Waste,  on  any  Land  belonging  to  this  Propriety,  as  they  will 
answer  it  to  the  utmost  perill  of  the  Law."  ^  in  addition  to  this  vote 
the  proprietors,  at  a  meeting  held  May  15,  in  order  to  show  to  all 
interested  the  exact  bounds  of  the  several  lots,  voted  that  the  several 
deeds,  or  sufficient  extracts  from  them,  should  be  at  once  printed  at 
the  company's  expense. "* 

The  people  of  Topsham  not  ha\ing,  at  this  time,  the  advantage  of 
a  local  government,  were  apparently"  inclined  to  do  about  as  the}' 
pleased,  without  reference  to  the  proprietors,  and  some  lawless  acts 
were  undoulitedly  committed  by  tliem.  The  following  letter  from 
Belcher  Noyes,  the  proprietors*  clerk,  to  Adam  Hunter,  of  Topsham, 
will  show  what  some  of  these  acts  were :  — 

"  Boston,  May  12, 1753. 
*'  Mr.  Adam  Hunter: 

"  I  wrote  you  last  fall  by  Ste  Gatchell  to  which  have  never  had  any 
answer  from  you,  the  Proposal  made  us  by  Capt.  Willson  is  quite 
mean  &  unworthy  any  notice,  I  am  sorry  to  hear  your  People  have  ^o 
generally  combined  in  the  old  Trade  of  destroying  the  Lumber  on 
y*  Proprietors  Interest  this  is  very  Abusive  Treatment  &  convinces 
us  you  have  no  Regard  to  the  Laws  of  God  and  man,  for  such  a  small 
frontier  Settlem*  to  live  in  such  an  abandoned  State  in  the  open  viola- 
tion of  all  Law,  will  expose  you  to  the  vengeance  due  to  such 
Behaviour  c&  it  will  one  day  fall  heavy  on  your  Heads. 

1  Brunswick  Records  in  Ppjepscot  Collection, 
^Ibid,  8/6iU  *Ihid. 


84       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL, 

« 

'*  For  shame  then  be  persuaded  to  leave  of  such  actions,  Topsham 
is  become  the  Reproach  of  everybody.  The  Donlaps  c&  Willsons  are 
famous  in  this  Trade.  I  should  be  glad  when  you  come  to  Boston 
3'ou  might  come  prepared  w**  some  scheme  to  render  your  settlm*  capa- 
ble of  a  better  Improvement  &  encourage  the  Increase  of  Inhabitants. 

"  I  enclose  you  a  plan  DeHneating  y*  Bounds  of   the  PI}- mouth 

Claim  &  our  answer  to  their  Remarks  on  said  Plan  1  pray  you  would 

peruse  the  same  &  give  me  3'our  sentiments  in  so  doing  you  will 

oblige, 

"  3'ours  to  serv'e 

"  B.  NOYES."  1 

[1757.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  Maj'  31,  1757, 
Belcher  No3*es  was  chosen  clerk,  and  in  the  following  June,  treasurer 
and  collector  of  taxes.  At  the  meeting  in  June,  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  conclude  an  agreement  with  the  proprietors  of  the  Kennebec 
purchase.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  proposals  from  the  Plymouth 
Company,  for  the  accommoclation  of  the  disputes  between  them, 
should  be  accepted. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  held  at  the  Exchange 
tavern  in  Boston,  on  Wednesday,  June  8,  tlic  subject  of  an  Jigreement 
with  the  Plymouth  Companj'  was  debated  and  decided  upon. 

[1758.]  The  deeds  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  to  the  Plymouth 
proprietors,  and  of  the  latter  to  the  former,  were  made  and  executed, 
in  accordance  with  the  above-mentioned  agreement,  on  February*  20, 
1758.2 

[1760.]  The  people  of  Topsham,  at  this  time,  are  still  at  oi)posi- 
tion  with  the  proprietors,  as  appears  from  a  letter  of  Belcher  Noyes, 
their  clerk,  to  E.  Freeman,  dated  July  30,  in  which  he  states  that 
there  are  some  in  Topsham  who  deny  the  title  of  the  Pejepscot  Com- 
pany, the  ringleaders  being  Captain  Adam  Hunter  and  Captain 
Thomas  Wilson.  He  further  states  that  there  are  '' py rates  "  there, 
who  have  made  their  living  out  of  the  proprietors  by  destroying  the 
lumber,  and  that  "  none  so  guilty  as  this  said  Hunter  who  has  gott  an 
estate  out  of  those  woods."     He  snvs  also  that  Mr.  Gibbs  had  sold 

ft- 

his  right  to  one  John  Merrill,  of  Anindell,  who  would  go  down  in  the 
fall.^ 

[1761.]  At  a  meeting  held  Oct.  8,  1 761,  Enoch  Freeman,  Esq.,  was 
desired  and  empowered  to  have  a  regular  plan  made  of  the  township 
of  Topsham,  and  to  have  the  lots  for  settling  so  delineated  that  it 

1  Pijepscot  Papers,         2  pejepscot  Papers.    Records.         •  Pejepscot  Papers, 


PEJEPSCOr  PROPRIETORS,    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM.       35 

could  be  known  what  land  remained  undisposed  of.  He  was  to  make 
the  line  between  the  Plymouth  and  Pejepscot  Companies'  lands  the 
boundarj'  of  his  survey,  and  was  to  have  the  lands  plotted  by  a  skilful 
survej'or,  into  lots  of  one  hundred  acres  each,  so  far  as  the  land 
would  admit.  At  the  same  meeting,  he  and  Belcher  Noyes  were 
em|)owered  to  dispose  of  the  settling  lots  in  Topsham  that  were  not 
already-  taken  up,  and  to  ai)pl3'  the  proceetls  towards  finishing  the 
meeting-house,  the  frame  of  which  was  already  raised.  At  this 
meeting  authority  was  given  to  Belcher  'Soyes  "  to  execute  a  Deed  of 
the  old  Stone  Fort,  with  the  Buildings  and  Land  adjacent,  in  the  Town 
of  Brunswick,  in  behalf  of  this  Propriet3%  viz.  The  one  half  to  Jere- 
miah Moulton  Esq.  The  other  half  to  Capt.  David  Dunning ;  they 
paying  unto  the  said  Belcher  Noyes  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
thirty  three  pounds  six  shillings  and  eight  i)ence,  lawful  money,  —  for 
which  sum  he  is  to  account  with  the  Proprietors.  Also,  the  privilege 
of  the  stream  at  the  Falls,  and  its  appurtenances."  ^ 

[1762.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  June  8,  1762,  it  was 
voted  to  sell  to  Stephen  Staples  one  hundred  acres  of  land  above  the 
Cathance  Mill,  in  Topsham,  for  five  shillings  and  four  pence  per  acre, 
and  to  apply  the  money  towards  finishing  the  meeting-house.  It  was 
likewise  voted  to  sell  to  William  Patten  sixty-six  acres  of  land  situ- 
ated in  a  gore  of  land  on  Cathance  River  —  it  being  the  balance  of 
the  land  belonging  to  Cathance  Mill  —  for  whatever  price  could  be 
obtained.^ 

In  a  letter  from  Belcher  Noj-es,  dated  October,  17G2,  and  written  to 
some  unknown  person,  reference  is  made  to  tiie  encroachments  of  the 
Plymouth  Company  upon  the  settlei*s  at  Topsham.  In  tiiis  letter  he 
savs :  — 

**The  Pl^>*mouth  Conipan}'  have  at  the  last  session  of  our  General 
Court  gott  a  Tract  of  Land  without  Inhabitants,  incorporated  into  a 
Township  by  the  Name  of  Bowdoiuliani,  the  Bounds  of  wiiich  are 
enclosed.  This  takes  otf  a  small  part  of  Topsham  and  some  few 
families  on  Cathance  Point,  and  V)y  tliis  moans  tliey  have  crowded 
themselves  on  us,  contrary  to  their  agreement.  This  was  perfected 
before  I  knew  anything  of  it.  The  People  of  Topsham  are  uneasy 
that  their  township  is  not  laid  out." 

[1763.]  The  trouble  between  the  settlers  at  Topsliam  and  the 
Pejepscot  proprietors  has  not  yet  l)een  quieted.  Mr.  Belcher  Noyes 
writes  to  Mr.  Freeman  that  ^'Capt.  Wilson  is  at  the  head  of  this 
Rebellion  — you  will  find  him  a  very  troublesome  fellow. "^     In  another 

1  Brunswick  Records  in'P^epscot  Collection.         2  P(jep8cot  Records,  1,  p.  21G. 
^Ptjepscot  Papers. 


36       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

letter,  dated  June  22,  1763,  and  probably  to  the  same  person,  he  says, 
referring  to  a  meeting  of  the  committees  of  the  Plymouth  and  Pejep- 
scot  Companies  to  settle  the  dividing  line  between  their  respective  ter- 
ritories, that  the  former,  ''  in  order  to  induce  us  to  a  compl3'ance  with 
their  construction  of  the  matter,  produced  a  delusive  plan  taken  by 
their  surveyor,  whereby  the  points  of  land  called  Summerset  Point 
and  Pleasant  Point  were  so  laid  down  as  to  persuade  us,  if  thej'  could, 
that  the}'  made  the  mouth  of  Cathance  river."  lie  saj's,  moreover, 
that  the  Plymouth  Company  "'intend  to  make  a  point  of  it  and  to 
force  us  to  a  compl^'ance  and  b}'  the  fixing  the  southerl}*  line  of  Bow- 
doinham  I  take  it  we  are  foreclosed  and  must  submit  to  their  terms." 
He  concludes  by  saying  that  this  land  '*  we  have  lost  absolutely  by 
our  neglect  in  the  survey  of  Topsham  and  getting  the  same  incor- 
porated which  has  been  settled  30  3'ears  ago."^ 

There  are  numerous  letters  from  the  proprietors'  clerk,  all  complain- 
ing of  the  delay  in  completing  the  plan  of  Topsham.'^ 

This  survey  was  made  b}-  Stephen  Gatchell,  whom  Noyes  describes 
as  ''  a  poor,  miserable,  shutting  fellow  and  indebted  to  everyone."  It 
was  completed  Oct.  28  of  this  j'ear.^  It  took  Gatchell  forty-seven 
days  to  perform  this  work  with  the  aid  of  three  assistants.  He 
charged  for  his  work  £25  1.9.  4cZ. 

The  inhabitants  of  Topsham,  having  suffered  long  enough  from  the 
rival  claims  of  the  Plymouth  and  Pejepscot  Companies,  from  taxation 
b}'  the  town  of  Brunswick,  and  from  the  want  of  power  to  control 
whatever  turbulent  element  there  might  be  amongst  them,  decided  to 
appl}'  for  an  Acl  of  incorporation  as  a  town,  and  acconlingly  a  petition 
was  this  3'ear  sent  to  the  General  Court,  praying  for  the  passage  of 
such  an  Act. 

[17GG.]  On  May  29,  1766,  an  agreement  was  made  between  the 
Kennebec  and  Pejepscot  proprietors,  whereby  the  southerly  line  of  the 
township  of  Bowdoinham  was  made  the  line  between  the  territory'  of 
the  two  companies,  and  as  compensation  for  which  the  former  proprie- 
tors granted  to  the  latter  five  hundred  acres  of  land  "to  be  hereafter 
agreed  upon."  They  also  allowed  one  hundred  and  ninet}'  acres  of 
land  in  the  possession  of  John  Fulton,  on  Cathance  Point.  On  June 
1 1 ,  it  was  mutuall}'  agreed  that  in  lieu  of  the  five  hundred  acres  to  be 
allowed  to  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  the}'  should  have  *'  400  acres  as 
laid  out  on  Cobbasecontee  Pond,  in  Pond  Town,  so  called."  This 
agreement,  as  amended,  was  duly  and  legally-  confirmed  by  both  par- 
ties, June  17,  1766.^ 


P(Uep8cot  Papers.  ^Ibid.  ^Ibid,  *Ihid. 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  TUEM        37 

[1787.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  held  Aug.  13, 
1787,  Josiah  Little  was  elected  as  their  clerk,  in  place  of  Belcher 
Noyes,  deceased.^ 

[1799.]  On  the  3d  of  May,  of  this  year,  Josiah  Little,  Esquire, 
vas  chosen  by  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  as  their  agent,  to  take  care  of 
their  undivided  interest  in  the  town  of  Brunswick ;  to  prosecute  any 
trespassers ;  or  to  disi)ose  of  any  or  all  of  the  property  as  he  should 
judge  to  be  most  for  their  interest.^ 

SETTLEMEXT8  UNDER  THE  PROPRIETORS. 

The  efforts  made  b}'  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  to  settle  their  lands 
were,  for  the  most  part,  quite  successful,  thougli  the  rapidity'  witli 
which  settlers  came  in  varieil  ver}'  mucli  at  different  times.  Many  of 
these  earlier  settlers,  it  is  said,  ran  away  from  England,  and  upon 
their  arrival  in  this  country  changed  their  names. 

Between  1717  and  1722  fort3*-one  persons  are  known  to  have 
settled  in  Bnmswick,  and  there  were  doubtless  others  whose  names 
have  not  been  preserved.  Man}'  of  these  settlei*s,  however,  forfeited 
their  lots  in  consequence  of  their  non-fulfilment  of  the  required  con- 
ditions. In  1722  the  fourth  Indian,  or  LovewelFs,  war  connnenced, 
and  the  situation  of  the  settlers  here  ])ecame  so  disagreeable  tliat  they 
nearl}'  all  abandoned  their  homes,  and  it  was  not  until  al>out  1730  that 
the  settlement  was  renewed. 

Those  who  are  known  to  have  remained  are  John  Minot,  Andrew 
Dunning  and  his  sons,  William  AVoodside  and  Ebenezer  Stanwood  and 
their  sons,  William  Simpson  and  David  Givoeu  and  sons,  of  Bruns- 
wick ;  and  Lieutenant  P^aton,  John  Vincent,  Thomas  Thorn,  James 
Ross,  John  Malcom,  James  McFarhmd,  William  Stinson,  James,  Isaac, 
and  John  Hunter,  of  Topsham.     The  most  of  these  had  garrisons. ^ 

David  Giveen,  mentioned  above,  had  been  living  at  Mair  Point,  but 
about  1727  he  bought  three  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Middle  Ba}*  of 
the  proprietors,  and  moved  to  the  latter  i)lacc.'* 

On  June  30,  1733,  the  proprietors  granted  to  Benjamin  Larrabee, 
gratis,  a  lot  of  land  in  Brunswick,  — one  hundred  acres,  — on  certain 
specified  conditions  of  improvement  and  tenancy.'* 

In  Septeml)er  of  the  following  year,  Sanuiel  Woodward  paid  Ben- 
jamin Larrabee,  agent  for  the  proprietors,  £5  towards  the  purchase 
of  a  lot  of  one  hundred  acres,  situated  between  (■ai)tain  Woodside's 
land  and  Bungamunganeck,  the  conditions  of  the  sale  being  that 
Wooilward  was  to  build  a  suitable  dwelling-house  on  the  lot,  and  clear 


1  Pf'jepscot  Records,  2  /5|*<;, 

^McKeen,  MSS,  Lectures,  ^ Ibid.  ^Pejepscot  Records,  l,p.  117. 


38 


JUSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSJIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


and  inhabit  it  by  the  last  of  the  following  May  (1735),  and  to  pay 
£13  additional,  or  forfeit  the  £5  already  paid  ;  and  if  there  were  not  one 
hundred  acres  in  the  lot  specified,  it  was  to  be  made  up  elsewhere. ^ 

In  the  year  1738  the  township  of  Brunswick  was  incorporated  as  a 
body  politic  b}'  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  and  a  consider- 
able increase  at  once  took  place  in  the  number  of  new  settlers.     On 

Ik 

June  27,  1739,  there  were  thirty-nine  individuals  who  had  recently 
come  into  possession  of  lots  at  New  Meadows.^  Whether  all  these 
persons  actually  lived  upon  their  lots  is  unknown,  but  doubtless  the 
greater  number  did.  There  were  also,  at  this  time,  in  other  parts  of 
the  town,  twent3'-nine  ^  individuals  who  were  either  new  settlers  or 
the  sons  of  earl}'  settlers  who  had  now  become  of  age. 

In  June,  1740,  the  proprieters  voted  to  give  Benjamin  Larrabee  a 
lease  of  the  lands  adjacent  to  Fort  George,  and  also  the  privilege  of 
the  salmon  fisher^',  on  such  terms  as  might  he  agreed  upon  ])y  the  com- 
mittee, to  whom  all  such  matters  were  referred.^  Larrabee  was  at 
this  time  the  agent  of  the  proprietors,  and  probably  the  tenns  agreed 
upon  with  the  committee  were  quite  liberal.  The  following  list  of  the 
land  deeds  issued  b}'  him,  while  agent,  will  prove  interesting  in  this 
connection :  — 

MEM?  OF  ALL  DEEDS  ON  RECORD  MADE  BY  BENJAMIN  LARA- 
BEE  ESQ  AS  ATTORNEY  TO  THE  PROP««  OF  BliUNSWICK  AND 
TOrSHAM.« 


Nameii  of  the  IVmonA  to  whom  Rcrij.       Quantity  of  acres 
Lttmbce  E«q  atty  ice.  sold.  bold. 


1 
•> 

3 
4 
5 
G 

7 

8 

9 

10 

11 

12 
13 
14 

ir> 

IG 
17 
18 


Nathan  Adams... 

(John  Adams 

AVilliam  Malcome 

KolKirt  Spear , 

AVilliam  Spear  . . . 
John  Malcomo  .... 
John  Mahnmio  ... 
John  Ovle.-*  Esqr  . 
Jacoh  t^aton 


4< 
(I 
(t 

(( 


Henry  (lihbs 

Jonathan  Say  ward  . . 

John  Barrows 

John  Adams 

John  Barrows 

SamKHarkc. .    

David  (liven 

William  Dunning... 
licnjamin  Thomp.>4on 


100  acres 
100 
200 
200 
203 
1(K) 
100 
100 

100  Topsham 
\\5  &  115  poles 

200 

100 
i:i5 
100 
200 
100 
200 
100 


The  time  when 
sold. 


March  »th  1737 
March  mh  1737 
March  fith  1737 
March  2i)th  1738 
April  11thl7;i8 
Jany  IGth  17Jr7 
Jany  IGth  1737 
Sept  Gth  17:W 
March  24th  17a> 
May     20th  1740" 

June    IJHh  1740 


J  uly 
July 
Octo. 
M  ay 
Nov 

>iOV 


15th  1740 
28th  1741 
IGth  1741 
ll»th  1742 

8  1742 
21st  1742 

3d    1742 


The  consid- 
cration. 


£25  0  0 

2.')  0  0 

10  0  0 

32  0  0 

2()  0  0 

5  0  0 


5 
5 
5 


0  0 
0  0 
0    0 


25    0    0 


(  Quit  I 
<        an 


,      an  b«ir  u 
{       l*ark«r. 

25  0    0 

25  0    0 

25  0    0 

32  0    0 

IG  0    0 

10  0    0 

25  0    0 


1  P^jepscot  Papers.  ^  Ibid. 

*  lirunncif'k  Records  in  P^epscot  Collection. 


»  McKeen,  MS6.  lecture. 


^Extracted from  York  County  Records  of  Deeds,  etc  ,  Jan.  9,  1749,  by  Daniel  Moul- 
ton,  Reg, 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM.       39 


Name*  of  the  PertODS  to  whom  Bci^. 
Lanbee  Esq  atty  &c.  aold. 

Quantity  of  acres 
sold. 

The  time  when 
•old. 

The  conn!  J- 
eration. 

19    James  Herv^ev 

ia3 

200 

206 

206 

100 

100 

103 

115 

206 

100 

100 

74  &  40  rods  more 
or   less   being 
Lot  No  Oat N. 
Meadows. 

400 

100 

(^3  &  112  rods 
200 
200 
100 

Octo     24th  1741 
May     28th  Yim 
June    23d  1742 
June    23d  1742 
Nov        3d  1742 
May       7th  1742 
May     26th  1742 
Jany    12th  1740 
May     10th  1742 
Nov        3d  1742 
Nov     28th  1737 

Nov       3d  1742 

April    14th  1742 

April     7th  1738 
Jany    10th  1740 
Octo     20th  1740 
May     21      1742 
Feby    25     1740 

£16    0    0 

30    James  McFarland 

10    0    0 

21    James  McFarland 

10    0    0 

22    James  McFarland 

10    0    0 

23    John  Adams 

25    0    0 

^    Charles  Casedy    

25  Thomas  Skolfield 

26  Beni  Bunker 

25    0    0 
25    0    0 
25    0    0 

27  Kben  Stanwood 

28  Isaac  Snow 

30    0    0 
25    0    0 

29    Jacob  Eatou 

25    0    0 

30    Jacob  £aton. 

» 

25    0    0 

ai    Saml  Clarke  Jacobs'  Admr. 
32    Patrick  Drummond 

(56    0    0 

i    Old  tenor 

25    0    0 

25     0     0 

50    0    0 

33  Benj  Bunker 

34  Alex  Tyler 

35  Saml  Hlnkley 

36  Lemuel  Gowen 

60    0    0 
50    0    0 

£828    0    0 

On  Jul}'  25,  1743,  William  Wootlside,  who  had  lived  for  some 
time  at  Maqiioit,  received  a  deed  from*  the  First  Church  in  Boston, 
conveyed  b\'  its  deacons,  of  three  hundred  and  fiftj'  acres  of  land 
at  the  westernmost  end  of  Maquoit,  "  ])eginning  at  mouth  of  Puggj'- 
muggj'  River."  The  price  paid  was  £50.^  Although  there  was  a 
considerable  number  of  settlers  in  the  town  at  this  time,  thev  must 
have  been  quite  scattered;  for  in  17-17,  according  to  the  statement 
of  Joshua  Filbrook,  there  were  but  two  houses  to  be  seen  from  Fort 
George. ^2 

June  19,  1751,  Benjamin  Thompson,  of  Georgetown,  bought  of 
Rel)ecca  Morely,  of  Dorchester,  Mass.,  "daughter  of  Thomas  Ste- 
phens, formerl}^  of  the  eastward  parts  now  called  Stephens*  Canying 
place,  or  near  a  place  called  the  Head  of  Stephens's  River,"  etc., 
all  her  interest  in  her  father's  lands,  "being  one  sixth  part  of  his 
estate." 3 

In  1752  there  were,  accoi-cling  to  a  map  of  the  Plj'mouth  Company 
of  that  date,  but  twenty  dwelling-houses  in  Brunswick.  For  the 
location  of  these  houses  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  accompanying 
map,  which  is  reduced  from  the  original :  — 


1  York  County  Records,  2<>,  p.  256. 

2  Journal  of  James  Curtis  in  Library  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society. 
8  York  County  Records,  29,  p.  120. 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM.       4  I 


REFERENCES  TO  THE  FOREGOING  MAP. 


Topsham, 

Harpswell  Neck. 

1. 

2. 

Gowan  Fulton  (1749). 
Mr.  Reed. 

29. 
30. 

Widow  Adams. 
McNess. 

3. 
4. 

Samuel  Beveridge. 
Charles  Robinson. 

31. 
32. 

McGregory, 
Willson. 

5. 

William  Vincent. 

33. 

Whelan. 

6. 

William  Thorns. 

34. 

Dyer. 

m 

1. 

Jacob  Eaton. 

35. 

Hays. 

8. 

Robert  Lithgow. 

36. 

A  negro. 

9. 

William  Malcom. 

37. 

Pinkham. 

10. 

William  Thorns,  Jr. 

38. 

Do. 

11. 

Lieut.  Hunter. 

39. 

VV  ido w  McCraw. 

12. 

Captain  Willson. 

40. 

Pinkham. 

A 

41. 

Webber. 

42. 

Do. 

Brunsicick, 

43. 

Do. 

44. 

Stover. 

13. 

Speer. 

45. 

Toothaker. 

14. 

Meeting-house. 

46. 

Allen. 

15. 

Finney. 

47. 

Warren. 

16. 

James  Dunning. 

48. 

Watts. 

17. 

Woodside. 

49. 

Mill. 

18. 

Mill. 

19. 

Stiinwood. 

Bmnsmck. 

20. 

Mill. 

50. 

Starbord. 

21. 

Smart. 

51. 

Skolfleld. 

99 

V.  Woodside. 

52. 

Hall  (on  Sebascodegan  Island) 

23. 

Mill. 

53. 

Snow. 

24. 

Captain  Minot. 

54. 

Mill. 

25. 

Beverage. 

55. 

Coombs, 

26. 

J.  Orr  (1742). 

56. 

Mills. 

27. 

Camp. 

57. 

Deacon  Hlnkley. 

28. 

Giveen. 

58. 

Captain  Thompson. 

59. 

Smith. 

In  an  estate  bill  for  this  3'ear  fort3'-five  new  names  are  to  be  found, 
but  probably  many  of  them  are  those  of  the  children  of  parties  wlio 
had  previousl}'  settled  in  town,  while  some,  undoubtedly,  were  of 
those  who  had  purchased  lots  of  previous  settlers.  Some  whose 
names  appear  on  this  bill  may  have  resided  elsewhere. 

The  town  continued  to  increase  in  population,  however,  and  about 
17G0  a  number  of  new  citizens  moved  in,  among  whom  were  the 
families  of  Stone,  Pennell,  Melcher,  Harding,  Weston,  Gross,  Curtis, 
and  perhaps  others.^ 


*  McKeen,  MSS.  Lecture, 


42  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

In  1771  Robert  Goddard  moved  into  town,  and  Batcheldor  Ring 
settled  a  little  southwest  of  him,  but  also  in  Brunswick.  The  house 
of  the  latter  was  shortly  afterwards  burned,  and  he  rebuilt  a  little  far- 
ther west,  and  in  the  town  of  Durham.  Owing  to  this  fact,  Bruns- 
wick lost  a  small  portion  of  her  tenitory  when  the  line  between  that 
town  and  Durham  was  run.^ 

A  3'ear  or  two  later  several  Quakers  settled  in  town,  near  the  west- 
ern line.  Some  of  them  had  previously  been  living  in  Harpswell. 
Among  these  new-comers  were  the  families  of  Jones  and  Hacker.^ 

The  first  settlers  on  the  Topsham  side  of  the  river  all  left  their 
homes  before  the  formation  of  the  Pejepscot  Company. 

Between  1717  and  1722,  however,  thirtj'-three  persons  took  up  lots 
in  Topsham,  though  many  of  them,  doubtless,  not  fulfilling  the  condi- 
tions required  by  the  proprietors,  forfeited  their  claims.  It  api^ears 
from  an  entrj^  made  in  1717  by  the  proprietors*  clerk,  that  the  second 
island  going  out  of  Merrymeeting  Bay  into  the  Pejepscot  River  was 
deeded  by  Messrs.  Minot  and  Watts  to  the  Reverend  Mr.  Baxter  of 
Medfield,  Mass.,  and  was  thereafter  to  be  known  as  Baxter's  Island. ^ 
Three  years  later  the  proprietors  granted  to  Mr.  Baxter  '*  the  Island 
over  against  Topsham  of  about  twentythree  acres,"  upon  condition 
that  he  would  build  two  houses  on  it,  and  settle  two  families  there 
who  should  be  able  to  provicfe  their  own  subsistence. 

On  July  30,  1720,  the  proprietors  granted  to  Captain  John  Gyles  the 
"  First  Lott  of  Land  in  the  Township  of  Topsham,  in  consideration 
that  he  build  a  suitable  dwelling  house  thereon  and  by  himself  or  some 
meet  person  Inhabit  the  same  for  the  space  of  three  years,"  also  "  Five 
hundred  and  fifteen  acres  lying  on  Cathance  Point  opposite  thereto." 
Gjies  probably  did  not  comply  with  the  conditions,  as  we  find  that  in 
1741,  the  old  title  to  land  in  Topsham  derived  through  Thomas  Gyles 
was  brought  forward,  and  the  proprietors,  therefore,  on  July  21,  of 
this  year,  '*  In  consideration  of  five  shillings  current  money  of  New 
England,  to  us  in  hand  paid  by  John  Gj'les,  Esq.,  of  a  place  called 
St.  Georges,  in  the  County  of  York  aforesaid,  and  in  consideration  of 
a  quit  claim  for  lands  at  a  place  called  Topsham,  in  the  County  of 
York  aforesaid,  signed  b}-  said  John  G^^les  and  his  brethren,  baring 
date  the  loth  of  August,  A.  D.  1727,"  transferred  to  the  Gyles's 
"  a  Point  of  Land  containing  60  acres  "  in  Topsham,  "  bounded  south- 
erlj'  by  Lott  number  one,  easterly  and  Northerly  b}^  Merrymeeting 


1  McKeen,  MSS.  Lecture,  a  Ibid, 

8  Brunswick  Records  in  P^epscot  Collection, 


PEJEP8C0T  PROPRIETORS.    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM,        43 

Bay,  and  westerly  b}'  the  entrance  or  mouth  of  Mudd}'  river"  ;  also, 
another  tract  of  land  "  Ij'ing  'Westerly  from  the  former,  bounded 
southerly  by  Lott  Number  one,  westerly  by  Cathance  River,  Northerl}' 
by  land  belonging  to  us,  and  easterly  by  Merrymeeting  Bay  and  the 
entrance  of  Mudd}'  River  .  .  .  containing  515  acres."  ^  This  latter 
tract  of  land  appears  to  be  the  same  as  that  mentioned  in  the  former 
deed. 

On  June  30,  1721,  Samuel  York,  of  Ipswich,  relinquished  all  title 
to  land  in  Topsham  claimed  by  his  father.  Samuel  York,  deceased,  by 
virtue  of  an  Indian  deed,  etc.,  the  proprietors  granting  him  three 
hundred  acres  in  lieu  thereof. 

About  1731  quite  a  number  of  new  settlers  moved  to  Topsham. 
Some  forty-three  persons  took  up  lots  this  year  or  a  short  time  previ- 
ous. As  many  of  the  names  of  these  persons  do  not  appear  in  subse- 
quent lists  of  settlers,  however,  it  is  probable  that  they  either  forfeited 
or  sold  their  lots.  Between  this  date  and  1738,  some  fourteen  fam- 
ilies moved  into  town.  The  proprietors  about  this  time  es[)ecially 
encouraged  settlements  in  Topsham,  as  that  place  was  much  behind 
Brunswick  in  the  number  of  settlers.  This  was  because  Topsham  was 
much  more  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  the  Indians,  it  having  but 
few  strong  garrisons.* 

[1746.]  In  1746  it  had  only  thirty-six  settlers,  and  many  of  these 
were  afterwards  killed  by  the  Indians.  There  are  not  more  than  ten 
or  a  dozen  of  these  whose  descendants  have  lived  in  Topsham  during 
the  present  century.  Some  of  these  settlers  removed  and  settled  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Boston. ^ 

[1749.]  The  population  of  Topsham  at  this  time  was  *' about 
twentv-five  inhabitants."  ^ 

Owing  to  the  attacks  of  the  Indians  during  what  is  known  as  the 
Spanish,  or  Fifth  Indian  war,  the  settlement  at  this  place  became 
much  reduced,  so  that  in  1750  there  were  but  eighteen  families 
remaining.^ 

In  1752  the  number  of  polls  in  the  Topsham  precinct  was  twenty- 
eight.  The  number  of  dwellings  at  this  time  can  be  seen  b}'  reference 
to  the  map  on  page  40. 

In  1757  the  population  of  Topsham  had  nearl}-  doubled,  the  number 
of  polls  being  at  this  time  forty-nine.®  The  whole  number  taxed  in 
town  in  1758  was  forty-four." 

1  Pejepscot  Records.  ^  Pejppscot  Papers, 

*Ihid  ^Brtinstcick  Records  in  P^epscot  Collrction. 

*  Massachusetts  Historical  Collection^  3,  p.  142.       ®  Pejepscot  Papers.       "^  Ibid. 


44       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

On  November  11,  1763,  the  following  named  settlers  near  Cathance 
proposed  to  bny  of  the  proprietors  the*  amount  of  meadow  land  atHxed 
to  their  names,  and  agreed  to  pay  six  shillings  per  acre.  The  propri- 
etors, however,  limited  the  quantity  to  five  acres  each.  This  amount, 
it  is  to  be  presumed,  they  all  purchased.  The  names  and  amounts 
desired  were  as  follows :  — 

Hugh  Wilson,  six  acres. 
James  Potter,  Jr.,  eight  acres. 
James  Mustard,  five  acres. 
John  Mallett,  six  acres. 
Alexander  Potter,  six  acres. 
William  Alexander,  eight  acres. 
Samuel  Wilson,  ten  acres. 

On  June  17,  176G,  David  Jeffnes,  of  Boston,  clerk  to  the  Kenne- 
bec proprietors,  and  James  Bowdoin,  of  Roxbury,  Mass.,  a  grantee  of 
the  same  ^oprietors,  deeded  to  John  and  William  Potter  and  Gowen 
Fulton,  all  of  Topsham,  all  of  the  land  in  Bowdoinham  claimed  b}' 
them  under  their  previous  deeds  from  the  Pejepscot  proprietors.^ 

[1768.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  July  23,  1768, 
it  was  voted  to  allow  John  MerrilFs  claim  to  land  bought  of  Henry 
Gibbs,  in  Topsham.  The  quantit}'  of  land  which  Merrill  held  was 
four  hundred  acres,  which  was  fort}'  acres  more  than  the  amount  of 
his  claim,  and  lie  was  required  to  account  for  the  overplus  at  a  meet- 
ing held  August  5 ;  however,  the  proprietors  gave  him  fift}'  acres  in 
consideration  of  £39  due  him  from  them. 

A  memorandum  in  the  Pejepscot  Records  gives  the  dimensions  of 
several  log-houses  built  in  Topsham,  about  1738,  as  follows:  "  thirty 
feet  long,  eighteen  feet  wide  and  eight  feet  high." 

The  earliest  transfer  of  land  in  Harpswell,  after  the  formation  of 
the  Pejepscot  Company,  of  which  we  have  found  any  record,  was  in 
1720.  On  May  20,  of  this  year,  Nicholas  Cole  and  Samuel  Little- 
field,  of  Wells,  deeded  to  Samuel  Boone,  of  Kingston,  Rhode  Island, 
one  half  of  Merriconeag  Neck,  one  half  of  Great  Che])eag  Island, 
and  one  half  of  Great  Island,  being  the  land  formerly'  owned  by  Nicho- 
las Cole,  Senior,  and  John  Purrington.^  Boone  is  not,  however,  known 
to  have  settled  in  Harpswell. 

In  the  year  1727  several  new  families  moved  to  Harpswell  and 
settled  upon  the  Neck.  On  the  twenty-sixth  of  Ma}'  of  this  year, 
Thomas    Westbrook,   one    of   the  Pejepscot   proprietors,  deeded  to 


Oriffinal  dead  in  our  possession.  '^  P^epscot  Papers. 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS,    SETTLEMENTS  UI^DER  THEM.       45 

Colonel  Johnson  Harmon,  formerly  of  York,  one  twenty-fourth  part 
of  two  thousand  acres  of  land  on  Merriconeag  Neck.^ 

In  October  of  the  same  year,  Colonel  Harmon  leased  of  the  Pejepscot 
proprietors,  for  seven  j-ears,  '*  that  farm  or  tract  of  land  called  Merri- 
coneage  Neck  in  Casco  Baj',  and  so  running  up  to  the  upi)er  carrj-ing 
place  including  y*  whole  breadth  of  y*  s*  neck."  The  proprietors, 
however,  retained  the  right  to  settle  one  or  more  families  on  the  Neck, 
without  opposition  from  Harmon.^ 

The  authorities  of  Harvard  College,  however,  though  defeated  in 
their  appeal  to  the  legislature,  as  stated  in  the  preceding  chapter,  had 
not  given  up  their  claim  to  the  land,  and  in  January,  1732,  the}'  insti- 
tuted a  suit  of  ejectment  against  Hannon,  in  the  Court  of  Common 
Pleas  of  the  Count}*  of  York.  In  October,  1733,  a  verdict  was  ren- 
dered in  favor  of  Harmon.  •  The  plaintiffs  appealed  the  case  to  the 
Superior  Court,  which  was  held  in  1737,  and  it  was  eventually  decided 
again  in  favor  of  Harmon,  or  rather  of  the  proprietors  from  whom  he 
leased.  Having  been  four  times  defeated,  Harvard  College  made  no 
further  attempt  to  recover  this  propert}'.^ 

In  Dec.  21,  1741,  Colonel  Harmon  deeded  all  the  foregoing  land 
(excepting  fifty  acres  which  he  had  previously  sold  to  John  Stover) 
to  his  son,  Joseph  Haimon,  of  York,  togetlier  with  his  dwelling- 
house,  bam,  and  all  other  buildings  and  appurtenances.  The  price 
paid  was  £70  in  bills  of  credit.^ 

On  May  17,  1731,  Moses  GatcheU  leased  of  the  Pejepscot  propri- 
etors, for  two  years,  the  land  on  ]\Ierriconeag  Neck,  between  the 
Carrying- Place  and  the  land  then  occupied  b}'  Colonel  Harmon.* 

At  the  same  date  Gideon  Conner,  then  residing  on  the  Neck, 
leased  of  the  proprietors,  for  two  years,  a  tract  of  land  having  the 
same  bounds  as  Gatcheirs,®  and  it  is  probable  that  the  two  men 
leased  the  land  together,  but  each  was  held  by  a  separate  lease.  It 
is  possible,  however,  that  Conner  was  the  "  Ircsh  Neighbour"  referred 
to  in  the  following  letter :  — 

'^  Wereconeag  June  25, 1731. 

Hon** :  ColoV  sr :  I  am  still  in  3'our  posession  on  y* :  upor  end  of 
3*  neck  but  I  have  there  an  Iresh  Neighbour  which  pretends  to  hold 
pos°  :  for  mr.  Porenton  b}'  a  Leas  under  his  hand  as  I  am  sr  in  3'ours 
b}'  ColoV  Westbrook  And  1  hope  by  your  cosent:  I  am  Redy  and 
will"  to  sar\'e  your  intrust :  and  desier  your  Counsel  and  asistanee  from 
time  to  time :  and  sr  if  3*ou  will  plese  to  send  me  j  Barrel  of  Molases 

iP^cpaccXPopera.  ^Ibid,         ^Ibid         *Ibi<l         ^Ibid.        ^Ibid. 


46         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHJM,  AND  HARFSWELL, 

and  one  Sythe  j'ou  will  greath'  oblige  me :  and  I  will  iudever  to  pay 
30U  y*  next  faul  who  am  yours  to  Cd 

"Moses  Gatchel.''^ 

There  had  been  but  two  houses  at  the  upper  part  of  Merriconeag 
Neck  previous  to  1 74 1 ,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following  testimon}* :  — 

''  Hannah  Smith  Testifj-eth  &  Saith  y*  she  with  her  late  Husband 
James  Smith  lived  at  y*  upper  end  of  Mereconege  Neck  where  her 
late  Husband  &  her  Father  Moses  Gatchel  Built  a  House  &  lived 
there  from  June  1731  to  1735  at  which  Coll  Westbrook  told  us  y*  if 
we  liked  any  place  on  said  Neck  better  we  might  Remove  to  it  upon 
which  my  late  Husband  [Smith]  &  Father  [Gatchel]  Removed  about 
1^  mile  loer  down  on  s*  neck  &  Built  a  House  there  where  we  lived 
till  1741,  as  Tennants  to  S"*  Westbrook  &  Comi)^  &  Built  Houses  in 
both  Places  &  further  that  when  her  Father  Gatchell  Removed  from 
the  ui)per  House  on  S**  neck  he  Lett  it  to  Nath"  Barnes  who  lived  there 
2i  years  from  1735  &  paid  m}-  Father  Rent  for  the  Same  for  S**  West- 
brook &  Comity  the  S**  Barnes  Removing  away  to  Topsham  left  s^ 
House  in  the  Posession  of  W™  McNess  for  y*  S**  Westbrook  & 
Comj)^  —  and  no  persons  whatsoever '  lived  on  the  upper  half  of 
S**  Neck  but  my  F'ather  &  My  Husband  &  owre  Family s  while  we 
lived  there  &  there  was  no  sign  of  any  other  habitation  nor  improve- 
ment but  where  we  first  lived."  ^ 

The  proprietors,  notwithstanding  their  devotion  to  the  interests  of 
the  settlers,  were  men  who  knew  how  to  look  out  for  their  own  phys- 
ical wants  and  how  to  enjoy  good  living.  It  appears  that  on  the 
8th  of  August,  1733,  the  proprietors  leased  to  William  Cad^-  and 
his  associates,  for  seven  years,  the  '*  island  called  Sebasco  Dcggin," 
with  liberty  to  use  and  occupy  it ;  and  the}'  also  agi-eed  to  deliver 
to  Cady  the  frame  of  a  house,  then  in  the  possession  of  Colonel 
Harmon,  and  to  furnish  Cad}'  with  four  thousand  feet  of  boards,  and 
with  nails  suflictent  for  finishing  the  house,  which  Cady  was  to  set  up 
and  finish.  The  proprietors  reserved  to  themselves  the  right  of 
*'  improving  anj'  mine  or  mineral,"  which  might  be  discovered  on  the 
island,  and  also  tlie  right  "  to  settle  a  fishery  there,"  or  to  make 
other  settlements  there,  which  should  not,  however,  interfere  with  the 
improvements  of  Cad}'  and  his  associates. 

Cady  agreed  to  erect  and  finish,  forthwith,  at  least  one  dwelling- 
house  on  the  island,  and  occupy  it  before  the  next  winter,  and  that 
before  the  next  summer  he  would  settle,  at  least,  tlu*ee  other  families 

1  P^epscot  Papers.  ^  Ibid. 


PEJEPSCOT  PROPRIETORS,    SETTLEMENTS  UNDER  THEM,        47 

besides  his  own  on  the  island,  and  keep  off  all  intruders  from  settling 

without  leave,  in   writing,  fVora  the  proprietors,  and  from   cutting 

wood  or  grass  there.     He  further  agreed  to  clear  the  fresh  meadows, 

and  to  clear  and  break  up  and  bring  to  tillage  and  English  grass  as 

much  of  the  land  upon  the  island  as  he  and  his  associates  could  (the 

proprietors  finding  grass-seed) ,  and  to  endeavor  to  raise  a  nurser}'  of 

fruit  trees  and  an  orchard  ;  and  as  an  annual  rental  he  agreed  to  pay 

to  Adam  Winthrop,  or  his  heirs  in  Boston,  '*  for  the  use  of  him  and 

the  rest  of  the  Lessors  tvjenty  good  fat  geese  ^  or  in  failure  thereof 

£5  per  annum,  in  bills  of  credit  on  this  Province."  ^     Although  his 

name  is  not  mentioned  in  this  deed,  tliere  is  little  doubt  that  William 

Condj  was  one  of  Cady*s  "  associates,"  as  a  blank  form  of  a  deed  in 

the  Pejepscot  papers  mentions  Condy's  name  in  connection  w^ith  that 

of  Cady.     The  harbor  known  as  "  Cundy's"  was  undoubtedl}'  named 

for  William.  Condy. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  this  lease  reserves  the  right  to  the  proprie- 
tors to  allow  other  settlers  on  the  island.  And  in  1737  or  1738  some 
twentv  families  were  settled  there. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  re-settle  the  island  for  the  pur^jose  of 
building  a  fishing-town.  Mr.  Nathaniel  Donnel,  of  York,  selected  a 
spot  which  was  to  be  divided  into  small  lots  of  an  acre  each,  for  the 
convenience  of  dwelling-houses,  with  a  convenient  harbor  adjacent. 
The  project  was  abandoned  on  account  of  the  increased  hostilitj'  of 
the  Indians.  The  harbor  referred  to  was  probably  Coiidy's,  as  the 
land  on  the  western  shore  of  that  harbor  is  well  calculated  for  the  site 
of  a  village. 2 

Dec.  23,  1742,  Joseph  and  Clement  Orr,  of  Pemaquid,  turners  l\y 
trade,  bought  of  Henry  Gibbs,  of  Boston,  a  tract  of  land  at  the 
northerly  end  of  Merriconeag  Neck,  coutaiiiing  one  hundred  and 
twenty-two  acJres.^  The  next  day  the}'  received  from  the  same  party 
another  tract  of  sixty-nine  acres  near  the  former,^  and  the  ''  southeast 
prong"  of  Merriconeag  Neck,  containing,  by  estimation,  two  hundred 
acres. ''^ 

In  1743  Richard  Ja(jues,  of  North  Yarmouth,  bought  one  hundred 
acres  of  land,  on  Little  Sebascodegin  (()rr*s)  Island.^ 

He  is  believed,  therefore,  to  have  been  the  first  purchaser  of  land 
on  this  island,  thoujjrh  tradition  has  it  tliat  a  man  bv  the  name  of 
Fitzgerald  was  the  first  oecupant  of  the  island.     What  disposition  he 


>  Pi-JL'pKCot  Papers.  2  }[cK(ji;ny  in  Hurpswdl  Banner. 

8  York  County  Records,  2C,  />.  2()1. 

*Ibid,,  26p„  202.  ^Ibi(L,  28,/).  99.  ^Ibid.,  25,  p.  112. 


48  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

made  of  this  property  is  unknown,  but  the  whole  island  afterwards 
came  into  the  possession  of  Honorable  William  Tailer,  of  Dorchester, 
Mass.,  and  of  Honorable  Elisha  Cook,  of  Boston,  whose  heirs  sold  it 
in  1748  to  Joseph  Orr.*  Joseph  Orr  had  previousl^^  been  living  on 
Merriconeag  Neck,  but  after  he  purchased  the  island  he,  with  his 
brother  Clement  and  sons,  moved  on  to  it  and  erected  a  garrison- 
house.     The  island  has  since  gone  by  his  name. 

In  his  purchase  of  half  of  the  island  from  the  heirs  of  William 
Tailer,  Orr  did  not  secure  the  signature  to  his  deed  of  one  of  the 
daughters,  the  wife  of  Reverend  Matthew  Byles,  of  Boston,  who 
accordingly-  put  in  her  claim  to  a  share.  In  consequence  of  this  claim, 
on  July  22,  1760,  Oit  set  off  and  released  to  her  one  tenth  part  of  the 
island,  and  received  a  quitclaim  of  the  remainder.^  On  October  ICth 
of  this  year,  Joseph  Orr  deeded  the  whole  of  his  property-  on  tliis 
island  to  his  brother  Clement  as  a  life  estate,  and  to  his  heirs  after 
him.  In  case  of  the  death  of  Clement's  heirs  it  was  to  revert  to  the 
heirs  of  Joseph. ^ 

In  17r>5  there  were  on  Sebascodegan  Island,  sixteen  persons,  and 
on  Merriconeag  Neck,  six  persons,  who,  living  north  of  the  Yar- 
mouth line,  were  taxed  in  Brunswick. 

The  number  of  settlers  in  these  three  towns,  during  the  first  half 
of  the  last  century,  is  so  large  as  to  prevent  a  mention  of  their  names 
in  this  connection,  and  a  list  of  these  settlers  is  therefore  given  in  the 
Appendix.  The  doings  of  the  proprietors,  which  are  not  given  in  this, 
will  be  found  in  their  appropriate  connection  in  other  chapters. 

»  York  County  Records,  36,  pp.  31,  32.  a  Jbid.yp.  232. 

'  Original  deed,  in  possession  o/S.  Purinton. 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS,  1676-1760.  49 


CHAPTER    IV. 

PERIOD    OF   THE    INDIAN   WARS,    1675-1760. 

In  the  earliest  years  of  the  Pejepscot  settlement  the  whites  were 
few  in  number,  and  although  they  oftentimes,  doubtless,  excited  the 
jealousy  and  even  the  personal  animosity  of  the  natives,  still,  on  the 
whole,  the}^  conducted  themselves  with  sufficient  caution  to  prevent 
any  outbreak.  For  a  few  years  previous  to  1G75  the  ill-feeling  and 
jealousy  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  had  been  increasing  and  was  par- 
ticularly directed  against  Thomas  Purchase,  who  was  thought  by  them 
to  have  charged  unfair  prices,  and  otherwise  to  have  overreached 
them  in  trade.  The  custom  of  the  English  at  this  time  was,  as  is 
said  by  an  early  writer,  ''  first  to  make  them  [the  Indians],  or  suffer 
them  to  make  themselves,  dnink  with  liquors,  and  then  to  trade  with 
them,  when  the^'  may  easily-  be  cheated  both  in  what  they  bring  to 
ti*ade,  and  in  the  liquor  itself,  being  one  half  or  more  nothing  but 
spring  water,  which  made  one  of  the  Androscoggin  Indians  once  com- 
plain that  he  had  given  an  hundred  pound  for  water  drawn  out  of 
Mr.  P.  his  well."  ^ 

KING  PHILIP'S  WAR.     1675-1078. 

The  animosity  of  the  natives  culminated  in  an  outbreak  in  1675. 
The  war  commenced  in  the  Plymouth  Colou}^,  June  24,  1075.  By 
JSeptcmber  the  fourth  or  fifth,  hostilities  commenced  at  Pejepscot. 
On  that  da^',  a  party  of  about  twenty  Indians  went  to  Purchase's 
house  and  pretended  to  his  wife  that  they  wished  to  trade.  Discover- 
ing, however,  that  her  husband  and  son  were  both  absent,  they  gave 
up  all  further  disguise,  and  proceeded  to  rob  the  liouse.  They  look 
what  weapons,  powder,  and  liquor  the}'  could  find,  ripped  up  the  fuather- 
beds  for  the  sake  of  the  ticking,  killed  a  calf  and  several  sheep,  and 
proceeded  to  make  merry.  Purchase's  son  returned  home  while  this 
was   going  on,    and  being  discovered  by   the  party,  was   obliged    to 


^  Drake,  IluhbanV 8  Indian  Wars,  p.  256. 


50  IlISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

flee  for  his  life.  He  was  followed  for  some  distance  by  an  Indian  with 
a  gun,  but  succeeded  in  making  good  his  escape.  The  party  offered 
no  violence  to  any  one  in  the  house,  but  told  them  that  ''  others  would 
soon  come  and  treat  them  worse."  Some  few  daj's  later,  a  party  of 
twenty-five  settlers,  having  collected  for  the  pui*pose,  went  in  a  sloop 
and  two  boats  to  the  New  Meadows  River,  near  to  the  house  of  Mr. 
Purchase,  to  gather  and  secure  the  growing  crops,  and  also  to  recon- 
noitre. Here  they  found  a  number  of  Indians  pillaging  the  neighbor- 
ing houses.  In  attempting  to  get  between  the  Indians  and  the  wooils, 
they  came  upon  three  of  their  spies.  One  of  these,  attempting  to 
reach  the  river,  they  shot.  The  second  was  wounded,  but  escaped 
across  a  stream  to  a  canoe.  The  third  escaped  and  gave  the  alarm. 
The  Indians,  however,  remained  concealed  until  the  coin  was  all  gath- 
ered and  the  boats  loaded,  when  they  suddenly  gave  their  war-whoop, 
rushed  \\\x>n  them,  wounded  several,  and  carried  off  the  boat-loads  ot 
corn  in  triumph.^  Some  time  the  next  year  Purchase's  house  was 
burned  and  he  was  compelled  to  leave.^ 

The  war  now  having  fairly-  opened,  the  settlers  were  all  obliged  to 
flee,  and  the  Indians,  emboldened  by  their  success,  ''  sought  trophies 
for  the  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  in  every  direction,  at  the  door  of 
every  plantation  "  throughout  the  Province  of  Maine. 

The  Androscoggin  Indians  were  the  most  active  of  all  the  tribes, 
and  it  was  thought,  in  1676,  that  if  a  treat}'  could  be  effected  with  them 
there  would  be  a  general  peace  with  the  Eastern  tribes. ^  This  could 
not  be  accomplished  this  year,  however,  and  so  the  General  Court,  in 
1677,  ordered  Majors  Waldron  and  Frost,  with  one  hundred  and  fifty 
men,  sixty  of  whom  were  Xatick  Indians,  to  the  Kennebec,  with 
instructions  'Mo  subdue  the  Indians  in  those  parts,  and  deliver  the 
English  captives  detained  in  their  hands." 

The  force  landed  at  Mair  Point,  Feb.  18,  1677.  They  were  imme- 
diately hailed  b}'  an  Indian  party,  among  whom  were  Squando  and 
Simon,  ''  the  Yankee  killer."  After  some  preliminary  questions, 
Waldron  inquired  of  Simon  whether  the}'  desired  peace.  The  latter 
answered,  *'  Yes,  and  we  sent  Mugg  to  Boston  for  that  purpose  ;  he 
told  us  you*d  be  here."  Upon  being  asked  if  they  would  release 
their  English  captives,  Squando  replied,  "  I  will  bring  them  in  the 
afternoon."     Nothing  further  was  seen  of  them,  however,  until  the 


1  WiUiamson,  UUtory  of  Maiiie^  1,  p.  520  et  seq, 

2  Maine  Historical  Collection^  3,  p.  315. 
^DrakCy  Book  of  Indians,  3,  p.  104. 


^  PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAX  WARS,  1675-1760.  51 

next  daj'  at  noon,  when  fourteen  canoes  were  seen  up  the  ba3%  pulling 
for  the  shore,  and  soon  a  house  w^as  seen  in  flames,  and  the  Indians 
appeared  and  challenged  Waldron's  soldiers  to  fight.  Major  Frost  then 
attacked  them  and  killed  and  wounded  several.  Another  parley  was 
then  held.  On  being  asked  why  they  had  not  brought  their  captives, 
as  they  had  agi'eed  to  do,  and  why  they  had  fired  the  house  and  chal- 
lenged the  soldiers,  the  Indians  replied,  through  their  interpreter,  that 
*'  the  captives  were  a  great  wa^'  otf,  and  that  the  snow  and  cold 
weather  had  prevented  their  coming,  that  the  house  took  fire  b}'  acci- 
dent, and  that  the  soldiers  fired  at  the  Indians  first."  Major  Waldron, 
finding  himself  unable  to  recover  the  captives  or  to  fight  the  Indians 
with  advantage,  sailed  for  the  Saga<lahock.^ 

This  was  the  last  engagement  of  this  war  that  occurred  in  this 
vicinity,  though  peace  was  not  declared  until  April  12,  1G78.  Al- 
though in  the  first  three  months  alone  of  this  war,  eighty  persons 
were  slain  between  the  Piscataqua  and  the  Kennebec,  it  is  not  known 
that  any  of  the  settlers  in  the  Pejepscot  tract  were  killed. 

KING  WILLIAM'S   WAR.     1688-1699. 

The  peace  concluded  with  the  Indians  in  1678  lasted  just  ten  years, 
when,  from  various  causes,  the}'  became  excited  and  again  took  the 
war-path.  Governor  Andros  was  at  firat  inclined  to  adopt  pacifica- 
tory measures,  but  at  last,  finding  war  inevitable,  he  took  the  opposite 
coarse,  and  in  November,  1688,  he  made  an  expedition  into  the 
Eastern  countiy,  as  it  was  then  called,  and  established  garrisons.  At 
the  time  of  his  visit  to  Pejepscot,  ••  the  weather  was  exceedingly  cold, 
the  snow  deep,  and  the  travelling  exc<je(lingly  tedious."  While  here  he 
caused  a  fort  to  be  erected  under  the  charge  of  Anthony  Brockhold, 
one  of  his  counsel,^  and  garrisoned  it  with  a  part  of  his  ann}*.^  This 
fort  stood  on  what  is  now  Maine  Street,  a  few  rods  south  of  Bow 
Street,  and  about  where  the  store  of  J.  T.  Adams  &  Co.  is  now. 

The  first  attack  in  this  vicinity  was  in  the  spring  of  1690,  when  the 
fort  was  taken  by  the  savages.  In  September,  Colonel  Benjamin 
Church  was  sent  from  Massachusetts  with  between  throe  hundred  and 
four  hundred  men,  to  drive  them  off  from  Brunswick  and  other  places 
in  this  region,  and,  if  possible,  recover  their  captives.  He  landed  his 
force  at  Maquoit,  Sept.  13,  and  marched  them  by  night  towards  Fort 
Andros.  The}'  surrounded  the  fort,  but  at  daybreak  it  was  discov- 
ered that  the  enemy  had  left  shortly  before  their  arrival.     The  soldiers 


1  Williamson^  History  of  Maine,  1,  pp.  545,  54<). 

2  McKetn^  MSS.  Lecture,  '  WUUamson^  History  of  Maine^  I,  p.  6S0. 


52  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABPSWELL. 

found  some  plunder  and  a  bam  of  corn.  They  left  the  same  da}-  for 
an  Indian  fort  on  the  Androscoggin.  After  capturing  the  latter  and 
releasing  several  prisoners,  they  returned  to  Maquoit,  went  aboard 
their  vessels,  and  sailed  for  Winter  Harbor. * 

Church  had  no  conflict  with  the  Indians  at  Brunswick  as  stated  by 
Cotton  Mather,  the  contest  referred  to  having  occurred  at  Cape 
Elizabeth. 2 

In  September,  1691,  Captains  King,  Sherburne,  March,  and  Wal- 
ton landed,  with  their  several  companies  of  Massachusetts  militia,  at 
Maquoit  and  visited  Fort  Andros,  expecting  to  find  some  Indians 
there.  They  found  none,  however,  and  accoixJingly  returned  imme- 
diately to  Maquoit.  While  re-embarking,  the^'  were  assaulted  by  a 
strong  force  of  Indians  who  had  been  watching  them.  In  this  skirmish 
Captain  Sherburne,  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  was  killed. ^ 

The  war  lasted  some  eight  years  longer,  but  there  was  no  further 
skirmishing  in  this  vicinit}'.  Probably  the  settlers  had  all  left.  A 
conference  between  the  commissioners  from  Massachusetts  and  the 
sagamores  of  the  Penobscot,  Kennebec,  Androscoggin,  and  Saco  tribes 
was  held  at  Mair  Point,  and  a  previous  treat}*  of  peace,  which  bad 
been  made  at  Pemaquid,  Aug.  11,  1G93,  was  ratified  between  them  on 
Jan.  7,  1099.  This  treaty  quieted  the  fears  of  the  settlers  and  encour- 
aged those  who  were  engaged  in  the  resettlement  of  Maine, 

QUEEN  ANNES   WAR.     1703-1713. 

Peace  with  the  Indians  lasted  onlj'  about  four  years.  In  1703  the 
third  Indian  war  commenced.  Although  during  this  war  engagements 
and  skirmishes  were  quite  frequent  in  the  vicinit}'  and  to  the  westward 
of  Falmouth,  there  is  no  evidence  that  there  was  any  contest  in  this 
vicinity.  The  statement  made  by  the  late  John  McKeen,^  that  there 
was  an  attempt  to  undermine  the  fort  here,  in  1702,  by  a  Frenchmaa 
named  Bobazier  and  five  hundred  Indians,  is  an  error.  The  fort 
referred  to  was  at  Casco,  the  present  city  of  Portland.^ 

In  1704  some  companies  from  Massachusetts  and  New  Hampshire 
went  East,  "  Indian  hunting,"  as  it  w?is  termed,  and  one  Peter  Rogers, 
of  Newbury,  stated  that  he  came  to  Pejepscot  in  a  compan}'  of  some 
twenty  or  thirty.     That  it  was  in  the  winter  time,  and  that  they  trav- 

1  Dexter t  "  ChurcK a  Expeditions  against  tlie  Eastern  Indians,**  pp.  60  to  56. 

2  MvKeen,  }Jannscript  Lecture. 

8  Williamson^  History  of  Maine,  1,  p.  C)2S. 

*  Pi'jepscot  Papers.     Mr  Keen,  Mi:iS.  Lecture. 

6  Penhallow,  p.  20.     Willis's  IJistoiT/  of  Portland,  p.  315. 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS,  1675-1700.  53 

elled  with  snow-shoes  from  there  to  Rocamoco,^  or  Jay  Point,  now 
Canton.  No  mention  is  made  of  his  meeting  with  either  settlers  or 
savages. 

LOVEWELL'S  WAR.     1722-1725. 

Although  during  Queen  Anne's  war  there  is  not  known  to  have 
been  any  conflict  in  this  vicinity,  3'e*  the  whole  Province  was  in  such  a 
disturbed  state  on  account  of  the  Indian  troubles  that  the  Pejepscot 
proprietors,  in  1715,  felt  it  necessary'  to  offer  the  following. 

Encouragements  to  Enxist. 

"  Wee  the  Subscribers  Proprietors  of  the  Lands  in  Bmnswick  & 
Topshara,  do  offer  the  following  encouragements  to  such  as  shall  Volun- 
tarily enlist  themselves  as  Souldiers  to  garrison  the  Fort  at  Brunswick. 

'*  1  That  imm(5diately  upon  their  enlistment,  they  shall  enter  into 
Pay  &  Subsistence. 

"  2.  That  the  Militar}'  Service  expected  from  them  at  present  is 
like  to  be  so  small  as  to  permit  them,  besides  their  wages,  to  earn 
mom*3'  by  Labour. 

"3.  That  during  the  time  of  the  Forts  Repair,  we  will  employ 
them  all  as  Labourers,  (except  the  Warders),  &  pay  Two  Shillings  a 
da}*  for  ever}'  day  they  work. 

"4.  That  afterwards  we  will  endeavour  to  find  employment  for 
them,  by  splitting  staves,  shingles  or  clapboards  or  any  other  Service 
that  may  prove  beneficiall  to  us  &  them. 

*'  o.  That  when  they  have  served  six  months  as  Souldiers  if  they 
desire  to  become  Inhabitants,  we  will  endeavour  to  obtain  a  General 
Order  from  His  Ex*^y  the  Govern''  to  release  them,they  finding  another 
man  in  their  room,  &  when  so  dismist  thev  shall  have  One  hundred 
Acres  of  Land  granted  to  each  of  them  equall  with  the  other  Inhabi- 
tants &  on  the  same  Terms  &  conditions  with  them. 

"  f).     If  thev  don't  see  cause  to  settle  there,  when  thev  have  served 

twelve  months,  we  will  use  our  endeavour  to  obtain  His  Ex*^^  Favour  to 

get  them  discharged,  which  we  hope  we  shall  be  able  to  accomplish.   • 

"  Approved  hy  the    Governour 

&  Signed  hy  several  of  the 

Proprietors, 
"Boston,  Aug.  3d,  1715." 

The  proprietors,  at  a  meeting  held  the  thirtieth  of  the  same  month, 
voted  to  provide  a  free  passage  in  a  sloop  to  Brunswick  and  Tops- 
bam  to  the  enlisted  soldiers. 

'  McKeen,  Manuscript  Lecture. 


k«^  '''  WV  of  ^^^^«  ^I'ev  s^^  ^^'       ^U.  P"^^'^*  ^!w^t  -^^!^ 

Lrft\  c^^**  ore  on  "^"^  ^    „„  tvO«  ^®'      ^u-  bvisV^^**  TreftO^      . 

Xt  «oAa^er  ^Xetm^Uof  ^^^  ^^ong  tbe  ^  ^^^^,^,«  ft  J  ^^  ^, 

^'^rbuW^^^^'Ahe  former,    "^^^^^^f  .ettet  Ao^e  "P^^bo  ^»« 

«Mb  t\ie«      J       sent  ^*     .„,to  \et  ^  ;,,  an*      ^^^coxet^ng  ^ 

C^A^"*"'  S  «^tb  an  f -«^;^^  of  the  at     ^^^^„„    d^        ^^  ^t^* 

'  ^l-^^'irni«'«'"!'  "•'  he  pre*'"'  '' 


PERIOD   OF  TIUC  INDIAN  WARS,  1675-1760.  65 

Ascending  the  banks,  he  found  a  large  number- of  Indians  lying 
before  their  fires,  all  sleeping  very  soundly,  being  much  fatiguetl  by 
the  labors  of  the  day  and  their  subsequent  revelrj'.  His  men  imme- 
diateh'  arranged  themselves,  fired  into  them,  and  killed  sixteen  or 
eighteen,  and  took  some  prisoners,  though  some,  doubtless.,  escaped. 
A  few  of  the  Indians,  who  were  some  little  distance  off,  alarmed  by 
the  rejK>rt  of  fire-arms,  fired  at  them,  but  without  doing  an}'  harm. 

Harmon,  on  his  return  to  his  boats,  found  the  body  of  Moses  Eaton, 
of  Salisbury,  Mass.,  whom  the  Indians  had  first  tortured  b}-  depriv- 
ing him  of  his  tongue  and  cutting  off  his  arms  and  legs,  and  had 
then  killed.  As  no  one  of  the  paity  was  shot  at  the  time  of  the 
attack,  Eaton  must  have  been  taken  captive  while  separated  from  his 
comrades.     His  body  was  buried  near  the  spot.^ 

An  account  of  this  affair  has  been  preserved  in  doggerel  rhyme 
Harmon  is  represented  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  watching  the  Indians 
sleeping  before  their  fires.     It  is  introduced  here  as  a  specimen  of  the 
literature  of  the  times :  — 

**  Oh,  the  sweet  and  pleasant  morning 

While  we  around  them  stood, 
But  oh !  the  dreadful  and  grievous  groaning, 

Englishmen  lyinj?  in  their  blood. 
*  Come,*  sahl  valiant  Colonel  Harmon, 

*  This,  their  neglect,  is  our  gain ; 
Therefore  let  us  fall  upon  them.  — 

Our  cause  is  good  we  will  maintain.' 
Then  on  them  we  tired  two  vollej's, 

And,  with  haste,  we  made  away. 
For  fear  the  Indians  would  surround  us. 

And  we  should  not  get  away. 
Some  did  say  that  we  did  kill  tliirty, 

Others  say  that  we  did  kill  more; 
The  number  to  us  is  uncertain, 

I  believe  we  hardly  killed  a  score."* 

This  attack  upon  the  settlement  at  Brunswick  is  supposed  to  ha^^ 
l>een  si>eciaUy  in  retaliation  for  that  upon  Norridgewock,  the  preced- 
ing year,  by  Colonel  Westbrook.^ 

Earl\-  in  August,  1724,  '*  Captains  Harmon,  Moulton,  Brown,  and 
Bean  were  now   preparing  for  Norridgewock,  with  two  hundred  men 

*  WUliamton^  History  of  Mairw,  2,  p  11(»  Accordiuf/  to  McKcen  (P^epscot  Papers), 
Mostis  Eaton  \ra*  9on  of  iiamuel  Eaton^  of  Brunswick^  who  then  lived  about  where  thts 
Boirdoin  Hotel  m  now. 

*  P'J*^*scot  Papers.  8  Maine  Historical  Collections,  3,  p.  311. 


56         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  10PSHAM,  ANV  HARPS  WELL, 


ill  seventeen  whale-boats.  After  they  landed  at  Trieonnick,  they  me 
with  Bomazeen  at  Brunswick  (who  had  slain  an  Englishman  Bom< 
days  before),  whom  they  shot  in  the  river,  as  he  attempted  to  make  ai 
escape.  They  afterwards  killed  his  daughter,  and  took  his  wife  cap 
tive ;  who  gave  an  account  of  the  state  of  the  enemy,  which  encour 
aged  them  to  march  on  ^  briskly." 

No  further  fighting  is  known  to  have  occurred  in  this  vicinit}'  unti 
1725.  On  April  13th  of  that  year  two  Indians  captured  a  mai 
belonging  to  the  garrison  at  Maqnoit,  named  James  Cochran,  al)ou 
eighteen  years  of  age.  He  was  on  the  mai^shes  in  pursuit  of  fowl  whei 
he  was  surprised  by  the  two  Indians.  He  was  pinioned,  taken  to  th 
carrying-place,  put  in  a  canoe,  and  carried  up  to  the  Ten-Mile  Falls 
There  the  Indians  made  their  arrangements  for  the  night.  A  fire  wa 
made  and  supper  prepared.  Cochran  expected  all  this  time  that  h 
would  be  killed  when  the  savages  met  some  of  their  companions,  an< 
determined,  in  consequence,  to  make  his  escape,  if  possible.  The  sec 
ond  night  his  bonds  were  removed,  and  he  was  placed  between  th 
two  Indians  to  sleep.  P^ach  of  the  savages  slept  with  his  hatche 
under  his  head  and  his  gun  b}'  his  side.  Cochran  feigned  sleep,  whil 
in  reality-  he  watched  every  movem-  nt.  As  soon  as  he  found  hi 
captors  asleep  he  rose  up.  This  movement  awakened  one  of  them 
who,  seeing  their  prisoner  apparently  suffering  from  cold  and  endeavor 
ing  to  warm  himself,  went  to  sleep  again.  When  all  was  again  quiet 
Cochran  took  the  hatchet  from  under  the  head  of  the  one  who  hai 
waked,  and  killed  him  instantl}'.  He  killed  the  other  as  he  was  get 
ting  up.  He  then  scalped  them  both,  took  their  guns  and  hatchets 
and  went  down  the  river  in  great  haste,  fearing  lest  he  should  mee 
their  companions.  In  fording  a  river  on  the  way,  he  lost  a  gun  un< 
one  of  the  scalps.  When  he  arrived  opposite  the  fort,  he  shouted,  an* 
a  boat  was  sent  across  for  him.  He  narrated  his  adventure  to  Ca|] 
tain  Gyles,  and  some  men  were  sent  up  the  river,  who  found  the  bodie 
of  the  dead  Indians,  and  also  their  canoe  which  they  brought  back. 
He  was  both  rewarded  for  his  bravery  and  promoted  in  his  rank. 

At  this  time.  Captain  »John  Gyles  was  in  command  of  the  fort,  whic] 
was  crowded  with  the  inhabitants  who  had  gone  to  it  for  safety.  Thi 
war  was  closed  by  the  ratification  of  a  treaty  between  the  Indians  am 
commissioners  on  behalf  of  the  government,  August  6,  1726. 


^i.  e.,  to  Norridgewock,  Penhallow'^  Indian  Warn,  p.  102.  Query:  Bomazee. 
Island  U  east  of  Gurnet  Bridf/e.  May  not  Bomazeen  hare  been  killed  thieve  and  th 
name  applied  to  the  island  in  consequence  f  —  Ed8. 

^McKeen,  MSS.  Lecture.    Penhallow' s  Indian  Wars^p.XOQ. 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS,  1675-nriO.  57 


SPANISH  OR  FIFTH  INDIAN  WAR.    1745-1749. 

The  fiflli  war  with  the  Indians  grew  out  of  the  war  between  Great 
Britain,  France,  and  Spain,  which  commenced  about  1739,  although 
the  formal  declaration  of  it  was  not  made  until  June,  1744.  In  anti- 
cipation of  this  war,  and  in  expectation  that  the  Indians  would  take 
part  in  it,  the  forts  along  the  coast  were  put  in  order  and  garrisoned. 

In  1 740  the  commanding  officer  of  Fort  Geoi^e  was  furnished  with 
a  quantity  of  goods,  of  suitable  kinds,  sufficient  to  supply  the  Indians 
who  commonly  resorted  there.  This  was  done  to  attach  them  to  the 
interests  of  the  government.*  So  much  reliance  was  placed  upon  this 
method  of  dealing  with  the  Indians,  that  in  1742  the  government 
refused  to  strengthen  it  at  all,^  and  in  1743  only  six  men  were  sent  to 
this  fort.  In  1744  block  houses  were  built  in  Brunswick  and  Tops- 
ham,  ''all  of  massive  timber,"  and  a  regiment,  consisting  of  1,290 
men,  was  organized  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Sam- 
uel Waldo,  of  Falmouth.  The  proportion  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham 
men  in  this  regiment  was  fifty.  Another  regiment  was  also  organized, 
from  the  towns  west  of  Falmouth,  under  the  command  of  Colonel 
William  Pepperell,  of  Kitter}'.  These  soldiers  were  all,  however,  dis- 
charger] December  2d,  except  one  hundred  men  from  the  latter  regi- 
ment, who  were  formed  into  eight  guards  and  stationed  between  Ber- 
wick and  St.  George.  Fourteen  men  scouted  from  New  Marblehead 
to  Bnuiswick,  and  ten  from  Topsham  to  Richmond  fort.  There  was  a 
>)lock  house  with  a  company  of  soldiers  at  Maquoit,  under  command 
of  Captain  William  Woodside.  There  were  also  storehouses  and 
other  buildings  there. ^ 

In  1745  a  call  was  made  for  men  to  serve  in  the  expedition  to 
Louisburg.  This  expedition  was  ver}'  popular  in  this  vicinity,  and 
many  persons  enliste<l,  including  some  of  the  principal  and  most 
pi'oinising  young  men  in  each  of  the  towns.  From  twenty- five  to 
thirty  men  went  from  Brunswick,  as  man}'  more  from  Harpswell,  and 
a  number  from  Topsham.  It  is  said  that  in  Brunswick  a  day  of  fast- 
ing and  prayer  was  held  l>efore  an}'  soldiers  enlisted,  so  unwilling 
were  the  people  to  allow  their  own  capabilit}'  of  defence  against  the 
Indians  to  be  weakened.  The  Harpswell  forces  were  commanded  by 
Richard  Jaques,  the  same  who  shot  Sebastian  Rale  at  Norridgewock. 

During  the  continuance  of  the  Louisburg  campaign,  the  settlers 
were  continually  alarmed  for  their  own  safet}-,  and  were  calling  upon 
the  government  to  send  a  militar}'  force  hither  from  the  West.     The 

1  MaasachitsetU  RecorJt,  1740,  p.  481.  2  jf^ui.^  1742,  p,  416.  «  McKeen. 


58         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

glad  tidings  that  Louisburg  was  reduced  was  received  with  groat  )oy^ 
and  the  return  of  the  volunteers,  who  nearly  all  came  back,  was  hailed 
with  the  utmost  enthusiasm.^ 

The  first  outbreak  of  the  Indians  in  this  war  occurred  at  Saint 
George  and  Damariscotta,  July  19,  1745.^ 

Jul3'  30  of  this  year,  a  man  and  a  boy,  at  Topsham,  were  surprised 
bv  the  Indians,  who  knocked  them  down  and  beat  them  with  clubs. 
The  man  was  killed  and  the  boy  was  scalped  and  left  for  dead.^  About 
this  same  time,  a  mounted  man  and  his  horse  were  shot  at  New 
Meadows.'* 

This  was  not,  however,  the  first  blood  shed  in  this  vicinity,  as  three 
3'ears  previousl}'  Alexander  McFarland  was  killed  by  the  Indians 
while  crossing  the  Androscoggin  River.  This  was,  however,  an  iso- 
lated case  and  may  have  been  due  to  personal  animosity.  About  the 
time  of  the  Topsham  and  New  Meadows  massacres,  Captain  Mochiis 
was  scouting^  with  his  company  between  Brunswick  and  Falmouth, 
and  Captain  John  Gatchell  was  scouting  north  of  Brunswick..  The 
following  is  a  copy  of  the  Journal  of  the  latter :  — 

"  1747/8  JODBNAL  OF  A   MaRCH  UP  THR   KeXNRBECK     RlVER     BY  CaPT.   JoHN 

March  Gatchbll  of  Biiusswick. 

"  7  Mett  this  day  at  Brunswick  took  allowance  of  Provision  <fe 
ammunition  but  no  Rum  marcht  6  mile  &  lodged  at  Topsham. 

*'8  Marcht  across  Merrymeeting  Ba}'  8  Mile  &  then  up  Kennebeck 
River  4  mile  to  Richmond  Fort  &  bought  some  Rum  to  carr^'  with  us 
then  lay  down  &  slept. 

*'  9  Took  M'  Call  to  pilott  us  to  d  pond  Marcht  N.  N.  West  ab*  1 2 
Mile  &  came  to  a  pond  about  4  mile  long  hardly  a  mile  wide  the  Pond 
lays  N.  E.  &  S.  W.  a  River  came  &  went  out  both  at  one  end  of  3-* 
pond,  went  up  the  River  that  came  into  }'•  pond  a  mile  &  campt,  sent 
out  2  men  about  a  mile  rpund  then  sett  out  our  Sentrys  &  lay  down  & 
slept. 

^  "  10  Marcht  up  said  River  3  mile  abt  N.  W.,  went  one  mile  N.  E. 
then  one  mile  N  by  E  &  came  to  a  small  pond  about  a  mile  &  half 
long  &  half  a  mile  wide — Went  still  by  y*  River  2  mile  N  W.  then 
went  N.  2  mile  &  came  to  a  pair  of  Falls  that  had  an  Indian  Ware 
made  w**  stones  to  catch  fish  —  went  up  the  River  6  mile  about  N  & 

1  Pfljepacot  Papers.    McKeen,  3fSS.  Lecture. 

2  Williamson,  History  of  Maine,  2.  pp.  215  to  236. 

«  Drake,  French  and  Indian  Wars,  p.  80.  ^  this  lad  was  Thomas  Thorn,  he  after- 
wards  recovered.  —  Eds. 

*  Smith's  Journal,  p.  40.  *  Massachusetts  Records,  1745,  p.  40. 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS.  1075-17ri0.  59 

came  to  a  large  Pond,  went  2  mile  on  the  Pond  &  campt  on  an  Island 
Sent  out  3  men  2  mile  round,  sett  out  our  Sentn's  &  then  lay  down  & 
slept.* 

"11  Marcht  across  }'*  pond  3  mile  N.  by  E.  this  pond  is  about  10  or 
12  mile  long  <&  about  2  or  3  mile  wide  &  has  near  20  Islands  in  it  —  it 
lays  X.  E.  &  S  W.  Went  four  mile  N.  by  p:.  &  came  to  a  pond 
aboat  3  mile  long  &  half  a  mile  wide  &  trackt  some  Moose  Went  N 
2  mile  &  came  to  a  meadow,  Went  4  mile  N  &  came  to  a  long  meadow 
then  marcht  about  4  mile  N  by  W  &  campt  Sent  out  2  men  that 
went  2  mile  round,  sett  out  our  Sentry's  then  lay  Down  &  slept. 

**  12  Went  up  a  high  hill  &  sent  a  man  up  a  tree  that  he  see  a 
pond  about  five  mile  off,  it  bore  from  us  E.  N.  E.  went  3  mile  N  & 
came  to  a  pond  &  a  Small  River  that  nm  N.  E.  We  went  N  E  2 
mile  on  said  River  &  came  to  a  large  pond,  it  appeared  to  be  4  mile 
to  y*  South  End  of  y*  pond,  we  went  N.  up  y*  pond  0  mile  &  came  to 
a  narrow  place  &  a  small  Island  in  y*  narrows  N  N  E  up  to  }*'  head  of 
the  pond  ab*  5  mile  then  went  into  }••  woods  N.  a  mile  &  camp',  sent 
out  3  men  alx)ut  2  mile  round  then  lay  down  &  slept  —  it  snowed  — 

'M3  Rise  This  Morning,  it  being  Sabbath  day  &  the  Trees  very 
full  of  Snow  we  Marcht  none  only  sent  some  men  out  on  Discover}', 
thoy  went  about  4  mile  to  a  high  mountain  &  w(»nt  up  &  see  a  pond 
that  appeared  to  be  very  large  it  la}'  cast  from  our  Camp,  &  they  see 
another  pond  y*  lay  North  from  y*  large  pond,  it  a[)peared  to  be  about 
4  or  5  mile  long  they  returned  to  y'  Camp  and  at  night  we  sett  out  our 
Sentry,  then  lay  down  &  slept. 

•'14  Marcht  this  morning  ab*  2  mile  &  came  to  tliat  large  pond 
that  we  see  a  Sabbath  day,  this  pond  appeared  to  be  about  15  mile 
long  &  alK)ut  4  mile  wide  &  lay  X"*  &  S°,  it  has  about  28  Islands  in  it 
went  about  12  mile  South  down  y*  pond  then  went  into  the  woods  S. 
W.  &.  came  to  a  Small  River  that  vented  out  of  tliat  long  pond  that 
we  went  up  on  Saturday,  Went  down  y'  small  River  about  three 
mile  South  &  came  to  a  pair  of  Falls  that  had  3  Indian  Wares  made 
w**  stones  went  still  down  3^*  River  it  run  toy*  eastward  4  mile  &  campt, 
sett  out  our  Sentry s  lay  down  &  slept. 

"15  Went  down  v*  River  5  mile  &  crost  v*  River  on  v*"  Ice  the 
River  run  Easterly  went  down  the  River  6  mile  &  came  to  another 
large  ixmd^  ab*  10  mile  long  &  2  mile  wide  it  lay  N.  E.  &  S  W*,  we 
crost  y*  pond  at  y*  S  W'  end  then  March'  S  W  8  mile  &  came  to  Ken- 


1  Th€6<:  ponds  appear  to  be  the  Winthrop  chain. 
^Snow's  Fond  in  Sidney, 


60  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

nebeck  River,  went  down  y*  River  a  mile  &  Campt  sett  out  our  Sen- 
try's, and  lay  down  &  slept.  ^ 

"16  It  snowed  but  we  went  down  the  River  in  y*  Storm  8  mile  & 
came  to  where  v*  Tide  flows,^  went  still  down  y*  River  20  mile  &  came 
to  Richmond  Fort  lay  Down  &  slept. 

'*  17  Marcht  down  said  River  to  Merrymeeting  Bay  &  some  of  the 
Men  gott  home. 

"18     this  day  the  Remainder  of  our  Men  gott  home. 

signed 

"Jonathan  Philbrook,  C/erA-."* 

April  23,  1747,  Smith  writes  in  his  journal,  "A  scout  of  men  are 
now  out  from  North  Yarmouth,  another  going  out  from  Purpooduc. 
We  are  in  the  most  distressed  circumstances,  Swarms  of  Indians 
being  about  the  Frontier,  and  no  soldiers  save  Captain  Jordan's  com- 
pany of  fifty  men,  thirty  of  whom  have  been  for  some  time  at  Tops- 
ham  guarding  the  government  timber." 

May  5,  of  this  year,  the  Indians  shot  Mr.  Seth  Hinkley,  near  the 
garrison  of  Joseph  Smith  and  Tobias  Ham,  at  New  Meadows.  They 
were  tanners,  and  Hinkley  had  been  there  to  get  a  strap  for  a  cow- 
bell.^ The  following  letter,  from  Isaac  Hinkley,  gives  a  rather  more 
detailed  account :  —  ^ 

"  Brunswick,  May  ye  6, 1747. 
"  LovEiNO  Brother  and  Sister. 

"  I  hope  that  these  few  lines  will  find  3'ou  in  good  health  as  we 
that  are  alive  through  the  tender  mercys  of  God. 

"God  has  taken  away  by  his  providence  our  brother  Seth  by  the 
Indians  May  y^  5  day.  tha}-  kiled  him  about  8  o'clock  in  the  four- 
noon  A"d  scalped  him  and  stnpt  of  all  his  does  save  only  his  briches 
and  stockens.  tha}'  carid  awaj'  his  gon.  thare  was  three  men  gest 
back  behind  a  hill  in  a  s^amp  near  a  gainst  him  when  he  was  kiled 
and  thay  heard  the  gons  when  the  Indians  fiard  at  him  and  one  of 
them  said  thay  have  shot  sombody  and  presently  after  heard  a  Larm 
at  Smiths  and  then  thay  ran  out  to  Smiths  and  when  thay  came  thare 
thay  said  that  Setli  was  kiled  and  thay  went  whare  tlia}'  heard  the 
gons  and  found  him  Liing  in  the  path  thaj'  shot  about  33  fete  at  him. 
The  night  before  the  Indians  ambush  Mr.  Ham.  11  of  us  went  to  see 
if  we  culd  find  them  but  we  culd  not  find  them,  one  our  and  ahalf 
after  thay  ware  sen  to  go  over  merremeting  ba}'  into  Cathance  river. 

^  Below  WatervUle.      ^Auffti*ta.       ^  Pejepscot  Papers.      *  McKeeit,  MSS.  Lecture, 
*  Copied  from  the  original  in  possession  of  II,  W,  Bryant,  Esq.,  Portland, 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARSy  ie76-176a  61 

''  The  Lord  has  maid  a  breach  upon  us  and  by  taking  away  our  brother 
from  us  the  Lord  has  be  reved  father  and  mother  of  thare  son  and  us 
of  our  brother,  yeat  thaey  and  we  must  say  with  Job  the  Lord  gaive 
and  the  Lord  hath  taken  awav  Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord. 

'•  Sister  reliance  is  brought  abaed  and  has  lost  hur  child  but  she  is 
like  to  do  weal  but  she  has  bin  near  to  the  gates  of  death  but  through 
the  tender  mearcies  of  God  she  is  like  to  do  well. 

'*  So  I  remain  your  loving  brother 

"Isaac  Hinkley. 

"To  Mr.  Samuel  Scammox  Saco."^ 

Four  days  subsequently  the  Indians  fired  upon  a  canoe,  containing 
four  j^ersons,  as  it  was  coming  up  through  tlie  narrows  below  Cow 
Island.  The  boat  contained  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moffitt,  William  Potter, 
and  Wilham  Thorn,  a  soldier  in  Topsham,  under  Captain  William 
Burns.  Moffitt  and  Potter  were  killed.  Thorn  had  his  arm  shot  off. 
Mrs.  Moffitt  succeeded,  with  some  assistance  from  Thorn,  in  paddling 
the  canoe  to  the  Brunswick  side  of  the  river,  and  thus  enabled  them 
both  to  escape.^  Thorn  asked  for  aid  from  the  General  Court,  and  on 
May  31,  1748,  twelve  pounds  were  allowed  him. 

August  19th  a  man  was  wounded  somewhere  in  Brunswick,  and  a  boy 
taken  prisoner.  In  the  earl}'  part  of  September  four  men  were  killed 
and  scalped  in  a  corn-field,  in  Topsham,  only  about  twenty  rods  from 
the  garrison,  by  twelve  Indians.  Probably'  one  of  these  was  Richard 
Grain,  said  to  have  been  killed  August  27th.  One  of  the  men  had 
seven  bullets  shot  through  his  body.^  In  the  same  magazine  from 
which  the  above  extracts  were  taken  occurs  the  following  account :  — 

"  Boston,  Nov.  16. 
•'•'  We  are  informed  by  Capt   Woodsido,  that  on  the  fiflh  Instant 
towards  Evening,  a  Lad  about  16  Years  old,  going  out  of  Brunswick 
Fort  at  the  Eastward,  saw  eleven  Men  dressed  with  Coals  alid  Hats 
coming  towards  him,  which  he  took  for  P^nglishmen,  till  they  came  up 
to  him,  when  he  found  them  to  be  Indians,  one  of  which  seized  him 
as  his  IMsoner,  which  the  Lads  Father  observing  from  the  Fort,  dis- 
charged his  Gun  (loaded  with  Swan-Shot)  at  the  Indian  and  wounded 
him,  upon  which  he  immediately  quitted  the  Lad,  who  ran  towards  the 
Fort,  but  was  unfortunately  shot  down  b}'  the  other  Indians.     The 


*  Hcaminon  married  Mehitable  Hinkley. 

*  WiUiamson,  Htnith,  BIcKeen,  et  ah.  ^fas8achfl setts  liccords.  Vol.  73,  pp.  163,  1(^. 
^Historical  Magazine i  Vols.  9  and  10.    E/Araetsfrom  New  York  Gazette,  dated  Sept. 

14, 1747. 


62  HISTOST  OF  BRVmwiCK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

People  of  the  Garrison  got  the  Lad  into  the  Fort  alive,  hut  he  diet)  oi 
hia  Wounds  soon  after:  He  said  the  Indian  tliat  took  him  was  mor- 
tally woiiniled  by  liis  Father's  Shot,  one  of  whidi  Btrnck  him  (the  Boy) 
in  theUalloriiisIIanil." 

In  1T4H  the  Indiana  made  their  appearance  rather  earlier  than  usual, 
—  on  the  last  of  April.  A  company  of  soldiers  kept  ojxin  eommunl- 
eation  between  Fort  GeoT^  and  Maquojt.  They  were,  however,  fre- 
quently anno^\'ed  1*3'  the  Indiana,  who  lay  in  ambush.  On  their  tirsi 
apijearance  this  spring,  a  nuint)er  of  them  hid  in  the  bushes  on  ihe 
wext  si{Ie  of  Mair  Itrook  and  fired  n|K>n  Captain  Burns  as  he  wa^  crosS' 
ing  the  lirook  with  a  file  of  men.  They  killed  him  and  a  Mr.  Bragg, 
and  captuied  a  Mr.  Werhurn,  whom  they  took  to  Canada.  A  day  or 
two  aflerwards  a  Iioy  of  Doctor  Spear's  was  watering  a  horse  at  a  well 
near  tile  house,  when  he  was  fired  at.  and  he  and  the  horse  were  both 
killed.' 

Maj-  3d  of  this  same  year,  Captain  Biirnell  and  one  other  wore  killed 
at  Brnnnwiek,  and  on  another  occasion  Lieutenant  Maekburi]  was 
killed  at  the  place  called  "  Spawell."  ' 

Although  during  the  winter  of  174S  there  were  some  prospects  of  a 
Itoaee,  and  the  Indiana  were  comparatively  quiet,  yet  tniops  were  kept 
ill  service  for  the  defence  of  the  Eastern  itihabitnnts,  and  twelve  men 
were  left  to  garrison  Fort  George.  A  treaty  of  jteace  was  concluded 
October  IC,  1749. 

Although  the  war  was  now  declared  at  an  end,  yet  the  Indiana  had 
been  too  much  e.<Leited  to  rem.nin  perfectly  qnict,  and  fi-eah  outbreaks 
and  massacres  occasionally  occuired. 

Early  in  the  year  17.J0  a  woman  on  the  old  •' Skipper  Malcom" 
pl.ice  ill  Topsham  hail  died.  She  was  to  have  l>een  buried  one  after- 
noon in  Marcli,  and  a  new  grave  was  dug.  At  the  time  ap])ointed 
the  house  was  filled  witli  neighbors.  The  burial  services  had  closctl, 
and  the  procession  formed  for  the  march  to  the  grave,  when  a  snow- 
sqiiall  came  np  and  prevented  the  burial,  which  was  defeired  until  the 
next  day.  The  storm  was  the  severest  that  had  been  known  for  many 
years,  and  lasted  four  days.  No  intei-ment  conki  take  place  until  Ihe 
fifth  day.  Some  three  years  afterwards  it  was  anccrtaiucd  that  a 
large  piuiy  of  Indians,  who  had  l)een  making  an  unsuccessful  foray 
upon  the  settlements  around  Yarmouth,  wera  making  their  way  north, 
towBRl  tho  Chaudieru  Biver,  when  they  learned,  from  a  prisoner  whom 
they  had  captured  at  Flying  I'oint,  that  a  funeral  was  to  take  place  on 

'  Smilh' I  Journal,  p.  133.        *  Spaicell  icainear  Hair  Brvok.    PyfpKol  Ft^er$, 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS,  1675-1760.  63 

the  afternoon  of  tlie  next  da}',  at  the  graveyard  near  the  npper  part 
of  31errymeeting  Ba}'.  They  resolved  to  ambush  the  procession  and 
massacre  the  whole  settlement  at  one  blow.  Tliey  waited  for  the  fu- 
neral procession  the  whole  afternoon  and  the  first  night.  The  storm 
saved  the  settlers,  but  nearly  destroyed  the  Indians,  who  suffered 
severelv.^ 

In  July,  1751,  the  Indians  came  upon  a  party  of  seven  settlers  who 
were  getting  in  their  hay  at  New  Meadows.  These  men  were  at  work 
on  the  side  of  the  hill  north  of  the  railroad  at  Harding's  Station,  on  the 
farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Chapin  Weston.  The  Indians,  discovering 
that  the  party  were  some  wa}'  from  their  guns,  ran  and  cut  off  tlieir 
retreat.  This  part}'  of  farmers  consisted  of  Edmund,  Isaac,  and 
Gideon  Hinkley ;  Deacon  Samuel  Whitney  and  his  son  Samuel,  who 
was  only  a  boy ;  Hezekiah  Purington  an<l  Samuel  Lum})ers.  Isaac 
Hinkley  was  killed  while  attempting  to  escaj^e.  He  fell  in  the  gully 
at  the  lower  part  of  the  field,  south  of  the  railroad  track,  and  his 
iKKiy  was  not  found  until  the  next  spring.  The  rest  were  all  taken 
prisoners  and  carried  to  Canada,  where  they  suffered  many  hard- 
ships. 

They  were  afterwards  exchanged  and  returned  home.     The  govern- 
ment provided  for  their  families  during  their  captivity.^ 

The  following  memorial  to  the  General  Couil,  of  one  of  the  captives, 
will  be  read  with  interest  in  this  connection  :  — 

••To  THK  HoN»«-«  Spenxer  Piiips,  E.sq  Lt.  Gov"  &  Commander  in  CniEK 
FOR  THE  Time  being.  The  Hon"*-*  His  Majestys  Coincill  &  House 
of  Kepresentatives  IX  General  Court  December  4,  ITril. 

The  Memorial  of  Samuel  Whitney  of  Brunrwk/k 

Humhly  Sheweth 

'^  That  your  Memorialist  &  his  Son  Samuel,  with  five  more  of  the 
Inhabitants,  While  at  work  together  mowing  their  Ha}',  on  Wednes- 
<lay  y*  24  day  of  July  last  about  two  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  were  sur- 
rounded &  surprised  b}'  nineteen  Indians  &  one  Frenchman,  who  were 
all  armed,  &  in  an  hostile  manner  did  seize  upon  &  by  Force  of  Arms, 
obliged  them  to  submitt  their  Lives  into  their  hands,  and  one  of  our 
said  number,  viz.  Isaac  Hinckley  in  attempting  to  make  his  escape 
was  killed  in  a  barbarous  Manner  &  Scalpeil.     After  we  were  secured 


^  Thi  foregoing  tradition  is  from  the  diary  of  the  late  James  McKeen,  M.  />.,  of  Tops 
ham. 
'  P^epscot  Papers, 


64  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  tOPSHAM,  ANV  HARPSWELL. 

b3-  said  Indians,  they  destroyed  and  wounded  between  20  &  30  head 
of  Cattle  belonging  to  y*  Inhabitants,  some  of  which  were  the  prop- 
erty of  your  Memorialist.  The  said  party  of  Indians  were  nine  of  them 
of  Norridgewalk  Tribe,  one  of  whom  was  well  known,  the  other  were 
Canada  Indians.  That  the  Norridgewalk  Indians  appeared  more  for- 
wani  for  killing  all  the  Captives  but  were  prevented  b}*  the  other 
Indians. 

'*  Your  memorialist  was  by  them  Carried  to  Canada  &  there  sold  for 
126  Livres  —  And  the  said  Indians  when  the^*  came  to  Canada  were 
new  cloathed  &  had  New  Guns  given  them  with  plenty  of  Provisions 
as  an  encouragement  for  this  exploit.  That  the  Gov''  of  the  Penobscot 
Tribe  was  present  when  your  memorialist  was  sent  for  to  sing  a  Chorus, 
as  is  their  custom  of  using  their  captives.  &  manifested  equal  Joy  w** 
the  other  Indians,  that  took  them.  And  the  Norridgewalk  Tribe  had 
removed  from  Norridgewalk  &  were  now  sett  down  on  Canada  River 
near  Quebec,  supposed  to  be  drawn  there  by  the  Influence  of  the 
French.  These  things  3'our  memorialist  cannott  omitt  observing  to 
y'  Honours,  and  his  Redemption  was  purchased  by  one  Mr.  l*eter  Lit- 
tlefield  formerly  t^ken  a  captive  &  now  resident  among  them,  to  whom 
3'our  memorialist  stands  indebted  for  said  126  Livres  being  the  price 
of  his  Libert}',  which  when  he  had  so  far  obtained,  he  applied  to  y* 
Govern""  of  Canada  for  a  Pass,  who  readily  granted  it,  that  his  Return 
to  lioston  was  b}*  wa}'  of  Louisbourgh,  when  said  Pass  was  taken 
from  him  by  the  lord  Intendant,  on  some  Pretence  which  he  could  not 
obtain  of  him  again. 

'*  Your  memorialists  son  yet  remaining  in  Captivity  among  the  In- 
dians with  three  more  that  were  taken  at  v*  same  time,  and  he  has  a 
wife  and  8  children  under  difficult  circumstances  b}'  reason  of  this  mis- 
fortune. 

^'  Your  memorialist  having  thus  represented  his  unhappy  sufferings 
to  this  Hon**'*  Court  humbly  recommends  his  Case  to  the  Compassion 
of  this  Hon****  Court  hoping  they  will  in  their  great  Goodness  provide 
for  y"  Redemption  of  his  Son  &  enable  him  to  answer  his  obligation  to 
said  Mr.  Littlefield,  who  was  so  kind  to  pay  for  his  Ransom.  Your 
memorialist  being  in  no  Capacity  to  answer  that  Charge  as  thereb}'  he 
is  reduced  to  great  poverty  otherwise  grant  him  that  Relief  as  in  their 
Wisdom  &  Goodness  shall  seem  best  — 

'•  Your  memorialist  as  in  dut}'  bound  shall  ever  pray  &c 

"  Samuel  Whitney." 
On  the  back  of  this  paper  is  the  following  indorsement :  — 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS,  1675-1760.  65 

'*1751.    Captives  Taken. 

-  Hez.  Punngton    )  ^^^^^^^ 
Sam^l  Whitney  J 
Edm*  Hinkley 
Gideon  Hinkley 
Samuel  Lombard 
Samuel  Whitnev  Jun^  returned. 
Isaac  H inkle}'  killed. 
"July  24th  1751." I 

There  is  a  tradition  that  the  friends  of  young  Hinkley,  supposing 
that  he  was  carried  off  b}'  the  Indians,  did  not  search  for  him.  Earh' 
in  the  spring  of  the  following  j'ear,  it  was  noticed  that  a  dog,  which 
had  belonged  to  Hinkley,  went  every  day  to  the  gully  where  he  fell. 
The  dog  was  followed  and  the  remains  were  thus  discovered,  but  tlie}* 
had  been  so  long  exposed  to  the  weatlier  and  to  the  ravages  of  wild 
beasts  that  they  were  in  such  a  condition  as  to  be  unrecognizable  by 
dress  or  features,  and  it  was  only  by  a  peculiar  string  found  in  one  of 
the  shoes  that  the  remains  were  identified. 

FRENCH,   OR  SIXTH  INDIAN  WAR.    1754-1760. 

When  the  last  of  the  series  of  Indian  wars  commenced,  in  17."34, 
the  government  of  Massachusetts  deemed  it  unnecessar}'  to  retain  Fort 
George  any  longer,  but  voted  the  sum  of  £470  towards  buikliug  a  fort 
at  the  Ten-Mile  Falls  instead,  and  for  other  militar\'  purposes. ^  This 
action,  so  far  as  the  fort  was  concerned,  was  premature. 

Early  this  year,  Adam  Hunter,  of  Topsham,  received  a  commission 
as  captain,  with  authorit}'  to  raise  an  independent  compau}'.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  copy  of  the  commission  :  — 

'*  PUOVISCE  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS   BAY, 

"WiLiJAM  Shirley  Esq.,  C^^ptain-genekal  and  Govkrxor-in-cuikf 
[i^  s.]    IN  &  over  his    Majesty's    Province  of  y«  Massachusetts  Bay 
IN  New  England  &c. 

"To  Adam  Hunter.  Gentleman,  Greeting: 

*'  By  virtue  of  y'  power  &  authorit}',  in  &  by  his  Majest\*'s  Royal 
Commission  to  me  gi'anted  to  l)e  Captain  General,  &c.,  over  this  his 
Majesty's  Province  of  y*  Massachusetts  Baj'  aforesaid  ;  I  do  (by  these 


^P^epscot  Papers.  ^  Mcissachy setts  Rccf)r(Js,  1754,  p.  325. 

5 


66  mSTORY  OF  BRVNSWWE,   TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

presents)  reposing  especial  tnist  and  confidence  in  3'our  loyalty,  cour- 
age, and  good  conduct,  constitute  &  appoint  you  to  be  a  Captain  of 
an  Independent  company  of  fifteen  volunteers  forthwith  to  be  raised 
in  y*  town  of  Topshara  &  parts  adjacent  in  y®  County  of  York ;  for 
marching  upon  any  sudden  alarm  to  y*  relief  &  protection  of  any 
neighboui'ing  English  Fort  or  settlement  (mentioned  in  y®  instructions 
herewith  s[eut])  which  shall  be  attacked  or  molested  b}'  Indians;  & 
for  cutting  off  their  retreat. 

'"  You  are  therefore  carefully  &  diligently  to  discharge  y*  duty  of  a 
captain  in  leading,  ordering  &  exercising  said  Company  in  Arms,  both 
inferiour  officers  and  soldiers,  &  to  keep  them  in  good  order  &  disci- 
pline ;  hereby  commanding  them  to  obey  3'ou  as  their  captain  —  & 
3'ourself  to  observe  &  follow  such  orders  &  instructions,  as  you  shall 
from  time  to  time  receive  from  me,  or  y*  commander  in  chief  for  y* 
time  being,  or  other  3'our  superiour  Oi'fisers  for  his  Majesty's  service, 
according  to  military  rules  &  discipline,  pursuant  to  }•'  trust  reposed 
in  you. 

*'  Given  under  my  hand  &  seal  at  arms  at  Boston,  the  fourth  day  of 
March,  in  ^*  twenty  seventh  year  of  ^*  Reign  of  his  Majesty  King 
George  ^*  Second,  Anuoq:  Domini,  1754." 

[Signed]  W.  Shirley. 

Bj'  His  Excellency's 
Comiuaiul. 

[Signed]  J.  Will.vri>  Secr*y.^ 

Hostilities  commenced  in  this  vicinity.  Ma}-  9,  1756.  On  that  day 
a  party  of  Indians  assembled  on  the  liigh  lands  of  Topsham,  con- 
certed their  plans,  and  agreed  to  meet  there  on  their  return.  They 
divided  into  two  parties.  One  party  was  to  go  to  Flying  Point,  and 
the  other  to  Maquoit,  Middle  Bay,  and  New  Meadows*'  The  second 
party  skulked  about  Maquoit  for  a  while  and  then  went  to  Middle 
Bay,  where  the}'  looked  into  the  house  of  John  Giveen,  who,  with  his 
wife,  had  gone  to  meeting  at  Harpswell.  In  the  afternoon,  while  the 
Indians  lay  concealed  in  the  bushes  at  Smith's  Brook,  three  men  — 
Abijah  Young,  and  John  and  Richard  Starbird,  who  were  on  their 
return  from  meeting  at  New  Meadows  —  passed  bj'.  These  men 
belonged,  probably,  to  Captain  Samuel  Goodwin's  compan}",  which 
scouted  between  Fort  George  and  Maquoit.^  Thej*  were  well  armed. 
Tlie  Indians  darted  from  their  concealment  and  fired  at  them.     In 


1  Copied  from  the  original^  Sept.  23, 1833,  by  hithjow  Hunter,  of  Topsham. 

2  P^epscot  Papers,  • 


PERIOD  OF  THE  INDIAN  WARSy  1676-1760.  67 

their  sur|)rise  and  fright,  the  men  dropped  their  guns  and  ran.     Young 
was  wounded  and  carried  off  a  prisoner. 

The  other  party  of  Indians  appeared  Sunday,  at  daylight,  at  the 
house  of  Thomas  Means,  at  Flying  Point,  in  what  is  now  Freeport. 
This  was  a  fortified  house  and  the  doors  were  securely  fastened.    The 
Indians,  however,  battered  it  open  b}'  means  of  a  log  and  thus  effected 
an  entrance.     Thomas  Martin,  the  father  of  Captain  Matthew,  was 
asleep  in  his  chamber,  and  being  so  suddenly  aroused  was  unable  to 
find  his  gun,  and  consequently  remained  in  concealment.     One  of  the 
children  concealed  herself  in  tlie  ash-hole.    This  daughter,  Alice,  after- 
wards married  Mr.    Clement   Skol field,  eldest  son  of  Thomas,    and 
was  the  mother  of  Captain  George  Skolfield.     Mr.  Means,  his  wife, 
child,   and  wife's  sister.  Miss  Molly  Finney,  were  taken  out  of  the 
house.     Mr.  Means  was  held  by  the  arms  between  two  stalwart  In- 
dians, w^hile  a  third  one  shol  him  through  the  breast  and  scaljxjd  him. 
While  this  was  being  done,  Mrs.  Means,  with  a  child  in  her  arms,  ran 
into  the  house,  closed  the  door,  and  placed  a  chest  against  it.     The 
Indians,  on  their  return   to  the  house,  finding  the  door   refastened, 
pointed   a  gun    through   a   hole  and  fired  at  her.     The  ball  passed 
through  her  breast,  killing  the  infant  in  her  arms.     They  succeeded  in 
getting  into  the  house  again,  and  while  they  were  in  the  entry,  Mar- 
tin, who  had  found  his  gun,  fired  down  through  his  chamber-floor  and 
wounded  one  of  them.     This  frightened  them  off  and  they  left   the 
place,  taking  with  them  the  wounded  Indian  and  Miss  Finney,  who 
was  heard  crying  loudly  for  rescue.     She  was  earned  off  in  her  night- 
clothes.     When  they  got  to  the  hill  in  Topsham  they  were  met  by  the 
second  part}',  who  had  Young  a  prisoner.     The  latter  advised  Miss 
Finney  to  seize  the  first  blanket  she  could.     She  succeeded  in  getting 
and  retaining  one.     The  subsequent  adventures  of  this  lad}*,  though 
interesting,  are  not  so  exciting  as  what  has  been  related. 

The  Indians  took  their  prisoners  througli  the  wilderness  to  Quebec. 
Here  Miss  Finney  was  sold  to  a  fanner  and  put  to  work  in  the  field. 
The  farmer,  not  satisfied  with  her  work  there,  afterwards  put  her  in 
his  kitchen.  While  here,  she  attracted  the  attentions  of  a  French- 
man. Her  master,  in  consequence,  being  displeased,  used  to  lock  her 
in  her  cliamber  when  she  was  not  at  work.  Not  man}'  months  after 
this.  Captain  McClellan,  of  Falmouth,  was  at  Quebec  with  a  cartel  of 
exchange.  Having  been  formerly  acquainted  with  Miss  Finnej',  he 
sought  after  and  finally  found  her.  A  time  and  mode  of  escape  were 
agreed  upon.  At  the  time  fixed  he  went  to  her  window  and  threw 
her  a  rope.     She  let  herself  down,  escaped  to  his  vessel,  and  after  a 


68  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

fair  vovaj^e  arrived  at  Portland.  She  aftei*wards  married  the  man  who 
had  been  so  instrumental  to  her  release. ^  Young  obtained  his  liberty 
in  about  a  3*ear,  but  died  in  Halifax  of  the  small-pox.^ 

In  1 756  a  garrison  was  built  in  Topsham  and  the  defence  of  it  was 
given  to  Captain  Lithgow.3  On  Msly  18,  1757,  a  part}*  of  seventeen 
Indians  waylaid  Captain  Lithgow  and  a  party  of  eight  men,  at  Tops- 
ham,  and  had  a  short  but  sharp  engagement  with  them.  Two  of 
Lithgow's  party  were  wounded  and  two  of  the  Indians  were  killed.^ 
Disheartened  at  the  result,  the  savages  withdrew,  taking  with  them 
the  dead  bodies  of  their  companions.  The}^  afterwards,  however,  as 
the}'  went  up  the  river,  took  their  revenge  bv  killing  two  whit€  men.* 

Shortl}'  after  this  event  John  Malcom  and  Daniel  Eaton  were  going 
to  Maquoit  for  salt  hay,  or  were  returning  with  some,  when  they  were 
waylaid  by  some  Indians.  Malcom  escaped,  but  Eaton  received  a 
bullet  in  his  wrist,  was  captured,  and  was  carried  to  Canada,  where 
he  remained  about  a  3*ear.  He  was  the  son  of  Moses  Eaton  who  was 
killed  at  Pleasant  Point  in  1722.^  According  to  another  account,  he 
was  the  son  of  Samuel  Eaton,  of  Salisbury',  Mass7  Eaton  was  cap- 
tured bv  the  famous  Indian  chief,  Sabattis,  who  sold  him  for  four  dollars. 
The  only  food  they  had  to  eat,  on  their  way  to  Canada,  was  a  par- 
tridge which  Sabattis  shot,  and  of  which  he  gave  Eaton  all  the  better 
part,  reserving  for  himself  only  the  head  and  entrails^  which  he  ate 
with  apparent  relish.  Years  after  (about  1800),  Sabattis  passed 
through  Brunswick,  and  while  there  entered  the  store  of  John  Perry, 
which  was  on  the  site  of  the  store  now  occupied  I)}'  Barton  Jordan. 
Quite  a  crowd  of  villagers  collected  to  see  the  old  chief,  and  Dean 
Swift,  then  a  lad  of  eight  years,  was  sent  to  inform  Daniel  Eaton, 
who  was  then  an  old  man,  that  Sabattis  was  in  the  store,  fiaton,  who 
was  at  work  piling  shingles  for  Colonel  William  Stanwood  in  what  is 
now  the  yard  of  the  estate  of  the  late  A.  C.  Robbins,  Esquire,  came  to 
the  store,  and  was  at  once  recognized  by  Sabattis,  who  seemed  to  be 
really  glad  to  see  him.  At  the  request  of  some  of  those  in  the  store, 
Eaton  drew  up  his  sleeve  to  show  the  buckshot  in  his  arm,  which  were 
fired  b5'  Sabattis  at  the  time  of  Eaton's  capture.  Sabattis  l(K)ke<i  at 
tlie  arm  with  reluctance,  saj'ing,  *'  That  long  time  ago  ;  war  time  too.'* 

1  MrKeni,  MSS.  Jjccturc.    Massavliv setts  Historical  Collections^  4  Ser.  Vol.  5,  p.  415. 

2  Williamson^  History  of  Maine.^  2,  p.  JCO, 

8  bewail,  Ancient  Dominions  of  Maine,  p  306. 

♦  Williamson,  History  of  Maine,  2,  p.  325. 

^Scwall,  Ancient  Dominions  of  Maine,  p.  ."W. 

^P^epscot  Papers.  '  McKeen,  MSS.  Lecture. 


PERIOD   OF  THE  INDIAN  WARS,  1676-1760.  69 

After  a  short  but  friendly  chat  witli  Eaton,  Sabattis  shook  hands  and 
left  the  store  and  went  on  his  wa}'.^ 

Although  a  treaty  of  peace  was  not  made  until  the  si)ring  of  1760, 
yet  the  war  had  virtually  ceased  at  this  time,  and  accordingly  the  fort 
was  dismantled,  and  on  Dec.  19,  1758,  was  leased  b}'  the  proprietors, 
to  whom  it  had  reverted. 

These  Indian  wars  occupied  a  period  of  nearly  eighty-five  years, 
and  during  nearly  all  this  time  the  settlers  were  accustomed,  at  every 
alafin,  to  congi'egate  in  the  fort  at  Brunswick  or  the  block  house  at 
Maquoit,  though  towards  the  close  many  were  in  garrisons  in  other 
parts  of  the  town  and  in  Topsham.  At  times  these  defences  were  so 
crowded  that  temporary  booths  and  camps  were  made  outside  of,  but 
near  to  them.  There  were  but  few  garrisons  in  Harpswell,  as  from 
its  local  situation  it  was  not  subject  to  assaults  by  the  Indians.^ 

There  were  a  few  other  cases  of  massacres  and  violence  on  the  part 
of  the  Indians,  besides  those  which  have  been  related,  but  accounts  of 
them  are,  for  the  most  part,  entirely  traditional  and  indefinite,  both  as 
to  dates  and  localities,  and  often  as  to  the  individuals  concerned  in 
them. 

An  account  of  the  manners  and  customs  of  life  at  this  period 
belongs  to  another  chapter,  but  one  tradition  is  here  given  to  show  the 
expedients  to  which  those  in  the  fort,  during  the  raids  of  the  Indians, 
were  often  obliged  to  resort.  It  is  said  that  at  one  time,  when  the 
inhabitants  were  obliged  to  seek  refuge  in  Fort  George,  they  had  no 
neighlx)rs  nearer  than  at  Bath,  then  called  **  The  Reach."  This  place 
was  distant  fifteen  miles  by  water,  which  was  the  onl}'  safe  way  of 
communicating  between  the  two  posts.  In  P'ort  George  was  a  dog 
which  had  been  taught  to  cany  letters  and  which  would  take  one  to 
Bath  in  about  two  hours*  time.  On  arriving  there  he  would  howl  until 
he  gained  admission  to  the  fort  at  that  place,  and  would  receive  an 
answer,  which  he  would  as  speedily  fetch  back  to  Brunswick.  At  last 
be  was  killed  by  an  Indian.  The  garrisons  were  now  deprived  of  this 
means  of  communication.  An  active  and  zealous  youth  undertook, 
however,  to  take  the  place  of  the  four-footed  messenger.  "  I,"  said 
he,  ''  will  carry  your  messages  by  water."  For  two  successive  sum- 
mers this  brave  youth  went  between  the  two  posts,  swimming  a  great 
part  of  the  way.  lie  went  chieflj'  in  the  night-time,  resting  bj-  day  in 
the  rushes  that  grew  around  the  shores  of  Merr3'meeting  Bay.     At 


1  Reminiscences  of  Dean  Sicift. 

8  Memoranda  of  Rev.  Samuel  Eaton,  in  Pfjepscot  Papers. 


70  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL 

length  he  was  captured  b\'  the  Indians  and  carried  to  Canada.  From 
the  latter  country  he  soon,  however,  made  his  escape,  and  returned  to 
Fort  George,  where  he  soon  ''  resumed  his  swimming  mail  rout«." 
He  was  afterwards  captured  a  second  time  by  the  famous  Indian  chief, 
Sabattis.     What  further  became  of  him  is  unknown.^ 

'^Putnam,  Description,  of  Brunswick^  Me.,  by  a  gentleman  from  South  CaroHnut 
p.  32. 


PAET    II. 


TOPOGRAPHICAL  AND  DESCRIPTIVE. 


Map  or  Brunswick  and  Topsham  Villages  in  1802. 


REFERENCES  TO  THE  FOREGOING  MAP. 


1. 
2. 
8. 
4. 
6. 


7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. 
19. 
2<). 
21. 
22. 
23. 
24. 

25. 

27. 

28 

29. 

30. 

31 

32. 

33. 
34. 
3o. 
36. 
37. 
38. 
39. 
40. 
41. 
42. 


Mrs  Ilinkley. 

James  Purinton. 

Humphrey  Thompson. 

Capt.  Nathl.  Melcher. 

Dr.  Benj.  J.  Porter.  (Resi- 
dence.) 

Luther  Kimball.  (Cabinet- 
maker's shop  ) 

School-house. 

Blacksmith's  shop. 

James  Stone. 

James  Stone.    (Store.) 

Dr.  Porter. 

Hugh  Wilson. 

John  Hern. 

Eben  Ferrin. 

John  Haley. 

Joseph  Haley. 

Lawrence  Humphreys. 

Saw  mill. 

Shoemaker's  shop. 

Gideon  Walker. 

Joseph  Swett. 

Stephen  Bradford. 

Jairus  Fuller. 

Obed  Burnham.  (Pump  and 
block-maker's  shop.) 

James  Blanchard.     (Store.) 

Ezra  Smith. 

Larrabee  &  Emery.  (Dwell- 
in^r.) 

Humphrey  Purinton. 

Store. 

Store. 

Isaac  Johnson. 

Larrabee  &  Emery.  (Hat- 
tors.) 

Porter  &  King.     (Store  ) 

Henry  Wilson.     (Store.) 

James  Cushman.     (Store.) 

FraucLs  Tucker.     (Inn.) 

Blacksmith's  shop. 

David  Flagg. 

Shoemaker's  shop. 

Hodge  mill. 

Granny  Hole  mill. 

Grist  mill  and  AilUng  mill. 


43.  James  Thompson. 

44.  Saw  mill. 

45.  Grist  mill. 

46.  Saw  mill. 

47.  Saw  mill. 

48.  Waldron. 

49.  Ruins  of  Fort  George. 

50.  Jere  Moulton. 

51.  Cutting  Noyes. 

52.  Store. 

53.  Daniel     &     Jotham     Stone. 

(Store.) 

54.  Amos  Lunt. 
55  John  Brown. 
66.  Blsbec's  shop. 

57.  Grist  mill. 

58.  2  saw  mills  and  grist  mill. 

59.  Mr.  Blsbee. 

60.  Thos   Pool. 

61.  John  Dunlap's  mansion 
62  True  worthy  Kllgore. 
63.  Store. 

()4.  Capt.  Richard  Tappan. 

65.  Store-house. 

66.  Major  8wia. 

67.  William  Owen. 
68  Law  office. 

69.  P.  O.  Alden. 

70.  John  Dunning. 

71.  John      Swartkin     &      Caleb 

Cushlng's  store. 

72  School-house. 

7'.\.  Robert  I).  Dunning. 

74.  Charles  Kyan. 

75.  Store. 

76.  Samuel  Stan  wood. 

77  President's      House     (being 
built). 

78.  Massachusetts  Hall. 

79.  Inn. 

80.  Col.  Estabrook's  bakery. 

81.  Timothy  Weymouth. 

82.  Barn. 

83.  Cabinet  shop. 

84.  Shimuel  Owen 

85  Col.  Thomas  Estabrook. 

86.  Rev.  Ebenezer  Coffin. 


87. 

Mr  Heath. 

98. 

Store. 

88. 

Mr.  Brooks. 

99 

Daniel  Coombs. 

89. 

Aaron  Melcher. 

100. 

James  Carey. 

90. 

Dr.  Charles  CofRn. 

101. 

Caleb  Cushing. 

91. 

Ebenezer  Nichols. 

102. 

EU  Cox.    (Pottery.) 

92. 

John  Perry's  store. 

103. 

Ell  Cox. 

93. 

Samuel  Emerson. 

104. 

Noah  Tobey. 

94. 

Store  and  office. 

105. 

James  Wilson.  * 

95. 

John  Perry. 

106 

Mr.  Carr     (Tailor.) 

96. 

Store. 

107. 

Court  House. 

97. 

Col  Stan  wood. 

CHAPTER  I. 

BOUNDARIES    AND    NOTABLE    FEATURES. 

The  territory  now  covered  by  the  towns  of  Topsham,  Bninswick, 
and  Ilarpswell,  forming  an  extensive  portion  of  the  old  Pejepscot  pur- 
chase, is  situated  between  Casco  and  Merrj'meeting  Ba3's,  and  on  both 
sides  of  the  Androscoggin  River.  The  railroad  station  at  Brunswick  is 
distant  from  Portland  twenty-nine  miles,  from  Bath,  nine  miles,  from 
Augusta,  thirty- three  miles,  and  from  Lewiston,  eighteen  miles.  Its 
latitude  is.  43*  54'  37"  N.,  and  its  longitude  69*'  57'  26"  W.  from 
Greenwich. 

Ti:)PSHAM,  the  most  northerly  of  the  three  towns,  is  bounded  on  the 
north  by  Bowdoin  and  Bowdoinham ;  on  the  east  by  Menymeeting 
Bay ;  on  the  south  by  Brunswick  ;  on  the  west  by  Brunswick  and  Dur- 
ham ;  and  on  the  northwest  by  Lisbon      Its  area  is  about  22,600  acres. 

Brunswick  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Topsham,  from  which  it  is 
separated  b^'  the  Androscoggin  River ;  on  the  east  by  the  New  Mead- 
ows River,  which  divides  it  from  Bath  and  West  Bath ;  on  the  south 
by  Casco  Bay  and  the  town  of  Harpswell ;  on  the  southwest  b}*  Free- 
port  ;  and  on  the  northwest  b}'  Durham.  It  has  an  area  of  about 
28,200  acres. 

Harpswell  is  bounded  on  the  north  b}*  Brunswick  ;  on  the  east  by 
the  New  Meadows  River ;  and  on  the  south  and  west  b}-  Casco  Bay. 
It  consists  of  a  peninsula  called  Harpswell,  or  Merriconeag,  Neck, 
which  extends  southwest  from  Brunswick  into  Casco  Ba^',  and  of  the 
following  islands :  Sebascodegan,  or  Great  Island,  Orr's,  Bailey's,  and 
Haskeirs  Islands,  with  Whaleboat  Island,  Birch  Island,  and  several 
smaller  ones.  The  area  of  the  Neck  is  4,570  acres,  and  that  of  Great 
Island  5,790  acres,  according  to  the  measurement  made  in  1731,  by 
Phinehas  Jones,  a  surveyor. ^  The  whole  town  probably  contains 
above  12,000  acres. 

Through  the  Pejepscot  region,  and  separating  Brunswick  from  Tops- 


1  McKciUfif  in  UarpsweU  Banner,  October,  1S32. 


7«j  IIJSIORT  OF  BRlXSlVirK,  TOPSUAM,  AXD  lURPSWELL. 

ham.  nni»  the  Anhbos^iogoin  Rfver,  noted  for  its  uumerous  falls  and 
ahiihilrjnt  |K>wer.  The  otiier  rivers  are  llie  Catliance  and  Muddy,  in 
Top^liani.  and  the  New  Meadows,  which  separates  Brunswick  and 
IlarpT^well  from  Bath.  West  Hath,  and  Phippsburg. 

Til*.'  Catuaxce  rises  in  the  lower  part  of  the  town  of  Litchfield, 
flow?*  in  a  !>outheasterIy  direction  through  the  town  of  Bowdoin,  and 
continues  on  this  course  until  it  reaches  aliout  the  centre  of  Topsham, 
where  it  takes  an  easterly  course  for  a  short  distance,  then  nins  nearly 
north  Kv  northeast  until  it  reaches  the  village  of  Bowdoinhani.  when 
it  lakf>  a  Ijend  and  flows  t  >  the  southeast  until  it  reaches  Merr\'meet- 
ing  Bay.  A  few  miles  south  of  Bowdoinhani.  this  river  has  an  arm 
which  extends  northwesterlv  for  aI»out  a  mile,  wliere  it  drains  two 
small  branches.     Its  whole  length  is  ahoul  twenty-seven  miles. 

^Il"di»y  Rivek  rises  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Topsham.  alx>ut  raid- 
wav  lictweeu  the  old  l^owdoinham  road  and  the  Foreside  road,  and 
flows  in  a  northeasterly  direction  until  it  reaches  Merrymeeling  Bay. 
Its  length  is  n<jt  far  from  four  and  a  half  miles. 

Ntw  Mkaih^ws  KivEU  rises  in  the  town  of  Bath,  about  half  a  mile 
from  Merrvmeetinjr  Bav.  and  flows  south  into  Casco  Bav.  It  was 
ancicntiv  calle^l  Stevens's  Kiver. 

The  only  jxjnd  of  considerable  size  hi  this  whole  region  is  Cathauce 
Pond,  sometimes  calle<l  Bradley's  Pond,  in  Topsham.  It  is  little 
more  than  an  expansion  of  Cathauce  River,  and  is  a  few  acres  only  in 
extent. 

MEnuYMEETiNG  Bay  is  formed  bv  the  confluence  of  the  waters  of  the 
Androscoggin,  Muddy,  Cathauce,  Abagadusset,  and  Kennebec  Rivers. 
It  is  aln^iut  six  miles  in  length  and  three  in  breadth,  at  its  widest  part. 
In  a  dee<l  from  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  to  Sir  Richard  Edgecomb  in 
10:57,  this  sheet  of  water  was  called  the  '*  l^ake  of  New  Somersett." ' 
In  other  ancient  deeds  it  was  called  ••  Swan  Pond."*-^ 

It  is  doubtful  if  there  is  in  New  England  a  tract  of  land  of  the  same 
extent,  f)ossessing  a  more  diversilied  scenery-  than  does  the  territory' 
Mist  descriljed.  Each  differing  phase  of  the  landscape  ma}'  be  sur- 
passed in  many  other  places,  but  the  tout  ensemb  e  is  rarely  equalleil. 
There  is  Imt  one  place  where  this  extended  view  can  be  obtained,  and 
comparatively  few  have  ever  enjoyed  it.  On  the  north  of  the  village 
of  Topsliam,  and  about  a  mile  distant  from  the  bridge,  is  an  abrupt 
elevation  of  land  called  Mount  Ararat.  In  the  innocence  of  childhood 
we  long  supi)osed  this  to  be  the  veritable  mount  whereon  the  ark 

'  Pcjepucot  Papers.  2  /ft/cf. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABT.E  "FKATCHES,  11 

rested.     Upon  the  summit  of  this  hill  once  stood  a  very  respectable 
obsenratorj',  rising  higher  than  the  suiTounding  trees.     From  the  top 
of  this  obsfer\'iitor}',  or  from  the  summit  of  one  of  the  tallest  trees, 
conld  be  seen  in  one  direction  the  Cathancc  River,  winding  like  a  sil- 
ver thread  through  the  evergreen  foHage ;   in  another  direction,  the 
bright  waters  of  Merrj-meeting  Bay ;  farther  still  gleamed  the  broad 
Hne  of  the  New  Meadows  River  and  the  wide  expanse  of  Casco  Bay, 
fAe  latter  dotted  with  islands  and  swept  by  the  white  sails  of  vessels 
of  ever>'    size.     At  the  west,  about  sixt}*  miles  distant,  the  White 
//ills    of  New  Hampshire  are  distinctly  visible  on  clear  days,  .while 
a  glass   reveals  the  obsen'ator}'  and  church  spires  at  Portland. 

The  8C45nery  of  the  three  towns  is  widely  different.  Topsham,  on 
the  north  or  left  bank  of  the  Androscoggin,  is  for  the  most  part  hilly  ; 
^-hile  Brunswick,  on  the  opposite  bank  of  the  river,  consists  (with  the 
oxceptioii  of  the  western  and  extreme  eastern  poitions)  of  low,  sandy 
l>l£iins.  Ilarpswell  is  made  up  of  islands,  and  the  long,  high  peninsula 
of  Merriconeag. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  town  of  Brunswick  a  rocky  elevation  is 
i:o  be  observed,  extending  quite  from  the  Andros ?oggin  to  Ca«<co  Bay. 
l^Iany  citizens  are  familiar  with  the  picturesque  scenery  at  Rockj*  Hill, 
s%onie  four  miles  up  the  river  road,  whore  tliia  ridge  begins.  At  the 
tieep  cut,  some  three  miles  west  of  the  village,  the  railroad  passes 
through  a  depression  of  this  ridge,  but  at  Oak  Hill  it  again  rises  to  full 
height. 

A  few  miles  farther,  another  depression  is  succeeded  by  Brimstone 
Hill,  in  Freeport,  which  completes  the  line  quite  to  Ilarraseekit  Land- 
ing, on  Casco  Bay.     From  Oak  Hill  and  the  higher  points  of  the  par- 
allel ridge  west  of  it,  the  sea  is  usualh'  visible.      From  all  elevated 
points,  for  miles  around,   appear  also  the  spires  of  the  villages  of 
Brunswick  and  Topsham,  the  highest   among   them   being    the  twin 
towers  of  King's  Chapel.      On  the  approach  from  n[)  river,  Towdcr- 
Ilouse  Hill  (at  an  earlier  date  known  as  Sunset  Hill)  hides  much  of 
the  villages  from  view.     A  bend  of  the  river,  with  a  broad  expansion 
at  this  point,  gives  all  the  effect  of  a  lake,  with  the  accessories  of 
high,  rocky  banks,  green  hills,  low,  grassy  shores,  and  sandy  beaches. 
At  the  upper  railroad  bridge,  where  the  banks  of  the  river  approach 
each  other  and  the  compiessed  waters  go  rolling  on  between  the  firm 
lK)unds  of  rock,  the  scene  begins  to  change.     Here  is  the  beginning 
of  the  notable  Brunswick  Falls,  the  finest  water-power  on  the  Atlan- 
tic coast.     This  magnificent  fall  of  water,  though  lacking  in  the  gran- 
deur which  attaches  to  the  more  famous  falls  of  some  other  rivers,  has 


k: 


78         HISTORY  OF  BRUIiSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

yet  a  beauty  of  its  own,  which  should  by  no  means  be  overlooked. 
Its  numerous  cascades  afford  not  only  varied  and  picturesque  views, 
but  furnish  a  motive-power  probably  unsurpassed  in  New  England 
within  so  small  a  space.  The  natural  bed  of  the  fall  consists  of  coarse 
graphic  granite  and  gneiss.  The  rock  upon  the  middle  fall  projects 
above  the  water  at  several  points,  serving  as  natural  abutments  to  the 
several  sections  of  the  dam.  Shad  Island,  the  former  site  of  mills, 
divides  the  lower  fall  about  midway.  There  are  three  pitches:  the 
first  has  a  vertical  descent  of  about  eleven  feet,  the  middle  of  four- 
teen feet,  and  the  lower  of  about  fifteen  feet.  The  total  height  of 
the  fall  is  about  forty-one  feet  above  high  tide,  which  flows  to  the  foot 
of  the  fall,  causing  a  variation  in  the  height  of  the  water  of  about 
three  feet.    The  whole  horizontal  distance  of  the  descent  is  1 ,980  feet. 

LOCALITIES. 

In  the  Androscoggin  River,  from  Lisbon  to  Merry  meeting  Ba}', 
there  are  twelve  islands,  besides  numerous  rocks  at  the  Brunswick 
Falls,  which  have  acquired  distinctive  names. 

Beech  Island  —  probably  so  called  on  account  of  the  growth  of 
beech-trees  found  upon  it  —  is  the  first  island  above  the  upper  railroad 
bridge. 

Mekrill*s  Island  is  a  short  distance  above  the  former.  It  was 
named  after  John  Merrill,  P2squire,  who  purchased  it  in  1768. 

Goose  Rock  is  the  rock  upon  which  the  middle  pier  of  the  upper 
railroad  bridge  rests.  It  is  not  a  bowlder,  as  is  generally  supposed, 
but  is  part  of  a  ledge  extending  to  the  shore. ^  Why  the  rock  bears 
its  present  name  is  not  known  ;  but  it  is  quite  probable  that  it  was  so 
called  from  a  supposed  similarity  to  a  swimming  goose.  It  has,  how- 
ever, been  suggested  'that  it  may  have  been  a  resort  for  fowlers,  when 
after  wild  geese. 

Goat  Island  is  a  short  distance  above  the  Factorv,  or  second  dam. 
The  origin  of  its  name  is  unknown  ;  but  it  is  conjectured  that  one  of 
the  early  settlers  pastured  his  goats  upon  it. 

Devil's  Rock  is  the  name  given  to  a  large  rocky  island  about  mid- 
wa}'  of  the  second,  or  Factory  dam.  The  traditional  origin  of  the 
name  is  as  follows :  In  the  early  settlement  of  the  place,  a  man  and 
his  wife  occupied  a  lone  house  a  little  way  back  from  the  river,  on  the 
Topsliam  side.  This  man  was  ver^*  superstitious,  and  probably  ad- 
dicted to  the  habit  of  taking  both  frequent  and  deep  potations.     One 

^Survey  by  C,  J,  Noyes,  Esq. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  l\i 

day  daring  an  ice  freshet,  as  be  was  sitting  at  his  window  watching 
the  ice  go  by,  he  imagined  he  saw  Satan,  in  propria  persona.^  floating 
down  the  stream  on  a  log,  and  that  he  could  hear  the  clanking  of  his 
chains  as  he  climbed  the  rock.  He  informed  his  wife  of  this  imaginary 
occurrence,  and  after  the  waters  had  sufficiently  subsided,  the  pair  vis- 
ited the  rock  and  found  the  footprints  left  there  by  his  supposed  Satanic 
Majesty.  These  holes  in  the  rock  —  one  of  which  does  bear  quite  a 
resemblance  to  a  huge  footprint  —  are  still  to  be  seen. 

F^iSHiNO  Rock  Island,  Salmon  Island,  Shad  Island. — All  these 
names  have  been,  at  different  periods,  applied  to  the  island  at  the 
lower  falls,  between  the  long  dam  and  the  gulf  dam.  Tradition  gives 
the  origin  of  the  latter  name  as  follows :  The  law  formerl}'  prohibited 
the  catching  of  shad  between  sunset  on  Saturday  and  sunrise  on  Mon- 
day-. Fish-wardens  were  annually  chosen  hy  some  towns  to  see  that 
this  law  was  enforced.  One  Sunday  some  men  went  out  and  caught 
several  of  these  fish,  and  hid  them  on  this  island,  not  daring  to  be 
Been  carrying  them  home.  Mr.  Johnson  Wilson  and  some  friends 
startetl  out  after  them  in  boats,  pretending  to  be  the  fish-wardens, 
and  went  ashore  on  the  island,  found  the  fish,  and,  for  sport,  carried 
them  away.  The  joke  was  discovered,  and  some  complaint  made 
against  Mr.  Wilson  for  breaking  the  Sabbath.  Afterwards,  when  he 
built  a  mill,  —  the  first  one  on  the  island,  —  those  who  had  blamed  him 
for  taking  the  fish  called  his  mill  the  '*  Shad  Mill,"  and  from  that  the 
island  subsequently'  became  known  as  Shad  Island. 

Freshet  Rock  is  the  name  b}'  which  the  rock  between  Shad  Island 
and  the  Topsham  shore  is  known.  It  is  thus  called  from  its  being  an 
index  to  the  height  of  water  in  tiie  river.  It  is  never  entirely  covered 
by  water  except  in  freshets. 

Granny  Hole  Mill,  Stream,  and  Bridge. — The  channel  which 
canies  the  water  from  the  river  above  the  lower  falls,  around  the 
island  in  Topsham,  was  originally  only  a  ravine;  but  about  1760  it 
was  excavated  so  as  to  afford  a  continuous  flow  of  water.  Tradition 
gives  the  following  account  of  the  origin  of  its  name :  On  one  occa- 
sion, in  midwinter,  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  grandfather  of  Mr.  James 
Wilson,  of  Topsham,  went  over  the  ice  to  a  fulling-mill  near  the  fort 
in  Brunswick,  to  obtain  a  web  of  cloth.  lie  stayed  until  after  dark  ; 
and  while  coming  home  he  heard  a  woman's  voice  in  the  direction  of  a 
mill  which  stood  just  south  of  where  the  flour  mill  in  Topsham  now 
stands.  Going  in  the  direction  from  which  the  sound  came,  he  found 
a  woman  named  Betty  Watts,  who  had  broken  through  the  ice,  and 
was  clinging  to  the  edge  of  it,  screaming  for  help.     Having  his  web  of 


80  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

cloth  with  hira,  he  held  on  to  one  end  and  threw  the  roll  to  the 
woman,  who  caught  hold  of  it  and  was  drawn  out.  .  In  memorj'  of 
this  incident,  the  mill  was  called  the  "Granny-Hole  Mill,"  and  the 
name  was  afterwards  applied  to  the  whole  ravine.  The  "  Granny- 
Ilole  Bridge  "  is  mentioned  a  number  of  times  in  the  town  records  of 
Topaham. 

The  Goldex  Pipe.  —  This  was  a  natural  drain  or  outlet  for  what  is 
now  a  stagnant  pond  in  front  of  Flagg's  brick-jard,  in  Topsham.  It 
crossed  Summer  Street  just  west  of  Mr.  Cyni»  Flagg's  residence,  and 
so  kept  on  till  it  entered  the  Granny-Hole  Stream.  In  times  of 
freshet,  the  water  from  the  i-iver  flowed  across  the  sand-bed  through 
the  Golden  Pipe  into  the  Granny-Hole  Stream,  which  aflbrded  an 
opportunity  for  lumbermen  to  run  logs  that  way  and  save  them  from 
being  carried  down  river  and  out  to  sea.  The  benefit  thus  derived 
from  this  channel  doubtless  gave  rise  to  its  name.  When  Summer 
Street  was  laid  out,  a  portion  of  the  drain  was  filled  up  and  the  street 
raised  high  enough  to  prevent  the  water  from  crossing  it  except  in 
unusually  high  freshets.  This  drain  is  referred  to  in  the "  town 
records  under  the  name  given  above. 

Great  Island  is  the  name  given  in  the  Topsham  town  records  to 
the  island  formed  bv  the  Grannv-Hole  Stream  and  the  main  river.  It 
has  also  been  called  Thompson's  Island,  because  it  was  at  one  time 
owned  b}'  Brigadier  Thompson.  It  is  usually  called  simply  "  The 
Island." 

Middle  Rock  is  the  name  of  the  rock  upon  which  one  of  the  piers 
of  the  Androscoggin  Bridge  (formerly  the  toll-biidge)  rests. 

Mason's  Rock.  — There  are  two  traditions  accounting  for  the  name 
of  the  large  rock  below  the  falls,  known  as  Mason's  Rock.  One  is, 
that  a  Mr.  Mason  was  once  saved  from  drowning  by  getting  upon  this 
rock.  The  other  is  that,  while  upon  the  rock,  he  was  killed  by  the 
Indians.  There  are  no  means  of  determining  which  of  the  two  tradi- 
tions is  most  reliable.  "Samuel  Mason"  occupied  lot  number  ten 
(within  the  present  limits  of  Brunswick  village)  in  1717.  He  occu- 
pied it  less  than  tliree  yeare,  and  what  became  of  him  is  now  unknown. 

Ferry  Point  is  the  point  of  land  at  the  Topsham  end  of  the  iron 
railroad  bridge.  It  is  so  called  from  the  fact  that,  previous  to  the 
erection  of  the  toll-bridge,  a  ferry  was  maintained  between  this  point 
and  the  ''  Landing"  in  Bninswick. 

Terramugus  Cove  is  the  name  applied  in  honor  of  an  Indian  chief, 
Terramugiis,  to  the  cove  between  Fcvry  Point  and  the  Granny-Hole 
Mill,     it  is  probable,  however,  tliat  the  river  formerly  covered  the 


BOUNDARIES  Aim  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  81 

low  land  where  the  town  landing  used  to  be,  back  of  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Samuel  Jameson,  and  that  the  name  was  applied  to  that  particu- 
lar part  of  the  cove. 

Old  Sunday. — About  midway  between  Mason's  Rock  and  Fern' 
Point,  but  nearer  the  Topsham  shore,  is  a  large  stone,  now  sehlom 
exiK)sed  to  view,  which  was  placed  there  b}'  Brigadier  Thompson  to 
form  the  anchorage  for  a  boom.  Tradition  accounts  for  its  name  from 
its  being  placed  there  by  the  Brigadier  on  Sunday. 

Cow  Island  is  the  name  applied  to  the  island  just  below  the  pres- 
ent iron  railroad  bridge.     The  name  was  given  earl}'  in  the  last  cen- 
tiir}',  and  was  doubtless   suggested  b}-  the  fact  of  its  affording  good  \^ 
and  safe  pasturage  for  cows.     It  was  owned,  prior  to  1797,  by  John 
Sandford.^ 

The  Narrows,  where  the  river  is  compressed  into  narrow  limits  by 
two  high  rocky  points,  are  about  two  miles  below  the  Falls.  The 
I>oint  on  the  Brunswick  side  was  formerly  occupied  by  Humphrey's 
steam-mill  and  ship-yard. 

Baxter's  Island,  Freyer's  or  Friar's  Island,  Mustard's  Island. 
— These  are  different  names  for  the  island  near  the  Topsham  end  of  the 
Bay  Bridge.  The  island  was  deeded  in  1717  to  the  Reverend  Joseph 
Baxter  of  Medfield,  Mass.,  who  came  here  as  a  missionary  to  the 
Indians.  The  name  '*  Freyer's  Island"  is  laid  down  on  some  of  the 
maps  of  a  recent  date,  but  the  origin  of  the  name  is  unknown.  It  is 
called  *'  Mustard's  Island  "  from  its  present  owner,  Mr.  John  Mus- 
tard, of  Topsham. 

Hcnt«r's  Island  is  the  large  island  at  the  foot  of  the  Narrows. 
In  Stevens's  deed  from  the  Indians,  in  1G75,  it  is  called  ''Stave 
Island."  It  may  have  borne  other  names,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to 
ascertain  them. 

Pleasant  Point  lies  between  the  Androscoggin  and  Muddy  Rivers, 
extending  into  Merrymeeting  Bay.  Although  this  name  is  appropri- 
ate, and  has  the  prestige  of  antiquit}',  yet  it  would  appear  still  more 
appropriate  to  perpetuate  the  name  of  its  original  owner,  the  first  set- 
tler in  Topsham,  by  calling  it  Gylen*s  Point. 

Cathance  Point  is  the  i)oint  of  land  in  Bowdoinham  formed  by  the 
bend  of  the  Cathance  River  near  its  outlet  into  Merrymeeting  Bay. 

Fulton's  Point  and  Patten's  Point  are  names  which  have  been 
successively  applied  to  a  i>oint  on  the  eastern  side  of  Cathance  Point, 
by  former  residents  of  the  vicinity,  — James  Fulton  having  been  one 


1  Deed  to  Brigadier  Thompson. 


82  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

of  its  earliest  occupants,   and  John   Patten,  its  owner  at  a  later 
period. 

Centkr  Point,  formerly  called  MofIitt*s,  and  still  earlier  Somerset 
Point,  is  the  point  of  land  between  the  Abagadnsset  and  CaUiance 
Rivers.  In  a  deed  from  Sir  Ferdinando  Gorges  to  Sir  Richard  Edge- 
comb,  dated  1637,  this  point  was  called  ''Somerset  Point."  ^  The 
name  has  often  been  spelled  '^  Samoset,"  and  the  explanation  has  been 
given  that  it  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Indian  chief  of  that  name ; 
but  it  is  evident  that  the  latter  name  is  a  corruption  of  the  former. 
In  the  last  centur}',  the  point  was  occupied  by  a  family  named  '*  Mof- 
fitt,"  for  whom  it  was  named ;  and  in  like  manner  its  present  name 
was  given  because  of  its  occupation  for  many  years  by  a  familj'  named 
Center.     It  is  in  the  town  of  Bowdoinham. 

Abagadusset  Point  is  the  strikins:  name  which  attaches  to  the  last 
projection  which  engages  our  attention  on  the  north  side  of  the  ba}^. 
It  lies  between  the  Kennebec  and  Abagadusset  Rivers,  and  is  a  part 
of  the  town  of  Bowdoinham.  The  meaning  and  derivation  of  the 
name  have  already  been  given  in  Chapter  I  of  Part  First. 

Oak  Hill  is  about  four  miles  north  of  Top:iham  village.  The 
origin  of  the  name  is  obvious. 

In  Brunswick  the  following  localities  are  more  or  less  familiar  :  — 

Fisii-IIousE  Hill,  upon  which  stands  the  residence  of  Miss  Nar- 
cissa  Stone,  received  its  name  from  the  fact  that  there  was  once  a  fish- 
house  upon  it,  where  salmon  and  sturgeon  were  cured  and  packed  for 
shipment. 

Eaton  Brook  —  the  first  brook  west  of  the  village  —  bears  this 
name  from  Daniel  Eaton,  who  lived  near  it  in  the  last  century. 

Harwood's  Brook  was  named  for  George  Harwood,  one  of  the 
early  settlors,  who  built  a  house  and  attempted  to  clear  a  farm  on  what 
was  afterward  the  *' Captain  Adams  Place,"  which  included  the  very 
noticeable  hill,  with  the  large  house  at  the  top,  on  the  west  bank  of  the 
Androscoggin,  about  a  mile  above  the  village. 

Sandy  Gully  —  as  its  name  indicates — is  a  sandy  ravine  on  the 
River  road,  where  it  crosses  Harwood's  Brook. 

Rocky  Hill  is  about  four  miles  from  the  village  on  the  road  leading 
up  the  river.  It  is  the  beginning  of  the  broad,  rocky  ridge  to  which 
reference  has  been  made.  The  scenery  of  the  locality  is  the  boldest 
of  any  in  the  three  towns. 

The  Pinnacle  is  tha  name  of  a   hill,  probably  the  highest  in  the 
three  towns,  situated  on  the  north  side  of  the  Durham  road,  at  the 


P^epscot  Papers. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  83 

extreme  western  border  of  Brunswick.  It  is  well  covered  with  trees, 
except  a  space  on  the  east  and  south,  the  latter  side  being  marked  by 
a  precipitous  ledge  of  light-colored  granite. 

Bald  Rock  is  a  massive  projection  of  ledge  on  a  western  slope  of  the 
ridge  of  which  Oak  Hill  is  a  spur  on  the  eastern  side,  nearly  opposite. 

Oak  Hill  is  a  spur  of  the  granitic  ridge  which  extends  from  the 
Androscoggin  River  to  Casco  Ba}-.  It  is  on  the  Portland  road,  about 
four  miles  west  of  the  village. 

Gbowstown,  a  neighborhood  about  two  miles  west  of  the  colleges, 
derives  its  name  from  the  numerous  families  named  Grows  who  for- 
merly resided  in  the  vicinity. 

BuKGANucK  Landing  is  the  western  side  of  Maquoit  Bay,  near 
Freeport.     The  origin  of  the  name  is  given  elsewhere  in  the  volume. 

Wharton's  Point,  at  Maquoit,  was  named  for  Thomas  Wharton, 
who  owned  the  lot  in  1717.  It  was  afterwards  sold  to  William  Wood- 
side. 

Mair  Point,  Mare  Point,  Mere  Point.  —  These  are  the  varied 
spellings  of  the  name  applied  from  a  very  early  date  to  the  peninsula 
which  extends  into  Casco  Bay  and  Maquoit  Bay.  The  derivation,  and 
consequentl}'  the  spelling,  of  the  name  has  been  the  subject  of  some 
discussion,  and  there  still  exists  a  difference  of  opinion  concerning  it. 
In  the  earliest  deeds  and  other  documents  which  we  have  seen,  the 
name  is  spelled  Mair ;  and  for  this  reason  we  have  so  spelled  the  name 
whenever  reference  is  made  to  it.  We  incline  to  the  opinion  that  some 
time  previous  to  the  Pejepscot  purchase,  a  man  nameil  Marr  (or  Mare) 
lived  on  the  i>oint,  and  that  "Mair"  is  a  corruption.  Williamson^ 
states  that  John  Mare  was  an  earl}-  settler  on  Mare  Point.  Some  are 
of  the  opinion  that  at  a  very  early  period  the  point  was  occupied  by 
French  settlers,  who  gave  it  the  name  of  Mer  Point,  which  in  English 
would  be  Sea  Point.  There  is  no  proof,  however,  that  the  locality 
was  ever  occupied  by  the  French. 

New  Wharf  is  the  name  of  a  wharf  at  Middle  Bay,  built  in  1837. 
It  was  then  spoken  of  as  ''The  New  Wharf,"  and  never  having  received 
any  other  name,  it  is  still  calle<l  New  Wharf,  though  now  old  and 
dilapidated. 

Pennellville  is  a  neighborhood  near  Middle  Bay,  which  includes 
a  number  of  families  of  the  name  of  Pennell.  Much  ship-building 
has  been  done  in  this  vicinity. 

Mair  Brook  rises  a  short  distance  west  of  the  Twelve-Rod  road. 


^History  of  Maine^  l»p.  564,  note. 


84  mSTOHT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  crossing  that  road  about  half  a  mile  below  the  colleges,  thence 
nins  in  an  easterly  direction  and  empties  into  Harpswell  Harbor, 
between  Prince's  Point  and  Harpswell  Neck.  The  origin  of  the  name 
is  unknown,  but  it  is  doubtless  the  same  as  that  of  Mair  Point. 

Thompson's  Bkook,  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town,  was  named 
after  Cornelius  Thompson,  an  early  settler,  through  whose  lot  the 
brook  ran. 

Cook's  Corneu,  two  miles  east  of  Bmnswick  village,  on  the  road  to 
Bath,  was  named  for  Stephen  Cook,  who  resided  there  in  1764  and 
probabl}'  earlier. 

Piunce's  Point  extends  into  Harpswell  Harbor,  between  the  Neck 
and  Great  Island.  It  received  this  appellation  after  a  family'  named 
Prince,  who  have  lived  on  the  point  many  3'ears. 

Ham's  Hill,  jiear  New  Meadows  River,  on  the  upper  road  to  Bath, 
was  named  for  Tobias  Ham,  who  settled  upon  it  previous  to  1742. 

Bull  Rock  is  a  rock  in  New  Meadows  River,  upon  which  rests  otie 
of  the  piers  of  the  bridge  below  the  railroad. 

The  following  are  localities  in  Harpswell :  — 

Harpswell  Neck  is  what  was  formerly  and  is  now,  often,  called 
Merkiconeag. 

The  '*  Great  Island  "  is  the  English  and  Sebascodegan  the  Indian 
name  for  the  largest  of  the  islands  included  in  the  township  of  Har]>s- 
well.  Richard  Wharton,  in  1683,  speaks  of  it  as  "  Sebacoa,  alins 
Chebascoa  diggin."  ' 

Orr's  Island  is  the  name  now  applied  to  what,  in  1758,  was  known 
as  Little  Sebascodegan.^  It  received  its  later  name  from  one  of  its 
first  English  occupants,  Joseph  Orr,  who  owned  nearly  the  whole 
island.  Orr's  Island  and  Bailey's  Island  were,  also,  prior  to  1683, 
called*' The  Twins."  3 

Bailey's  Island,  situated  south  of  the  Neck,  is  the  present  name 
of  what  was  called  Will's  Island  in  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of 
Harpswell.  Captain  James  Sinnett,  now  upwards  of  eighty  years  of 
age,  who  has  resided  upon  the  island  all  his  life,  gives  the  following 
account  of  the  origin  of  these  names.  The  firat  settler  upon  the 
island  was  a  man  named  Black,  who,  with  his  wife  and  a  boy,  moved 
there  from  Kittery.  They  were  of  mixed  breed,  having  in  their  veins 
the  blood  of  the  Anglo-Saxon,  Indian,  and  African  races.  Black  and 
his  wife  died  and  were  the  first  persons  ever  buried  upon  the  island. 
Their  son.  Will  Black,  lived  to  old  age  and  became  generally  known 


Pfijepicot  Poiters.  ^Sce  Act  of  Incorporation  of  Harpswell,  *Ibid. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  85 

b^-  the  name  of  Uncle  Will.  The  island  consequently  took  its  first 
name  from  him.  Afterwards,  Deacon  Timothy  Baile}',  of  Hanover, 
Mass.,  purchased  the  island  and  moved  there  wit!}  his  family.  The 
Blacks  were  squatters,  and,  having  no  legal  claim  to  the  land,  they 
moved  to  Orr's  Island,  and  settled  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  Mr.  Ralph 
Johnson.     Thereafter  Will's  Island  was  called  Bailey's  Island. 

North  Yarmouth  Island  is  situated  south  of,  and  in  close  prox- 
imity to  Sebascodegan,  or  Great  Island.  The  explanation  of  its 
bearing  the  name  of  a  distant  town  is  probably  as  follows  :  — 

The  town  of  North  Yarmouth  formerly  embraced  the  peninsula  of 
Mair  Point  and  Harpswell  Neck,  with  Sebascodegan  and  the  lesser 
islands  within  the  limits  indicated  b^'  these  points.  When  the  town  of 
Harpswell  was  formed,  all  the  larger  islands  intended  to  be  set  off 
from  Yarmouth  for  the  new  town  of  Harpswell  were  named  in  the  Act 
of  Incorporation,  with  the  exception  of  the  one  now  under  considera- 
tion. The  omission  was  probably  unintentional;  3'et  this  island  — 
nearly  the  most  remote  of  all  —  still  remained  the  legal  territory  of 
North  Yarmouth.  This  anomaly  among  the  islands  led  to  its  acquire- 
ment of  the  name  of  the  town  to  which  it  belonged.  At  a  later  period 
it  was  annexed  to  Harpswell. 

Damariscove  Island,  now  called  ''Haskell's  Island,"  lies  opposite 
Potts's  Point.  In  tlie  Act  of  Incorporation  of  Harpswell  it  was  called 
Damariscove  Island,  but  assumed  its  present  name  after  its  i)urchase 
bv  a  Mr.  Haskell. 

Flag  Island  is  said  to  derive  its  name  from  the  fact  that  large 
quantities  of  flags  grew  upon  it. 

Whale-Boat  Island  is,  perhaps,  so  called  from  its  fancied  resem- 
blance in  shape  to  a  whale-boat.  It  lies  west  of  the  lower  part  of  the 
Neck. 

G008E  Islands — two  of  them  —  lie  west  of  the  middle  of  the 
Neck.  At  the  southeast  of  the  lower  one  are  a  pair  of  small  islands 
calle<i  ''  The  Goslings." 

Shelter  Island,  in  Middle  Bay,  probably  received  it«  name  from 
its  affording  a  place  of  refuge  for  the  settlers  on  Mair  Point  and 
vicinity'  in  times  of  Indian  hostility.  Tradition  saj's  that  this  island 
was  for  man}'  years  the  resort  of  smugglers,  who  obtained  their  goods 
in  the  British  provinces,  and  stored  tliera  on  this  island  if  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  escape  the  customs  oflUcers  along  the  coast.  The  name  was 
probablv  given  by  the  smugglers. 

Birch  Island,  between  Mail*  Point  and  the  Neck,  was  doubtless  so 
named  for  its  abundant  grow^th  of  birch-trees. 


86  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

White's  Island,  near  Mair  Point,  was  named  for  Nicholas  White, 
who  occupied  it  as  early  as  the  3'ear  1675. 

PoTT8*3  Point,  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  Neck,  was  named  for 
Richard  Potts,  its  first  occupant,  who  settled  there  previous  to  1672. 

The  Prongs  are  the  three  points  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Neck, 
which  bears  a  resemblance  to  the  form  of  a  fork. 

Lookout  Point,  on  the  western  shore  of  the  Neck,  is  so  called 
l»ecanso  it  affords  an  extended  view  of  the  bay.  The  scenery  at  this 
locality  is  ver}'  picturesque. 

CoNDvV  Point  is  the  southeastern  extremity  of  Great  Island,  and, 
with  the  adjacent  harbor,  takes  its  name  from  William  Condy,  who 
settled  there  in  1733. 

Boyle's  Point  is  the  northeastern  extremity  of  Orr's  Island.  It 
was  probabl}*  named  for  the  Reverend  Matthew  B3*les,  who  had  one 
hundred  acres  of  this  island  set  off  to  him  by  Joseph  Orr,  in  lieu  of 
his  previous  claim  as  heir  to  Honorable  William  Tailer. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  smaller  islands  of  Harps  well, 
which  are  mostly' uninhabited.  There  are  a  few  others,  without  estab- 
lished  name  by  which  they  might  be  recognized,  and  of  which  we 
therefore  have  made  no  special  record. 

Rogue  Island  is  southeast  of  Cond3*'s  Point. 

Jenny's  Island  is  south  of  North  Yarmouth  Island. 

Long  Ledge  is  south  of  Jenny's  Island. 

Pule  Island,  Small  Island,  and  Snow  Island  are  situated  in 
the  eastern  part  of  Quahaug  Bay. 

Elm  Island  is  east  of  the  lower  part  of  Orr's  Island. 

Raw  Island  is  east  of  the  north  part  of  Bailey's  Island. 

Cedar  Ledcjes,  five  in  a  row,  —  seven  or  more  in  all,  —  are  east  of 
Raw  Island. 

Pond  Island  is  east  of  the  middle  of  Bailey's  Island. 

Ragged  Island  is  east  of  the  lower  part  of  Bailej^'s  Island.  It« 
municipal  connection  has  been  disputed. 

Jaques's  Island,  south  of  Bailey's  Island,  receives  its  name  from 
Lieutenant  Jaques,  who  resided  on  the  Neck  opposite,  and  who  was  one 
of  the  officers  in  the  final  expedition  against  the  Indians  at  Norridge- 
wock. 

Turnip  Island  is  west  of  Jaques's  Island. 

Great  Mark  Island  is  south  of  Haskell's  Island. 

Little  Mark  Island  is  south  of  Great  Mark  Island. 

EA(iLE  Island  is  west  of  Haskell's  Island. 

Little  Birch  Island  is  southwest  of  west  prong  of  Ilarpswell  Neck. 


B0UNDABIE8  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  87 

Horse  Island  is  east  of  Little  Birch  Island. 

Barne's  Island  is  between  the  west  prong  of  the  Neck  and  Great 
Whale-Boat  Island. 

Little  Whale-Boat  Island  is  northwest  and  near  Great  Whale- 
Boat  Island. 

Irony  Island  is  east  of  the  Goslings. 

Braining's  Ledge  is  l>etween  the  Goose  Islands. 

Lookout  Island  is  adjacent  to  Point  Lookout. 

Little  Birch  Island  is  northeast  of  Birch  Island. 

Scragg  Island  is  east  of  White's  Island. 

Little  Irony  Island  is  south  by  southwest  of  Scragg  Island. 

Crow  Island  is  southwest  of  New  Wharf,  at  head  of  Middle  Bav. 

Clarke's  Island  is  east  of  New  Wharf. 

BoMAZEEN  Island  is  between  Brunswick  and  Great  Island. 

Other  localities  in  Harpswell  are  :  — 

High  Head,  on  the  east  side  of  the  nortliem  part  of  the  Neck,  and 
Jaques's  Harbor,  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Baile^'^s  Island. 

Harpswell  Harbor  is  on  the  east  of  the  Neck,  between  it  and 
Great  Island  and  Orr's  Island. 

Condy's  Harbor  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  point  of  the  same  name, 
south  of  Great  Island.  • 

QcAHAUG  Bay  extends  into  Great  Island  from  the  south  and  nearly 
divides  the  island. 

Ash  Cove  is  west  of  Potts's  Point,  between  the  eastern  and  middle 
prongs  of  the  Neck. 

Mill-Pond  Basin  is  between  the  western  and  middle  prongs  of  the 
Neck.  It  furnishes  a  tide  power  of  great  vahie,  from  its  accessibilit}' 
by  sea,  the  depth  of  water  admitting  the  passage  of  vessels  of  sev- 
eral hundred  tons,  quite  to  the  dam.  Upon  it  there  is  now  a  large 
grain  mill. 

Long  Reach  is  an  extensive  cove  in  the  western  side  of  Great 
Island,  opening  northwai*d. 

Long  Cove  nearlv  di\ides  the  northern  half  of  Orr's  Island. 

Lowell's  Cove  is  on  the  southeast  side  of  Orr's  Island. 

Mackerel  Cove  is  on  the  southern  part  of  Bailey's  Island. 

Will  Gut  is  the  passage  between  On-'s  and  Bailey's  Islands. 

The  Gurnet  is  the  name  of  the  point  in  Bnmswick  opposite  to  Great 
Island,  Harpswell.     Between  the  point  and  island  is  the  Guniet  Bridge. 

In  the  English  Channel  there  are  several  headlands  bearing  the 
name,  hanng  taken  it,  probably,  because  of  the  number  of  gurnet  fish 
found  in  the  neighborhood,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  name  was  given 


88  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

to  the  point  in  Brunswick  from  a  fancied  resemblance  to  one  of  the 
English  headlands  referred  to. 

FAUNA. 

From  the  varied  character  of  the  region  about  Brunswick  Falft, 
comprising  sea-shore  and  forest,  sandy  plains,  granite  hills,  and  rich 
intervales,  this  narrow  territor}',  prior  to  its  occupation  by  the  English, 
must  have  drawn  a  numerous  representation  of  almost  the  entire  fauna 
of  the  State.  Among  the  m:a3imalia  formerly  found  here  were  bears, 
wild-cats,  loup  cerviers,  wolves,  moose,  beaver,  and  otter.  Cathame 
Pond  is  said  to  have  been  once  a  great  resort  for  the  latter,  whre 
traces  of  beaver-dams  are  found  on  almost  everv  stream.  Of  the  car- 
nivora,  wolves  were  the  most  common.  The  town  many  times  voted 
bounties  for  the  destruction  of  these  animals,  which  prowled  about  the 
premises  of  the  settlers  in  search  of  food,  and  sometimes  even  fol- 
lowed the  settlers  themselves. 

About  the  year  1786,  Mrs.  Thomas,  wife  of  Lewis  Thomas,  walked 
from  Ilarpswell  to  Brunswick,  bearing  her  baby  in  her  arms,  and  in 
addition  carrying  half  a  quintal  of  tish.  While  coming  through  the 
woods  near  Middle  Bay,  she  was  followed  by  wolves.  With  remark- 
able presence  of  mind,  she  threw  down  a  single  fish,  which  the  pursu- 
ing pack  stopped  to  devour,  while  she  pressed  forwanl  as  rapidly  as 
possible.  The  animals  soon  resumed  the  pursuit,  and  she  threw  down 
another  fish,  and  again  they  stopped  to  make  a  quarrelsome  meal. 
This  operation  was  repeated  at  intervals  until  she  reached  her  home. 
Ephraim  Thomas  was  the  name  of  the  man  who,  when  a  babe,  made 
this  dangerous  journey.  He  died  in  Greene,  Maine,  in  1849,  at  sixty- 
three  years  of  age. 

In  1792  Samuel  Stanwood,  who  then  lived  on  the  site  of  the  present 
residence  of  Mrs.  Joseph  McKeen,  had  a  saw  mill  at  Maquoit  at  which 
he  worked  during  the  da}*,  carrying  his  dinner  with  him.  One  day, 
desiring  to  accomplish  all  he  could  and  not  feeling  very  hungry,  he  did 
not  stop  to  eat  the  dinner  which  he  had  brought  with  him,  but  took 
it  back  with  him  when  he  started  for  home  at  night.  When  he  reached 
Mair  Brook,  a  wolf  came  out  of  the  thicket,  looked  at  him  a  moment, 
then  went  back  and  uttered  his  hideous  yells,  which  soon  brought 
four  or  five  others  of  his  siKJcies  to  the  scene.  Stanwood,  finding 
he  was  pursued,  threw  out  a  handful  of  meat,  and  while  the  wolve§ 
were  fighting  over  it  he  hastened  forward,  soon,  however,  to  be  over- 
taken by  the  animals,  to  whom  he  again  threw  fragments  of  food. 
This  operation  was  repeated  until,  when  nearly  to  his  home,  the  last 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  89 

fragment  of  food  was  gone  and  the  wolves  were  in  hot  pursuit  of  him. 
He  screamed  to  his  wife  to  open  the  door.  Fortunately  she  heard 
him  and  flung  open  the  door,  just  in  time  to  secure  his  escape  from 
the  wild  beasts  at  his  heels. 

Mr.  Dean  Swift  says  that  when  he  was  a  boy  and  living  with  his 
parents  in  the  house  which  is  now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Rodney  For- 
saith,  on  Maine  Street,  he  has  many  a  night  heard  the  wolves  howling 
a  short  distance  east  of  the  house,  in  the  woods  which  then  extended 
to  Federal  Street. 

Reverend  Samuel  Veazie,  in  1767,  purchased  the  farm  adjoining 
the  old  HarpsweU  Island  Meeting-House,  and  cleared  a  place  for  the 
erection  of  his  dwelling.  Back  of  his  house  there  was  a  dense  growth 
of  wood,  and  in  this  the  wolves  sometimes  collected  in  large  numbers 
during  the  winter  season,  making  the  night  hideous  with  their  howls. 
The  wolves  would  remain  on  the  island  until  just  previous  to  the 
breaking  up  of  the  ice,  when  they  would  leave  it  for  the  mainland. 
It  is  stated  that  they  never  failed  to  make  the  removal  before  the 
breaking  up  of  the  ice,  seeming  in  this  matter  to  show  an  intelligence 
akin  to  reason.^ 

Bears,  never  so  troublesome  as  the  wolves,  have  hardly  been  heard 
of  within  the  limits  of  our  three  towns  for  many  years.  Some  time 
in  the  last  century  Johnson  Stover  pastured  hogs  at  Goose  Island,  and 
one  da3%  hearing  an  unusual  squealing,  he  found  a  bear  holding  one  of 
the  pigs  in  his  paws,  and  occasionally  nipping  it  with  his  teeth. 

Alcot  Stover  once,  while  lying  on  his  l)ed,  saw  one  looking  in  at  the 
window,  but  before  he  could  get  his  gun  his  wife  accidentally  fright- 
ened it  away. 

About  1775  a  woman,  known  as  Granny  Young,  went  to  Bomazeen 
Island  after  berries.  After  filling  her  dishes,  she  started  for  home, 
having  only  a  stave  for  a  paddle.  Hearing  a  noise  in  the  water  l)ehind 
her  she  tunied,  and  saw  that  a  large  bear  was  swimming  after  the 
boat.  She  plied  her  awkward  paddle  as  vigorously  as  possible,  but 
the  bear  overtook  the  boat  and  attempted  to  upset  it.  She  fought  him 
with  the  stave,  striking  him  upon  the  head  and  nose  until  he  was 
stunned ;  then  she  held  his  head  under  water  until  he  was  dead,  when 
she  towed  him  ashore. 

The  latest  appearance  of  bears  in  Ilarpswell,  of  which  we  have  the 
date  fixed,  was  in  1800,  when  three  were  killed  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  W.  S.  Purinton. 


ij/ra.  Price,  ninetyAwo  years  old;  formerly  a  resident  of  the  island. 


90  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSTIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Tlie  common  red  deer  must  have  been  quite  numerous  in  this  region 
at  the  time  of  settlement.  Even  now  they  are  occasionally  met  with. 
As  late  as  1858  two  were  seen  in  Brunswick,  —  one,  a  full-grown 
animal,  at  New  Meadows  ;  the  other,  a  fawn,  on  the  old  Freeport  road. 
On  Oct.  20,  1850,  three  were  shot  on  Topsham  Plains.  Some  sixteen 
3'ears  ago  caribou  were  seen  at  the  western  border  of  Brunswick  by 
several  persons,  and  in  two  instances  some  pursuit  was  made. 

Raccoons  are  still  caught  every  year  in  one  quarter  or  another  of 
the  town.  A  live  one  was  found  in  the  Factory-  yard  in  Brunswick 
in  1844. 

The  wild-cat,  though  heard  of  occasionally  in  neighboring  towns, 
has  not  been  reported  within  our  limits  for  many  years.  The  "  lucl- 
fee  "  {loup  cervier) ,  or  Canada  lynx,  is  believed  still  to  haunt,  occasion- 
all  v,  the  extensive  woods  at  the  west  of  the  town. 

Foxes  are  alternately  numerous,  then  rare,  and  seem  to  be  some- 
what migratory,  according  as  mice,  grouse,  and  hare  are  plenty. 

The  rabbit  exists  in  favorable  situations  through  the  towns,  but  is 
not  common  enough  to  do  much  damage  to  the  crops.  A  few  young 
trees  are  each  spring  found  with  the  bark  gnawed  from  the  trunk  near 
the  ground,  but  this  has  usually  been  laid  to  the  mice. 

Both  the  common  and  the  star- nosed  moles  are  occasionally  met 
with,  but  are  not  sufficiently  numerous  to  be  regarded  in  any  degree  a 
pest,  as  in  some  localities  southward.  Gra}',  red,  and  striped  squirrels 
are  frequent,  but  not  troublesome.  The  flying  squirrel  is  not  often 
seen,  but  still  haunts  the  old  woods.  The  weazel  is  infrequent ;  and 
its  cousin,  the  mink,  puts  in  an  appearance  in  the  vicinity  of  brooks 
with  just  sufficient  frequency  to  incite  the  bo^'s  to  unprofitable  attempts 
at  trapping.  The  muskrat  seems  equall}',  but  sparingl}'  ditfuse<l 
The  skunk  still  taints  the  air  with  his  mephitic  odor  each  season,  in 
many  localities.  Woodchucks  are  rare,  but  here  and  there  a  farmer 
complains  of  their  ravages  among  his  early  bean-plants. 

BIRDS. 

Probably  a  list  of  the  birds  occurring  in  this  vicinit}',  a  century  or 
two  ago,  would  not  differ  ft-om  one  of  to-day,  except  in  a  few  instances. 
It  is  certain,  however,  that  certain  species  were  vastly'  more  numerous. 
The  golden  eagle  is  said  fo  have  been  found  upon  our  coast  in  the 
earlier  days  of  its  settlement ;  but  the  bird  is  not  now  known  here, 
even  as  a  visitant.  On  the  other  hand,  there  is  not,  that  we  are  aware, 
an}'  evidence  that  the  eider  duck  was  found  upon  our  shores  a  century 
since,  while  it  is  now  quite  regularly  a  winter  sojourner.     Yet  the 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  91 

seasons  have  not  been  growing  colder,  neither  can  we  think  them  to 
have  grown  greatly  warmer,  though  another  bird  associated  with  a 
higher  temperature  has  become  a  habitue  of  this  vicinity,  as  well  as 
of  other  localities  in  the  State.  It  has  been  said  that  the  Baltimore 
oriole  was  an  unknown  bird  until  within  a  few  jears,  yet  it  may  be  that 
the  change  of  the  country  by  hiunan  occupancy,  rather  than  any  change 
of  climate,  is  the  cause  of  its  immigration.  The  scarlet  tanager, 
also  regarded  as  an  inhabitant  of  mild  climates,  is  occasionally  seen 
here  as  early  as  May. 

Among  winter  visitants  are  the  grosbeaks, — the  pine  and  the  rose- 
breasted,  —  the  pine  finch,  the  Arctic  or  snowy  owl,  the  Canada  jay, 
and  perhaps  one  -or  two  others.  The  common  birds  are,  no  doubt, 
the  same  here  as  in  most  other  portions  of  the  State.  The  cuckoo  is 
said  to  have  been  unknown  in  Aroostook  until  within  three  or  four 
years,  but  here  it  has  been  obser\'ed  for  a  generation,  at  least.  It  is, 
however,  reported  to  have  become  more  numerous  in  this  vicinity  of 
late.  This,  if  a  fact,  may  be  owing  to  an  increase  of  its  insect  food,  for 
it  is  believed  by  some  to  feed  largely  on  the  caterpillar.  Another  bird, 
one  of  the  woodpeckers,  known  as  the  sapsucker,  has  become  rather 
rare  of  late  years,  from  the  relentless  war  waged  upon  it  by  the  guardians 
of  young  fruit  orchards.  The  crow,  the  pest  of  cornfields,  in  scornful 
disregard  of  public  opinion,  persists  in  making  itself  very  much  at 
home  among  the  farms.  Hawks  in  the  usual  variety,  though  reduced 
in  numbers,  are  found  in  all  the  more  rural  quarters  of  the  towns. 

The  several  sorts  of  owls  common  in  the  State  are  met  with  here, 
their  number  in  any  locality  seeming  to  depend  more  on  the  frequency 
of  hollow  trees,  which  afford  them  congenial  shelter,  than  on  any 
other  condition.  The  blue  jay,  eminent  for  its  disagreeable  voice,  its 
striking  appearance,  and  remarkable  foresight,  is  a  frequent  inhabi- 
tant. Ruffed  grouse  (here  commonly  called  partridges)  are  frequent, 
but  not  numerous.  Wood'-ocks,  from  their  retired  habits,  are  an 
almost  unknown  bird  to  our  people,  yet  are  really  much  more  plentiful 
than  grouse.  The  plovers,  sandpipers,  snipes,  and  quails  are  not  usu- 
ally numerous.  Wild  pigeons  are  frequent,  but  not  to  the  hundredth 
part  of  their  ^rmer  numbers. 

Of  the  birds  that  seek  the  neighborhood  of  human  habitations  we 
have  the  usual  variet}',  the  common  dove,  three  or  more  kinds  of  swal- 
lows, and  the  martin.  The  last  has  diminished  in  number,  the  others 
appear  to  have  increased.  The  robin  is,  perhaps,  more  numerous 
than  any  other  single  variety.  Others  of  this  family  are  the  wood- 
thrush,  whose  vocal  expression  is   the   long,   pensive,  but  musical 


92  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AXD  HARPSWELL. 

whistle  and  trill  heanl  in  almost  every  wood  in  early  summer ;  and 
Wihon's  thrush,  which  is  less  common.  Another  songster,  the 
l)rr>wn  thnish,  or  the  brown  mocker,  is  found,  it  is  said,  in  onh*  one 
locality  of  our  towns,  and  this  is  in  the  western  part  of  Brunswick. 

The  song  sparrow,  that  frequents  cool  ravines,  and  sings  all  throngli 
the  season,  and  the  white-throated  sparrow,  are  familiar  to  the  ears  of 
our  inhabitants,  if  not  well  known  to  the  eye.  The  chickadee,  or 
black-cap  titmouse,  and  the  kingbird,  are  also  quite  common.  Some- 
thing like  the  last  in  ai)pearance  and  voice  is  the  kingfisher,  present 
on  most  of  our  larger  streams  during  the  sunnner. 

About  the  marshes  on  tiiese  streams  the  great  blue  heron  is  some- 
times seen,  but  it  is  mon*  fivquent  about  the  salt  .marshes  and  sea- 
ahore.  Around  the  soa-shore  the  coot  is  moi*e  numerous  than  anv 
other  of  the  hirjje  binls.  Our  water-fowl  generallv  are  not  ditferent 
fVom  those  found  in  other  sections  of  tiie  State.  On  our  fresh-water 
ponds,  as  well  as  du  the  salt-water,  are  found  in  spring  and  autumn  the 
wild  goose,  the  black  duck,  teal,  sheldrake,  and  merganser,  while  the 
wood-duck  and  the  pintail  or  whistler,  make  their  habitat  all  over  our 
territorv ;  vet  thev  are  not  abumlant.  There  is  a  tradition  that  at 
the  iK*rio4l  of  settlement,  wild  fowl  sometimes  congregated  in  certain 
lot^alilies  in  mir  vicinitv  in  such  numbers,  and  made  so  mucli  noise  in  the 
night,  that  the  settlers  were  unai>le  to  sleep  until  they  had  tlriven  the 
intruders  awav.  It  is  said  that  to  accomplish  this  thev  sometimes 
found  it  necessary  to  tliug  firebrands  among  them.  Merrymeeting 
Bay  was  ft»rmorlv  a  :;n*at  ivsi^rt  for  wild  ireese.  The  middle  portion 
of  the  bay  was,  at  low  water,  a  saml-bed  coveri^d  with  a  species  of 
itHHl,  on  the  roots  of  which  the  geese  were  su|»po<evl  to  subsist  from 
nlxmt  the  first  of  Sei»tembi»r  until  the  extreme  cold  weather  ^^ent  them 
MMith\\anl.  The  loon  is  met  with  at  the  |>roper  seasi»n  :  the  gulls  and 
(lAli-hawks  an»  quite  iH»nnnou,  and  the  white-headed  eagle  is  frequently 
Mvn, 

i^f  iNNrri's,  the  ehief  fovnl  of  our  feathenvl  friend-*,  but  ot'ten  the 
luine  of  our  orchaixls  and  gnawing  cn'^ps,  we  pn.»bably  have  the  same 
vnrieiN  tliai  i>  lo  bi»  tound  in  the  rest  of  the  State.  Our  Hst  of  kep- 
TU  »>  aiiil  vMriMMi  \Ns  is  not  extensive.  Turtles  aiv  not  oiten  mvt  with. 
^Wtvpl  tlic  \ariei\  t\»und  in  nuiddv  iH>nds.  Owr  seriKMit-^  aiv  the  striiH»d 
AUHke,  Jht»  little  bri»wu  snuke,  the  ^iven  snake,  the  ll.svk  snake,  the 
liulk  NiiaUe,  and  the  water  snake.  The  water  snakes  art*  Iviieve*!  to 
lw\e  poison  fangs ;  in  n»gaj>l  to  theb!\»wn  and  milk  suak^*'*  we  Iiave  no 
kno^^U'ikv  :  the  \»thers  mentioned  aiv  not  deemevl  \viio:aous. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  93 

The  bull-frog,  pickerel-frog,  and  green  f^-og  inhabit  all  our  fresh 
waters,  and  the  leopard-frog  is  to  be  found  in  the  meadows,  and  the 
delicate,  pale  brown  wood-frog  is  of  frequent  occurrence  in  our  forests. 
The  common  toad  is  found  in  all  cultivated  lands,  and  tree  toads  in  alf 
our  localities.  There  are  few  persons  who  have  not  listened  to  the 
multitudinous  cry  of  the  latter  during  hot  summer  nights. 

We  have  no  lizanis ;  the  creature  sometimes  called  so  is  the  sala- 
mander. There  are  several  si)ecies,  varying  much  in  size  and  color. 
They  are  found  only  in  moist  places,  while  some  are  amphibious. 

Of  CRUSTACEANS,  our  principal  species  are  the  king  crab  (or  horse- 
shoe), the  common  crab,  and  the  common  salt-water  lobster,  the  last 
abundant  and  of  well-known  value. 

Our  cliief  mollusks  are  the  fresh- water  clam  (unio)  and  the  vari- 
ous snails ;  the  common  clam,  abundant  in  our  salt-water  flats,  and 
familiar  as  an  article  of  diet ;  the  hen,  or  sea  clam,  found  only  at 
vinusiially  low  tides ;  and  the  quahaug,  infrequent,  except  in  Quahaug 
Bav,  in  (ireat  Island. 

Of  tlie  MARINE  MAMMALS,  the  scal  is  quite  frequent  in  our  bays,  and 
sometimes  ascends  the  rivers  for  short  distances.  In  1868,  one  was 
seen  near  the  Toll  Bridge,  and  being  pursued  in  boats,  was  captured 
near  Cow  Island.  It  weighed  two  hundred  pounds.  The  porpoise  is 
quite  common,  frequently  disturbing  the  schools  of  various  fish  upon 
which  the  fisherman  counts  for  his  gain.  Whales  are  rarely  seen,  but 
not  unknown.  The  blackfish,  or  round  headed  dolphin,  is  common 
off  shore  in  its  season.  It  was  probably  this  species  about  which  the 
Andrnsrofjrjin  Free  Press  gave  the  following  account :  — 

'•On  Monda}',  Oct.  6,  1828,  a  shoal  of  dolphins,  called  by  the 
sailors  '  blackfish,*  seventy  or  eight}-  in  number,  made  their  appear- 
ance near  Orr's  Island.  The  inhabitants,  to  the  number  of  twentv- 
one  men,  in  nine  boats,  armed  with  muskets  and  axes,  went  out  to 
attack,  and,  if  possible,  catch  them.  After  four  or  five  hours  of 
hard  fighting  they  had  been  able  to  despatch  but  six  or  seven,  but 
they  had  learned  that  the  dolphins  could  be  driven  with  as  much 
facility  as  a  flock  of  sheep.  It  was  finally  decided  to  attempt  to  drive 
them  into  a  narrow  cove  which  penetrated  to  the  distance  of  a  mile 
into  the  interior  of  Orr*s  Island,  and  which  there  terminate<l  in  a  cir- 
cular basin.  In  this  design  they  were  successful.  All  of  the  boats 
pressed  closely  uix)n  their  retreat  and  cut  off  all  possibility  of  escape. 

''Captain  John  Curtis,  being  in  advance  of  the  little  fleet,  caused 
his  boat  to  be  rowed  alongside  one  of  the  largest  dolphins,  himself 
standing  with  one  foot  braced  on  the  bows  of  the  boat  and  the  other 


94  msTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

on  the  back  of  his  antagonist.  He  had  taken  this  position  to  make 
the  attempt  of  splitting  open  the  head  of  the  fish ;  but,  the  boat 
veering  in  its  course,  he  must  either  fall  into  the  water  or  jump  upon 
the  back  of  his  intended  victim.  He  did  the  latter,  and  in  the  next 
moment  the  company  saw  their  gallant  captain  riding  off  astride  upon 
the  back  of  the  dolphin.  A  full  quarter  of  a  mile  was  the  hero  thus 
borne  over  the  water  b}'  this  novel  mode  of  navigation,  when  he  safely 
alighted  upon  a  vehicle  of  a  more  artificial  construction. 

"  Captain  Curtis  did  not,  however,  like  Arion,  entertain  his  dol- 
phin with  harmonious  strains  of  godlike  music.  So  far  from  this,  in 
fact,  he  was  constantly  inflicting  blows  with  his  axe  deeply  into  the 
monster's  blubber. 

"  As  the  tide  ebbed  away,  the  dolphins  began  to  drag  themselves 
heavily  through  the  mud,  and  it  became  advisable  to  find  some  more 
expeditious  way  of  destroying  them.  Before  sunset  the  whole  number 
were  despatched.  About  one  hundred  and  thirt}'  barrels  of  oil  were 
obtained  from  the  fish,  realizing  about  $2,000. 

''This  singular  fish  is  not  the  common  dolphin,  but  the  round- 
headed  dolphin,  being  much  larger.  Those  captured  at  Harpswell 
varied  much  in  size.  The  largest  was  twenty-three  feet  long  and 
eighteen  feet  in  circumference.  There  were  some  that  measured  not 
more  than  six  or  seven  feet  in  length.  These  were  probably  pups,  as 
some  of  the  females  yielded  large  quantities  of  milk,  resembling  very 
much  cow's  milk." 

The  FISHES,  inhabiting  the  salt  water  of  our  ba^'s  and  off  our 
shares,  are  the  cod,  haddock,  hake,  pollock,  cusk,  mackerel,  blue-fish, 
herring,  menhaden  or  porgy,  sun-fish,  sword-fish,  rock-cod,  sculpin, 
ling,  flounder,  cmmer,  frost-fish,  and  tom-cod.  Our  fresh  waters 
contain  brook-trout,  pickerel,  perch,  chub,  sucker,  bream  or  kiver, 
bull-head,  and  others  of  lesser  note.  Among  the  fish  that  frequent 
both  the  fresh  and  salt  water  are  tlie  smelt,  alewife,  salmon,  and 
sturgeon.  In  early  times  the  last  two  were  verj'  abundant  in  the 
Androscoggin,  but  their  number  has  greatly  diminished.  Since  the 
construction  of  fishways  in  the  dams  a  few  ^-ears  ago,  there  has, 
however  been  a  manifest  increase  in  the  number  of  salmon,  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  b}-  careful  diversion  from  the  waters  of  all  matters 
deleterious  to  fishes,  the  river  ma}'  again  become  abundantly  stocked. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  95 

GEOLOGICAL  FEATURES. i 

The  universal  underlying  rock  of  this  region,  extending  to  unknown 
depths,  is  gneiss.  This  is  easily  distinguished  from  granite,  which 
consists  of  the  same  minerals,  —  mica,  quartz,  and  feldspar,  —  by  its 
appearance  of  stratification. 

The  layers  or  strata  of  gneiss  are  curiously  bent  and  twisted,  as  if, 
while  in  a  soft;  and  plastic  condition,  at  some  early  period  of  the  earth's 
history,  they  had  been  crumpled  like  pieces  of  cloth  by  some  gigantic 
force.  This  folding  of  the  strata  is  well  exhibited  in  a  railroad  cut  on 
the  Topsham  shore,  near  the  Lewiston  bridge.  In  general,  however, 
they  dip  to  the  southeast. 

Intersecting  these  layers,  in  immense  veins  or  dikes,  is  found  the 
granite.  The  granite  dikes  have  clearly  been  formed  by  the  filling  of 
vast  chasms  in  the  earth's  crust,  probably  at  a  high  temperature. 

Withstanding  better  the  wear  of  time  than  the  gneiss,  these  dikes 
now  form  prominent  features  of  our  landscape,  at  Powder-House  Hill 
and  the  hills  of  Topsham,  and  have  been  the  cause  of  the  rapids 
which  furnish  our  villages  with  their  magnificent  water-power. 

The  granite  dikes  are  here  an  extensive  source  of  building  material, 
and,  farther  north,  of  the  feldspar  ground  for  the  glazing  of  pottery 
and  the  quartz  crushed  for  sand-paper.  In  these  dikes,  too,  are  found 
the  crystals  that  have  rendered  the  vicinity  so  famous  for  its  mineral 
wealth. 

On  Powder-House  Hill  and  other  places,  and  probably  throughout 
the  village  of  Brunswick,  were  it  accessible,  the  surface  of  these  hard 
and  almost  imperishable  rocks  is  found  deepl}'  scored  and  furrowed  in 
lines  parallel  with  one  another,  and  having  the  direction  of  northwest 
and  southeast.  These  it  is  well  known,  and  has  been  abundantly 
proved,  have  been  formed  by  the  action  of  an  immense  glacier  which 
once  extended  over  the  whole  northern  part  of  the  United  States. 

Over  four  thousand  feet  in  thickness,  covering  all  but  our  highest 
mountains,  as  Washington  and  Katahdiu,  this  stream  of  solid  ice 
moved  slowly  southward  with  crushing  force,  grooving  the  surface, 
grinding  down  the  hills,  and  transporting  the  huge  bowlders  that  were, 
later,  stranded  in  our  fields.  By  this  same  agency  were  formed  the 
deep  fjords  or  inlets  of  our  coasts  and  the  islands  that  stud  Casco  Bay. 

Following  the  period  of  ice  came  a  period  of  thaw.     At  the  same 

1  ThU  description  is  by  Professor  CarmicJiael  of  Bowdoin  College^  and  though  written 
with  especial  r^erence  to  Brunswick  and  Topsham^  is  undoubtedly  equally  applicabU  to 
Uarpswell. 


96  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPHWELL. 

time  the  coast  of  Maine,  which  once  had  been  higher  than  now  above 
the  ocean  level,  sank  below  its  surface,  and  an  arm  of  the  sea  flowed 
over  the  highest  building  sites  of  Bmnswick.  Then  were  dejwsited 
the  beds  of  brick  clay  which  immediately  cover  the  solid  rock  and 
crop  out  at  the  brow  of  the  "Hill." 

In  sinking  wells  in  different  parts  of  the  village,  not  unfrequentl}'' 
mussel-beds  (Mytelus  edulis)  are  met  with  in  this  da}'.  Their  perfec- 
tion and  disposition  prove  that  here  they  have  lived  and  died. 

Other  shells,  as  Leda  truncata^  which  is  not  found  to  day  south  of 
Spitzbergen,  attest  to  the  coldness  of  the  salt  waters  which  then  cov- 
ered the  lowlands. 

Two  bison  teeth,  a  fragment  of  a  walrus  tusk,  a  large  and  curious 
tooth  resembling  that  of  the  walrus,  found  in  a  clay  bed  of  the  same 
period  at  Gardiner  by  the  late  Mrs.  Allen,  and  deposited  iu  the 
Museum  of  Bowdoin  College  by  Mrs.  M.  Allen  Elton,  prove  at  this 
early  day.  long  before  Adam  walked  the  earth,  strange  beasts  occupied 
the  morasses  and  briny  waters  of  the  Kennebec  and  Androscoggin 
vallevs. 

At  a  later  period,  immense  streams  of  water  from  the  still  melting 
ice  flowed  southward  through  the  Androscoggin,  forming  the  high  ter- 
races of  which  six,  one  above  the  other,  ma}'  be  seen  on  the  Bruns- 
wick, and  two  upon  the  Topsham  shore. 

Then  was  deposited  the  expanse  of  sand  forming  the  arid  plain  sur- 
rounding the  village  of  Brunswick.  Happy  the  agriculturist  on  whose 
land  the  Leda  clay  breaks  through  the  barren  terrace  sand  ! 

Ice,  then,  is  the  sculptor  to  whom  we  owe  all  the  physical  features  of 
our  vicinity.  It  carved  out  our  hills,  valleys,  and  river-beds  ;  brought 
bowlders  and  gravel  from  afar,  and  supplied  the  water  which  fonned 
the  terraces  upon  which  the  town  of  Brunswick  has  been  built. 

MINERALS. 

This  region  is  remarkably  rich  in  the  number  of  its  minerals.  The 
attention  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  was  early  attracted  to  this  fact, 
and  with  prudent  forethought  they  passed  the  following  vot6,  Jan. 
15,  171«;  — 

"  Voted,  that  if  it  shall  so  happen  that  there  be  any  Mine  or  Min- 
eral found  out  within  any  Proprietor's  or  Inhabitant's  Ix>tt ;  that  the 
Said  Mine  or  Minerall  shall  be  held  in  common  to  the  Proprietors  :  The 
Person  in  whose  Lott  it  shall  fall  to  have  the  same  Quantit}'  of  good 
land  elsewhere."  ^ 


*  Pejvpscot  Records. 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  97 

The  following  list  of  the  minerals  of  this  region,  and  the  localities 
where  the}'  are  chiefly  to  be  found,  is  furnished  mainly  by  Professor 
Carmichael :  — 

Feldspar  is  found  in  large  and  handsome  crystals  in  Cobb's  quarr}'. 
In  Topsham,  crystals  a  foot  in  diameter  have  been  found  in  Sprague's 
quarry.  Fine  crystals  of  Amazonian  spar  from  an  old  feldspar  quarrj' 
are  found  on  the  banks  of  the  Cathance  River. 

Mica,  Biolfte,  PHLoa^fepixE,  in  crystals,  are  found  at  the  railroad  cut 
near  the  upper  bridge,  and  at  the  Tarbox  quarry,  Topsham.  Near  the 
Old  Feldspar  quarry  slabs  have  been  found  a  foot  wide.  Green  mica 
is  found  at  New  Meadows.  The  green  mica  extensively  exchanged  by 
the  late  Professor  Cleaveland  was  found  in  a  bowlder  near  the  river. 

Lepidolite  is  found  at  Topsham. 

Quartz.  —  At  Sprague's  quarry  large  crystals,  and  at  the  Old  Feld- 
spar quany  cr^'stals  a  foot  in  diameter  are  found.  Decahedral  quartz 
and  smoky  quartz  are  found  in  various  quarries. 

Bertl. — At  Cobb's  quarry,  small  but  perfect  crystals,  with  interest- 
ing pyramidal  faces,  are  found  in  the  railroad  cut  near  the  upper  bridge. 
At  Fisher's  quarry,  Topsham,  crystals  of  a  hundred  pounds*  weight 
have  been  found. 

The  Emerald  is  said  to  have  been  found  in  a  cut  near  the  upper 
fishway,  in  Topsham. 

Garnet. — Small  but  fine  crystals  are  found  in  Cobb's  quarry.  A 
fine,  perfect  specimen,  nearly  as  large  as  a  man's  fist,  in  the  Museum 
of  Bowdoin  College,  was  found  in  Sprague's  quarry.  At  Fisher's 
quarry  are  fine,  large  specimens.  Large  quau titles  of  cr3'stal8,  of 
medium  color  and  large  size,  have  been  taken  from  a  quarry  near  the 
road,  beyond  the  Old  Feldspar  quarry.  The  most  ordinary  form  is 
the  ikositetrahedron  modified  by  the  octahedron  and  dodecahedron. 

Magnetfte  is  found  in  many  localities.  Crystals  over  two  inches 
in  diameter  have  been  taken  from  Sprague's  quarry. 

Tourmaline. —  Large  masses  are  found  at  Rocky  Hill.  Fine,  large, 
perfect  hemimorphic  crystals  are  found  at  Tarbox's  quarr^',  Topsham. 
Brown  tourmaline  is  found  at  New  Meadows,  near  the  railroad  bridge. 

CoLUMBrrE. — Large  and  perfect  crystals  have  been  found  at  Fisher's 
quarr}'.  One  specimen  weighed  upwards  of  two  pounds.  It  is  found 
also  at  the  railroad  cut  near  the  upper  bridge. 

Galenite  and  Iron  Pyrites  are  found  (good  specimens)  near 
Cathance  River. 

Apatite  is  found  near  Cathance  River,  and  crystals  are  also  found 

at  New  Meadows,  near  the  railroad  bridge. 

7 


98  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

TiTANiTE  is  found  at  Cobb's  quarry,  and  small  but  fine  crystals 
are  found  near  Miss  Narcissa  Stone's  house. 

Chlorite  is  found  at  Cobb's  quarr^'. 

BiSMUTHENFiE  is  found  at  Fisher's  quarry  and  at  Tarbox's  quarry, 
associated  with  columbite. 

Amphibite  is  found  at  Spraguc's  quarry. 

Sphalenpte  is  found  at  Cathance  River. 

MoLYBDENriE  is  fouud  in  the  bed  of  the  river  near  the  Topsham 
paper  mill,  at  New  Meadows,  and  at  the  Old  Feldspar  quarry. 

G011NITE  is  found  in  a  quarry  near  the  road,  beyond  the  Old  Feld- 
spar quany. 

The  following  minerals  have  also  all  been  found  in  some  one  or 
more  of  the  three  towns,  though  the  exact  locality  we  are  unable  to 
designate :  Copper  Pyrffes,  Malachite,  Calcite,  Hematite,  Cup- 
rite, Epidite,  and  Molybdite. 

Tungstite  is  supposed  to  have  been  found,  but  it  is  not  known  with 
certaintv. 

SOIL  AND  CROPS. 

The  soil  of  Topsham  is,  for  the  most  part,  a  light,  sandy  loam, 
with  some  clay  at  the  northwestern  and  northeastern  parts.  In  the 
main,  it  is  tolerably  productive.  The  best  farms  are  on  what  is  called 
the  Foreside,  and  on  Cathance  stream. 

The  soil  of  Brunswick  varies  from  the  sandy  loam  of  the  plains  to  a 
gravelly  loam  at  the  westward.  Rich  loams  and  heav}'  clays  are 
found  in  a  few  localities.  Peat  has  been  found  in  the  low  ground  east 
of  Miss  Narcissa  Stone's  house  and  has  been  used  by  her.  The  best 
farms  were  formerly^  (and  probably  are  now)  at  Middle  Ba}'  and 
Maquoit.  The  land  is  said,  however,  to  have  been  much  more  fertile 
in  former  times  than  at  present.^ 

Harpswell  can  hardly  be  considered  an  agricultural  town,  Ihqiigh 
portions  of  it  are  very  productive.  Some  excellent  faims  are  to  be 
found  upon  the  Neck  and  upon  some  of  the  larger  islands.  The  soil 
of  the  Neck  is  largely  granitic  rather  than  a  gravelly  loam,  with  small 
tracts  of  clay  loam.  On  Great  Island  the  soil  varies  from  a  hard, 
tenacious  clay  to  a  sandy  loam,  while  in  some  localities  are  found  a 
fine  sand,  and  in  others  slaty  and  granitic  soils.  Most  of  the  farms 
are  equal  to  those  on  the  Neck,  being  excellent  hay  and  grazing  laud, 
while  the  higher  parts  are  suitable  for  corn  and  wheat.  Orchards  do 
not  flourish  well. 

1  3fcKec7i,  AfSS.  Lecture.  «  Maine  Historical  iyociety  Collection,  8,  p.  318. 


BOUXD ARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  99 

Potatoes,  barley,  wheat,  oats,  and  beans  are  the  crops  chiefly  culti- 
vated hereabouts.  The  mode  of  cultivation  has  improved  verj-  much 
of  late  years  from  what  it  was  in  Revolutionary  times,  when  people 
*-  banked  up  their  corn  verj'  high,  and  placed  their  potatoes  ver^'  deep 
in  the  ground,  and  raised  but  little  of  either." 

FLORA. 

The  flora  of  this  region  is,  in  general,  like  that  of  other  similar 
localities  in  the  central  and  coast  region  of  Maine.  The  description 
liere  given  is  confined  solely  to  the  trees  found  here.  At  the  time  of 
the  first  settlement  the  wood  growth  was  very  different  from  what  it  is 
now.  At  that  time  there  is  said  to  have  been  an  oak  grove  where  the 
depot  now  stands  in  Brunswick,  and  the  plains  were  covered  with  a 
growth  of  beech,  instead  of  pine  as  at  present.  Then  the  prevailing 
growths  were  of  hard  wood.  Among  the  forest  trees  now  commonly 
met  with  are  the  alder,  beech,  birch,  cedar,  fir,  junij^er  (or  hackma- 
tack), hemlock,  four  varieties  of  maple,  two  of  oak,  four  of  pine,  and 
poplar,  spruce,  and  willow.  Those  which  are  less  commonly  found 
are  the  ash,  cherry,  elm,  horse-chestnut,  larch,  and  arbor- vitae. 

CLIMATIC  AND  METEOROLOGICAL. 

The  climate  of  this  region  is  somewhat  different  near  the  sea-coast 
from  that  a  few  miles  farther  inland.  In  Ilarpswell,  and  around  the 
bays  of  Brunswick,  the  temperature  is  as  uniform  as  it  usually-  is  on 
the  coast  of  Maine.  Topsham,  from  its  greater  elevation,  is  cooler 
than  Brunswick  in  the  summer  and,  probably  owing  to  its  soulhera 
slope,  is  slightl}'  warmer  in  the  winter.  The  following  meteorological 
statement  is  from  the  Annual  Report  for  18G7,  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution :  — 

"  Between  the  years  1807  and  1859  inclusive,  meteorological  records 
were  made  with  great  regularity  by  the  late  Professor  Parker  Cleave- 
land,  of  Bowdoin  College,  at  Branswick,  Maine,  and  after  his  death 
were  consigned  to  this  institution  for  reduction  and  publication.  The 
observations,  though  not  intended  by  their  author  to  be  of  a  strictly 
scientific  character,  were  yet  found  suflSciently  valuable  to  warrant 
the  expenditure  of  considerable  labor  in  preparing  them  for  the  press. 

**  The  obsen'ations  were  made  at  7  a.  m.,  1  p.  m.,  and  6  p.  m.,  and 
relate  to  indications  of  the  thermometer  and  barometer,  direction  of  the 
wind,  state  of  the  weather,  amount  of  rain  and  snow,  character  of 
clouds,  occurrence  of  thunder-storms,  fogs,  frost  and  hail,  earthquakes, 
auroras,  etc.     The  observations  present,  during  a  period  of  52  years. 


100        HISTORY  OF  BRUXbWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

a  mean  temperature  of  44**  4'  Fahrenheit,  which  reduced  to  the  level 
of  the  sea  becomes  44®  6'. 

"  The  lowest  mean  temperature  for  any  year  occurred  in  1859  and 
was  40®  3r,  and  the  highest  was  in  1840,  51®  60',  giving  a  range  of 
11®  29',  which  is  considerably  larger  than  at  places  farther  south  in 
the  United  States. 

"  According  to  the  average  of  52  ^ears,  the  warmest  day  falls  on  the 
22d  of  July,  or  31  days  after  the  summer  solstice,  and  has  a  mean 
temperature  of  67°  7'. 

''The  coldest  day,  on  an  average,  is  the  18th  of  January,  or  28  days 
after  the  winter  solstice,  having  a  temperature  of  19®  9'  Fahrenheit. 

"On  an  average,  the  20th  of  April  and  the  24th  of  October  have  ^ 
the  same  temperature  as  the  mean  of  the  entire  3'ear.  The  lowest^ 
record  for  the  whole  time  is  30'  below  zero^  and  the  highest  102^* 
above. 

"  The  northwest  wind  on  an  average  reduces  the  temperature  4®  6'^  " 
The  north  lowers  it  3®  T,  and  the  northeast  3®  8'.     The  southwest  wind^^ 
on  the  contrarj',  elevates  the  temperature  above  its  normal  value,  2®  G**^ 
In  summer  the  effect  of  rain  and  fog  is  to  lower  the  temperature  6®  5^. 
In  winter,  snow,  sleet,  or  rain  increases  the  temperature  4®  3'.     Frocct 
54,097  observations,  the  following  is  the  proportional  number  of  windl^ 
in  1,000:  — 


BUCTH. 

NORTH. 

WEST, 

EAST. 

B.  If. 

If.  E. 

N.  W. 

8.    S. 

.    29 

40 

51 

29 

311 

143 

320 

77 

"  From  this  it  results  that  the  most  frequent  are  the  northwest  and 
southwest,  the  former  in  winter  and  the  latter  in  summer. 

''  The  least  number,  of  days  in  which  rain  fell  was  in  February,  the 
greatest  in  May.  The  greatest  number  of  days  in  which  snow  fell  was 
in  January.  The  earliest  snow  occurred  on  the  26 Lh  of  September, 
1808,  and  the  latest  on  the  8th  of  June,  1816.  On  an  average,  snow 
falls  in  Brunswick  on  some  day  in  May  once  in  five  j'ears,  and  in 
October  once  every  other  year.  The  average  number  of  rain}-  days  is 
64,  the  average  number  of  snowy  days  is  30.. 

"The  average  amount  of  rain  and  snow  is  44.68  inches.  The 
greatest  amount  of  rain  during  any  one  day  was  8^  inches,  Novem- 
ber 4,  1845.  The  greatest  fall  of  snow  was  on  the  10th  of  March, 
1819,  and  measured  30  inches. 

''  The  greatest  number  of  rainfalls  occur  while  the  wind  is  from  the 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES-  101 

northeast,  and  the  least  number  while  it  is  from  the  west.     The  north- 
east wind  in  winter  is  almost  constantly  accompanied  b}'  rain  or  snow, 
'•'bile  in  summer  the  southeast  surpasses  it  as  a  vehicle  of  rain,  —  a 
result  evidently  due  to  the  position  of  the  place  of  observation  with 
respect  to  the  ocean.     The  number  of  storms  of  thunder  and  lightning 
/Tpcortled   during  51  years  is   172,  or  about  9  a  year.     The  greatest 
number  occurred  in  July  and  August,  the  least  in  January  and  Feb- 
ruary'.     The  total  number  of  fogs  is  1,135,  or  22  in  a  year,  the  most 
ilense  of  which  occur  in  summer,  the  least  dense  in  winter. 

'*  July  is  the  onl}'  month  in  which  no  frost  is  recorded.  The  ear- 
liest frost  observed  was  August  3d  and  the  latest  June  19th.  On  an 
average,  the  spring  frost  ceases  alter  the  first  week  in  June,  and  the 
Bkutumn  frost  commences  after  the  first  week  in  September. 

**  There  were  34  hail-storms, — the  greatest  number  in  Januarv, 
t;he  least  in  August.     The  records  notice  the  orcnrrcnce  of  7  carth- 
c|iinkes  and  86  auroras,  the  greatest  number  of  the  latter  in  September 
and  October. 

*'  The  aurora  also  exhibits  a  maximum  and  a  minimum.     The  maxi- 
xnum  occurred  in  180«,  1818,  1830,  1838,  1848,  1857,  giving  differences 
of  10,  12,  8,  10,  and  9  years.     This  indicates  an  average  period  of 
about  10  j'ears. 

*' Unfortunately,  the- temperature  of  the  barometer  is  not  given,  and 
therefore  a  reduction  on  account  of  the  exi)ansion  of  the  mercury  is 
not  possible,  and  consoquentl}'  the  only  use  which  has  boon  made  of 
the  record  has  been  to  exhibit  the  monthly  extreme  values,  together 
with  their  annual  variations.  The  barometric  maxima  reacli  their 
greatest  value  in  December,  and  their  least  value  in  June.  The  min- 
ima occur  in  August.  The  monthh'  range  is  the  greatest  at  the  period 
of  greatest  cold,  in  Januar}',  and  the  least  range  at  the  period  of 
greatest  heat,  in  Jul}'." 

The  coldest  season  ever  experienced  here  was  probably  in  the  winter 
of  1780-81.  It  was,  however,  nearly,  if  not  quite,  as  cold  in  1751. 
As  early  as  January'  14  of  that  year  (1751),  Parson  Smith  gives  an 
account  of  an  excuraion  he  took  with  his  wife  and  others  from  Fal- 
mouth to  Brunswick  on  the  ice,  "  passing  over  Ilarrasicket  Bay  a-going, 
and  venturing  on  their  return  to  come  directly  from  Brunswick  across 
the  Bay  without  Maquoit  Island  to  New  Casco,*  and  over  thonee  to 
the  Beach  home."  ^    In  1 780  Casco  Baj'  was  frozen  over  as  far  into  the 


1  y.ar  where  the  United  States  Marine  Hospital  now  stands  at  Falmouth  Foreside. 
«  Smith's  Journal. 


102        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

sea  as  the  island  called  the  White  Bull,  and  was  travelled  upon  from 
Ilarimrell  to  Portland, 

The  mildest  winter  was  that  of  1838.     On  Januar}*  8,  of  this  winter, 
David  Johnson  plougheil  all  day  on  Goat  Island,  llarpswell. 

Destructive  gales  and  thunder-storms  have  not  been  of  exceptional 
frequency  in  this  vicinity.  The  earliest  one  of  any  severity,  of  which 
mention  has  been  found,  occurred  June  29,  1809,  when  there  was  a 
violent  thunder-storm.  The  Gun  House  was  struck  by  lightning, 
which  struck  also  in  twelve  other  places  in  that  vicinity.  On  June  7, 
1814,  about  8  A.  M.,  there  was  heaixl  a  refwrt  in  the  air  resembling 
that  of  a  gun,  and  gradually  dying  away.  There  was  no  storm  at  the 
time  ;  it  was  doubtless  the  bursting  of  a  meteor.  April  1, 1^15,  vari- 
ous sized  balls  of  snow  were  found  in  the  woods.  Thev  were  fVom 
less  than  one  inch  to  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  of  an  oval  or  globular 
8hai)e,  loose  and  uniform  in  texture,  and  very  irregularly*  distributed. 
The  tracks  could  be  seen  where  thev  had  been  rolled  over  the  surface 
of  the  snow  bv  the  wind.  On  Mav  7  and  21,  1816,  there  were  severe 
thunder-storms.  On  the  latter  date  the  storm  was  accompanied  with 
hail,  the  form  of  which  was  verv  remarkable.  The  hail-stones  were  in 
hexangular  pyramids,  sometimes  half  an  inch  in  length.  In  some  the 
base  was  almost  transparent.  On  August  6,  1834,  there  was  a  severe 
thunder-shower,  during  which  the  vanes  on  Professor  Cleaveland's  and 
Captain  Given's  barns  were  struck  by  lightning.  August  20,  1835, 
there  was  a  severe  hail-storm,  and  hail-stones  which  measured  three 
inches  in  diameter  were  picked  up  at  Mustard's  tavern.  Septeml)er  3, 
1845,  there  was  a  violent  thunder-shower,  during  which  Common's 
Hall  was  struck  by  lightning.  May  6,  1850,  there  was  also  a  violent 
storm.  The  lightning  struck  Captain  Minofs  buildings  at  Mair  Point, 
and  in  several  other  places.  Febniary  18,  1853,  probably-  the  severest 
storm  of  all  occurred.  The  lightning  struck  in  over  twenty'  different 
localities  ;  among  others.  Deacon  Perkins's  house  on  the  island  in  Tops- 
ham.  Octol>er  30, 1866,  the  steeple  of  the  First  Parish  Meeting-House 
in  Brunswick  was  blown  otf. 

In  1869,  on  September  7,  a  terrible  gale  began  at  seven  o'clock 
p.  M.,  and  lasted  for  several  hours.  In  the  Lemont  woods  fourteen 
trees  were  blown  down  in  one  spot,  and  over  two  hundred  trees  were 
blown  down  in  David  Marriner's  wooiis.  A  large  number  were  also 
prostrated  in  Topsham.  The  dejwt  wooilshed  in  Brunswick,  and 
two  chimneys  on  the  Medical  College,  were  also  blown  over.  A 
great  deal  of  damage  was  done,  of  which  the  above  constituted  but  a 
small  i>ortiou.     August  16,  1867,  there  was   another  severe   storm, 


BOUNDARIES  AND  NOTABLE  FEATURES.  103 

dnring  which  seven  and  one  half  inches  of  rain  fell.  Seventy-five 
feet  of  an  embankment  on  the  Androscoggin  railroad  in  Topsham 
was  washe<l  out.  It  was  twenty-five  feet  deep.  Julj'  15,  1868,  a 
severe  thunder-storm  occurred,  during  which  two  houses  and  a  bam 
in  Bninswick,  and  an  old  wooden  warehouse  in  Topsham,  were  struck 
by  lightning.  June  23,  1874,  the  Jordan  House  in  Brunswick  was 
stnick  by  lightning. 

Accounts  have  been  preserved  of  some  ten  shocks  of  earthquake 
which  have  occurred  here  since  the  first  settlement  of  Bmnswick. 
The  first  and  severest  was  the  one  which  was  felt  throughout  New 
England,  and  is  called  the  ^^  Great  Earthquake."  It  happened  on 
Tuesda3',  Nov.  18,  1755,  at  about  a  quarter  past  four  o'clock  a.  m. 
The  undulation  of  the  earth's  surfac^e  in  this  vicinity  was  so  violent 
as  to  rock  houses,  and  throw  down  chimneys,  log  fences,  and  crockery 
from  the  shelves.  The  chimne}'  of  Reverend  Mr.  Duulap's  house  fell 
in,  and  some  of  his  children  narrowly  escaped  injury.  The  inhabi- 
tants generally  were  greatly  alarmed,  and  viewed  the  occurrence  as  an 
omen  of  evil.  Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap  preached  a  sermon  with  especial 
reference  to  this  event. ^  The  other  earthquakes  were  much  less 
severe,  though  some  of  them  were  sufficient  to  cause  a  degree  of 
trepidation  amongst  the  timid.  They  occurred  Nov.  22,  1 755 ;  June 
12,  1805,  at  7.30  a.  m.  ;  June  26,  1808,  at  2.51  p.  m.  ;  Nov.  28,  1814, 
at  7  p.  M. ;  the  oscillations  moved  from  nortii  to  south,  lasted  fifty 
seconds,  and  were  followed  by  an  explosion  ;  May  23,  1817,  at  3  p.  m., 
—  lasted  one  minute;  March  7,  1823,  at  10  a.  m.  ;  July  25,  1828,  at 
6  A.  M. ;  Aug.  26,  1829,  at  9  p.  m.  and  at  9.15  p.  m.  ;  and  Oct.  17, 
1860. 

1  F^epacot  Papers, 


104       mSlORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 


CHAPTER   II. 

MUNICIPAL    HISTORY    OF    BRUNSWICK. 

The  town  of  Brunswick  first  received  its  name  legalh- ,  in  the  year 
1717,  when  it  was  incoqjorated  as  a  township.  This  name  was  prob- 
ably given  to  the  town  in  honor  of  the  house  of  Bninswick,  to  which 
family  the  then  king  of  Great  Britain  belonged.  The  reason  for  this 
presumption  is,  that  this  town,  being  earlier  settled  and  incorporated 
than  any  of  the  other  nine  or  ten  towns  of  the  same  name  in  the 
United  States,  could  not  have  been  named  after  either  of  them,  and 
as  there  were,  so  far  as  known,  no  Germans  among  the  earlier  settlers 
here,  it  was  hardl}'  likel}-  to  have  been  named  for  the  German  city. 

UNDER  COMMONWEALTH   OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

[1717.]  The  vote  of  tlie  General  Court,  constituting  Brunswick  a 
township,  was  passed  on  the  third  of  May,  1717,  and  provided  *'  That 
y*  Land  Plotted  for  a  Town  from  Pejepscot  Falls  to  Maquoit  in  Casco 
Bay  be  Constituted  A  Township  to  be  laid  out  the  Qdantity  of  Six 
miles  Square  as  the  Land  will  allow  &  to  be  Called  b}'  the  name  of 
Brunswick  to  be  forth-with  Settled  in  a  Defensible  Manner."  ^ 

This  action  of  the  General  Court  gave  the  settlers  municipal  rights 
similar  to  those  of  plantations  of  the  present  da}'.  Thus,  for  instance, 
the}'  held  public  meetings,  raised  money  for  their  common  welfare, 
and  chose  their  own  town  officers.  Records  were  kept  by  an  officer 
styled  the  town  clerk,  who  was  the  first  time  appointed  b}'  the  propri- 
etors, and  aflerwards  elected  by  the  people. 

On  the  second  of  May,  of  this  year.  Lieutenant  Joseph  Heath  was 
chosen  by  the  proprietors  "  To  be  their  Clark  for  the  Town  of  Bruns- 
wick until  the  town  is  Qualified  to  make  their  own  election  and  Sworn 
to  tlie  faithfbl  Discharge  of  that  Trust." « 

The  first  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  was  held  November  3,  1717. 
The  first  election  of  town  officers  was  in  March,  1719,  when  Captain 
John  Gyles,  Thomas  Wharton,  James  Starrat,  John  Cochran,  and 


*  Massachusetts  Records,  1717. 

a  Brunswick  Records  in  P^epscot  Collection. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  105 

Joseph  Heath  were  chosen  selectmen  for  the  ensuing  year.  Joseph 
Heath  was  also  chosen  clerk  and  town  treasurer,  and  Peter  Haines, 
constable. 

At  a  r^ular  meeting  of  the  inhabitants,  held  May  8,  it  was  voted  to 
purchase  a  hos  tntrus  for  the  common  benefit.  It  was  also  at  this 
meeting  voted,  "  That  whereas  Some  of  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town 
have  already  Brought  on  Cattle  &  others  expect  to  have  some  come 
before  Winter,  Therefore  our  first  rate  to  our  Minister  shall  be  raised" 
on  Lotts  &  poles  onley."  ^ 

Other  meetings  were  held  at  different  periods,  at  which  action  was 
taken  relating  chiefly  to  the  support  of  a  minister.  The  doings  of 
those  meetings  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  upon  Ecclesiastical  History. 

[1735.]  In  the  year  1735  the  inhabitants  of  Brunswick  had  l)ecome 
so  numerous  and  felt  so  great  need  of  a  more  perfect  system  in  the 
management  of  their  common  concerns,  that  they  made  application 
to  the  government  of  Massachusetts  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation  as  a 
town.     The  petition  was  as  follows :  — 

''To  His  P^xcellency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq.  Captain  General  and 
Govemour  in  Chief.  The  Honourable  His  Majesties  Councill,  and  the 
Honourable  House  of  Representatives  of  his  Majesties  Province  of  the 
Massachusetts-Bay  In  New  England  In  General  Court  assembled  May 
1735. 

"The  Petition  of  us  the  Subscril>ers  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Brunswick  in  the  County  of  York  Humblj'  Sheweth  —  That  3'our  Peti- 
tioners being  arrived  to  a  competent  number  to  transact  Town  affairs 
&  in  Expectation  of  having  others  verj'  soon  added  K)  us,  having  now 
a  commodious  Meeting -I  louse  chiefly  erected  at  the  charge  of  the 
Proprietors,  and  having  also  obtained  a  pious  &  othodox  Minister  to 
settle  with  us,  we  now  find  it  necessary'  to  be  vested  with  I*ower  to  lay 
a  Tax  or  assesment  in  ortler  to  raise  money  for  his  maintenance  — 
Therefore  j'our  petitioners  Humbly  pra}'  your  Excelcncy  and  Honours 
that  you  will  pleas  to  Erect  us  into  a  Township  &  vest  us  with  the 
Power  &  authorities  belonging  to  other  Towns  excepting  only  the 
Power  of  Granting  &  Disposing  of  Land,  which  we  acknowledge  to  be 
in  the  Proprietors  who  placed  us  here  —  and  j'our  Petitioners  as  in 
Duty  Ixjund  Shall  ever  pray  &c."  ^ 

This  petition  was  signed  b}*  John  Rutherford,  Anthony  Vincent, 
James  Dunning,  David  Dunning,  Richard  Flaherty,  —  an  Irish  school- 
teacher,—  James  McFarland,  James  Carter,  William  Gibson,  Andrew 

'  Brunswick  ReoordSj  in  P^epacot  Collection,  3  P^epscoc  Papers, 


106        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSRAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Dunning,  Ebenezer  Stan  wood,  Samuel  Stan  wood,  David  Gireen, 
James  Henry,  William  Spear,  John  Giveen,  Robert  Giveen,  Thomas 
Neal,  Thomas  Washburn,  Samuel  Lindsey,  Reverend  Robert  Ruther- 
ford, Benjamin  Larrabee,  Samuel  Clarke,  Nehemiah  Giffen^  —  a 
stranger,  —  Rol)ert  Spear,  Sr.,  Robert  Spear,  Jr.,  Robert  Dunlap, 
William  Woodside,  Jonathan  Dunlap,  John  Linsay. 

The  legislature,  June  20th  of  this  same  3'ear,  granted  the  request  of 
the  petitioners  and  enacted  a  bill  in  accordance  therewith.     This  bill 
for  some  reason,  however,  failed  to  receive  the  signature  of  the  gov- 
ernor, and  did  not  therefore  take  effect.^ 

[1737.]  On  the  25th  of  May,  1737,  another  petition  for  incorpora- 
tion was  presented  to  the  General  Court,  by  Benjamin  Larrabee,  in 
behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of  Brunswick,  which  set  forth  the  reasons 
urged  in  the  former  |>etition  and  stated  the  fact  of  a  bill  having  been 
enacted,  which  had  failed  to  be  valid  on  account  of  its  wanting  the 
governor's  signature.  The  prayer  of  this  petition  was  granted  in  the 
House  of  Representatives  on  the  24th  of  June,  and  concurred  in  by 
the  Senate  three  days  later.  A  bill  was  accordingly-  prepared,  and  at 
the  next  session  of  the  General  Court,  January  26.  1738-9,  the  follow- 
ing Act  was  passed,  and  received-the  sanction  of  the  governor :  — 

"ACT  OF  INCORPORATION  OF  BRUNSWICK. 

ANNO  BEGNI  BE018  OEORGIJ  8ECUNDI  DCODECIMO. 

AN  ACT 

For  Erecting  a  Township  In  the  County  of  York  hy  the  Name  of  Brunswick. 

"  Wltereas  there  is  a  Competent  Number  of  Inhabitants  already  set- 
tled u\y)n  a  Tract  of  Land  lying  within  the  County  of  York  hitherto 
called  and  known  by  the  name  of  Brunswick  containing  the  Quantity 
of  about  six  miles  square  and  lying  convenient  for  a  Township ;  and 
whereas  said  Inhabitants  have  humbly  petitioned  this  Court,  that  in 
order  to  provide  a  Suitable  Maintenance  for  the  Minister  Settled 
among  them,  they  may  be  Erected  into  a  Township,  and  vested  with 
the  Powers  and  Authorities  belonging  to  other  Towns.  Therrforb 
for  encouragement  of  the  said  settlement 

"J5e  it  Enacted  by  his  Excellency  the  Governor,  Councill  and  Repi-e- 
sentatives  in  General  Court  assembled,  and  by  the  authority  of  the 
Same.  That  the  said  Tract  of  Land  described  in  a  Plat  now  returned 
to  this  Court  as  follows  :  — 

^^  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  a  brook  or  Rivulet  called  Bungamunga- 

1  P^fepscot  Papen, 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  107 

nock,  rnnning  into  Maqnoit  Bay  where  it  touches  upon  North  Yar- 
mouth line,  and  from  the  mouth  of  said  Brook  to  run  upon  a  course 
north  northwest,  half  westerly  five  miles  into  the  wilderness  leaving  a 
wedge  or  strip  of  Land  between  said  line  and  North  Yarmouth, ^  and 
from  thence  upon  a  course  northeast  four  miles  to  the  Second  Falls  of 
Amascoggin  alias  Androscoggen  River  from  thence  down  said  River 
by  Fort  George,  and  down  Merry  Meeting  Bay  so  far  as  Stevens  car- 
rying Place  including  several  small  Islets  lying  in  said  River  above 
Said  Carrying  Place,  and  over  said  Carrying  Place  to  the  head  of  the 
Creek  or  River  that  runs  up  to  the  other  side  of  the  said  Carrying 
Place,  thence  down  said  creek  or  River  to  the  mouth  thereof,  includ- 
ing an  Island  therein,  and  from  the  mouth  of  said  River  to  run  by  the 
Waterside  southwesterly  to  the  Southwest  point  of  a  place  called  the 
New  Meadows,  thence  to  strike  across  the  cove  up>on  course  north 
northwest,  till  it  meets  and  intersects  the  upper  end  of  Merr\'coneag 
Neck  four  rods  above  the  Narrows  of  said  Neck,  commonly  called  the 
carrying  place,  thence  to  run  along  the  Shore  to  a  Neck  of  Land 
called  Mair  point,  about  a  mile  and  a  quarter  down  said  Neck,  thence 
to  cross  over  said  Mair  point  and  Maquoit  Bay,  upon  a  course  north- 
west till  it  comes  to  the  place  first  above  mentioned,  be  and  henceforth 
shall  be  a  Township  to  be  called  Brunswick  and  the  Inliabitants 
thereof  shall  have  and  enjoy  all  such  immunities,  privileges  and  pow- 
ers as  Generally  other  Towns  in  this  Province  have  and  do  by  Law 
enjoy :  — 

"  This  Bill  having  been  read  three  Several  times  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  Pass*d  to  be  Enacted. 

"[Signed]  J.  Quinct,  Speaker. 

'*This  Bill,  having  been  read  three  several  times  in  Council,  Pass'd 

to  be  Enacted. 

'•  [Signed]  Simon  Frost,  DepHy  Sec'ry, 

'*By  his  Excellency  the  Governour. 

I  consent  to  the  Enacting  this  Bill. 

"[Signed]  J.  Belcher. 

'^  Jan^.  26,  1738,  Copy  Exam^- 

"  [Signed]  Simon  Frost,  DepHy  SecVy." 

Brunswick  thus  became  the  eleventh  coqx)rate  town  in  ]Maine.     At 
the  same  time  that  the  foregoing  was  passed,  the  General  Court  also 


^  Known  as  the  *' Gore,'* 


108        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

passed  an  Act  authorizing  and  empowering  Benjamin  Larrabee.  Esquire, 
"  to  warn  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town,  qualifyed  by  Law  to  vote  in 
Town  affairs,  to  assemble  and  meet  together  in  some  Sntable  Place  on 
the  first  Monday  of  March  next,  to  choose  a  Moderator,  Town  Clerk, 
and  other  Town  Officers  for  the  year  then  next  ensuing."  The  date 
of  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  it  will  be  noticed,  is  given  as  Jan. 
26,  1738.  This  is  according  to  the  old  method  of  reckoning  time. 
The  date,  according  to  the  new  style,  would  be  Feb.  4,  1739.^ 

[1739.]  There  were  six  town  meetings  in  1739.  The  first  meet- 
ing of  this  5'ear,  and  the  first  under  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  was 
held  March  28th.  At  this  meeting  the  following  officers  were  cho- 
sen :  — 

Samuel  Ilinkley,  Moderator  and  Town  Clerk ;  Captain  Benjamin 
Larrabee,  Samuel  Hinkley,  John  Getchell,  James  Dunning,  and 
David  Dunning,  Selectmen ;  John  Malkeon,  John  Barrows,  Con- 
stables ;  Thomas  Washburn,  William  Vincent,  Samuel  Whitney,  and 
James  Howe,  Tything-Men ;  Captain  William  Woodside,  Wimond 
Bradbury,  John  Whitney,  and  Joseph  Berry,  Surve3'ors  of  High- 
ways ;  Robert  Spear  and  Cornelius  Thompson,  Fence-Viewers ; 
James  Thompson,  Town  Treasurer;  John  MacGregor  and  John 
McFarlin,  Hog  Constables ;  Israel  Mitchell  and  William  Spear,  Field- 
Drivers. 

One  hundred  and  fifty-three  pounds  and  fifteen  shillings  were  voted 
for  town  expenses  for  the  ^-ear.  At  this  meeting  John  Getchell,  Robert 
Spear,  Samuel  Clark,  James  Thompson,  Benjamin  Parker,  and  Thomas 
Skolfield  were  chosen  a  committee  to  lay  out  highways  for  the  conven- 
ience of  the  town. 

Some  proposition  looking  to  the  extermination  of,  or  protection  from 
wolves  was  doubtless  made,  as  the  town  this  year  voted,  *'  That  the 
wolves  should  be  left  till  further  consideration." 

In  July  it  was  voted,  *'  That  the  Minister  Shuld  Preach  att  y*  South- 
east end  of  S**  Town  (att  a  place  cal*  Newmedows)  according  to  what 
Rates  and  taxes  they  shall  Pa}"  towards  the  Support  of  the  Ministry''  it 
being  agreed  upon  by  the  whole  Town." 

Against  this  action  of  the  town,  however,  a  protest  was  entered  by 
Benjamin  Whitney,  Jean  Brown,  and  William  Woodside. 

A  meeting  held  December  25th  elected  Captain  Benjamin  Larrabee  a 
representative  '*  to  go  to  answer  the  presentment  commenced  against 
this  town  at  the  general  Sessions  of  the  Peace."   It  does  not,  however, 

*  Town  Records,  Vol,  1;  aiso  P^epacot  Papers. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  109 

appear  from  the  records  what  was  the  nature  of  the  action  against  the 
town  or  by  whom  it  was  brought.  Possibly  it  ma}'  have  been  in  con- 
sequence of  their  being  no  provision  made  that  3'ear  for  a  school,  as 
the  law  was  then  obligatory  upon  all  towns  to  make  such  provision. 

On  May  30,  of  this  3'ear,  the  inhabitants  of  Mair  Point  petitioned 
the  General  Court,  since  one  half  of  that  point  was  within  the  bounds 
of  the  township  of  North  Yarmouth  and  was  twent3'-five  miles  distant 
from  the  meeting-house  in  that  town,  b}'  land,  and  ten  miles  distant 
by  sea,  with  two  dangerous  bays  to  be  crossed,  and  since  the  north- 
erly portion  of  the  point  was  but  two  miles  distant  from  Brunswick, 
that  they  might  be  set  otf  from  North  Yarmouth  and  annexed  to  the 
town  of  Brunswick.  An  Act  was  passed,  granting  this  privilege, 
which  took  etfect,  October  2d  following. 

[1740.]  The  total  appropriation  for  defraying  the  expenses  of  the 
town  in  1740  was  £248  16«.  Od.  Of  this  amount  £150  was  for  the 
salar}'  of  Reverend  Mr.  Rutherford,  and  £80  for  support  of  a  school- 
master, leaving  but  £18  for  contingent  expenses.  It  was  also  voted 
this  3'ear  to  raise  £200  as  a  settlement  for  Mr.  Rutherford,  "  if  he  lives 
and  dies  minister  of  Brunswick,"  and  a  little  more  than  one  fourth  of 
this  amount  was  to  be  raised  that  year.  The  town  voted  not  to  send 
any  representative  this  year  to  the  General  Court,  and  also  voted  to 
allow  hogs  to  run  at  large,  provided  they  were  properly  yoked  and 
ringed. 

Ilarpswell  Neck  was  this  year  set  off  from  North  Yarmouth  and 
annexed  to  Brunswick  as  an  '^  a(\jacent,"  ^  but  was  soon  after  set  back 
again. 

[1742.]  There  were  five  meetings  of  the  town  this  year.  At  the 
annual  meeting  in  March,  £246  was  raised  for  current  expenses,  £150 
of  which  was  for  the  support  and  £66  for  the  settlement  of  the  min- 
ister. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  loth,  Mr.  Henry  Gibbs,  a  freeholder  and 
resident  in  town,  was  admitted  as  ''an  inhabitant  thereof,"  and  he 
was,  at  the  same  meeting,  elected  to  represent  the  town  at  the  General 
Court.  This  action  was  evidently  not  the  will  of  a  majority  of  the 
voters  of  the  town,  as  another  meeting  for  the  choice  of  a  represent- 
ative was  held  on  the  29th  of  June,  and  "  it  being  put  to  vote 
whether  to  send  one  or  not  it  was  passed  in  tlie  negative." 

Several  matters  pertaining  to  the  vacant  lands  earner  up  for  discus- 
sion this  year,  and  at  a  subsequent  meeting  it  was  voted,  ''That  all 

1  Massachusetts  Records,  1740,  p.  '35\ ;  also  303. 


110        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

the  vacant  Land  one  the  east  side  of  the  Maine  Rode  that  bats  one 
Bnmswick  falls  Runing  from  s*  falls  a  Ix)img  the  Shore  till  it  corns 
to  the  south  corner  of  the  Cove  near  s*  falls  thence  running  a  south 
Corse  to  the  Rode  that  Leades  to  the  Landing  place ;  to  lay  common 
for  convenency  of  Landing  botes  and  cornews  [boats  and  canoes]  and 
for  the  Uce  of  the  Inhabetence  of  the  Town  of  Brunswick  forever." 

It  was  also,  at  the  same  meeting,  voted  "  that  all  that  comer  of 
vacant  land  from  the  southwest  comer  of  Fort  Geoi^e,  thence  mnning 
a  west  course  till  it  comes  to  the  river,  thence  down  said  river  till  it 
comes  to  the  main  road,  thence  along  said  road  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning," be  left  in  common  for  the  privilege  of  a  grist  mill  and  '*  for 
the  Uce  of  the  Inhabatence  of  the  Town  of  Bmnswick  forever." 

The  selectmen  this  year  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  an  abate- 
ment of  the  tax  assessed  upon  the  town.  The  reasons  for  this  request 
are  best  given  in  the  petition  itself,  which  is  as  follows :  — 

"  To  HIS  EXCELLKNCY  JOIIXATHAN  BeLCHER  EsQ«   CaP"*:  GeNERALL  AND  GOV- 

ERNOiTK  IN  Chief,  The  Honourable  his  Majesties  Councill  and  the 
Honourable  House  of  Reprf-sentatives  of  his  Majesties  Provinck 
OF  THE  Massachusetts  Bay  in  New  England  in  Genrrall  Court 

ASSEMBLED   MaY,    1741. 

"THE   PETITION    OF  US  THE   SUBSCRIBERS    SELECTMEN    OF   THE 
TOWN  OF  BRUNSWICK  IN  THE  COUNTY   OF  YORK. 

HlTMBLY  ShEWETH. 

''That  the  Great  and  Generall  Court  were  pleased  to  lay  a  tax  of 
Thirty  pounds  (New  tenner)  upon  the  town  of  Brunswick  which  they 
are  very  unable  to  pay,  and  the  Constables  of  S**  Town  has  Collected 
but  a  ver}^  small  part  by  reason  of  their  great  poverty,  for  the  Greater 
part  of  the  Settlers  have  not  been  able,  (as  3'et)  to  pay  for  their  lots 
of  land  of  one  Hundred  Acres  P^ach  which  they  have  taken  of  the  Pro- 
prietors tlio  at  a  Reasonable  price,  for  the  best  lots  do  not  exceed  five 
shillings  per  acre,  &  other  lots  not  above  half  so  much,  &  tho  some 
have  lived  upon  S**  lots,  more  than  ten  years,  &  some  near  twenty, 
yet  by  Reason  of  our  Great  Poverty  &  being  often  allamied  with  the 
Rumour  of  Warr,  &  being  often  disturbed  by  the  Insulting  Indians, 
and  many  times  are  oblidged  to  Garrison  our  houses,  which  is  very 
expensive,  and  alwa^'s  obliged  to  be  well  provided  with  arms  &  ami- 
nition,  or  Retire  to  other  places  of  Safety  with  our  familys  &  Cattle, 
&  so  oblidged.  to  neglect  our  Husbandry  whereby  our  familys  have 
greatly  sufered  &  have  been  Impoverished,  and  many  families  not 
being  able  to  raize  their  own  Provisions,  are  beholden  to  other  parts 
of  the  Province  for  them,  &  in  these  times  of  rumour  of  Warr  do  the 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  Ill 

daty  of  Souldiers,  in  Defending  ourselves  &  neighbours,  we  being  a 
frontier  town,  &  so  of  service  to  the  Province,  the  fort  being  Remote 
from  the  greatest  part  of  the  Inhabitants  which  Cant  be  avoided,  for 
the  benefit  of  Husbandr}',  which  Fort  is  a  Great  terror  to  the  Indians 
and  keeps  them  in  some  aw,  yet  they  oftentimes  Insults  us  in  our  private 
houses  &  when  they  are  in  any  want  of  victuals,  the}'  kill  our  Cattle, 
which  keeps  us  under  fears  &  Discouragements,  therefore  your  Peti- 
tioners Humbly  pra}'  that  this  Honourable  Court  would  take  the 
premisses  into  your  wise  Consideration  and  abate  the  tax  laid  upon 
the  town  of  Brunswick  for  the  year  1740,  and  Excuse  S*  Town  from 
paying  Province  taxes,  for  some  time  to  come  which  will  greatly 
incourage  the  Inhabitants  to  settle  the  remote  parts  of  the  Province 
where  they  can  at  present,  (but  with  Great  Difficulty)  get  a  living,  & 
Defend  themselves  &  neighbours  in  these  Exposed  parts,  tlio  the 
Greater  part  of  the  Inhabitants  are  not  able  to  pa}'  for  the  lots  of 
land  they  are  settled  upon,  The  Honourable  Couits  compassion  wilf 
greatly  Incourage  the  Eastern  Settlements,  &  by  the  smiles  of  Heaven, 
in  a  few  years,  may  become  a  usefull  part  of  the  Province  and  by 
their  Industry  enabled  cheerfully  to  pay  such  rates  <&  taxes  as  stiall 
be  laid  upon  them  for  the  future,  and  as  in  Duty  bound  your  Peti- 
tioners shall  ever  pray.^ 


*'  Sam*-'*  Hinckley. 

Robert  Speer. 

Dayid  Duning. 


r<J 


jelectmen,^^ 


[1742.]  The  town  in  1742,  for  the  first  time,  sent  a  representative 
to  "'the  Great  and  General  Court,"  and  David  Dunning  was  elected 
to  fill  the  office. 

[1743.]  Two  boards  of  selectmen  were  chosen  in  1743.  At  the 
annual  meeting  held  in  March,  Isaac  Snow,  Samuel  Ilinkley,  and 
Wymond  Bradbury  were  chosen  selectmen.  There  was  some  infonnal- 
ity,  however,  about  this  meeting,  A  protest  was  made  against  it  as 
illegal,  by  Captain  William  Woodside,  James  Dunning,  Rol)ert  Finney, 
Robert  Spear,  David  Dunning,  David  Giveen,  and  Samuel  Clark,  and 
the  General  Court  ordered  another  meeting  to  be  held  on  the  30th  of 
August.  This  latter  meeting  "  being  purged  of  all  illegal  voters,"  an 
election  of  town  officers  was  had,  and  Captain  John  Minot,  El)en  Stan- 
wood,  and  James  Dunning  were  chosen  selectmen  and  David  Dunning, 
representative.  At  this  meeting  Wymond  Bradbury  was  authorized 
to  provide  a  pair  of  stocks  for  the  town.  , 

1  Pt^Jepscot  Papers,  oriyinal  lioctinient. 


112       lUSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HAEPSWELL. 

The  decision  of  the  General  Court  in  regard  to  the  illegality  of  the 
first  meeting  was  based  on  the  fact  that  the  meeting  was  not  legally 
warned,  and  that  the  assessors  were  not  under  oath  when  they  took 
the  valuation  of  the  town.* 

[17-44.]  The  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  the  Count}'  of  York, 
having  decided  that  the  special  meeting  of  the  town,  held  by  order  of 
the  General  Court  in  August,  1743,  was  likewise  illegal,  a  new  elec- 
tion was  ordered  and  had,  Januarj"  17,  1744,  at  which  a  new  board  of 
town  oflicers  was  chosen  to  serve  out  the  unexpired  portion  of  the 
fiscal  year.  Thomas  Skolfield,  Ebenezer  Stan  wood,  and  James  Dun- 
ning were  elected  selectmen. 

At  tlie  annual  meeting  in  March,  a  new  board  of  selectmen  was 
chosen  for  the  ensuing  year.  No  representative  to  the  General  Court 
was  chosen.  A  committee  was  chosen  at  this  meeting,  to  examine  all 
the  accounts  of  the  town  since  its  incorporation,  and  to  settle  all  its 
affairs,  aud  it  was  vot<;d  to  raise  no  money  for  town  purposes  until  the 
conunittee  had  reported.  The  committee  were  Deacon  Samuel  Ilink- 
le}^  Captain  William  Woodside,  James  Thompson,  and  Robert  Finney, 
and  ihey  were  authorized  to  call  in  to  their  assistance,  if  necessary, 
Mr.  Samuel  Dinne  (Denn}'?),  of  Georgetown.  This  committee,  in 
December,  brought  in  a  full  and  detailed  report  of  all  moneys  which 
had  been  received  b}'  the  town  treasurer,  and  of  what  had  been  dis- 
bursed by  him,  together  with  a  statement  of  what  was  due  the  town 
from  all  sources ;  with  recommendations  for  the  payment  of  various 
sums  claimed  from  the  town  for  services  rendered,  etc.  Among  these 
items  was  one  of  six  pounds  due  Deacon  Samuel  Ilinkley  "  for  ten 
days  going  after  a  minister  to  supply  the  town,"  and  another  of 
£3  lOs.  for  a  '*  constable's  staff."  The  report  of  the  committee  was 
accepted. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town  in  May,  a  committee  was  chosen 
to  secure  ''  a  schoolmaster  upon  as  reasonable  terms  as  possible." 
At  this  meeting  Deacon  Samuel  Hinkley  was  chosen  ''a  commissioner 
to  appear  at  the  Great  and  General  Court  held  at  Boston,  to  prefer  a 
petition  or  petitions  in  behalf  of  the  town."  He  was  to  receive  his 
instructions  from  a  committee  consisting  of  the  selectmen,  and  David 
Dunning,  Ebenezer  Stanwood,  and  liobert  Finney.  His  compensation 
was  to  be  12.h.  per  da}'  and  £5  for  expenses.  For  what  object  a 
petition  was  to  be  presented  does  not  appear  from  the  records,  it 
was,  however,  in  all  probability,  in  reference  to  an  unfortunate  differ- 

*  Maseachusetts  Records,  1743,  p.  99. 


MUNICIPAL  mSTOBY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  113 

ence  that  had  arisen  between  the  town  and  the  proprietors.  The  lat- 
ter were  exempt  from  taxation,  and  refused  to  assist  in  making  the 
county  roads  which  passed  through  their  lands. ^  The  result  was  that 
the  passions  of  the  people  were  excited  in  relation  to  the  matter,  and 
the  town,  believing  that  unoccupied  land  might  be  taken  and  sold  for 
public  purposes,  very  injudiciously  granted  one  hundred  acres  of  land 
each  to  Deacon  Samuel  Hinkley,  Timoth}"  Tibbets,  Cypron  Cornish, 
and  Aaron  Hinkley,  it  being  stipulated  in  each  grant,  "  Provided, 
that  he  make  improvement  on  said  land  in  defiance  of  the  proprietors, 
Henry  Gibbs  &  Company,  and  begin  said  settlement  in  three  years 
from  date  hereof  by  building,  fencing  and  improvmg,  except  he  or 
they  (his  heirs)  be  put  off  b}*  an  enem3\"  This  trouble  between  the 
town  and  the  proprietors  was  after  some  j'ears  amicably'  adjusted. 

The  taxation  bore  so  heavily  upon  the  people  at  this  time  that  the 
town  voted  not  to  exempt  feven  the  •■'  listed  soldiers  of  the  inhabe- 
tence"  from- payment. 

[1745.]  The  town  this  3'ear  voted  to  pay  an  annual  salary  of  fifteen 
shillings  to  the  town  treasurer,  as  a  compensation  for  his  services. 

The  committee  appointed  in  1744  to  receive  the  town  mone^'  from 
the  constables,  and  to  settle  all  the  accounts  of  the  town,  having  made 
no  report  of  their  doings  subsequent  to  the  report  of  December  of 
that  3'ear,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  call  them  to  an  account,  and 
to  ascertain  what  money  had  been  received  and  disbursed  by  them 
and  what  remained  due  to  the  town,  and  to  report  at  the  next  town 
meeting. 

[174G.]  The  selectmen  were  unable  to  make  an}'  settlement  of 
the  financial  affairs  of  the  town  with  the  committee  who  had  been 
appoiiitc<l  as  receivers,  and  accordingly  in  February',  1746,  '*  Robeit 
Finnev  was  elected  a  Commissioner  to  the  next  Court  of  General  Ses- 
sions  in  order  to  get  the  Report  of  the  Committee  chosen  to  end  all 
debates  and  adjust  all  accounts  appertaining  to  the  town  since  it  has 
been  erected  into  a  town."  Finney'  was  to  be  allowed  twelve  shillings 
.  per  day  for  his  services.  The  purpose  for  which  he  was  appointed,  as 
stated  in  the  vote  of  election  given  alx)ve,  ma}'  have  l)een  to  obtain  a 
writ  of  mandamus  against  the  town  committee  to  compel  them  to  do 
their  duty,  or  it  ma}'  have  been  to  have  a  decision  upon  the  merits  of 
the  question  made  by  the  Court. 

At  this  same  meeting,  David  Dunning  was  elected  a  commissioner 
to  appear  at  the   General  Court  in   Boston,  to  prefer  a  petition  in 


^  P^epscoi  Papers, 
8 


114        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

behalf  of  the  town.  He  was  to  receive  his  instructions  from  a  com- 
mittee consisting  of  Robert  Spear,  David  Givecn,  and  Roliert  Finnej, 
and  was  to  receive  £5  for  his  services  and  to  be  allowed  £4  for  his 
expenses.  In  the  absence  of  any  evidence  in  the  matter,  it  is  to  be 
presumed  that  the  object  of  the  petition  was  the  same  as  of  the  one 
presented  the  next  year,  and  that,  for  some  reason,  this  petition  was 
never  presented,  or  if  presented  was  not  acted  upon. 

The  town  also  voted  at  this  meeting  to  raise  no  money  for  current 
expenses,  until  that  alread}'  assessed  had  been  paid  in  by  the  consta- 
bles to  the  receivers  appointed  b}'  the  town. 

[1747.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1747,  the  town  voted 
"  to  appl}'  to  the  General  Court  for  protection  "  against  the  Indians, 
and  David  Dunning  was  chosen  to  prepare  a  petition  in  behalf  of  the 
town,  under  instructions  from  Ebenezer  Stanwood,  John  Getchel, 
and  Thomas  Skolfield.  He  was  to  receive  £9  for  his  services.  This 
petition  was,  in  all  probalnlity,  favorably  considered  b}'  the  General 
Court,  as  the  whole  region  from  Wells  to  Topsham  was  at  this  time 
infested  with  savages.^  At  all  events,  it  was  either  considered  and 
acted  upon,  or  else  previous  action  on  the  matter  had  already  been 
taken,  for  in  Ma}-  following.  Captain  Jordan  was  stationed  at  Topsham 
with  thirty  men.2 

[1748.]  The  town,  at  its  annual  meeting  in  March,  1748,  voted  to 
send  a  petition,  signed  by  the  selectmen  in  behalf  of  the  town,  to  the 
General  Court,  requesting  to  have  Western  men  sent  there  for  soldiers, 
instead  of  calling  upon  the  inhabitants  of  Brunswick  and  its  vicinity. 

The  financial  affairs  of  the  town  were  still  in  an  unsettled  condition, 
and  consequently  a  committee  was  chosen  at  a  special  town  meeting 
hcjd  in  May,  *' to  shew^  the  Receiver  and  Treasurer  that  refuse  to 
pa}'  in  the  town's  mone}'  according  to  vote  of  the  town,  and  said  com- 
mittee is  instructed  to  make  up  accounts  with  all  or  any  person  who 
have  any  legal  demands  on  the  town." 

The  town,  moreover,  at  this  meeting  chose  Deacon  Samuel  Hink- 
le}',  Lieutenant  P^benezer  Stanwood,  and  Robert  Finney  a  committee 
to  appear  in  behalf  of  the  town  at  the  quarter  sessions  for  the  county 
of  York,  to  be  held  in  October  following,  ''  to  recover  the  town's  legal 
debts  and  prosecute  any  person  in  whose  hands  the  town's  money  may 
be  found  not  paid  cait  in  the  town's  legal  debts." 

In  October  of  this  3'ear  the  selectmen  assessed  £oO  on  the  citizens 
as  a  town  fund,  and  to  pa}'  a  premium  for  wolves'  heads. 

1  Williamsonf  History  of  Mainej  2,  j).  252.  '^:Smith'8  Journal,  p,  129. 

*  <  e.,  to  instruct. 


MUXICIPAh  BISTORT  OF  BUllNSWICK,  115 

[1749.]  The  town,  at  a  special  meeting  in  January.  1749,  ap- 
pointefl  Ensign  William  Vincent  to  inspect  the  fisher}'  at  Bmnswick 
and  to  regulate  the  same  according  to  instructions  from  the  selectmen. 

A  proposition  was  also  made  at  this  time  to  petition  the  General 
Court  for  the  annexation  to  Brunswick  of  the  precinct  of  Topsham. 
The  question  was  laid  on  the  table  for  consideration  at  a  future  meet- 
ing. 

[1750.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1750,  the  town  voted  a 
present  of  £40,  old  tenor,  to  Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap,  and  voted  to 
take  up  a  contribution  four  times  a  year  for  the  support  of  the  Widow 
Mitchell.  In  May  the  town  voted  to  raise  £40,  ImrfiU  money ^  for 
Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap.  £26  13/j.  Ad.  of  this  amount  was  to  pay  his 
salark'  and  the  balance  to  be  a  gratuity.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise 
£21  6«.  Od.,  lawftil  money,  of  which  £13  6i».  8d.  was  for  Mr.  Dunlap's 
settlement,  £5  6s.  8d.  to  make  good  the  town  stock  of  ammunition, 
and  £2  13s.  Ad,  for  other  town  expenses.  The  town  declined  this 
year  to  raise  Bxiy  money  for  a  schoolmaster. 

[1751.]  At  a  town  meeting  in  February,  1751,  a  committee  was 
appointed  to  have  the  care  and  control  of  the  common  lands  of  the  town, 
with  authority  to  assess  damages  upon  trespassers  and  to  prosecute  all 
such  claims  should  recourse  to  law  becotoe  necessary.  It  was  also 
voted  to  add  £13  6s.  8d.  lawful  money,  to  the  salar}'  of  Reverend  Mr. 
Dunlap,  "'  providing  he  will  take  his  pay  in  such  specie  as  the  town 
can  pay  him  in  at  the  market  price,  otherwise  Mr.  Dunlap  must  adhere 
to  his  first  agreement  with  the  town." 

A  bounty  of  £1  was  oflTered  by  the  town  for  each  wolf  killed  by 
traps  or  pits  within  the  limits  of  the  town.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise 
£40,  lawful  money,  in  such  specie  as  the  town  can  produce  in  Unnher^ 
at  the  market  price,  and  also  to  raise  £8  in  cash,  to  pay  the  minister  s 
salarv,  £3  6s.  8d.  for  •'Grannv  Mitchell,"  and  £4  13s.  Ad,  for  town 
expenses. 

[1752.]  At  the  annual  town  meeting  £4  was  voted  to  Rol>ert 
Smart  '*  for  building  a  pair  of  stocks  and  whipping- post  at  our  meeting 
house." 

This  year  the  town  records  begin  to  be  double  dated,  in  conse- 
quence of  an  Act  of  Parliament  adopting  the  new  style  of  reckoning 
time.  As  the  difference  between  the  old  and  new  methods  of  reckon- 
ing time  is  now  so  generally  understood,  it  is  unnecessary  here  to 
enter  into  an}*  explanation  of  the  matter.  The  records  ap[)ear  to  be 
double  dated  from  the  first,  but  this  is  probably  due  to  the  interpola- 
tion of  the  second  dates  b}'  some  later  town  clerk.      The  previous 


1 1  6    HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

dates  in  this  book  have  all  been  old  style,  but  what  follow  will  all  be 
according  to  the  new  style. 

[1753.]  '  At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  March,  1753,  a  vote  was 
passed  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  power  to  tax  the  lands  in 
town  belonging  to  non-resident  proprietors,  unless  they  should  speedily 
grant  some  satisfactory'  assistance  to  the  inhabitants  to  enable  them 
"  to  finish  the  Meeting  house,  settle  the  Minister  and  defra}'  other 
publick  charges."  This  vote  was  reconsidered  at  the  October  meeting, 
and  it  was  then  voted  to  dela}'  action  upon  it  until  tlie  following  spring. 
At  this  October  meeting  Captain  David  Dunning  was  appointed  a 
conmiissioner,  in  behalf  of  the  town,  to  join  the  other  towns  in  the 
county  in  signing  a  petition  to  have  the  county  divided. 

The  town  also  voted  to  raise  £10,  in  lawful  monej',  for  a  supply  of 
ammunition  and  £20,  old  tenor,  for  the  relief  of  Widow  Mitchell. 

The  ratable  polls  in  Brunswick  at  this  time  were  about  eighty.^ 

[1754.]  The  town,  in  1 754,  voted  to  raise  £55  for  current  expenses, 
"  to  be  paid  in  lumber  landed  in  Boston  on  or  before  September  Ist." 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  the  question  of  taxing  the  lands 
of  non-resident  proprietors  again  came  up,  but  the  town  then  voted 
not  to  petition  the  General  Court,  at  that  time,  for  power  to  assess 
these  lands,  on  account  of  the  anticipation  of  a  war.  In  September, 
however,  the  town  voted  that'  their  representative  should  prefer  such 
a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  and  suitable  instructions  were  acconl- 
ingly  given,  October  Ist,  to  John  Minot,  Esquire,  by  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Samuel  Hinkle}',  David  Dunning,  James  Thompson,  and 
Samuel  Stanwood,  who  were  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

Those  instructions  were,  in  brief,  that  he  should,  with  the  assistance 
of  an  able  lawyer,  draw  up  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  in  which 
it  should  be  statetl  that  the  town  had  undergone  much  difficulty  and 
its  settlement  been  retarded  by  reason  ''  of  the  wars  and  incursions  of 
the  enem}'  "  ;  tliat  the  town  had  not  equal  privileges  with  other  towns, 
which  could  sell  or  grant  vacant  lands  for  public  uses,  whereas  tliose 
who  were  settled  upon  lands  derived  from  proprietors  could  not  do  so. 
For  this  reason,  the  petition  was  to  state  further  that  the  town  pra3'ed 
"  for  power  to  rate  the  non-resident  Proprietors'  land  for  the  sum  of 
£200  for  the  following  uses." 

1.  For  finishing  the  meeting-house. 

2.  For  the  settlement  of  their  minister. 

3.  For  establishing  a  school  in  the  town. 

^  Memarand'fn  <m  cover  xf  Brvmviek  BecordSy  in  P^cpscot  Collection, 


MUXWIPAL  niSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  1 1  7 

4.  To  help  clear  and  keep  good  the  county  road  through  the  proprie- 
tors' lands ;  which,  *•■  if  it  should  be  insisted  upon  to  make  it  a  complete 
road  would  take  the  bigger  part  of  said  money." 

The  representative  was  also  instructed  that  in  case  the  proprietors 
would  give  security  for  the  payment  of  £100  for  the  above-mentioned 
nses,  he  was  authorized  to  withdraw  his  petition.^ 

[1755.]     In  1755  the  town  passed  the  following  votes :  — 

To  pay  John  Orr  £1,  lawful  money,  '•  for  collecting  the  Province 
rate  at  Topsham  for  1752,"  and  to  pa}' William  Spear  an  annual  salary 
of  6s,  "  for  sweeping  the  meeting-house,  locking  doors,  and  taking 
care  of  the  kev." 

The  town  decided  not  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  the  annexa- 
tion of  Topsham  this  year. 

The  vote  of  the  town  in  1744,  in  regard  to  taxing  soldiers,  seems  not 
to  have  been  fully  enforced,  as  instnictions  were  this  year  given  to  the 
former  constables  of  the  town  to  proceed  according  to  law  to  collect 
the  taxes  which  had  been  assesseil  upon  the  officers  and  soldiers 
belonging  to  Fort  Geoi'go.  Against  this  action  of  the  town  John  Orr, 
John  Smart,  James  EUet,  Samuel  Clark,  and  Thomas  Skol field 
entered  their  dissent  and  protest. 

The  selectmen  this  year  sent  the  following  petition  to  the  General 
Court,  appl}ing  for  militarj'  relief:  — 


t( 


PROVINCE  OF  THE  MASSACHUSETTS  BAY. 


**  To  HIS  EXCKLLEN'CY  WiLLlAM  SlIIRLEY  ESQ.  CaPTAIN  GeXERAL  AND  COM- 
MANDER IN  Chief  of  said  Province,  The  Hon""  His  Majestys  Coux- 
ciix,  \si>  House  of  Representatives  in  General  Court  Assembled 
August  11"  1756. 

THE     MEMORIAL    OF   THE    SELECTMEN    OF    THE    TOWN    OF 

BRUNSWICK 

Humbly  Shf.wkth, 

'*  That  in  Consequence  of  a  Memorial  presented  to  this  Court  at 
their  Sessions  in  Maj'  last  representing  the  exposed  circumstances  of 
said  Tow^n  bj'  reason  of  tlie  Enemy,  this  lion*  Court  was  pleased  to 
order  14  men  out  of  Capt.  Samuel  Goodwin's  Company  to  scout  on  the 
back  of  the  Inhabitants  from  Fort  George  to  Maquoit  untill  the  further 
Order  of  this  Court ;  the  Benefitt  of  which  the}'  enjoyed  but  a  very 
short  time,  not  more  than  two  weeks,  when  the  aforesaid  Order  was 
superceeded  on  the  Petition  of  Thomas  Hancock  Esq  and  others  and 


*  P^epscot  Papers, 


118        IIISIORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL, 

on  the  7th  July  it  was  ordered  by  this  Court  that  said  14  men  be 
returned  to  said  Conipan}'  again  by  which  means  the  Inhabitants  at 
this  Critical  Season  of  their  Husbandr}'  are  greatly  exposed  to  the 
Incursions  of  the  Indian  enemy.  As  the  fonner  Memorial  w*a8  in 
behalf  of  a  Garrison  situate  near  the  meeting  house  on  the  main  road 
from  Maquoit  necessary  for  the  entertainment  of  Expresses,  or  any 
other  Travellers  in  time  of  Warr  kept  by  Mf  Robert  Speer  who  is 
greatly  advanced  in  age,  and  very  decrepid,  the  8upj)ort  of  which 
Garrison  would  be  a  kind  of  Barrier  to  the  Inhabitants,  and  a  great 
»Security  to  the  House  of  Publick  Worship,  these  &  many  other  rea- 
sons that  might  be  urged  in  favour  of  said  Garrison,  induced  your 
Memorialists  tfien  to  apply  to  this  Hon**  Court  for  such  Relief  as 
should  in  their  Wisdom  seem  meet. 

''And  we  now  again  humbl}'  apply  ourselves  to  this  Hon**  Court  in 
behalf  of  said  Town,  and  the  afore'^  Garrison  that  they  would  be 
pleased  to  give  sucli  further  Direction  for  their  Relief  as  that  they  may 
be  enabled  to  pursue  their  Husbandry  without  that  Danger  to  which 
the}'  might  otherwise  be  exposed. 

"  And  your  Memorialists  as  in  Dut}'  bound  Shall  ever  pray  &c.^ 

'*  Thomas  Skolfield,  7  Sc/ectmcn  o/* 
Sam'l  Stanwood,     )  Brunsmck,^^ 

[1757.]  In  February,  1757,  John  Getchell  and  Captain  David 
Dunning  were  appointed  commissioners  ''  to  represent  to  the  Colonel 
of  this  Regiment  the  difficult  circumstances  of  this  town,  and  to  try 
for  an  abatement  of  the  men  he  has  sent  for."  This  regiment  was 
Colonel  Ezekiel  Cushing'sat  Fabuouth.^ 

The  first  set  of  weights  and  measures  for  sealing  purposes  was  pur- 
chased this  year. 

The  number  of  polls  in  Brunswick  at  this  time  was  ninety-two,  and 
in  the  adjacent  region  it  was  eighty-one,  of  which  number  thirty-two 
were  in  that  portion  of  Harpswell  included  within  the  boundary-  lines 
of  North  Yannouth  and  Brunswick,  and  forty-nine  were  in  Topsham.^ 

[175«.]  This  year  the  selectmen  were  instructed  by  the  town  *'  to 
acquaint  the  Honorable  Board  for  levelling  the  province  tax,  concern- 
ing the  adjaceuts  that  are  taken  of  us."  Harpswell  was  this  year 
incorporated  as  a  distinct  town. 

[17C0.]  In  compliance  with  an  order  of  the  General  Court,  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  b}'  the  town,  in  17G0,  to  communicate  to  the  session 

^  reJe2}gcot  Papers.        '^  Massadiusetts  Records,  To;.  21.        ^  Pijepscot  Papers. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  119 

of  the  le^slature  to  he  held  in  Boston,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  May, 
1761,  their  desire  that  Bmnswick  might  be  comprehended  in  the  new 
count}'  of  which  it  was  desired  that  Falmouth  might  be  the  shire  town. 
The  various  petitions  sent  in  had  the  desired  effect,  and  on  June 
1 9th,  of  this  year,  the  county  of  York  was  divided  into  three  counties, 
the  most  western  one  retaining  the  name  of  York,  and  the  other  two 
being  named  Cumberland  and  Lincoln,  of  which  the  latter  was  the 
most  eastern.  The  dividing  line  between  these  two  last  commenced 
at  the  mouth  of  the  New  Meadows  River,  extended  up  that  river 
to  Stevens's  Carrying- Place  at  its  head,  thence  to  and  ui)on  Merrv- 
meeting  Bay,  and  up  the  Androscoggin  thirty  miles.  Owing  to  this 
division,  Topsham  came  into  Lincoln  County. 

It  was  votetl  this  year  that  hereafter  the  eastern  and  western  por- 
tions of  the  town  ''  repair  their  own  roads,  and  that  the  eastern  end  of 
the  great  pitch  pine  plains  be  the  paitition  Iwtween  each  end  of  the 
town."  Three  shillings  per  day  was  allowed  for  men,  and  two  shillings 
for  each  yoke  of  oxen  employed  upon  the  roads.  £26  13s.  4d.  was 
raise<l  this  3'ear  for  the  schoolmaster,  and  £45  for  a  town  stock  of 
ammunition. 

[1761.]  John  Minot  was  requested  by  the  town  this  year  to  urge 
ui>on  the  General  Court  the  propriet}'  of  taxing  the  lands  of  non-resi- 
dents, but  he  was  unable  to  accomplish  anything,  because,  as  he  says 
in  a  letter  to  "  Gentlemen  and  neighbors,"  dated  May  22,  "  upon  the 
Carpet  there  was  nothing  but  the  Bloody  Sword  drawn  forth  b}-  our 
bitter  enemys  &  no  man  living  then  could  give  any  judgment  where  or 
how  things  would  end."* 

The  petition  of  the  selectmen  in  1760,  desiring  the  General  Court 
to  inclu<le  Brunswick  in  the  new  county  to  be  established,  was  consid- 
ered in  council,  June  16,  and  dismissed,  it  appearing  that  the  whole 
town  was  alreadv  in  the  count v  of  Cumberland.^ 

[1762.]  A  petition  from  a  number  of  the  residents  at  New 
Meadows,  for  separation  from  the  western  j)art  of  Brunswick,  was 
this  3'ear  presented  to  the  General  Court,  and  the  following  letter  was 
sent  to  the  proprietors  :  — 

''  Boston,  May  y*  W^,  1762 
*'  Gentlemen 

'*  I  with  a  number  of  the  Inhalntance  of  Brunswick  Have  Pettitioned 
the  Court  to  have  that  Part  of  said  town  Called  New  Meadows,  made 


^  P^epscot  Papers.  ^IbiiL 


120        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

into  a  soperate  Distreet  —  for  we  find  by  Longe  expereance  that  it  is 

Imposable  for  as  to  Injoy  the  preaching  of  the  Gosple  while  togather 

—  We  likewise  want  to  be  Joyned  to  the  Lower  Count}'  as  we  can  then 

attend  Court  with  Greater  ease  and  less  Chaise  —  as  we  have  had  our 

Lands  from  you,  gentlemen,  and  as  T  Have  endevored  to  8er\-e  the 

Intrest  of  your  Company  so  far  as  it  was  in  my  power ;  and  am  ready 

still  to  do  so  —  and  tlio'  it  was  l)ut  Lettel  I  Could  or  Can  do  to  sen's 

you  — 3'et  Gentlemen  I  have  some  reason  to  Hope  that  you  will  look 

on  m}'  Honest  Intentions  to  serve  you  to  be  equal  to  the  thing,  shall 

therefore  request  of  you  Gentlemen  who  have  a  Seat  in  the  general 

Court  to  use  vour  Intrest  in  favor  of  said  Pettition,  and  vou  Gentlemen 

that  Have  no  Seat  in  that  Honourable  House,  I  must  also  beg  of  you 

not  to  say  an3'thing  to  its  predigue.     In  the  mean  while  Gentlemen  I 

remain 

"  Your  most  obedient  Humble  Servant 

**  Aaron  IIinkley.* 
"To  Belcheu  Noyes  Esq. 

Clerk  of  the  Pejepscot  Company 

to  be  communicated  " 

[1763.]  The  town  in  17G3  again  voted  to  petition  the  General 
Court  to  have  the  lands  of  non-resident  proprietors  taxed,  and  also 
that  this  petition  should  be  signed  by  the  selectmen  and  town  clerk, 
and  that  some  gentleman  in  Boston  should  be  employed  to  present  it 
and  to  speak  in  behalf  of  the  town.  It  was  also  .voted  to  set  off  and 
sell  thirteen  pews  on  the  floor,  and  sixteen  pews  in  the  gallery-,  of  the 
west  meeting-house,  *•  the  oldest  inhabitants  that  have  no  i)ews  to 
have  the  preference  in  buying  said  pews,"  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sale 
to  go  towards  defraying  the  expenses  of  repairing  and  finishing  the 
meeting-house. 

[17GG.]  Januar}'  13,  17G6,  John  Miller,  his  wife  Jane,  and  his 
daughter  Margret.  and  their  families,  were  warned  to  leave  town,  in 
accordance  with  law,  to  prevent  tlie  possibility  of  their  coming  ujKjn 
the  town  for  assistance.  Since  this  was,  doubtless,  the  Reverend  Mr. 
Miller  who  was  settled  three  or  four  years  before  over  the  First  Parish, 
it  shows  that  the  town  paid  no  respect  to  persons  in  this  matter,  but 
serve<l  all  alike  who  had  no  visible  pecuniary  means  of  support. 
This  law  was  enforced  here  as  late  as  1792. 

[17G7.]  The  town  this  year  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Hunt  three  dollars 
for  building  a  new  pair  of  stocks.  Tliis  is  the  first  mention  made 
of  dnllurs  in  the  town  records. 


P^epscot  Papers, 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  121 

The  town  also  voted  sixteen  shillings  per  year  for  a  sexton  for  the 
west  meeting-house,  and  two  dollars  per  year  for  one  for  the  east 
meeting-house. 

[17G8.]  At  a  meeting  held  September  22d,  Aaron  Hinkley  was 
eleete<l  a  delegate  ft-om  Brunswick  "  to  join  the  committee  at  Boston 
in  order  to  consult  and  advise  such  measures  as  should  be  thought  best 
for  the  peace  and  safety  of  his  Majestj^'s  subjects  in  this  Province,"  and 
Thomas  Skolfield,  Isaac  Snow,  Captain  Dunning,  Samuel  Thompson, 
and  William  Woodside,  Jr. ,  were  appointed  a  committee  to  furnish  him 
with  instructions.  By  the  term  "committee"  in  the  above  extract 
from  the  records  must  be  meant  the  Provincial  Convention  of  delegates, 
which  commenced  its  session  that  ver}'  day  at  Boston,  in  place  of  the 
General  Court,  which  the  governor  had  refused  to  convene  without  the 
consent  of  his  Majesty,  the  king.  '  The  invitation  to  send  a  delegate 
from  Brunswick  was  not  received  until  two  days  before  the  convention 
met.^ 

[1771.]  In  1771  Aaron  Hinkley,  Isaac  Snow,  and  Thomas  Skol- 
field were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  answer  the  petition  that  the  select- 
men of  Topsham  put  into  the  General  Court  in  May  last."  This  peti- 
tion was  to  have  the  boundary  line  between  the  two  towns  so  defined  as 
to  give  the  islands  in  the  river  to  Topsham. 

[1774.]  The  selectmen  were  instructed,  in  1774,  to  lay  out  the 
1 ,000  acres  of  Commons,  and  have  a  plan  made  of  the  same,  in  order 
that  a  deed  of  it  could  be  obtained  from  the  proprietors. 

It  was  voted,  at  the  annual  meeting,  to  again  petition  the  General 
Court  for  power  to  tax  land  belonging  to  non-residents. 

At  a  meeting  held  August  3d,  ''  the  town  took  under  consideration 
the  difficulties  of  the  Province,  and  unanimously  agreed  to  the  non- 
importing  of  English  goods,  until  the  matter  in  dispute  between  Great 
Britain  and  her  colonies  be  reconciled." 

The  selectmen  were  directed  to  ascertain  the  quantitj'  of  ammuni- 
tion the  town  had  in  stock,  and  to  purchase,  if  necessary,  a  new  sup- 
pl}'.  The  port  of  Boston  having  been  closed  by  Act  of  Parliament 
on  account  of  the  seizure  of  the  tea,  it  was  thought  best  to  assist  that 
town  b}'  subscription. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  seventeenth  of  September,  Captain  Moul- 
ton,  Samuel  Stanwood,  and  Samuel  Thompson  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee "  to  meet  the  Falmouth  committee  that  are  to  meet  at  Falmouth, 
on  Wednesday',  the  twent^'-ftrst  day  of  September,  instant,  to  consider 


'  McKeen,  Manuscript  Lecture, 


122        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

what  measures  will  be  best  to  adopt  for  the  good  of  the  country  and 
town." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  on  the  seventeenth  of  Noveml)er,  the 
proceedings  of  the  Continental  Congress  and  of  the  Provincial  Con- 
gress were  read.  The  Provincial  Congress  had  passed  a  resolution 
which  was,  in  substance,  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province  should 
immediately  provide  themselves  with  arms  and  anmiunition,  and 
should  use  their  utmost  diligence  to  perfect  themselves  in  military  skill ; 
and  if  an}-  town  was  not  provided  with  a  full  stock  of  ammunition, 
according  to  law,  that  the  selectmen  of  such  town  should  take  effectual 
care  without  dela}'  to  provide  the  same.^  The  Provincial  Congress 
also  appointed  Henry  Gardner,  £squire,  of  Stow,  receiver-general  of 
all  mone3's  for  the  use  of  the  Province.^ 

The  town,  accordingly,  adopted  it  resolution,  "  that  it  be  our  opinion 
that  it  is  very  proper  to  choose  Militia  officers  in  this  town  forthwith 
and  act  agreeably  to  tlie  directions  in  the  Provincial  Congress."  An 
election  of  militia  officers  then  took  place ;  Samuel  Thompson  being 
chosen  captain,  Robert  Dunning,  lieutenant,  Thomas  Thompson, 
ensign,  and  Stephen  Getchell,  clerk.  A  resolution  was  also  adopted, 
"  That  the  mono}'  voted  in  May  last  by  our  representatives  be  jMiid 
in  to  Henry  Gardner,  Esq.,  of  Stow,  and  that,  if  any  other  or  former 
collectors  have  any  Province  money  in  their  hands  that  they  pa}'  the 
same  to  the  said  Henry  Gardner,  Esq." 

Brunswick  was  represented  in  the  Provincial  Congress  by  Samuel 
Thompson. 

The  Continental  Congress  at  Philadelpliia,  on  the  twentieth  of  Octo- 
ber, entered  into  an  association  or  agreement,  providing  for  the  non- 
importation of  goods,  wares,  or  merchandise  from  Great  Britain, 
Ireland,  or  other  of  the  British  possessions ;  also,  providing  for  the 
non-consumption  of  such  articles,  and  for  the  non-exportation  of  home 
products.  There  were  also  articles  abolishing  the  slave-trade ;  pro- 
viding for  improvement  in  the  breed  of  sheep,  and  to  prevent  their 
being  killed,  unnecessaril}-,  for  food  ;  encouraging  frugality',  economy, 
and  industry,  and  looking  to  the  promotion  of  agriculture,  the  arts, 
and  mjinufactures  in  this  country,  and  discountenancing  every  species 
of.extravagance  ;  guarding  ajjfainst  extortion  on  the  part  of  traders  on 
account  of  the  scarcity  of  goods,  etc.  The  eleventh  article,  to  which 
allusion  is  made  below,  was,  in  substance,  that  a  committee  should  be 
chosen  in  everj-  town  to  observe  the  conduct  of  all  persons,  and  when 


» American  Archives,  Fourth  Series,  Vol.  1,  p.  852.  2  Ibid ,  p.  851. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  123 

the  committee  were  satisfied  that  any  person  had  violated  the  provis- 
ions of  the  agreement,  the  truth  should  be  published  in  the  Gazette^ 
''  to  the  end  that  all  such  foes  to  the  rights  of  British  Americans  may 
be  publicly  known  &  universally  contemned,  as  the  enemies  of  Amer- 
ican Libert\' :  and  thenceforth  we  will  break  off  all  dealings  with  him 
or  her."  ^  These  proceedings  having  been  read  in  full  to  the  meeting, 
the  town  resolved,  '*  that  the  proceedings  of  the  Grand  Congi^ess  be 
adopted  and  much  applauded  by  this  town,  quite  unanimous,"  and 
Tobias  Ham,  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  James  Curtis,  Sumuel  Stanwood, 
Ebenezer  Stanwood,  and  Thomas  Thompson  were  elected  ''  a  com- 
mittee to  see  to  the  due  observance  of  the  eleventh  article  in  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Grand  Congress." 

There  is  on  file  a  warrant  of  this  year,  in  his  Majesty's  name,  call- 
ing the  voters  to  choose  a  representative  to  the  legislature  at  Salem, 
but  no  meeting  was  held,  as  the  citizens  no  longer  recognized  the 
roval  authority.^ 

[1775.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  January  10,  1775,  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Provincial  Congress,  at  Concord,  in  December,  were 
unanimously  approved,  with  the  exception  of  the  article  relating  to 
**  storing  the  goods  after  the  tenth  of  October  next,"  in  regard  to 
which  article  the  vote  was  seventy-nine  yeas  and  twelve  nays. 

A  vote  was  also  passed  *'  that  if  a  Number  out  of  the  several  com- 
panies of  militia  should  list  as  minute  men,"  then  each  town  ought 
^'  to  make  them  such  reasonable  satisfaction  as  shall  be  thought  proper 
by  the  town  where  they  belong  "  Samuel  Thompson,  who  was  now  a 
colonel,  was  elected  as  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress. 

At  a  meeting  held  March  9,  Benjamin  Stone,  Nathaniel  Larrabee, 
James  Cuitis,  Deacon  Stanwood,  and  Aaron  llinklej',  Plsquire,  were 
elected  '^  a  Committee  of  safet}-  to  consult  what  they  shall  tliiuk  best 
at  this  crisis  and  make  report  at  the  adjournment  of  this  meeting." 

At  a  meeting  held  six  daj-s  later,  in  the  w^est  meeting-liouse,  the 
town  voted  '•'  to  p&y  Henry  Gardner  Esq.  all  the  Province  Money  in 
the  hands  of  the  collectors  of  the  town,  agreeable  to  the  advice  of 
our  Congress." 

At  a  meetinff  held  April  27,  Aaron  Hinkley,  Deacon  Samuel  Stan- 
wood, Benjamin  Stone,  Captain  Curtis,  and  Captain  William  Stanwood, 
Jr.,  were  cliosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  also  a  Committee 
of  Supplies,  to  provide  ammunition  and  whatever  else  was  thought 
necessar}'  for  the  safety  of  the  town. 

*  American  ArchiveSf  Fourth  Series,  Vol.  1,  p.  915.         ^F^epscot  Papers, 


124        HIS70RY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABPSWELL, 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  Reverend  John  Miller,  Benjamin  Rideout, 
Gideon  Owens,  Joseph  Melcher,  Joseph  Allen,  Colonel  Samuel  Thom- 
son, David  Brown,  George  Hayden,  Benjamin  Hinkley,  and  Ben- 
jamin Larrabee  were  added  to  "  the  Committee  of  Inspection,"  as  the 
Committee  of  Safety  was  also  designated.  Samuel  Thompson  was 
elected  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  from  Brunswick  and 
Harps  well,  and  he  was  to  serve  for  one  year  after  the  last  Wednesday 
in  the  following  May.  The  selectmen  were  instructed  to  inform  the 
Committee  on  Supplies  why  the  town  did  not  comply  with  their  request 
in  regard  to  coats,  etc.,  for  the  army. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  in  May,  it  was  voted  that 
the  powder  and  flints  provided  bj'  the  town  should  be  equally'  divided 
to  each  man  in  town,  and  the  town  was  to  pay  the  cost  of  procuring 
the  powder ;  and  ''  if  the  men  who  enlist  under  Captain  Curtis  should 
be  called  away,  for  them  to  carry  their  ammunition  with  them."  A 
patrol  was  established  this  year,  under  the  direction  of  the  officers  of 
the  militia. 

In  consequence  of  the  public  distress  and  the  grievousness  of  the 
taxes.  Reverend  Mr.  Miller  and  Mr.  John  Farren,  the  schoolmaster, 
voluntarily  gave  up  a  portion  of  their  salaries,  and  Thomas  Skolfield 
and  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  two  of  the  selectmen,  served  the  town  in 
that  capacity  gratuitously'. 

[177G.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1776,  James  Curtis, 
Samuel  Stanwood,  Thomas  Thompson,  Andrew  Dunning,  and  Nathan- 
iel Larrabee  were  chosen  a  Committee  "  of  Correspondence,  Inspec- 
tion and  Safety." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  May  27,  it  was  voted  ''  to  send  a 
petition  to  the  Great  and  General  Court,"  and  the  selectmen^  together 
with  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Samuel  Thompson,  now 
a  brigadier-general,  Thomas  Skolfield,  and  Thomas  Cotton,  were 
elected  a  committee  to  draft  the  petition.  What  the  object  of  this 
petition  was  has  not  been  ascertained.  Deacon  Samuel  Stanwood  was 
chosen  a  commissioner  to  present  this  petition  at  the  General  Court. 

A  meeting  was  held  May  31st  at  which  "  It  was  unanimously  voted 
that  if  the  Honourable  Congress  should,  for  the  safety'  of  the  United 
Colonies,  Declare  themselves  Independent  of  the  King  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, that  they  will  solemnly  engage  with  their  lives  and  fortunes  to 
support  the  Congress  in  that  measure."  The  selectmen  were  in- 
structed to  deliver  the  powder  that  was  brought  by  Brigadier  Thomp- 
son to  the  captains  of  the  militia,  for  them  to  deliver  to  the  men,  when 
necessary.     Brigadier  Thompson  received  fifty,  and  Deacon  Samuel 


J 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  125 

Stan  wood  thirty-nine  votes  for  representative  to  the  General  Court, 
and  the  town  then  voted  to  send  them  both,  —  they  agreeing  to  serve 
for  half-fees. 

At  a  meeting  held  December  24th,  "  after  due  consideration  on  a 
Resolve  of  the  Great  and  General  Court  of  this  State,  dated  Septem- 
ber 17,  1776,"  it  was  voted,  ''That  the  present  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  this  State,  with  the  Council,  should  consult  and  agree 
on  some  form  of  Government  that  shall  most  conduce  to  the  safety, 
peace,  and  happiness  of  this  State  in  all  after  generations." 

Brigadier  Samuel  Thompson  was  chosen  to  represent  the  wishes  of 
the  town  at  the  General  Court,  agreeably  to  the  above-mentioned 
resolve. 

[1777.]  At  a  special  town  meeting,  held  in  Februarj',  1 777,  Deacon 
Snow  and  Captain  Robert  Dunning  were  elected  to  fill  the  places  of 
Deacon  Stanwood  and  Captain  Curtis,  and  at  the  annual  meeting, 
March  4,  Major  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  Doctor  Samuel  Dunken,  Captain 
Robert  Dunning,  Robert  Spear,  and  Andrew  Dunning  were  chosen  a 
Committee  of  Correspondence,  etc. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  22,  Thomas  Skolfield  was  elected  a  recog- 
nizee, t.  e.,  an  officer  emix)wered  to  take  recognizances.  The  select- 
men were  instructed  to  execute  the  law  '•  concerning  monopoly  and 
oppression."  Notwithstanding  the  exciting  and  trying  circumstances 
connected  with  the  war  of  Revolution  then  going  on,  the  citizens  were 
not  unmindful  of  the  interests  of  education,  for  the  town  voted  to  have 
a  school  this  3'ear  and  to  pay  a  schoolmaster  £30.  A  committee  was 
at  this  time  appointed  to  procure  a  teacher. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  twenty-seventh  daj'  of  November,  in  pur- 
suance of  an  Act  of  the  General  Court,  entitled  '"An  Act  for  supplying 
the  Families  of  the  Soldiers  in  the  Continental  Service,"  the  town  voted 
to  supply  the  families  of  the  men  thus  engaged,  agreeabl}*  to  the  afore- 
said resolve.  For  this  purpose,  £20  were  voted  and  Benjamin  Stone, 
Samuel  Stanwood,  James  Curtis,  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  and  Roliert 
Dunning  were  elected  a  committee  to  attend  to  its  disbursement 

[1778.]  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  Marcli,  1778,  it  was 
voted  to  allow  Mr.  Josiah  Simpson  eight  |)ounds  and  four  shillings  for 
his  ser\ice  in  carrying  the  baggage  of  twenty-two  men  from  Bruns- 
wick to  Boston  the  previous  year.  It  was  also  voted  '-  to  supply  the 
wives  of  those  men  that  went  for  this  town  into  the  Continental  army, 
by  way  of  subscription,  — they  to  be  allowed  the  market  price  for  s* 
articles  that  they  shall  find  for  s**  use."  Lieutenant  Thomas  Berry, 
Nicholas   Rideout,    Captain    Robert    Dunning,   John   Dunning,   and 


126        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPeWELL, 

William  Woodside  were  elected  as  Committee  of  Correspondence, 
etc. 

The  proprietors  made  an  agreement  with  Aaron  Hinklcy  for  him  to 
survey  the  town  Commons.  This  he  had  done,  but  the  survey  differed 
so  much  from  the  plan  made  by  James  Scales,  "  and  the  inhabitants 
made  so  much  uneasiness  about  it,"  that  it  was  laid  one  side,  and  the 
Scales  plan  was  accepted.  The  proprietors  complain,  however,  of 
the  neglect  of  the  selectmen  in  the  matter.'  This  explains  why,  at  a 
subsequent  meeting,  held  JVIay  12,  the  town  voted  to  have  the  Commons 
surveyed,  but  laid  upon  the  table  till  the  next  meeting  the  clause  in 
the  warrant  relative  to  applying  to  the  proprietors  for  a  deed.  At  this 
meeting,  Aaron  Ilinkle}',  William  Stanwood,  and  Andrew  Dunning 
were  chosen  to  consult  as  to  the  best  method  for  supporting  the  fami- 
lies of  soldiers. 

''  Then  the  votes  were  brought  in  for  the  proposed  form  of  govern- 
ment, and  there  appeared  to  be  for  said  form  three,  and  against  said 
form  seventy  five."  This  vote  was  in  regard  to  a  proposed  new  con- 
stitution for  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  which  was  not  rat- 
ified by  the  towns  in  consequence  of  several  serious  defects  contained 
in  it. 

At  a  meeting  held  June  2,  Aaron  Ilinkley,  William  Stanwood,  Jr., 
and  Captain  Curtis  were  chosen  *'  to  give  our  Representative  Instruc- 
tions." What  these  instructions  were  has  not  been  ascertained.  A 
vote  was  also  passed  at  this  meeting  that  the  one  hundred  and  fifty- 
eight  dollars  given,  as  an  additional  bounty,  to  the  five  men  who  went 
into  the  service,  agreeably  to  a  resolve  of  the  General  Court,  of  April 
20,  1778,  should  be  paid  by  a  tax  on  the  polls  and  estates  of  the  west 
end  of  the  town.  The  only  explanation  of  this  vote  wliich  we  can  sug- 
gest is,  that  the  east  end  of  the  town  may  have  furnished  the  five  men 
called  for,  and  should  therefore  be  exempt  from  paying  any  bounty. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  tenth  of  June,  the  town  voted  '*  to  lay 
out  the  Commons  agreeable  to  the  minutes  that  were  read,  viz.,  S** 
Commons  to  be  Iwunded  on  the  head  of  Middle  Bay  lots  and  to 
extend  northerly  between  and  adjoining  upon  the  lots  that  front  upon 
the  twelve  rod  road  and  the  lots  that  front  upon  Mericonege  marshes, 
and  upon  the  lots  that  front  upon  New  Meadows  river,  until  1,000 
acres  be  completed."  Captain  James  Thompson  protested  against 
this  vote,  probably  for  fear  lest  the  Commons  might  encroach  upon 
his  lot.  A  conunittee  was  chosen,  however,  to  la}*  out  the  land  in 
confonnity  with  this  vote,  and  Stephen  Getchell  was  chosen  surve^'or. 

*  Brunsvcick  Records,  in  P^rpscot  CoUwtion. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  127 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  10th  of  September,  it  was  voted  *'  that 
such  shirts  as  are  fit  to  be  sent  to  our  brethren  in  the  army  be  48/  each ; 
that  good  shoes  for  said  service  be  54/  ,  each  pair ;  that  good  stock- 
ings for  said  service  be  30/,  each  pair." 

At  a  meeting  held  December  25,  the  town  voted  to  accept  of  the 
survey  of  the  Commons  as  laid  out  by  the  committee  chosen  the  pre- 
vious May,  but  not  to  accept  a  deed  of  them  from  Noyes,  if  made 
according  to  Hinkley's  survey.  A  committee  was  chosen  to  consult 
with  the  proprietors'  agent  in  regard  to  the  matter. 

[1779.]  Brigadier  Thompson,  William  Stanwood,  and  Doctor 
Dun  ken  were  chosen  a  committee  to  supply  the  families  of  those  men 
who  went  from  this  town  into  the  Continental  service  with  such  neces- 
saries as  they  might  need.  The  town  also  voted  an  appropriation  of 
£200  for  that  purpose.  James  Elliot,  Jr.,  Samuel  Dunlap,  Samuel 
Stanwood,  Jr.,  Thomas  Godfrey,  and  Stephen  Pennell  were  chosen 
a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and  Safety. 

The  selectmen  were,  at  this  meeting,  instructed  to  procure  a  deed 
of  the  Commons,  and  the  committee  chosen  to  lay  out  the  Commons 
were  directed  to  complete  their  work  as  speedily  as  possibl}-.  The 
selectmen  were  also  ihstnicted  to  take  effectual  means  to  secure,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  town,  the  growth  of  lumber  on  the  Commons. 

Thomas  Pennell  was  allowed  £4  8«.,  ^'  it  being  for  so  much  Counter- 
feit Money  he  took  in  part  of  his  tax  in  the  year  1776." 

Four  prisoners  —  probably  British  soldiers  —  were  taken  care  of  in 
Brunswick  this  year,  and  the  town  consequently  voted  the  following 
sums  as  compensation  to  those  having  charge  of  them  ;  — 

To  Captain  Dunlap       ....  £6     8,v.    Od. 
"         "       Thompson          ...  440 

"  Lieutenant  Berrv    .         .         .         .  14      0 

*'  Mr.  John  Dunning  .         .         .  2  14      0 

The  sum  of  three  pounds  was  also  voted  to  Jacob  Anderson  for  ser- 
vices in  carr}ing  shirts,  shoes,  and  stockings  to  Portland. 

At  a  special  meeting  in  August,  the  town  voted  its  approval  of  the 
transactions  of  the  convention  held  at  Concord  on  the  fourteenth  of 
July  preceding.  The  object  of  that  convention  was  to  establisli  a 
State  price-current,  and  to  adopt  other  measures  to  prevent  nionopolj', 
extortion,  and  unfair  dealing,  and  spirited  resolutions  were  passed, 
fixing  the  prices  of  several  articles  of  merchandise.^ 

*  History  of  Concord^  MiUi8..,p.  122. 


128        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELh, 

Aaron  Hinkley,  William  Stanwood,  Thomas  Skolfield,  Joseph  Cur- 
tis, and  Deacon  Stanwood.  were  chosen  a  committee  ''  to  set  the  prices 
on  the  articles  in  the  town  and  caiTy  the  resolution  into  effect."  Thej 
were  also  directed  to  inform  the  committee  of  the  town  of  Boston  con- 
cerning the  action  taken  in  this  matter  by  Brunswick. 

At  a  meeting  on  the  ninth  of  November,  an  account  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  tlie  convention  held  at  Concord  in  the  previous  month  was  read, 
audit  was  thereupon  unanimously  voted,  "  to  stand  by  the  proceedings 
of  said  convention,"  and  Aaron  Hinkley,  Deacon  Stanwood,  Thomas 
Skolfield,  Captain  Curtis,  and  Captain  William  Stanwood  were  elected 
a  committee  ''  to  see  said  resolutions  put  into  execution."  The  con- 
vention referred  to  was  held  at  Concord  on  the  sixth  of  Octolxir,  at 
which  a  revision  of  the  price-cuiTent  adopted  at  the  J11I3'  convention 
was  made,  and  resolutions  were  passed  relating  to  trade,  currency, 
etc.  Count}'  and  town  meetings  were  recommended  to  carry  these 
resolutions  into  effect.  ^ 

[1780.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1780,  the  following 
appropriations  were  voted :  The  sum  of  $4,050  for  highways,  and 
to  paj-  out  of  this  thirty-  dollars  per  day  for  the  labor  of  each  man, 
twenty-live  dollars  for  each  pair  of  oxen,  and  five  dollars  for  each  cart, 
£12  to  William  Spear  for  his  services  for  two  years  as  sexton  of  the 
west  meeting-house,  and  twenty-five  dollars  per  day  as  compensation 
to  the  selectmen,  '*  they  to  find  themselves  and  paper." 

The  town  at  this  time  elected  Brigadier  Thompson  as  its  agent  to 
the  General  Court,  in  conformity  with  a  resolve  of  that  body,  passed 
December  4,  1779. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  15th,  the  town  postponed  voting  in  regard 
to  a  change  of  the  State  Constitution  until  the  next  meeting.  Proba- 
bly the  next  meeting  of  the  town  .occurred  too  late  for  the  vote  of 
Brunswick  to  have  auv  effect,  suice  no  vote  of  the  kind  was  recoixicd 
at  any  subsequent  meeting  this  year. 

About  this  time  a  circular  letter  was  received  from  Jere  Powell, 
President  of  the  General  Assembly  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  desiring,  in 
urgent  terms,  the  town  to  furnish  its  proportion  of  blankets  needed 
for  the  army  at  oncc,'-^  as  called  for,  amongst  other  things,  by  a  resolve 
of  that  body  passed  the  previous  year. 

The  town  accordingly  voted  to  furnish  the  blankets  and  other 
articles  and  *"  to  allow  for  each  pair  of  good  shoes,  such  as  the  agent 
will  receive  so  much  of  the  present  currency  as  will  purchase  seven 

*  History  of  Concord^  Mass  ,  p.  122.  *  P^cpscot  Papers, 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  129 

pecks  of  Indian  com,  and  for  stockings  of  the  like  quality,  the  value 
of  five  pecks  of  corn,  and  for  shirts  the  same  price  as  of  shoes,  and 
for  blankets  —  them  that  are  good  — the  value  of  four  bushels  in  said 
currency." 

At  a  meeting  held  September  4th,  the  town  cast  its  first  vote  for 
governor  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  lieutenant-governor, 
and  senator.  Whom  the  town  voted  for  as  governor  is  not  men- 
tioned, but  undoubtedly  it  was  John  Hancock.  Honorable  Samuel 
Adams  received  a  majority  of  eleven  votes  as  lieutenant-governor,  and 
John  Lewis,  Esquire,  fourteen  votes  as  senator.  Honorable  James 
Bowdoin  received  three  votes  as  lieutenant-governor. 

At  a  meeting  in  October,  Brigadier  Thompson,  Doctor  Dunken,  and 
John  Given  were  chosen  as  a  committee  to  procure  the  beef  which 
had  been  demanded  by  the  General  Court  for  the  supply  of  the  army. 
They  were  instructed  that,  if  the}*  were  unable  to  procure  the  whole 
amount,  they  should,  with  the  selectmen,  make  known  to  the  General 
Court  the  reasons  why  the}'  were  unable  to  furnish  all,  and  were 
authorized  to  make  up  the  delicienc}'  in  tlie  amount,  in  money.  The 
selectmen  were  instructed  to  assess  suflicient  to  cover  the  amount 
paid  out  by  this  committee. 

[17*<1.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1781,  the  selectmen 
were  directed  to  inform  the  General  Court  that  the  resolve  of  Decem- 
ber 4,  1780,  concerning  beef,  was  not  received  in  season  for  the  town 
to  comply  with  its  requirements. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  nineteenth  of  July,  the  town  voted  to 
coin[>ly  with  tlie  last  requisition  of  the  General  Court,  in  regard  to 
furnisliing  beef  for  the  army,  and  to  raise  £204,  cash,  to  procure  the 
beef.     A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  obtain  the  beef. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  tlie  twent^'-fifth  of  December,  Samuel  Stan- 
wood,  Captain  William  Stanwood,  Jr.,  William  Woodside,  Aaron 
Hinkley,  Doctor  Samuel  Dunken,  and  Captain  James  Curtis  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  prepare  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  ''  con- 
cerning our  present  circumstances  and  our  inability  of  paying  our 
taxes  in  specie,  and  to  lay  the  petition  before  our  March  meeting,  for 
approbation  or  amendment." 

[17^2.]  The  above-mentioned  petition  was  presented  to  the  town 
at  its  annual  meeting  in  March,  17H2,  and  adopted.  At  this  meeting 
Samuel  Woodward,  Jacob  Anderson,  and  Snnuiel  Stanwood,  Jr.,  were 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and  Safety. 
This  was  the  last  time  such  a  committee  was  raised  bv  the  town. 

At  a  meeting  in  June,  it  was  voted  that  *'  the  several  classes  in 
y 


130        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

this  town  procure  the  three  men  called  for  by  the  General  Court  with- 
out delay."  To  promote  the  enlistment  of  soldiers,  the  town  was 
divided  into  districts,  which  are  designated  above  as  "  classes." 

Wolves  must  have  become  verj^  troublesome  at  this  time,  for  the 
town,  at  this  meeting,  offered  a  bounty  of  20s.  for  each  and  every 
grown  wolf  killed  within  its  limits,  and  40«.  to  every  person  who 
would  make  pits  or  traps  for  their  destruction. 

On  January  2,  1783,  the  following  petition  to  have  the  town 
excused  from  paying  a  fine,  for  not  furnishing  the  three  men  called 
for  in  1782,  was  presented  to  the  legislature  by  a  committee  of  the 
town :  — 

**To  THE  Honourable  the  Sknate  &  Honourable  House  of  representa- 
tives OF  the  commonw^ealtii  of  Massacusetts  in  Gkneral  Court 
TO  be  assembled  on  the  last  Wednesday  of  January  1783. 

"THE  PETITION  OF  US  SUBSCRIBERS  (BEING  A  COMMITTEE  CHOSEN 
BY  THE  FREE  HOLDERS  AND  OTHER  INHABITANTS  OF  THIS 
TOWN  OF  BRUNSWICK  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  CUMBERLAND 
liEGULARLY   ASSEMBLED), 

Humbly  Shbweth. 

''  That  whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  this  Town  have  exerted  themselves 
to  the  utmost  of  their  power,  in  answering  all  requisitions  that  has 
been  required  of  them  During  the  present  warr,  but  could  not  procure 
the  last  three  men  which  was  required  for  want  of  money  ;  and  whereas 
we  understand  that  we  have  been  overated  in  our  taxations  for  some 
years  past,  both  for  men,  money,  &  Beef,  we  Humbly  pray  3'  Hon"  to 
Excuse  us  from  the  fine  that  is  laid  on  us  for  said  three  men  —  Your 
Hon"  cannot  be  Ignorant  of  our  Circumstances  in  these  parts  —  How 
our  Coast  is  (almost  continually)  Invested  with  the  P2nem3'  Depriving 
us  of  our  Vessels  &  Substance,  So  as  we  cannot  gett  to  markett  such 
commodities  as  we  could  spare.  We  are  well  assured  that  the  farr 
Greater  part  of  the  Inhabitants  here  would  be  willing  to  suffer,  and 
has  suffered,  in  order  to  help  on  the  present  occation  but  for  want  of 
a  Markett  Cash  is  exceeding  scarce  among  us  —  and  many  has  &  are 
moving  back  into  the  wilderness,  because  they  cannot  pay  their  taxes, 
therefore  we  Humbly  pray  that  we  may  be  eased  of  the  above  men- 
tioned fine  but  as  for  the  average  part  we  mean  to  endeavour  to  pay 
as  soon  as  possible  but  If  executions  should  be  issued  out  against  us 
suddently,  it  would  (we  fear)  Discourage  the  poor  Inhabitants  very 
much,  therefore  Relying  on  your  Hon"  gieat  wisdom,  to  consider  our 
Circumstances,  not  Doubting  but  that  you  will  Endeavour  to  promote 
our  AVellfare  &  Happiness  in  these  parts  as  well  as  in  the  other  parts 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  131 

of  this  commonwealth,  And  yonr  Humble  Petitioners  as  in  Duty 

boand  shall  ever  pray.^ 

"Thos.  Skolfield 

James  Curtis 

Sam'll  Standwood 

Natu'l  Larrabee 
««  Brunswick,  Jam  2*  1783." 


>  Committee, 


In  answer  to  this  petition  the  legislature  passed  a  resolve,  which 
was  approved  by  the  governor,  excusing  the  town  from  payment  of 
any  fine,  provided  they  would  pay  into  the  treasury  of  the  Common- 
wealth the  sum  of  £185  4^  ^^d.^  which  was  the  average  price  paid 
for  the  enlistment  of  three  men.^ 

The  town  this  year  voted  to  pay  Brigadier  Thompson  £30  I65.  3d. 
for  his  services  as  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Congress  in  the  years 
1774  and  1775.  Reverend  Mr.  Miller,  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  Thomas 
Skolfield,  Deacon  Dunning,  and  Captain  Gross  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  answer  a  letter  which  had  been  received  from  the  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  Boston.     Their  answer  was  as  follows :  — 

''At  a  legal  Town  meeting  held  in  Brunswick,  on  Thursday,  the  26th 
of  June,  1783,  in  answer  to  your  letter  respecting  the  return  of  the 
Refugees  and  Conspirators  who  endeavored  to  deprive  us  of  our  rights 
and  privileges  by  joining  with  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  it  is  the 
nnanimous  opinion  of  this  town  that  they  ought  never  to  be  suffered 
to  return  but  to  be  excluded  from  having  lot  or  portion  in  any  of  the 
United  States  of  America." 

November  20th,  of  this  year,  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  gave  to  the 
town  a  deed  of  the  town  Commons.  (See  chapter  on  Public  Lands, 
Roads,  etc.) 

[1784.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1784,  the  town  voted  to 
take  no  action  upon  the  article  in  the  warrant  concerning  paying 
Brigadier  Thompson's  demands  for  expenses  incurred  in  hiring  men  to 
^erve  in  the  army  in  the  year  1781.  He  had  probably  acted  in  the 
matter  on  his  own  responsibilitj',  and  the  town  did  not  consider  itself 
legally  bound  to  repay  him.  The  selectmen  were,  at  this  time, 
instructed  to  take  proper  care  of  the  town  Commons,  and  to  dispose 
of  the  lumber  on  them  as  they  might  think  to  be  for  the  best  ad- 
vantage of  the  town. 

[1785  ]  In  1785  William  Owen  was  elected  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  and  it  was  voted  that  in  case  that  bodj'  refused  to 
receive  him  in  that  capacity-,  he  was  to  act  as  the  town's  agent  to 

^P^epdcot  Papers.  ^  Massachusetts  Records^  Ko/.  44.   •  413 


132        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

answer  the  Topsham  petition.  This  petition  was  the  renewal  of 
former  one,  to  have  the  islands  in  the  Androscoggin  River  annexed 
Topsham. 

[178G.]  At  a  special  meeting  in  January,  1786,  a  committee 
chosen  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  some  abatement  of  the  town*« 
assessment  in  the  next  State  tax.  The  town  voted  to  hold  every 
alternate  town  meeting  at  the  east  meeting-house.  A  resolution  was 
adopted  that  it  was  the  uuanimous  desire  of  the  town  that  a  canal  be 
cut  through  from  New  Meadows  River  to  Mernmeetiug  Bay.  It  was 
also  voted  to  be  the  unanimous  wish  of  the  town  that  the  counties  of 
York,  Cumberland,  and  Lincoln  be  made  a  separate  State,  and  Aaron 
H  ink  ley  was  elected  a  delegate  to  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Portland 
(Falmouth)  for  the  consideration  of  this  subject. 

[1787.]  The  town  this  year  again  voted  in  favor  of  making  YoA, 
Cumberland,  and  Lincoln  Counties  a  separate  State. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  eighteenth  of  December,  the  town  voted  — 
twenty-three  to  seven  —  '*  to  accept  of  the  proposed  form  of  Gov- 
ernment for  the  United  States  as  it  now  stands,"  and  Captain  Jolm 
Dunlap  was  elected  a  delegate  to  an  assembly  which  was  to  meet  at 
the  State  House  in  Boston,  on  the  second  Wednesdav  in  Janoarv. 
1788,  for  its  adoption  or  rejection  on  the  part  of  Massachusetts.  This 
was  the  vote  of  Brunswick  on  the  question  of  the  acceptance,  by  the 
States,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 

[17H8.]  At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  1788,  Captain  John  Peter- 
son, Deacon  Dunning,  and  Nathaniel  Larral^ee  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  iK»tition  the  General  Court  for  a  modification  of  the  '*Fish  Aet.*^ 

The  town  very  injudiciously  voted  to  lease  one  hundred  acres  of 
Commons  to  William  Marriner,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  1 
lease  as  much  more  to  other  parties  as  might  be  desired.     A  vote 
passed  this  year,  that  all  future  town  meetings  should  be  held  at  the 
west  meeting-house. 

On  the  eighteenth  of  Deceml>er,  the  town,  for  the  first  time,  voted 
for  Presidential  electors,  and  Honorable  Dummer  Sewall  and  Samael 
Freeman  received  a  majority  of  the  votes  cast. 

[17^9.]  The  town  this  year  decided  to  hold  one  annual  meeting  oat 
of  three  at  the  east  end  of  the  town,  and  to  hold  all  its  other  meetings 
alternately  at  the  east  and  west  ends. 

[17'J0.]  This  year  Benjamin  Chase,  his  family  and  estate,  were  set 
off  from  the  town  of  Frceport  and  annexed  to  the  town  of  Brunswick.^ 


^Massachusetts  Special  Laws,  I, p.  277. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  133 

[1791  ]  The  vote  for  representative  to  Congress  in  November, 
1790,  seems  to  have  been  in  some  way  illegal,  as  a  special  meeting  was 
called  January  25,  1791,  for  the  purpose  of  another  election,  at  which 
General  Lithgow  received  a  majority  of  eighteen  votes. 

At  the  annual  meeting  this  year,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  locate 
a  canal  from  Maquoit  Bay  to  the  Androscoggin  River,  but  the  town 
afterwards  reconsidered  the  vote. 

An  address  ftom  the  senators  and  representatives  in  the  district  of 
Maine  was  read,  and  the  town  then  voted  —  seventy -one  to  twent}'- 
five  —  in  favor  of  a  separate  State. 

[1792.]  The  town,  in  1792,  voted  against  the  separation  of  the 
District  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts,  by  a  vote  of  sixty-one  to 
sixteen. 

[1793.]  In  1793  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  be 
instructed  to  take  an  account  of  the  paper-money  in  Captain  Stan- 
wood's  hands,  and  direct  him  to  dispose  of  it  in  the  best  manner  he 
could,  and  deposit  the  proceeds  in  tiie  town  treasury. 

The  town  also  voted  to  dismiss  the  article  in  the  warrant,  concern- 
ing building  a  new  meeting-house. 

[1 794.]  In  1794,  the  question  of  making  the  District  of  Maine  into 
a  State  was  again  voted  on.  The  vote  stood  four  in  favor  and  thirtj'- 
five  against  so  doing. 

The  town  also  voted  ' '  to  allow  Nathaniel  Larrabee  five  pounds  in 
full  for  his  past  service  as  town  clerk,  which  is  twent^'-eight  years." 

The  town  this  year  voted,  unanimousl}*,  "in  favor  of  revising  the 
Constitution."  Whether  it  was  the  State  or  national  Constitution  is 
not  specified.  It  was,  perhaps,  the  latter,  as  the  eleventh  article  of 
the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  was  offered  in  Congress  in  1794, 
and  probably  was  not  presented  to  the  State,  for  ratification  or  rejec- 
tion, much  earlier  than  this. 

[1795.]  The  town  again,  in  1795,  voted  —  si xtj-three  to  twenty- 
three —  against  the  formation  of  a  new  State. 

[1796.]  "At  a  very  full  and  respectable  meeting  of  the  town  of 
Brunswick,  legally  assembled  the  fourteenth  day  of  May,  179G,  for  the 
sole  purpose  of  taking  into  consideration  the  state  of  our  public  affairs 
with  respect  to  the  treat}'  between  Great  Brit^un  and  America,  voted 
unanimously  to  support  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States." 

[1797.]  The  town,  in  1797,  again  voted  against  the  formation  of 
a  new  State. 

[1798.]  In  1798  it  was  voted  by  the  town  that  the  selectmen 
should  give  a  deed  of  the  two  hundred  acres  of  land  which  the  town 


134      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

had  previously  voted  for  the  benefit  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  they 
were  instructed,  if  necessary,  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  the 
requisite  authority. 

A  committee  was  also  chosen  ^^  to  settle  some  accounts  disputable 
between  the  Baptist  and  Congregational  societies  in  this  town." 

At  a  meeting  held  in  October  to  consider  in  regard  to  the  formation 
of  a  new  county  from  several  of  the  towns  in  Cumberland  and  Lin- 
coln Counties,  the  town  voted  to  send  Nathaniel  Larrabec  as  a  dele- 
gate to  a  convention  to  be  held  in  Hallowell,  with  instructions  to  vote 
against  the  project  of  a  new  county,  unless  Brunswick  could  be  made 
the  shire  town. 

[1799.]  In  1799  the  town,  although  there  was  no  war,  raised  one 
fifth  as  large  an  amount  pf  money  for  gunix)wder  as  it  did  for  schools ; 
thirty  pounds  being  appropriated  for  the  former  and  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  for  the  latter. 

[1802.]  Appropriations  by  the  town  in  1802  were  $1,000  for 
schools,  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  for  contingent  expenses. 
This  3'ear  men  were  allowed  for  labor  on  the  highway  one  dollar  per 
day,  and  sixty-six  cents  per  day  for  each  pair  of  oxen. 

[1806.]  The  town,  in  1806,  appointed  a  committee  to  consult  with 
the  towns  of  Durham  and  Freeport,  to  see  if  they  would  join  with 
Brunswick  in  building  a  workhouse  or  a  poorhouse,  and  upon  what 
terms  they  would  do  so. 

[1807.]  The  records  do  not  state  what  the  decision  of  these  towns 
was,  but  it  may  be  inferred  from  the  vote  of  Brunswick,  in  1807,  to 
build  a  house  for  the  town  poor,  which  should  be  thirty-six  feet  long, 
twenty  feet  wide,  and  two  stories  high.  The  town  voted  to  have  it 
located  in  the  vicinitj'  of  Samuel  Beals*s,^  and  appropriated  two  hun- 
dred and  seventy-five  dollars  to  finish  the  outside. 

[1808.]  In  1808  the  town  voted  that  at  the  annual  meetings  in 
March,  April,  and  May,  every  legal  voter  should  take  his  seat  in  the 
meeting-house,  and  there  remain  until  the  moderator  of  the  meeting 
should  by  name  call  upon  him  to  come  forward  and  put  in  his  vote. 
This  rather  dilatory  method  of  voting  was,  undoubtedly,  tried  as  a 
remedy  for  tlie  disorderly  conduct  so  often  prevalent  at  municipal 
meetings. 

A  committee  was  chosen  this  j^ear  to  apply  to  the  Pejepscot  proprie- 
tors for  permission  to  sell  and  dispose  of  the  town  Commons,  ministry 
and  school  lots,  ^^  and  marsh,"  the  interest  of  such  sales  to  be  appro- 

*/<  stood  on  the  lot  in  the  rear  of  Mrs.  Frances  Owen's  residence,  on  Federal  Sti'eeL 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  135 

priated  for  the  use  of  schools,  or  in  such  other  way  as  the  town  should 
think  proper.  As  no  answer  to  an}*  request  of  this  kind  can  be  found 
in  the  town  records,  or  in  the  Pejepscot  Papers  or  Records,  it  is  suffi- 
ciently e\'ident  that  no  such  permission  was  ever  granted. 

The  effect  of  the  Embargo  Law,  passed  in  Congress  on  the  previous 
December,  was  severely  felt  throughout  New  England,  and  Brunswick 
formed  no  exception.  The  town  therefore  voted  to  present  a  respect- 
ful petition  to  the  President  of  the  United  States  praying  him  to  sus- 
pend the  law  laying  an  embargo,  either  wholly  or  in  part. 

The  selectmen  were  also  requested  to  transmit  to  the  selectmen  of 
the  town  of  Boston  a  cop}'  of  the  proceedings  of  the  town  of  Bruns- 
wick, and  to  assure  them  of  their  cordial  co-operation  with  the  inhab- 
itants of  that  metropolis  in  any  constitutional  measures  necessary  to 
obtain  a  removal  or  alleviation  of  the  grievances  the}*  suffered  from  a 
suspension  of  commerce. 

[1809.]  On  January  23. 1809,  the  town  adopted  the  following  reso- 
lutions :  — 

"  Ist.  Resolved^  That  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  do  consider  the 
Act  of  Congress  laying  a  permanent  embargo  as  directl}'  repugnant  to 
the  spirit  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  the  several  sup- 
plementar}'  acts,  but  especially  the  act  passed  on  the  sixth  of  January 
inst.,  as  alarming  violations  of  the  express  provisions  of  that  Constitu- 
tion ;  that  they  tend  directly  to  the  annihilation  of  the  revenue,  while 
they  greatl}*  increase  the  expenses  of  the  United  States ;  to  produce 
and  daily  aggravate  distress  among  the  great  body  of  the  people,  and 
if  long  continued  to  excite  domestic  convulsions. 

"2d.  Resolved^  That  the  last  act  of  Congress  designed  to  enforce 
the  embargo,  when  its  utter  inutility  either  as  a  measure  of  precaution 
or  as  a  measure  of  coercion,  upon  those  belligerents  whose  decrees  and 
orders  effect  our  commerce,  is  aeknowleged  by  all,  forces  upon  us  the 
apprehension  that  the  embargo  originated  in  the  will  of  that  P^mperor 
who  has  declared  that  he  will  compel  the  United  States  to  take  i)art  in 
the  war  either  as  friends  or  allies. 

"  3d.  Resolved^  That  we  believe  it  is  the  intention  of  the  adminis- 
tration to  unite  with  France  in  a  war  against  Great  Britain,  a  war 
which  we  deprecate  as  neither  just,  necessary  or  wise ;  since  we  are 
persuaded  that  all  matters  of  dispute  between  the  United  States  and 
that  government  might  by  sincere  and  honorable  negotiation  bo  ami- 
cabl}'  settled  and  a  friendly  commercial  intercourse  re-established  on 
principles  mutually  advantageous. 

''  4th.     Resolved^  That  the  organization  of  a  large  military  force  in 


136       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELJL 

a  time  of  peace,  for  purposes  coueealed  from  the  people,  excites  in  our 
minds  the  most  alarming  apprehensions,  while  the  unlimited  powers 
vested  in  the  President  and  in  oflScers  of  his  apix>intment  for  enforcing 
the  Embargo  Laws  present  to  our  astonished  view  the  moustroos 
image  of  a  military  desjwtism,  erected  by  the  rulers  of  a  free  republic 
and  the  proi>erty,  the  liberty,  and  even  the  lives  of  citizens  placed 
under  the  control  of  numerous  petty  tyrants  in  defiance  of  the  express 
provisions  of  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  and  in  contempt 
of  the  Constitution  and  laws  of  this  Commonwealth. 

''  5th.  Resolved^  That  deeply  afflicted  by  the  e\\\s  incident  to  the 
embargo,  but  infinitelv  more  distressed  bv  these  violations  of  oar 
dearest  rights,  we  will  by  every  constitutional  and  peaceable  measure 
seek  the  redress  of  our  wrongs,  declaring  at  the  same  time  our  deter- 
mination to  refrain  from  all  violent  opi^osition  to  the  laws  under  which 
we  suffer,  and  to  discountenance  such  opposition  in  others. 

'*  6th.  Renolved^  That  we  despair  of  obtaining  relief  from  oar 
distress  and  our  fears  by  any  further  application  to  the  lYesident  or 
the  Congress ;  and  that  we  will  therefore  present  a  respectful  petition 
to  the  legislature  of  this  Commonwealth  praying  that  they  would 
specially  pursue  such  measures  as  they  in  their  wisdom  may  judge 
most  conducive  to  the  redress  of  individual  wrongs  and  best  adapted 
to  the  portentous  crisis  of  our  public  affairs. 

*'7th.  Resolved n  That  we  ai-e  ready  to  make  any  sacrifice  of  prop- 
erty and  life  for  the  preservation  of  the  honor,  the  peace,  and  the 
libertv  of  our  country'. 

'^  8th.  Resolved,  That  whereas  several  merchants  in  this  town  have 
loaded  their  vessels  In'  jiermission  of  the  President  of  the  United 
States,  we  do  highly  approve  of  their  determination  to  refuse  compli- 
ance with  the  law  requiring  them  to  unload  their  vessels  or  give  heavy 
and  unn»asonable  bonds." 

The  following  Memorial  was  at  the  same  time  sent  to  the  General 
Court  of  Massachusetts :  — 

**To    THE  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Repkesentati'ves  of  th« 

Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

**TUE    MEMORIAL   OF    INHAHITANTS    OF    THE    TOWX    OF    BRUX8- 
AVICK  IN  THE  COUNTY   OF  CUMBERLAND, 

HrsfBLY  Shews: 

*'  That,  possessing  the  right  to  express  their  sentiments  on  the  meas- 
ures of  government,  and  the  state  of  public  affairs,  they  are  impelled 
by  a  strong  sense  of  duty  to  themselves  and  to  their  posterity  to 
exercise  that  privilege  of  freemen  in  the  present  distressed  and  alarm- 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  ^BRUNSWICK,  137 

ing  situation  of  the  United  States ;  considering  silence  at  such  a  crisis 
as  has  now  arrived  as  approbation  of  those  measures  which  have  pro- 
duced it  and  an  indication  of  stupid  insensibility  to  the  aggravated 
evils  resulting  from  their  operation. 

*'  Your  memorialists  presume  not  to  point  out  to  j'our  enlightened 

and  honorable  bod}-  the  grievous  sufferings  inflicted,  or  the  essential 

rights  violated  by  the  Acts  of  Congress  laying  a  fKjrmanent  embargo, 

and  especially  by  the  Act  for  enforcing  the  several  embargo  laws  ;  but 

deeply  impressed  with  an  awful  sense  of  the  dangers  in  which  their 

liberties  are  involved,  they  address  3'ou  as  their  deputed  guardians 

prating  protection  from  that  ruin  in  which  those  Acts,  if  not  speedily 

revoked,  must  overwhelm  them. 

*'  Your  memorialists  see  in  those  Acts  no  equivocal  proofs  of  a  sub- 
sennent  attachment  to  one  of  the  belligerents  and  an  inveterate  enmity 
to  the  other,  alike  inconsistent  with  the  dignity  and  injurious  to  the 
interests  of  an  independent  nation.  That  the  embargo  was  the  result 
of  a  necessity  imposed  by  the  decrees  of  France  or  by  the  orders  in 
council  of  Great  Britain  we  can  never  admit:  since  it  was  laid  thir- 
teen months  after  the  decree  of  Berlin  and  a  considerable  time  before 
the  knowledge  of  orders  in  council  reached  the  administration,  and  it 
has  been  acknowledged  by  Mr.  Pinckney,  Minister  of  the  United 
States  at  London,  that  these  orders  made  no  part  of  the  motives  to 
that  measure. 

'*  Your  memorialists  are  persuaded  that  had  the  administration 
been  animated  hy  that  spirit  and  guided  by  that  wisdom  which  per- 
vaded the  councils  of  the  nation  in  1794  and  1798  in  respect  to  our 
foreign  relations,  the  same  happy  i*esult  would  have  followed ;  but 
unhappily  the  reverse  has  been  realized  and  our  government  have  dis- 
covered a  fixed  determination  to  reject  every  proposal  of  accommoda- 
tion with  one  of  the  belligerents  and  disposition  to  submit  with 
astonishing  [alacrity?]  to  gross  and  wanton  violations  of  a  solemn 
treat}'  and  [to]  unceasing  insults  ft'om  the  other  [belligerent.] 

"  Your  memorialists  disdain  to  be  the  apologists  for  the  aggressions 
or  insults  of  any  nation,  but  justice  compels  them  to  declare  what 
they  fully  believe  that  Great  Britain  has  manifested  a  disposition  to 
adjust  in  an  amicable  manner  our  differences  with  that  nation,  while 
France  has  not  onl}'  disregarded  the  obligations  of  a  treaty,  but  has 
declared  her  determination  to  compel  the  United  States  to  take  part 
in  the  war  either  as  friends  or  allies. 

^'  Your  memorialists  see  with  extreme  [solicitude?]  the  organiza- 
tion of  an  extraordinary  military  force  in  a  time  of  peace,  the  object  of 


138        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

which  is  eonceale<l  from  the  people ;  and  we  declare  our  utter  detesta- 
tion of  the  Act  of  the  sixth  instant,  designed  to  enforce  an  embargo, 
which  even  its  advocates  on  the  floor  of  Congress  acknowledged  to 
have  produced  no  effect  as  a  measure  of  coercion  against  the  belliger- 
ents, while  the  evils  affecting  the  people  of  the  United  States  have 
been  incalculably*  severe  and  ai  e  still  increasing ;  and  we  do  consider 
the  provisions  of  that  Act  as  unconstitutional,  tyrannical,  and  oppres- 
sive in  the  highest  degree,  and  are  bound  by  the  strongest  obligations 
to  resist  them  in  every  legal  and  constitutional  way. 

*'  We  pray  your  Honorable  B<xly  to  adopt  such  measures  as  yoa 
shall  deem  wise  and  expedient  in  this  singularly  awful  crisis  of  public 
affairs." 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  foregoing  memorial  should  be  signed  bj 
the  moderator  and  town  clerk,  be  presented  to  the  legislature  of  the 
Commonwealth  by  the  representative  of  the  town,  and  that  he  be 
instructed  to  use  his  best  endeavors  to  promote  the  object  contained  in 
said  memorial. 

A  proposition  was  made  this  year  to  purchase  the  old  meeting-house 
for  a  town-house,  but  it  was  defeated. 

A  committee  was  chosen  to  ascertain  the  //?iiif8of  the  1,000  acres  of 
town  Commons,  in  order  that  the  overplus,  if  any,  which  was  given 
to  the  First  Parish,  might  be  determine<l. 

[1811.]  In  1811,  the  town  elected  Isaac  Gates,  Esquire,  and  Peter 
O.  Alden.  Esquire,  as  special  agents  to  petition  the  legislature,  in 
behalf  of  the  town,  for  permission  and  authority  to  divide,  set  off.  and 
convey  to  the  President  and  Tnistees  of  Bowdoin  College  the  two 
hundred  acres  of  land  which  was  granted  to  them  by  a  vote  of  the 
town  passe<l  May  2,  1791,  and  afterwards  approved  or  confirmed  by  a 
vote  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors. 

[1812.]  At  a  meeting  held  on  the  seventeenth  of  August,  1812,  Jacob 
Abbot,  Henry  Putnam,  Isaac  Gates,  Robert  D.  Dunning,  and  Jacob 
Anderson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  draft,  and  submit  to  the  town, 
resolutions  concerning ''  the  present  alarming  state  of  national  affairs.** 
The  committee  reported  the  following,  which  were  adopted^  and  the 
moderator  and  clerk  instructed  to  sign  and  forward  a  copy  of  them  to 
the  President  of  the  United  States,  and  also  one  to  the  Portland 
Gazette  for  publication :  — 

*'*'  The  people  at  all  times,  under  an  elective  government,  have  the 
right  of  peaceablj'  assembling  to  consult  for  the  public  good.  When 
doomed  to  experience  the  most  awful  calamities  that  can  aflSict  a 
nation,  the  right  is  not  only  unquestionable,  but  essential  to  the  exist- 


MUNICIPAL  HI8T0RT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  139 

ence  of  liberty  and  expressly  sanctioned  by  the  Constitution.  The 
freedom  of  speech  and  the  liberty  of  the  press  and  the  undisturbed 
privileges  of  an  individual,  or  united  expression  of  sentiment,  are  the 
vital  principles  of  a  pure  republic.  The  electors  of  rulers  have  a  right 
to  examine  their  conduct,  and  when  measures  are  adopted  bringing 
poverty  and  ruin  in  their  train,  and  death  and  wretchedness  in  their 
consequences,  under  a  pretext  that  the  people  demand  them,  it  is  the 
dat3'  of  every  citizen  to  raise  his  voice  to  convince  the  deceived  of 
their  error  and  arrest  the  progress  of  destniction. 

'*  Therefore,  R*^ solved^  That  we  view  the  union  of  the  States  as  an 
inestimable  blessing  while  the  government  is  administered  agreeably  to 
the  original  compact,  but  we  fear  that  a  cruel  and  oppressive  course  of 
measures,  and  admission  of  new  States  into  the  Union  whose  inhabi- 
tants in  habits  and  education  are  adverse  to  republican  principles,  will 
tend  to  disaffect  the  people  and  eventuall}'  dissolve  the  compact  which 
has  heretofore  been  a  source  of  so  much  wealth  and  happiness  to  these 
States. 

"  Resolved^  That  we  consider  the  declaration  of  war  slq  prematvre, 
unjustiJUMe^  and  groundless.  That  it  was  produced  by  an  undue 
attachment  for  the  greatest  tjTant  and  most  sanguinary  monster  that 
ever  disgraced  the  civilized  world.  That  we  consider  it  as  directed  by 
the  finger  of  the  same  hand  which  has  not  ceased  for  years  past  to 
impose  restrictive  measures  upon  the -commerce  of  the  United  States ; 
in  short,  that  we  consider  the  declaration  of  war  as  merely'  the  promul- 
gation and  approbation  of  an  edict  of  the  Court  of  St.  Cloud. 

"  Resolved^  That  a  treasury  without  money,  an  exposed  commerce 
without  naval  protection,  an  army  without  soldiers,  and  a  war  without 
adequate  and  just  cause,  show  the  weakness  or  vnckedne  s  of  our 
rulers,  and  tend  tb  a  direct  sacrifice  of  everything  dear  to  free 
men. 

'*  Reso'ved^  That  William  Widgery,  member  of  Congress  from  this 
district,  in  voting  for  war  contrary  to  the  known  wishes  of  his  constit- 
uents and  to  the  destruction  of  great  maritime  interests  of  New  Eng- 
land, has  added  shame  And  disgrace  to  the  good  people  of  this  district, 
without  injur}'  to  his  own  moral  or  political  reputation. 

''  Resolved^  That  we  fully  approve  of  the  minority  in  Congress 
upon  the  question  of  war,  and  we  pride  ourselves  upon  having  one 
representative  from  Maine  who  preferred  the  interests  of  his  constitu- 
ents to  the  mnndtites  of  the  executive. 

'*  Resolved^  That  we  view  with  abhorrence  and  detestation  the  late 
daring  and  sanguinary  attack  upon  the  liberty  of  the  press  at  Balti- 


140        HISTORY  or  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

more  b}'  a  lawless  and  cannibal  mob,  and  the  assassination  of  the 
veterans  of  the  Revolution  and  the  voluntary  defenders  of  liberty. 

"  Besolved^  That  we  cordially  approve  of  the  sentiments  expressed 
by  our  brethren  in  Boston,  at  their  late  town  meeting,  upon  the  same 
snbjeet,  and  of  the  measures  by  them  adopted,  for  the  purpose  of  aid- 
ing the  civil  authority  in  the  prevention  and  suppression  of  similar 
outrages. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  liberty  of  speech  and  of  the  press  is  the  bul- 
wark of  freedom,  and  the  most  glorious  prerogative  of  free  men,  and 
that  we  will  never  relinquish  this  liberty  but  with  our  lives. 

*'  Resolved,  That  we  cordially  approve  of  the  moderate,  firm,  and 
dignified  conduct  of  our  excellent  governor,  whose  measures  have 
always  tended  to  promote  the  interests  of  the  State  and  individual 
happiness,  and  we  rejoice  in  again  having  a  chief  magistrate  who  will 
not  sell  himself  to  a  party,  who  holds  the  scale  of  equal  justice  and 
is  above  the  reach  of  venaltv. 

'*  ResAved,  That  the  districting  of  the  Commonwealth  for  the  choice 
of  State  senators  and  representatives  to  Congress  under  the  administra- 
tion of  Elbridge  Gerry,  so  that  twenty-nine  senators  are  chosen  b}'  a  less 
number  of  votes  than  were  necessarj"  to  choose  the  other  eleven,  is  a 
most  tyrannical  and  wicked  exertion  of  power,  a  violation  of  the  spirit 
of  the  Constitution,  and  a  prostitution  of  the  rights  of  the  people,  and 
must  have  originated  in  a  desire  to  deprive  them  of  their  constitutional 
privileges. 

"  Resolved,  That  the  senators  so  chosen,  by  refusing  the  various 
equitable  modes  for  the  choice  of  electors  proposed  by  the  House  of 
Representatives,  have  evinced  their  approbation  of  this  iniquitous  sys- 
tem and  have  rendered  themselves  totally  unworthy  of  the  confidence 
of  a  free  people. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  will  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  obey  the 
orders  of  our  commander-in-chief  in  repelling  an}'  invasion  of  our 
shores  or  to  aid  the  civil  authority  in  executing  the  laws. 

'*  Resolved,  That  we  will  exert  ourselves  by  every  constitutional  and 
honorable  measure  to  effect  a  change  of  our  national  rulera,  that  peace, 
commerce,  and  free  trade  may  be  enjo3'ed  with  all  liberal  and  civilized 
nations,  and  all  passible  means  be  used  to  secure  and  preserve  the  union 
of  the  States. 

"  Resolved,  That  from  the  foregoing  considerations,  and  from  a  belief 
that  only  when  life  or  liberty  are  jeopardized  the  rulers  of  a  nation 
are  completely  justified  in  declaring  war,  and  as  the  great  ostensible 
causes  of  the  present  one  are  removed   by  Britain  herself,  and  as 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  141 

amicable  adjustment  of  the  only  remaining  difficulty  is  now  offered,  it 

is  the  imperious  duty  of  our  government  to  suspend  hostilities  without 

delay,  and  restore  the  blessings  of  peace  to  a  brave  but  abused  and 

suffering  people. 

*'  Peter  O.  Alden,  Moderator, 

Dax'l  Given,  Town  Q'erk.''^ 

The  following  address  was  also  adopted  :  — 

'*To  the  Hon.  Eleazer  AV.  Ripley,  Jonathan  Page  and  Ebenezer 
Poor,  senators  of  the  district  of  Cuml)erland  and  Oxford. 

**  After  having  seen  the  various  monies  offered  b}-  the  committee  of 
conference  from  the  House  of  Representatives  to  the  Senate  through 
their  committee  for  the  choice  of  electors  of  President  and  Vice-Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  we  are  alarmed  at  the  ])ertiiiacious  adher- 
ence of  the  Senate  to  a  partial  and  unequal  mode  of  choosing  electors, 
whereby  a  majority  of  the  people  are  liable  to  l)e  overruled  b}'  the 
minority,  contrary  to  the  spirit  and  letter  of  the  Constitution  and  the 
principles  of  republican  liberty. 

"  That  this  Commonwealth  ma}'  have  a  voice  in  the  next  election  of 
President  and  Vice-President  a  manly  and  just  concurrence  of  the 
Senate  with  the  House  of  Representatives  is  wanting,  and  this  town 
hereby  calls  upon  you  to  co-operate  with  them  by  your  best  exertions 
and  procure  a  concurrence  of  the  Senate  with  the  House  in  some  one 
of  their  propositions. 

^'  In  this  day  of  peril  and  difficult}'  for  the  public  good  your  best 
services  are  required.  To  stitle  the  voice  of  the  people  and  deprive  them 
of  their  elective  rights  would  be  a  stride  at  usurpation  too  alarming  for 
us  to  l>eliold  in  silence  and  too  flagrant  to  be  liorue. 

•*  We  consider  the  proi>osition  made  b\'  the  House  fair,  honorable, 
and  constitutional,  and  we  are  sorrv  to  assert  that  the  Resolves  of  the 
Senate  do  not  appear  to  us  to  be  of  that  character. 

'*  If  our  liberties,  so  dearly  purchased  by  the  blood  and  treasure  of 
our  fathers,  must  be  lost,  we  most  sincerely  hope  and  fervently  pray 
that  they  mtiy  never  be  destroyed  under  the  forms  of  judicial  nor  legis- 
lative proceedings." 

The  town  voted  that  four  attested  copies  of  the  above  address  ])e 
luaile  out  by  the  town  clerk,  and  that  one  be  forwarded  to  each  of  the 
above-named  senators,  and  one  to  the  president  of  the  Senate,  to  be 
laid  before  that  body. 

[1H14.]  Nothing  especially  worthy  of  record  occurred  in  1813,  but 
at  a  meeting  hehl  in  Februarj',  1814,  the  town  appointed  a  committee 
to  write  an  address,  setting  forth  '^  the  present  most  unjust  and  iniq- 


142        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WJSLL 

nitouB  restrictions  upon  our  trade.''  It  was  also  voted  to  have  this 
address  published  in  the  Portland  Gazette,  No  copy  of  it  appears  on 
the  records  of  the  town,  and  the  number  of  the  Gazette  supposed 
to  contain  it  has  not  been  found  b}'  the  compilers  of  this  work. 

An  article  in  the  warrant,  *'  to  see  if  the  town  will  accept  of  the 
Engine  belonging  to  individuals  of  this  town,"  was  dismissed. 

Some  of  the  town  officers  elected  at  the  annual  meeting,  not  pre- 
senting themselves  to  take  the  oath  of  office,  a  warrant  was  issued  to 
John  Owen,  constable,  to  notify  them  to  appear  at  a  speciGed  time 
and  take  the  oath,  as  requirerl  bj'  law.  Owen,  on  his  return,  certified 
that  he  had  notified  all  *'  except  Roger  Toothaker  [one  of  the  fence- 
viewers]  who  ran  off  and  would  not  hear  me  notify*  him,  and  Abraham 
Locke,  whom  I  missed  b}'  mistaking  his  place  of  residence,  and  Silas 
Goddard." 

At  a  meeting  held  in  August,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire 
money,  "to  meet  the  expense  occasioned  by  the  military'  movements." 

It  was  voted  to  dismiss  the  article  in  the  warrant  "  to  see  if  the 
town  will  afford  any  assistance  to  the  unfortunate  sufferers  by  the 
freshet,'*  which  occurred  that  spring  and  did  a  great  deal  of  damage. 

[1815.]  In  1815  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  collect  the  resolves, 
maps,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  town,  and  to  deposit  them  in  their  office. 

[1816.]  The  town,  at  its  annual  meeting,  in  1816,  gave  Russe 
Stoddard  and  others  permission  to  place  some  hay-scales*  between  th 
road  that  went  by  Mrs.  Robson*s  and  that  going  by  John  Pollard's. 

At  a  meeting  held  May  20,  a  majority  of  twenty- two  votes  was 
by  the  town  against  a  separation  of  the  District  of  Maine  from  the 
State  of  Massachusetts.  At  this  meeting  a  committee  was  also 
apix)inted  to  provide  a  code  of  b^'-laws  for  the  town. 

At  a  meeting  held  September  2,  the  town  again  voted  against  the 
formation  of  a  new  State  by  a  majorit}'  of  fifty-one  votes.  The  town 
also  at  this  meeting  chose  Robert  Dunning,  Doctor  Jonathan  Page, 
and  Joseph  McKeen,  delegates  to  a  convention  to  be  held  in  Bruns- 
wick on  the  last  Monda}'  in  September  following,  to  count  the  votes 
cast  in  the  District  upon  this  question,  and  if  a  majority  of  the  votes 
cast  were  favorable,  to  form  the  draft  of  a  constitution  for  a  new 
State.  4 

[1818.]  The  town,  at  its  annual  meeting  in  1818,  authorized  the 
selectmen  to  purchase  a  hearse  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  one  hundred 
dollars. 


^  Tfie  scales  tcere  located  in  xchat  is  note  the  mall^  opposite  Green  Street. 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  143 

At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  inexpedient  to  build  a  poorhouse. 
The  one  built  in  1807  was  sold  by  the  town  in  1812. 

An  article  in  the  warrant  of  this  meeting,  in  regard  to  a  separation 
of  the  east  and  west  parts  of  the  town,  was  dismissed.  Its  insertion 
in  the  warrant  was  probably  owing  to  some  slight  disaffection  in  one 
of  these  sections. 

[1819.]  At  a  meeting  held  May  3,  the  representative  from  the  town 
was  instructed  to  use  all  fair  and  honorable  means  towards  effecting 
the  separation  of  the  District  of  Maine  from  the  State.  This  act  shows 
an  evident  change  on  the  part  of  the  citizens  of  Brunswick  in  regard 
to  this  question.  The  representative  was  also  instructed  to  use  all  fair 
and  honorable  means  to  oppose  the  passage  of  a  law  allowing  Wingate 
and  others  the  exclusive  right  of  navigating  the  Kennebec  Kiver  with 
steamboats.  Apart  from  all  questions  of  propriet}'  or  of  constitu- 
tional right,  Brunswick  and  Topsham  both  had  a  special  interest  in 
opposing  a  law  which  would  affect  the  navigation  of  their  own  river. 

At  a  special  meeting  on  July  26,  the  town  voted,  by  a  majority  of 
one  hundred  and  thirt3'-three  votes,  in  favor  of  a  new  State,  and  at  a 
subsequent  meeting,  held  September  20,  Robert  D.  Dunning,  Doctor 
Jonathan  Page,  and  Reverend  Benjamin  Titcomb  were  chosen  dele- 
gates to  the  convention  to  be  held  in  Portland  on  the  second  Monday 
in  October,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Constitution  for  the  new  State. 

At  a  meeting  held  December  6,  the  town  voted  its  approval  of  the 
Constitution  framed  by  that  convention. 

UNDER  STATE  OF  MAINE. 

[1820]  On  March  15,  1820,  the  State  of  Maine  was,  by  act  of 
Congress,  admitted  into  the  Union. 

At  the  annual  town  meeting  this  year,  the  selectmen  were  author- 
ized to  provide  a  place  for  the  hearse,  which  the}'  had  been  authorized 
to  purchase  two  years  before.  Whether  the  hearse  had  been  kept  out 
of  doors  or  in  somebody's  barn,  or  whether  it  was  not  purchased  until 
this  year,  does  not  appear.  At  this  meeting  Doctor  Jonathan  Page 
bid  off  the  care  of  the  town's  poor  for  six  hundred  dollars. 

At  the  first  election  for  governor  of  Maine,  held  this  year,  the  vote 
of  Brunswick  stood:  for  Honorable  William  King,  195;  for  Stephen 
Longfellow,  Esquire,  23 ;  scattering,  1). 

At  a  meeting  in  Ma}',  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  petition  the 
legislature  to  incorporate  the  town  of  Brunswick,  together  with  a 
number  of  other  towns  in  the  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Lincoln, 
into  a  new  county. 


144        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

The  selectmen  were  also,  at  a  meeting  held  in  November,  directed 
to  petition  the  legislature  to  make  a  deduction  from  the  valuation  of 
the  town,  as  taken  by  the  selectmen  in  August,  in  consequence  of  the 
loss  of  property  occasioned  b}-  the  great  freshet  of  October  previous. 

[1821.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1821  the  town  passed  a  resolve 
that  the  public  good  required  the  formation  of  a  new  county,  to  be 
composed  of  the  towns  of  Brunswick,  Bath,  Phipsburg,  Durham, 
Harpswell,  Freeport,  Pownal,  Danville,  Topsham,  Bowdoinham,  Bow- 
doin,  Litchfield,  Lisbon,  Lewiston,  and  Wales ;  and  the  representative 
from  Brunswick  was  instructed  to  endeavor  to  effect  the  object  at  that 
session  of  the  legislature.     This  attempt  was,  however,  unsuccessful. 

The  town  this  year,  instead  of  building  a  poorhouse,  instructed  the 
overseers  of  the  poor  to  hire  suitable  houses  and  land  to  accommodate 
the  poor  of  the  town  and  to  appoint  a  person  to  take  charge  of  them. 
This  was  for  the  purpose  of  making  available,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
town,  the  labor  of  the  paupers. 

[1822.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  September  9,  1822,  the 
representative  to  the  legislature  was  directed  to  endeavor  to  obtain 
the  passage  of  a  law  granting  compensation  from  the  State  treasury 
to  the  soldiers  of  the  militia. 

[1823.]  At  a  town  meeting  held  January  20,  1823,  it  was  voted 
to  be  inexpedient  to  make  any  offer  to  the  legislature  to  induce  that 
body  to  fix  the  seat  of  government  in  Brunswick.  What  etfect  a  dif- 
ferent vote  might  have  had  upon  the  prosperity  of  the  town  is  a  matter 
of  some  doubt,  though  had  such  an  offer  been  accepted,  there  is  no 
<loubt  but  that  it  would  greatly  have  benefited  the  counnunity.  The 
town,  also,  at  this  meeting,  directed  its  representative  to  oi)po8e  in 
the  legislature  the  erection  of  any  new  count}'  which  should  include 
Brunswick  within  its  limits. 

The  annual  meeting  in  March  was  adjourned  to  the  first  Monday  in 
April,  '*in  consequence  of  the  severity'  of  the  cold  and  the  small 
number  present." 

[1824.]  At  a  meeting  held  the  fifth  of  April,  1824,  the  selectmen 
were  authorized  to  receive  all  mone}-  or  other  property'  that  ma}*  have 
been  raise<l  b}'  subscription  for  the  sutferers  by  the  great  fire  in  Bruns- 
wick, which  occurred  the  previous  year,  and  to  divide  the  same  among 
them  according  to  their  necessities.  The  selectmen  were  also  author- 
ized to  pay  twenty  cents  to  each  soldier  of  the  militia,  in  lieu  of 
rations,  if  the  application  for  the  same  was  made  as  the  law  prescribed. 

At  a  meeting  held  September  6th,  the  town  passed  resolutions 
inviting   General    Lafu^'ette   to   visit  Brunswick   while  on   his   tour 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  145 

through  New  England,  and  a  committee  of  eleven  gentlemen,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  selectmen,  were  appointed  as  a  committee  of  arrangements 
for  his  reception,  if  he  accepted.  He  was  also  invited  by  the  authori- 
ties of  the  college,  but  was  obliged  to  decline  both  invitations. 

[1825.]  At  a  meeting  held  January  1,  1825,  the  town  voted  an 
appropriation  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  towards  defraying  the 
expense  of  exchanging  the  bell  then  hanging  in  the  steeple  of  the  new 
meeting-house  for  a  larger  one.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  pur- 
chase a  fire-engine,  and  eight  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the 
purpose.     81,500  was  appropriated  this  year  for  schools. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  settle  with  Joseph  Storer  for 
damages  suffered  by  him  in  crossing  the  bridge  on  Federal  Street  * 
with  a  horse  and  chaise. 

A  committee  of  fifteen  was  chosen  to  solicit  aid  for  the  relief  of 
the  sufferers  at  the  late  fire. 

[1826.]  The  town,  in  1826,  voted  to  purchase  the  house,  barn, 
out-buildings,  and  farm,  near  the  lower  landing,  then  owned  b}*  Roger 
Merrill,'-*  and  which  contained  about  fort}'  acres  of  land,  at  a  price  not 
excee<Ung  81,500.  The  town  also  voted  to  raise  six  hundred  dollars 
per  year,  for  three  j'ears,  to  meet  the  above  expense. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized,  this  year,  to  furnish  blank  car- 
tridges for  the  use  of  the  militia  of  the  town,  when  at  reviews. 

[1827.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  tr)wn,  held  January*  4,  1827,  the  rep- 
resentative was  instructed  to  use  all  fair  and  honorable  means  to  pre- 
vent the  passage  of  any  legislative  act  which  would  deprive  the  town  of 
Brunswick  of  an}-  of  its  territory  or  in  any  way  disturb  the  line  estab- 
lished l)etween  the  counties  of  Cumberland  and  Lincoln.  This  action 
was  taken  upon  an  article  in  the  warrant  to  see  if  the  town  would 
consent  that  the  islands  below  the  falls  should  be  set  off,  with  tiieir 
improvements,  to  Topsham,  agreeably  to  a  petition  to  the  legislature 
of  George  F.  Richardson  and  others. 

The  town  voted,  November  3,  that  the  bills  incurred  in  consequence 
of  depredations  on  the  Indians,  the  previous  August,  by  Jere  O'Brien 
and  John  McKeen,  should  be  accepted  to  the  amount  of  seven  dol- 
lars and  twenty  cents.  It  seems  that  this  year  a  party  of  Indians  had 
encamped  near  *'  the  landing,''  in  Brunswick,  and  that  a  number  of 
evil-disposed  young  men  made  a  raid  upon  tiieni,  tore  down  their 
tents,  and  drove  them  off.     O'Brien  and  McKeen  entered  a  conij)laint 


1  This  was  a  small  pole-bridge  at  the  foot  of  the  hill^  across  a  brook  leading  from  the 
twamp  west  of  Maine  Street, 
*  The  present  poor-farm, 
10 


146        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

against  the  rioters,  and  the  above  vote  was  intended  to  compensate 
them  for  their  legal  expenses. 

[1828.]  In  the  year  1828,  five  gentlemen  were  chosen  as  agents  of 
the  town  to  oppose  any  division  of  the  town  that  might  be  urged  upon 
the  legislature,  which  was  then  in  session  at  Portland.  One  hundred 
dollars  was  appropriated  for  keeping  in  repair  the  two  fire-engines,  for 
ringing  the  bell,  and  for  such  other  purposes  as  might  tend  to  the 
securit}*  of  the  town  against  fire. 

[1829.]  The  same  amount  was  appropriated  for  the  same  purpose, 
in  1829,  and  the  town  voted  to  have  the  bell  rung  at  nine  o'clock  oo 
Sunday  evenings. 

The  town  voted  to  hold  its  future  meetings  in  the  village,  provided 
a  house  could  be  obtained  without  expense  to  the  town.  Accordingly 
the  next  meeting,  September  14,  was  held  in  the  Baptist  meeting-house 
on  School  Street. 

At  the  September  meeting  of  the  town,  a  code  of  By-Laws  was  adopted. 
The  provisions  of  these  B^'-Laws  were,  in  brief,  as  follows :  — 

Article  1 .     Provided  against  injury  or  loss  of  fire  apparatus. 

Article  2.  Against  the  building  of  bonfires  in  the  streets,  and 
against  the  careless  use  of  lights  in  houses,  barns,  and  stables. 

Article  3.  Against  coasting  on  or  across  the  streets,  and  also 
against  obtaining  rides  by  taking  hold  of  or  getting  upon  vehicles, 
without  the  consent  of  persons  riding  therein. 

Article  4.  Against  the  wanton  or  unnecessarj'  discharge  of  fire- 
arms near  any  dwelling-house,  shop,  or  store. 

Article  5.  Against  playing  ball  within  ten  rods  of  any  dwelling, 
throwing  snow-balls,  playing  with  kites,  or  doing  anything  in  public 
streets  to  anno}*  passengers. 

Article  6.  Against  the  assembling  of  noisy  crowds  in  the  night, 
and  against  rude  or  disorderly  behavior,  indecent  or  profane  language, 
or  the  injuring  of  trees,  fences,  or  buildings.  The  i>enalty  for  the  vio- 
lation ojf  this  article  was  five  dollars. 

Article  7.  Against  allowing  geese  to  go  at  large.  The  penalty  in 
this  case  was  six  cents  per  goose. 

These  Bv-Laws  were  approved  b}'  the  Court  of  Appeals  in  the 
December  following,  and  the  town  voted  to  have  them  printed,  and 
one  copy  furnished  to  each  famil}'. 

[1831.]  In  the  year  1831,  the  town  authorized  the  selectmen  to 
appropriate  a  piece  of  land  near  the  poorhouse  for  a  paupers'  ceme- 
tery. Also,  that  future  town  meetings  should  be  held  in  the  old  west 
meeting-house. 


MUmCIPAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  147 

[1832.]  In  1882  the  town  appointed  a  committee  to  draw  up 
some  resolutions  expressing  the  opinions  of  the  inhabitants  of  Bruns- 
wick "  in  relation  to  the  alarming  modifications  of  the  tariff  now  pro- 
posed to  be  made  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  States."  Another 
committee  was  also  appointed  to  report  suitable  resolutions  expressing 
the  opinions  of  the  citizens  in  regard  to  the  sale  of  the  disputed  terri- 
tory on  the  northeast  boundar3\ 

The  reports  of  both  committees  were  read  and  accepted,  and  the 
selectmen  were  instructed  to  furnish  copies  of  them  for  publication  to 
the  Portland  Advertiser  and  Kennebec  Journal, 

The  selectmen  were  this  year  instructed  to  sell  the  *'poor  lot"  on 
Federal  Street,  by  auction  or  by  private  sale  as  they  might  deem  best. 
The  dividing  line  between  Brunswick  and  Freeport  was  this  jear 
defined.  There  seems  to  have  been  some  doubt  as  to  its  location 
before  this,  for  on  October  15,  1828,  the  selectmen  of  the  two  towns 
met  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Chase,  and  proceeded  to  perambulate  the 
line.  Robert  D.  Dunning  was  the  surveyor  for  Brunswick  and  Bars- 
tow  Sylvester  for  Freeport.  The  line  surveyed  by  them  appears 
from  the  record  to  have  been  the  same,  or  nearly'  the  same,  as  that 
previously  established. 

For  some  reason,  however,  the  line  was  not  satisfactory  to  some  of 
the  citizens  of  the  two  towns.  Depositions  were  taken  in  Januar}', 
1832,  from  various  residents,  testifying  as  to  the  location  of  the  origi- 
nal line.  Depositions  were  made  by  Pavid  Curtis,  William  Alexander, 
and  Daniel  Given. 

On  the  seventh  of  February,  1832,  the  legislature  appointed  Joseph 
Sewall  of  Bath,  William  Bradbury  of  New  Gloucester,  and  William 
Cummings  of  Cape  Elizabeth,  a  committee  to  establish  the  dividing 
line  between  Brunswick  and  Freeport. 

On  the  eleventh  of  June  following,  the  committee  met  and  viewed 
the  premises  on  that  day  and  succeeding  days,  closing  their  labors  on 
the  twcntj'-third  of  June. 

Their  report,  which  we  give  below,  furnishes  the  result  of  their 
lal)ors :  — 

"  Pursuant  to  the  foregoing  Resolve  for  establishing  the  line  between 
Brunswick  and  Freeport,  we  the  subscribers,  the  Committee  therein 
appointed,  having  been  dulj'  sworn,  and  liaving  given  due  notice  to 
the  parties,  and  having  met  them  by  their  committees  and  counsel  at 
the  house  of  Alexander  Moorliead,  in  Brunswick,  tlie  eleventh  day  of 
June  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  iuindred  and  thirty- 
two,  and  b}'  adjournment  from  day  to  day  until  this  twenty  third  day 


148        IU6T0RT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

of  said  June,  and  having  heard  all  their  pleas,  proofs  and  arguments, 
and  liaving  viewed  the  premises,  and  maturely'  considered  the  same, 
have  determined  and  established  the  dividing  line  between  the  towns 
of  Brunswick  and  Freeport,  in  the  Count}'  of  Cumberland,  agreeably 
to  the  Acts  of  Incorporation  of  said  Towns,  to  be  as  follows  to  wit : 
Beginning  on  the  Western  shore  of  Macjuoit  Bay  at  the  mouth  of 
Bungamunganock  so  called  at  a  ledge  which  we  have  marked  B,  thence 
North  twenty  eight  and  one  eighth  degrees  West,  passing  b}'  a  hem- 
lock tree  in  Vincent  Mountfort's  pasture,  and  through  said  Vincent 
Mountfort's  house,  and  by  a  beach  stump  one  rod  and  two  links  wes- 
terl}'  of  an  ash  tree  in  William  Alexander's  pasture  by  a  stoue  in  the 
wall  on  the  western  side  of  the  county  road  on  David  Curtis'  land 
marked  +  and  over  a  ledge  in  said  Curtis'  pasture  marked  FB  and  by 
a  spruce  tree,  a  3'ellow  birch  tree,  a  ledge  in  Grouse's  Geld  marked  -|-, 
a  ledge  in  Skolfield's  pasture  marked  -|-,  a  maple  tree,  a  yellow  birch 
tree,  a  stone  set  in  the  ground  on  the  easterly  side  of  the  county  road, 
twelve  rods  &  sixteen  links  from  the  corner  of  Thomas  Pennell's  house, 
marked  FB,  a  beach  tree,  a   ledge  in   Samuel   Sylvestei-'s   pasture 
marked  FB,  a  stone  in  the  wall  on  the  westerly  side  of  the  Story  road 
so  called,  a  ledge  in  John  Field's  field  marked  FB,  a  beach  tree,  a 
hemlock  tree,  a  spruce  tree,  a  pine  tree  five  miles  &  seventy  rods  to 
a  stone  marked  FB  at  the  middle  of  the  Quaker  road  so  called,  and 
one  rod  and  a  half  from  William  Jordan's  wall,  thence  North  East  one 
hundred  &  ninety  six  rods  to  2^  stone  marked  DB  at  the  corner  of 
Durham  and  including  within  the  town  of  Brunswick  all  Mair  Point 
so  called,  and  to  include  within  said  town  of  Brunswick  all  the  estate 
of  the  late  Benjamin  Chase  which  was  annexed  to  said  Brunswick 
by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of  Massachusetts  passed  in 
1790,  entitled  an  Act  setting  otf  Benjamin  Chase,  his  family  and 
estate  from  the  town  of  Freeport  and  annexing  them  to  the  town  of 

Brunswick. 

"  Joseph  Sewall. 

Wm.  Bradbury. 

Wm.  Cummings."^ 

The  same  committee  also  established  the  Durham  line. 

According  to  McKeen  the  survey  of  the  west  part  of  the  towu  was 
made  by  John  Merrill  while  B.  Ring  lived  in  Brunswick,  though  the 
plan  of  the  "  Great  Lots  "  was  never  laid  down  b}'  any  actual  survey. 
According  to  the  same  authority,  if  Merrill's  plan  had  been  regarded 

*  P^epacot  Records, 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  149 

and  the  boundaries  preserved,  the  line  would  have  gone  farther  south 
upon  Frceport  than  was  established  by  the  committee  in  1832,  and 
would  have  taken  sixteen  rods  on  to  what  Durham  now  holds. ^ 

[1833.]  The  town  appropriated  for  schools  in  1833,  $2,000;  for 
support  of  poor,  $700 ;  for  highways,  $2,500. 

The  town  clerk  was  this  year  directed  to  procure  all  plans  and 
pa]>er8,  of  every  description,  of  the  Pejepscot  Company,  which  might 
be  of  use  to  the  town  hereafter,  and  which  related  in  any  way  to  the 
settlement  of  the  town,  at  as  moderate  an  expense  as  possible.  The 
papers  of  the  Pejepscot  Company  were,  at  this  time,  in  the  hands  of 
Josiah  Little,  Jr.,  of  Newburiport  (or  of  Amesbur}'),  Mass.  Bv  a 
8^om  statement  by  John  McKeen,  the  then  town  clork,  it  appears 
that  Mr.  Little  placed  the  Pejepscot  Papers  in  his  hands  upon  condi- 
tion that  they  should  be  finall}'  placed  in  the  library'  of  the  Maine 
Historical  Society,  where  they  now  are.  This  was  certainl}'  the  best 
disposition  that  could  have  been  made  of  them,  particularh'  as  many 
of  the  papers  relate  not  only  to  Brunswick  but  to  the  whole  region 
embraced  in  the  Pejepscot  purchase,  and  it  would  l)e  diflicult,  if 
not  impossible,  to  separate  from  them  those  relating  excUmiveh'  to 
Bmnswick. 

The  selectmen  were  this  year  authorized  to  grant  licenses  to  retail 
ardent  spirits,  on  condition  that  no  spirits  should  be  drank  in  or  about 
the  premises  of  the  retailer. 

John  Cobum  was  appointed  an  agent  to  appear  before  a  committee 
of  the  legislature,  and  to  use  his  best  endeavors  to  carr}'  into  effect 
the  vote  of  the  town  in  favor  of  the  formation  of  a  new  county  from 
parts  of  Cumberland  and  Lincoln  Counties. 

[1834.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  Jul}'  4,  1834,  a  lengthy 
report  of  the  Committee  on  Town  Commons  was  read  and  accepted.^ 
A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  consider  the  practicability  and  advis- 
ability' of  having  the  town  farm  upon  the  Commons,  and  to  estimate 
the  exi>ense  of  removing  the  buildings  thereto. 

At  a  meeting  held  August  30,  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on 
Town  Commons,  Poorhouse,  etc.,  was  read,  but  its  consideration  was 
postponed  to  a  fUrther  meeting.  The  selectmen  were  instructed  to 
have  the  report  printed  and  also  to  have  the  Commons  surveyed. 

The  selectmen  were  also  directed  to  petition  the  legislature  for  per- 
mission to  use  the  Commons  for  agricultural  puq)oses  or  to  dispose  of 
them  at  some  future  day,  should  the  town  ever  so  direct.     They  were, 

1  McKeen,  MS8.  Lecture.  3  See  Chapter  XIX, 


150        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  EARPSWELL. 

moreover,  directed  to  procure  the  same  permission  from  the  Pejepscot 
proprietors ;  and  also  to  demand  a  rent  from  all  parties  occap3'ing  the 
Commons,  and  to  remove  all  persons  refusing  or  neglecting  to  pay  the 
rent. 

[1835.]  At  a  town  meeting,  held  April  27,  1835,  it  was  voted  to 
build  a  town-house  without  unnecessary  delay. 

The  village  school  district  this  j-ear  applied  for  an  Act  of  Incorpo- 
ration, for  certain  municipal  purposes,  and  an  Act  to  this  effect  was 
passed  b}'  the  legislature  and  received  the  approval  of  the  governor, 
January  28,  1836. 

At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  the  town  appropriated  seven  hun- 
dred dollars  to  pay  for  the  town-house,  and  the  Building  Committee 
were  authorized  to  borrow  the  needed  balance  of  three  hundred  dol- 
lars.    The  town-house  was  completed  this  year. 

[1837.]  The  town  met  at  the  town-house  for  the  first  time  on 
January  16,  1837.  The  town,  at  this  meeting,  voted  to  receive  its 
proportion  of  the  money  deposited  with  the  State  by  the  United 
States,  in  pursuance  of ''  an  Act  to  regulate  the  deposits  of  the  public 
money,"  on  the  condition  specified  in  the  Act  of  this  State  entitled 
*'An  Act  providing  for  the  disposition  and  repayment  of  the  pablic 
money  apportioned  to  the  State  of  Maine,  on  deposit,  by  the  govern- 
ment of  the  United  States."  James  F.  Matthews  was  appointed  the 
agent  of  the  town  to  receive  this  mone}*.  The  revenue  of  the  United 
States  had  for  some  years  been  in  excess  of  the  demands  of  govern- 
ment, and  this  Act  of  Congress  was  to  distribute  the  surplus  to  the 
States. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  in  ApriK  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to 
loan  the  town's  share  of  the  surplus  revenue  to  citizens  of  the  town, 
on  good  personal  securit}*,  in  sums  not  exceeding  two  hundi'ed  dol- 
lars to  an}'  one  individual. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  July,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  collect 
what  had  been  loaned,  as  it  became  due,  and  to  deposit  the  amoant^ 
together  with  the  remaining  portion  of  the  surplus  revenue,  with  the 
citizens  in  the  following  manner :  — 

The  sum  total  was  to  be  divided  into  as  man}'  shares  as  there  were 
inhabitants  of  the  town  at  the  last  enumeration,  and  each  male  head  of 
a  famil}',  and  each  female  head  of  a  family  where  there  was  no  male 
head,  should  be  entitled  to  receive,  on  deposit,  one  share  for  each 
member  of  his  or  her  family  actuall}'  resident  at  home  in  the  family  on 
the  first  day  of  the  preceding  March,  including  the  heads  of  the  family, 
the  daughters,  the  sons,  under  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  and  the 


MUNICIPAL  HI8T0R7  OF  BRUNSWICK.  151 

regular  apprentices.     Each  male  above  twentj-one  years  of  age,  with- 
out a  family,  was  entitled  to  receive  one  share. 

The  receipts,  which  were  to  be  taken  in  all  cases,  were  to  contain  a 
promise  of  repayment,  without  interest,  of  the  sum  given,  whenever  the 
town  should  be  required  to  repay  it  to  the  treasury  of  the  State. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  September,  the  preceding  vote  was  so  amendc<l 
as  to  entitle  all  who  were  residents  of  the  town  on  the  first  of  March 
previous  to  a  share  of  the  surplus  money,  and  that  persons  since,  but 
not  then,  residents  should  not  be  entitled  to  it. 

[1838.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  April,  1838,  the  town  voted  to 
relieve  those  who  had  received  shares  of  the  surplus  revenue  money 
from  all  obligation  to  return  it,  since  the  legislature  had  passed  an  Act 
releasing  towns  from  a  similar  obligation. 

The  town  voted  to  refer  to  the  Building  Committee  the  deeds  of  the 
gifts  from  Reverend  William  Allen  and  David  Dunlap,  Esquire.  The 
above  vote  refers  to  the  deeds  of  the  laad  upon  which  the  town-house 
was  built. 

[1841.]  The  overbcers  of  the  poor  were  authorized  in  1841  to  sell 
the  poorhoQse  and  farm  whenever  they  could  do  so  for  a  not  less  sum 
than  $1,500. 

In  regard  to  several  proposed  amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
State,  the  town  voted  as  follows  :  — 

In  favor  of  increasing  the  number  of  representatives,  but  against 
establishing  the  number  at  one  hundred  and  fifty-one ;  in  favor  of 
electing  the  governor  for  two  years  instead  of  one,  and  in  favor  of 
having  the  legislative  meeting  but  once  in  two  years. 

[1842.]  In  1842  a  petition  from  Isaac  Lincoln  and  others,  to  have 
the  town  house  sold  or  else  to  have  it  moved  to  the  village,  was  dis- 
missed. 

[1844.]  The  town  in  1844  voted  in  favor  of  an  amendment  to  the 
Constitution  of  the  State,  changing  the  meeting  of  the  legislature  to 
Mav. 

[1845.]  A  new  hearse  was  purchased  in  1845,  by  order  of  the 
town,  and  the  old  one  was  repaired  and  fitted  with  runners  for  use  in 
the  winter  season. 

[1847.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1847  the  selectmen  were  in- 
stracted  to  have  the  bell  on  the  Universalist  Church  rung  daily,  for 
the  ensuing  year,  at  the  expense  of  the  town. 

The  town  also  at  this  meeting  appropriated  two  hundred  dollars 
towards  the  purchase  of  a  clock  to  be  located  in  the  tower  of  the 
Universalist  Church. 


152        inSTOHT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

The  town  this  year  voted  in  favor  of  so  amending  the  Constitution 
of  the  State  as  to  prohibit  the  loaning  of  the  credit  of  the  State  to 
an}'  amount  exceeding  $300,000  in  the  aggregate ;  and  also,  against 
an  amendment  providing  that  the  governor,  senators,  and  representa- 
tives should  be  elected  by  a  plurality  instead  of  majority'  vote. 

[1849.]  In  1849  the  town  voted  to  dispose  of  Engine  No.  1  and 
to  purchase  a  new  one,  and  for  that  purpose  the  sum  of  three  hundred 
dollars  was  appropriated.  The  town  this  3*ear  refused,  b}*  a  vote  of 
one  hundred  and  fourteen  to  sixteen,  to  adopt  an  Act  of  the  legisla- 
ture, which  was  passed  July  16,  1846,  and  was  entitled  "An  Act  for 
the  License  and  Regulation  of  Stationary'  Steam-Engines." 

[1850.]  The  town  voted  in  1850  in  favor  of  a  constitutional 
amendment,  which  provided  for  a  meeting  of  the  legislature  in  Jan- 
uary' instead  of  May. 

At  a  subsequent  meeting  this  3'ear  the  town  voted  to  accept  an  Act 
of  the  legislature  authorizing  certain  cities  and  towns  to  grant  aid  in 
the  construction  and  completion  of  the  Kennebeck  and  Portland  Kail- 
road,  and  also  voted  to  loan  its  credit  to  that  company-  for  the  sum  of 
$75,000,  according  to  the  conditions  and  for  tlie  security  provided  in 
the  Act.  The  vote  was  five  hundreii  and  eightj'-eight  in  favor,  and 
two  hundred  and  fifly-two  against  the  measure. 

The  inhabitants  changed  their  minds  in  regard  to  stationary  steam- 
engines,  and  the  town  accordingl}^  voted  this  3'ear  to  accept  the  Act  in 
reference  to  the  same,  which  was  approved  July  16,  1846. 

[1851.]  A  protest,  signed  bj-  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Brunswick,  was  presented  to  the  town  in  1851.  This 
protest  was  against  the  vote  to  loan  money  to  the  Kennebec  and 
Portland  Railroad,  and  was  made  on  the  ground  that  the  Act  of  the 
legislature  authorizing  it  was  illegal,  unconstitutional,  and  not  binding 
upon  the  town. 

[1856.]  In  1856  the  town  authorized  the  selectmen  to  grant  the 
use  of  tlie  town-house  to  the  Brunswick  Light  Infantry  for  an  armory. 

[1857.]  The  Act  of  the  legislature,  appi-oveJ  March  13,  1855, 
granting  authoritj'  to  cities  and  towns  to  adopt  ordinances  or  by  laws 
for  sidewalks,  was  accepted  in  1857,  and  a  committee,  consisting  of 
the  selectmen  and  Richard  Greenleaf,  Esquire,  was  apiK)inted  to  lay 
out  and  determine  the  width  of  the  different  sidewalks  in  Brunswick, 
and  to  prepare  some  by-laws  in  reference  to  the  same,  which  they  were 
to  report  at  a  future  meeting. 

Anotlier  committee  was  also  appointed  this  3'ear,  consisting  of 
Messrs.  Abner  B.  Thompson,  John  C.  Humphreys,  William  G.  Bar- 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  153 

TOWS,  Samuel  R.  Jackson,  Richard  Greenleaf,  and  John  McKeen, 
to  investigate  all  mattere  relating  to  the  town  Commons;  to  ascer- 
tain what  title  the  town  had  to  them,  and  the  boundaries  tliereof ;  to 
ascertain  what  encroachments  had  been  made  upon  them,  and  all 
other  facts  relating  to  the  subject,  and  to  make  a  report  at  some 
future  meeting. 

Some  time  between  March  1 6  and  the  first  Monday  in  June,  the  town- 
house  was  destro3'ed  by  fire.  The  June  meeting  met — by  adjournment 
— at  the  niins  of  the  town-house,  and  adjourned  to  McLellan's  Hall. 

The  committee  on  sidewalks  reported  at  this  meeting  the  names  of 
the  streets  upon  which  they  had  constructed  sidewalks,  the  widths  of 
the  walks,  and  a  code  of  by-laws  in  regard  to  the  same. 

The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  dispose  of  the  materials  of  the 
town-house  which  remained  after  the  fire,  and  of  the  lot  upon  which  it 
stood. 

[1858.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  January  18,  1858,  to  see 
what  measures  the  town  would  adopt  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
charter  for  a  city  government,  it  was  voted  to  appoint  a  committee  of 
nine,  —  three  fVom  the  ^-illage,  three  from  the  east,  and  three  from  the 
■west  part  of  the  town,  —  to  consider  the  matter  and  to  report  in  one 
week.  This  committee  reported,  Januar}-  25,  that  the  east  and  west 
portions  of  the  town  were  opposed  to  a  city  form  of  government,  but 
that  the  village  was  stix)ngly  in  favor  of  it.  A  motion  to  petition  the 
legislature  for  a  charter  as  a  city  was  lost  b}'  a  vote  of  twenty- six 
majority.  It  was,  however,  voted  that  the  village  school-district 
should  have  leave  to  petition  the  legislature  for  a  city  charter  for  said 
district,  under  the  name  of  the  city  of  Brunswick,  and  the  selectmen 
and  town  clerk  were  directed  to  petition  the  legislature  to  that  eflfect. 
This  they  did,  and  upon  February-  10,  a  committee  of  the  legislature 
reported  a  bill  to  incorporate  the  village  district  as  the  city  of  Bnms- 
wick.  This  bill  was  laid  on  the  table  and  ordered  to  be  printed.  It 
was  afterwarrls  passed,  and  was  approved  by  the  governor,  March  29. 
The  bill  provided  for  its  acceptance  by  the  whole  town  within  thirty 
days,  or  to  be  null  and  void.  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  April  27,  the 
charter  was  read,  and  rejected  by  a  majority  vote  of  one  hundred  and 
one. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  the  sum  of  seven  hundred  dollars 
was  appropriated  for  a  night  watch.  The  committee  on  town  Commons 
reported  at  this  time.  The  report  was  accepted,  and  it  was  voted  that 
the  town  agent  be  empowered  and  directed  to  communicate  with  the 
several  parties  whose  lots  abutted  on  the  Commons,  and  in  case  any  of 


154     HisTonr  of  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell, 

them  should  decline  to  give  the  matter  to  referees,  he  was  instructed 
to  institute  legal  proceedings  against  them,  that  the  rights  of  tlie  town 
might  be  maintained  and  protected.  The  selectmen  were  also  in- 
stnicted  to  cause  permanent  stone  monuments  to  be  erected,  in  order 
to  mark  clearl}'  the  boundarj'  lines  of  the  Commons,  whenever  these 
lines  should  be  authoritatively  ascertained. 

At  a  meeting  held  June  7,  the  town  voted  almost  unanimously  for 
the  Prohibitory  Liquor  Law  of  1858,  there  being  but  one  vote  for  the 
License  Law  of  1856.  This  vote  shows  either  an  unparalleled  senti- 
ment in  the  town  in  favor  of  prohibition,  or  else  that  those  in  heart 
opposed  to  a  temperance  reform  believed  that  its  advocates  had  over- 
shot the  mark  and  that  there  would  be  a  speedy  reaction. 

The  town  this  year  voted  against  granting  State  aid  to  a  proi>osed 
Aroostook  Railroad,  and  in  favor  of  exempting  future  manufacturing 
establishments  from  taxation  for  a  period  of  ten  3'ears. 

[I860.]  A  committee  was  appointed  in  1860  to  consider  the  pro- 
priety of  building  a  new  town  hall.  They  recommended  the  erection 
of  a  building  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets,  at  an  esti- 
mated cost  of  $5,000.     The  town,  however,  refused  to  build. 

[1862.]  In  1862  the  town  lines  between  Brunswick  and  Freeport, 
Brunswick  and  Durham,  Brunswick  and  Harpswell,  and  Brunswick 
and  Bath,  were  perambulated  hy  the  selectmen  of  Brunswick  and  the 
authorities  of  the  other  places  named,  and  moniunents  were  erected  to 
mark  the  line. 

[1866.]  An  article  in  the  warrant  for  a  special  meeting  in  Novem- 
ber, 1866,  in  relation  to  petitioning  the  legislature  to  set  Brunswick 
off  from  Cumberland  County,  was  dismissed. 

A  new  hearse  was  this  3'ear  procured. 

[1869,  1870.]  In  1869,  and  again  in  1870,  propositions  were 
made  looking  to  the  erection  of  a  town  hall,  but  they  were  defeated, 
and  none  has  yet  [1877]  been  erected. 

[1872.]  In  1872  a  proposition  was  made  for  the  erection  of  a 
monument  in  memor}'  of  the  fallen  heroes  of  the  Rebellion.  A  com- 
mittee was  appointed  to  consider  the  subject,  and  at  a  subsequent 
meeting  reported  in  favor  of  such  a  monument,  but  the  town  decided 
adversely  to  its  erection. 

All  impoitant  acts  of  the  town  not  embraced  in  this  chapter  will  be 
found  in  other  connections. 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORY  OF  HARPS  WELL,  155 


CHAPTER    III. 

MUNICIPAL   HISTORY  OP   HARPS  WELL. 
UNDER  COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

The  place  formerly  known  as  Wescustego  was,  on  September  22, 
1680,  incorporated  as  a  plantation  by  the  name  of  North  Yarmouth. 

In  1731  the  limits  of  North  Yarmouth  were  determined  by  order  of 
the  General  Court  as  follows :  — 

"  To  begin  at  a  white  Rock  by  the  side  of  the  Bay  dividing  between 
Falmouth  &  North  Yarmouth  &  to  extend  from  thence  into  the  woods 
North  west  by  Falmouth  line  eight  miles,  and  from  }'•  s^  white  Rock  to 
extend  by  the  Bay  to  the  mouth  of  Bungamunganock  River,  from 
thence  to  extend  eight  miles  into  the  woods  on  a  line  parallel  to  Fal- 
mouth line  (&  from  thence  to  Falmouth  line  aforesaid,  &  from  the 
afores^  white  Rock  <&  mouth  of  Bungamunganock  River  S^  Township 
to  extend  south  east,  the  width  of  s^  Township  to  the  Main  Sea  so  as 
to  include  the  Islands  within  s^  courses." 

On  April  6,  1733,  the  township  was  incorporated  as  a  town.^ 

In  1735  a  committee  appointed  by  the  General  Court  ran  the  line 
of  the  town  as  follows :  — 

'*  Beginning  at  the  mouth  of  Bungamunganock  River  on  the  west- 
erly side  thence  south  east  over  Maquoit  Ba}'  to  Mare  Point  and  said 
line  runs  over  Minot's  Bam  which  stands  on  s*  Point,  thence  over 
Middle  Bay  to  Merriconeag  neck,  thence  across  s*^  neck  and  Merri- 
eoneag  river  to  a  point  on  Sebascodegan  Island  to  an  Inlet  of  water 
called  ihe  Basin,  thence  crossing  another  part  of  s*^  Island  to  a  small 
Island  called  Egg  Island  in  Quahaug  River,  thence  crossing  another 
part  of  8**  Island  running  a  S.  E.  course  across  the  ba}*  to  small  Point, 
thence  to  Huune well's  Cove,  thence  crossing  s*  cove  and  so  on  in  a 
S.  E.  line  to  the  Main  sea  at  mouth  of  Kennebec  River." 

The  present  town  of  Harpswell,  or  the  greater  portion  of  it,  was,  it 
will  be  obsen^ed,  at  this  time  embraced  within  the  limits  of  the  town 
of  North  Yarmouth,  of  which  town  it  constituted  a  parish. ^ 


5  Maine  Historical  Society  Collection,  2,  pp.  172,  176.    Russell's  History  of  North 
Yarmouth. 
^  Maine  Historical  Coliection,  2,  p.  180. 


HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  a 


za«»> 


.740.]  Tn  the  3'ear  1740  Merriconeag  Neck  was  annexed  to 
as  wick,  a8  will  be  seen  by  the  following  petitions  to  and  order  of 
General  Court :  — 

o  His  Excelency  Jonathan  Belcher  Esq.  Capt-ain  General  and 
GovERNOUK  IX  Chief,  the  Honourable  the  Council  and  Honourable 
House  of  REPRESKXTAxrvES  of  His  Majesty's  Province  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Bay  in  New  England  in  General  Court  Assf-mbled 
May  28'",  1740. 

'  THE  PETITION  OF  THE  PROPRIETORS  OF  THE  NECK  OF  LAND 
IN  CASCO  BAY  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  YORK,  CALLED  BY  THE 
NAME  OF  MERECONEGE  NECK:- 

*•  Humbly  Sheweth 

"  That  Whereas  the  said  Neck  of  Land,  is  one  half  part  of  it  within 
the  line  of  the  Township  of  North  Yarmouth,  and  having  Paid  Rates 
and  Taxes  to  said  Township,  both  to  Church  and  State,  altho'  the 
Inhabitants  there  live  above  Thirt}'  miles  distant  by  Land  from  the 
Meeting  House,  and  twelve  miles  b}'  Sea  across  two  very  Dangerous 
Bays,  (Especiall}*  in  the  Winter  time)  being  also  many  times  Impassa- 
ble in  canons,  with  their  Familys  thereb}^  depriving  them  of  the  Public 
Worship  of  God,  for  a  great  part  of  their  time,  which  is  a  veiy  great 
discouragement  to  the  Setlers,  and  Whereas  this  Honourable  Court 
have  been  pleased  Two  3'ears  since  to  Invest  the  Township  of  Bruns- 
wick with  all  priviledges  as  the  other  Towns  in  this  Province  Enjoy 
and  that  Brunswick  Meeting  House  is  but  Three  Miles  distant  from 
the  upper  end  of  said  Neck,  adjo3^ning  to  Brunswick  Town,  and  no 
Water  to  pass  over  which  makes  it  eas3'  to  repair  thereto  without  the 
Danger  and  Dificulty  of  the  Winter  and  Tempests  by  Water  and  the 
very  great  length  of  way  by  Land. 

"  May  it  please  your  Excellency  and  Honours,  We  Humbly  pray. 
That  you  would  be  pleased  for  the  prevention  of  the  aforesaid  Incon- 
veniences to  set  oflf  the  Famil3's  that  ma^'  Inhabit  said  Neck  of  Land, 
from  the  Town  of  North  Yarmouth,  and  annex  them  to  the  Town  of 
Brunswick,  especially'  since  but  a  part  of  said  neck  of  Laud  is  couched 
within  the  line  of  North  Yarmouth  Township.  And  as  in  Dut}-  Bound 
your  Petitioners  shall  ever  pray. 

*'  Joseph  Wadswortu 

Adam  Winthrop 

Henry  Gibbs 

Belcher  No  yes 

Job  Lewis 

Jot  ourselves  and  Partners.^ 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  HARP8WELL. 


157 


^^  We  the  Inhabitants  of  the  said  Neck  of  Land  Most  Humbly 

[Pra}'?]  That  jour  Excelency  and  Honours  would  be  please<l  to  grant 

the  Pra^'er  of  the  above  named  Proprietors  of  said  Neck  of  I^nd  that 

we  may  be  Released  under  our  veiy  Great  hardships,  and  as  in  Duty 

Hound  shall  ever  pray. 


''James  Brewer 
John  Mathews 
William  Magray 
Edward  Quinoham 
William  Gibsox 
MosKS  Gatchell 
Joshua  Cromwell 
Samuel  Winch ell 
Joux  Orr 
William  Mackness 
Thomas  McGregor 
John  Smart 
John  Lindsey 
Benjamin  Denslow 


Richard  Jaques 
John  Stovkr 
Elisha  Allen 
Isaac  Hall 
Samuel  Standwood 
David  Standwood 
John  Stevens 
John  Ross  Jun» 
Seth  Toothaker 

Jon   MOULTON 

AniEL  Spkage 
Wait  Webber 
Ebenezer  Toothaker" 


*'IX   THE   IIorSE  OF   RKP11ESEXTATIVE8,   JuilC  3,  1740. 

'"  Read  and  ordered,  That  the  Petitioners  serve  the  Town  of  North 
Yarmouth  with  a  eopj'  of  this  Petition  that  ihey  Sliew  Cause  if  any 
they  have  on  Tuesday  the  24***  Instant,  if  the  Court  be  tlion  sitting, 
if  not,  on  the  first  Thursday  of  the  next  Sitting  of  this  Court,  why 
the  Prayer  thereof  should  not  be  granted. 

'^  Sent  up  for  concurrence 

'*  J.  QUINCY,  N//T 


'*  Read  and  Concurred 


♦*  In  Council  June  4"^  1740. 


**  Simon  Frost  D.j)?  Saff 


'*  Consented  to 


**  A  true  Copy  Exami 


"J.  Belcher. 


"  Simon  Frost  Ihp".  Scc.^  " 


*'  The  following  order  passed  on  the  |>etition  of  the  Propriet"  of 
Merriconeag  Neck,  viz' 

♦*Ix  Council  June  27,  1740 

*'  Read  again  and  it  ap|>earing  that  the  Town  of  Nortii  Yarmouth 
has  been  duly  served  with  a  copy  of  the  Petition  but  no  answer  given 


158        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

in,  Ordered  that  the  prayer  of  the  Petition  be  granted,  and  that  that 
part  of  the  Neck  of  Land  within  Mentioned  which  heretofore  belongeti 
to  the  Town  of  North  Yarmouth  together  with  the  Inhabitants  thereon, 
be  and  hereb}-  are  set  off  from  the  said  Town  of  North  Yarmouth, 
and  annexed  to  <&  accounted  as  part  of  the  Town  of  Brunswick  there 
to  do  Duty  and  receive  Priviledge  accordingly. 

"  Sent  down  for  Concurrence 

"  Simon  Frost  Dep*  Sec^ 

**In  the  House  of  Representatives  June  28,  1740. 

"  Read  &  Concurred 

**  J.  QUINCY  8p^ 

**  Consented  to 

"J.  Bblchrr. 

**  A  tnie  copy  Examined  . 

"  Simon  Frost  Dep^  Secn^  "  * 

[1741.]  Mcrriconeag  Neck  remained,  however,  annexed  to  Bruns- 
wick for  a  short  time  only,  as  on  August  1,  1741,  the  foregoing  bill 
was  again  brought  before  the  Council,  together  with  the  answer  of 
Ammi  Ruhamat  Cutter,  agent  for  the  town  of  North  Yarmouth,  and 
the  matter  having  been  tlioroughl}'  considered,  it  was  voted  "  that  the 
order  of  this  Court  within  written  passed  the  twenty  seventh  of  June 
last  (A)  be  &  is  hereby  superseded  &  set  aside,  and  that  such  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  the  neck  of  land  within  mentioned,  (B)  as  are  consent- 
ing thereto  and  shall  give  in  their  names  to  the  Town  Clerk  of 
Brunswick  for  that  purpose  be  &  hereb}'  are  set  off  to  the  Town  of 
Brunswick  so  far  as  relates  to  the  Ministry,  to  do  duty  and  receive 
priviledge  accordingl}'."  This  vote  was  sent  to  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives August  5,  where  it  was  read  and  concurred  in,  with  the 
addition  of  some  amendments  at  the  places  marked  A  and  B.  The 
first  amendment  simply  inserted  the  date,  and  the  second  one  added 
the  words,  *'  with  their  estates."^ 

This  legislation  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  people  of  Brunswick, 
nor  to  man}'  of  those  upon  Mcrriconeag  Neck,  and  accordingl}'  the 
following  petitions  were  sent  to  the  General  Court  this  same  year :  — 


1  P^ep^cot  Papers.  « Ibid, 


mimciPAL  msTORT  of  harpswell.  159 

**To  His   Excellenct  William  Siiirly  Esq  Go>t;rnour  &  Comander 

IN  CmKF  IN  &  OVER  HIS  MaJESTYES  PROVINCE  OF  THE  MaSSACITOSETTS 

BAT  IN  New  England, 

The  Honourable  his  Majestyes  Councill,  and  the  Honourable  House 
OP  Representatives  in  Generall  court  assembled  Anno  Domini, 
1741. 

"THE  PETITION  OF  THE  SELECTMEN  OF  THE  TOWN  OF 
BRUNSWICK  IN  THE  COUNTY  OF  YORK  IN  BEHALF  OF  SAID 
TOWN, 

Humbly  Sheweth 

"  That  the  S*  town  being  of  but  small  Extent  and  the  Inhabitants 
as  yet  but  few  in  number  &  a  considerable  part  of  the  Soil  not  so  rich 
and  fitt  for  tillage  as  in  man}-  other  towns,  and  tho'  the  said  Inhabi- 
tants from  a  Principle  of  Loj-alt}'  &  dutifulliiess  to  the  Government, 
are  read}-  &  desirous  to  do  what  they  can  towards  the  support  of  the 
publick  charge,  yet  for  the  reasons  above  mentioned,  they  find  it  very 
difficult  to  maintain  their  families  &  support  the  ministry,  &  much 
more  to  pay  the  Province  tax  which  the  Honourable  Court  was 
pleased  to  lay  uj[X)n  them  last  year,  and  they  find  this  Disability  in 
some  measure  Increased  by  reason  that  a  considerable  part  of  Meri- 
coneag  Neck,  which  hapens  to  fall  within  the  line  of  North  3'armouth, 
by  reason  of  the  large  extent  of  S**  township  into  the  Sea  Cuting  of 
the  whole  front  of  Bmnswick  next  the  sea,  which  was  the  last  year  b}' 
order  of  the  Generall  Court  annexed  to  Brunswick  has  been  since  Set 
back  to  North  yarmouth ;  Now  we  beg  leave  Humbly  to  Represent  to 
your  Excellency  &  Honours  that  the  town  of  North  3'annouth  is  in 
extent  of  land  more  than  three  times  as  large  as  Brunswick,  without 
reconing  in  the  Necks  &  Islands  Couched  within  the  lines  of  S**  town, 
which  much  Increase  the  proportion,  and  the  S'*  town  is  mucli  more 
numerous  in  Inhabitants,  &  their  land  by  long  Cultivation  is  become 
much  more  profitable,  so  that  the}*  cannot  be  reasonably  suposed  to 
stand  in  need  of  so  small  an  addition  as  Mericoneag  Neck.  Now 
whereas  the  uper  part  of  S^  neck,  is  Contiguous  to  Brunswick  and  the 
rest  of  it  b}'  land,  is  18  miles  nearer  to  the  center  of  Brunswick  &  to 
S**  meeting  house  than  to  North  yarmouth  meeting  house,  &  a  much 
nearer  &  safer  way  to  Brunswick  in  time  of  danger,  where  tliey  can 
be  relieved  bj'  land  from  Brunswick  town,  which  they  cannot  readily, 
by  North  yarmouth,  by  land  or  water,  and  tiie  addition  of  it  to  Bruns- 
wick, would  sometiiing  increase  their  number,  &  at  present  in  Some 
measure  Enable  them  to  discharge  the  heavy  tax  laid  upon  them, 
which  is  very  burthensom  by  reason  of  their  Contiuuall  fears  and  great 


160        UISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

poverty  of  the  Inhabitants  (excepting  four  or  five  familyes)     Your 

Petitioners  therefore   Humbly  pra}'  that  your   Honours  will  so  fax 

Compassionate  &  Encourage  them  as  to  annex  unto  Brunswick  the 

whole  of  8*^  neck  viz :  that  part  of  it  that  is  couched  within  North 

yarmoutli  line  &  the  uper  part  of  it  that  lies  between  the  lines  of 

North  yarmouth  and  Brunswick  and  wliicli  at  present  is  within  the 

bounds  of  no  town  and  your  Petitioners  as  in  Duty  bound  Shall  ever 

pray  &c. 

*'  Benj^  Larrabee,       ] 
Wymond  Bradbury,  \     /f  <^<^^^ 
Saml  IIIXKLEY,  J    ^/  i^runsmck. 

"  We  the  Subscribers  Inhabitants  of  Merriconeag  Neck  in  Casco 
ba}',  such  of  us  as  fall  within  tiie  line  of  North-yarraouth  finding  our- 
selves under  a  great  burthen  &  disadvantage  in  being  subjected  to 
that  town  from  whence  we  are  so  very  remote  &  from  whence  we  can 
expect  no  manner  of  benefit  on  account  of  tlie  Ministry,  School,  or 
otherwise,  &  others  of  us  who  are  not  within  tlie  bounds  of  any  town 
but  lying  between  the  lines  of  North  yarmouth  &  Brunswick,  but 
\\\ng  contiguous  to  Brunswick  &  Judging  it  to  be  very  much  for  our 
Comfort  «&  benefit  to  belong  to  s**  town,  do  Humbly  Jo3'n  with  the 
Inhabitants  of  Brunswick  in  the  within  Petition,  and  earnestly  Suppli- 
cate your  KxcUency  &  Honours  that  for  the  reasons  therein  set  forth 
you  will  be  pleased  to  annex  the  whole  of  Mericoneag  Neck  to  the 
town  of  Brunswick  &  your  petitioners  as  in  duty  bound  shall  ever 
pray, 

"  Richard  Jaques 
Wait  Webber 
Joiix  Stover 
John  Mathews 
Thomas  McGregor 
Natu*-  L.  Barnes  "  * 

These  petitions  were  not  favorably  received  by  the  General  Court, 
but  on  June  14,  1749,  that  body,  in  response  to  a  petition  of  the 
inhabitants  of  that  portion  of  Merriconeag  Neck  and  the  adjoining 
islands,  which  was  within  the  limits  of  North  Yarmouth,  passed  an 
order  to  the  effect  that  the  Neck,  the  land  and  islands  mentioned  in 
the  petition,  and  the  northeast  pail  of  Sebascodegan  Island,  should 
be  a  distinct  and  separate  precinct.® 

^  Pejcpscot  Papers,    Original  Petition,  *  Massachwetts  Records,  1749. 


MUNICIPAL  msTonr  of  harpswell.  161 

In  1 758  the  following  Act  of  Incorporation  was  passed  :  — 

"AXXO  BEONI  ^    £Jgm  ^«^  ^  REGIS  GEOROII 

Secuxdi  Trices-  ^^^ttStJ^USl^t^  ^^^  primo. 

"AN  ACT 

For  incorporating  a  neck  of  land  called  Mericoneag  Neck,  and  certain  I.ilandfl  adja- 
oent,  in  the  County  of  York  into  a  Separate  District  by  the  name  of 

*'  Whereas  the  Inhabitants  of  Mericoneag  Neck  and  the  Islands 
adjacent  have  humbly  represented  to  this  Court  the  difficulties  and 
great  inconveniences  they  labour  under  in  their  present  situation  and 
have  earnestly  requested  that  they  may  be  investeil  with  powei*s  priv- 
ileges and  immunities  of  a  District. 

**  Therefore  be  it  enacted  by  the  Governor,  Council,  and  House  of 
Representatives,  That  the  said  Neck  of  Land  beginning  whore  Bruns- 
wick line  intersects  the  upper  end  of  said  Neck  which  is  four  rods 
above  the  Narrows  of  said  Neck  commonl}'  called  the  Carrying  Place, 
from  thence  including  the  whole  of  said  Neck  down  to  the  Sea, 
together  with  the  Islands  adjacent  hereafter  mentioned,  viz :  Great 
Sebascodegan  Island  alias  Shapleighs  Island,  Little  Scbascodegan 
Island,'  and  Wills  ^  Island  lying  to  the  South  east  side  of  said  Neck  ; 
Birch  Island,  Whites  Island  and  the  two  Goose  Islands  lying  on  the 
Northwest  side  of  said  neck  and  Damariscove  Islands  ^  l3*ing  at  the 
lower  end  of  said  Neck,  be  and  hereby  are  incorporated  into  a  separate 
District  bj'  the  name  of  Harpswell, 

""  And  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Neck  of  land  and  Islands  shall  be  and 
hereby  are  invested  with  all  the  jjowers,  privileges  and  immunities  tiiat 
the  several  towns  in  this  Province  by  law  do  or  may  enjoy,  that  of 
sending  a  Representative  only  excepted. 

''"  And  be  it  further  enacted  That  John  Minot  Esq.  be  and  hereb}'  is 
empowere<l  to  issue  his  warrant  to  some  principal  Inhabitant  of  the 
said  District  requiring  him  in  his  Majestys  name  to  warn  and  notif}' 
the  said  Inhabitants  qualified  to  vote  in  town  atfaiis  to  meet  together 
at  such  time  and  place  in  said  District  as  bj'  said  Warrant  .shall  be 
appointed  to  choose  such  officers  as  the  law  directs  and  may  be  neces- 
saiy  to  manage  the  affairs  of  said  District : 

**•  And  the  said  Inhabitants  being  so  met  shall  be  and  hereby  are 
empowered  to  ch(X)se  officers  accordingly. 


I  Xow  Orr*8  Island,  '^  Xow  Bailiffs  Island, 

*  One  of  which  is  now  caUed  Haskell* $  Island. 

U 


1 62        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIUM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

**Jakuary20«>»1758, 

*'  This  bill  having  been  read  three  several  times  in  the  House  of 
Bepresentatives  passed  to  be  enacted 

"  F.  IIUBBARD,  Speaker. 

**jANUARY20«hl768, 

'*  This  bill  having  been  read  three  several  times  in  Council  passed 

to  be  enacted 

"A.  OuvER,  Stc^y. 

**  January  25«>»  1758, 
"  By  the  Governor  I  consent  to  the  enacting  of  this  bill 

''T.   POWNAL. 

"  Copy  examined 

**A.  Bradford 

*•  Sec'y  of  CommontceaUfi  of  Massachusetts  *^ 

It  will  be  obserA'ed  that  no  reference  is  made  in  the  foregoing  Act  to 
the  town  of  North  Yarmouth.  This  would  conve}'  the  impression 
that  when  Harps  well  was  made  a  precinct,  it  became  legallj'  separated 
from  that  town,  which  was  probably  the  case. 

The  present  name  of  the  town  is  not  known  to  have  been  used  prior 
to  the  incorporation.  By  whom  it  was  first  suggested  is  not  known. 
One  authorit}'  ^  states  that  it  was  so  named  b}'  the  General  Court, 
but  according  to  traditionary  accounts  the  name  was  given  by  the 
Dunnings.  There  is  a  Harpswell  in  Lincolnshire,  flngland,  and  the 
name  was  probabl}'  first  suggested  b}*  some  emigrant  from  that  vicinity 
and  was  favored  b}'  tlie  Dunnings,  who  were  English  people,  though 
from  another  county. 

Harpswell,  though  similar  to  an  incorporated  town  in  most  respects, 
had  not  the  privilege  of  being  represented  at  the  General  Court,  and 
was  therefore  only  a  district. 

The  firat  recorded  meeting  of  the  district  was  held  March  80,  1758. 
At  this  meeting  Captain  John  Stover  was  chosen  moderator ;  Andrew 
Dunning,  clerk;  David  Curtis,  Isaac  Hall,  and  Andrew  Dunning, 
selectmen  and  assessors ;  Lieutenant  Lemuel  Turner,  district  treas- 
urer ;  Elijah  Douglas  and  Taylor  Small,  constables ;  James  Babbage, 
Seth  Toothaker,  and  John  Coombs,  tithing-men ;  Waitstill  Webber, 
William  Alexander,  and  Josepii  Thompson,  surveyors  of  highways ; 


Kellogg y  Mi'^i:!.  lecture. 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  HARP8WELL.  Ifi3 

Edward  Easters,  Thomas  McGregor,  and  Joseph  Linscott,  fence- 
viewers  ;  Nathan  Adams,  James  Gardner,  and  John  Snow,  hog- 
reeves  ;  and  Elisha  Allen,  sealer  of  leather.  It  was  voted  at  this 
meeting  that  hogs  and  horses  should  be  allowed  to  run  at  large, 
according  to  the  existing  law.  The  meeting  adjourned  to  the  last 
Wednesday  in  May. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  on  May  25,  the  following  votes  were 
passed:  — 

That  Alexander  Wilson  and  Andrew  Dunning  should  be  a  com- 
mittee to  settle  with  North  Yarmouth,  and  to  receive  whatever  money 
was  due  the  town. 

To  have  no  schoolmaster  this  vcar. 

That  the  selectmen  should  lay  out  the  highwa3's  as  they  might 
deem  advisable. 

That  the  selectmen  should  settle  '*  with  Mr.  Jaques,  the  former 
treasurer"  probably  of  the  former  precinct  or  parish,  ''and  should 
remove  the  Treasury  into  Lemuel  Turner's  hands." 

That  Thomas  McGregor  should  be  collector  for  that  year,  on  the 
Neck,  and  should  be  allowed  thirteen  shillings  and  four  pence  for  his 
services. 

That  Mr.  William  Harsey  should  be  paid  fifteen  shillings  for  his 
hrouble  in  making  out  the  rates  for  the  parish  in  1755. 

That  Mr.  William  Blake  and  Mrs.  Mary  Young  should  be  paid 
twelve  shillings  each,  for  making  out  the  rates  at  the  same  time. 

That  Captain  Timothy  Baile\'  should  be  paid  one  pound  for  a  note 
that  he  gave  in  the  3'ear  1751  "  for  the  Place  being  presented." 

That  Mr.  Curtis  be  paid  £33  U.  \d.  "  for  taking  up  Mr.  Pattis- 
halls  execution  against  the  Parish." 

That  he  have  eighteen  shillings  for  his  time  and  expense  in  taking 
up  the  execution. 

That  Benjamin  Jaques  be  paid  thirteen  shillings  four  pence  "  for 
going  with  Mr.  Curtis  to  t^ke  up  Patishal's  execution." 

That  Benjamin  Jaques  and  Alexander  Wilson  be  paid  three  shil- 
lings each  "for  getting  a  power  [of  attorney?]  to  give  Mr.  Ralph 
Farnan." 

That  fourteen  shillings  be  allowed  Richanl  Starbird  on  his  assess- 
ment for  1754. 

That  Samuel  Eaton  be  paid  three  pounds  for  serving  as  clerk  for 
four  years ;  and  that  Lieutenant  Lemuel  Turner  be  paid  eigliteou 
shillings,  David  Curtis  twenty-four  shilUugs,  and  Captain  Timothy 
Bailey  three  shillings,  for  going  to  North  Yarmouth.     It  will  be  seen 


164        UISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELU 

that  most  of  the  foregoing  relates  to  past  transactions  of  the  precinct, 
or  parish,  which  have  not  been  preserved  as  matters  of  record. 

[1750.]  On  May  9,  1759,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  settle  the 
district  and  parish  affairs,  and  another  committee  was  also  chosen  to 
settle  with  the  town  of  North  Yarmouth,  and  to  receive  what  money 
was  due  to  Harps  well.  At  this  meeting  it  was  also  voted  to  build  a 
pound  near  the  meeting-house,  and  also  one  on  Mr.  Joseph  Thomp- 
son's land  on  the  island  called  Great  Sebascodegan. 

On  May  30,  of  this  year,  the  town  voted  to  purchase  scales, 
weights,  and  measures  for  use  as  a  standard.  Jonathan  Flint  was 
allowed  £1  9^.  for  laying  out  the  main  road  from  the  Brunswick 
line  to  the  lower  end  of  the  Neck ;  James  Gardner  was  also  paid  3«. 
for  carrying  a  pole  to  la}'  out  the  road,  and  Thomas  Jones,  Jr.,  and 
Captain  John  Stover,  3.9.  each,  for  assistance  in  laying  out  this  road. 
£13  C.-?.  8rZ.  was  appropriated  for  the  poor. 

[1760.]  In  1760  the  town  appropriated  35s.  4ri.  to  paj'  David 
Curtis  for  his  expense  in  obtaining  books,  scales,  and  weights. 

[1762.]  At  the  May  meeting  in  1762,  it  was  voted  that  2d.  per 
head  should  be  paid  for  all  crows  killed  on  the  Neck  before  the  Octo- 
ber following. 

[1763.]  In  M03',  1763,  the  town  voted  to  pay  Benjamin  Jaques, 
Alexander  ^Vilson,  and  John  Alexander  the  sums  assessed  against 
them  for  the  sloop  built  the  previous  year. 

[1765.]  In  1765  the  town  voted  to  allow  Nicholas  Pinkham  the 
sum  assessed  upon  his  father  ^^  for  the  fine  laid  on  the  Quakers  as 
appears  by  State  and  Kate  Bills,  1760."  ^ 

[1768.]  At  a  meeting  held  March  25,  1768,  the  town  voted  — 
twenty-six  to  twelve  —  not  to  set  off  Great  Sebascodegan  Island  as  a 
parish.  At  a  meeting  held  September  28th,  it  was  voted  not  to  send 
a  delegate  to  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Boston,  but  the  selectmen, 
with  Andrew  Dunning  and  Benjamin  Jaques,  were  chosen  as  a  commit- 
tee to  prepare  and  forward  a  letter  to  that  convention. 

[1770.]  The  recoixis  of  the  meeting  on  Maj*  22,  1770,  contain  the 
following  entr}* :  — 

"  The  majority  of  votes  for  Mr.  Samuel  Stan  wood  as  RepresentAtive 
were  20."  This  is  the  first  mention  to  be  found  of  the  town's  being 
represented  at  the  General  Court. 

[1772.]     In  1772  the  town  voted  to  pay  David  Curtis  and  Elijah 


1  This  is  Oie  first  and  only  record  in  either  of  the  three  towns  icfiere  Quakers  are  spoken 
of  as  having  been  fitted. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  165 

Douglas  one  dollar  each  *'  for  haling  Boards  from  Brunswick."  What 
the  boards  were  for  is  not  stated,  but  probably  for  the  school-houses. 

[1773.]  On  Januarj'  28,  1773,  a  communication  from  the  town  of 
Boston,  setting  forth  the  rights  of  the  colonies  and  a  statement  of 
the  infVingement  of  their  rights,  was  laid  before  the  town  for  their 
consideration. 

A  committee,  consisting  of  William  S3'lve8ter,  Deacon  Andrew 
Dunning,  and  Captain  Benjamin  Jaques,  was  chosen  to  write  a  repl}' 
and  to  submit  it  to  the  town  at  a  special  meeting  to  be  held  on 
the  eighth  day  of  March,  at  w^hich  time  the  committee  reported  as 
follows :  — 

"  That  generous  Ardor  for  Civil  and  Religious  Liberty  which  in  the 
Face  of  everj'  Danger  and  even  Death  itself  induced  our  fore  Fathers 
to  forsake  the  Bosom  of  their  Native  Country  their  Pleasant  Seats 
and  Fertile  Fields  and  begin  a  Settlement  in  this  then  a  howling 
Wilderness  is  not  extinct  in  us  their  Posterity. 

'*  they  Dearly  purchased  (with  many  Tears  Prayers  Mortifications 
&  Self  Denials)  those  happy  Gospel  Priviledges  and  Religious  Liber- 
ties which  we  enjoj'  in  Conjunction  with  the  Ro^-al  Charter  these  we 
esteem  dear  and  Sacred  —  we  are  greatl}'  alarmed  at  the  Innovations 
made  upon  our  Charter  Rights  and  think  them  a  Real  Grievance  — 
We  fear  not  Poverty  but  disdain  Slavery. 

*  whatever  Day, 
Makes  Man  a  Slave  takes  half  his  wortli  away.' 

•'  We  shall  not  particularl}-  enumerate  our  Grievances  but  only  Say 
we  Concur  with  the  Sentiments  of  the  Committy  of  Correspondence  at 
Boston  as  they  have  stated  the  rights  of  the  Colonists  and  of  this 
l^rovince  in  Particular,  and  of  the  Infringements  on  those  Rights. 
We  openly  and  Frankly  declare  that  we  hold  Fast  our  Lo^-alty  to  our 
Sovereign  (Independency  we  have  not  in  View  —  we  abhor  the  Thought) 
and  hold  our  Selves  in  Readiness  at  all  times  with  our  lives  and  For- 
tunes to  assist  his  Majesty  in  his  Defence  as  we  have  heretofore  done 
(when  for  the  Enlargement  of  the  Brittish  Empire,  upon  the  Ruins  of 
their  Perfidious  French  Neighbors  we  have  Cheerfully  Emptied  our 
Purses  and  furnished  out  our  Quota  of  Men  to  join  tlie  Countless 
Numbers  of  loyal  Americans  who  have  Sacrificed  their  lives  in  the 
high  Places  of  the  Field  &  Dtesert  —  Man}-  of  whose  Bones  are  to  this 
Da3'  whitning  in  the  sun)  3'et  we  groan  under  our  Burdens  we  sensibl}' 
feel  them,  but  do  not  despair  of  Redress  If  the  Importunity  of  a  Poor 
widow  May  Moove  an  unjust  Judge  to  avenge  her  How  much  More 


166        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

May  we  hope  for  Redress  by  Frequent  application  to  our  Gracious 
and  good  King  which  application  we  humbly  conceive  Should  be 
Dutiful  and  lo3'al  — Vewing  our  Selves  to  be  the  children  and  our  Gra- 
cious Sovereign  the  Parent.  And  Could  his  Excelency  Our  Gov- 
ernour  (whom  we  highly  esteem  &  think  to  be  endow*  with  Singular 
abilities)  be  prevailed  upon  to  join  the  other  Branches  of  the  Legisla- 
ture Supplicating  the  Throne  for  Redress  it  appears  to  us  the  Most 
probable  way  of  obtaining  his  Majestys  Royal  Attention  and  Relief. 

"William  Sylvester 
And^  Dunino  )-    Commitiyy 

Benj"  Jaques 

The  records  continue  as  follows :  — 

*'  The  question  being  put  whether  the  foregoing  Report  be  accepted 
it  Passed  in  the  Affirmative  Nemine  contradicente  and  thereupon  voted 
William  S3-lvest€r  Esqr.,  Deacon  Andrew  Duning  &  Capt.  Benj. 
Jaques  a  Committy  to  Transmit  an  attested  Coppy  from  the  Clerk  to 
the  Comitty  of  Correspondence  at  Boston  with  the  Thanks  of  this 
District  to  that  Respectable  Patriotic  Town." 

[1774.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1774,  the  town  passed  the  fol- 
lowing votes :  "  to  allow  Andrew  Duning  6  shillings  a  year  since  1759 
for  services  as  Clerk,"  and  ''  to  fence  the  burying  place  with  stone  or 
boards,  as  the  Committee  think  proper." 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  August  11,  William  Sylvester,  Esquire, 
Andrew  Dunning,  and  Deacon  Isaac  Snow  were  chosen  a  committee 
to  reply  to  sundrj*  letters  from  the  town  of  Boston,  relative  to  enter- 
ing into  a  covenant  for  the  non-consumption  of  British  goods. 

The  committee  reported  as  follows :  — 

'*  That  the  Town  of  Boston  is  Now  Suflfering  in  the  Common  Cause, 
a  Cause  which  we  Esteem  to  be  Our  Own  that  it  is  our  Fixed  Resolu- 
tion not  to  be  Awed  into  Acquiesence  b}'  a  Mad  Exertion  of  Mere 
Power  on  the  Part  of  Our  Enemies  but  to  hold  and  Defend  Our 
Charter  Rights  to  the  Last,  that  a  general  Agreement  between  the 
Colonies  of  non  importation  &  non  exportation  faithflilly  observed 
would  (under  God)  be  a  Means  of  the  Salvation  of  our  falling 
Countiy  that  as  the  Honourable  House  of  Representatives  Did  on 
June  17*^  1774  Resolve  that  a  Committy  Should  be  appointed  to  Meet 
as  Soon  as  May  be  the  Committies  that  are  or  shall  be  appointed  by 
the  Several  Colonies  on  this  Continant  to  Consult  together  upon  the 
Present  State  of  the  Colonies  and  to  Deliberate  &  Determine  upon 
Wise  and  Propper  Measures  to  be  by  them  Recomended  to  All  the 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  HARPSWELL.  1 67 

Colonies  for  the  Recovery  &  Establishment  of  their  Just  Rights  —  & 
it  is  our  OpinioD  that  our  now  Coming  into  the  non-Consumption 
agreement  Previous  to  the  Result  of  the  Congress  would  be  Prema- 
ture and  that  We  should  Anticipate  the  Verry  End  of  that  Respectable 
Body  we  therefore  think  it  More  Regular  and  Advisable  first  to  hear 
the  Measures  advised  to  by  the  Congress  and  we  hold  our  Selves  in 
Readiness  to  Comply  with  the  Same." 

This  report  was  accepted. 

On  September  14th,  Joseph  Ewing,  Captain  John  Stover,  and 
Andrew  Dunning  were  chosen  a  committee  "to  go  to  Falmouth  to 
meet  the  Falmouth  and  other  Town  Committees  at  Falmouth,  y*  21st 
of  Sept.  Inst." 

[1775.]  On  March  20,  1775,  the  town  passed  the  following  vote : 
'^  to  Give  the  Men  that  Shall  Engage  as  Minute  Men  too  Shillings  <& 
Eight  Pence  p'  Week  allowing  they  Meet  three  Days  each  week  & 
spend  three  Hours  Each  Day  in  exercising  or  Leaniing  the  Art  Mili- 
tary for  One  Month  from  Date  Agreeable  to  the  Advice  of  the  Con- 
gress—  and  if  Legually  called  by  the  Chief  Officers  to  March  Out  of 
Town  Shall  be  entitled  to  forty  eight  Shillings  as  A  Bounty  or  Incour- 
agement  and  the  like  Incouragement  to  Any  Others  that  shall  be 
Legally  Called  as  above  &  comply  with  the  call." 

Tlie  selectmen  were  this  year  instmcted  to  have  the  town's  propor- 
tion of  the  Province  rate  paid  to  Henr}'  Gardner,  Esquire,  *'  as  soon 
as  may  be." 

William  Sylvester,  Joseph  Orr,  Nathaniel  Pnrinton,  John  Snow, 
Samuel  Bartlett,  James  Ridle}',  Joseph  Ewing,  Andrew  Dunning, 
Benjamin  Jaques,  Paul  Curtis,  John  Stover,  Ebenezer  Toothaker, 
John  Roduck,  John  Farnham,  Mark  Rogers,  William  ^lorgridge, 
Simeon  Hopkins,  Ezekiel  Curtis,  and  Anthony  Coombs,  »lr.,  were 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Inspection  and  of  Correspondence. 

The  town  also  voted  to  provide  a  stock  of  ammunition,  double  in 
quantity  the  amount  required  by  law.  On  May  1st,  William  Sylvester, 
Nathaniel  Purinton,  John  Snow,  Benjamin  Jaques,  and  Andrew  Dun- 
ning were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Supply. 

At  a  meeting  held  on  the  5th  of  June,  it  was  voted  that  '•  the 
Remainder  of  the  half  barrel  of  Powder  Purchased  by  the  Committy 
of  Supply  be  a  Town  Stock."  It  was  also,  at  this  time,  ''Voted  to 
keep  four  Watches  —  One  at  the  iuter^'ale  By  the  Harbour  or  there 
Abouts  One  at  the  High  Land  Near  Benj.  Webbers  One  at  the 
Lookout  and  One  at  Jaqueses  Hill  And  Every  Person  Delicicnt  being 
Duly  Notified  to  Pay  Six  Shillings  as  a  fine."     It  was  also  voted, 


168        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

'*  Not  to  fire  a  gim  between  Sun  Set  &  Sun  Rise  except  at  the  enemy 
or  an  Alarm  on  Penalt}'  of  Setting  in  the  Stocks  One  Hour." 

Tiie  town  also  voted  that  the  powder  should  be  flimished  to  those 
needinpf  it,  in  the  quant  it}'  of  half  a  pound  for  each  man,  who  applied 
and  who  should  pay  or  give  his  note  for  it. 

Captain  John  Snow,  Paul  Randall,  and  William  Sylvester  were 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Supply  and  Safet}'. 

At  a  meeting  held  Jul}'  6th,  Captain  Nehemiah  Curtis  was  selectetl 
to  join  with  the  committees  of  other  towns  in  the  count\',  for  the  pur- 
pose of  distributing  in  the  most  important  places  the  men  who  were 
stationed  for  a  guanl  upon  the  sea-coast. 

[1776.]  At  a  meeting  of  tiie  town  held  January'  16,  1776,  the 
selectmen  were  chosen  a  committee  to  emboilj"  in  a  petition  to  the 
General  Coui-t  the  necessit}'  there  was  for  an  armed  guard  and  a 
supply  of  ammunition  in  the  town. 

On  March  4,  William  S3'lvester,  Nathaniel  Purinton,  Captain  Nehe- 
miah Curtis,  Captain  John  Snow,  and  Lieutenant  Benjamin  Dunning 
were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and  Safety. 
At  a  meeting  held  Ma}'  6,  the  vote  of  the  District  in  1775,  giving 
minute-men  2s.  M.  per  week  for  meeting  for  militar}'  practice  on 
three  da^'s  in  each  week,  for  three  hours  each  day,  was  rescinded. 
On  July  30  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  take  charge  of  the 
ammunition  and  arms,  receipt  for  the  same,  and  then  distribute  them 
among  the  officers  of  the  militia,  who  should  be  accountable  for  them. 
It  was  also  voted  to  pay  Nathaniel  Purinton  and  the  seven  men  who 
assisted  him  in  bringing  guns  down  the  Kennebec  River,  4^.  each,  for 
two  da3's'  labor.  It  was  also  voted  to  pa}'  Deacon  Isaac  Snow  12«. 
for  his  expenses  and  charge  in  bringing  twenty-five  fire-arms  fh>m 
Falmouth.  Andrew  Dunning  was,  at  this  meeting,  chosen  to  take 
recognizances  in  Harps  well.  At  a  meeting  held  on  December  20, 
the  following  resolutions  were  passed  :  — 

**  Voted  the  great  &  General  Court  or  Assembly  of  this  State  Do 
Take  up  a  Fonn  of  Government  as  Soon  as  they  think  Pi"oppor  &  that 
form  that  Shall  tend  most  to  Piety,  Peace,  Safety  and  Good  Order  in 
this  State  and  agreeable  to  the  Honourable  Continental  Congress  — 
the  vote  unanimus  at  a  full  Meeting. 

"  Vot<Kl  the  Selectmen  Send  to  the  General  Court  or  Treasurer  for 
Axes,  Kittles,  Canteens  and  Money  to  hire  Waggons  &  Pay  the  Men 
that  are  Draugiited  their  Milage  to  the  Place  of  Destination." 

[1777.]  At  the  March  meeting  in  1777,  Nathaniel  Purinton, 
Captain  John  Snow,  Captain  Nehemiah  Curtis,  Kzekiel  Curtis,  and 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  HARPSWELL.  169 

Andrew  Dunning  were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and 
Safety.  It  was  also  voted,  "  Not  to  Have  a  Ilospetal  Built  in  the 
County'  for  an  Enocolating  Hospetal."  It  was  also  voted  this  3ear 
to  pa3'  Andrew  Dunning  12s.  for  superintending  the  delivery  of  pow- 
der and  flints,  and  for  recording  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 
On  November  25,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  supply  the  families  of 
soldiers  with  necessar}"  articles. 

[1778.]  The  entrj'  of  the  May  meeting  in  1778  commences,  *'  At 
a  meeting  of  the  Town  of  Harpswell."  It  is  the  first  time  that  the 
records  were  thus  commenced,  heretofore  the  words  "  parish,"  *'  dis- 
trict," or  *'  inhabitants"  being  used.  Yet  Ilarpswell  must  have  been  in 
all  respects  a  town  prior  to  this,  having  in  1770  elected  a  represent- 
ative. At  this  meeting.  Captain  John  Snow,  Joseph  Ewing,  Benja- 
min Dunning,  Ezekiel  Curtis,  Captain  Thomas  Merry  man,  Paul 
Randall,  and  Alexander  Ewing  were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Insj>ec- 
tion,  Safet}',  and  Supply.  It  was  voted  to  raise  £420  "  for  the  rein- 
forcement of  nine  men  now  to  be  raised,  and  proportioned  as  hereafter 
mentioned,  viz.  to  four  men  for  the  militia  one  hundred  dollar h  per 
man.  To  five  men  for  the  Continental  Arm}'  two  hundred  dollars  per 
man."  The  selectmen  were  instnicted  to  hire  the  monc}'  to  pay  the 
above  bounties,  and  also  the  mileage  of  the  soldiers. 

At  a  meeting,  held  June  24,  the  town  voted  to  purchase  some  cloth- 
ing which  had  been  provided  for  the  soldiers  and  also  to  raise  the  sum  of 
£bG  for  the  four  men  who  had  that  day  enlisted.  At  another  meeting, 
held  on  the  third  of  August,  it  was  voted  that  the  selectmen  sliould  i)ro- 
vide  the  town's  proportion  of  clothing  for  the  army,  in  accordance  with 
the  onler  of  the  General  Court,  passed  the  previous  June,  and  that  each 
article  of  clothing  should  be  of  the  same  price  as  previousl}',  if  of  as 
good  quality,  and  that  it  should  be  valued  by  the  same  committees. 

[1779.]  At  the  March  meeting  in  1779,  Thomas  Merryman, 
James  Ridley,  and  Alexander  Ewing  wore  chosen  a  (/ommittee  of  Cor- 
respondence, Inspection,  Safety,  and  Supply.  At  a  meeting,  held 
July  2,  it  was  voted  that  all  the  male  inhabitants  of  Harpswell  above 
the  age  of  sixteen  3'ear8  should  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Ignited 
States.  It  was  also  voted  to  suppl}'  powder  and  balls  from  the  town 
stock  to  such  as  might  need  them  ;  that  the  price  of  the  powder  should 
be  £3,  and  of  balls  15«.  per  pound.  —  each  one  being  allowed  half  a 
]x>und  of  powder,  and  balls  in  proportion.  It  was  also  voted  that 
Michael  Curtis,  Thomas  Farr,  Paul  Randall,  and  John  Blake  should 
be  a  committee  "  to  wait  on  the  Justice  to  tender  the  oath  of  alle- 
giance to  the  United  States,"  and  that  all  males  over  the  age  of  six- 


170        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL^ 

tceii  years  who  refused  to  take  that  oath  should  be  disarmed.  At  a 
meeting  held  in  August,  it  was  voted  to  sell  eight  lire-arms,  that  had 
been  recently  purchased,  at  forty  two  and  one  half  dollars  each. 

[1780.]  At  the  March  meeting  in  1780,  William  Sylvester, 
Esquire,  Captain  Nehemiah  Curtis,  Paul  Curtis,  Thomas  Farr,  Cap- 
tain Isaac  Snow,  Lieutenant  Anthon}^  Coombs,  and  Simeon  Hopkins 
were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and  Safet}'. 
At  the  Ma}'  meeting  the  town  voted  to  raise  £2,000  for  expenses  and 
£300  for  support  of  the  poor. 

The  proposed  new  constitution  for  the  State  of  Massachusetts  was 
read  and  considered  article  by  article.  It  was  amende<l  "  in  Page 
27th,  last  line,  for  the  word  Christian  to  have  the  word  Protestant 
and  in  Page  33d  —  the  House  of  Representatives  to  have  a  voice  in  the 
appointment  of  officers  for  the  Continental  army."  Thus  amended, 
thirty  voted  in  favor  of,  and  one  against  it.  At  a  meeting  held  in 
September,  the  town  voted  for  governor,  lieutenant-governor,  and 
senator.  John  Hancock  received  fourteen  votes  as  governor;  Sam- 
uel Adams  eight,  and  James  Bowdoin  seven,  as  lieutenant-gov- 
ernor ;  and  John  Lewis,  fifteen  as  senator.  This  is  the  first  record  of 
a  vote  of  this  town  for  State  officers. 

At  a  meeting  held  October '23,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  procure 
beef  for  the  armv. 

[1781.]  On  January  11,  1781,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  procure 
soldiers  for  the  Continental  arm}',  and  on  the  thiitieth  of  the  month 
the  town  voted  ''  to  give  Sixty  Pounds  L.  M.  Paid  in  the  Old  Way  in 
hard  money.  Stock,  Produce  or  Equal  in  other  things  as  shall  be 
agreed  on  by  the  Town  and  Persons  Engageing." 

At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  the  third  of  Februar}',  the  town  voted 
that  the  above-named  sum  should  be  given  as  a  bounty  to  each  man 
that  should  enlist  for  three  years  as  a  soldier,  and  that  it  should  be 
paid  *'  by  the  tenth  Day  of  May  next,  or  as  Many  M idling  Cows  & 
Calfs  as  shall  amount  to  the  Sum  at  five  Pounds  for  each  Cow  &  Calf 
or  Intrcst  for  the  same  till  Paid." 

At  a  meeting  held  in  March,  the  town  voted  that  *'  the  Pools  [polls] 
&  estates  in  the  Town  be  Divided  into  ten  classes  as  Near  as  ma}' 
be  to  Pay  the  Bounty  Given  the  ten  Continental  soldiers,  the  Assess- 
ors to  assess  the  Inhabitants  &  Each  Class  to  collect  their  Part  <&  Pay 
to  the  Agents  for  the  Soldiers  according  to  Agreement."  And  that 
^^  the  whole  sum  contained  in  the  Notes  Given  the  Soldiers  be  assessed 
except  the  Cows  that  were  Promised  at  the  three  years  end,  the  Town 
to  be  assessed  for  the  money." 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  HARP  SWELL,  171 

At  a  meeting  held  in  April,  a  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspec- 
tion, and  Safety  was  chosen  as  nsual. 

At  a  Jane  meeting  it  was  voted  to  raise  thirty-five  pounds  for  cur- 
rent expenses  and  fifteen  pounds  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  the 
money  to  be  reckoned  in  silver  dollars  at  six  shillings  each,  or  in  other 
eurrency  equivalent  to  silver. 

In  July  the  town  voted  to  raise  £50  in  silver,  or  its  equivalent,  for 
the  parchase  of  the  beef  called  for  by  the  General  Court  in  its 
requisition  of  Jane  22. 

On  December  5,  the  town  voted  to  pa}'  twenty-two  shillings  per 
hundred- weight  for  the  beef  needed  to  fill  the  second  and  third  requisi- 
tions, and  to  raise  £16  for  that  purpose. 

[1782.]  In  May,  1782,  the  town  voted  to  relieve  the  tax  toUector 
of  all  responsibilit}'  for  the  counterfeit  mone}'  he  had  received  prior  to 
July,  1781,  upon  his  making  oath  to  the  facts.  The  usual  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence,  etc.,  was  chosen  this  year. 

[1783.]  In  March,  of  this  j'ear,  the  town  voted  to  build  two  pounds, 
one  to  be  erected  on  the  neck  and  the  other  on  the  island. 

In  May,  Nathaniel  Purinton,  Esquire,  Lieutenant  Anthony  Coombs, 
Deacon  Andrew  Dunning,  Benjamin  Dunning,  and  Lieutenant  Michael 
Curtis  were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Inspection,  ^^  on  account  of  the 
Return  of  the  Absentees." 

[1785.]  In  March,  1785,  the  town  voted  to  rent  a  workhouse, 
also  to  pay  for  labor  on  the  highways  the  following  rates  :  4«.  per  day 
per  man,  2s,  for  oxen,  Hd,  for  a  cart,  and  Is,  for  a  plough. 

[1787.]  On  January  8,  1787,  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  the  three 
eastern  counties  being  made  a  separate  State,  and  Captain  Isaac  Snow 
was  elected  to  represent  the  town  at  the  convention  to  be  held  at 
Portland  on  the  last  Wednesday  in  Januar}'. 

On  December  10,  Captain  Isaac  Snow  was  elected  a  delegate  to 
attend  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Boston  on  the  second  Wednesday 
of  tlie  succeeding  Januar}',  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  give  him 
instructions.  On  the  twenty-eighth  of  the  month  the  town  met  to  hear 
the  instructions  which  the  committee  had  prepared,  and  it  was  at  this 
meeting  voted  to  *'  except  [accept]  the  federal  Constitution  with 
Amendments."  This  vote  explains  the  object  of  the  convention  for 
which  the  town  had  chosen  a  delegate. 

[1792.]  The  town  appears  to  have  been  very  undecided  as  to  the 
utility  of  a  separation  of  the  eastern  counties  from  Massachusetts. 
In  January  it  voted  in  favor  of  it  and  in  May  against  it. 

[1794  ]     On  August  11,  1794,  it  was  voted  "  to  give  the  men  that 


172        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

shall  go  on  this  detachment  five  dollars  as  a  bounty  if  the}'  are  called 
for  into  service.  Voted  to  make  up  to  the  men  that  shall  List  with 
the  Continental  Pa}',  twelve  dollars  per  month  for  three  months  if 
the}'  should  he  called  into  actual  service."  The  object  for  which  a 
detachment  was  made  ftom  the  Ilarpswell  company  of  militia  has  not 
been  ascertained.  It  is  evident,  however,  from  the  above  vote,  that 
it  was  of  a  national  character. 

In  November  of  this  year,  Stephen  Purinton,  Johnson  Stover,  and 
Benjamin  Dunning  were  chosen  to  make  a  survey  and  plan  of  the 
town,  in  aci'ordance  witli  the  provisions  of  an  Act  of  the  General 
Court  passed  the  preceding  eighteenth  of  June. 

[1795.]  This  year  the  town  voted  —  thirty-eight  to  twelve  — 
against  a  revision  of  the  Constitution. 

[1796.]  In  May  of  this  year  the  town  voted  "That  if  any  let 
his  Ram  go  at  Large  between  the  first  day  of  September  and  the 
Tenth  Dav  of  November  he  shall  forfeit  the  Ram." 

[1797.]  On  May  10,  1797.  the  town  again  voted  against  a  sepa- 
ration of  the  District  of  Maine  from  the  State  of  Massachusetts. 

[1798.]  At  a  meeting  held  October  15,  1798,  the  town  voted  against 
"  the  formation  of  a  new  county  to  be  composed  of  the  towns  of 
Brunswick,  llarpswelL  Durham,  Georgetown,  Bath,  Topsham,  Bow- 
doin,  Bowdoinham,  Little  River,  Litchfield,  Green,  Lewiston,  Wales, 
and  Littleborough." 

[1803.]  In  1803  the  town  offered  a  bounty  of  four  cents  for  each 
crow  killed  during  that  year. 

[1805.]  In  1805  it  was  voted  that  "  if  the  Treasurer  shall  receive 
any  bank  bills  that  will  not  pass  that  the  town  will  receipt  for  the 
same.'*  This  was  a  singular  way  to  discountenance  the  counterfeiting 
of  money. 

[1810.]  This  town  seems  to  have  been  remarkably  lenient  towards 
those  who  had  been  imposed  upon  by  counterfeit,  or  bad  money,  for 
this  vear  it  was  voted  **  to  receive  a  three  dollar  bill  of  the  Widow 
Sarah  Haskell,  on  Vermont  State  Bank,  said  not  to  be  good,  and  give 
her  good  money  in  lieu  of  the  same,  and  voted  that  Paul  Raymond 
have  the  bill  and  make  sale  of  it  to  the  best  advantage." 

[1812.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1812,  the  town  voted  "that 
Peter  Birthright  [and  his  family]  live  on  the  premises  where  they  are 
and  the  Selectmen  supply  them  with  necessar}-s." 

A  present  often  dollara  was  also  voted  to  Samuel  Clark.  At  a  special 
meeting,  held  August  24th,  Stephen  Purinton  and  John  Curtis  were 
elected  delegates  to  a  County  Convention  to  be  held  at  Gray  '*  to  take 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  173 

measures  to  alleviate  the  miseries  of  war,  and  bring  about  a  speedy 
and  lasting  peace."  The  selectmen,  with  Stephen  Purinton  and  Marl- 
borough Sylvester,  were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Safety  and  Correspond- 
ence. 

[1814.]  At  a  meeting  held  July  25th,  the  town  chose  Stephen 
Purinton  as  an  agent  to  go  to  Boston  to  receive  HarpswelFs  quota  of 
the  State  stock  of  arms  and  ammunition,  provided  that  he  could  get 
them  at  the  expense  of  the  State  and  without  cost  to  the  town. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  the  seventh  of  November,  the  selectmen 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  receive  into  their  care  the  arms  and 
equipments  for  the  town,  and  were  authorized  to  dispose  of  the  arms, 
one  to  a  person,  on  sutiicient  security  that  those  who  received  them 
would  deliver  them  up  when  called  for. 

[1816.]  In  May,  1816,  the  town  again  voted  against  a  separation 
from  Massachusetts,  and  in  September  also,  b}-  a  still  stronger  vote. 
At  this  latter  meeting  Reverend  Samuel  Katon  was  chosen  as  delegate 
to  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Biiinswick  on  the  last  Mouda}'  in 
September. 

[1817.]  In  1817  the  coUectorship  of  taxes  on. the  Great  Island  was 
struck  oif  at  auction  to  John  lieed  at  five  and  a  quarter  cents,  and 
that  on  the  Neck  to  David  Orr  at  four  and  a  half  cents  on  the  dollar. 

[1819.]  In  July,  1819,  the  town  again  voted  against  the  separation 
of  Maine,  but  at  a  meeting  held  in  September,  Stephen  Purinton  was 
elected  delegate  to  the  Portland  convention,  and  on  the  sixth  of 
December  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  accepting  the  Constitution 
prepared  by  that  convention. 

UNDER  STATE  OF  MAIXE. 

[1821.]  At  a  meeting  held  February  25,  1821,  the  town  voted  to 
send  a  representative  to  the  legislature  for  their  proi)ortionate  part  of 
the  time,  but  objected  to  being  classed  for  representation  with  an}' 
other  town.  At  this  meeting  the  town  also  voted  against  being  set 
off  from  the  county  of  Cumberland,  and  also  against  the  formation  of 
a  new  county.  At  a  meeting  held  in  May,  it  was  voted  *'  that  Joseph 
Eaton  shall  purchase  locks  and  hinges  for  the  town  chest,  at  the 
expense  of  the  town." 

[1822.]  In  1822  the  town's  poor  were,  according  to  custom,  set  at 
vendue,  but  a  vote  was  passed  that  those  who  bid  them  off  should  fur- 
nish them  with  suitable  food  and  with  tobacco,  but  should  provide  no 
clothing  without  the  consent  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  town,  held  on  December  21,  a  committee  was  chosen 


174        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

to  present  to  the  legislature  a  remonstrance  against  the  proposed 
division  of  Cumberland  County.  At  this  meeting  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  remonstrate  to  the  legislature  '^  against  the  now 
extended  limits  of  the  jail  yard  in  this  count}*."  ^  The  town  also 
voted  that  the  selectmen  and  town  clerk  should  ''  instruct  the  repre- 
sentative in  fhture  events." 

[1823.]  In  1823  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  allowing  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Great  Island  to  be  set  off  as  a  separate  town. 

[1825.]  At  the  annual  fall  meeting  this  year,  "  it  was  motioned 
and  seconded  to  take  the  minds  of  the  people  whether  to  send  a  rep- 
resentative or  not,  and  the  vote  was  not  to  send.  The  presiding 
selectman  then  told  the  people  if  there  were  any  who  wished  to  bring 
in  their  votes  he  should  receive  them."  The  result  was  that  John 
Curtis  had  twenty-two  votes,  Paul  Randall  thirteen,  and  Peleg  Curtis 
one  vote. 

[1820.]  At  the  September  meeting,  in  l826,  the  town  voted  that 
the  militia  should  be  funiished  with  one  quarter  of  a  pound  of  powder 
for  each  man  —  made  into  blank  cartridges  —  and  that  the  commanders 
of  companies  should  .cause  it  to  be  expended  in  teaching  the  men  pre- 
cision in  firing.  Luther  Dana  was,  in  November  of  this  j'ear,  licensed 
"  as  a  retailer  of  strong  liquors  to  be  spent  out  of  his  shop."  This  is 
the  first  license  of  the  kind  recorded  in  the  town  records. 

[1827.]  In  1827  the  town  voted  to  let  the  powder  remain  in  the 
magazine,  and  to  pa}'  the  militia  money  instead  of  rations ;  also,  to 
deliver  to  each  non-commissioned  officer  and  private  —  at  the  review 
inspection  —  one  quarter  of  a  pound  of  powder  to  be  made  into  blank 
cartridges. 

[1829.]  In  1829  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  grant 
licenses  to  sell  intoxicating  liquors  to  all  suitable  persons,  who  were 
victuallers  or  retailers,  that  should  appl}'  for  a  license  agreea))ly  to  the 
provisions  of  an  Act  passed  in  March  of  that  3'ear. 

[1831.]  On  Januarj'  3,  1831,  the  town  voted  unanimo^taly  against 
the  formation  of  a  new  county,  if  IIaq)swell  was  to  be  included  in  it. 

On  Januar}'  25,  it  was  voted  to  petition  the  legislature  not  to  class 
Ilarpswell  with  an}'  other  town  for  representation,  but  for  it  to  author- 
ize the  town  to  elect  a  representative  for  such  a  portion  of  time  and 
at  sucii  period  as  should  l)e  equal  to  their  portion  of  representation. 
The  request  was  not  granted. 


1  Wa»  this  an  erqniHite  hit  of  satire^  implyiny  that  tlie  jail  was  so  insecure  that  the 
prisoners  roamed  all  over  the  county  ? 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  HAHPSWELL.  175 

[1832.]  On  July  7,  1832,  a  law  of  March,  1832,  relating  to  vacci- 
nation was  read,  and  the  town  then  voted  to  make  no  provision  for 
vaccinating  the  inhabitants,  and  to  raise  no  money  for  such  a  purpose. 
Peleg  Curtis,  Joseph  Eaton,  Levi  L.  Totman,  Stephen  Snow,  and 
David  Johnson,  2d,  were  chosen  a  Health  Committee,  and  were 
instructed  to  use  all  reasonable  means  to  prevent  the  introduction  and 
spread  of  the  cholera  in  that  town. 

[1834.]  On  February  15,  1834,  the  town  voted,  for  a  fourth  time, 
against  the  formation  of  a  new  county,  and  still  again  at  a  meeting  in 
September.  It  was  also  voted  this  year  that  no  licenses  should  be 
granted  to  retailers,  permitting  them  to  sell  liquor  to  be  drank  in  their 
stores.  The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  grant  permits  for  the  taking 
of  lobsters,  and  the  next  year  (1835),  the}'  were  instnicted  to  grant  a 
license  to  Captain  John  Smith,  of  Waterfonl,  Connecticut,  and  com- 
pany, to  take  lobsters,  —  he  not  to  employ  more  than  six  smacks,  — 
and  to  none  others,  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  dollai*s  per  year  until 
the  town  ordered  otherwise. 

[1836.]  An  article  in  the  warrant  for  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
town  in  1836,  for  purchasing  one  or  more  hearses,  was  "  passed  over," 
and  until  the  year  1877  there  was  no  hearse  in  town. 

[1837.]  In  March  of  this  year  the  representative  was  instmcted 
to  favor  the  passage  of  an  Act  so  that  the  town  might  receive  its  pro- 
portion of  the  surplus  revenue.  At  a  meeting,  held  the  next  April, 
Benjamin  Randall  was  chosen  an  agent  to  receive  the  town's  pro[)or- 
tion  of  the  surplus  revenue,  and  it  was  voted  to  have  this  money 
loaned  to  the  citizens,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  superintend 
the  loan.  It  was  also,  at  this  meeting,  voted  that  the  overseers  of 
the  poor  should  tr}'  to  remove  all  negroes  from  the  town.  This  action 
ma}'  have  been  due  to  antipath}'  against  the  race,  but  it  was  more 
probabl}'  because  the  negroes  were  all  paupers.  The  town,  also,  this 
year,  voted  almost  unanimously  against  an  amendment  to  the  State 
Constitution  relative  to  bail. 

[1838.]  This  3'ear  the  town  voted  that  the  surplus  revenue  money 
should  be  divided  among  the  citizens,  per  capita,  as  soon  as  it  could 
be  collected!.  Paul  Randall  was  chosen  an  agent  to  collect  and  distrib- 
ute it,  and  he  was  authorized  to  collect  it  '-  in  Union  Bank  bills  and 
small  change." 

[1830.]  The  town  this  year  voted  against  a  proposed  amendniont 
to  the  State  Constitution,  relating  to  the  tenure  of  judicial  ofHcors. 

[1840.]  At  the  regular  meeting  this  year  a  connnittee  was 
appointed  to  consider  and  report  concerning  the  annual  value  of  the 


176        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

lobster  privilege.     The}'  reported  that  it  was  worth  one  hundred  and 
ten  dollars  per  year,  and  the  town  vot^d  to  lease  it  at  that  price. 

[1841.]  The  town,  this  year,  voted  in  favor  of  a  resolve  of  the 
legislature,  passed  in  April,  which  reduced  the  number  of  repre- 
sentatives to  one  hundred  and  fiftv-one.  Also,  in  favor  of  diminish- 
ing  the  number  of  representatives  when  they  reached  two  hundred. 
The  town,  this  year,  again  petitioned  the  legislature  not  to  class 
Harpswell  with  any  other  town,  but  to  assign  its  proiX)rtion  of  rep- 
resentation. 

[1843.]  A  committee  was  chosen,  this  3'ear,  to  ascertain  where 
land  could  be  purchased  for  an  almshouse. 

[1844.]  The  town,  in  1844,  voted  ve*^}'  stronglj'  against  a  resolve 
of  the  legislature  for  amending  the  Constitution,  which  was  passed 
March  19,  and  it  also  voted  unanimous!}'  against  an  Act  to  estab- 
lish town  courts,  which  was  passed  b}'  the  legislature,  March  22. 

[1845.]  In  February,  1845,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  petition 
the  legislature  for  a  separate  representation.  Several  meetings  were 
held  in  the  winter  and  spring  of  this  3'ear,  to  fill  the  vacancy*  caused  by 
the  resignation  of  Samuel  Mayall,  the  representative  to  the  legisla- 
ture. There  was  no  choice,  as  this  town  voted  each  time  for  a 
llarpswell  man  instead  of  one  from  Gra}',  the  town  with  which  it  was 
classed  in  representation.  The  town  this  3'ear  purchased  land  and 
built  a  house  —  which  it  still  owns  —  on  Lamboe's  Point,  for  Thomas 
J.  Pennell  and  famil}',  who  had  lateh' removed  from  Gra3'.  Pennell 
was  a  poor  man,  but  able-bodied,  and  the  town  furnished  this  assist- 
ance as  a  precautionar3'  measure  to  keep  him  from  becoming  a  pauper. 

[1840.]  This  year  the  town  had  the  same  trouble  as  the  3*ear 
before  in  reganl  to  electing  a  representative. 

[1847.]  The  town  in  1847  voted  against  a  resolve  of  the  legisla- 
ture which  provided  for  the  election  of  representatives  to  the  legislature 
by  a  pluraHt3*  vole ;  also,  against  an  Act  pledging  the  credit  of  the 
State  and  creating  a  State  debt. 

[1851.]  In  1851  the  town  again  petitioned  for  a  separate  repre- 
sentation in  the  State  legislature. 

[1852.]  In  1852  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  appoint  an 
agent  to  sell  liquors. 

[1853  ]     At  a  special  meeting,  held  on  February  26,  1853,  the 
town  was  found  to  be  unanimously  opix>sed  to  llarpswell  l>eing  set 
off  from.  Cuml>erland  and  annexed  to  another  count3',  and  it  was 
to  remonstrate  against  all  i)etitions  for  new  counties  that  in- 
Harpswell. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPS  WELL.  177 

[1855.]     In  March  of  this  j^ear  the  town  voted  not  to  dispense 
with  a  liquor  agency,  but  that  if  the  selectmen  should  appoint  an 
agent  they  should  bu}-  the  liquor  and  pay  him  a  reasonable  compensa- 
tion for  selling  it,  the  town  receiving  the  profits  thereof.    In  September 
the  town  voted  against  certain  proposed  amendments  to  the  State 
Constitution,  by  which  judges  of  probate,  registers  of  probate,  sher- 
iflfe,   municipal  and  police  judges,   land-agent,  attornej-general,  and 
adjutant-general  should  be  elected  by  the  people. 

[1856.]  In  March,  1856,  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  see  if 
the  old  meeting-house  could  be  obtained  of  the  proprietors,  and  in 
September  the  town  voted  to  buy  it  for  a  town-house,  for  one  hundred 
dollars,  the  price  being  that  fixed  by  the  proprietors. 

[1857.]  The  selectmen  were  instrncted  in  1857  to  remove  the 
body  pews  in  the  town-house,  build  a  chimnoj',  provide  wood,  etc. 

[1858.]  At  a  special  meeting,  held  in  May  of  this  year,  the  town 
voted  unanimously  in  favor  of  the  prohibitorj'  law ;  fift3^-nine  votes 
being  cast. 

[1859.]  The  town  in  1859  voted  against  State  aid  to  the  "  Aroos- 
took Railroad  Company."  It  was  also  voted  that  the  selectmen 
should  take  counsel  in  reference  to  some  disputed  islands  adjacent  to 
Harps  well,  and  should  report  as  to  the  probability  of  the  town's  being 
able  to  deny  them.  The  representative  to  the  legislature  was  instructed 
to  use  all  means  in  his  power  to  reduce  the  expenses  of  the  State 
government. 

[1861.]  In  1861  the  town  voted  to  petition  the  legislature  for  a 
separate  representation  for  the  term  of  ten  years.  The  request  was 
not  granted. 

The  town  records,  subsequently  to  the  last  date,  contain  nothing  of 
general  interest,  except  what  relates  to  the  enlistment  of  volunteers 
an<l  the  support  of  their  families,  which  will  be  mentioned  in  another 
connection,  until  1865. 

[1865.]  At  a  meeting,  held  April  8,  of  this  3'ear,  it  was  voted  to 
raise  82,500  to  purchase  a  town  fanii.  Charles  Stover,  Paul  C. 
Alexander,  and  Paul  A.  Durgan  were  chosen  to  hire  the  money  and 
were  instructed  to  hire  it  on  town  bonds,  running  fifteen  years.  This 
vote,  however,  was  evidently  never  carried  into  effect. 

[1866.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1866  the  town  voted  to  leave 
the  i>oor  in  the  care  of  the  overseers.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise 
$1,500  for  the  support  of  the  poor. 

[1867.]     In  1867  the  selectmen  were  authorized  and  instnicted  to 

have  a  room  finished  in  the  gallery-  of  the  town-house  for  an  office, 
12 


178     HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

and  also  to  build  a  chimney  and  procure  a  stove,  and  to  have  the 
building  shingled.  At  a  meeting  held  June  3d,  the  town  voted  unani- 
mously in  favor  of  an  Act  of  the  legislature  for  the  suppression  of 
drinking-houscs  and  tippling-shops. 

[1869.]  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  it  was  voted  to  buy  a 
town  farm,  and  L.  H.  Stover,  William  C.  Eaton,  and  S.  S.  Toothaker 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  get  pro|)osals,  and  were  instructed  to 
report  at  a  meeting  to  be  called  for  the  purpose.  The  committee 
reported  on  the  twenty- fourth  of  April,  and  the  town  voted  to  raise 
83,000  by  loan  to  purchase  a  farm,  and  the  selectmen  were  instructed 
(if  in  their  judgment  the  interests  of  the  town  required  the  purchase 
of  a  town  farm)  to  purchase  such  a  farm  as  the}'  should  think  proper, 
and  make  the  necessary  repairs  on  the  same. 

[1870.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1870,  the  town  voted  to  leave 
the  care  of  the  poor  with  the  overseers,  and  also  to  raise  81,500  for 
their  support.  The  town  also  voted  '-  that  the  treasurer  be  instracted 
to  keep  the  State  bonds  arising  from  equalization  in  his  own  house." 

[1871.]  On  January  14,  1871,  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen 
and  overseers  of  the  poor  "  be  and  are  hereby  instructed  to  build  a 
new  barn  for  James  Alexander  in  place  of  the  one  destroyed  by  fire, 
and  that  they  furnish  him  with  ha}*  and  suflicient  farming  tools,  using 
their  discretion  in  the  matter." 

The  town  also  passed  the  following  resolve  :  — 

"  That  in  our  candid  judgment  the  burning  of  the  barn  of  James 
Alexander,  2d,  and  the  maiming  of  his  cattle  in  the  night-time  by 
some  person  or  persons  unknown,  is  an  outrage  upon  a  peaceable  com- 
munity which  demands  the  most  vigorous  efforts  to  detect  and  convict 
the  peq)etrator,  as  no  person  is  safe  in  his  person  or  property  in  a 
community  containing  at  lai*ge  such  a  person. 

"  Therefore,  Itfsoived^  That  the  selectmen  be  authorized  and  in- 
structed and  are  hereb}'  required  to  make  diligent  search  to  appre- 
hend and  convict  the  offender,  using  tlieir  discretion  as  to  the  methods 
to  l>e  taken  to  produce  that  result." 

The  selectmen  were  also  instructed  to  oppose  the  repeal  of  the  Porgie 
Law,  l>eforc  the  Committee  on  Fisheries  at  Augusta. 

At  a  meeting  held  February  Gth,  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion were  passed  by  unanimous  vote :  — 

"  Whereas  the  location  of  our  town  of  Ilarpswell  is  so  isolated  and 
is  so  far  removed  from  any  town  not  entitled  to  a  representative, 
that  it  would  be  very  inconvenient,  and  of  no  benefit  to  have  it  classed 
for  representation. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  HABPSWELL.  179 

"  Therefore,  Resolved^  That  we  in  our  corporate  capacit}*,  agreeable 
to  the  requirements  of  the  constitution  of  Maine,  do  hereby  determine 
against  a  classification  with  any  other  town  or  plantation,  and  we  do 
hereby'  instruct  the  town  clerk  to  forward  a  copy  of  this  resolution  to 
the  speaker  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  praying  that  the  legisla- 
ture may  authorize  the  town  of  Harpswell  to  elect  a  representative 
for  such  portion  of  time  and  such  periods  as  shall  be  equal  to  its  por- 
tion of  representation." 

The  prayer  was  not  granted,  however,  and  Harpswell  still  continues 
to  be  a  classed  town. 

At  the  annual  meeting  this  year,  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen 
^^  be  authorized  to  purchase  a  town  farm  the  present  year  and  to  hire 
money  for  the  purpose."  This  vote,  however,  was  never  carried  into 
effect. 

[1873.]  At  a  meeting  held  in  October,  1873,  the  town  voted  to 
exempt  from  taxation  for  six  years  the  property  located  and  the  capi- 
tal invested  in  Harpswell,  of  S.  F.  Perley  and  twentj'-five  others, 
who  were  associated  for  the  manufacture  of  superphosphates,  bone, 
plaster,  fertilizers,  and  acids. 

The  important  doings  of  the  town  not  already  mentioned  will  be 
found  incorporated  in  other  chapters. 


180       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

MUNICIPAL   HISTORY   OF   T0P3HAM. 

The  town  of  Topshara  first  received  its  name,  legally,  in  the  \'ear 
1717,  when  a  vote  passed  in  the  House  of  Representatives  of  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Massachusetts,  '*That  the  other  Town  Plotted  In  a 
square  of  a  Mile  to  y®  eastward  of  Androscoggin  River  fronting  to 
Morrimeeting  Bay  be  allowed  and  accepted  by  the  name  of  Topshara 
and  be  Plotted  &  Laid  out  the  quantity-  of  Six  miles  Square  as  the 
Land  will  allow."  ^  This  tract  of  land  was  mainl}'  settled  by  English 
emigrants,  the  greater  number  of  whom  are  supposed  to  have  come 
from  the  town  of  Topshain,  England,  and  to  have  named  the  place  in 
memory  of  their  former  home.  The  situation  of  the  place  on  the  bank 
of  a  river  may  possibly  have  given  it,  to  the  minds  of  its  founders,  a 
fancied  resemblance  to  its  English  namesake. 

The  settlement  of  the  town  under  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  has 
alread}'  been  given  in  previous  chapters.  No  records  of  any.  municipal 
doings  of  the  inhabitants  previous  to  the  incorporation  of  the  town 
have  been  preserved,  if,  indeed,  there  ever  were  such. 

UNDER  THE  COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS. 

[17G4.]  The  municipal  histor}'  of  the  town  commences,  therefore, 
with  its  incoq)oration  in  Januar)',  1764.  The  petition  for  an  Act  of 
Incorporation  was  as  follows  :  — 

''PROVINCE  OF  THE  MASS^  LAY. 

**  To  His  Excellency  Francis  Barnard  Esq  Gov«  &  Commander  in 
Chief  of  Said  Province,  The  Hon"*-"  His  Majestys  Councill  and 
THE  HoN"»-«  House  of  Kepresentativf^  in  General  Court  assem- 
bled, Dec  21,  1763. 

"THE   PETITION    OF    THE  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  SETTLEMENT  OF 
TOPSHAM  IN  THE  COUNTY   OF  LINCOLN. 

Most  Humbly  Sheweth. 
"That  from  the  Year  1715  nnder  the  Sanction  &  approbation  of 
this  Honoured  court  the  Settlement  of  said  Plac^  was  projected  at  the 

1  MassachuBetU  Records,  1717. 


MumciPAL  HisTonr  of  topsham. 


181 


Desire  &  Expense  of  the  Pejepscot  Proprietors  under  whose  Right 
the  said  Inhabitants  originall}'  settled  &  so  continue  to  this  present 
time :  That  we  always  have  been  and  still  are  an  lixposed  Frontier  & 
have  greatl}'  suffered  by  the  Indian  linem}'  Nevertheless  b}'  the 
Divine  Favour  have  maintained  said  Settlement  under  the  Protection 
of  this  Government  and  there  are  at  this  time  to  the  number  of  thirty 
five  families  who  are  desirous  of  being  iucorjKjrated  that  so  they  ma}* 
be  enabled  to  have  the  Gospell  setled  among  them  having  already 
erected  a  Frame  for  the  Meeting  house  in  said  Place ;  also  that  the}' 
ma}'  be  qualified  to  transact  their  Affairs  among  themselves  necessary' 
to  their  better  Settlement  in  Town  Order  the  said  Inhabitants  having 
laboured  under  many  Inconveniences  on  these  Accounts  and  hy  their 
Situation  have  l>een  Subjected  to  be  taxed  b}'  the  Town  of  Bninswick 
on  which  account  they  have  had  Just  Cause  to  think  themselves  no  so 
fairh'  treated  by  them. 

'"  Therefore  3'onr  Petitioners  most  humbly  entreat  this  Ilonourd 
Court  would  be  pleased  to  incorporate  them  into  a  Township  or 
District  that  they  may  be  entitled  to  the  Advantages  &  Priviledges 
other  Towns  enjoy  by  virtue  of  the  Ro3*all  Charter  and  that  the  said 
present  Settlement  may  thrive  &  flourish  under  the  encouragement  & 
Protection  of  this  Hon*!  Court,  And  30ur  Petitioners  as  in  Dut}* 
Itound  shall  ever  pray. 


'*  Adam  Hunter 
William  Thorne 
James  Beveridge 
Ezra  Randall 
William  Reed  Junr 
Charles  Kobinson 
John  Reed 
William  Reed 
David  Reed 
JouN-  Orr 


John  Patten 
Sam"  Winch  ell 
Sam"  Staples 
John  Winchell 
Stephen  Staples 
Joseph  Gravks 
Johnson  Gravks 
Samuel  Graves 
Archibald  Moffatt 
Gowen  Fulton 

James  Mustard 

James  Work 

Eben'  Work 

James  Hunter 

W!!  Hunter 

James  Fultov 

Robert  Fulton 

John  Fulton 

W«  Patten  "  ^ 


*P^ep8cot  Papers, 


182        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

In  accordance  with  this  petition,  Topsham  was  duly  incoiporated  in 
1764.     The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation  :  — 

"AxNO  Rboni  Regis         GEOBGII   III        Tbbtio  Quarto,  1704. 


**  TOPSHAM  A  TOWNSHIP. 

*'AN  ACT 
for  erecting  a  Town  in  the  County  of  Lincoln  by  the  Name  of  Topsham. 

"  Whereas  tlie  InhabUants  settled  on  a  Tract  of  Land  sit- 
uate on  the  easterly  Side  of  Androscoggin  River,  lying 
convenient  for  a  Town^  hitJierto  called  and  known  by  the 
name  of  Topsham,  tvithin  the  County  of  Lincoln,  Jiave  preamble. 
humbly  petitioned  this  Courts  that  for  the  Reasons  there- 
in mentioned,  they  may  be  Inctrporaied  into  a  Town, 
and  vested  with  the  Powers  and  Authorities  belonging  to 
other  Towns. 

Therefore  for  the  Encouragement  of  said  Settlement  : 

**  Be   it  enacted  by  his   Excellency  the  Governor,     „      ,     . 

_,  _-  _,  Bounds  of 

Council  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General      Topsliaiii. 
Court  Assembled. 

*'That  the  Said  Tract  of  Land  described  as  follows,  viz.  to  begin 
upon  the  Southerl}'  Line  of  the  Town  of  Bowdoinhnm,  where  Said 
Line  strikes  the  Water,  and  from  thence  to  run  a  West  Northwest 
Course  upon  said  Bowdoinham  Line,  as  far  as  it  goes,  and  from 
thence  on  the  same  Streight  Course  to  Little  River  so  called,  which  is 
about  eight  Miles  from  the  Water  aforesaid,  and  from  thence  South- 
wardl}'  down  said  Little  River  to  Awlroscoggin  River,  and  down  said 
Androscoggin  River  to  Merrj'-meeting  Bay,  and  from  thence  to  the 
Line  of  Bowdoinham  aforesaid,  including  several  small  Islands  or 
Islets  lying  in  said  Androscoggin  River,  between  the  Said  Little  River 
and  the  Falls  at  Brunswick  Fort,  be,  and  hereby  is  erected  into  a 
Town  to  be  called  Topsham,  and  the  Inhabitants  thereof  shall  have 
and  enjoy  all  such  Immunities  and  Priviledges  as  other  Towns  in  this 
Province  have  and  do  b}'  Law  enjoy. 

*'  And  be  it  further  enacted.  That  Aaron  Ilinkley,     First  meeting 
Esq.  l)c  and  hereb}'  is  empowered  to  issue  his  Warrant  l»ow  to  be  called, 
to  some  principal  Inhabitant  of  the  said  Town  of  Topsham,  requiring 
him  in  his  Majesty's  Name  to  warn  and  notif}'  the  said  Inhabitants 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  183 

qualified  to  vote  in  Town  Affairs,  to  meet  together  at  such  Time  and 
Place  in  Said  Town  as  shall  be  appointed  in  said  Warrant,  to  ehuse 
such  Officers  as  the  Law  directs  and  may  be  necessar}"  to  manage  the 
Affairs  of  Said  Town ;  and  the  Inhabitants  being  so  met  shall  be  and 
hereby-  are  impowered  to  Chuse  such  Officers  accordingly."* 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  May  9,  1764.  In  accordance  with 
the  Act  of  Incorporation,  the  warrant  for  this  meeting  was  issued  by 
Aaron  Hinkley,  of  Brunswick,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was 
addressed  to  Adam  Hunter.  The  following  officers  were  elected  at 
this  meeting,  viz. :  — 

Gowen  Fulton,  moderator ;  William  Thorne,  clerk  ;  Adam  Hunter, 
treasurer ;  John  Fulton,  John  Read,  and  John  Merrill,  selectmen ; 
Hugh  Wilson,  constable;  David  Reed,  Paul  Randall,  and  Samuel 
Wilson,  sun'eyors  of  highways;  James  AVork  and  Thomas  Wilson, 
tithiug-men ;  Ezra  Randall  and  William  Wilson,  fence-viewers ; 
Robert  Gore,  sealer  of  leather ;  James  Beverage  and  AVilliam  Alexan- 
der, hog  constables  ;  Stephen  Staples  and  John  Winchell,  sun-e^'ors  of 
boards,  at  Cathance ;  John  Merrill  and  William  AVilson,  sur\'eyors  of 
boards  ;  Samuel  Staples,  pound-keeper  ;  James  Mustard,  lield-diiver ; 
James  Hendry  ( ? ) ,  surveyor  of  staves,  shingles,  and  hoop  poles ; 
Adam  Hunter,  sealer  of  weights  and  measures ;  James  Hunter  and 
Robert  Gore,  wardens. 

At  a  meeting,  held  June  2,  Thomas  AVilson,  Adam  Hunter,  John 
Ree^l,  John  Fulton,  and  John  Merrill  were  chosen  a  committee  to  lay 
out  the  highways  and  roads  through  the  town.  The  town  at  this 
meeting  voted  to  raise  £34  }3s.  id.  as  a  contingent  fund.  There  is 
no  record  to  be  found  of  any  meetings  of  the  town  in  17Go. 

[1766.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  May  8,  1766,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam Patten  was  chosen  to  prefer  a  petition  to  the  General  Court  "  in 
order  to  get  Kate  Ilance  Point  annexed  to  Topshani,  and  likewise  all 
the  islands  in  Brunswick  River,  below  the  falls." 

[1767.]  The  above-mentioned  petition  was  presented  to  the  House 
of  Representatives,  and  in  1767  the  committee  to  which  it  was  referred 
repc>rted  in  favor  of  its  dismissal,  and  it  was  dismissed. ^ 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  in  July  of  this  3'ear,  it  was  voted  to  allow 
men  3."j.  |>er  day  for -work  on  the  highways,  and  '2s,  per  day  for  each 
yoke  of  oxen. 

[1769.]     In  1769  Messrs.  John  Patten,  William  Patten,  Robert 


1  Topsham  Town  Records.  ^Massachusetts  Records^  Vol.  20,  17(57,  p.  49. 


184        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Fulton,  and  Robert  Patten,  inhabitants  of  Cathance  Point  in  the  town 
of  Bowdoinham,  presented  a  petition  to  the  General  Court,  asking  to 
be  set  off  from  Bowdoinham  and  annexed  to  Topsham.  The  petition, 
was  considered  by  the  General  Court,  and  an  order  issued  that  the 
petitioners  should  notify  the  town  of  Bowdoinham  that  they  might 
show  cause  at  the  next  session  of  the  Court  wh}'  the  prayer  of  the 
petitiouers  should  not  be  granted.^ 

At  the  March  meeting  of  the  town,  this  year,  James  Potter,  Jr.,  was 
chosen  ''to  go  to  the  General  Court  to  get  Cow  Island,  together  with 
all  the  islands  in  the  Narrows,  annexed  to  Topsham." 

[1771.]  On  the  petition  from  Topsham  it  was  ordered,  in  1771, 
that  the  petitioners  should  notify  the  town  of  Brunswick  that  their 
petition  was  revived,  in  order  that  the  agents  of  that  town  might  be 
on  hand  at  the  next  session  of  the  Court. ^ 

At  the  May  meeting,  this  year,  the  town  requested  Mr.  John  Merrill 
to  draw  up  a  memorial  to  the  General  Court,  asking  to  have  the  line 
determined  between  Brunswick  and  Topsham. 

[1774.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  November  19,  1774,  it  was 
unanimously  voted  that  the  town  would  stand  by  what  the  Continental 
and  Provincial  Congresses  had  done. 

[177r).]  At  a  town  meeting,  held  April  30,  1775,  Robert  Go wer 
and  William  Randall  were  chosen  a  committee  to  meet  the  committees 
of  other  towns  at  Pownalborough  on  the  second  of  May,  to  represent 
the  town  of  Topsham,  as  to  the  matter  of  provisions  and  ammuni- 
tion, and  to  consider  the  method  of  furnishing  the  same. 

The  selectmen  having  petitioned  the  General  Court  for  a  supply  of 
powder,  that  body  passed  a  resolve  to  the  effect  that  Topsham,  being  a 
seaix)rt  place  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  colony,  and  much  exposed  to 
the  attacks  of  the  Indians,  therefore  it  was  recommended  to  the  select- 
men of  Wrenthain,  Massachusetts,  to  furnish  the  town  with  one  half 
barrel  of  gunpowder  at  the  expense  of  the  colon}'.^ 

[177(J.]  The  town,  at  it«  March  meeting  this  year,  instructed  the 
selectmen  to  petition  the  General  Court  to  take  off  the  provincial  tax, 
*'till  the  trade  is  opened."  At  this  meeting  James  Potter,  Junior, 
David  Reed,  James  Fulton,  John  Merrill,  and  Robert  Hunter  were 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Inspection,  Safety,  and  Correspondence. 

At  a  meeting  held  June  12th,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire 
£30,  lawful  money,  to  furnish  the  town  with  a  stock  of  powder.     In 


1  Massachusetts  Records,  Vol.  28,  17G9,  p.  144. 
^  Massachusetts  Records,  Vol.  2l>,  1771,/).  267. 
^Massachusetts  Records,  Vol  31,  1775,  p.  212. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  TOP  SHAM.  18f) 

December,  the  town  voted  to  keep  this  |)owder  at  C-aptain  James 
Mustard's  aod  at  Captain  Actor  Patten's. 

[1777.]  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  March,  1777,  a  new 
Committee  of  Safety,  etc.,  was  chosen,  consisting  of  Joseph  Graves, 
David  I^l^inson,  Joseph  Foster,  James  Purinton,  and  Pehitiah  Haley. 
At  another  meeting,  held  the  latter  part  of  this  same  month,  it  was 
votcii  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  authority  to  collect  the 
"Province  Taxes"  for  177G.  Also,  to  send  an  agent  to  meet  with 
other  committees  in  other  towns  of  the  county,  to  regulate  the  prices 
of  goods,  etc. 

[177S.]  At  the  May  meeting  in  1778,  the  number  voting  against 
the  constitution  of  the  government,  as  it  then  was,  was  nineteen, 
and  there  were  none  in  favor  of  it.  The  small  numlK»r  voting  may 
possibly  Ik?  due  to  a  bad  state  of  the  weather  and  a  conse<iuently  thin 
attendance,  rather  than  to  indifference.  This  vote  was  in  reference 
to  the  ratitication  of  the  first  Constitution  of  Massachusetts.* 

A  good  deal  of  doubt  was  felt  in  town  about  this  time  in  regard  to 
the  legality  of  a  number  of  previous  meetings,  in  consequence  of  there 
having  been  a  neglect  on  the  part  of  the  constables  to  make  a  regular 
return  on'  the  warrants  for  hoMing  these  meetings.  The  matter  was 
laid  before  the  General  Court  in  a  petition.  The  General  Court 
acconlingU'  passed  a  resolve  this  year,  '*  That  none  of  the  proceedings 
of  said  meetings  or  of  any  town  meetings  since  March,  177(1,  shall  be 
w>nsidered  as  invalid  on  account  of  the  irregularity  of  the  said  returns, 
or  neglect  in  recording  the  same."^ 

[1771).]  In  March,  1779,  the  town  requested  John  ^Merrill,  Esquire, 
to  furnish  a  plan  of  the  whole  township.  At  a  meeting  held  in  July, 
the  town  voted  to  procure  the  number  of  shoes,  stockings,  and  shirts 
which  the  General  Court  called  lor,  for  the  use  of  the  arniv. 

[1780.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1780,  the  town  voted  to  give 
fifty  dollars  a  pair  for  the  shoes  referred  to  above,  sixty  dollars  a  pair 
for  the  shiits,  and  forty  dollars  a  pair  for  the  stockings.  The  town  at 
this  meeting  appropriated  £1,000  for  highwa3S,  and  voted  to  pay 
twenty  dollars  per  day  for  wAk  on  the  same.  £1,000  was  also  appro- 
priate<l  for  current  expenses. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  November  20,  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  inform  the  General  Court  that  the  beef  called  for  by 
them  3  could  not  be  obtained  without  great  ditllcult}'. 

'  Bnnrn\n,  Ht9tortj  of  United  States^  9,  p  2(^0. 
^  MafHfirhii9ett8  Het:ordtt    Vol  :«,  1778,/).  (>74. 

^Eath  town  was  required  to  furnish  its  proportion  o/bee/^  etc  ,/o>*  the  support  of  the 
Massachusetts  army. 


186        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

[1781.]  At  a  special  meeting,  held  Februarj' 6,  1781,  the  town 
voted  to  postpone  getting  the  beef  refeired  to  above,  "  until  further 
orders."  At  this  meeting  a  committee  Was  chosen  to  procure  the 
enlistment  of  seven  men  for  the  army,  as  required  by  the  General 
Court.  At  the  April  meeting.  Actor  Patten,  Lieutenant  David  Reed, 
and  John  Rogers  were  chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and 
Safety.  At  a  meeting  held  in  May,  the  selectmen  were  directed  to 
purchase  the  cows  "  promised  to  the  Continental  soldiers."  The  town 
also,  at  this  meeting,  voted  that  if  the  General  Court  had  released  or 
would  release  this  county  from  sending  its  quota  of  men  to  the  Con- 
tinental Army,  in  that  case  the  selectmen  would  "  settle  with  the 
soldiers  for  this  town  as  tliey  think  proper."  The  town  also  voted  to 
raise  £48G,  hard  monev,  or  cows  with  calf  or  with  calves  by  their  side, 
—  cows  to  be  reckoned  equivalent  to  eight  pounds  each, — or  £3,000 
in  paper-money. 

At  a  meeting  held  the  July  following,  it  was  voted  to  petition  the 
General  Court  to  release  the  town  from  providing  the  beef  called  for 
by  them. 

[17«2.]  At  a  meeting  held  January  14,  1782,  the  town  voted  to 
petition  the  General  Court  in  regard  to  the  difficulty  they  experienced 
in  paying  their  taxes,  and  to  employ  William  Lithgow,  Esquire,  of 
Boston,  to  speak  in  favor  of  the  petition.  In  March,  John  Merrill 
and  William  Wilson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  petition  the  General 
Court  in  regard  to  the  people  at  Little  River  settlement  refusing  to 
pa}'  their  taxes.  Probably  the  settlement  at  Little  River  was  an 
''  adjacent"  of  Topsham. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  on  the  last  day  of  August,  Captain 
George  White  was  chosen  delegate  to  a  convention  to  be  held  at 
Wiscasset,  to  consider  the  question  of  a  separation  of  the  District  of 
Maine  from  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts. 

[17«3.J     At  the  March  meeting  in  1783  it  was  voted  to  rate  the 

islands  below  the  FalU  to  the  town  of  Topsham.     The  wolves  must 

» 

have  been  committing  depredations  about  this  time,  as  at  this  meet- 
ing a  bounty  of  40.s.  per  head  was  offeree?  for  all  that  were  killed.  At 
a  meeting  held  in  May,  the  town  vote<l  to  comply  with  the  resolve  of 
the  town  of  Boston,  in  regard  to  permitting  absent  refugees  to  return. 
Captain  David  Reed,  John  Winchell,  and  Robert  Alexander  were 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety,  this  year. 

[1784.]  William  Rec<l,  Ezekiel  Thompson,  and  John  Rogers  were 
chosen  a  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety  for  1784. 

[1785.]     William  Randall,  Actor  Patten,  and  Joseph  Berry  were 


MUmCIPAL  mSTORY  OF  TOPSIIA}f.  187 

the  Committee  of  Coirespondcnce,  Inspection,  and  Safety  for  the  ^ear 
1785.  At  a  meeting  held  in  November  of  this  3'ear,  Samuel  Thomp- 
son  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  a  convention  to  be  held  at  Falmouth,  to 
consider  as  to  the  advisability  of  having  the  eastern  counties  made 
into  a  new  State.  The  town  at  this  time  voted  to  petition  the  Gen- 
eral Court  to  relieve  them,  wholly  or  in  part,  of  their  taxes,  then  due, 
or  about  to  become  due,  on  account  of  "  the  great  loss  the  town  had 
sustained  by  the  late  great  freshet."  It  was,  also,  at  this  meeting, 
resolved,  "  that  the  former  petition  sent  to  the  General  Court,  with 
regard  to  the  islands  in  the  Androscoggin  River  l>eing  annexed  to 
Topsham,"  was  agreeable  to  the  present  wishes  of  the  town. 

The  General  Court  this  year,  on  the  petition  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Topsham  with  regard  to  the  islands  before  mentioned,  ordered  that 
the  i>etitioners  ser\'e  the  town  of  Brunswick  with  an  attested  eop3'  of 
their  petition,  and  of  this  order,  twenty  days  before  the  second 
Wednesday  of  the  next  session  of  the  Court.* 

On  the  petition  for  an  abatement  of  taxes,  the  General  Court  so  far 
granted  the  request  as  to  direct  the  treasurer  of  the  Commonwealth  to 
credit  the  town  of  Topsham  with  the  sum  of  £12C  6s,  2d.  on  the  sec- 
ond tax  set  on  the  town  in  the  year  1780.^ 

[1786.]  At  the  annual  town  meeting  in  178G,  Samuel  Thompson 
was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the  convention  to  be  held  at  Falmouth  on 
the  first  Wednesday  of  the  following  September.  The  question  as  to 
whether  the  District  of  Maine  should  be  separated  from  Massachusetts 
was  brought  Injfore  the  people  in  November,  and  this  town  voted  in 
favor  of  a  separation. 

[1787.]     At  the   annual    meeting  in    1787,   the   selectmen   were 
directed  to  see  that  the  town  was  provided  with  a  stock  of  powder 
and  ammunition,   as  provided  by  law.     They  were  also  directed  to 
join  in  a  petition  of  the  people  of  Cathance  in  reganl  to  having  Cat- 
hance  Neck  annexed  to  Topsham.     At  this  meeting  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  take  care  of  the  fishery,  agreeable  to  an  act  of  the  General 
Court  in  1780,  providing  for  its  protection. '     At  a  meeting  held  Sep- 
tember 29,  it  was  voted  to  petition  the  General  Court  "  to  consider  us 
with  regard  to  our  deficiency  in  not  [?]  paying  our  taxes."     At  a 
meeting  held  the  last  day  of  the  year,  the  town  voted  ''against  the 
constitution,"  and  Samuel  Thompson  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  a  con- 
vention to  l)e  held  at  Boston.^ 


>  MoMachuwtU  Hf cords.  Vol  4<>,  1785,  p.  97.  ^  /^iVi.,  p.  534. 

»  Mauachusetts  Records,  Vol.  4H,  p.  472.  *  See  p.  13A 


18S       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWKLL. 

[1788.]  On  March  29,  1788,  the  General  Court  decided,  on  the 
petition  of  John  Patten  and  others,  of  Bowdoinham,  and  of  the  town 
of  Topsham,  that  Patten's  Point,  so  called,  be  set  off  from  the  town 
of  Bowdoinham,  and  annexed  to  the  town  of  Topsham.* 

At  the  May  meeting,  1788,  the  selectmen  were  instructe<l  to  employ 
some  person  as  agent  to  discharge  the  beef  tax  then  standing  against 
the  town,  and  to  authorize  him  to  draw  the  money  out  of  the  town 
treasur}'.  The  town  at^  this  meeting  voted  that  an  application  should 
be  made  to  the  General  Court  for  an  act  to  stop  the  catching  of 
salmon  by  dip-nets  and  seines,  and  to  prevent  the  building  of  weirs. 
Samuel  Thompson  was  elected  representative  to  the  General  Court, 
but  was  instiucted  not  to  attend  its  next  session  without  orders  from 
the  selectmen.  Another  petition  was  also  ordered  to  be  sent  to  the 
General  Court,  in  r^ard  to  the  deficiency  in  taxes.  At  a  meeting 
held  in  December  the  town  gave  its  consent  to  the  building  of  a  boora^ 
from  Mason's  Rock  to  Ferry  Point,^  and  fixed  a  scale  of  prices  to  be 
paid  the  owners  of  the  boom,  for  stopping  masts,  bowsprits,  logs,  etc. 

[1791.]  In  1791  the  representative  was  instructed  not  to  attend 
the  session  of  the  General  Court  except  so  ordered  by  the  authorities 
of  the  town,  unless  at  his  own  expense.  The  town  this  year  voted  in 
favor  of  a  separation  of  the  District  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts. 
The  town  also  voted  against  the  proposed  plan  of  cutting  a  canal  from 
the  Carrying-Place  in  Brunswick  to  Maquoit.  But  one  person  voted 
in  favor  of  this  project,  while  there  were  fifty  voting  in  the  negative. 
The  town  also  voted  to  raise  this  year  one  half  of  the  money  allowed 
by  the  General  Court  for  the  damages  caused  by  the  great  freshet  of 
1785.  The  excessive  depreciation  of  the  old  pa[>er  currency  at  this 
time  is  shown  by  the  instructions  given  to  the  selectmen,  which  were 
to  the  effect  that  they  should  take  the  paper-money  belonging  to  the 
town  and  sell  it  as  best  the}'  could,  but  not  for  a  less  price  than  seven 
dollars,  current  money,  for  $1,000  of  the  old. 

[1792.]  In  1792  the  town  voted  to  distribute,  among  the  sufferers 
by  the  great  freshet  of  1785,  one  half  of  the  money  allowed  by  the 
General  Court  for  this  purpose.  At  the  May  meeting  the  town  again 
voted  in  favor  of  a  separation  of  the  District  from  the  Commonwealth. 
In  November  the  town  cast  its  vote  in  favor  of  Samuel  Thompson 
as  a  Presidential  elector.    In  the  list  of  votes  for  Presidential  electors, 

1  Massachusetts  Special  Laws,  VoU  1,  p.  194. 

*  Fen'y  Point,  the  point  of  land  at  the  Topsham  end  of  the  iron  bridge.  Be/ore  the 
toU-hridye  was  built,  there  was  a  ferry  from  this  point  to  the  landing  in  Brunswick  below 
Mason*  s  Rock,  hence  its  name. 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  189 

in  the  Massachusetts  archives,  the  number  of  votes  for  him  is  reconleil 
as  seven  tv-seven. 

[1793.]  In  1793  Samuel  Thompson  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  the 
convention,  to  be  held  at  Portland  in  December,  to  consider  the  expe- 
diencv  of  forming  a  new  State. 

[1 794.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1 794,  the  town  voted  to  purchase 
a  stock  of  ammunition.  At  a  meeting,  held  September  18,  William 
King,  afterwards  governor,  being  moderator,  the  town  voted  '*  that 
those  men  who  shall  this  day  enlist,  agreeabl}'  to  the  Act  of  Congress 
of  the  10th  of  May  last,^  shall  receive  a  bounty  of  four  dollars  per 
man,  whether  called  for  or  not."  The  town,  moreover,  voted  that 
those  who  should  enlist  should  have  their  wages  made  equal,  by  the 
town,  to  ten  dollars  a  month,  from  the  time  the}'  should  march  to  actual 
service  until  their  discharge  from  the  senice,  allowing  them-a  reason- 
able time  to  return  home  ;  and  that  they  should  have  one  month's  wages 
advanced  on  their  march.  Also,  that  one  dollar  of  the  aforesaid  bounty 
should  be  paid  on  enlistment,  and  the  remaining  three  dollars  on  pi-o- 
ducing  a  certificate  of  having  passed  muster.  Colonel  John  Read,  Jr., 
Captain  Actor  Patten,  and  Doctor  Benjamin  Jones  Porter  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  draw  up  the  enlistment  onlers  and  to  wait  on  the  men 
and  see  that  their  names  were  enrolled.  In  November  it  was  voted  that 
a  sur\'ey  of  the  town  be  taken,  agreeably  to  a  resolve  of  the  General 
Court.  This  year,  for  the  first  time,  several  i)ersons  were  warned  to 
leave  the  town,  not  having  its  consent  to  reside  therein. 

[1795.]  At  the  meeting,  this  year,  the  selectmen  were  authorized 
to  take  measures  to  secure  the  lot  of  land  called  the  school  lot,  which 
was  said  to  belong  to  the  town. 

Samuel  Thompson  was  chosen  a  delegate  to  a  convention,  held  at 
Portland,  for  the  same  puqwse  as  the  previous  conventions,  and  AVil- 
liam  King  was  chosen  representative  to  the  (ien(»ral  Court. 

[1797.]  The  question  in  regard  to  a  separation  of  the  District  from 
the  Commonwealth  again  came  before  the  people  in  May,  1797,  and 
the  town  voted  forty-six  in  favor  to  one  against  a  separation. 

[1798.]  This  year  William  King  was  chosen  delegate  to  a  conven- 
tion to  be  held  at  Hallowell,  on  the  fourth  Tuesdav  of  the  October 
following,  to  consider  the  expediency  of  dividing  Lincoln  County,  and 
if  judged  expedient,  to  agree  on  the  dividing  line. 

[1799.]  At  a  meeting  held  Ma}'  6,  1799,  the  town  voted  to  peti- 
tion the  General  Court  to  have  a  Court  of  Common  Pleas  and  (ienoral 


1  For  the  improvement  of  the  militia^  WiUiamsonf  2,  p.  670. 


190        mslORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Sessions  of  tlie  Peace  held  in  Topsham  thereafter.  Reverend  Jona- 
than Ellis,  iJoctor  Benjamin  Jones  Porter,  and  James  Purington  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  draft  and  present  the  petition. 

[1801.]  In  1801  Captain  Robert  Patten  was  exempted  from  pay- 
ing taxes  for  that  3'ear  "  by  reason  of  his  house  being  burnt." 

[1802.]  At  its  March  meeting  in  1802,  the  town  voted  to  hold  its 
meetings  in  future  in  the  Court  House^  and  the  meeting  in  the  May 
following  was  held  there. ^  At  this  same  meeting  it  was  voted  not 
to  send  any  representative  to  the  General  Court  that  year.  A  motion 
was  made  to  reconsider  this  vote,  but  it  was  not  carried.  "  After  the 
moderator  (Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis)  had  declared  the  meeting  dis- 
solved, some  person  (not  one  of  the  selectmen)  called  for  the  people 
to  bring  in  their  votes  for  a  representative.  One  of  the  selectmen 
protested-  against  the  disorderly  manner  of  introducing  the  business, 
and  declined  having  anything  to  do  in  receiving  the  votes.  Two  of 
the  selectmen,  however,  with  the  town  clerk,  received  and  counted  the 
votes,  receiving,  however,  a  number  of  unqualified  votes  and  refusing 
some  qualified  votes  which  were  offered  while  the  votes  were  being 
assorted.  The  moderator  then  declared  that  the  town  had  chosen 
Jonathan  Ellis  their  representative."  The  town,  at  a  meeting  held  on 
the  last  day  of  the  same  month,  had  a  statement  to  the  above  effect 
prepared  for  presentation  to  the  legislature,  containing  a  remonstrance 
against  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis  holding  a  seat  as  their  represent- 
ative.    He  was  allowed,  however,  to  take  his  seat. 

[1804.]  In  1804  a  premium  of  twenty-five  cents  per  head  was 
offered  for  crows. 

[1806.]  A  Mi*8.  Drj'bury  became  a  town  charge  in  1806.  She 
was  the  first  pauper  the  town  ever  hail.  She  lived  in  a  little  cot  near 
the  First  Parish  meeting-house.  Her  house  was  sold  this  year  by  the 
town  for  a  small  sum. 

At  the  meeting  for  choice  of  governor  this  3'ear,  considerable  feel- 
ing was  manifested  at  what  was  considered  the  unfair  management  of 
the  polls,  and  a  protest  was  sent  to  the  General  Court. 

The  protest  was  signed  by  :  — 

Roger  Mehrill.  Jonathan  Blaisdell. 

Gideon  Walker.  Luther  Kimball. 

David  Patterson.  James  Pukinton,  Jr. 

Samuel  Emery.  James  Cook. 

1  The  town  meetings  had  pretnously  been  held  in  the  old  meeting-house  east  of  the 
village.  Sometimes,  in  extreme  cold  weather,  the  meetings  were  adjourned  to  Mrs, 
Hunter* s  inn. 


MUmCIPAL  mSTORT  OF  T0P8HAM,  191 

Peter  FI.  Green.  David  Foster. 

Gideon  Larkabke.  Moses  Waymouth. 

Nathaniel  Green.  William  Frost. 

Samuel  Towns.  John  Kogers. 

Nathaniel  Walker.  John  Haley,  Jr. 

[1807.]  In  1807  the  town  instructed  its  senator  and  repre- 
sentative to  make  application  to  the  legislature  for  its  consent  to  a 
separation  of  the  District  of  Maine  from  the  Commonwealth  of 
Massachusetts. 

[1808.]  The  embargo  which  Congress  had,  December  22,  1807, 
declared,  was  a  source  of  great  vexation  and  suffering  to  all  the  New 
England  towns,  es|)ecially  to  those  on  or  near  the  seaboard.  Tops- 
ham  suffered  from  this  cause  equally  with  Bninswick  or  Ilarpswell, 
and  aecordingl}',  at  a  meeting  held  August  20,  1808,  the  town 
resolved  that  it  *'  unanimousl}*  approves  of  the  doings  of  the  town  of 
Boston,"  respecting  the  petitioning  for  the  repeal  of  the  embargo 
laws,  and  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  communicate  this  action  to 
the  selectmen  of  Boston.  The  town  also  voted  to  present  to  the 
President  of  the  United  States  a  memorial  requesting  him  to  suspend 
the  embargo,  in  whole  or  in  part,  and  Benjamin  Orr,  Esquire,  William 
Wilson,  and  Henry  Wilson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  draft  the 
address.  It  was  at  once  prepared  and  unanimously  accepted  bj'  the 
town.  The  address,  probably  for  the  most  part  the  production  of  Mr. 
Orr,  was  as  follows  :  — 

"  To  Tiios.  Jefferson, 

President  of  the  United  States :  — 

"  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Topsham  in  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts, legally  assembled  in  town  meeting  on  the  twentieth  da}'  of 
August,  1808,  respectfully'  represent : 

"  That  having  always  been  influenced  by  a  regard  for  the  general 
interests  and  welfare  of  their  country,  sincerely  attached  to  its  Con- 
stitution and  duly  impressed  with  the  necessity  of  conforming  to  the 
laws  of  their  government,  they  have  hitherto  submitted  to  the  priva- 
tions and  losses  occasioned  by  the  embargo  laws,  without  opposition 
or  complaint,  at  the  same  time  indulging  an  anxious  hope,  that  when 
experience  should  ascertain  the  extent  and  degree  of  their  sufferings, 
in  common  with  their  fellow- citizens,  and  events  in  Europe  should 
render  it  safe  and  expedient,  a  speed}'  relief  would  be  afforded  them, 
through  the  existing  provisions  of  Congress  for  that  puriwse. 

*'  And  could  your  memorialists  entertain  a  belief  that  the  further 


192        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

suspension  of  all  foreign  commerce  and  the  existing  restrictions  on 
domestics  were  necessan*  to  the  essential  interests  of  their  country-, 
or  consistent  with  the  original  views  and  policy  of  the  goverimient  in 
passing  the  embargo  laws,  they  wonld  still  wait  the  pleasure  of  gov- 
ernment, without  an  expression  of  their  wishes  for  relief. 

*'But  concurring  in  opinion  with  numerous  other  sections  of  citi- 
zens assembled  to  express  their  sentiments  on  this  subject,  your  me- 
morialists are  impressed  with  a  conviction  that  the  late  attempt  to 
subjugate  the  people  of  Spain  to  a  foreign  yoke,  and  their  consequent 
declaration  of  independence,  and  of  war  against  the  power  attempting 
to  impose  it,  have  materially  altered  the  relations  of  the  United  States 
to  some  of  the  powers  of  Europe  ;  and  also  believing  that  the  avenues 
of  a  safe  and  lucrative  commerce  to  the  people  of  this  country  are  by 
these  events  laid  open,  which  the  wisdom  of  the  legislature  has  ren- 
dered available  by  placing  flie  power  to  suspend  the  laws  restricting 
it,  in  your  hands  : 

"  They  therefore  pray  that  the  embargo  laws  may  be  suspended,  in 
whole  or  in  part,  as  your  wisdom  may  direct,  agreeably  to  the  powers 
vested  in  you  by  Congress  for  that  purpose." 

A  repl}'  was  received  from  President  Jefferson  to  this  memorial, 
which  is  entered  in  full  on  the  records  of  the  town.  As  it  is  identi- 
cally the  same  answer  that  was  given  to  similar  memorials  from  the 
majority  of  the  New  England  towns,  and  as  it  has  often  been  published 
in  documents  of  State  and  other  works,  it  is  not  judged  necessary  to 
give  it  in  this  connection. 

[1809.]  At  a  meeting  held  February  4,  1809,  the  following  reso- 
lutions and  memorial  were  adopted,  —  the  resolutions  to  be  printed  in 
the  Portland  Gazette^  and  the  memorial  signed  b}'  the  selectmen  and 
clerk,  to  be  sent  to  the  representative,  to  l)e  by  him  presented  to  the 
General  Court :  — 

"  Resolved,,  That  it  becomes  us  not  to  despair  of  the  safety  of  our 
Republic,  while  we  enjoy  the  constitutional  right  and  liberty  of  assem- 
bling peaceabl}'  to  consult  upon  the  common  good  and  to  petition  the 
legislature  to  devise  and  promote  the  redress  of  the  wrongs  and  griev- 
ances we  suffer. 

''  That  as  it  is  our  privilege  *  in  prosperity  to  rejoice,*  it  is  our  duty 
'  in  adversity  to  consider,*  to  investigate,  to  ascertain  the  causes  of  thfe 
calamities  we  experience  and  the  most  effectual  means  to  remove  them. 

''  That  we  are  convinced  the  people  in  many  instances  have  not 
been  suflicientlv  cautious  in  the  exercise  of  their  electoral  rights,  but 


MUKWtPAL  HISTORY  OF  T0P8HAM.  193 

have  permitted  themselres  to  be  deceived  by  crafty  and  nnprincipled 
men  and  have  frequently  conferred  their  sufihtges  on  seekers  of  popu- 
lar favor,  without  making  the  important  inquiries,  ^  Are  they  capable? ' 
'  Are  they  honest? '  '  Are  they  attached  to  the  Constitution?  * 

'^  Hence  it  has  happened  that  many,  destitute  of  requisite  talents 
and  integrity,  have  been  promoted  to  officer  of  the  highest  trust  and 
importance;  and  that  we  now  feel  the  extensive  mischief  naturally 
arising  from  this  want  of  caution  and  inquir}'  in  the  people ;  for  power 
obtained  by  fraud  will  alwaj's  resort  to  violence  for  support. 

*'*'  That  the  principles  and  pubHc  conduct  of  our  rulers  are  the  fair 
objects  of  a  manly  and  public-spirited  scrutln}',  for  the  purposes  of 
merited  censure  or  approbation,  their  continuance  or  removal  from 
office,  in  the  prescribed  forms.  • 

"  That,  when  we  take  into  view  the  great  prosj^erity  generally  dif- 
fused through  our  once  happy  land,  under  the  arduous  administration 
of  the  revered  Washington  and  his  immediate  successor,  we  are  com- 
pelled to  believe,  that  the  numerous  and  heavy  evils  since  fallen  and 
daily  accumulating  upon  us  have  been  principally  occasioned  by  the 
departure  of  our  rulers  froxxi  that  wise,  firm,  liberal,  and  impartial 
policy  which  regulated  the  copduct  of  those  distinguished  patriots. 

^^That,  with  sorrow,  we  must  confess  that  the  present  executive 
of  the  United  States  has  appeared  to  us,  in  the  course  of  his  adminis- 
tration, more  like  the  dependant  and  humble  friend  of  a  foreign  despot 
than  the  brave  and  generous  chief  of  a  great  spirited  and  free  people,  — 
more  devoted  to  the  nefarious  schemes  of  the  republic-destro^'ing. 
King-making  Napoleon,  than  to  the  security,  peace,  and  happiness  of 
his  own  country,  or  to  the  rights  and  privileges  of  those  nations,  who, 
having  made  a  noble  stand,  are  now  contending  from  the  pure  spirit 
of  patriotism  against  that  rapacious  tyrant  of  boundless  ambition. 

''That  the  people  have  a  right  to  require  of  their  lawgivers  and 
magistrates,  who  are  at  all  times  accountable  to  them,  an  exact  and 
constant  observance  of  constitutional  principles  in  the  formation 
and  execution  of  the  laws. 

"  That  our  national  legislature,  apparently  from  the  impulse  of 
executive  influence,  have  enacted  a  system  of  embargo  laws,  in  our 
decided  opinion,  unconstitutional  in  principle  and  ruinous  in  operation, 
that  must  subject  us  abroad  to  contempt,  at  home  to  want  and  wretch- 
edness. 

"  That  we  consider  the  act  entitled  '  An  Act  to  enforce  the  several 

Embargo  Laws  of  the  United  States,'  a  most  flagrant  violation  of  many 

articles  in  our  federal  and  State  Constitution  and  the  measures  pre- 

18 


194        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

scribed  to  barry  it  into  effect  to  be  utterly  subversive  of  our  dearest 
rights  and  privileges  ;  that  it  is  a  law  which  the  people  are  not  bound 
to  obey  and  which  we  believe,  from  their  strong  attachment  to  the 
liberties  of  their  country,  they  will  not  obey. 

'*  That  we  most  cordially  approve  the  patriotic  conduct  of  those 
ofl3cers  of  the  revenue  department  who,  disdaining  to  be  the  instru- 
ments of  arbitrary  power,  and  having  a  more  tender  concern  for  the 
rights  of  their  fellow-citizen  than  for  the  emoluments  of  office,  have 
lately  retired  to  the  post  of  honor,  —  a  private  station.  That  we  sin- 
cerely hope  these  patriotic  examplee  will  excite  a  general  emulation, 
and  should  deeply  lament  that  any  from  a  penurious,  calculating  spirit, 
from  a  mere  regard  to  private  property,  should  submit  to  or  aid  the 
execution  of  laws  destructive  of  our  civil  liberties." 

"  MEMORIAL. 

*'  To  THE  Honorable  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives  in  General 

Court  assembled. 

"  The  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Topsham  in  legal  town  meeting  as- 
sembled on  the  fourth  day  of  February,  a.  d.  1809,  respectfully  rep- 
resent, 

"That  in  the  late  recess  of  Congress,  they  petitioned  the  President 
of  the  United  States  to  relieve  them  from  the  sufferings  occasioned  by 
the  embargo,  and,  finding  no  hope  of  relief,  they  have  made  a  similar 
application  to  Congress,  by  whom  their  petition  has  also  been  neglected. 

"To  your  honorable  body,  therefore,  your  memorialists  are  induced 
to  resort  for  relief,  not  only  from  the  evils  and  sufferings  of  which 
they  had  reason  to  complain  to  the  President  and  to  Congress,  but 
also  from  others  of  more  serious  moment  emanating  from  those  high 
authorities. 

"  At  the  time  of  the  passing  of  the  first  embargo  law,  the  respect 
due  to  the  constituted  authorities  induced  3'our  memorialists  to  hope 
that  it  would  not  be  continued  in  fprce  beyond  the  ability  of  the  people 
to  endure  it ;  but  in  the  Act  recently  passed,  not  only  to  enforce  that 
law  and  its  supplementary  appendages,  but  to  extort  additional  sacri- 
fices the  most  exorbitant,  they  recognize  a  policy  equally  ruinous  and 
oppressive. 

"  Had  this  law  been  whoU}^  original  it  would  have  been  less  dread- 
ful in  its  aspects  ;  but  in  the  French  decree  of  April,  1808,  it  has  both 
an  example  and  guarantee,  by  which  all  vessels  of  citizens  of  the 
United  States  found  at  sea  after  that  time  are  declared  forfeited  to 
France  for  breach  of  the  embargo. 


MUyiCtPAL  mSTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  11)5 

"  When  such  is  the  concurrence  of  laws,  your  memorialists  can 
entertain  no  hope  of  relief  or  of  safety  from  the  constituted  guanlians 
of  their  national  rights  and  privileges. 

"  To  enumerate  the  losses,  privations,  and  sufferings  resulting 
from  the  embargo  system  would  be  but  a  recapitulation  of  circum- 
stances familiar  to  every  mind. 

"  Tlie  protection  they  afford  to  seamen  brings  witli  it  want  and 
misery ;  the  benefits  they  confer  on  merchants  are  waste  and  bank- 
ruptcy, and  to  the  hand  of  charity  they  consign  the  necessitous  laborer 
and  his  dependants.  As  to  their  effects  abroad,  none  are  perceptible 
to  your  memorialists,  except  the  approbation  of  the  nation  to  whom 
alone  they  are  beneficial  and  the  disregard  of  that  which  they  were 
manifestly  intended  to  restrain  and  humble. 

'*  The  act  to  enforce  the  embargo,  in  its  relation  to  the  Constitution, 
•  cannot  escape  the  notice  of  your  honorable  body.  By  this  act  the 
proi>erty  of  your  memorialists,  as  well  as  their  fellow-citizens,  is  ren- 
dered liable  to  seizure  by  militar}*  force,  without  evidence,  without 
process  or  trial,  and  on  the  suspicion  alone  of  an  accuser,  nnd  neither 
their  possessions  nor  buildings  remain  a  secure  depository  against  the 
combination  of  jealousy  and  force  to  assail  them ;  these,  with  the 
exaction  of  exorbitant  bonds  for  acts  in  themselves  lawful  at  the  time 
of  doing  them,  appear  to  your  memorialists  calculated  to  deprive  them 
of  their  most  essential  constitutional  rights. 

*'  In  recurring  to  the  transactions  of  the  last  session  of  3'our  hon- 
orable bod3',  your  memorialists  derive  the  highest  satisfaction  from  the 
consideration  that  the  opix>sing  voice  of  a  free  people  was  distinctly 
expressed  to  an  administration  that  had  been  offering  up  an  essential 
part  of  their  national  rights  a  sacrifice  to  the  boundless  ambition  of  a 
foreign  despot,  rights  that  were  obtained  by  the  toils  of  the  illustrious 
Washington  and  his  companions  and  fellow-sufferers,  and  secured  by  a 
Constitution  that  will  never  be  abandoned  by  free  men,  to  the  merci- 
less hands  that  opposed  it  in  its  origin  and  still  seek  to  destroy  it.  In 
the  wisdom  a^jd  firmness  of  your  honorable  body  to  restore  to  your 
memorialists  and  their  fellow-citizens  of  the  State  the  full  enjoyment 
of  those  rights  by  rescuing  them  from  the  destructive  grasp  of  the 
tyrant  of  EuroiKi  and  his  minions,  they  repose  the  most  implicit  confi- 
dence, and  they  pledge  themselves  by  all  the  lawful  means  in  their 
lX)wer  to  support  the  measures  that  your  honors  maj-  adopt  for  the 
general  safety  and  relief,  against  the  various  acts  of  violence  and 
op[)ression  with  which  they  have  been  assailed  by  foreign  and  domes- 
tic usur[)er8.     They  therefore  pray  your  honors  to  take  the  subject  of 


196        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

their  grievances  into  consideration  and  adopt  such  measures  of  redress 
as  3'ou,  in  your  wisdom,  shall  deem  proper  and  expedient." 

[1810.]  In  the  year  1810  a  committee  was  chosen  to  superintend 
the  inoculation  with  the  kine-pox  of  all  such  persons  as  had  not  had 
the  small-pox,  and  one  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  vac- 
cination of  those  unable  to  bear  the  expense  themselves. 

[1811.]  In  1811  a  committee  was  chosen  to  discover  what  method 
should  be  taken  to  keep  the  highways  from  being  encumbered  with 
mill  logs,  timber,  etc.,  especially  on  the  island,  and  in  the  village  near 
Granny's  Hole.  This  committee  reported  at  a  subsequent  meeting  to 
the  effect  that  increased  diligence  should  be  required  on  the  part  of 
surve3'or8,  etc.  The  committee  on  vaccination  reported  that  Doctor 
Isaac  Lincoln  had  vaccinated  four  hundred  and  three  persons,  of  which 
number  three  hundred  and  ninety-one  cases  had  been  successful  and 
twelve  were  doubtful.  The  committee  complimented  Doctor  Lincoln 
for  the  zeal  and  attention  which  he  had  shown  in  the  matter. 

[1812.]  In  1812  Benjamin  Hasey,  Esquire,  and  Thomas  G.  Sand- 
ford  were  chosen  delegates  to  a  county  convention,  to  be  held  at 
Wiscasset  on  August  the  third,  '•  to  take  into  consideration  the  alarm- 
ing state  of  public  affairs,  to  ascertain  and  express  by  memorial,  or 
otherwise,  the  voice  of  the  people  relative  to  the  war  in  which  we  are 
now  involved,  and  to  devise  and  recommend  the  most  speedy  means 
of  relief  from  its  awful  calamities."  On  August  the  first,  the  follow- 
ing resolutions  were  adopted  as  the  sentiments  of  the  people  of  Tops- 
ham,  and  a  copy  of  them  was  sent  to  the  Portland  Gazette  for 
publication :  — 

*^  Eesolved,  That  'in  the  present  season  of  calamity  and  war'  it 
behooves  the  people  to  exercise  their  essential  and  unalienable  right 
of  consulting  and  seeking  their  safety  and  happiness ;  that,  at  all 
times^  it  is  their  dut}'  to  approve  and  support,  with  zeal  and  alacrity, 
laws  for  the  vindication  of  their  rights  and  the  advancement  of  their 
.welfiane,  and  their  right  and  privilege  to  expose  and  control,  by  the 
powers  of  reason  and  argument,  all  public  measures  endangering  their 
security,  theijr  prosperity  and  peace. 

^'  Resolved^  That  we  cannot  cease  to  cherish  our  fond  attachment 
to  the  union  of  the  States  and  the  federal  Constitution,  endeared  to  us 
by  the  upright,  wise,  and  liberal  administration  of  Washington ;  that 
we  cannot  cease  to  hope  that  the  innumerable  evils  already  inflicted 
b}^  the  partial,  degrading,  and  destructive  '  exercise  of  restrictive 
energies,'  conunenced  hy  the  last  administration  and  consummated 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  TOPSHAM,  197 

by  the  present^  will  awaken  in  ourselves  and  our  fellow-citizens  a 
liyelj  sense  of  our  common  dangers,  and  unite  us,  as  the  surest  means 
of  relief,  in  a  firm  resolution  to  intrust  with  power  those  only  who  are 
tnie  to  the  example  and  faithful  to  the  precepts  of  the  departed  Father 
of  our  Country. 

^^  Resolved^  ^  That  we  cannot  insult  the  free  and  gallant  citizens  of 
America  with  the  suspicion  that  they  are  less  able  .to  defend  their 
rights,  than  the  debased  subjects  of  arbitrary  power  to  rescue  theirs 
from  the  hands  of  their  oppressors ;  that  we  will  not  insult  them  with 
the  supposition  that  they  can  ever  reduce  themselves  to  the  necessity 
of  making  the  experiment  ^*  to  regain  their  lost  liberties"  b}-  a  blind 
and  tame  submission  to  a  long  train  of  insidious  measures  which  must 
precede  and  produce  it.'  ^ 

^^  Resolved,  ^  That  a  state  of  war  does  not  destroy  or  diminish  the 
rights  of  citizens  to  examine  the  conduct  of  public  men  and  the  ten- 
dency of  public  measures ' ;  ^  that  all  attempts  to  impair  the  liberty  of 
opinion  and  inquiry,  the  freedom  of  speech  and  of  the  press,  are 
infringements  upon  our  most  invaluable  constitutional  rights  and  privi- 
leges, meriting  the  pointed  disapprobation  of  all  except  Napoleon  and 
his  humble  worshippers. 

"  Resolved,  That  we  decpl}'  lament  the  numerous  facts  which  loudly 
proclaim  that,  in  too  many  instances,  the  spirit  of  faction  has  mis- 
guided the  deliberations  of  our  State  and  national  legislature.  That 
by  faction  we  understand  a  number  of  citizens,  whether  amounting  to  a 
majority  or  minority  of  the  whole,  who  are  united  and  actuated  by  some 
common  impulse  of  passion  or  interest  adverse  to  the  rights  of  other 
citizens,  or  to  the  permanent  and  aggregate  interests  of  the  whole. 

'*  Resolved,  That  to  a  factious  spirit  only  can  we  attribute  the  con- 
trivance of  our  senatorial  districts  by  which  nearly  three  fourths  of  the 
present  Senate  have  been  elected  by  a  minorit}'  of  votes  of  the  whole 
State.  That  to  intemperate  party  zeal  in  the  Senate  so  chosen  we 
must  ascribe  their  obstinate  refusal  to  adopt  any  one  of  the  various 
propositions  made  to  them  b}'  the  House  of  lieprcsentatives,  at  their 
last  session,  for  dividing  the  Commonwealth  into  electoral  districts, 
and  especially  their  refusing  to  concur  in  the  resolve  providing  for  the 
choice  of  electors  by  the  people  at  large.  That  we  consider  these 
proceedings  as  disgraceful  to  tlie  Commonwealth  as  grievances  of  the 
most  alarming  magnitude,  demanding  redress  without  delay  ;  that  we 
have  full  confidence  that  our  representative  in  the  General  Court  will 


1  Madison.  «  De  Witt  Clinton. 


198        niSTOKT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL, 

not  be  wanting  in  his  endeavors  to  correct  procedures  so  reproachftil 
and  oppressive. 

"  Resolved „  That  to  a  spirit  adverse  to  the  rights  of  the  maritime 
States  we  must  impute  the  long  neglect  and  repeated  refusals  of  our 
Congressional  legislature  to  provide  a  navy  in  some  degree  compe- 
tent to  protect  our  commerce  and  guard  our  extensive  and  almost 
defenceless  coasts ;  that  our  surprise  at  this  neglect  is  greatly  aggra- 
vated when  we  call  to  mind  the  solemn  truths  long  since  announced 
by  the  present  chief  magistrate  of  the  Union,  truths  the  more  impor- 
tant and  interesting  now  we  are  placed  in  '  an  attitude '  if  not  in  '  an 
armor*  of  war.  '  Naval  batteries,  the  most  capable  of  repelling  for- 
eign enterprises  upon  our  safet}*,  are  happil}'  such  as  can  never  be 
turned  by  a  perfidi'nis  government  against  our  liberties.  The  inhab- 
itants of  the  Atlantic  frontier  are  all  of  them  deeply  interested  in 
this  provision  for  naval  protection ;  and  if  they  have  hitherto  been 
suffered  to  sleep  quietl}'  in  their  beds  ;  if  their  proi)erty  has  remained 
safe  against  the  predatory  spirit  of  licentious  adventurera ;  if  their 
maritime  towns  have  not  been  compelled  to  ransom  themselves  ftom 
the  terrors  of  a  conflagration  by  yielding  to  the  exaction  of  daring  and 
sudden  invaders,  these  instances  of  good  fortune  are  not  to  bo  attrib- 
uted to  the  protection  of  the  existing  government  that  claims  their 
allegiance^  but  to  causes  that  are  fugitive  and  fallacious.*  ^ 

"  Resolved^  That  the  closest  examination  we  have  been  able  to 
make  of  the  long  train  of  our  foreign  negotiations  compels  us  to 
believe  that  the  unnecessary  and  ruinous  war,  into  which  we  are  now 
plunged,  is  to  be  attributed  more  to  the  impulse  of  faction,  combined 
with  the  intriguing,  flattering,  menacing,  conflscating,  plundering,  and 
burning  policy  of  the  modern  Attila,  operating  upon  our  own  govern- 
ment with  magic  influence,  than  to  the  '  injustice  of  a  foreign  power,' 
declared  to  be  our  enemy. 

"  That  a  war  so  forced  upon  us  we  can  neither  approve  nor  volunta- 
rily support ;  that  we  cannot  consent  to  forego  the  abundant  and  hon- 
orable returns  of  legitimate  commerce  for  the  scanty  and  disgraceful 
plunder  of  legalized  piracy ;  we  cannot  freely  exchange  the  cheering 
scenes  of  domestic  peace  for  the  chilling  horrors  of  the  '  bloody  arena.* 
Indeed  we  are  unwilling  wantonly  to  put  to  hazard  the  noblest  gifts  of 
God  to  man,  —  our  liberty  and  independence,  —  to  assist  even  our 
living  friend  Napoleon  in  his  aim  to  destro}'  the  remnant  of  liberty  in 
Europe,  that  he  may  the  more  easil}'  bring  within  his  iron  grasp  the 

^  Madison, 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM,  199 

*  ships,  colonies,  and  commerce  of  the  world.'  In  short,  this  war  we 
must  reprobate  and  abhor  chiefly  because  it  tends  to  draw  us  into  a 
dose  connection,  into  a  fatal  alliance  with  this  tjTant  of  nations,  the 
enemy  of  the  human  race,  whose  tender  mercies  are  cruel,  whose 
friendship  is  slavery  and  death. 

"  Resolved,  That,  undismayed  at  the  gloomy  and  threatning  aspect 
of  our  public  affairs,  we  will  not  despair  of  the  safety  of  our  confed- 
erated Republic,  trusting  that  the  discerning,  enlightened,  and  resolute 
spirit  of  a  free  people,  not  to  be  shaken  b}*  the  ruffian  assaults  of 
faction,  not  to  be  seduced  by  the  insidious  arts  of  tyranny,  will  speed- 
ily arise  in  vindication  of  their  honor  and  in  defence  of  their  rights, 
and  make  manifest  to  the  world  that  their  confidence  cannot  be  betrayed 
nor  their  interests  sacrificed  with  impunity.*' 

[1814.]  In  1814  it  was  voted  to  accept  the  offer  of  the  Court 
House,  for  the  purpose  of  holding  town  meetings,  on  the  terms  named 
by  the  Court  of  Sessions. 

[1816.]  At  a  meeting  held  May  20,  1810,  the  town  voted  strongly 
against  a  separation  of  the  District  of  Maine  from  Massachusetts,  and 
the  representative  from  Topsham  was  instructed  to  use  all  means  in 
his  power  to  prevent  such  separation. 

At  a  meeting  held  September  16,  Benjamin  Hasey  was  elected  dele- 
gate to  the  convention  to  be  held  the  latter  part  of  the  month  in 
Brunswick. 

At  a  meeting  held  November  4,  the  memorial  strongly  opposing 
separation,  which  was  adopted  by  the  convention  at  Brunswick  on  the 
last  Monda}'  in  September,  relative  to  the  separation  of  the  District 
of  Maine  from  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  was  read,  and  it 
was  then  voted  that  the  same  should  be  signed  by  the  selectmen  and 
town  clerk,  and  by  them  be  presented  in  behalf  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  town  of  Topsham  to  the  honorable  General  Court. 

[1818.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1818,  Messrs.  Abel  Merrill, 
Thomas  G.  Sandford,  and  Captain  Nathaniel  Walker  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  adopt  measures  for  the  maintenance  of  paupers.  They 
reported  at  the  May  meeting  in  favor  of  the  town  poor  being  collected 
together  and  provided  for  b}'  some  one  individual. 

[1819.]  At  a  meeting  held  Jul}'  6th,  1819,  the  town  again,  and 
for  the  last  time,  voted  in  favor  of  a  separation  of  the  District  from 
the  Commonwealth.  This  was  the  fourth  time  that  the  town  had 
voted  in  favor  of  a  separation,  never  having  voted  against  it  but 
once.  September  20th,  Mr.  Nathaniel  Greene  was  elected  delegate  to 
the  convention  to  be  held  at  Portland  in  October,  for  the  puri)ose  of 


200        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

firamiDg  a  constitution  for  the  new  State.  On  December  Gtli,  the 
town  voted  unanimously  in  favor  of  the  Constitution  framed  at  that 
convention. 

UNDER   STATE  OF  MAINE. 

[1820.]  The  annual  town  meeting  this  year  was  held  April  8d.  This 
was  the  first  meeting  of  the  town  after  the  admission  to  the  Union  of 
the  State  of  Maine.  At  this  meeting  Mr.  Pelatiah  Haley  declined  any 
longer  service  as  a  selectman,  and  tlie  thanks  of  the  town  were  ten- 
dered him  ^^  for  the  ability  and  punctuality  displa3'ed  in  his  service  in 
that  capacity  for  many  j-ears  past." 

At  a  meeting  held  in  May  following*  the  representative  to  the 
legislature  was  instructed  to  advocate  a  petition  in  favor  of  a  new 
county. 

[1821.]  In  1821  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  provide  a  hearse 
for  the  use  of  the  town. 

[1822.]  The  vote  for  county  officers  was  this  year  thrown  out  by 
the  Court,  on  account  of  unlawful  proceedings  at  the  town  meeting. 

[1824.]  In  1824  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  pay  each  sol- 
dier belonging  to  Topsham,  who  was  entitled  to  receive  rations, 
agreeably  to  a  late  law,  twenty  cents  in  cash.  This  was  to  enable  the 
soldiers  to  buy  their  dinner  on  muster  days.  The}'  were  also  instructed 
to  employ  a  physician  to  vaccinate  the  town.  The  town  this  year 
voted  to  purchase  the  farm  occupied  b}'  Aaron  Thompson,  "  for  the 
use  of  the  town,"  paying  for  the  same  three  hundred  dollars  in  three 
annual  payments.     Probably  the  vote  never  went  into  effect. 

The  following  by-laws  were  adopted  by  the  town  and  approved  by 
the  Court  of  General  Sessions  this  year :  — 

'^1.  Sliding  down  hill  in  winter  on  sleds  or  boards,  in  any  of  the 
public  streets,  prohibited  under  a  penalty  of  twenty-five  cents  for  each 
ofiTence. 

''2.  Pla3ing  with,  or  knocking,  a  ball  in  the  streets,  within  three 
fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  toll-bridge,  prohibited,  under  a  fine  of 
twenty-five  cents. 

^'3.  Smoking  a  pipe  or  cigar  on  the  streets  prohibited  under  a  fine 
of  twenty-five  cents  for  each  offence. 

^^  Canying  fire  through  the  streets  strictly  prohibited,  under  a 
penalty  of  one  dollar,  unless  it  was  properly  secured  in  some  metallic 
case  or  pan." 

[1825.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  in  September,  1825,  it  voted 
to  accept  the  land  on  Great  Island,  purchased  by  the  selectmen  for 


MUNICIPAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSUAM.  201 

the  use  and  benefit  of  the  town,  at  the  price  of  one  hundred  and 
twenty-five  dollars.  This  land  was  for  the  erection  of  a  building  in 
which  to  confine  an  insane  person. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  December  following,  the  representative  to 
the  legislature  was  instnicted  "  to  oppose  the  petition  of  George 
Jewett  and  one  other,"  unless  the  whole  expense  occasioned  by  its 
being  granted  should  be  imposed  upon  the  county.  It  is  probable 
that  this  petition  was  for  a  bridge  across  the  Cathance  River,  at  the 
eastern  part  of  the  town.  Persons  now  living  recollect  that  there  was, 
about  this  time,  considerable  discussion  in  regard  to  this  bridge,  and  no 
one  has  any  knowledge  of  anj'  other  purpose  for  which  a  petition  was 
likeh'  to  be  presented  at  this  time. 

[1829.]  This  year  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  petition  the 
legislature  for  a  new  county. 

[1832.]  In  1832  the  representative  to  the  legislature  was  instnicted 
to  confer  with  the  representatives  of  other  towns  on  the  subject  of  a 
modification  of  the  militia  law,  so  as  to  dis|)ense  witli  all  trainings 
except  the  annual  inspection  in  September,  and  such  other  meetings 
of  companies  as  might  be  deemed  necessary'  for  the  proper  organiza- 
tion of  the  militia,  and  to  request  their  co-operation. 

[1833.]  The  selectmen  were  again  instructed  by  the  town,  in  1833, 
to  petition  the  legislature  for  a  new  county.  They  were  also  author- 
ized to  defend  the  town  against  any  suit  brought  b}*  the  Maine  Stage 
Company  to  recover  damages  for  the  upsetting  of  one  of  their  carriages 
near  James  Purinton's  tannery,  in  Topsham,  on  the  evening  of  the  12th 
of  Januar}',  1833,  or  were  authorized  to  settle  the  matter  with  the 
company,  if  judged  expedient. 

[1837.]  The  town,  at  its  annual  meeting  in  1837,  voted  to  receive 
its  proportion  of  the  surplus  revenue  deposited  with  the  State  of 
Maine  by  the  United  States  government,  and  to  deposit  this  mone}'  in 
Androscoggin  Bank,  provided  the  bank  would  allow  interest  at  five 
per  cent  per  annum,  the  interest  to  be  paid  annually  to  the  town 
treasurer.  Mr.  John  Coburn  was  appointed  an  agent  to  receive  and 
receipt  for  the  morifey  in  the  name  of  the  town.  The  Septeml>er  meet- 
ing was  held  in  the  Freewill  Baptist  vestry,  near  the  brick  school- 
house.  At  this  meeting  the  selectmen  and  treasurer  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  consider  the  subject  of  building  a  town-house. 

The  town  also  voted  that  the  suq^lus  revenue  money  should  be  put 
at  interest  and  the  interest  divided  among  the  school  districts.  This 
vote  was,  however,  reconsidered  the  next  year  [1838],  and  the  town 
voted  to  divide  it  per  capita  amongst  the  inhabitants,  and  Gardner 


202        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Green  was  chosen  agent  to  collect  and  distribute  it.  The  money  hav- 
ing already  been  loaned  to  individuals,  the  agent  was  authorized  to 
borrow  the  same  amount  and  distribute  it  per  capita^  as  directed  for 
the  surplus  revenue  money.  Messrs.  Charles  Thompson,  Joshua  Has- 
kell, and  William  Frost  protested  against  this  action  of  the  town  as 
illegal,  and  gave  notice  that  the}'  would  severall}'  hold  all  persons, 
and  particular!}'  the  agent,  responsible,  who  should  be  instrumental  in 
carr3'ing  the  vote  into  effect. 

[1841.]  In  1841  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  the  proposed  consti- 
tutional amendments,  in  regard  to  the  election  of  State  officers,  but 
voted  against  any  increase  of  the  number  of  representatives. 

[1842.]  In  the  3-ear  1842  the  town  was  classed,  for  election  of  rep- 
resentative, with  the  town  of  Bowdoin.  Previous  to  this  date  it  had 
elected  its  own  representative. 

[1843.]  At  a  meeting,  held  Februar}'  6,  in  accordance  with  an  Act 
of  the  legislature  to  see  if  the  town  would  consent  to  the  annexation 
of  a  part  of  Bowdoin,  agreeably  to  a  petition  of  sixty-three  of  the 
inhabitants  of  Bowdoin,  the  town  chose  Abel  Merrill  and  Nathaniel 
Walker  a  committee  to  remonstrate  against  and  oppose  the  proposed 
annexation.  At  the  annual  meeting  in  April,  the  selectmen  were 
authorized  to  appoint  one  or  more  persons  to  sell  ardent  spirits  for 
medicinal  and  mechanical  purposes,  and  were  instructed  to  prosecute 
all  who  were  guilty  of  a  violation  of  the  law  in  regard  to  such  sales. 
At  a  meeting  held  in  September  following,  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  petition  the  legislature  for  a  separate  representation  of 
the  town. 

[184G.]  The  following  by-law  was  adopted  b}' the  town  in  1846: 
"  Any  person  sliding  in  the  streets  or  highwa}'  in  the  town  of  Tops- 
ham,  within  three  fourths  of  a  mile  from  the  Androscoggin  toll-bridge, 
upon  a  sled,  board,  or  any  other  vehicle  or  thing ;  or  who  shall  skate 
in  said  streets  or  highways,  as  aforesaid ;  or  shall  knock,  throw,  or 
play  at  ball,  in  said  streets  or  highways,  as  aforesaid  ;  or  be  accessoiy 
thereto  ;  shall  be  punished  b}'  a  fine  not  exceeding  five  dollars  for  each 
and  ever}'  offence  so  committed,  together  with  costs,  to  be  recovered 
on  a  complaint  before  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

[1847.]  In  1847  the  town  voted  in  favor  of  amendments  to  the 
Constitution  providing  that  State  officers  should  be  elected  by  a  plu- 
rality instead  of  a  majority  vote,  and  also  in  regard  to  the  State  loan- 
ing its  credit. 

[1850.]  At  a  meeting  held  September  9,  the  town  voted  against 
an  amendment  to  the  Constitution  providing  for  a  change  of  the  meet- 
ing of  the  legislature  from  May  to  January. 


MUNICIPAL  mSTORT  OF  TOPSHAM.  208 

[1853.]  At  a  special  town  meeting,  held  Febniaiy  28,  1853,  the 
representative  was  instructed  to  use  his  greatest  exertions  to  prevent 
any  change  in  the  territory  of  the  county  of  Lincoln,  and  the  senator 
from  the  district  was  requested  to  co-operate  with  him.  At  the 
annual  meeting  the  article  in  the  warrant,  to  see  if  the  town  would 
choose  an  agent  to  sell  liquors  for  medicinal  and  mechanical  purposes, 
was  dismissed.  This  was,  of  course,  a  total  prohibition  of  the  sale  of 
intoxicating  liquors  for  any  purpose. 

[1854.]  In  October,  1864,  the  town  was  called  upon  to  express  by 
vote  its  preference  of  a  town  to  be  the  shire  town  of  the  new  county 
of  Sagadahoc,  which  was  incorporated  on  the  fourth  day  of  April  pre- 
vious.    The  vote  stood : 

In  favor  of  Topsham  for  shire  town,  one  hundred  and  fifty-one. 
Of  Bath,  five. 

[1855.]  The  town  voted,  in  1855,  almost  unanimously,  against 
amendments  to  the  Constitution  of  the  State  which  provided  that 
Judges  of  probate,  registers  of  probate,  sheriffs,  and  municipal  and 
police  judges  should  be  chosen  by  the  people  ;  and  also  providing  that 
the  land  agent,  attorney  general,  and  adjutant  general  should  be 
chosen  by  the  legislature.  The  representative  was  chosen  this  j-ear 
fh>m  the  town  of  Lisbon,  Topsham  and  Lisbon  being  classed  together. 

[1858.]  In  Jnne,  1858,  the  town  voted  unanimously  in  favor  of  a 
Prohibitory  Liquor  Law. 

[1859.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1859,  the  selectmen  were  author- 
ized to  hire  out  to  suitable  persons  such  town  paupers  as  might  be 
able  to  perform  labor,  and  also  to  bind  out  the  children  of  such  per- 
sons to  suitable  individuals,  who  should  be  required  to  give  bonds  for 
the  faithflil  discharge  of  their  trust.  They  were  also  authorized  to 
provide  a  suitable  building  or  buildings,  in  which  to  take  care  of  the 
aged  and  of  all  others  unable  to  do  an3'thing  for  their  own  support, 
and  to  employ  some  Judicious  person  to  take  care  of  them  under  the 
general  sui>ervision  of  the  overseers  of  the  poor. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  June  the  town  voted  to  exempt  from  taxation 
for  ten  3'ears  all  capital  which  might  Ije  invested  in  manufactures  in 
the  town.  The  town  also  voted,  at  this  meeting,  against  "an  Act  to 
aid  the  Aroostook  Railroad  Company,  increase  the  value  and  pro- 
mote the  sale  and  settlement  of  the  public  lands." 

[I860.]  The  town  concluded  in  18G0  to  make  a  different  provi- 
sion for  its  i>oor,  and  accordingly,  at  the  annual  meeting,  it  was  voted 
that  the  selectmen  and  overseers  of  the  poor  be  authorized  to  pur- 
chase a  farm  and  to  stock  the  same  by  hiring  or  purchasing  stock,  as 


204      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

they  deemed  most  expedient.  The  town's  poor  were  to  be  kept  upon 
the  farm  and  a  superintendent  was  to  be  chosen  who  should  be  under 
the  direction  and  control  of  the  overseers.  The  selectmen  were  also 
authorized  to  hire  money  for  the  purchase  of  the  farm,  and  to  give 
notes  paj'able  in  ten  years  in  equal  annual  instalments. 

The  sum  of  $2,200  was  raised  this  year  for  the  support  of  the  poor, 
and  $1,250  for  schools. 

[1861.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1861,  the  town  expressed  ita 
choice  of  the  candidates  for  the  office  of  Postmaster,  and  Robert  P. 
Whitney  received  a  majority  of  the  votes.  This  was  an  unusual,  but 
at  the  same  time  eminently  fitting  way  of  securing  the  appointment  of 
an  efficient  and  honest  officer.  1  his  year,  Topsham  and  West  Bath 
were  classed  together  for  representation. 

[1863.]  The  town-house  being  in  need  of  repairs,  it  was  voted 
this  3'ear  that  the  selectmen  should  ascertain  what  terms  could  be 
made  with  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural  Society,  for  the  use  of  their 
hall  for  future  town  meetings.  The  next  j^ear,  1864,  the  town 
obtained  the  privilege  of  using  the  Agricultural  Hall  and  authorized 
the  sale  of  the  town-house. 

[1865.]     This  year  the  town  voted  to  dispense  with  a  liquor  agency. 

[1867.]  At  the  September  election  in  1867,  the  town  voted  in 
favor  of  authorizing  the  county  commissioners  to  effect  a  loan  of 
$25,000  to  complete  the  county  court  house  at  Bath. 

[1868.]  In  1868  an  appropriation  of  six  hundred  dollars  was  voted 
for  the  purchase  of  a  new  hearse. 

The  municipal  acts  of  this  town,  in  reference  to  the  enlistment  of 
volunteers  and  the  support  of  their  families,  as  well  as  to  all  other 
mattera  not  already  given,  will  be  found  in  their  appropriate  connec- 
tion in  other  chapters. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  205 


CHAPTER  V. 

GENERAL   AND   SOCIAL. 

At  the  time  of  the  earliest  occupation  of  these  towns,  the  settlers 
lived  far  apart,  and  da3's,  perhaps  even  weeks,  must  often  have 
elapsed  without  a  family  seeing  any  of  its  neighbors.  Tbcy  bad  few, 
if  any,  roads,  except  the  Indian  "trails,  and  almost  invariably,  there- 
fore, settled  upon  or  near  some  stream  which  might  serve  to  them  as  a 
highway.  This  accounts  for  the  fact  that  the  houses  of  the  early  set- 
tlers fronted  the  water. 

EARLY  CONDITION  AND  CIRCUMSTANCES. 

The  early  settlers  of  Topsham  were  nearlj'  all  English  and  partook 
of  the  national  characteristics.  Those  in  the  vicinitj'  of  the  New 
Meadows  River  were  principally  from  Cape  Cod.  Those  between 
New  Meadows  and  Maquoit,  who  constituted  a  majorit}'  of  the  inhabi- 
tants of  Brunswick,  were  Irish.  They  were  usually  called  ''  wild 
Irish  "  by  the  native  New-Englanders.^  It  is  said  of  these  earlj*  set- 
tlers that  "  thej'  used  to  peck  out  through  a  crack  or  partly  opened 
door,  to  see  whether  their  callers  were  friends  or  foes,  and  that  the 
same  habit  of  peeking  out  through  a  half-open  door  to  see  whom  their 
callers  may  be,  is  noticed  to  this  day  in  their  descendants."  These 
settlers  were  nearly  all  poor,  and  often  suffered  for  the  necessaries  of 
life.  Thej'  had  to  work  hard  for  their  living,  and  dress  in  the  plain- 
est manner.  Those,  however,  who  came  into  this  vicinit}'  later,  some- 
where about  1750,  were  in  better  circumstances,  and  the  appearance  of 
their  rich  and  fashionable  apparel,  especially  the  hoop  in  the  dresses 
of  the  ladies,  whenever  they  went  to  church  or  showed  themselves 
abroad,  drew  forth  the  gaze  and  wonder  of  the  earlier  and  more 
rustic  settlers.^ 

The  later  settlers,  and  a  few  of  the  earlier  ones,  were  sufUciontl}' 
well  off  to  be  able  to  own  slaves.  The  act  of  holding  fellow-creatures, 
white  or  black,  in  involuntary  bondage,  was  not,  at  that  time,  consid- 


1  P^epicot  Paperi.  «  McKecn,  MSS.  Lecture. 


206         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

ered  to  be  wrong.  Andrew  Dunning,  who  came  to  Brunswick  in  1717 
and  who  died  in  1735,  kept  slaves  during  his  life,  and  his  family  con- 
tinued to  own  them  for  some  time  after  his  decease.  Captain  Benja- 
min Stone,  who  kept  a  tavern  in  Fort  George  in  1 767,  and  subsequenth*, 
had  a  slave  named  Sarah  Mingo  as  his  house-servant.  Afler  she 
obtained  her  freedom  she  kept  house  for  Timothy  Weymouth,  near 
where  the  Congregational  Church  now  stands.  Judge  Miuot  also 
owned  slaves.  Brigadier  Thompson  had  a  negro  servant  named  Hail- 
up.  It  is  uncertain,  however,  that  she  was  a  slave.  As  late  as  1765 
tlierc  are  said  to  liiive  been  four  slaves  in  Brunswick  and  no  less  than 
fourteen  in  Harpswell.  Captain  Nehemiah  Curtis  owned  two  or  three, 
one  of  whom  was  a  female. 

MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS. 

Nothing  is  known  concerning  the  social  relations  of  the  very  early 
settlers.  During  the  period  embraced  b}-  the  Indian  wars,  the  charac- 
ter of  the  people  differed  materially  from  what  it  afterwards  was. 
Instead  of  gayety  and  dissipation,  a  melancholy  spirit  prevailed. 
Almost  the  onl}'  topic  of  conversation  with  the  people  was  in  regard 
to  their  troubles  with  the  Indians  and  the  individual  difficulties  of  their 
situation.  Their  chief  relaxation  consisted  in  singing  psalms  and  dog- 
gerel rhj'mes.  The  onl}'  news  that  reached  them  was  of  cruel  mur- 
ders, by  the  savages,  of  their  friends  and  acquaintance,  or  else  of 
the  wonderful  escapes  and  marvellous  exploits  of  the  latter.  Some  of 
these  accounts  of  personal  adventure  with  the  Indians  have  come 
down  to  us  and  will  be  noticed.  Even  when  there  was  no  oi)en  war 
with  the  Indians,  the  latter  would  mingle  with  the  inhabitants  and 
were  apt  to  take  offence,  and  revenge  themselves  b}'  committing  indis- 
criminate depredations.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  oftentimes  the  set- 
tlers were  to  blame,  and  that  tliere  were  man}'  among  them  who  had 
the  same  deadly  hostility  against  the  savage  that  they  had  against  a 
venomous  reptile.  The  onh'  time  the}'  could  attend  to  their  business 
without  fear  of  molestation  was  in  the  winter,  when  the  Indians 
usually  retired  to  the  interior.  At  these  times  they  employed  them- 
selves in  getting  lumber  to  the  landings,  ready  to  be  sent  to  Boston 
and  otiier  markets  as  soon  as  the  spring  opened.  In  summer  they 
cultivated  tiieir  lields,  but  alwaj's  with  their  guns  within  eas}'  reach. 

In  times  of  jx^ace  tlie  Indians  were  in  the  habit  of  trading  with  the 
settlers.  It  is  narrated  that  on  one  occasion  one  of  the  Indians,  feel- 
ing in  a  merry  mood  and  ready  for  sport,  challenged  old  Lieutenant 
Woodside  to  run  a  race  with  him,  and  laid  down  upon  the  door-stone 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  207 

of  the  fort  six  beaver-skins  as  a  wager.  The  Indian  evidentl}' 
expected,  from  Mr.  Woodsidc's  corpulency,  that  he  would  decline  the 
challenge.  The  Lieutenant,  however,  contrary  to  the  Indian's  expec- 
tation, accepted  it.  The  race  was  to  commence  at  the  brook  under 
the  hill,  and  the  one  who  could  get  the  skins  first  was  to  have  them. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  race  the  old  man  feigned  himself  rather 
more  clumsy  than  he  reaUy  was.  The  Indian  found  he  could  keep 
up  with  him  at  his  leisure,  and  was  quite  amused  at  the  clumsy  run- 
ning of  so  fat  a  man,  and  continued  indulging  in  violent  fits  of  laugh- 
ing until  at  last  the  old  gentleman  began  to  wax  warmer,  to  become 
more  earnest,  and  to  extend  his  steps.  lie  thus  obtained  the  advance 
and  took  the  beavers,  while  the  Indian  was  exhausted  with  laughing 
and  running.  This  Mr.  Woodside  was  a  remarkably  stout,  athletic 
man,  who  could  face  danger,  endure  fatigue,  and  accomplish  much.^ 

During  this  period  old  Mr.  Joseph  Foster,  of  Topsham,  had  a  large 
(log  that  he  had  trained  to  attack  an  Indian  whenever  he  met  one. 
One  day,  during  the  French  and  Indian  War,  the  women  and  children 
were  sent  for  safety  to  the  block-house,  near  where  the  late  Lithgow 
Hunter  aflerwards  lived.  One  afternoon  while  they  were  there,  some 
of  the  children  wanted  to  go  to  the  river-side  berrying.  As  no  Indians 
were  known  to  be  about  at  that  time,  permission  was  given  them  to 
go^  but -the  d(^  was  sent  with  them  for  safet}-.  While  the  children, 
laughing  and  chatting,  were  picking  berries,  the  big  dog  suddenly 
became  excited,  and  getting  l)etween  a  pile  of  bnish  and  the  children, 
bristled  up  and  began  to  growl  and  display  his  teeth  as  if  there  were 
mischief  lurking  in  the  brush-heap.  Mrs.  Foster  was  nearest  to  the 
brush-pile,  and  having  her  attention  called  to  it  by  the  unwonted 
fierceness  of  the  dog,  saw  an  Indian  there.  She  screamed,  and  the 
alarm  being  given  all  the  children  ran  up  the  hill  toward  the  block- 
house, the  dog  protecting  the  rear  all  the  way.  Several  years  alter 
the  war  this  same  Indian  was  in  the  vicinity,  and  itjferred  to  the  inci- 
dent by  saying  that  had  it  not  been  for  the  big  dog  he  would  have 
*•  made  a  great  haul  of  pappoose."  ^ 

•'  The  late  David  Alexander's  father  was  remarkable  when  a  youth 
for  bis  agility  and  uncommon  strength.  In  muscular  vigor  he  fur 
exceeded  any  of  the  lads  in  town  who  were  anywhere  near  his  own 
age.  One  day  he  and  another  boy  by  the  name  of  Thorn  were  on  the 
hill  near  the  river  and  opposite  where  Mr.  David  Work  now  (1«75) 
lives.     Suddenly   a   couple  of  stout   Indians   pounced   upon    them, 


P^eptcot  Papers,  ^  Dr,  James  McKcens  Notes, 


208        mSTOBT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

each  Indian  singling  out  one  of  the  boys.  Their  object  was  to  run 
the  lads  off  into  the  woods,  where  they  would  be  comparatively  safe 
from  pursuit.  The  stout  resistance,  however,  made  bj'^  young  Alex- 
ander, although  a  mere  boy,  made  the  Indian  feel  as  if  he  had  more 
than  his  hands  full.  At  every  step  he  encountered  a  resolute  resist- 
ance, and  although  a  powerAil  Indian  he  was  making  slow  progress. 
The  boys'  outcries  at  length  attracted  the  attention  of  the  settlers  up 
and  down  the  river,  and  his  father  being  first  to  comprehend  the  true 
state  of  things  outstripped  all  others  in  going  to  the  relief  of  his  son, 
guided  partly  by  the  voice  of  the  lad  and  partly  by  the  zigzag  trail  of 
the  furrowed  earth  which  was  a  conspicuous  mark  and  was  made  by 
the  boy's  stubborn  obstinacy  and  resistance.  The  father  at  length 
came  in  full  sight  of  his  son  and  was  hastening  to  his  rescue  when  the 
Indian,  letting  go  the  lad,  fired,  killing  Mr.  Alexander,  who  fell 
instantly  dead.  The  son,  the  moment  he  saw  his  father  fall,  ran,  and 
the  Indian,  fearing  pursuit,  desisted  fVom  attempting  his  recapture. 
The  inhabitants  of  the  neighborhood  •  having  provided  themselves 
with  guns,  and  guided  by  the  Alexander  boy,  started  off  in  pursuit. 
They  found  Mr.  Alexander  dead.  Pursuing  farther  they  came  to  the 
ai)parently  lifeless  body  of  the  lad  Thorn.  His  comparatively  feeble 
resistance  had  enabled  the  Indian  to  carrj'  him  off  to  a  greater  dis- 
tance, but  hearing  the  gun  and  apprised  by  the  Indian  who  had  just 
shot  Mr.  Alexander  that  they  were  in  danger  of  being  captured  them- 
selves, they  knocked  the  boy  in  tlie  head  and  scalped  him.  The  boy 
was  found  still  alive  and  eventuall}'  recovered.  It  is  said  that  he 
afterwards  died  at  Farmington  from  a  curious  accident.  Coming  in 
one  day  to  dinner  and  the  meal  not  being  ready,  he  sat  down  in  a  chair 
near  the  wooden  ceiling  (there  were  no  lathed  and  plastered  rooms 
then)  and  tipping  his  chair  back  leaned  against  the  partition  just 
under  where  a  hog's  head  (what  was  called  a  ^  minister's  face ')  was 
suspended  by  a  nail  in  the  ceiling.  The  jar  broke  the  string,  and  the 
hog's  head  fell,  the  nose,  it  is  said,  hitting  the  unfortunate  man  on 
the  ver}'  spot  where  he  had  been  scal|>ed  in  his  bo3'hood.  The  con- 
cassion  caused  his  instant  death.'  ^ 

'*  Not  far  from  this  time  (time  of  Moffitf  s  death,  — 1747)  four  men 
were  killed,  all  at  one  time,  a  few  rods  from  the  old  Flagg  house,  just 
bej'ond  Joseph  Foster's.  One  of  these  was  a  friendly  Indian,  the  other 
three  were  white  settlers.  They  were  going  to  look  at  a  field  of  corn  to 
see  if  it  had  been  molested.     The  bodies  were  all  found  near  together. 


1  Dr.  James  McKeerCs  Notes. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  209 

Upon  the  day  of  the  fbneral  of  these  men  it  was  reported  that  the 
Indians  intended  l3'ing  in  wait  for  the  funeral  procession,  and  killing 
and  scalping  or  making  prisoners  of  them  all.  In  consequence,  the 
bodies  were  not  buried  in  the  ground  northwest  of  Joseph  Foster's,  in 
the  old  graveyard  in  the  woo<ls,  but  were  carried  up  by  water  to  Ferry 
Point,  and  buried  there.  The  bodies  were  none  of  them  nuitilated, 
except  that  of  the  friendly  Indian,  which  was  hacked  all  to  pieces.''  ^ 

During  this  period  of  anxious  cure  and  oft-renewed  strife,  the 
tradesmen  and  their  families  used  to  live  a  good  portion  of  the  time 
in  the  fort  or  garrisons.  Invalids,  especially,  often  made  their  resi- 
dence there. 

The  early  settlers  were  men  accustomed  to  track  the  pathless  forests 
and  often  to  spend  their  nights  with  nothing  over  them  save  the  glit- 
tering canopy  of  the  heavens.  They  were  fond  of  hunting,  and  often 
ranged  over  large  tracts  of  land  in  pursuit  of  game.  In  this  way 
they  became  acquainted  with  localities  quite  a  distance  off.  Mr. 
Thomas  Wilson  was  a  famous  hunter.  On  one  occasion  he  led  a 
party,  consisting  of  Stephen  Titcomb,  Robert  Gower,  James  IlenrA*, 
Robert  Alexander,  and  James  McDonnell,  all  of  Toi)8liam,  through 
the  wilderness  to  the  place  now  called  Farniington,  tlie  territory  of 
which  they  thoroughly  explored.  Some  of  them  afterwards  settled 
there.*  John  Dunlap,  son  of  Reverend  Robert  Dunlap,  was  a  noted 
hunter.  The  following  narrative,  written  by  him,  illustrates  the  dan- 
gers and  sufferings  to  which  these  early  settlers  were  exposed  :  — 

*'  When  a  3'oung  man  at  the  age  of  18  years  my  fatiier  lost  his  only 
cow.  He  live<l  near  the  old  meeting-iiousc,  and  I  found  her  dead  in 
Mair  Brook.  So  dependent  was  the  family  on  this  useful  domestic 
that  the  loss  seemed  almost  irreparable.  So  great  was  the  distress  of 
the  family  that  I  resolved  with  myself,  that  if  industry  and  persever- 
ance would  effect  anything,  I  would  never  be  |X)or.  This  resolution 
remained  by  me  and  was  continually  urging  me  on  to  exertion.  I  left 
my  father  and  sensed  some  time  as  a  soldier  in  Fort  George,  but  I 
soon  found  that  this  comi>ensalion  but  ill  comported  with  my  resolu- 
tion,— ^^but  little  was  left  after  contributing  to  the  absolute  necessities 
of  my  father's  family.  I  immediately  concluded  upon  some  other 
business.  This  town  was  then  in  its  infancy,  and  nothing  that  could 
satisfy  my  ambition  and  desire  of  wealth  presented  itself,  and  I  con- 
chideil  to  try  m}'  chance  in  hunting  in  the  wild  wilderness.  I  accord- 
ingly took  my  gun  and  made  several  excursions  in  pursuit  of  beaver. 


*  Dr.  McKeen*»  Notes.  '^  History  of  Farmimjiony  p.  9. 

14. 


210        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

I  was  successful,  and  found  that  if  the  business  was  well  followed  that 
there  would  be  a  good  prospect  of  making  money.  I  accordingly 
extended  m3-  range  further  into  the  wilderness,  and  the  further  I  went 
the  more  was  I  encouraged.  It  was  a  very  hazardous  undertaking. 
I  was  exposed  every  night  to  the  wolves  which  were  continually  prowl- 
ing around  me,  and  nothing  but  my  fire,  which  the}'  feared,  deterred 
them  from  encountering  me.  While  I  kept  a  brisk  fire  I  feared  no 
harm.  I  have  been  several  times  to  the  heads  of  the  Kennebeck  and 
Penobscot.  I  used  to  go  in  the  month  of  March,  sometimes  the  last 
of  Februar}',  and  would  be  gone  about  forty  days.  My  return  home 
was  always  the  most  fatiguing,  from  canying  an  immense  pack  of 
about  two  hundred  pounds.  The  beaver-skins  I  took  in  one  of  these 
excursions  usuall}-  turned  me  about  two  hundred  dollars.  Sometimes 
when  I  returned  home,  I  was  so  altered  that  the  family  did  not  know 
me.  I  once  lost  my  hat  immediatel}''  after  I  left  home,  and  the  effect 
of  the  wind  and  weather,  and  having  a  long  beard,  not  having  shaved 
while  gone,  gave  me  reallj^  a  frightful  appearance. 

"The  most  eventful  tour  I  ever  took  was  with  one  Robert  Spear. 
We  left  this  town  together,  determined  on  a  cruise  to  the  Penobscot, 
and  to  its  rise.  It  was  in  the  month  of  March,  and  the  ground  was 
covered  with  deep  snow.  We  took  with  us  each  a  gun,  ammunition, 
four  ounces  of  salt,  and  of  bread  what  was  equal  to  a  dozen  biscuit, 
and  each  a  pair  of  snow-shoes.  We  commenced  travel,  and  made  the 
best  of  our  wa}'  to  the  Kennebeck  and  Penobscot.  We  passed  some 
rivers  and  many  small  streams  which  were  frozen  over.  On  our 
ariival  at  the  Penobscot,  we  divided.  Mr.  Spear  took  the  north  side 
of  the  river,  and  I  took  the  south.  We  were  to  proceed  up  the  river 
to  its  source,  and  there  wait  seven  days  for  each  other.  I  traversed 
the  woods,  and  frequently  met  with  small  streams  which  had  been 
flowed  by  the  beaver,  and  generally  met  with  good  success.  After 
ten  or  fifteen  days  I  arrived  at  the  «ource  of  the  river,  and  there  I 
spent  seven  long  anxious  da^'s,  listening  continually  to  hear  the  foot- 
steps of  my  companion.  My  nights  were  long  and  dreary  in  the 
extreme.  The  day  I  spent  in  wandering  about,  killing  what  I  could 
find  that  was  profitable.  At  the  expiration  of  the  seven  long  days, 
seeing  nothing  of  Spear,  I  resolved  to  return  home,  and  had  travelled 
one  or  two  da3's,  when  the  thought  occurred  to  me  about  what  account 
I  should  give  Mr.  Spear's  famil}'  on  my  return.  As  I  was  a  single 
man,  I  concluded  to  return,  and  if  possible,  find  him.  I  travelled 
along  down  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  looking  for  some  vestiges  of 
human  beings.     What  had  become   of  Spear  I  could  not  imagine. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  211 

Whether  he  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  Indians,  or  had  been 
devoured  by  wild  beasts,  I  had  no  means  of  ascertaining.  My  mind 
was  the  whole  time  vacillating  between  hope  and  fear.  After  I  had 
been  travelling  a  number  of  days,  and  had  been  looking  and  listening, 
a  pole  stuck  up  in  the  middle  of  the  river  in  the  snow  arrested  my 
attention.  I  at  once  concluded  it  must  be  placed  there  by  some 
human  being,  and  thought  I  would  go  and  see  if  there  were  any 
tracks.  I  repaired  immediately  to  it,  and  on  it  found  a  piece  of  birch 
bark  with  writing  upon  it,  to  inform  me  that  Spear  was  sick  close  by 
on  the  bank  of  the  river.  It  is  impossible  to  describe  my  feelings,  — 
how  long  it  had  been  there,  whether  he  was  dead  or  alive,  —  a  thou- 
sand conjectures  passed  over  my  mind.  I  concluded  to  search,  and 
immediately  fired  my  gun,  which  was  in  about  a  minute  answered.  I 
followed  the  direction  of  the  report,  and  in  a  few  minutes  found  poor 
Spear  lying  under  a  log  with  some  bark  laid  upon  it,  which  afforded 
him  but  a  scanty  shelter.  He  was  suffering  from  an  acute  rheumatic 
fever.  He  seemed  overjoyed  at  mj'  appearance.  What  to  do  for  him 
I  was  at  a  stand.  For  this  complaint,  and  indeed  for  an}*,  I  had 
nothing  to  administer;  I  built  a  camp,  built  him  a  good  fire,  and 
stayed  by  him,  doing  everything  for  him  I  could.  Necessit}^  the 
mother  of  invention,  suggested  one  application  after  another.  His 
pains  were  extreme,  and  his  spirits  almost  exhausted.  I  at  length 
concluded  to  dig  away  some  snow,  get  some  good  turf,  green  as  I 
could  find  it,  heated  hy  the  fire,  and  appl}*  it  to  the  part  of  the  Iwxly 
most  affected  with  pain.  'I'his  proved  a  lucky  expedient,  he  grew 
better,  and  after  a  while  he  was  able  to  start  for  Fort  Halifax,  where, 
after  a  tedious  travel,  we  arrived.  I  left  him  and  came  home.  Spear 
followed  in  about  a  month."  * 

These  earl}'  settlers  were  not  only  accustomed  to  the  chase  as  a 
means  of  obtaining  a  livelihood,  but  were  also  obliged  to  draw  a  part 
of  their  subsistence  from  the  water.  Fishing  was  with  them  a  neces- 
sity as  well  as  a  means  of  amusement.  The  catching  of  sturgeon, 
shad,  and  salmon  was  the  constant  occupation  of  many,  while  it 
served  as  a  means  of  relaxation  from  their  ordinary  avocations  to  a 
few.  Captain  David  Dunning  probably  belonged  to  this  latter  class. 
Salmon  were  formerly  caught  in  dip-nets  at  the  foot  of  Fishing  Rock 
Island,  or  Shad  Island,  as  it  is  now  called,  and  also  in  set  nets  at 
Middle  Rock,  or  the  rock  upon  which  the  pier  of  the  bridge  rests. 
These  set  nets  had  corks  attached  to  them,  so  that  the   attendant 

P^epBcot  Papers. 


212        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

could  tell  by  the  sioking  of  the  corks  when  a  salmon  was  caught. 
One  da}'  a  man  was  sitting  on  Middle  Rock  watching  his  net,  while 
Captain  Dunning  was  catching  salmon  at  the  falls  above  with  a  dip- 
net.  The  man  on  the  rock  observing  the  corks  on  his  net  to  sink  in 
the  water,  drew  in  the  net,  and  with  it  drew  in  Dunning,  still  alive. 
It  appears  that  the  latter,  in  reaching  over  to  dip  up  a  salmon,  had 
slipped,  and  falling  into  the  river  had  floated  down  until  he  caught  in 
the  net.  Two  other  versions  of  this  story  are  given.  In  one  account 
he  is  represented  as  having  fallen  into  the  water  fronl  a  ladder  and 
being  caught  in  his  own  net.  In  another,  the  accident  is  given  as 
first  narrated,  but  Captain  Dunning  is  represented  as  drawing  himself 
out  of  the  water  by  the  aid  of  the  net.* 

Going  to  meeting  was,  in  the  last  century,  an  event  of  considerable 
interest.  Meeting-houses  were  well  filled  and  in  some  cases  it  was 
thought  necessary  to  shore  them  up.  All  went  to  the  same  meeting. 
Ministers  appeared  with  their  large  white  wigs  and  commanded  more 
awe  than  just  respect.  Nearly  every  one  walked  to  meeting,  and  in 
some  instances  women  would  walk  four  or  five  miles  and  carry  a  child. 
Some  of  those  who  lived  at  a  distance  from  the  meeting-house  owned 
a  horse,  a  saddle,  and  a  pillion,  which  would  accommodate  a  man,  his 
wife,  and  one  child,  and  often  two  children.  In  the  summer  boys 
and  girls  both  went  barefooted.  When  within  sight  of  the  meeting- 
house, the  girls  would  step  into  the  bushes  at  the  side  of  the  road  and 
put  on  their  stockings  and  shoes,  which  the}'  carried  with  them.  The 
bo3's,  however,  usually  went  barefooted  into  the  meeting-house.  All 
the  people  carried  their  dinners  with  them,  and  in  summer  ate  them 
in  the  woods  near  by.  In  the  winter  the  meeting-house  was  their  din- 
ing-room. The  men  usually  resorted  to  the  neighboring  inn  for  their 
luncheon  and  grog.  In  the  winter  season  man}-  carried  foot-stoves 
with  them.  There  were  separate  seats  in  the  meeting-house  provided 
for  colored  people,  and  they  were  never  allowed  to  sit  in  the  same  pew 
with  white  people.  It  is  said  that  Deacon  Dunning  had  a  negro  lad 
for  a  servant  of  whom  he  was  verj*  fond,  and  whom  he  alwa^'s  took  to 
meeting  with  him.  As  the  boy  at  first  was  too  3*oung  to  sit  in  the 
seats  provided  for  persons  of  his  race,  and  as  it  would  not  do  to  allow 
him  to  sit  in  the  deacon's  pew,  he  had  to  take  his  seat  on  the  floor  of 
the  aisle  beside  the  pew. 

Sermons  were  length}'  in  those  days,  which  often  made  it  necessary 
for  the  parson,  ader  a  pause,  to  exclaim,  "  Wake  up,  my  hearers!" 

1  Field  Book  of  the  survey  of  Bakerttown,  in  P^epscot  Papers, 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  213 

Parson  Miller  was,  however,  relieved  from  this  task  at  length  by  old 
Mr.  G.  Coombs,  who,  with  repeated  raps  with  his  rattan  on  the  side 
of  his  pew,  would  make  the  mecting-hoi»se  ring.  At  tlie  east  meeting- 
house, Deacon  Snow,  who  wore  a  white  wig,  sat  under  or  in  front  of 
the  pulpit,  and  'Mined  out"  the  hvmn,  so  that  ever}-  man  present 
might  have  an  opportunity  to  sing.     This  was  the  common  practice.* 

One  of  the  established  institutions  of  those  times  was  the  board  of 
tithing-man.  It  was  their  duty  to  presence  order  during  religious 
services,  and  to  enforce  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath.  The  most 
remarkable  of  all  the  men  who  ever  filled  this  office  was  Mr.  Crispus 
Graves.  He  was  born  and  attained  his  majority  in  Topsham.  lie 
possessed  a  strong,  muscular  frame,  and  was  quite  tall.  He  had  a 
large,  stronglj*  marked  face.  As  far  as  his  knowledge  extended,  his 
reasoning  powers  were  good,  and  he  could  express  his  thoughts  with 
conciseness  and  energy.  He  was  a  tithing-man  for  many  years. 
In  the  old  first  meeting-house  in  Topsham,  his  pew  was  near  the  out- 
side door.  It  was  a  wall  pew  with  a  large  window.  From  his  seat 
he  could  look  the  minister  in  the  face,  or  turning  around,  could  inspect 
the  passers-by  on  the  different  roads  in  sight.  He  always  had  with 
him  a  remarkably  long  whipstock  and  lash.  If  he  chanced  to  spy,  dur- 
ing religious  ser\'ices,  any  "descendant  of  Belial,  strolling  about,  or 
sitting  on  the  fences,  or  in  an}'  waj'  desecrating  the  Lord's  day,"  he 
felt  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  leave  the  church  and  administer  the 
necessarj'  reproof.  He  hesitated  not,  also,  if  need  were,  to  threaten 
the  culprits  with  both  the  administration  of  the  law  and  of  his  whip. 
He  was  an  object  of  dread  to  all  Sabbath-breakers.  He  did  not  con- 
sider, moreover,  that  his  care  was  restricted  to  the  oversight  of  human 
beings  onl}'.  During  his  twenty-five  years  in  office,  he  taught  all 
owners  of  dogs  to  be  sure  and  see  them  locked  up  before  they  them- 
selves went  to  meeting.  Occasionally,  however,  some  unlucky  cur 
would  escape  from  his  confinement  and  would  follow  his  master  to 
meeting.  As  surely  as  such  an  event  happened,  Mr.  Graves  would  be 
on  the  watch,  and  if  the  dog  came  within  his  reach,  it  would  receive  as 
smart  a  stroke  from  him  as  his  arm  and  whip  could  inflict.  It  made 
no  difference  whether  it  was  in  j)rayer-tinie  or  in  sermon-time,  the 
whip  was  sure  to  descend  if  the  dog  came  within  reach.  Even  during 
the  singing  the  yelling  of  the  dog  might  be  heard  exceeding  oven  *'  the 
voice  of  the  chorister  or  the  double  altos  of  his  choir."  Mr.  Graves 
was  so  perfectly  serious  and  solemn  in  his  manner  and  so  firm  in  his 


^  James  Curtis* 8  Journal,  in  Library  of  Maine  Historical  Society, 


214        mSTORY  OF  BRINSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HAEPSWELL. 

belief  that  it  was  his  bounden  duty  thus  to  disturb  the  Bervices^  that 
the  ministers  were  greatly  at  a  loss  to  determine  in  what  manner  to 
interfere.  Remonstrance  would  not  only  give  offence,  but  would  be 
useless ;  while  without  some  interference,  the  evil  was  sure  to  continne 
if  it  did  not  become  increased.  It  was  a  hard  matter  for  Mr.  Graves 
to  give  up  his  place  in  the  old  meeting-house  and  go  to  the  new  one. 
He  got  bravely  over  the  struggle,  however,  and  bought  a  pew  in  the 
new  building.  This  lime  it  was  noticed  by  everj'  one  that  he  chose  a 
pew  the  verj'  farthest  from  the  door,  at  the  northern  extremity^  of  the 
house.  The  window  at  his  pew  faced  the  hearse-house  onl}'.  There 
were  now  no  tithing-men,  and  no  culprits  to  watch,  but  Mr.  Graves 
never  forgot  or  forgave  the  canine  desecrators  of  the  solemnity  of  the 
Sabbath.  It  was  remarked  at  the  time  that  he  had  taken  the  back- 
most pew  of  all,  because  he  thought  his  services  would  no  longer  be 
needed.     This,  however,  was  not  so. 

The  dogs  took  much  greater  liberty  in  the  new  house  than  they  had 
taken  in  the  old,  though  they  seldom  got  so  far  up  the  aisle  as  Mr. 
Graves's  pew.  On  two  occasions,  however,  when  he  was  nearly 
eighty  years  of  age,  his  old  enemies  ^^  traversed  the  whole  length  of  the 
aisle,  as  if  to  defy  the  old  lion  in  his  lair  and  tr}'  his  mettle.  But  he 
was  up  to  them  and  in  sen'ice-time  too.  The  ruling  passion  was  too 
strong,  even  with  the  hearse-house  his  only  perspective.  He  gave  the 
dogs  a  good  sound  thrashing,  and  their  loud  yells  and  3*elping8  in* 
stantly,  of  course,  arrested  all  devotional  feelings,  although  Mr.  Goss 
kept  straight  on  with  his  prayer."  The  narrator  *  of  the  above  con- 
cludes his  account  as  follows :  ^^  I  was  present  at  the  time,  and  no  doubt 
many  others  now  living  were  witnesses." 

During  the  early  days  of  the  society  of  the  First  Parish  of  Topsham, 
when  it  used  the  old  meeting-house  at  the  east  end  of  the  town,  the 
choir  was  large,  and  for  a  time  was  le<l  by  a  Mr.  Nichols,  a  shoemaker 
in  Brunswick,  who  was  a  very  fine  singer.  It  was  afterwards  led  by 
a  Mr.  Ripley,  and  still  later  by  a  Mr.  Blanchard.  No  instrumental 
music  was  made  use  of  in  those  days.  At  one  time,  probabl}'  about 
1821,  an  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  a  bass-viol,  but  the  project 
was  thwarted  by  Mr.  William  Randall,  an  influential  member  of  the 
society,  who  declared  that  he  would  n't ''  hear  a  fiddle  in  God's  house." 

In  those  old  times  people  were  better  church-goers  than  now,  even 
if  the  standaixl  of  morality'  was  no  higher.  In  those  times  almost 
ever}'  one  attended  religious  ser\uces  on  Sunday,  some  walking  sev- 

^  2'he  laU  James  McKeen,  M.  D. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  215 

eral  miles,  while  others,  tiding  from  a  greater  distance,  would,  in  the 
winter  time,  drive  to  the  house  of  Mr.  Alexander  Rogers,  who  lived 
near  by.  This  was  absolutely  necessary  if  they  needed  to  get 
warmed,  as  the  old  church  was  never  heated,-  even  in  the  most 
severe  weather,  save  by  the  fervor  of  the  parson's  theme  and  the 
little  foot-stoves  carried  by  the  ladies.  It  was  never  considered  time 
to  start  for  church  from  Mr.  Randall's  until  Mr.  John  Graves,  who, 
from  his  exact  regularity  in  attendance,  was  called  "  the  clock,"  was 
seen  to  pass. 

After  the  close  of  the  Indian  wars  Brunswick  and  Topsham  pro- 
gressed rapidly  in  wealth  and  importance.  Agriculture  became  the 
chief  employment  of  the  people,  though  a  few  were  engaged  in  coast- 
ing, — carrying  wood  and  lumber  to  other  markets.  As  the  prospects 
of  the  town  grew  better  and  better,  the  proprietors  became  more 
encouraged  and  assisted  the  purchasers  of  their  lands  by  taking  their 
paj'  in  lumber  or  such  products  of  their  labor  as  could  be  spared. 

As  previously  mentioned,  the  earlier  inhabitants  travelled  mostly  on 
foot,  though  a  few  owned  horses  and  did  their  visiting  on  horseback. 
Indeed,  nearly  everjiihing  that  a  man  could  not  transport  himself  was 
carried  in  that  manner,  and  the  saddle-bags  were  made  capacious 
enough  to  hold  veal,  mutton,  and  produce  of  all  kinds.  At  the 
meeting-house  and  at  every  retail  store  there  was  a  horse-block  with 
three  steps,  for  the  convenience  of  persons  when  mounting  their 
steeds. 

It  is  uncertain  to  whom  belongs  the  honor  of  owning  the  first  two- 
wheeled  chaise.  Judge  Minot  of  Brunswick,  and  Robert  Patten  of 
Topsham,  who  were  contemporaries,  each  owned  one  piior  to  the  Revo- 
lution. Robert  Patten,  ver}'  likely',  bought  his  soon  after  his  marriage 
in  1768,  although  a  ride  in  his  "  shay"  may  have  been  one  of  the 
inducements  to  his  fair  lady-love  to  wed  him.  Mr.  James  Curtis  in 
1830  wrote  in  his  journal  that  fifty  years  previously  (1780),  when 
he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  "  there  was  not  a  wheel  carriage  nor  even 
a  sleigh  in  Brunswick." 

There  is,  however,  no  question  that  Judge  Minot  owned  one  pre- 
vious to  tliat  time,  but  as  Curtis  lived  at  New  Meadows,  and  the 
judge  at  Mair  Point,  the  former  may  never  have  seen  it.  About  the 
jear  1790,  Captain  William  Stanwood,  Captain  John  Dunlap,  and 
Benjamin  Stone  each  owned  a  chaise.  These  chaises  are  described 
as  clumsy,  lumbersome  vehicles,  without  springs  and  very  hea\y. 

The  first  balanced  two-wheel  chaise  in  Brunswick  is  said  to  have 
been  owned  by  William  Alexander.     Professor  Cleaveland  once  hired 


216        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  ffARPSWELL. 

this  chaise  to  journey  in  to  Boston,  having  first  measured  it  and  tested 
its  strength  in  order  to  be  assured  that  it  was  a  safe  vehicle. 

Wagons  were  not  introduced  until  about  the  3*ear  1816  or  1817,  and 
there  had  been  but  two  or  three  carts,  in  Brunswick  at  least,  previous 
to  that  date.  The  late  Captain  Peter  Jordan,  who  lived  at  New 
Meadows,  stated  that  he  had  the  first  wagon  at  the  eastern  part  of 
Brunswick.  He  said  that  at  the  time  of  his  purchase  it  was  considered 
a  great  hixur}',  but  that  it  was  in  realit}'  little  better  than  a  cart.  It 
was  very  heav}*  and  was  clumsily  built,  and  as  the  body  rested  directly 
upon  the  axles,  without  the  intervention  of  springs  of  any  kind,  the 
rider  was  apt  to  be  jolted  about  not  a  little. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  Revolutionary  War,  nails  were  so  high 
that  many  used  wooden  pegs  for  shingling,  boarding,  and  flooring 
their  houses.^  At  this  time  such  luxuries  as  caipets  were  unheard  of 
here.  The  first  one  ever  made  in  Topsliam  (for  the}'  were  all  home- 
made at  first)  was  made  in  1799,  by  Miss  Mai^aret  Rogers  (the  late 
Mrs.  Nathaniel  Green).  This  caq>et  was  made  of  small  squares  of 
doth  about  ten  inches  in  diameter.  These  squares  were  alternately 
light  and  dark  colored,  and  each  one  had  some  figure  upon  it,  either 
an  oak-leaf,  a  heart,  or  two  hearts  joined.  A  light-colored  figure  was 
always  put  on  a  dark  square  and  vice  versa.  In  1800,  at  the  time 
when  the  death  of  Washington  was  commemorated  at  the  old  meet- 
ing-house in  Topshap,  this  carpet  was  borrowed  to  cover  the  rough 
platform  which  was  built  up  in  front  of  the  pulpit,  and  upon  which 
wei*e  seated  the  poet  of  the  occasion  and  the  dignitaries  of  the  da}'. 
There  was  one  other  cari>et  in  town  at  this  time,  belonging  to  the  wife 
of  Doctor  Porter,  but  as  it  was  fastened  to  the  floor  she  objected  to 
having  it  taken  up.^ 

Weddings  in  those  days  were  so  similar  to  each  other  and  differed 
so  little  from  the  present  fashion,  except  in  the  amount  of  display 
attending  and  the  sports  following  them,  that  it  seems  unnecessarj^  to 
go  into  details  concerning  them.  Three  occurrences  of  this  kind, 
however,  were  so  peculiar  as  to  demand  special  mention  here.  The 
first  occurred  in  1783  or  1785,  and  the  facts  have  been  deposed  to 
under  oath.  Mr.  William  Walker,  of  Falmouth,  and  Miss  Sybil 
Staples,  of  Topsham,  had  long  been  afidanced  and  were  anxious  to  be 
married.  The  day  was  fixed  upon,  and  Reverend  John  Miller,  of 
Bnmswick,  was  requested  to  officiate.      The  wedding  was  to  take 


1  McKeen,  MSS.  Lectures ;  also  James  Curtis' 8  Journal, 
^  Diary  of  tlie  late  Dr,  James  McKeen. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  217 

place  in  Topsham,  either  at  the  residence  of  the  bride's  parents  or  at 
the  meeting-house.  "  The  course  of  true  love  ne'er  runs  smooth." 
There  was  no  bridge  across  the  river  at  this  time  and  a  sudden  and 
unusual  freshet  prevented  all  crossing  at  the  ferry,  so  that  ]Mr.  Miller 
was  unable  to  keep  his  appointment.  The  bride  and  groom,  deter- 
mined not  to  dela}',  were  equal  to  the  emoi^ency.  By  some  means 
communication  was  established  with  Mr.  Miller.  The  bridal  part}' 
took  their  place  on  the  Topsham  side  at  the  ferrj'-landing.  After 
the  bridegroom  and  bride  had  joined  hands,  Mr.  Miller,  on  the  opposite 
shore,  lifted  up  his  voice,  and  in  a  speech  heard  distinctly*  across  the 
river,  pronounced  the  twain  to  be  one  flesh. ^ 

The  following  marriage  certificate  was  copied  verbatim  from  the 
original,  now  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Douglas,  of  Bath,  and 
shows  the  ancient  form  of  marriage  of  the  Friends,  which  has  been 
slightly  modified,  and  is  in  use  by  this  society  at  the  present  time :  — 

'*  Whereas,  Cornalas  Duglas  of  Harpswell,  in  the  County  of  Cum- 
berland, son  of  Elijah  Duglas  and  Phebe  his  wife,  and  Ann  Estis, 
Daughter  of  Edward  Estes  and  Patience  his  wife,  both  of  the  afore 
sd  town  And  County  and  Provence  of  the  Massachusetts  baye,  in 
newengland,  having  declared  their  intentions  of  taking  f^ich  other  in 
mange,  before  two  publick  meeting  of  the  people  Called  quakcrs,  in 
Harpswell  and  falmouth,  acording  to  Good  order  used  amongst  them, 
and  Procedeing  thirein  after  Delibarate  Consideration,  they  allso  ap- 
earing  Clear  of  all  others.  And  haveing  Concent  of  parents  and  Rela- 
tives Concerned,  ware  approved  by  sd  meeting.  Now  these  are  to 
certify  all  whome  it  maj'  concern,  that  for  accompleshing  their  sd 
Intentions,  this  10th  day  of  the  11th  month  called  november,  anno- 
domi  seventeen  hundred  and  sixty  seven,  the}'  the  sd  Cornalas 
Duglas  and  Ann  Estes,  appeared  in  a  publick  assembly  of  the  afore- 
said people.  And  others  met  together  att  their  publick  meeting  house 
att  Harpswell,  aforesaid.  And  he,  the  said  Cornalas  Duglas,  in  a 
solom  maner,  takeing  the  said  Ann  Pastes  by  the  Hand,  Did  openl}" 
Declared  as  follows :  friends,  I  Desire  3'ou  to  be  my  witnesses,  that  I 
take  this  friend,  Ann  Estis,  to  be  my  wife,  promising  through  the 
Lord's  assistance,  to  be  unto  Her  a  true  and  Loveing  Husband  untel 
it  Shall  pleas  the  Lord  by  Death  to  sepperate  us.  And  then  and  their 
in  the  said  assembley,  the  said  ann  testis  did  in  like  manner  Declare  as 
followeth :  friends,  I  Desire  you  to  be  my  witnesses,  that  I  take  this 
friend,  Comelas  Duglas,  to  be  my  Husband,  proniasing  through  the 


^P^epscot  Papers. 


218        inSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Lord's  assistance,  to  be  unto  him  A  true  and  Loveing  wife,  until  it 
Shall  pleas  the  Lord  by  Death  to  sepperatc  us.  And  as  a  ftirther  con- 
formation theirof,  the  said  Comelas  Duglas  and  ann  Estis  did  then 
and  their,  bj-  these  Presents,  set  their  hands,  she  according  to  Cus- 
tom, assuming  the  name  of  her  Husband, 

"CoRNELAs  Duglas. 
Ann  Duglas. 

"And  we,  whose  names  are  hearunto  Subscribed,  being  present  at 
the  Solomnizing  of  Said  marrige  and  Subcribtion  in  manner  afore- 
said, as  witnesses,  have  allso  to  these  Presents  Subscribed  our  names, 
the  D&ye  and  3'ear  above  writen. 

"  Joshua  Babb,  Elijah  Duglas, 

Nathaniel  Pinkham,  Patience  Estes, 

eoger  toothaker,  lemuel  jones, 

gideon  toothaker,  john  barker, 

Thankful  Jones,  John  Barker,  Jr., 

Sarah  Pinkham,  Elizabeth  Duglas, 

Eleanor  Hais,  Wait  Jones, 

Mart  Bais,  Sarah  Estes, 

BkTY  WT2BER,  ELENOR  ESTES, 

Abagail  Rodex,  Marcy  Jones, 

cathrine  Pinkham,  Rachel  Jones, 

Sarah  Pinkham." 

The  other  wedding  to  which  reference  was  made  is  remarkable  only 
for  the  coincidence  of  the  relationship.  On  September  28,  1825,  in 
the  Friends'  Meeting-1  louse,  in  Durhath,  Elijah  and  Reuben  Cole, 
of  China,  twin  brothers,  were  married  to  Elizabeth  and  Mary  Jones, 
daughters  of  Edward  Jones,  of  Brunswick,  and  twin  sisters. 

In  the  last  century  all,  both  men  and  women,  except  the  few  more 
wealthy  ones,  wore  home-made  garments.  The  men  wore  cloth  of  a  light 
blue  color,  not  fulled.  Some  few  of  the  older  men  wore  knee-breeches. 
Shoe-buckles  were  generally  worn,  and  many  of  the  men  and  even 
boys  wore  their  hair  long  and  done  up  in  a  queue  behind.  Mr.  Dean 
Swift,  when  a  boy  of  ten,  had  a  queue  six  or  eight  Inches  long.  James 
Curtis  writes  in  his  journal  that  in  1780  "  not  one  man  in  ten  had  a 
pair  of  boots.  Parson  Miller  attended  meeting  at  the  east  meeting- 
house with  a  good  pair  of  blue  buskins  hauled  up  over  his  breeches 
knees." 

The  dress  of  the  ladies  was  as  changeable,  if  not  as  complicated,  as 
at  the  present  da3\  The  skirt  of  a  lad}^8  dress  was  composed  of  but 
two  breadths,  one  in  front,  and  one  behind,  with  a  small  gore  on  each 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  219 

side.  Skirts  were  very  short,  except  for  party  dresses,  which  had  the 
hind  breadth  made  into  a  long  train  for  the  house.  This  train  a  lady, 
when  preparing  for  the  street,  would  pin  up  to  her  waist.  The  waists 
were  made  verj'  short  and  fiill,  such  as  we  now  call  hahy  waists.  The 
sleeves  were  short,  and  there  was  a  broad  band  went  over  the 
shoulders.  The  neck  was  covered  with  a  white  muslin  neckerchief, 
which  was  fitted  to  the  neck  and  shoulders,  and  came  down  under  the 
band  of  the  waist.  The  arms  were  covered  with  long  white  kid  mits 
which  came  nearly  to  the  elbow.  The  hair  was  arranged  in  various 
modes,  but  the  favorite  way  was  to  comb  it  all  on  top  of  the  head  and 
confine  it  with  a  large  high-top  comb ;  some  would  puff  and  roll  their 
hair,  but  in  eveiy  case  powder  was  considered  indispensable.  It  is 
said  that  one  Patience  Wallace,  a  3'oung  girl  living  on  Small  Point, 
was  going  to  a  party  one  night,  and  having  no  powder,  flour,  or  chalk 
to  dust  her  hair  with,  she  took  some  unslacked  lime.  During  the 
evening  she  danced,  and  as  she  got  heated  the  i^erspiration  slacked 
the  lime,  which  entirely  destroyed  the  hair.  She  never  thereafter  had 
any  hair,  but  had  to  wear  a  man's  cap  on  her  head,  both  in  doors  and 
out.* 

3Ir.  Curtis  also  wrote  in  the  journal  referred  to  that  "  in  those 
(lays,  women  would  collect  in  groups  for  the  purpose  of  braiding  wool, 
it  being  a  hard,  laborious  work.  When  at  length  a  carding-mill  or 
machine  was  heard  of,  it  was  hailed  with  an  enthusiastic  welcome,  and 
must  have  been  as  great  a  relief  to  the  women  as  when,  at  an  earlier 
date,  water-power  was  applied  to  grain-mills,  before  which  time  it 
would  take  two  women  to  grind  or  turn  a  corn-mill.  Cotton  was  about 
three  shillings  per  [>ound,  and  such  was  the  labor  of  carding,  spinning, 
weaving,  etc.,  that  cotton  and  linen  cloth  was  worth  fifty  cents  a 
yard,  and  a  man  must  work  half  a  month  in  the  best  of  the  season  on 
a  pair  of  shirts  made  of  this  coarse  cloth."  About  1780  ^'  the  nearest 
fulling-mill  was  in  North  Yarmouth,  and  the  cloth  was  ordinar}',  as  no 
one  knew  or  thought  that  the  quality  of  wool  could  be  improved. 

''  Houses  were  built  for  convenience  and  not  for  show,  and  ceilings 
were  just  high  enough  to  clear  a  tall  man's  hat.  Chimney's  were  gen- 
erally topped  out  above  the  ridge-pole.  Fireplaces  were  from  seven 
to  nine  feet  between  the  jambs,  and  more  than  a  proportionable  depth, 
which  would  receive  a  log  which  it  took  two  men  to  han<lle.  Every 
family  was  provided,  however,  with  a  good  strong  hand-sled,  on  which 
to  remove  the  logs  to  the  fireside,  which  was  done  with  convenience, 
»  ■ 

1  Thit  deicr^tion  vxu  given  by  a  Mrs.  Pricey  aged  ninety^two  years. 


220        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELh, 

as  the  sills  of  houses  were  laid  close  to  the  surface  of  the  earth.  In 
1780  not  one  house  in  ten  in  Brunswick  had  a  crane  in  the  chimne}', 
being  supplied  with  long  trammels  and  what  was  called  a  lug-pole,  a 
stick  across  the  chimne}'  about  four  feet  up,  and  there  were  more  than 
six  wooden  mantel-trees  to  an  iron  one. 

"  In  1780  there  were  not  more  than  two  or  three  painted  houses  in 
Brunswick. 

"  Bears  were  frequently  seen.  The  hideous  Qvy  of  the  wolf  was 
commonlj-  heard  from  our  forests,  and  their  ravages  were  not  infre- 
quent. Every  family  kept  a  large  dog,  some  two,  but  commonly  a 
large  and  a  small  one,  which  did  not  fail  to  annoy  every  traveller  that 
passed  with  their  j'elping.  This  practice  of  keeping  dogs  was  proba- 
bly the  result  of  the  great  utility  of  that  animal  in  the  French  and 
Indian  war. 

"  Every  sorry  old  woman  was  deputed  a  witch,  and  spirits  were 
fVequcntly  seen,  and  much  feared,  children  having  been  brought  up  to 
hear  such  stories  as  an  evening  amusement,  terrifying  as  they  were, 
which  had  a  lasting  and  pernicious  effect."  A  great  many  superstitious 
beliefs  were  rife  at  this  time,  among  which  was  one  that  toothache 
could  be  cured  hy  cutting  off  one's  fi nget  and  toe  nails,  and  a  lock  of 
one's  hair,  and  placing  them  in  a  hole  bored  in  a  tree  with  an  auger. 
About  the  ^ear  1850  a  tree  was  cut  on  Oak  Hill  in  Topsham,  and  was 
sawed  at  one  of  the  mills.  Near  the  centre  of  the  log  was  found  a 
lock  of  hair,  and  as  Artemus  Ward  would  have  said,  "  a  large  and 
well-selected  assortment"  of  the  corneous  extremities  of  the  fingers 
and  toes,  doubtless  placed  there  man}-  years  previously  by  a  believer 
in  this  remed}'  for  the  toothache. 

It  is  also  stated  in  Curtis's  Journal  that  "farming  was  done  in  a 
style  ver}'  different  from  the  present.  A  tolerable  crop  of  corn  was 
obtained  b}-  a  shovelflil  of  manure  in  the  hill,  but  it  must  be  hilled  or 
banked  up  to  a  great  height.  The  following  crop  was  generall}'  rye, 
flax,  or  barley.  Tlie  land  was  then,  not  stocked  down,  but  lel\  to 
produce  ha}',  and  to  be  seeded  b}'  Providence  or  chance. 

"Calves  were  snatched  from  the  cows  at  eight  or  ten  weeks  old, 
without  any  previous  care  to  introduce  a  substitute  for  milk,  and 
turned  out  to  hay  or  grass,  to  rend  the  air  with  their  cries  till  8tar^'a- 
tiou  should  teach  them  the  use  of  such  coarse  food,  and  which  they 
would  not  fail  to  learn  before  flesh  and  strength  were  quite  exhausted. 
Probably,  however,  not  more  than  three  out  of  four  got  up  '  Ma}'  Hill,' 
as  it  was  then  called. 

"Potatoes  were  raised  at  a  great  expense.     The  ground  being 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  221 

broken  up,  but  not  harrowed,  a  large  hole  was  made  b}'  cutting  out  a 
piece  of  the  sod  the  whole  depth  of  the  ploughing.  Into  the  bottom 
of  this  hole  was  thrown  a  shovelful  of  dung,  if  so  much  could  be 
spared,  then  a  scant}'  portion  of  seed,  which  lay  far  below  the  surface 
of  the  ground,  over  which  was  made  an  enormous  hill  which  must 
receive  considerable  addition  at  hoeing.  In  this  wa}^  with  double  the 
necessary  labor,  something  like  half  a  crop  was  obtained.  A  sufli* 
ciency  was,  however,  generall}*  raised.  As  it  was  not  known  that 
potatoes  would  save  the  lives  of  calves  in  the  spring,  or  be  of  any 
use  to  pigs  after  wintering,  any  surplus  was  frequently  lost. 

*•'  Hogs  were  generally  kept  over  two  winters,  and  at  two  and  a  half 
\'ear8  old  would  commonly  weigh  over  two  hundred,  but  would  seldom 
go  as  high  as  three  hundred. 

"  Scarce  a  bushel  of  wheat  was  raised  and  bolting-mills  were  not 
known."  ^ 

Oil  lamps  and  even  tallow  candles  were  for  manj'  j'ears  unknown. 
It  is  related  that  when  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis  came  to  Topsham  (as 
late  as  1788),  he  spent  his  first  night  at  Esquire  MerrilPs.  Upon 
retiring  for  the  night,  Mrs.  Merrill  lighted  a  pitch-pine  knot  for  him, 
and  showed  him  to  his  room  up  stairs.  Finding  no  other  place  to  put 
bis  light,  Mr.  Ellis  stood  it  up  in  the  fireplace  and  in  a  few  minutes 
the  chimney  was  all  ablaze. 

The  manner  of  cooking  at  that  time  was  not  verj-  different  from  that 
of  to-day,  though  it  ditfered  in  some  respects.  One  of  the  principal 
dishes  was  rather  peculiar.  It  consisted  of  a  piece  of  fresh  beef  boiled, 
with  hulled  com  and  beans  added.  Every  famil}'  had  baked  beans 
and  brown  bread  on  Sunday  morning  and  noon.  The  rye  and  Indian 
com  bread  was  geuerall}'  made  in  great  troughs  and  then  baked  in 
iron  kettles  in  a  brick  oven.  From  a  half-dozen  to  a  dozen  loaves 
were  usually  made  at  one  time.  Doughnuts,  instead  of  being  made 
with  molasses,  were  sweetened  with  maple  sugar,  which  was  \Qxy 
abundant  in  those  days. 

All  kinds  of  liquors  were  freely  drank,  though  West  India  rum 
was  the  most  generally  used.  Various  kinds  of  fancj^  drinks  were 
also  made,  prominent  among  which  was  a  winter  beverage  called 
fiip.  It  was  made  of  spruce  beer,  rum,  sugar,  and  water.  At 
all  taverns  it  was  customarj'  to  keep  two  iron  rods,  called  pokers, 
heated  in  the  coals.  When  flip  was  called  for,  the  beer  would  be 
drawn,  into  which  would   be   plunged  a  red-hot  poker.     The   rum, 

*  Thi*  Journal  U  in  the  Library  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society. 


222      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsuam,  and  harpswelu 

sugar,  and  water  would  then  be  added.  Half  a  pint  of  rum  to  a 
quart  of  beer  was  considered  to  be  the  right  proportion.  This 
beverage  was  deemed  delicious  by  all  who  indulged  in  it.  Punch 
was  the  summer  beverage.  It  was  made  in  about  the  same  man- 
ner as  it  is  at  present  in  those  places  where  its  use  is  indulged 
in,  —  of  rum,  sugar,  and  water,  flavored  with  the  juice  of  a  lemon. 
Some  of  the  citizens  were  too  fond  of  these  beverages  for  their 
own  welfare.  There  was  one  such  man  named  Andrews,  who 
was  very  fond  of  making  rhymes  and  equally  fond  of  his  punch  or 
flip.  One  day  a  load  of  goods  was  brought  from  Maquoit  to  Bruns- 
wick village,  and  Andrews  volunteered  to  assist  in  unloading.  While 
doing  so,  a  barrel  of  rum  fell  out  of  the  cart,  and  striking  his  leg, 
fractured  it.  He  was  taken  into  a  store  and  a  surgeon  sent  for.  His 
ruling  passions  displayed  themselves  even  in  his  agony,  for  while 
waiting  for  the  doctor  he  composed  the  following  rhj-me :  — 

**  By  a  sudden  stroke  my  leg  is  broke, 
My  heart  is  sore  oflcDded ; 
The  doctor 's  come  —  let 's  have  some  rum, 
And  then  we  '11  have  it  mended." 

Some  of  the  customs  of  these  times  were  so  discreditable  to  the 
towns  that  it  is  with  reluctance  that  an}'  mention  is  made  of  them. 
Of  this  character  were  the  quarrels  between  the  students  of  the  col- 
lege and  the  rowdies  of  Bnmswick,  who  were  designated  "  Yaggers." 
The  latter  were  almost  invariably  the  aggressors.  At  times  it  was 
necessary  for  students,  if  alone,  to  go  armed.  There  was  an  equal 
disaffection  between  the  "Yaggers"  and  the  rowdies  of  Topsham, 
and  this  fact  was  often  a  matter  for  rejoicing  to  the  student.  It  is 
pleasant  to  know  that  a  better  feeling  now  prevails,  and  that  such 
quarrels  arc  events  of  the  past.  They  would  never  have  occurred  had 
a  proper  police  force  been  sustained,  and  the  laws  been  enforced. 

AMUSEMENTS. 

In  the  earliest  period  of  the  settlement  of  these  towns,  but  little  real 
amusement  was  known  to  the  citizens.  Near  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  however,  balls  and  parties,  huskings  and  apple-bees,  came 
in  vogue,  and  served  to  enliven  the  otherwise  monotonous  life  of  the 
people.  From  the  number  of  dancing-schools  which  have  been  kept 
in  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  citi- 
zens of  these  towns  were  fond  of  this  method  of  relaxation  from  care, 
and  that  their  dancing  parties  were  well  attended.     The  earliest  dan- 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  223 

ciog-school  kept  in  either  town  is  believed  to  have  been  the  one  taught 
by  a  Mr.  Allen,  in  1799,  in  the  Godfrey  House,  in  Topsham. 

The  amusements  of  the  college  students  at  a  somewhat  later  date 
were  generally  confined  to  themselves,  and  were  apt  to  give  occasion 
to  other  feelings  than  those  of  merriment  on  the  part  of  the  citizens. 
Students'  pranks  have  been  altogether  too  numerous  to  admit  even  of 
their  enumeration  in  this  connection;  nevertheless,  the  following  is 
introduced,  not  only  as  being  one  of  the  earliest  occurrences  of  the  kind, 
but  as  affording  a  fair  sample  of  all.  Such  tricks,  if  thc3'  did  not  afford 
amusement  to  those  of  the  inhabitants  immediately  affected  by  them, 
yet  served  as  good  topics  for  general  conversation  for  quite  a  while. 
The  following  anecdote  is  given  in  the  words  of  another,  himself 
a  student  and  ver}'  likely  an  eye-witness,  we  dare  not  say  a  par- 
ticipant. 

*'  A  countryman  bound  to  Portland  with  a  two  horse  team,  laden 
with  butter  in  firkins,  beans  in  bags,  and  three  dead  hogs  (for  it  was 
cold  weather,  being  the  first  of  the  spring  term),  drove  up  to  the 
tavern  that  stood  near  the  college,  and  put  up  for  the  night.  In  the 
morning  when  he  got  up,  his  cart  and  load  were  gone.  Search  was 
made  in  all  directions.  They  followed  the  wheel-tracks  to  the  col- 
lege, and  there  lost  them.  About  the  middle  of  the  forenoon  some 
one  espied  the  vehicle  on  the  roof  of  North  College,  the  wheels  astride 
the  ridge-pole,  laden  ready  to  hitch  on  to.  Who  put  it  there  and  how 
they  effected  it  was  a  m3'ster3' ;  but  it  was  a  deal  of  work  for  a  good 
many  hands  to  get  it  down  b}'  taking  the  cart  to  pieces."  ^ 

Of  public  amusements,  such  as  caravans  and  circuses,  theatrical 
performances,  conceits,  lectures,  etc.,  the  number  is  so  great  as  to 
admit  of  but  limited  notice. 

Mr.  Dean  Swift  sa^^s  that  the  first  public  exhibition  in  Brunswick 
or  vicinity  was  given  in  the  year  1798.  One  McGinness,  an  English- 
man, gave  a  Punch  and  Judy  show  in  the  northeast  chamber  of  the 
dwelling-house  on  Maine  Street,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs. 
Rodney  Forsaith.  The  exhibition  was  well  attended,  everybody  was 
satisfied,  and  Mr.  Swift  saj's  it  was  really'  quite  a  good  show. 

According  to  the  same  authority,  the  first  caravan  was  exhibited  here 
about  the  year  1818  on  the  lot  now  owned  hy  the  town,  back  of  the 
Post-Office.  This  was  followed,  in  the  jear  1825,  by  one  which  exhib- 
ited on  the  same  lot.  In  1829  a  caravan,  owned  by  Macomber  &  Co., 
exhibited  near  the  Tontine  Hotel.      In  1836  there  was  a  combined 


KfUogg^  Sophomores  of  Radcliffe, 


224        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

menagerie  and  circus.  In  1843  Raymond  &  Go.  gave  their  zoological 
exhibition,  and  in  1845  Rockwell  &  Stone's  New  York  Circus  was 
exhibited  near  the  Universalist  Church,  on  Federal  Street.  Since 
that  time  entertainments  of  this  kind  have  been  of  more  ftequeut 
occurrence. 

In  1824  a  Mr.  Ta3'lor  gave  an  exhibition  of  ventriloquism  at  Stod- 
dard's Hall.  Tlie  first  theatrical  performance  was  that  given  in  1828, 
for  one  week,  at  ISichols  Hall,  by  a  company  of  comedians  from  the 
Tremont  Theatre,  Boston.  The  entertainment  the  first  evening  con- 
sisted of  Tobias's  comed}'  of  "The  none3'moon"  and  the  farce  of 
''The  Young  Widow."  The  price  of  admission  was  fifty  cents. 
Children   under  twelve  3'ears  of  age  were  admitted  for  half  price. 

Tlie  firet  public  concert  of  vocal  music  of  which  we  find  any  record 
was  given  at  Richards  Hotel,  Julj'  28,  1836,  b}'  Mr.  and  Mrs.  G. 
Andrews  and  Miss  A.  Woodward  of  Boston.  It  is  quite  probable, 
however,  that  concerts  were  given  at  an  earlier  date  bj'  the  Haj-den 
Society,  a  musical  organization  in  existence  as  early  as  182o.  Of 
late  years  concerts  have  been  of  too  frequent  occurrence  to  call  for 
further  notice. 

The  first  instrumental  concert  was  probabl}'  that  given  by  the 
Brunswick  Brass  Band,  March  1,  1844. 

The  first  regatta  ever  given  on  the  Androscoggin  River  took  place 
October  12,  1870.  There  were  four  races  for  the  championship  of 
Maine  and  for  silver  goblets.  The  first  race  was  for  six-oared  boats, 
three  miles  ;  the  second,  for  wherries  pulled  by  the  students,  one  mile  ; 
the  third  for  single  shell  wheiTies,  two  miles ;  the  fourth  for  double 
shell  boats,  two  miles. 

The  burlesque  Msiy  trainings  of  the  students  of  Bowdoin  Coll^;e 
may  properly  be  classed  under  the  head  of  amusements.  The  first 
occurred  in  1836,  the  company  appearing  dressed  in  the  most  gro- 
tesque costumes,  and  with  arms  and  equipments  of  not  the  most 
approved  patterns.  The  following  3'ear  the  companj'  again  made  its 
appearance.  The  cannon  of  the  Bnniswick  Artiller}'  Company,  to 
which  about  forty  of  them  belonged,  having  been  concealed,  the  com- 
pan}-  marched  over  to  Topsham  and  took  the  pieces  belonging  to  the 
T^psham  Aitillery  Compau}'.  Similar  annual  trainings  by  the  students 
wei'e.kept  up  for  many  3'ears,  the  last  one  occurring  in  1855  or  1856. 
In  these  fantastic  processions,  the  students  generally  personified  public 
men  or  characters  of  fiction.  Sometimes,  though  not  often,  they 
adopted  costumes  in  ridicule  of  some  worthy  citizen  of  the  town. 
More  frequently  they  illustrated  in  a  laughable  manner  some  event  of 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  225 

a  local  character.  The  causes  which  led  to  the  appearance  of  these 
fantastic  trainings  in  the  first  place  will  be  given  in  the  chapter  npon 
the  military  history  of  the  town. 

In  Topsham,  public  entertainments  have  not  been  of  frequent  occur- 
rence. The  reason  for  this  is  obvious :  Brunswick,  being  the  larger 
town  and  in  sucli  close  proximity  to  Topsham,  offers  the  better  field  for 
securing  a  full  attendance  upon  such  occasions.  Of  fairs,  levees, 
school  exhibitions,  private  dramatic  entertainments,  con(»erts  b}'  local 
singers,  etc.,  Topsham  has  doubtless  had  her  ftill  share.  Few  travel- 
ling shows  have,  however,  exhibited  there. 

About  1832  a  caravan  exhibited  on  the  high  land  above  the  present 
Free-Will  Baptist  Meeting-House.  Much  curiosity  was  excited  as  to 
the  elephants  passing  over  the  bridges  from  Brunswick,  fcara  being  enter- 
tained that  thev  would  break  throujjh  or  else  refuse  to  walk  over  them. 

About  the  year  1850  a  company'  of  Indians  from  the  State  of  New 
York  gave  an  exhibition  at  the  Court  House,  illustrative  of  the  Indian 
mode  of  life,  and  of  warfare.  It  was  the  first  exhibition  of  the  kind 
ill  the  vicinity,  and  it  attracted  a  large  audience. 

Harpswell  has  always  been  oblige<l  to  content  herself  with  amuse- 
ments of  a  purely  local  character.  The  location  of  the  town,  and  the 
scrattered  situation  of  its  inhabitants,  offer  little  indutrement  to  pro- 
prietors of  travelling  exhibitions  to  exhibit  there.  But  what  the 
citizens  lose  in  this  way  is  probably  made  up  b}'  a  greater  degree  of 
sociability  and  by  more  varied  home  amusements. 

LECTU  i:es. 

Public  lectures,  either  gratuitous  or  otherwise,  have  been  of  quite 
frequent  occurrence  in  these  towns,  and  especially  in  Brunswick. 
Mention  of  orations  and  lectures  doliverc(l  upon  public  occasions  will 
Ix*  made  under  the  head  of  Public  Celebrations. 

The  earliest  known  course  of  lectures  was  given  by  a  ^liss  Prescott, 
in  1825.  The  subject  was  "  P^nglish  Grammar,"  and  the  tickets  were 
lliree  dollars  for  a  course  of  forty  lectures.  In  182C  John  Cleaves 
Symmes,  a  believer  in  an  interior  world,  access  to  wliich  was  open  to 
voyagers  in  the  southern  hemisphere^ gave  a  course  of  three  lectures, 
whlL*h  was  well  attended,  and  commanded  respect  and  interest,  as 
Mr.  Symmes  was  not  considered  a  charlatan,  however  (erroneous  niiglit 
lie  his  theory. 

In  the  summer  of  1832,  or  al)out  that  time,  through  the  influence  of 
the  distinguished  Doctor  Reuben  Dimond  Mussoy,  a  professor  in 
Ih?  Me<lical  School,  Doctor  Svlvester  Graham,  noted  for  his  theorv  of 

J5 


226        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARISWELL, 

vegetable  diet  to  the  exclusion  of  animal,  gave  a  course  of  lectures  on 
his  specialty'.  The}'  were  given  in  the  Congregational  Church,  and 
were  full}-  attended.  The  doctor  was  an  attractive  lecturer,  and  his 
tlieorj'  gained  many  adherents.  The  meat-market  ran  low,  and 
butchers  feared  for  their  calling.  Some  really  feared  that  their  occu- 
pation was  gone. 

About  this  time  also.  Professor  Esp}',  of  Philadelphia,  an  admirable 
lecturer,  and  eminent  in  his  specialty,  gave  a  ver}'  interesting  course 
upon  the  theory  of  *'  Storms  and  Meteorology."  He  was  called  tlie 
''  Storm  King.*'  Professor  Smyth  gave  a  course  on  *'  Electncity." 
Professor  De  la  Mater,  of  the  Medical  School,  gave  his  regular  course 
on  "  Hygiene,"  as  a  lyceum  course,  at  which  the  medical  class 
attended.  Doctor  Benjamin  Luicoln,  of  the  class  of  1823,  and  then 
professor  in  the  Vermont  Medical  School,  gave  a  course  on  "  Vege- 
table Life."  Single  lectures  were  also  given  b}'  Professor  Packard, 
Ebenezer  P^verelt,  Esquire,  Reverend  Mr.  Adams,  and  l^ofessor 
Cleaveland.  Tlie  most  of  these  were  free  lectures,  delivered  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Brunswick  and  Topsham  Athenaeum.  They  were 
given  in  the  Tontine  Hall. 

In  March,  1833,  a  Mr.  Wilbur,  of  Newburj'port,  Massachusetts, 
delivered  a  course  of  lectures  on  "Astronomy"  ;  and  in  the  following 
August,  Reverend  Mr.  Farley  gave  a  lecture  before  the  Bninswick 
and  Topsham  Athemeum,  at  Reverend  Mr.  'litcomb's  meeting-house, 
on  the  subject  of  '^Tnie  Enterprise"  In  1834  Mr.  John  McKeen 
gave  a  course  of  lectures  before  the  above-mentioned  society,  upon 
the  History  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  and  soon  atlerwards  Mr.  C. 
Hamlin  gave  a  lecture  at  Pike's  Hall,  on  '^  St^am  Enginery-."  In 
the  winter  and  spring  of  1836  I'rofessor  Packard  delivered  a  lecture 
on  the  subject  of  '•  Primary  Schools,"  and  Doctor  Adams  gave  a 
course  of  lectures  on  *' Phjsiolog^-."  The  above  lectures  were  given 
before  the  Athena?um. 

In  1843  a  lyceum  was  organized,  and  lectures  were  given  by  the 
following  gentlemen :  Reverend  D.  C.  Haines,  on  "  Education"  ;  Pro- 
fessor 1  ackard,  on  ''  Nationality  "  ;  R.  II.  Dunlap,  Poem,  '*A  Defence 
of  Poetry."  • 

The  course  was  continued  in  1844,  by  Professor  Goodwin,  -on 
''  Machiavelli "  ;  Professor  Smyth,  on  "  Explosions  of  Steam  Boilers"  ; 
Reverend  Mr.  Bailey,  on  ''  Reading" ;  Wm.  G.  Barrows,  Esquire,  on 
'*  The  Saracens"  ;  John  W.  Davis,  on  ''  American  History"  ;  Reverend 
Asahel  Moore,  on  ''  Popular  Education"  ;  Colonel  T.  L.  McKenny,  on 
*'  Origin,  Ilistorj',  and  Character  of  the  Indians." 


GENEJiAL  AND  SOCIAL.  227 

In  1857  a  lyceum  was  organized  b}*  members  of  the  Unitarian  Society, 
and  lectures  were  delivered  bj-  Ueverend  Doctors  Sheldon,  of  Water- 
ville,  and  Peabody,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  and  by  Professor  C.  C.  Everett, 
of  Brunswick,  Reverend  Mr.  Stebbins,  of  Portland,  Thomas  H.  Talbot, 
Esquire,  of  Portland,  and  by  Reverend  A.  D.  Wheeler,  D.  D. 

In  1859  a  course  of  lectures  was  given  at  the  Congregational 
Vestry,  by  Professor  Paul  A.  Chadbonrne,  on  "  Natural  History 
as  related  to  Intellect";  bv  Augustus  C.  Robbins,  on  "Rags  and 
Paper";  by  Reverend  Cyril  Pearl,  of  Baldwin,  on  the  "Past,  Pres- 
ent, and  Future  of  Maine";  and  by  Professor  F^gbei*t  C.  Smyth,  on 
*•  Walking." 

In  I8C0  a  course  of  six  lectures  was  given  by  Professor  Chad- 
bourne  on  "Iceland  and  the  Icelanders";  "Natural  Ilistorv  as 
related  to  the  Fine  Arts,  on  General  Principles  of  Classification, 
etc.";  "General  Description  of  Invertebrates";  "The  Relations  of 
Natural  History  and  Religion." 

In  1862  there  was  a  course  of  free  lectures.  A  record  of  two  only 
has  been  preserved :  the  first  by  Reverend  Doctor  Ballard,  on  "  Com- 
mon-Sense" ;  and  tl\e  second  by  Professor  Packard,  on  the  "Acadians, 
or  French  Neutrals." 

Topsham,  not  being  the  seat  of  a  literary  institution,  does  not 
.show  so  large  a  list  of  lectures,  though  its  citizens  have  usually  con- 
stituted a  fair  proportion  of  Bmnswick  audiences.  A  lyceum  was 
inaugurated  in  Topsham  in  1842,  but  no  record  of  any  lectures  has 
I  ►eon  kept,  except  of  one  in  December  by  Reverend  Paul  S.  Adams, 
and  one  in  Januar}-,  1843,  by  John  W.  Davis,  Esquire.  In  1850 
Reverend  Amos  D.  Wheeler  gave  a  lecture  at  the  Court  House  on 
the  different  methods  of  reckoning  time. 

In  1850  lectures  were  delivered  before  the  Topsham  Farmers  and 
Mechanics*  Club  by  Warren  Johnson,  A.  M.,  Topsham;  Reverend 
Win.  A.  Drew,  Augusta;  Reverend  II.  C.  Leonard,  Waterville ;  and 
by  Reverend  S.  F.  Dike,  of  Bath  ;  Doctor  N.  S.  True,  Bethel;  Pro- 
fessor Paul  A.  Chadbonrne,  of  Bowdoin  College;  A.  G.  Tenney, 
Esquire,  Brunswick ;  Reverend  II   Q.  Butterfield,  Ilallowell. 

CELEBRATIONS. 

The  first  observance  of  any  public  event  in  either  of  these  towns,  of 
which  any  account  has  been  preserved  to  us,  was  that  of  Washington's 
death,  the  obseiTance  of  which,  in  accordance  with  a  resolution  of  the 
national  Congress,  took  place  on  F'ebruary  22,  1800.  But  little  is 
l)reser\'ed  of  the  proceedings  of  that  day  in   Brunswick.     The  only 


228       HISTORY  OF  BHUNSWICK,  topsham,  akd  harpswell. 

spectator  now  known  to  be  living  was  at  that  time  but  eight  years  of 
age.  A  procession  of  citizens  was  formed  in  front  of  what  was  after- 
wards the  residence  of  the  late  Doctor  Lincoln  ;  they  were  escorted  by 
boys  under  the  leadership  of  Mr.  David  Dunlap,  and  proceeded  to  the 
old  west  meeting-house,  where  a  eulogy  was  delivered  b3'  Doctor  Page. 
The  eulogy  has  not  been  preserved,  but  the  closing  words  are  said  to 
have  been,  "  If  Washington  is  dead,  we  can  thank  our  God  that  we 
have  an  Adams  in  the  chair." 

In  Topsham,  a  procession  was  formed  at  the  house  of  Captain 
Alexander  Rogers,  and  moved  to  the  old  east  meeting-house  in  the 

following  order :  — 

Marshal. 

Military  Officers 

(in  uniform,  with  side  arms  draped  In  mourning). 

Soldiers  of  the  Revolution. 

The  Orator. 

Civil  Officers  of  the  United  States. 

Selectmen. 

Citizens. 

The  exercises  at  the  meeting-house  consisted  of  music,  a  prayer, 
music,  an  elegy,  and  the  singing  of  an  anthem.  "  The  whole  attended 
to  with  decency,  order,  and  decorum."  The  elegy  was  delivered  by 
the  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis.  The  following  introductory  lines  are 
given  as  a  specimen  of  his  muse :  — 

**  Ye  who  have  often  heard  his  praises  sung 
In  strains  sublime  by  many  an  abler  tongue, 
>'ow  hear  my  grief-taught  muse  her  grief  Impart, 
A  grief  deep  felt  by  every  patriot  heart,  — 
Our  Washington  *8  no  more." 

There  was  no  observance  of  the  occasion  in  Harpswell,  the  citizens 
of  that  town  attending  the  exercises  in  Brunswick. 

The  first  observance  in  this  vicinit}',  of  the  anniversary  of  the 
Declaration  of  National  Independence,  took  place  in  Topsham,  in 
1805.  Samuel  Willard,  then  a  tutor  in  Bowdoin  College,  delivered  an 
oration  "  at  the  request  of  the  Federal  Republicans  of  Brunswick  and 
Topsham." 

The  following  year,  1806,  the  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis  delivered 
an  oration  at  the  Court  House,  before  the  members  of  the  same 
political  organization. 

No  account  has  been  found  of  an}'  other  celebration  of  this  day 
prior  to  1825,  although  it  is  known  with  tolerable  certainty  that  such 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  229 

celebrations  were  had  almost  every  3'ear  during  the  firet  quarter  of  the 
centun*.  In  the  year  1825  the  citizens  assembled  on  July  4,  at  one 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  at  the  *'  Falstaff  Inn,"  Brunswick.  Here  Charles  Pack- 
ard, Esquire,  delivered  ''  an  appropriate  and  verj'  interesting  address," 
and  concludwi  by  reading  the  Declaration  of  Inde|)endence.  A  pub- 
lic dinner,  enlivened  with  a  variety  of  toasts,  was  then  partaken  of. 

March  4,  1820,  the  inauguration  at  Washington  of  General  Jackson 
as  President  of  the  I'nited  States,  was  dulv  celebrated  in  Brunswick. 
''  Father"  Stetson  writes  in  his  diar}',  on  this  day,  *'  Great  parading 
in  our  wide  street,  guns  fired,  bells  rung,  boys  mustered." 

July  4,  18.*J0,  was  celebrated  by  a  procession  of  young  men,  escorted 
l»y  the  Light  Infantry  Company.  An  oration  was  delivered  at  the 
meeting-house  on  the  hill,  by  Mr.  Webster  Kelly,  of  Topsham.  It 
was  followed  by  a  dinner  at  the  Tontine  Hotel,  furnished  by  Mr. 
Elijah  P.  Pike.  The  festivities  of  the  day  were  marred  b}-  a  fatal 
accident.  The  boys  in  their  patriotic  zeal  had  obtained  a  swivel  about 
eight  inches  in  length.  This  they  had  filled  with  paper  wadding,  but 
without  any  bullet.  The  force  of  its  discharge  was  sufficient,  how- 
ever, to  cause  the  death  of  Mr.  Theophilus  Miller,  who  was  accident- 
ally hit  by  the  wadding. 

On  July  4,  1836,  the  members  of  the  Young  Men's  Temperance 
Society,  of  Brunswick,  together  with  other  friends  of  temperance, 
assembled  at  Stone's  Hall,  and  formed  a  procession  under  the  escort 
of  the  Mechanic  Volunteers.  The  procession  embraced  a  Inrge  num- 
ber of  the  temperance  people  from  different  parts  of  the  town,  includ- 
ing a  portion  of  the  Temixirance  Societv  of  Bowdoin  College.  A 
company  of  youth,  named  the  '••Juvenile  Guards,"  formed  the  rear 
rank.  At  half  past  ten  a.  m.,  the  procession  moved  up  Maine  Street 
to  the  Congregational  Church,  where  the  following  exercises  were 
held :  — 

'*  National  Hj-mn,  by  the  choir.  Prayer,  1)3'  Keverend  Asahel 
Moore. ^  117th  Psalm;  tune.  Old  Hundred.  A  Declaration  of 
Indei)endence,  written  for  the  occasion  by  Mr.  Alonzo  Garcelon,^ 
member  of  the  Senior  Class  of  Bowdoin  College.  Address,  by  IVfr. 
Antlrew  Dunning.  Temperance  hymn.  Benediction.  '  Tlie  services 
were  interesting  and  the  audience  was  large  and  attentive.* " 

The  Fourth  of  July,  1842,  was  cele))rated  in  Brunswick  with 
unusual  eclat.  At  ten  o'clock,  a.m.,  a  procession  formed  near  Wash- 
ington Hall,  under  the  direction  of  Colonel  P^stabrook,  marshal  of  the 


1  MethofJist.  —  Bowdoin,  Class  of  1835.  2  ^Voj^  a  physkian  in  Lewiston. 


230        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

da3%  marched  through  the  various  streets,  and  entered  the  Congre- 
gational Church  at  eleven  o'clock.  The  escort  was  formed  by  the 
Mechanic  Volunteei*s,  The  order  of  exorcises  at  the  church  was  as 
follows :  — 

A  voluntary  on  the  organ  ;  singing  by  the  choir ;  reading  of  Scrip- 
ture by  Reverend  Doctor  Adams;  reading  of  the  136th  Psalm,  with 
responses  by  the  audience ;  pra3'er ;  reading  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence, b}'  George  C.  Swallow  ;  singing  by  choir  and  congrega- 
tion ;  oration  by  Washington  Gilbert ;  benediction.  After  the  bene- 
diction, the  audience  separated,  and,  the  procession  being  re-formed, 
they  proceeded  to  the  grove  near  the  town-house,  where  a  collation 
had  been  provided  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  William  R. 
Field,  Senior.  The  band  enlivened  the  scene  with  appropriate  music, 
and  all  seemed  to  enjo}'  the  festival. 

In  the  course  of   the  afternoon,  the  3'oung   ladies  of  Bnmswick 

•received    their  friends  in    the   Tontine   Hall.     The  3-ounger    misses 

assembled  at  the  house  of  Ebenezer  Everett,  Esquire,  and  passed  the 

afternoon  in  a  pleasant  manner.     In  the  evening  there  was  a  display 

of  fire- works. 

In  1 843  the  Young  Men's  Temperance  Society  of  Bnmswick  cele- 
brated the  return  of  the  anniversary  of  National  Independence  by  a 
procession,  of  which  Captain  John  A.  Cleaveland  was  the  chief  mar- 
shal. Public  exercises  were  had  at  the  church  on  the  hill.  There 
was  music  b}'  the  band,  a  pra^^er,  an  original  ode  sung  by  the  choir, 
and  an  oration  delivered  by  Reverend  George  Knox,  of  Topsham, 
which  was  followed  b}'  more  music,  a  poem  by  Mr.  Albert  W. 
Knight,  and  an  original  ode  was  sung  by  the  choir. 

In  1845  the  day  was  celebrated  in  Topsham  by  the  Temperance 
Society.  The  procession  marched  to  the  Unitarian  Meeting-House, 
where  an  address  was  delivered  by  M.  B.  Goodwin,  of  the  Senior 
Class  of  Bowdoin  College.  After  the  exercises,  there  was  a  dinner  at 
the  Washingtonian  House. 

Probably  tlie  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of  Julv  which  was  attended 
with  the  most  eclat  of  an}'  that  ever  occurred  in  either  of  these  towns 
was  that  in  1854. 

At  ten  A.  M.  a  procession  was  formed  in  the  following  order :  — 

Marslial. 
Bowdolnliain  Artillery,  \ 

Fire  Companies  of  Brunswick,    C  a.s  escort. 
Fire  Company  of  Topsliani,         ) 

Band. 
Aid  —  Chief  Marshal  —  Aid. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  231 

Marshal  —  Fire  Companies  flpom  Abroad. 

Marsha]  —  Commltt^je  of  Arrangcmeuts. 

President  of  the  Day  and  Chaplain. 

Vice-Presidents. 

Orator,  Poet,  and  Reader. 

Marshal  —  Selectmen  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham. 

Marshal  —  Fire  Wards. 

Marshal  —  Superintendinipr  School  Committee  of  Bninswick  and  Topsham. 

Marshal — United  States  Officers. 

State  Officers. 

Marshal  —  Clerj?y. 

Members  of  the  Bar. 

Town  Officers  (present  and  past)  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham. 

Marshal  —  Officers  of  Bowdoin  College. 

Students  of  same. 

Marshal — Agent  and  Overseers  of  the  Cabot  Manufacturing  Company. 

Operatives  of  the  same. 
Marshal — Schools  of  Brunswick  and    Topsham,   with  their  respective 

Teachers. 
Marshal  —  Preceptor  and  Pupils  of  Topsham  Academy. 

Marshal  —  Strangers. 

Marshal  —  Citizens  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham. 

Marshal  —  Flokal    Pkocehsiox    of  the  Young  Ladles  of   Brunswick   and 

Topsham,  in  carriages. 
Marshal  —  Juvenile  Temperance  Watchmen  Club. 

The  procession,  after  passing  through  the  principal  streets,  entered 
the  church  upon  the  hill.  Here  Professor  R.  D.  Hitchcock  offered  a 
prayer,  and  tlie  Declaration  of  Independence  was  read  by  Professor 
H.  H.  Boody,  after  which  Ex-Governor  Robert  P.  Dnnlap,  the  presi- 
dent of  the  day,  introduced  to  the  audience  Mr.  William  P.  Drew, 
the  orator  of  the  day.  The  oration  was  followed  b}'  a  poem  by  Rev- 
erend Elijah  Kellogg.  In  the  afternoon  a  trial  of  fire-engines  for  the 
prize,  a  silver  trumpet,  took  place  at  the  upper  mills.  The  prize 
was  awarde<l  to  Androscoggin  No.  2,  of  Topsham,  wliich  played  a 
stream  of  one  hundred  and  se vent v  four  feet  and  some  inches.  Atlantic 
Company  No.  2,  of  Portland,  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  burst  their 
hose  at  each  trial.  An  exhibition  of  fire-works,  which  would  have 
been  a  fine  one,  was  marred  by  a  shower  wliich  hurried  it  to  a  close. 
The  festi\nties  of  the  day  closed  with  a  ball  at  the  Tontine  Hall,  under 
the  direction  of  Protector  Engine  Company  No.  4,  of  Bninswick. 

In  1860  the  day  was  observed  in  a  similar  way.  AVilliam  P.  Tucker, 
tutor  of  Bowdoin  College,  read  the  Declaration  of  Independence ;  and 
Augustus  C.  Bobbins,  Esquire,  of  Brunswick,  delivered  an  oration. 

Doubtless  the  da}'  has  been  occasionally  observed   in  Harps  well, 


232        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

but  no  account  of  any  special  celebration  has  been  obtained.     The' 
day  is  often  chosen  for  Sabbath -school  picnics. 

On  Monday,  August  16,  1858,  a  public  meeting  was  held  at  the 
depot  in  Brunswick,  to  celebrate  the  successful  laj'ing  of  the  Atlantic 
cable.  General  Abner  B.  Thompson  called  the  meeting  to  order. 
Albert  G.  Tenney,  Esquire,  was  elected  chairman,  and  Daniel  P^lliot, 
secretar3'.  The  messages  between  the  Directors  of  the  Atlantic  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  between  the  Queen  of  England  and  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  were  then  read.  A  volunteer  choir  sang  an  ode, 
speeches  were  made  by  A.  G.  Tenney,  Reverend  John  S.  C.  Abbot, 
Reverend  Amos  D.  Wheeler,  D.D.,  of  Topsham,  Honorable  Charles 
J.  Gilman,  Reverend  Aaron  C.  Adams,  of  Manchester,  New  Hamp- 
shire, Honorable  Ebenezer  Everett,  Reverend  Doctor  Ballard,  and 
Reverend  George  E.  Adams,  D.  D.,  and  the  exercises  were  concluded 
by  another  ode  from  the  choir.  The  depot  and  telegraph  office  were 
illuminated,  as  were  also  the  houses  of  many  of  the  citizens  of  Bruns- 
wick and  Topsham. 

February  22,  18G2,  the  anniveraar}'  of  Washington's  birthday  was 
celebrated  in  the  Congregational  Church  in  Brunswick.  Reverend 
Doctor  Wheeler,  of  Topsham,  read  the  hymn,  "  M}'-  countr}',  *tis  of 
thee  "  ;  Professor  Whittlesey  read  selections  from  the  Scriptures  ;  Rev- 
erend Doctor  Ballard  read  the  prayers  for  the  occasion,  from  the 
Episcopal  Collection.  Washington's  Farewell  Address  was  then  read 
b}'  Reverend  Doctor  Adams,  a  hymn  to  the  tune  of  ''St.  Martin's" 
was  then  sung  by  the  choir,  and  the  benediction  pronounced. 

On  Saturday,  April  15,  1865,  upon  the  reception  of  the  news  of  the 
assassination  of  President  Lincoln,  a  public  meeting  was  held  at  the 
church  of  the  First  Parish  in  Brunswick.  Honorable  Marshall  Cram 
presided.  Reverend  Doctor  Wheeler,  of  Topsham,  made  a  prayer,  which 
was  followed  by  addresses  from  Reverend  Doctor  Ballard,  Honorable 
Charles  J.  Gilman,  Reverend  T.  J.  B.  House,  Reverend  Doctor 
Adams,  A.  G.  Tenney,  President  Leonard  Woods,  Reverend  Mr. 
Baldwin,  Professor  C.  F.  Brackett,  and  Warren  Johnson.  A  resolu- 
tion was  passed  expressive  of  great  grief  at  the  calamity  which  had 
fallen  upon  the  nation,  and  of  faith  in  the  stability  of  the  government. 
The  pulpit  and  choir  gallery  were  appropriately  draped  in  mourning, 
as  were  also  many  stores  and  private  residences.  All  the  flags  were 
at  half  mast. 

On  Wednesda}',  April  19,  1865,  a  union  meeting  of  the  different 
religious  societies  of  Brunswick  was  held  in  the  Mason  Street  Church, 
at  12  M.,  in  commemoration  of  the  death  of  the  late  President  of  the 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  233 

United  States,  Abraham  Lincoln,  whose  funeral  services  were  then 
being  held  at  Washington,  D.  C.     The  exercises  were  as  follows  :  — 

A  portion  of  Scripture  was  read  by  Reverend  A.  D.  Wheeler,  D.  D., 
a  hj'mn  by  Reverend  J.  T.  B.  House,  a  pra\'er  by  Reverend  Doctor 
Adanas ;  a  second  hvmn  was  then  read  bv  Reverend  Doctor  Wheeler, 
who  delivered  an  appropriate  discourse.  Prayer  was  then  offered  by 
Reverend  Mr.  House,  a  national  hymn  sung  by  the  choir,  and  the  bene- 
diction pronounce<l  by  Doctor  Adams.  The  church  was  appropriate!}' 
draped  with  mourning. 

April  19,  1875,  the  anniversarj*  of  the  battles  of  Concord  and  Lex- 
ington was  celebrated  in  Brunswick,  by  the  display'  of  flags,  ringing 
of  bells,  and  a  national  salute  fired  by  a  detachment  of  the  Artillery 
Company,  of  Bowdoin  College. 

Memorial  Day   has   also   been   observed    annuall}'  in    Brunswick 

and  Topsham  by  the  decoration  of  the  graves  of  the  fallen  heroes  of 

tiie  Rebellion,  and  frequently  by  a  public  address. 

« 

PUBLIC  MEETINGS. 

A  meeting  of  the  surWving  soldiers  of  the  Revolution  was  held 
October  5,  1825.  Philip  Owen  was  chosen  chairman,  and  John  GIa'Cu 
secretary-.  A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  HonoraWe  Peleg  Sprague 
of  Hallowell,  Honorable  John  Anderson  of  Portland,  and  Honorable 
Edward  Everett  of  Massachusetts,  *'  for  their  generous  and  able  pleas 
before  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  in  behalf  of  themselves  and 
companions  in.  the  perilous  services  of  the  Revolution." 

On  April  23,  1827,  a  citizens'  meeting  was  held,  "  for  the  relief  of 
the  Greeks."  Speeches  were  made  by  Honorable  Robert  P.  Dunlap 
and  Professor  Thomas  C.  Upham.  The  amount  of  one  hundred  and 
sixteen  dollars  was  contributed. 

In  1833  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Brunswick  was  held  on  the  third 
of  July,  for  the  purposes  of  taking  measures  to  extend  an  invitation  to 
President  Jackson  to  visit  the  town  while  on  his  proposed  tour  through 
New  England. 

The  antislaverj'  agitation  commenced  in  this  vicinit}'  by  the  appoint- 
ment at  a  public  meeting  in  January,  1838,  of  Professor  WiLiam 
Smyth  and  David  Dunlap,  P^squire,  of  Brunswick,  and  Reverend 
Thomas  N.  Lord  and  Reverend  Edwin  R.  Warren,  of  Topsham,  as  del- 
egates to  the  Maine  Antislavery  Societ}-,  to  be  held  in  Augusta.  At 
the  meeting  of  this  society  Professor  Sm3'th  was  chosen  its  secretary. 

In  November,  1838,  Mr.  Codding,  the  general  agent  of  the  above- 
named  societ}',  delivered  several  lectures  in  Brunswick  upon  the  sub- 


234      nisTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

ject  of  slavery  and  its  abolition.  The  antislavery  cause  met  with 
much  opposition  in  Brunswick. 

A  meeting  was  held  October  27,  1838,  '*  to  take  into  consideration 
the  measures  at  present  pursued  b}'  the  Al)olitioni8ts,"  at  which  both 
the  friends  and  foes  of  the  measures  were  present. 

An  attempt  was  made  to  introduce  some  resolutions  which  had  been 
prepared  prior  to  the  meeting  b}'  opponents  of  the  cause.  This  action 
was  warml3-  opposed  b}'  Professor  William  Sm3'th,  who  said  they  "had 
not  come  together  to  pass  resolutions  prepared  to  our  hand  without 
deliberation  on  our  part,"  and  that  the  call  for  the  meeting  implied 
that  the}-  were  to  "  deliberate,  examine,  discuss."  Hisses  and  ''  Down 
with  him  ! "  were  heard  in  different  parts  of  the  house,  but  he  con- 
cluded his  remarks  without  any  regard  to  them,  lie  was  followed  and 
warmly  sustained  by  General  John  C.  Humphreys,  and  the  meeting 
adjourned  without  transacting  any  business,  to  meet  again  on  the 
following  Tuesday  evening. 

At  the  adjourned  meeting  General  A.  B.  Thompson  offered  resolu- 
tions to  the  following  effect :  — 

Against  any  interference  with  slaver}'  bj*  the  people  of  non-slave- 
holding  States.  Admitting  the  ri^ht  of  free  discussion,  but  against 
the  exercise  of  it  and  against  any  unlawful  opposition  to  it.  That  the 
opinions  expressed  in  these  resolutions  were  in  accordance  with  the 
sentiments  of  the  vast  majority  of  the  citizens  of  that  communit}'. 
Mr.  Adams  spoke  in  opposition  to  the  resolutions,  though  his  remarks 
met  with  frequent  interruption.  The  resolutions  were  adopted  by  a 
vote  of  one  hundred  and  sixty-three  to  one  hundred  and  seventeen. 

On  Wednesda}-,  October  31,  the  citizens  of  Bnmswick  and  Tops- 
ham  met  at  the  Congregational  CImrch  in  Topsham  to  consider  the 
action  of  the  meeting  held  the  previous  evening  in  Brunswick. 

The  meeting  was  opened  b}-  a  strain  of  pithy,  pungent  remarks 
fi*om  Doctor  James  McKecn,  in  reference  to  the  late  meeting  in 
Brunswick.  Addresses  were  also  made  b}'  John  M.  O'Brien,  Esquire, 
Mr.  Codding,  and  others.  The  meeting  was  highly  interesting  in  it^u 
character,  and  clieering  to  the  friends  of  free  discussion  and  of  equal 
and  impartial  liberty.  It  was  agreed  to  call  another  meeting  of  the 
citizens  of  the  two  villages,  to  assemble  in  Brunswick  on  the  Friday 
evening  following,  and  a  committee  was  raised  for  that  purpose. 

In  accordance  with  this  arrangement,  a  call  was  issued  on  Frida}' 
morning,  inviting  "  the  friends  of  free  discussion  and  the  right  of  the 
people  freely  to  assemble  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  any  subject  ia 
morals,  politics,  or  religion,  in  which  they  feel  an  interest,"  to  meet 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  235 

at  the  Second  Baptist  Meeting-IIousc,  in  Bninswick,  on  that  CAening, 
to  gr\'e  such  expression  of  their  sentiments  in  relation  to  this  right  as 
in  existing  circumstances  might  appear  suitable  and  necessary.  The 
house  was  well  filled.  Professor  William  Smyth  addressed  the  meet- 
ing at  some  length,  reviewing  the  action  of  the  former  meeting,  and 
taking  strong  ground  in  favor  of  free  speech.  Professor  William 
Smyth,  Doctor  James  McKeeu,  and  Major  Nahum  Perkins  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  business  for  the  meeting.  They 
reported  the  following  resolution  :  — 

"  Resolved^  That  freedom  of  thought  and  of  speech  is  the  natural 
right  of  every  human  being;  and  that  our  Federal  Constitution 
sacredh'  guarantees  its  protection  to  every  citizen  of  this  R<»public." 

Brief  remarks  were  made  by  John  M.  O'Brien,  Esquire,  in  favor  of 
the  resolution.  He  was  followed  by  Mr.  Codding,  who  addressed 
the  meeting  at  some  length.  A  vote  was  then  taken  upon  the  resolu- 
tion, which  was  almost  unanimous  in  its  favor.  Resolutions  were 
then  passed,  that  while  the  meeting  would  express  no  o])lnion  either 
for  or  against  the  principles  and  measures  of  the  Abolitionists,  that 
the\'  have  a  perfect  right  to  hold  and  utter  and  defend  their  senti- 
ments, and  ''  that  as  good  citizens  they  should  patiently  bear  with 
each  otlicrs'  supposed  mistakes  and  errors,  not  doubting  but,  in  the 
end,  from  the  collision  of  mind  with  mind  in  open,  fair,  and  manly 
discnasion,  the  truth  on  ever}*  important  subject  will  shine  forth  clear 
as  the  noonday,  comynanding  the  united  assent  of  all." 

A  public  meeting  was  held  October  20,  1853,  at  the  Congregational 
Vestn%  to  consider  the  importance  of  ornamenting  the  village  with 
shade  trees.  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  Charles  J.  Oilman,  John  L. 
Swift,  Hugh  McClellan,  George  W.  Carlton,  Joseph  McKeen,  Jr., 
Valentine  G.  Colb}',  Francis  Owen,  William  M.  Hall,  ami  Augustus 
C.  Bobbins  were  chosen  a  committee  to  obtain  the  neeessarv  funds 
and  to  supKjrintend  the  transplanting  of  trees  throughout  the  village. 
One  hundred  and  thirty-two  dollare  and  sixty-one  cents  was  raised  and 
paid  out  for  transplanting  trees,  etc.  Thirty  cents  was  the  average 
price  paid  for  the  trees. 

On  Saturday,  June  14,  185G,  a  public  meeting  of  the  citizcMis  of 
Bnmswick  and  Topsham  was  held,  to  give  expression  to  the  feelings  of 
these  communities  in  regard  to  the  wanton  attack  on  Senator  Sumner 
by  Representative  Preston  C.  Brooks  in  the  Senate  Chamber  in  Con- 
gress. Tl)e  meeting  was  called  to  order  b}'  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln. 
R^fverend  Leonard  Woods,  I).  1).,  was  chosen  to  presitle.  Speeches 
were  made  b}-  President  Leonard  AVoods,  Honorable  Charles  J.  Gil- 


236       .  HISIORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

man,  Ebenezer  Everett,  Esquire,  and  Reverend  Mr.  Jaquis,  and  an 
address  given  by  Reverend  John  S.  C.  Abbott.  Spirited  resolutions 
were  offere<l  hy  Professor  William  Sm3'th,  which  were  unanimously 
passed.     The  meeting  was  a  large  and  earnest  one. 

The  question  of  petitioning  for  a  city  charter  began  to  be  agitated 
by  the  citizens  of  Brunswick  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1857. 
On  January  7,  1858,  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  at  McLellan*s 
Hall  to  consider  the  matter.  The  meeting  voted  that  the  citizens  of 
the  village  ought  to  appl3^  for  a  charter,  and  Daniel  Elliott,  A.  G. 
Tenney,  and  A.  C.  Robbins  were  elected  a  Committee  of  Correspond- 
ence in  regard  to  the  matter.  Ebenezer  Everett,  Joseph  McKeen, 
Richard  Greenleaf,  Benjamin  Furbish,  and  Charles  J.  No^es  were 
chosen  a  committee  to  draft  a  chai-ter  to  be  presented  to  the  legislature. 

A  second  meeting  was  held  January  i!6.  A.  G.  Tenney,  Daniel 
Elliott,  Benjamin  Furbish,  A.  B.  Thompson,  and  Thomas  Skolfield 
were  elected  a  committee  to  obtain  signers  to  a  petition.  The  meet- 
ing agreed  to  accept  the  whole  town  in  the  petition  for  a  charter 
instead  of  the  village,  if  it  was  generally  desired. 

A  third  meeting  was  held  February  13th,  at  which  it  was  voted  to 
embrace  the  whole  town  in  a  petition  for  a  charter  if  the  town  would 
so  vote. 

A  charter  was  granted  by  the  legislature,  to  take  effect  if  accepted 
by  the  whole  town  at  its  first  meeting.  It  was  not  accepted  by  the 
town. 

From  1861  to  1865  inclusive,  nearlj^  all  the  public  meetings  held 
hereabouts  had  reference  to  the  civil  war  then  going  on.  The  first 
one  of  which  any  recoixi  has  been  preserved  was  held  at  White's 
Hall,  in  Topsham,  on  April  23,  1861.  It  was  to  encourage  the  rais- 
ing of  a  companj"  of  volunteers.  Francis  Adams,  Esquire,  was  chosen 
chairman,  and  Sandford  A.  Perkins,  clerk.  Speeches  were  made  by 
Reverend  Amos  D.  Wheeler,  D.  D.,  Reverend  George  Knox,  and 
others.  Captain  Edward  W.  Thompson  marched  over  with  his  com- 
pany of  Brunswick  Volunteers,  and  addressed  the  meeting.  William 
Whitten,  George  A.  Rogers,  and  Francis  T.  Littlefield  were  chosen 
a  committee  to  solicit  subscri])tions,  and  two  hundred  dollars  was 
subscribed  on  the  spot.    Some  patriotic  resolutions  were  also  adopted. 

On  May  2,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Brunswick,  at  which  a  beautiful 
silk  flag  was  presented  to  the  Brunswick  Volunteers  b}'  Mi*s.  Arabella 
Greenleaf,  in  behalf  of  the  ladies  of  the  town.  Captain  Thompson 
responded  for  the  company. 

A  meeting  was  held  in  the  depot,  in  Brunswick,  on  the  afternoon  of 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  237 

October  17,  and  another  on  the  evening  of  the  same  day,  at  which 
si)eeches  were  made  b}-  Colonel  L.  D.  M.  Sweat,  and  C.  C.  Woodman, 
Esquire,  of  Portland,  Honorable  Charles  J.  Oilman,  of  Brunswick, 
and  J.  T.  Oilman,  of  Bath. 

On  the  nineteenth  of  July,  1862,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  depot  in 
Brunswick,  which  was  0[>ened  with  a  pra3'er  by  Reverend  Oeorge  E. 
Adams.  Speeches  were  made  by  Professors  Whittlesey  and  Chamber- 
lain, ofBowdoin  College,  and  by  Oeneral  Oliver  O.  Howard,  U.  S.  A. 
July  25  a  meeting  was  held  at  McLcllan's  Hall,  and  speeches  were 
made  by  Honorable  Charles  J.  Oilman,  Professors  Chamberlain  and 
Whittlesey,  Reverend  Doctor  Ballard,  John  M.  O'Brien,  Esquire,  and 
J.  T.  Magrath,  ofBowdoin  College. 

On  the  29th  a  meeting  was  also  held,  at  which  speeches  were  made 
by  Reverend  Doctor  Ballard,  J.  M.  O'Brien,  P^squire,  Reverend  Doctor 
Tenney,  of  Ellsworth,  Reverend  Doctor  Adams,  A.  O.  Tenney,  and 
by  a  Mr.  Temple,  of  Bowdoin  College, 

Another  meeting  of  the  same  kind  was  held  August  30,  at  which 
speeches  were  made  by  John  M.  O'Brien,  Esquire,  and  A.  O.  Tenney. 
September  1,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  meeting-house  at  G rows- 
town,  where  speeches  were  made  by  Honorable  Charles  J.  Oilman 
and  A.  G.  Tenne}'. 

On  the  next  day  two  meetings  were  held,  —  one  in  the  afternoon,  in 
the  Baptist  Meeting-House  at  New  Meadows,  at  which  8i>eeches  were 
made  by  Charlton  C.  Lewis,  of  New  York,  and  by  Honorable  Charles 
J.  Oilman  ;  the  other  was  held  in  the  evening  at  McLellan's  Hall,  and 
was  addressed  by  Honorable  Josiah  H.  Drummond,  and  J.  T.  Oilman, 
Esquii-e,  of  Portland,  and  b}'  Reverend  Mr.  Rugg,  of  Bath. 

On  September  8,  1863,  there  was  a  public  meeting  at  the  Bruns- 
wick depot,  whieh  was  addressed  by  Honorable  F.  O.  J.  Smith,  of 
Portland,  on  the  unconstitutionality  of  the  Conscription  Act.  This 
could  with  more  propriety  be  termed  an  anti-war  meeting. 

In  Januar}',  1864,  a  meeting  of  citizens  was  held  at  the  Congrega- 
tional Vestry  in  Brunswick,  in  favor  of  giving  aid  to  the  froedmon. 
Several  speeches  were  made,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  solicit 
aid.  They  issued  circulars  in  regard  to  this  object,  and  reported  sub- 
sequently that  they  had  received  and  forwarded  to  the  Freodnmn's 
Bureau  eleven  boxes  of  clothing,  the  estimated  value  of  which  was 
81,000. 

Several  meetings  were  held  in  the  summer  of  1805,  in  Topsham, 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  action  in  relation  to  offering  inducements  to 
the  trustees  of  the  State  Agricultural  College  to  locate  that  institution 


238      HisionY  OF  Brunswick^  topsbam,  and  harpswell. 

in  Topsham.  Sufficient  funds  were  obtained,  but  the  tnistees  deemed 
it  exi^edient  to  locate  the  college  at  Orono. 

In  18GG,  some  time  in  Julv,  a  raeeting  of  the  citizens  of  Bnmswick 
was  helfl  to  take  measures  for  furnishing  aid  to  the  sufferers  by  the 
Portland  fire.  A  relief  committee  was  chosen,  and  supplies  and 
mone}'  were  sent  by  it  to  the  cit}'  authorities. 

Doubtless  many  other  meetings  of  the  citizens  of  these  towns  have 
l)een  held  besides  tliose  which  are  here  mentioned.  Some  others  are 
mentione<l  in  other  connections,  and  there  are  some,  doubtless,  of 
which  no  record  has  l>een  found. 

That  our  citizens  have  alwavs  been  eminent  for  their  cultivation  of 
the  moral  and  social  virtues,  no  less  than  for  their  zeal  for  improve- 
ment in"  knowledge,  is  evident  from  the  attention  they  gave  to  the 
formation  of 

ASSOCIATIONS. 

The  number  of  which,  of  various  kinds  and  for  various  purposes,  in 
Brunswick  and  vicinity,  forme<l  from  time  to  time  during  the  present 
century,  is  so  large  as  to  admit  of  but  brief  mention  in  these  pages. 

Agriccltural  and  Mechanical  Associations. — The  earliest 
association  of  this  kind  was  the  Mechanics*  Association,  of  Bruns- 
wick, which  was  formed  August  8,  1842.  The  firet  officers  were, 
James  Derb}-,  president ;  Benjamin  Furbish,  vice-president ;  Theo- 
dore S.  McLellan,  secretary ;  Ezra  Drew,  treasurer.  The  object  of 
the  society  was  "  the  promotion  of  business  and  the  improvement  of 
intellect.*' 

On  April  14,  1854,  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural  and  Horticul- 
tural Society  was  incorporated.  Though  not  a  town  society',  it  is 
mentioned  here  because  all  its  buildings  and  grounds  are  situated  in 
Topsham,  and  most  of  its  meetings  have  been  held  there.  The  first 
meeting  of  this  society-  was  held  in  Bath,  at  the  City  Hall,  July  1, 
1854.  At  this  meeting  a  code  of  b^'-laws  was  adopted  and  perma- 
nent officers  elected,  and  the  meeting  then  adjourned  to  the  tenth  of 
August  following.  At  this  latter  meeting  it  was  voted  to  hold  a  fair 
that  autumn,  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  executive  officers  of  the 
societ}'  might  determine.  Some  of  the  piincipal  officers,  however, 
declined  serving,  and  no  fair  was  held  that  season.  The  society  held 
its  meetings  annually  at  Bath  for  several  years,  but  had,  at  first,  a 
hard  struggle  for  existence.  In  1855  Mr.  Francis  T.  Purinton,  of 
Topsham,  was  electetl  its  president.  Though  not  nominally,  yet  in 
reality,  he  was  the  first  person  to  serve  in  that  capacity.     In  the 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  239 

autumn  of  1855  the  society  held  its  first  fair  in  the  old  town-house  in 
Topsham,  and  Reverend  Amos  D.  Wheeler,  of  that  town,  delivered 
an  address.  The  exhibition  was  a  marked  success.  Since  then 
annual  exhibitions  have  been  held,  and  the  condition  of  the  society 
has  steadily  improved.  It  now  ranks  among  the  ver}'  best  of  the 
agricultural  societies  in  the  State.  It  owns  upwards  of  nineteen  acres 
of  land,  a  large  two-story  building,  in  which  the  exhibitions  are  held, 
a  dining-hall,  stable,  and  other  buildings.  The  society  is  free  from 
debt,  and  has  a  large  membei*ship. 

September  19,  1774,  a  grange  of  The  Patrons  of  Husbandry  was 
organized  at  Topsham,  and  about  the  same  time  one  was  organized  in 
Brunswick.     Both  are  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

CHARITABLE  ASSOCIATIONS. 

The  oldest  association  for  charitable  and  social  purposes  is  United 
Lodge,  No.  8,  op  Free  and  Acceitted  Masons.  The  charter 
for  this  Wlge  was  granted  by  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts, 
December  14,  1801.  The  charter  members  were  Jacob  Brown,  Wil- 
liam Fairfield,  James  Rogers,  Daniel  Ilolden,  Ziba  Eaton,  Samuel 
Snow,  Jonathan  Snow,  David  Patterson,  James  McLellan,  and  Joshua 
Emery.     The  first  master  was  Jacob  Brown. 

The  lodge  was  established  in  Topsham,  holding  its  first  meeting 
under  the  charter,  February  20,  1802,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Gideon 
Walker.  The  record  furnishes  no  clew  as  to  the  exact  place  of  meet- 
ing after  that  above  mentioned,  it  simpl}'  reading  *'  Mason's  Hall"; 
and  although  a  committee  was  raised  at  the  first  meeting  '*  for  the 
purpose  of  hiring  a  hall  and  furnishing  furniture,  clothing,  etc.,"  no 
record  of  the  report  of  that  committee  is  found.  In  1804  a  committee 
was  chosen  to  *'  draw  a  draft "  (for  a  new  hall),  and  on  February  12, 
180r),  it  was  *'  voted  that  there  be  a  committee  chosen  for  the  puri)ose 
of  making  all  the  necessary  arrangements  for  building  a  Masonic  Ilall 
and  to  carry  the  same  into  effect.  '* 

On  May  27,  1806,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  complete  a  Masonic 
Hall,  and  September  23,  1800,  it  was  *'  voted  that  the  secretary  be 
empowered  to  subscribe  five  shares  for  United  Lodge  for  the  purpose 
of  building  a  hall"  ;  and  the  new  hall  was  dedicated  January  1,  1807. 
The  hxlge  was  evidently  not  at  that  time  full  owner  of  the  hall,  as  a 
vote  passed  March  17,  1807,  provides  "  that  the  lodge  take  all  indi- 
vidual shares  and  pay  for  them,  when  the  lodge  is  in  capacity  to  do 
the  same."  This  hall  was  in  the  building  now  known  as  the  Franklin 
Family  School.     Several  public  displays  are  recorded  while  the  lodge 


240      msTORT  OF  buvkswick,  topsham,  and  harps  well. 

was  located  in  Topsham.  On  June  24,  1806,  the  Festival  of  St. 
John  the  Baptist,  a  "procession  formed  (nnder  direction  of  David 
Patterson,  as  marshal),  and  moved  to  Mr.  Daniel  Owen's  hall,  at 
Brunswick,  where  tliirty-one  Masons,  together  with  five  musicians, 
diued  and  then  returned." 

On  June  24,  1808,  the  Festival  of  St.  John  the  Baptist  was  cele- 
brated b^'  United  Lodge  and  Solar  Lodge  of  Bath.  Jacob  Ilerrick 
delivered  an  address  at  the  new  meeting-house  in  Brunswick. 

In  1810  the  question  of  moving  the  lodge  to  Bnmswick  was  consid- 
ered, and  in  1814  it  was  voted  to  petition  the  Grand  Lodge  for  per- 
mission  to  remove  it.     The  answer  to  this  petition  was  as  follows  ;  — 

Grand  Lodge  of  Massachusetts, 
June  10,  A.  L.  5816. 

"  On  the  petition  of  the  officers  and  members  of  the  United  Lodge, 
situated  at  Topsham,  voted  that  United  Lodge  have  leave  to  remove 
from  the  town  of  Topsham  to  the  town  of  Brunswick,  of  ^wliich  the 
officers  and  membei's  will  take  due  notice  and  govern  themselves 
accordingly. 

"John  Foley,  Grand  Secretary.'*^ 

*♦  Boston,  June  29,  A.L.  5816." 

The  above  is  a  correct  copy  of  the  indorsement  on  the  charter. 

On  June  24,  1810,  a  procession  being  formed,  the  lodge  was  joined 
by  the  officers  and  members  of  Freeport  and  Solar  Loflges,  and  b}' 
the  District  Deputy  Grand  Master  Oliver  Bray,  P^squire.  The  pro- 
cession, preceded  b}-  a  band  of  music,  marched  to  the  meeting-house 
in  Brunswick,  where  an  oration  was  delivered  b}'  Robert  Pinckne}' 
Dunlap.  The  procession  was  again  formed,  moved  to  Washington 
llall,  and  partook  of  a  bountiful  dinner  provided  b}-  Robert  Eastman. 
The  lodge  did  not  return  to  Topsham,  but  met  in  Washington  Hall, 
from  this  date  until  January  16,  1817,  when  a  new  hall,  on  Mason 
Street,  was  dedicated.  Onl}'  Masonic  visitors  were  present  at  this 
ceremony.  Robert  P.  Dunlap  delivered  an  oration,  and  the  fraternity 
afterwards  ''partook  of  a  sumptuous  dinner"  at  the  house  of  the 
mast(T,  Doctor  Jonathan  Page.  In  January,  1822,  this  lodge  was 
incorporated  into  a  body  politic,  •■'  with  all  the  privileges  usualk 
granted  to  other  societies,  instituted  for  purposes  of  charity  and 
beneficence."  In  the  3'ear  1844  the  Masonic  Hall  was  enlarged  and 
refurnished  at  considerable  expense.  This  hall  was  over  the  Mason 
Street  School- liouse,  and  the  whole  building  (and  land)  was  in  1872 
sold  to  the  town  for  an  engine-house.      The  lodge  moved  from  the 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  •  2U 

hall  on  Mason  Street,  October  3,  1872,  into  spacions  rooms  in  the 
third  story  of  the  new  building,  known  as  "Lemont  Block,"  on  the 
comer  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets. ^ 

The  following  anecdote  comes  in  naturally  in  this  connection. 
Early  in  the  century  a  man. came  to  Brunswick,  who  claimed  tliat  he 
was  a  Free  Mason  when  he  was  not  one.  The  deception  was  at  once 
detected,  but  a  few  of  the  members  of  that  fraternity  determined  to 
have  some  sport  with  the  man,  and  at  the  same  time  give  him  a  lesson 
that  would  be  likely  in  fhture  to  deter  him  from  attempting  to  gain  a 
clandestine  admission  into  other  lodges.  He  was  told  that  it  was  the 
custom  of  the  Masons  there  to  initiate  all  strangers  before  admitting 
them  to  the  lodge,  and  that  no  exception  could  be  made  in  his  case. 
He  consented  to  submit  to  the  ordeal,  and  a  room  over  Schwartkins's 
shop  was  at  once  prepared  for  the  ceremon}'.  The  details  of  the 
initiation  have  not  been  presen-ed,  but  it  is  known  that  he  was 
anointed  with  water  in  such  quantit}'  that  it  ran  down  through  the 
floor  on  to  the  table  at  which  Schwartkins  and  his  familv  were  at  dinner. 
.  After  the  ceremony  was  finished  the  candidate  was  asked  whether  it 
was  similar  to  what  he  had  previously  experienced  when  he  was 
admitted  to  the  fraternity.  He  replied,  ''  It  resembles  it  some,  but 
you  use  a  great  deal  more  water  here." 

The  Brunswick  Humane  Society  was  organized  Ma}'  2,  1820. 
This  was,  as  its  name  would  indicate,  a  benevolent  societ}',  its  object 
being  to  make  gratuitous  provision  for  the  sick  and  destitute,  of 
bedding  and  clothing,  as  far  as  it  was  able  ;  and  to  assist  such  desti- 
tute children  as  manifested  a  desire  to  attend  the  Sal)bath  school, 
with  suitable  clothing.  The  meetings  of  the  society  were  held  at  the 
residences  of  members.  During  the  first  year  there  were  weekly  meet- 
ings at  which  the  time  was  occupied  in  making  or  repairing  such  gar- 
ments as  they  were  able  to  procure  for  the  above  purposes.  After  the 
first  year  the  meetings  were  less  frequent. 

In  March,  1822,  the  soi'iety  contributed  clothing,  bedding,  etc., 
**  to  students  who  had  suffered  in  consequence  of  the  fire  on  March 
4,*'  and  it  was  at  this  time  voted  "  that  the  sum  of  thirtv  dollars  be 
(lelivereil  to  Reverend  William  Allen  to  be  exi)ended  in  such  articles 
as  he  shall  judge  proi)er  for  indigent  students." 

The  last  meeting  reconled  was  held  October  30,  188i. 

During  its  existence  this  society  did  a  good  work  in  relieving  the 
wants  of  the  poor  and  adding  to  the  comfort  of  the  sick. 

*  For  the  foregoing  account  we  are  indebtad  to  Ira  P,  Booker  and  to  L.  H,  Stover^ 
Secretary  of  United  Lodge. 
16 


242      msTORT  OF  brvnswick,  top&ham,  and  habpswell. 

The  Pejepscot  Lodoe,  No.  13,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, was  chartered  M&y  2,  1844,  and  was  instituted  June  13,  of  the 
same  year.  The  charter  members  were  Giles  Bailev,  John  S.  Gush- 
ing, John  D.  Cobum.  Leonard  P.  Merrill,  William'  H.  Morse,  and 
Horatio  Hall. 

The  first  officers  were,  John  S.  Gushing,  N.  G. ;  Wm.  II.  Morse, 
V.  G. ;  Jos.  Lunt,  2d,  T. ;  L.  P.  Merrill,  Sec. 

A  hall  was  leased  for  five  years  of  John  S.  Gushing,  over  his  store 
on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets.  It  was  neatly  and 
elegantly  furnished.  The  carpets,  drapery,  curtains,  etc.,  were  of  the 
best  material,  and  the  regalia  compared  favorably  with  any  in  the 
State.  There  were  forty-two  members  the  first  year,  and  in  1849  the 
number  had  increase<l  to  eighty-six.  In  December  of  that  year  the 
hall,  which  the  lodge  had  occupied  for  five  3'ears  and  six  months,  was 
destro3'ed  by  fire  together  with  its  contents,  including  nearly  all  of  the 
books  and  papers  belonging-to  the  lodge. 

After  the  fire,  the  lodge  held  its  meetings  in  a  room  over  the  store 
on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Lincoln  Streets,  now  A.  T.  Gampbell's 
store. 

The  lodge  did  not  flourish  after  the  fire  as  it  had  done  previously, 
and  the  number  of  its  members  grew  less  each  year,  and  finally,  in 
1858,  the  charter  was  surrendered.  From  that  yenx  until  1875,  there 
was  no  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  in  Brunswick. 

In  the  fall  of  1875  the  old  lodge  was  revive<i,  and  on  the  evening 
of  October  6  there  was  a  public  installation  of  otilcers.  Grand  Mas- 
ter Stone  was  the  installing  officer,  and  the  following  were  installed 
officers  of  the  lodge,  Frank  Johnson,  Noble  Grand ;  Ed.  Beaumont, 
Vice-Grand ;  R.  B.  Melcher,  R.  S. ;  W.  F.  Tyler,  P.  8. ;  E.  T. 
Gatchell,  Treasurer. 

The  Ladies*  Soldiers  Aid  Society  was  organized  September  16, 
1802.  It  lasted  during  the  civil  war.  In  18G3  a  series  of  public 
tableaux  was  given  by  it  for  the  purpose  of  raising  fuuds. 

LITEUARY  AND  SCIENTIFIC  SOCIETIES. 

Of  the  numerous  associations  of  a  literary  and  scientific  charac- 
ter, which  have  existed  in  either  of  the  three  towns,  the  Nucleus 
Club,  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  deservedly  takes  the  highest 
rank.  It  was  instituted  April  7,  1820,  and  existed  under  the 
name  of  the  Nucleus  Club  until  about  1832,  when  its  name  was 
changed  to  that  of  the   Brunswick  and  Topsham  Athenceum^  and 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  243 

nti'lor  that  name  it  flourished   for  some  years  longer,  when  it  was 
disbanded. 

In  the  year  1830  the  constitution,  bj'-laws,  and  rules  of  the  club 
were  printed,  together  with  a  list  of  its  members  at  that  time. 

The  exercises  at  the  regular  meetings  of  the  club  were  a  discussion 
of  a  subject  which  had  been  propose<l,  and  accepted  by  the  club,  at  a 
previous  meeting,  a  lecture,  dissertation,  or  such  other  p>erformance  as 
may  have  been  provide<l  for  by  the  superintending  committee  or  by 
the  bv-laws. 

On  the  evening  of  each  anniversary  an  address  was  delivered  by  the 
president,  and  a  poem  or  dissertation  by  some  member,  previously 
appointed  b}-  the  club  for  the  purpose. 

The  by-laws  provided  for  ''a  superintending  committee,"  whose 
dut\'  it  was  to  select  subjects  and  assign  them  to  different  members 
for  discussion ;  to  procure  lecturers ;  purchase  apparatus ;  and  to 
have  the  general  superintendence  of  all  matters  not  otherwise  pro- 
vided for. 

Standing  committees  were  also  chosen  annually,  for  the  considera- 
tion of  the  subjects  mentioned  in  the  list  given  below.  Tlie  club  pos- 
sessed quite  a  large  library,  which  was  procured  by  purchase  and  b}' 
donations.  When  the  club  disbanded  the  books  were  distributed  by 
lot  among  the  members. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  officers  and  committees  in  1830 :  — 

John  C.  Humphrej's,  President;  James  Gary,  Vice-President;  Fran- 
cis D.  Gushing,  Secret'tr*f ;  ,  Librarian, 

Library  Committee.  — A.  B.  Thompson,  John  Goburn. 

t>%iper intending  Committee,  —  Ebenezer  Everett,  John  Goburn,  Wm. 
Smyth,  Gharles  Weld,  John  McKeen,  Samuel  P.  Newman,  Alpheus  8. 
Packard,  Elijah  P.  Pfke,  and  Abncr  B.  Thompson. 

On  Chemistry,  —  Parker  Gleaveland,  Geo.  K,  Adams,  Geo.  W. 
Holden,  A.  S.  Packard,  and  Joseph  McKeen. 

lolitical  Economy  and  Civil  Polity,  —  Robert  P.  Dunlap,  S.  P. 
Newman,  G.  Packartl,  R.  T.  Dunlap,  M.  Y.,  Woodman,  S.  Veazie, 
C.  Thompson,  and  P.  O.  Alden. 

Litf-rature  and  Belles- Lett  res,  —  S.  P.  Newman,  E.  Everett,  and 
R.  P.  Dunlap. 

Banking  and  a  Circulating  Medium,  — E.  Everett,  Thos.  G.  Sand- 
ford,  N.  Hinkley,  N.  Perkins,  and  A.  B.  Thompson. 

Electricity  and  Magnetism, — Wm.  Smyth,  I.  Lincoln,  James 
McKeen,  and  L.  T.  Jackson. 

Navig'ition  and  Commerce,  —  A.  B.  Thompson,  S.  Veazie,  W. 
Frost,  John  Dunlap,  and  N.  Hinkley. 


244      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Astro7iomy.  —  C.  Weld  and  James  McKeen. 

Agriculture.  —  David  Dunlap,  John  McKeen,  Nalh.  Dunning,  and 
G.  W.  Holden. 

Subjects  connected  xcith  the  Business  and  future  Prospects  of  the  Vil- 
Idges  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham.  — John  Coburn,  J.  C.  Humphreys, 
F.  D.  Gushing,  Dennis  Gillett,  J.  S.  Gushing,  R.  Forsaith,  G.  Water- 
house,  John  Owen,  and  Jos.  Dunning, 

Mathpfnatics  and  Surveying,  —  E.  P.  Pike,  Wm.  Smjth,  and 
R.  D.  Dunning. 

Hydrostatics  and  Mechanics.  —  P.  Gleaveland,  J.  Gar}',  Joseph 
Griffin,  N.  Houghton,  L.  T.  Jackson,  J.  W.  Moore,  L.  T.  Gushing, 
J.  R.  Larrabee.  H.  M.  Prescott,  J.  Stinchfield,  and  E.  P.  Pike. 

Public  Schools.  —  John  McKeen,  Geo.  E.  Adams,  N.  Perkins,  Asa 
Docige,  and  J.  B.  Gleaveland. 

Road^  and  Canals. — Gharles  Packard,  John  Gobnrn,  Joseph 
McKeen,  M.  E.  Woodman,  and  G.  Thompson. 

History. — A.  S.  Packard  and  G.  Weld. 

The  Pythonian  Society  was  organized  in  January,  1825.  Its 
object  was  debating,  composition,  and  friendly  and  social  intercourse. 
Only  persons  desirous  of  cultivating  literar}'  tastes  b}^  reading  and 
discussions  were  invited  to  join.  Disseitations  were  required  from 
each  member  in  turn. 

Its  anniversary  was  obsen'ed  ever}'  year  in  Januarj',  at  which  time 
officers  were  chosen,  and  an  address  delivere^J;)y  the  president ;  some- 
times there  was  also  a  poem,  and  always  a  supper. 

The  society  had  a  small  but  select  library,  which  was  distributed 
among  its  members  when  it  was  disbanded,  which  was  about  1853, 
having  had  an  existence  for  upwards  of  twenty -five  years. 

The  average  membership  was  small,  perhaps  fifteen  or  sixteen. 
We  are  unable  to  give  a  list  of  its  members,  but  it  is  worthy  of  remark 
that  John  S.  Gushing  was  a  member  for  upwards  of  twenty-five  years, 
he  having  joined  it  the  first  year  of  its  existence  and  continued  an 
active  member  until  lie  removed  from  town  in  1852.  The  constitu- 
tion, by-laws,  and  a  list  of  members  of  this  organization  were  once 
printed,  but  no  copy  has  been  obtained  and  it  is  doubtful  whether  one 
now  exists. 

In  the  winter  of  1829-30  the  Brunswick  Lyceum  was  formed.  It 
originated  in  the  following  manner.  The  Washington  Fire  Glub  had 
bden  accustomed  to  hold  its  annual  meeting  and  to  have  an  address 
delivered,  in  the  winter  season.  This  year  the  address  was  by  Pro- 
fessor A.  S.  Packard,  on  the  organization  and  importance  of  lyceums. 


OENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  245 

This  address  was  favorabl}'  received,  and  the  club  voted  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  citizens  to  hear  the  address  and  to  consider  the  propriety 
of  forming  a  lyceiim.  A  meeting  was  held  in  the  Universalist  Church 
on  Federal  Street  (now  Dirigo  Hall,  on  Oilman  Avenue) ,  and  a  lyceura 
was  formeil  Committees  were  chosen  to  provide  dissertations  or 
essays  on  the  particular  subjects  of  which  they  had  charge.  Several 
lectures  were  given,  but  the  society  lasted  only  for  a  short  time. 

The  Brunswick  and  Topsiiam  Atiien.eum  was  the  Nucleus  Club 
under  a  diiferent  name.  It  received  this  name  about  1832.  This 
society  was  in  existence  in  1830,  but  no  later  reference  to  it  has  been 
found.  At  a  meeting  of  this  society  in  May,  1833,  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  inquire  into  the  practicability  of  building  a  railway  from 
Brunswick  to  the  tide  waters  in  Casco  Bay. 

In  November,  1842,  the  Brunswick  and  Topsiiam  Lyceum  Soci- 
ety was  formed.  It  was  in  existence  in  181.'),  perhaps  later.  The 
society  not  only  provided  lectures,  but  public  discussions  were  held  by 
it  in  the  Maine  Street  Baptist  Church  in  Brunswick. 

The  Castalian  Society  of  Brunswick  was  in  existence  in  1845. 
Nothing  more  is  known  concerning  it.  The  name  would  indicate  that 
its  object  was  to  encourage  a  taste  for  poetr}'. 

The  Brunswick  LisNiF.AN  Society,  organized  in  May,  1845,  was 
formed  at  the  suggestion  of  Professor  Cleaveland,  the  object  being  to 
''  acquire  a  systematic  knowledge  of  natural  histor}'."  Meetings  were 
held  once  a  week  at  the  residences  of  its  members.  At  each  meeting 
a  dissertation  -was  rea<l  by  some  member,  and  various  subjects  were 
analj'zed.  During  the  summer,  botany  was  the  subject  of  study.  At 
other  times,  ornitholog}',  conchologj',  entomology,  ichthyology,  mete- 
orology', mammalog}',  physiology,  and  geology. 

In  the  summer,  excursions  were  made.  July  1,  184G,  the  society 
went  to  llarpswell  Island  to  visit  a  grove  of  the  mountain  laurel. 
The  next  summer  an  excursion  was  made  to  Merrymeeting  Bay,  in  the 
steamer  "  Rough  and  Bead}'.**  Other  excursions  were  made  at  differ- 
ent times  to  localities  of  interest  in  the  vicinity. 

Each  anniversary  was  observed  in  a  fitting  manner.  The  first  by 
an  excursion  and  picnic  to  Harps  well  Island.  Tlie  second  by  a  social- 
meeting,  with  invited  friends,  at  Common's  Hall,  at  which  an  oration 
was  delivered  I)}'  W.  G.  Barrows,  a  i>oem  by  G.  F.  Dunninoj,  and  an 
original  otle  by  A.  \V.  Knight.  Upon  the  third  anniversary  a  social 
gathering  was  held  at  the  Brunswick  Seminary,  an  oration  was  deliv- 
ered b}'  H.  K.  Craig,  and  a  poem  by  A.  W.  Knight. 

In  1848  a  number  of  lectures  were  delivered  before  tho  society'  (not 


246        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

pablic)  by  Professor  Cleaveland,  G.  C.  Swallow,  A.  W.  Knight, 
Oliver  Stevens,  S.  J.  Huniphre}- ,  L.  P.  Merrill,  W.  G.  Barrows,  and 
Doctor  J.  D.  Lincoln. 

The  society  flourished  until  the  spring  of  1849  (a  period  of  four 
years),  when  it  was  "  voted  not  to  assign  any  regular  parts  during  the 
summer,  but  to  come  together  in  a  social  wa^^  once  a  fortnight  and 
occasionally  for  a  walk."  Meetings  were  thus  held  for  a  short  time, 
when  they  ceased  altogether. 

The  average  membership  of  the  society  was  fVom  twenty-five  to 
thirty. 

A  Town  History  and  Natural  History  Society  was  organized 
in  Brunswick,  March  30,  1870,  hy  the  choice  of  A.  G.  Tenney,  chair- 
man, and  John  Furbish,  secretary.  Apart  from  creating  an  interest 
in  its  members  for  the  objects  for  which  it  was  formed,  this  societ}' 
resulted  in  a  failure.  ,  ,  _ 

Debating  societies  and  lyceums  of  minor  importance  have  also 
existed  in  various  parts  of  each  of  these  towns,  but  they  do  not  call 
for  particular  mention  here. 

MUSICAL  SOCIETIEa 

The  firet  musical  society  in  this  vicinitj-  was  the  Hayden  Societv, 
formed  about  1825. 

This  was  followed  in  1829  by  the  Mozart  Society.  This  society 
was  formed  for  the  cultivation  of  musical  tastes  and  for  social  inter- 
course. Its  meetings  were  held  at  the  Tontine  Hotel,  "Maine  Hotel, 
and  at  Robert  On-'s  oflice.  It  embraced  members  from  Topsham  as 
well  as  fVom  Bnmswick.  Robert  Orr,  General  Abner  B.  Thompson, 
James  McKeen,  M.  D.,  John  H.  Thompson,  and  Benjamin  Deunison 
are  known  to  have  been  members. 

About  1844  the  Brunswick  Brass  Band  was  formed.  It  was 
probably  the  earliest  band  formed  in  this  vicinity.  It  consisted  of 
fifteen  members  and  was  in  existence  five  or  six  years.  William  R. 
Field,  Jr.,  was  the  leader  during  the  last  3'ear'of  its  existence. 

The  musical  organizations  of  a  later  date  have  been  too  numerous 
to  admit  of  mention  here. 

MOEA.L  ASSOCIATIONS. 

In  1826  the  Peace  Society  of  Brunswick  was  organized.  It 
continued  in  existence  for  seven  years,  perhaps  longer.  Nothing 
has  been  ascertained  in  regard  to  its  membership  or  its  meetings. 

March  20,  1838,  the  Topsiiam  Antislaverv  Society  was  organ- 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  247 

ized.  James  McKeen,  M.  D.,  was  elected  president;  David  Scrib- 
uer,  vice-president;  and  Joseph  Barron,  secretar}-.  The  whole 
number  of  members  was  fifty-eight.  Their  constitution  require<l 
them  to  meet  quarterly  for  the  purpose  of  discussing  the  subject  of 
slavery. 

Al)out  1845  the  Liberty  Association  of  Brunswick  was  formed. 
Nothing  has  been  ascertained  in  regard  to  this  society,  but  judging 
from  its  name,  it  was  probably  a  political  society. 

PROTECTIVE  ASSOCIATIONS. 

The  earliest  society  of  this  kind,  not  including  insurance  companies, 
etc.,  which  appear  in  another  connection,  was  the  Brunswick  Watch 
Association.  This  was  an  organization  of  citizens  voluntarily  asso- 
ciated tc^ether  to  secure  the  village  against  fire  during  the  winter 
season,  when  it  was  difficult  to  obtain  water.  At  that  time,  there 
being  no  suction  hose,  the  engines  had  to  be  filled  by  buckets. 

The  association  was  formed  Januar}'  14,  1826,  a  meeting  of  citi- 
zens being  called  for  this  purpose.  At  this  meeting  Joseph  McKeen, 
Parker  Cleaveland,  Caleb  Gushing,  Richard  T.  Dunlap,  Abner  B. 
Thompson,  and  Benj.  Weld  were  chosen  a  committee  to  prepare  a 
system  of  rules  for  regulating  the  watch.  They  reported,  and  the 
association  adopted,  thi  following 

BY-LAWS  FOR  THE   WATCH. 

1.  "  The  watch  for  each  night  shall  consist  of  four  citizens,  two  of 
whom  shall  remain  at  the  place  of  rendezvous,  while  the  other  two  are 
out  uix>n  duty. 

2.  "  The  watch  shall  so  divide  themselves  every  night,  that  each 
half  shall  i)efform  duty  in  that  part  of  the  village  in  which  they  reside, 
so  far  as  this  may  be  practicable. 

3.  **  The  watch  shall  make  fice  rounds  of  the  village  during  the 
night,  the  rounds  commencing  at  ten  o'clock,  ha'f  pa^t  eleven^  one 
o'clock,  half  past  two^  arid  four  o'clock. 

4.  *'  Each  round  shall  be  divided  into  two  parts,  viz.,  one  part^ 
commencing  at  the  place  of  rendezvous,  shall  proceed  up  Main  Street 
to  the  Academ}',  thence  returning  bj-  the  meeting-house  to  the  store 
of  Joseph  McKeen,  Esquire,  pass  through  Cross  Street  to  Federal 
Street,  thence  down  the  same  to  School  Street,  through  that  to  Pleas- 
ant Street,  proceeding  up  that  street  to  the  house  of  Captain  John  A. 
Dunning,  and  thence  return  to  the  place  of  rendezvous. 

'*  The  oilier  part ^  commencing  at  the  same  place  of  rendezvous,  shall 


248        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

proceed  down  Main  Street  to  the  bridge,  tlience  tlirough  Bow  Street 
to  Mill  Street,  and  up  that  street  to  the  house  of  Mr.  B.  Wells,  thence 
back  througli  Mill  Street  to  Main  Street,  thence  through  Mason 
Street  to  Federal  Street,  up  that  street  to  the  house  of  Mr.  C.  Water- 
house,  thence  back  through  Centre  Street  to  Main  Street,  and  thence 
to  the  place  of  rendezvous. 

5.  *'The  watch  will  proceed  on  their  rounds  without  causing  any 
unnecessary  noise  or  disturbance  to  the  inhabitants.  In  case  of  Jire 
they  will  give  the  most  piompt  and  effectual  alarm.  * 

6.  '*  One  member  of  the  committee,  in  the  afore-mentioned  order 
of  their  names,  will  superintend  the  watch,  as  expressed  in  the  sub- 
joined list  of  the  watch. 

7.  "  Every  member  of  the  association  who  maj'  be  necessarily 
prevented  from  watching  in  his  turn,  shall  furnish  a  suitable  substitute, 
who,  if  not  a  member  of  the  association,  shall  be  approved  by  the 
committee  for  the  week,  or  instead  thereof,  he  shall  paj'  the  sum  of 
one  dollar ;  and  the  name  of  the  substitute  shall  be  presented,  or  the 
money  paid  to  the  committee  for  the  week,  as  early  as  twelve  o'clock 
of  the  day  preceding  his  turn  to  watch. 

8.  '*  Each  watchman,  when  out  on  dut}',  shall  carry  a  watch-pole; 
and  the  poles  during  the  day  shall  be  deposited  at  the  place  of  rendez- 
vous, together  with  lanterns,  to  be  used  when  Necessary. 

9.  "  The  names  of  those  who  may  be  delinquent,  or  fail  to  com- 
ply with  the  by-laws  established,  shall  be  communicated  by  the  com- 
mittee to  the  association  at  the  close  of  the  season." 

The  by-laws  were  printed  in  sheet  form,  together  with  the  "  Order 
of  the  Watch,"  which  gave  the  names  of  the  members  and  the  dates 
upon  which  tliey  were  expected  to  watch.  The  place  of  rendezvous 
was,  at  first,  the  counting-room  of  Farrin  &  Dunning."  In  1827  it 
was  at  Barker  and  Rogers's  Inn. 

The  Executive  Committee  in  1826  were :  — 

Joseph  McKeen,  Parker  Cleaveland,  Caleb  Cushing,  Richard  T. 
Dunlap,  Abner  B.  Thompson,  Benjamin  Weld.  The  association 
contained  at  that  time  one  hundred  and  thirty -one  members,  some 
of  whom  were  professors  in  college,  and  nearly  all  of  whom  were 
amongst  the  most  esteemed  citizens  of  the  town. 

The  expense  of  the  watch  was  paid  by  voluntary  subscription  the 
first  3*ear,  but  afterwards  it  was  assessed  by  the  committee  upon  the 
citizens,  according  to  the  amount  of  property  they  had  exposed  to 
fire.  Hot  coffee,  bread,  butter,  cheese,  and  cold  meats  were  furnished 
the  watch  at  midnight.     The  watch-poles  which  were  carried  by  the 


GEIiERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  249 

watcbmen  were  about  three  feet  long,  with  a  hook  at  one  end.  The 
poles  were  used  to  walk  with,  and  the  hooks  were  used  to  catch  into 
the  clothing  of  any  culprit  who  sought  to  escape  from  the  watch  by 
running. 

A  *'*'  Watch  Book"  was  kept  at  the  rendezvous,  in  which  the  watch 
each  morning  recorded  any  interesting  event  which  occurred  during 
the  night.  A  book  containing  the  records  from  Januar}'  1st  to  March 
31st,  1827,  is  the  only  one  we  have  been  able  to  find.  It  contains  no 
reconl  of  historical  value,  but  has  much  of  a  humorous  chaiacter,  as 
the  following  extracts  will  show  :  — 

"  January  6th.  Nothing  material  hapi)ened  during  the  night. 
Found  one  light  in  a  dangerous  position  (viz.  at  the  head  of  a  bed  in 
a  chair)  ;  two  fires  badl}'  taken  care  of,  and  some  courting  on  hand, 
people  up  lat«." 

'•January  30th.  On  the  fifth  watch  saw  a  young  man  returning 
home  from  particular  business.  Detained  him  awhile,  demanded  his 
business  for  being  out  so  late ;  he  gave  us  good  satisfaction ;  we  let 
him  go  by  paying  one  bottle  of  wine." 

"February  15th.  F'irst  round,  half  past  twelve  o'clock,  met  Hannah 
S.  and  Geo.  W.,  all  was  well." 

"  March  4th.  One  thing  is  deserving  of  particular  notice,  viz.,  not 
a  hun(lre<l  rods  distant  a  fine  lady  was  observed  to  be  sitting  in  the 
lap  of  a  fine  gentleman,  and  as  our  respected  major  and  squire  would 
say,  ^  nil  as  fine  as  silk.* " 

The  watch  was  continued  for  several  winters  and  then  given  up. 

In  1849  a  similar  watch  was  established  upon  a  mo<lificd  plan. 
John  M.  Flail  was  api)ointed  superintendent  of  the  watch.  The 
watch  for  each  night  consisted  of  six  citizens,  who  were  divided  into 
three  parties  of  two  each,  and  it  was  so  an-anged  that  four  persons 
were  on  the  watch  at  all  times  through  the  night  until  daylight. 

The  watch  was  discontinued  at  the  end  of  the  season  and  was  not 
afterwards  revived. 

In  1852  and  1853  a  watch,  consisting  of  six  citizens  appointed 
each  night  by  the  justices  of  the  peace  and  selectmen,  was  kept  in 
Brunswick.  The  chamber  of  the  engine-house  on  Pleasant  Street 
was  used  as  the  watch-room,  where  the  watch  met  at  nine  o'clock 
each  evening  and  organized  themselves  for  the  night. 

TEMPERANCE  SOCIETIES  AND  TEMPERANCE  REFORM. 

The  first  movement  towanl  the  suppression  of  intemperance  in  this 
vicinity,  and  possibly  as  early  a  movement  as  any  of  the  kind  in  the 
State  (then  District)  of  Maine,  was  in  the  year  1813. 


250      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM^  AND  HARPSWELL, 

On  the  second  day  of  April  of  that  jear  a  societ}*  was  formed 
nnder  the  title  of  The  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  IIarpswkll 
Society  for  the  Suppression  op  Intemperance.  The  constitntion 
of  this  soeiet}^  at  first  limited  its  exertions  to  the  single  object  of 
restraining  intemperance,  but  by  an  amendment  adopted  at  its  first 
anniversar}'  in  1814,  it  was  provided  that  the  efforts  of  the  society 
should  also  be  directed  against  other  immoralities. 

The  following  extracts  iVom  the  constitution,  as  published  in  1814, 
will  show  the  character  of  the  organization  and  the  nature  of  its 
work :  — 

"  Article  2.  The  object  of  this  society  is  the  suppression  of  vice 
and  immorality,  and  the  encouragement  of  reformation  and  virtue. 
The  accomplishment  of  this  design  is  to  be  sought  by  admonition  and 
persuasion,  and  by  promoting  a  faithful  execution  of  the  laws." 

Article  7  provided  for  a  ''  Board  of  Council."  Among  the  duties 
of  this  board  were  the  following:  *'To  make  communications  to  other 
similar  societies ;  to  receive  communications  from  them ;  to  collect, 
combine,  and  digest  facts  and  general  information  relating  to  the  gen- 
eral purposes  of  the  society ;  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  the  further- 
ance of  these  purposes,  and  at  each  annual  meeting  to  rejjort  to  the 
society  their  doings ;  a  digest  of  the  facts,  and  general  information 
which  they  may  have  colleetetl,  and  such  measures  as  they  ma}'  judge 
suitable  for  the  societ}'  to  adopt  and  piirsue." 

The  eighth  article  provided  that  each  member  of  the  socict}'  should 
make  it  an  object  to  discountenance  and  prevent  as  far  as  may  be,  by 
his  own  example  and  influence,  ever}-  kind  of  vice  and  immorality. 

April  27,  1814,  Professor  Cleaveland  delivered  an  address  l)efore  the 
societ}'.  A  cop3'  of  the  constitution  and  a  copy  of  Prof.  Cleaveland's 
address  may  be  found  in  the  library  of  the  Maine  Historical  Societ}'. 

That  thei'e  was  need  enough  of  a  movement  in  favor  of  temperance 
at  this  period  is  evident  from  a  statement  made  by  a  competent  person, 
of  the  amount  of  spirits  of  various  kinds  that  were  sold  in  Brunswick 
between  November  1,  1826,  and  November  5,  1830.  From  this  state- 
ment it  appears  that  in  1826  more  than  12,000  gallons  of  liquor  were 
sold.  In  1830,  owing  to  the  temperance  reform,  the  amount  had  been 
lessened  one  half. 

The  second  temperance  movement  commenced  in  Brunswick  about 
the  year  1826.  The  subject  was  brought  before  the  people  b}'  a  lec- 
ture on  temperance  b}'  some  gentleman  from  Massachusetts.  Some  of 
the  citizens  of  the  place  became  interested  in  the  subject,  foremost 
amongst  whom  was  Professor  Packard,  then  a  young  man.     The  first 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL.  251 

movement  made  after  the  lecture  mentioned  above  was  the  meeting 
together  of  the  traders  of  the  village  to  consult  on  measures  for  pro- 
moting temperance  in  Brunswick.  This  meeting  was  held  at  the  old 
stage-house  kept  by  Russell  Stoddanl,  and  consisted  of  all  the  grocers, 
tavern-keepers,  and  victuallers  in  the  village.  Various  plans  were  dis- 
cussed, but,  about  the  close  of  the  meeting,  one  of  the  oldest  traders 
arose  and  submitted  a  plan  and  resolution.  The  resolution  was  as 
follows :  — 

"  Resolved^  That  hereaft;er  the  retailers  of  spirits  in  this  village 
charge  four  cents  per  glass  and  six  cents  per  gill  for  all  New  England 
rum  drank  in  their  places  of  business,  instead  of  three  cents  per  glass 
and  ^\e  cents  per  gill,  as  heretofore ;  and  be  it  further  resolved,  that 
we  add  one  cent  per  glass  and  one  cent  per  gill  to  the  price  of  all  other 
liquors  sold  at  our  places  of  business." 

This  resolution  was  probably  not  adopted,  as  it  is  said  that  the 
patrons  of  this  trader  found  much  fault  wifli  him,  complaining  that 
he  had  always  made  more  profit  by  his  sales  than  the  other  traders, 
because  when  he  drew  his  liquors  for  them  '^  he  placed  his  large  thumb 
in  the  measure  so  that  they  did  not  get  more  than  three  fourths  as 
much  for  a  glassful  as  the}*  did  at  other  stores."  A  good  way,  surely, 
of  compelling  men  to  drink  moderatel}' ! 

The  lecture  and  meeting  referred  to  did  good  by  attracting  attention 
to  the  subject,  though  no  real  measures  were  taken  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  intemperance.  In  1828  the  surve3'or8  of  highways  were 
instructed  b}*  the  town  of  Brunswick  to  use  no  ardent  spirits  at  the 
expense  of  the  town.  It  is  extremely  doubtful,  though,  whether  this 
vote  was  due  so  much  to  the  growth  of  a  temperance  sentiment  in 
town  as  it  was  to  a  desire  for  retrenchment  of  expenses. 

The  second  organization  for  the  purpose  of  promoting  a  temperance 
reform  was  known  as  The  Temperance  Society  of  Brunswick.  It 
was  organized  on  the  twent}'- third  of  November,  1830.  The  funda- 
mental article  of  its  constitution,  or  ^'  the  pledge,"  was  as  follows :  — 

*'  We  agree  that  we  will  not  drink  ardent  spirits,  nor  furnish  them 
for  others  to  drink,  except  when  the}-  are  prescribed  b}-  a  temperate 
physician  as  an  indispensable  medicine." 

The  society  was  at  first  quite  small,  there  being  in  January,  1831, 
only  twenty-seven  members.  The  number  soon  after  increased  to 
eighty,  and  in  the  3'ear  1835  there  was  a  total  membership  of  four 
hundred  and  sixtj'.  Many  of  the  members  were  so  liberal  in  their 
interpretation  of  the  pledge  as  to  suppose  they  might  drink  wine  or 
strong  beer  without  violating  it,  and  as  a  natural  consequence,  after 


252        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

a  while,  they  disregarded  the  pledge  altogether.  Others,  however, 
adhered  firmly  to  their  pledge,  and  remained  ever  after  strictly  tem- 
perate men.  The  societ}'  continued  in  existence  until  about  1842. 
Those,  however,  who  adhered  strictl}'  to  the  spirit  of  the  pledge  had 
previously  left  the  ranks  and  joined  otKer  organizations.  It  is  said  of 
those  who  remained  that  it  was  customary  with  them  to  drink  wine  at 
their  meetings.  However  that  may  be,  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that 
the  Washington  Temperance  Society,  in  1841,  requested  the  clerg)'- 
men  of  Brunswick  not  to  take  up  any  contribution  in  their  meetings 
for  the  old  temperance  society,  on  account  of  the  bad  influence  of  its 
example. 

We  have  been  unable  to  find  any  records  of  the  societ}^  and  cannot, 
therefore,  give  a  list  of  its  officers  or  an}'  of  its  transactions.  A  copy 
of  the  pledge,  containing  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  names,  is  iu  our 
possession.  Among  the  signers  are  the  names  of  professors,  clergy- 
men, lawyers,  physicians,  and  other  prominent  men  as  well  as  those 
of  humbler  citizens.  The  names  contained  in  this  list  were  obtained 
as  early  as  1833,  possibly  earlier. 

In  1834  the  Brunswick  Total  Abstinence  and  Charitable  Soci- 
ety was  iu  existence  and  was  probably  organized  that  year. 

In  183.")  the  Young  Men's  Temperance  Society,  of  Bnin8wick,^and 
the  Temperance  Society  of  Bowdoin  College,  were  formed.  There 
was  also  one  other  in  addition  to  those  idready  mentioned  as  formed 
in  1830  and  1834,  making  five  temperance  societies  in  existence  in 
Brunswick  at  this  time.  From  the  '*  Annual  Report  of  the  Directors 
of  the  Cumberland  Count}'  Temperance  Society"  we  obtain  the 
names  of  all  the  oJRcers  of  these  five  societies,  but  no  clew  is  given  as 
to  which  society  a  given  set  of  officers  belongs. 

Of  one  society  Doctor  S.  P.  Cushman  was  the  president,  and  Pro- 
fessor A.  S.  Packard  the  secretary.  Of  another.  Reverend  George 
Lamb  was  president,  and  James  P^lliot,  secretary^.  Pllder  John 
Baile}'  was  the  president,  and  »Ionathan  Snow  the  secretary,  of  a 
third.  Of  another,  Ezekiel  Thompson  was  the  president.  Of  the 
last,  John  S.  Grows  was  the  president,  and  Samuel  llolbrook  the  sec- 
retary. The  total  membership  of  the  five  societies  numbered  nine 
hundred  and  thirty-four. 

About  this  time,  as  early  at  least  as  1836,  the  Topsham  Temper- 
ance Society  was  formed.  This  was  the  first  society  of  the  kind 
amongst  the  people  of  that  town,  with  the  exception  of  the  ou 
formed  in  1813,  which  included  citizens  of  several  towns. 

Tue  Washington  Total  Abstinence   Society  of  Topsiiam  w^ 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  253 

fjrmed  on  the  seventh  of  June,  1841.     In  November  of  the  following 
\'ear,  there  were  one  hundred  and  thiitj-thrce   members.     Meetings 
were  held  weekly,  and  a  good  degree  of  interest  was  manifested. 
The  oflScers,  in  1842,  were  Samuel  W.  Swett,  president ;  Nathaniel 
Quint,  vice-president ;  Charles  J.  Harris,  secretar}- ;  Cjrus  M.  Pti ring- 
ton,  treasurer  and  collector ;  E.  Sawyer,  Charles  Barron,  and  Henr}' 
C.  Haynes,  prudential  committee.     We  have  been  unable  to  obtain 
any  further  information  regarding  this  society. 

The  Washington  Total  Abstinence  Society  of  Brunswick  was 
Ibrmed  on  Wednesday,  June  IG,  1841,  fourteen  persons  affixing  their 
Dames  to  the  pledge.     From  this  small  beginning  the  society  grad- 
ually increased  in  numbers,  and  in  May,  1842,  there  were  five  hundred 
and  eighty  members.     The  officers  chosen  at  the  time  of  the  oi-ganiza- 
tion  of  the    societ}'  were  General  John  C.  HumphrP3's,  president ; 
Moses    Towns,    vice-president;     George  W.    Carleton,    secretar}-; 
Colonel  A.  J.  Stone,  treasurer. 

Weekly  meetings  were  held,  at  first,  in  the  '*  Red  School-House  '* 
on  School  Street,  afterwards  in  Humphreys  Hall,  and  still  later  (in 
1842)  in  Washington  Hall,  in  the  old  tavern  which  stood  on  the 
site  of  the  present  post-olfice  and  engine-house. 

During  the  first  year  the  society  held  occasional  public  meetings,  at 
which  addresses  upon  temperance  were  made  and  the  pledge  otfered 
for  signatures.  One  of  these  meetings  was  held  in  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  was  addressed  by  William  H.  Hawkins,  of  Baltimore. 
After  the  address  one  hundred  and  one  persons  came  forward  and 
signed  the  pledge  of  total  abstinence.  Meetings  were  also  held  at 
New  Meadows  and  Growstown,  and  in  HarpswelL  Frceport,  and  other 
towns  in  the  vicinit}',  under  the  direction  of  delegations  from  the 
Brunswick  society. 

The  society  decided  b}'  a  unanlmovs  vote  that  moral  suasion  and 
not  coercion  should  be  the  method  bv  which  its  members  should  seek 
to  reform  the  intemperate  and  to  prevent  the  sale  of  ardent  spirits. 

On  the  twenty-second  of  Febniary,  1842,  Washington's  birthday  was 
celebrated  by  a  public  meeting  which  was  addrsssed  by  Reverend 
George  E,  Adams  and  Reverend  Mr.  Hillman,  after  which  the  society 
partook  of  a  supper  at  Washington  Hall.  Dean  Swift  furnished  an 
appropriate  banner. 

On  the  fourth  of  March,  1842,  Reverend  Mr.  Thompson  delivered  an 
address  before  the  society  at  the  Congregational  Church,  the  members 
marching  in  procession  to  the  church,  escorted  by  Captain  Newman's 
company  of  militia. 


254     msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

The  society  existed  for  several  3'ears,  precisely  how  many  we  are 
unable  to  state. 

In  1841  the  selectmen  of  Brunswick  voted  not  to  license  any  innhold- 
ers,  '*  unless  they  pledge  themselves  in  writing,  in  the  most  solemn 
and  positive  manner,  that  they  will  not  keep  liquors  in  or  about  their 
premises  to  sell  or  to  give  away."  They  were  also,  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  town,  directed  to  prosecute  all  persons  selling  liquors 
without  a  license.  They  were  led  to  the  adoption  of  these  measures 
in  consequence  of  the  growth  of  the  sentiment  in  favor  of  temp?ranc€ 
reform  which  was  promoted  by  the  temperance  organizations. 

The  Martha  Washington  Society  of  Brunswick  was  organized 
on  the  seventeenth  of  March,  1842.  A  number  of  ladies,  feeling  the 
importance  of  aiding  the  cause  of  temperance,  met  at  that  time  and 
formed  a  society.  Meetings  were  held  once  a  fortnight.  In  July 
following  the  society  numbered  two  hundred  and  seventy-five  members. 

The  society  not  only  labored  for  the  reformation  of  the  intemperate, 
but  rendered  substantial  relief  to  worthy  destitute  families. 

The  Young  Men's  Washingtonian  Society  of  Brunswick  was, 
as  its  name  would  imply,  an  association  of  3'oung  men  for  the  promo- 
tion of  the  cause  of  temperance.  It  was  formed  in  April,  1843. 
The  oflicers  at  that  time  were  M.  B.  Bartlett,  president ;  C.  P.  Stetson, 
vice-president ;  A.  W.  Knight,  secretar}' ;  and  E.  A.  Dunlap,  treasurer. 

In  1845  the  True  Washincjtonian  Temperance  Society  of  Tops- 
ham  was  formed.  Nothing  more  than  this  fact  has  been  ascertained 
in  regard  to  it.  It  was  probably-  formed  by  those  who,  though  tem- 
perate, could  not  conscientiously  join  a  strictly  total-abstinence 
society. 

In  184G  the  popular  feeling  in  regard  to  temperance  had  become 
suiliciently  powerful  to  enable  the  town  of  Brunswick  at  its  annual 
meeting  to  pass  the  following  resolve :  — 

**  Ri'solved^  That  the  tratfic  in  intoxicating  liquors  as  a  l>everage  is 
injurious  and  unnecessary,  and  that,  therefore,  said  traffic  ought  to 
cease  ;  that  the  selectmen  be  directed  to  take  all  legal  measures  for  its 
suppression  in  this  town,  and  that  in  so  doing  the  town  will  sustain 
them." 

On  the  seventeenth  of  PVbruar}'  of  this  year  a  public  temperance 
meeting  was  held  in  Brunswick,  at  which  a  committee,  consisting  of 
sixty-three  prominent  citizens  of  the  town,  with  John  F.  Hall  as  chair- 
man, was  chosen  to  devise  means  for  suppressing  the  sale  of  intoxi- 
cating liquors.  This  committee  issued  a  circular  letter  to  each  retail 
dealer  in  liquor  in  the  town,  requesting  him  to  relinquish  the  traffic. 


GENERAL  AND  SOCIAL,  255 

These  letters  had  the  effect  of  inducing  some  to  abandon  the  sale  of 
i/quor,  though  many  still  poraisted  in  it. 

In  the  fall  of  1849  the  Sawaoook  Division  of  the  Sons  of  Tem- 
i»KRANCE  was  iiwtituted  in  Topsham.  It  lasted  for  several  years,  and 
accomplished  much  good. 

The  Brcnswick  Division,  No.  142,  of  Sons  of  Temperaxc^e  was 
iiistitntcil  on  the  fifth  day  of  Febniary,  1850,  by  tlie  Sawacook  Divi- 
sir>n  of  Topsham.  The  charter  was  surrendered  on  the  twenty-third 
of  November,  1*852. 

Britnswick  Division,  No.  20  (Sons  of  Temperance),  was  instituted 
:March  22,  1858,  by  the  Grand  Worthy  Patriarch. 

In  August,  1859,  it  was  voted  to  admit  **  lady  visitors."  On  the 
"thirtieth  of  September,  1860,  there  were  seventy-eight  members,  and 
one  hundred  and  nineteen  lady  visitors.  During  the  three  months  pre- 
vious, sixteen  members  had  been  expelled,  eight  had  withdrawn,  five 
liad  violated  the  pledge,  four  had  been  admitted,  three  suspended,  and 
three  resigned.     The  division  broke  up  in  the  fall  of  18C2. 

Temperance  Watchmen.  —  A  temperance  society  with  the  above 
ap})el1ation  was  organized  in  the  3'ear  1850  or  1851.  Its  members 
were  required  to  watch  for,  and  report  to  the  society,  all  violations  of 
the  law  of  the  State,  prohibiting  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors.  The 
ceremonies  of  the  society  were  simpler  than  those  of  most  other 
orders,  and  the  expenses  were  less. 

l*t::.iEPscoT  Division,  No.  18,  of  Juvenile  Temperance  Watch- 
men, of  Brunswick,  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1^51,  and  in  the  course 
of  two  or  three  months  there  was  a  membership  of  about  fifty.  Weekly' 
meetings  were  held,  at  which  were  debates,  declamations,  and  other 
exercises  of  a  like  character.  In  the  autumn  of  18;')2  a  fine  banner 
was  presented  to  the  society  by  lad\*  friends.  It  is  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Mr.  Fessenden  I.  Day,  of  Lcwiston,  who  was  the  treasurer  of 
the  club.  The  founder  and  first  president  of  the  club  was  Mr.  George 
W.  M.  Hall.  The  club  gave  a  public  exhibition  on  the  fifth  of  Janu- 
ary, 18.74. 

A  Temperance  Society  was  organized  in  Topsham,  on  the  nine- 
teenth of  January,  1857.  It  had  no  other  title  than  '•  The  Temperance 
Sfxiiet}'."  Sixty-two  persons  signed  the  pledge.  David  Scribner  was 
chosen  president;  Joshua  Haskell,  vice-president;  William  Whitten, 
secretary-;  Sandford  A.  Perkins,  treasurer;  IIumi)hrey  P.  Mallett, 
William  Barron,  P^ben  Colbv,  committee. 

The  Cadets  of  Temperance,  a  societ}'  of  young  men  under 
eighteen  years  of  age,  was  formed  in  the   spring  of  1859  or  18G0. 


256        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

There  were  two  divisions  of  the  cadets,  one  in  Brunswick  and  the 
other  in  Topsham. 

The  Bowdoin  Temple  op  Honor  and  Temperance,  No.  5,  a 
subordinate  society  of  the  Good  Templars,  was  instituted  in  Bruns- 
wick, August  29,  1806.  The  society  was  located  in  Brunswick,  but 
contained  some  members  from  Topsham. 

The  Joshua  Nye  Lodge,  No.  126,  of  Good  Templars  was  organ- 
ized on  the  eleventh  of  April,  1870,  and  is  still  in  existence. 

The  Reform  Club  was  organized  in  1871.  It  has  held  a  number 
of  public  meetings  which  have  been  addressed  by  prominent  temper- 
ance men  from  abroad,  and  which  were  productive  of  much  good. 
The  organization  is  still  in  existence  and  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

No  account  has  been  obtained  of  an}'  associations  in  Harpswell 
except  temperance  societies,  though  without  doubt  there  have  been 
some  others.  Besides  the  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Harpswell  Tem- 
perance Society  already  mentioned,  there  was  in  1842  a  Washingtonian 
Society,  with  a  membership  of  over  two  hundred,  upon  Sebascodegan 
Island,  and  there  is  now  a  reform  club  of  about  forty  members  on 
that  island. 

Other  associations  not  given  in  this  chapter,  such  as  religious 
societies,  military  companies,  etc.,  will  be  mentioned  in  their  appro- 
priate places  in  other  connections. 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  257 


CHAPTER  VI. 

FIRES   AND   FIBE  COMPANIES. 

Conflagrations  have  been  of  rather  fVequent  occurrence  in 
Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Harpswell,  considering  the  population  of 
the  towns.  The  first^named  town  has  suffered  bv  far  the  most  and 
the  latter  the  least  from  this  cause.  The  following  account  of  the 
different  fires  that  have  occurred  in  these  towns  is  obtained  mainly 
from  the  accounts  given  at  the  time  in  different  newspapers,  from  the 
records  of  the  fire  companies,  and  from  private  journals.  It  is  believe<l 
to  be  as  full  and  accurate  as  is  possible  from  the  data  to  be  obtained. 

LIST  OF  FIRES  IN  BRUNSWICK. 

[1671.]  The  beech  woods,  where  the  pine  plains  now  are,  were 
destroyed  b}'  fire.^ 

[1676.]  A  house  and  other  buildings,  near  where  Pennell's  Wharf 
now  is,  were  fired  by  the  Indians.  It  had  been  occupied  b}'  a  Mr. 
Wakely,  who  was  killed  and  his  bod}*  cast  into  the  flames.^ 

[1690.]  This  year  the  whole  settlement  was  destroyed  by  the 
Indians. 

[1722.]  The  Indians  destro3ed  nearly  all  the  settlement.  Among 
the  houses  burnt  were  those  of  Thomas  Trego weth  and  James  Thorn- 
ton. The  latter  was  the  father  of  Matthew  Thornton,  one  of  the 
signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence. 

[1735.]  A  block  house,  probably  the  one  at  Maquoit,  was  acci- 
dentallv  burned. 

[1737.]  The  house  of  Andrew  Dunning  was  accidentally  destroyed 
by  fire,  and  his  widow  lost,  her  life. 

[1770.]  Deacon  Samuel  Stanwood's  house,  which  occupied  the 
ground  where  Mrs.  Joseph  McKeen's  house  now  stands,  was  burnt. 

[1777.]  There  was  a  fire  in  some  house,  not  known,  which  was 
caused  b}'  hot  ashes  in  a  barrel. 

1  Ti-aditioncU. 
17 


258         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

[1798.]  The  store  of  Stone  &  Veazie  was  burnt.  It  was  a  two- 
story  building. 

[1805.]  A  two-story  dwelling-house,  by  whom  occupied  or  owned 
is  unknown,  was  destroyed  b}*  fire. 

[1809.]  On  April  30,  an  extensive  fire  on  the  plains  near  the 
colleges.  On  June  29,  at  11  a.  m.,  the  Gun  House,  on  Center  Street, 
was  burnt.     A  new  one  was  at  once  built  on  the  same  spot. 

[1810.]  In  January',  day  unknown,  9.15  r.  m..  Captain  Richanl  * 
Tappan*s  house,  store,  and  bam,  and  the  house  of  Colonel  William 
Stan  wood.  Deacon  John  Perry's  house  was  torn  down  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  the  fire.  At  midnight  Secomb  Jordan's  house,  near  Pollard 
&  Green's  tannery,  was  burnt.  The  thenuometer  at  the  time  indi- 
cated —10°. 

[1814.]  Samuel  Page's  house  and  James  Jones's  blacksmith  shop 
were  burnt. 

For  the  next  eight  A'ears  there  has  no  record  been  found  of  any  fire. 
It  is  hardly  to  be  presumed,  however,  that  so  long  a  lime  could  have 
elapsed  without  some  such  occurrence.  Newspapers  at  that  time  gave 
but  little  attention  to  such  items,  and  they  maj'  easil}'  have  failed  to 
be  recorded  in  private  journals. 

[1^22.]  On  March  4,  the  principal  college  building  was  burneil 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  ;  the  whole  of  the  woodwork  was 
consumed  by  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening.  The  fire  was  undoubtedly 
accidental.  81,000  was  contributed  by  the  citizens  to  aid  the  suf- 
ferers, and  the  town  of  Dorchester,  Massachusetts,  also  gave  voluntary' 
assistance. 

[1823.]  On  Februar}-  12,  the  house  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Orr,  occu- 
pied b}'  the  Misses  Tappan,  was  destro^'ed.  In  Maivh,  James  Nelson's 
house,  near  the  landing,  was  burnt.  September  4,  a  fire  arose  in  the 
woods  of  Washington  Bowk(*r,  near  Rock}-  Hill,  and  made  such 
alarming  progress  that  it  soon  came  within  a  mile  of  the  village, 
where,  however,  its  progress  was  fortunately  stayed.  It  destroyed 
nearly  every  building  for  four  miles  in  length  and  one  in  breadth. 
Twenty*  l)uildings  were  burnt  in  all,  amongst  which  were  the  houses 
of  Andrew  Toothaker,  Lemuel  Morse,  and  the  Widow  Douglass. 
There  was  also  a  great  loss  in  woods,  fences,  sheep,  and  cattle. 
Among  the  sufferers  were  two  widows.  One  of  them,  possibly  Mrs. 
OoughiKs,  **  passed  through  a  scene  of  peculiar  anguish.  After  nearly 
exhausting  her  strength  in  fruitless  oflbrts  to  save  her  house,  she  was 


1  ClearelancTs  Journal, 


FIRKS  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES,  259 

compelled  to  bear  away  her  sick  son,  with  only  the  assistance  of  small 
children,  to  a  place  of  safet}'."  It  is  handed  down  as  a  tradition, 
that  this  fire  was  caused  by  a  boy  setting  fire  to  a  hornets*  nest,  in 
revenge  for  the  hornets  having  stung  him. 

[1825.]  On  Tuesday  morning,  March  28,  the  store  of  Jotham 
Stone,  occupied  b}*  Ammi  R.  West,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  together 
with  all  his  goods,  valued  at  $2,000,  his  account  books,  and  six  hun- 
dred dollars  in  bank-notes,  partly  insured.  This  is  tlie  first  instance 
met  with  in  this  town  where  any  damages  were  covered  by  insurance. 

December  1,  the  post-oflSce  caught  fire,  but  was  only  slightly  dam- 
aged. 

On  December  13,  occurred  what  is  known  as  the  "  Great  Fire." 
Thirt}' -three  ^  buildings  were  burnt,  among  which  were  the  two  fac- 
tory* buildings,  five  dwelling-houses  (occupied  by  eleven  families), 
two  stores,  two  saw-mills,  one  grist-mill,  and  a  number  of  mechanic 
shops.  The  thermometer  showed  the  temperature  at  the  time  to  be 
— 13°.  Many  persons  were  badly  frozen.  The  fire  broke  out  in  the 
then  new  factory  building.  The  total  loss  was  estimated  at  800,000. 
There  was  an  insurance  on  the  factory  of  $1,800. 

At  a  town  meeting  in  Brunswick,  held  on  the  twenty-second  of  De- 
cember of  this  year,  it  was  voted  that  a  committee  of  fifteen  persons  be 
appointed  to  solicit  aid  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  by  the  late  fire, 
and  to  distribute  what  might  be  collected.  This  committee  ai)pointcd 
a  subcommittee  of  three,  to  ascertain  the  actual  loss  sustained  bv  the 
citizens,  exclusive  of  that  of  the  factory  company  and  of  property 
which  was  insured.  In  their  report  it  is  stated  that  filly-seven  headed 
of  families  had  lost  $13,918,  sixty-eight  persons  had  been  deprived  of  a 
shelter,  and  more  than  fifty  persons  had  been  thrown  out  of  employment. 
$1,044  wa§  contributed  b}*  the  citizens  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers. 

In  consequence  of  the  frequency  and  severity  of  fires  at  this  time 
a  citizens'  watch  was  established  soon  after  the  last-mentioned  fire,  and 
all  citizens  were  requested  to  have  holes  made  in  the  shutters  of  their 
houses  and  stores,  in  order  that  fires  might  be  more  easil}'  discovered. 

[1820.]  On  November  3,  of  this  year,  the  following  advertisement 
apf)eared  in  the  columns  of  the  Baptist  Herald:  — 

'•  Wanted,  a  Smart,  Active  Boy  to  set  fires  and  burn  brush  on 
Brunswick  plains.  A  college-learnt  lad  would  be  preferred  ;  one  who 
has  little  else  to  do,  and  can  afford  to  work  ver}'  cheap.  Apply  to 
Doctor  Shame,  next  door  to  the  House  of  Correction." 

1  A.  C.  Raymond's  Diary. 


260        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  BARPSWELL, 

No  record  of  any  fires  has  been  fonnd  for  this  j'ear,  but  it  would 
seem  from  the  foregoing  advertisement  as  though  some  parties  had 
been  kindling  fires  in  the  woods  for  purposes  of  mischief,  and  that  the 
college  students  were  the  ones  suspected. 

[18'27.]  In  the  night  of  November  7,  the  stage  tavern,  kept  b}' 
Charles  M.  Rogers,  was  burnt.  Several  travellers  who  were  passing 
the  night  there  had  barely  time  to  leave  their  beds  and  get  out, 
unclad,  into  the  deep,  newly  fallen  snow. 

On  December  27,  the  house  of  Theodore  S.  McLellan  was  burnt. 

At  some  time  this  3'ear,  the  exact  date  not  known,  the  store  of 
Colonel  Jesse  Pierce  was  partially  destroyed  by  fire.  After  the 
flames  were  subdued  a  keg  of  powder  was  taken  out  of  the  building, 
the  outside  of  which  had  been  scorched  by  the  fire. 

[1820.]  On  Jul}'  26,  the  house  of  Stephen  Sawyer  was  destroyed 
by  fire,  together  with  most  of  its  contents.  Loss  about  eight  hundi'ed 
dollars ;  no  insurance, 

[1830.]     On  March  9,  J.  Nelson's  cabinet  shop  was  burnt. 

[1833.]  At  midday  on  January'  11,  the  store  of  John  McKeen  was 
burnt.  The  contents  were  mostlj*  saved.  The  building  was  esti- 
mated to  be  worth  between  six  and  seven  hundred  dollars,  on  which 
there  was  nn  insurance  of  four  hundred  dollars. 

[1834.]  August  7,  of  this  year,  the  lightning  struck  Captain  Given's 
barn  and  burned  it,  together  with  three  other  barns  and  ten  cattle. 

On  October  26,  the  old  west  meeting-house  was  burned  by  an  incen- 
diar}'.  In  consequence,  the  town,  at  a  meeting  held  November  15, 
appointed  a  committee  to  legally  investigate  the  matter,  in  onier  that 
the  incendiary  might  be  punished,  and  voted  a  reward  of  one  hundred 
dollars  for  the  detection  of  the  offender. 

[18;5o.]  The  Dunning  house,  on  the  west  side  of  Maine  Street,  on 
the  hill,  nearly  opposite  the  meeting-house,  was  burned  either  this  3'ear 
or  (possibly)  in  1834.     The  building  was  two  stories  high. 

[1836.]  On  Febniary  17,  at  half  past  two  o'clock,  a.  m.,  the 
college  building  known  as  Maine  Hall  was  totall}'  destroyed  b}' 
fire. 

On  September  26,  the  drjing-house,  near  and  belonging  to  the 
factorv,  was  burned. 

On  November  7,  the  new  two-story  building  of  Messrs.  Stone  & 
Morse,  near  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Bow  Streets,  was  burned.  It  was 
occupied  by  John  L.  Swift,  tailor. 

[1837.]  This  j'ear  Messrs.  Stone  &  Morse  were  again  sufierers 
from  fire,  their  store  being  burned  on  May  11. 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  261 

[1888.]  On  May  3,  a  "  factory  and  picking  machine  was  burnt." 
The  newspaper  account  does  not  state  what  factory  it  was. 

[1841.]  August  14,  a  portion  of  the  McKeen  woods  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  December  17,  the  toll-bridge  burned.  At  some  time  this 
year,  date  unknown,  the  grist-mill  at  the  Lower  Falls  was  burned. 

[1843.]  The  house  of  Thomas  Crowell,  two  miles  from  Bruns- 
wick Village,  was  burned  on  July  23  or  24. 

[1845.]  On  March  27,  a  destructive  fire  occurred,  at  which  property 
to  the  value  of  $7,000  was  destro3'ed.  No  other  particulars  in  regard 
to  it  have  been  ascertained. 

On  September  24,  there  was  a  slight  fire  at  Humphrey's  Dye  House. 

On  October  3,  at  four  p.  m.,  the  "Growse"  house  was  burned. 
Loss,  two  hundred  dollars.     Fully  insured. 

On  October  13,  a  two-story  house  at  Mair  Brook,  owned  by  Mrs. 
Garcelon,  William  R.  Field,  and  George  Woodside,  was  destroyed. 
It  was  unoccupied.     Loss,  six  hundred  dollars.     Fully  insured. 

On  October  19  (Sunday),  between  twelve  and  one  o'clock  at  night, 
the  houses  of  Stephen  Harris  and  Joseph  Badger  were  burnt.  They 
were  insured  for  $2,450. 

On  December  26,  a  school-house  on  the  Portland  road  was  destroyed 
Ijv  fire. 

[1846.]  On  February  12,  Humphrey's  I^ye  House  was  burnt.  On 
Febniary  18,  Major  Willett's  house,  near  the  factor}',  was  partially 
destroyed.  Partly  insured.  The  fire  was  extinguished  b}'  the  Force- 
Pump  Water  Works.     The  fire  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

In  September,  Nichols's  store.  No.  7  Hinkley  Block,  was  slightly 
damaged  b}*  fire  and  the  goods  injured  b}'  water.     Insure<l. 

[1847.]  On  Apiil  14,  the  woollen-mill  of  Whitten  &  Meder  was 
partially  destroye<l.     Loss,  three  hundred  dollars.     Insured. 

On  November  13,  a  saw-mill  was  burned. 

[1849.]  On  May  3,  the  woollen,  factorj'  of  Whitten  &  Meder 
(owned  at  the  time  wholl}'  by  William  Whitten)  was  again  attacked 
by  fire.  The  total  loss  was  between  86,000  and  $7,000.  Insured  for 
$4,200. 

On  December  2,  three  buildings  on  Maine  Street,  beginning  at  the 
northern  corner  of  Pleasant  Street,  where  Lemont  Block  is  now,  were 
destroyed  by  fire.  John  S.  Cushing  occupied  the  corner  store,  and 
lost  eveiy'thing.  The  second  stor}-  of  this  building  was  occupied  by 
the  Odd  Fellows,  who  saved  nothing.  In  the  second  building  was  a 
tailor's  shop;  and  in  the  third,  a  shoe  store.  The  second  story  of 
these  buildings  was  occupied  by  difierent  individuals  for  otiices. 


2i82      HISTORY  OF  BRUKSWICKy  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

[1851.]  On  March  12,  the  bookstore  of  Nathaniel  Davis  was 
burne<l  at  half  past  twelve  o'clock  in  the  night.  Jul}'  30,  a  Mr.  Cob- 
bett's  house  was  destroyed  b}'  fire. 

[1852.]  On  June  15,  Mr.  Larrabee's  barn  at  New  Meadows  was 
burnt ;  and  at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  twent3'-sixth  of  the 
same  month,  a  tannerv  was  burnt. 

[1853.]  The  building  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Mason  Streets 
was  destroyed  b}'  fire  in  Februar}-.  Lorenzo  Day  and  James  Car}* 
built  one  on  the  same  spot  that  fall. 

[1854.]  On  Saturda}^  afternoon,  January  14,  one  of  the  mills  on 
Shad  Island  took  fire.  The  fire  had  made  considerable  progress  before 
it  was  discovered,  but  by  the  untiring  exertions  of  the  fire  companies, 
assisted  by  the  compan}-  from  Topsham,  the  fiamcs  were  soon  subduerl. 
The  mill  was  owned  by  the  Granite  Bank  Company  of  Exeter,  New 
Hampshire,  whose  loss  was  estimated  at  8300.  It  was  used  b}'  Mr. 
B.  E.  Parkhurst  as  a  match-box  manufactory.  His  loss  was  about 
three  hundred  dollars,  but  was  partially  covered  b}*  insurance.  The 
machinery'  in  the  mill  was. the  property  of  Messra.  Byam  &  Pearsons, 
of  Boston,  was  only  partially  injured,  and  was  probably  insured. 
July  6,  the  house  of  Christopher  Mitchell,  on  the  Portland  road, 
was  burned.     No  insurance. 

[1855.]  On  March  7,  a  loaded  freight  car  was  burned  near  the 
de|K)t.  The  loss  was  estimated  at  $3,000.  April  19,  there  was  a  fire 
at  Carleton's  gum  factor}*.     Amount  of  damage  not  stated. 

On  June  25,  the  freight  and  engine  houses  of  the  Kennebec  and 
Portland  Railroad  Company  were  destroyed  by  fire  about  nine  o'clock 
p.  M.     The  contents  of  the  buildings  were  saved. 

On  July  1,  an  old  stable  on  School  Street,  the  house  and  stable 
belonging  to  the  Misses  McLellan,  and  the  Stoddard  house,  corner  of 
Federal  and  School  Streets,  were  destix)3'ed  by  fire.  The  buildings  on 
the  "  Stoddard  lot"  were  owned  by  General  R.  T.  Dunlap,  and  were 
not  insured.  The  loss  on  them  was  about  six  hundred  dollars.  The 
McLellan  house  was  partiall}^  insured. 

[1856.]  On  May  17,  Miss  Narcissa  Stone's  steam-mill  on  Pleasant 
Street  was  burned.  It  was  uninsured,  and  the  loss  amounte<l  to 
$1 ,600.  This  fire  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 
In  November  the  house  of  Isaac  Varney,  near  the  depot,  was  burned 
to  the  ground. 

On  December  10,  the  Washington  Hall  building  and  Par8hle3'8 
store  were  de8tro3*ed  by  fire.  The  former  was  occupied  by  the  barber 
shop  of  E.  Eaton,  by  Johnson  &  Goddard's  confectionery  shop,  and 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  2<i3 

by  four  faroilies ;  and  the  hall  was  used  by  the  Brunswick  Light  In- 
fantr3*  as  their  armor}'.  The  building  was  owned  by  G^ieral  R.  T. 
Dunlap  and  S.  Thompson.  Dunlap's  share  was  uniiisured.  Thomp- 
son was  insured  for  five  hundred  dollare.  Eaton's  loss  was  some  over 
fifty  dollars.  Johnson  &  Goddard  were  fully  insured.  The  loss  to 
the  Infantry  Company  was  a]x)ut  eight  hundred  dollars. 

Parshley's  store  was  occupied  in  the  basement  by  Mr.  II.  A.  Thomp- 
son, and  in  the  second  stor^*  by  two  families.  Parshley's  loss  was 
about  five  hundred  dollars  in  excess  of  his  insurance.  The  whole  loss 
due  to  the  fire  was  estimated  at  $3,000. 

[1857.]  In  the  spring  of  1857  the  town-house  was  burnt.  It  was 
the  work  of  an  incendiar3\  On  September  29,  the  Kennebec  and 
Portland  Railroad  depot  burned  down.  A  great  many  papers  and 
considerable  baggage  were  destro3'e<l.  though  some  of  the  baggage  and 
freight  was  saved.  John  A.  Cleaveland  lost  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five,  William  R.  Field  four  hundred,  and  Doctor  Haley  twent3'-five 
dollars.  The  loss  to  the  compan}^  was  about  $7,000.  Tliey  were  un- 
insured. One  tnink  that  was  burned  was  said  to  contain  jewelry  to 
the  value  of  three  hundred  dollars.  This  fire  was  thought  to  be  the 
work  of  an  incendiary'. 

On  October  20,  Darius  Newman's  shop,  and  on  October  23,  James 
Spollett's  shop  on  Pleasant  Street,  were  burned.  October  30,  Leon- 
ard Merrill's  house,  at  the  Landing,  was  partially  destroyed.  No- 
vember 22,  Jotham  Varney's  building,  occupied  by  W.  J.  Harmon 
&  Co.  as  a  billiard  and  refreshment  saloon,  was  burnt.  December 
15,  about  four  o'clock  a.  m.,  the  Bourne  mill,  in  the  cove,  was  burnt. 
It  belonged  to  R.  T.  Dunlap,  C.  J.  Oilman,  A.  B.  Thompson,  and 
Ward  Coburn. 

[1858.]  February  25,  there  was  a  fire  in  the  picking-room  of  the 
factory. 

[1859.]  At  one  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  July  15,  the  barn,  shed,  and 
back  part  of  the  house  of  the  Misses  T.  and  J.  Hinkley,  on  Maine 
Street,  which  was  formerly  owned  and  occupied  by  Reverend  John  S. 
C.  Abbot,  were  burned.  The  buildings  were  insured.  The  fire  was 
supposed  to  be  the  work  of  an  incendiarj-. 

On  July  20,  four  or  five  acres  of  swampy  land,  near  Rocky  Hill, 
were  burned  over. 

In  August  there  was  a  fire  in  the  woods  south  of  the  McKeen  Road, 
and  also  on  the  Plains. 

[I860.]  On  vSeptember  16,  the  house,  barn,  shed,  etc.,  of  Mr. 
Hiram  Campbell,  on  the  Bath  road,  burned  down. 


264        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

[1862.]  June  27,  the  McKeen  Store,  occupied  by  D.  B.  Libby, 
and  by  Jo8^h  McKeen,  treasurer  of  Bowdoin  College,  was  de8tro3'ed 
by  fire.  The  more  valuable  books  of  the  college  were  saved,  though 
many  papers  were  lost.  Henry  Bowker's  house  and  H.  A.  Thomp- 
son's store  were  slightly  damaged  by  this  fire. 

On  August  5,  Gideon  Kincaid's  house,  bam,  and  shed  were  burnt. 

[1863.]  At  eight  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  December  2,  tiie  stable  attached 
to  the  dwelling  of  James  Hall  was  destro^'ed  by  fire.     Insured. 

[1864.]  July  27,  the  house  and  barn  of  Calvin  Cooper,  one  mile 
from  the  village,  on  the  Bath  road,  was  burned,  together  with  its 
contents. 

About  midnight  of  August  12,  the  house  of  Washington  Stanwood, 
near  Mair  Brook,  was  consumed  b}'  fire,  together  with  the  out-build- 
ings and  contents.  It  was  occupied  by  Emery  Ilersey.  Buildings 
insured  for  five  hundred  dollars. 

At  ten  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  October  14,  one  of  Humphrey's  steam- 
mills  (the  most  southerly  one)  was  consumed  by  fire.  The  loss  was 
estimated  at  $5,000.  Partially  insured.  Lumber  valued  at  $1,000 
and  not  insured  was  also  destroyed  b}'  this  fire. 

October  20,  Captain  Nathaniel  Badger's  barn  was  burned,  together 
with  his  horse  and  carriages. 

[1865.]  On  the  tenth  of  April  the  barn  of  the  poorhouse  was 
fired  by  an  insane  person.  The  loss  was  about  seven  hundred  dollars. 
Insured  for  two  hundred  dollars. 

At  eleven  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  Ma}*  3,  the  grocery  store  of  R.  Crockett 
&  Co.  was  entirel}^  burned.     Partially  insureil. 

On  September  26,  the  picking- room  in  the  cotton  factory  took 
fire,  but  the  flames  were  soon  subdued  and  but  little  damage  was 
done. 

[1866.]  At  half  past  eleven  p.  m.,  on  March  7,  a  loaded  freight 
car  was  burned  on  the  track  near  the  depot. 

In  the  night  of  June  23,  a  car  loaded  with  hay  took  fire  near  the 
dej^ot. 

At  three  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  December  22,  Forsaith  &  Dunning's 
house  and  out-buildings,  and  the  house  and  stable  occupied  by  G.  B. 
Tenney,  were  burned.  The  loss  of  Messrs.  Dunning  &  Forsaith  was 
estimated  to  be  82,000  over  and  above  the  insurance  to  each.  Tenne\*'s 
loss  was  estimated  at  about  five  hundred  dollars  more  than  the  insur- 
ance, and  the  house  occupied  by  him  was  valued  at  seven  hundred 
dollars  more  than  its  insurance.  This  fire  was  supposed  to  be  the 
work  of  an  incendiar}*. 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  265 

[1867.]  On  April  16,  the  stable  of  W.  A.  Campbell,  including 
four  horses,  three  top-buggies,  and  one  open  buggy,  one  Concord 
vagon,  four  single  sleighs,  one  double  sleigh,  six  single  harnesses, 
one  double  and  one  team  harness,  fifteen  robes,  an  express  wagon,  and 
a  hearse ;  also  the  barn  of  J.  Lufkin  and  that  of  the  double  house 
belonging  to  Albert  C.  Otis  and  Mrs.  M.  G.  Merr^-man,  were  all 
destroyed  by  fire.  Campbell's  propert}',  exclusive  of  builduig,  was 
estunated  at  83,250.  lie  was  insured  for  $2,000.  The  stable  was 
worth  five  hundred  dollars,  and  was  insured  for  two  hundred.  The 
other  parties  were  all  fully  insured. 

At  half  past  five  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  November  2,  Jotham  Vnrney's 
building,  containing  Halo}''s  apothecary  store  and  York's  barber  shop, 
was  burned.     No  insurance. 

[1868.]  On  Februaiy  15,  the  woodshed  of  the  poorhouse  was 
consumed  b}'  fire.  Estimated  value,  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars. 
Uninsured. 

At  half  past  nine  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  June  29,  an  engine-house  of 
the  Androscoggin  Railroad  Company  was  burnt. 

About  midnight  of  September  2,  the  barn  and  a  portion  of  the 
house  of  Waitstill  Merrj'man  was  burned.  It  was  occupied  by  D.  S. 
Iferkins.     Merryman  was  insured,  but  Perkins  was  not. 

On  November  26,  the  house  of  Harvey  Stetson  was  partially  con- 
sumed by  fire.  The  loss  was  estimated  at  eight  hundred  dollars.  No 
insurance. 

On  December  4,  a  house  below  Mair  Brook  was  slightly  injured  by 
fire. 

December  5,  the  house,  bam,  shed,  and  several  cords  of  wood, 
belonging  to  Captain  Jesse  Coolidge,  on  the  river  road  to  Kocky  Ilill, 
about  one  and  a  half  miles  from  the  village,  were  burnt.  The  loss 
amounted  to  82,200.     Insured  for  $1,000. 

[1869.]  At  four  o'clock  a.  m.,  January  21,  Mr.  Robert  Bowker's 
house  was  partially  burned.     Fully  insured. 

At  seven  o'clock  p.  m.,  on  January  29,  Charles  Cobb's  tool  shop, 
on  Cushing  Street,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  loss  was  about  four 
hundred  dollars.     No  insurance. 

At  ten  p.  M.,  on  Ma}'  9,  Moses  Freeman's  house  and  shed,  on  the 
Bath  road,  were  burnt.  Everj'thing  was  lost,  even  to  the  clothing  of 
the  inmates.  House  insured.  At  twelve  o'clock  p.  m.,  John  Snow's 
house,  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the  village,  was  burned. 

[1870.]  On  the  evening  of  July  19th,  a  farm-house  on  the  estate 
of  Captain  Larrabee  at  New  Meadows  was  burned. 


266      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

[1871.]  At  six  and  a  half  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  Febniary  17th,  there 
was  an  extensive  conflagration  at  the  cove,  with  the  following  loss :  — 

Colby  &  Co.'s  sash  and  blind,  saw,  shingle,  and  clapboard  mill,  two 

planers,  etc.,  estimated  at $10,000 

Wing's  grist-mill,  estimated  at 2,000 

Coburu's  saw-mill,  estimated  at 5,000 

Blethcn,  Booker  &  Given,  tools,  machinery,  etc.         ....  1,000 

David  Denuisou,  plug-borers,  etc 400 

Edward  Stone's  sash  and  blind  mill, 4,000 

William  Whitten's  mill,  cardlng-machines,  etc.          ....  4,000 

Sundry  others 2,000 

Total  loss $35,400 

The  shore-string  of  the  toll-bridge  was  burnt,  and  one  span  and 
one  abutment  spoiled. 

On  the  morning  of  May  20th,  Samuel  Gummer*s  house  at  Maquoit 
was  injured  b^'  fire  ;  loss  estimated  at  two  hundred  dollars. 

[1872.]  At  two  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  April  3d,  the  Portland  and  Ken- 
nebec Railroad  bridge  across  the  Androscoggin^  took  fire  and  was 
entirely  destroyed. 

[1873.]  On  March  16th  the  farm-house  of  Horace  Philbrook,  with 
its  contents,  was  entirely  consumed  b}'  fire. 

July  141h,  two  miles  of  woods  at  New  Meadows  were  burned.  The 
fire  caught  from  a  locomotive. 

At  fifteen  Ininutes  past  eight  o'clock  a.  m.,  of  August  8th,  fire  was 
discovered  in  the  stable  of  tbe  Weld  house  on  Federal  Street.  The  fire 
was  chiefl}'  confined  to  the  stable  and  woodshed,  which  were  a  total  loss. 
The  L  attached  to  the  main  house  was  slightly  damaged  by  fire  and 
water.  A  portion  of  the  library  of  Reverend  Doctor  Woods  was 
burned  and  many  valuable  historical  documents  were  destroyed.  The 
loss  on  the  buildings  was  about  $2,200,  on  which  there  was  an  insur- 
ance of  81,300.  The  loss  to  the  hbrar}-  was  estimated  at  $1,000,  but 
this  was  a  low  estimate.     There  was  no  insurance  on  the  library. 

At  nine  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  October  31st,  fire  broke  out  in  a  house  on 
Bow  Street,  occupied  by  a  French  famil}'.  It  was  speedily  extin- 
guished and  but  slight  damage  was  done. 

[1874.]  At  half  past  five  p.  m.,  on  May  15th,  Benjamin  Dunning's 
house  was  partially  burnt.     It  was  insured. 

At  three  o'clock  a.  m.,  on  July  19th,  the  High  School-House  was 
damaged  b}'  fire  to  the  amount  of  $1,500.  It  was  supposed  to  be  the 
work  of  an  incendiary. 

In   the   night  of   November  28th  the  soap  factor}'  of   Levi  F. 


FISE8  AXD  FIRE  COMPANIES,  267 

Andrews,  in  East  Branswick,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  .The  loss  was 
eight  hundred  dollars ;  no  insurance. 

In  the  forenoon  of  November  30,  the  house  and  bam,  with  their  con- 
tents, of  Martin  Eaton  was  consumed  by  fire.  There  was  no  insurance, 
and  the  family  was  left  destitute. 

[1875.]  In  the  night  of  March  3d  the  old  Hunt  house  on  the 
Maqnoit  road  was  burned,  together  with  the  adjoining  barn. 

In  the  morning  of  August  6,  the  house  of  Charles  J.  Noyes,  occu- 
pied by  Miss  Estabrook  and  Mrs.  Cutler,  was  somewhat  injured  by 
fire,  but  not  consumed ;  insured. 

[187G.]  On  April  27,  a  large  fire  occurred  on  the  Commons,  near 
the  Harps  well  road. 

September  15,  at  one  o'clock  a.m.,  the  Bradford  Cobb  house  on 
Pleasant  Street  was  totally  destroyed.  Loss,  $2,000 ;  insurance, 
$1,500. 

November  6,  at  one  o'clock  a.m.,  the  bam  and  L  of  the  Melcher 
house  on  Noble  Street  were  burned.  Two  horses  were  burned  to 
death. 

On  December  5,  Stephen  Walker's  house  on  the  Kiver  road  was 
destroj'ed.     Loss,  six  mmdred  and  twenty-five  dollars  ;  insured. 

The  following  is  a  resume  of  the  list  given  above :  — 

There  have  been,  dunng  the  time  from  1671  to  1877,  at  least  one 
hundred  and  twenty  occurrences  of  fire  in  town.  This  would  make 
an  average  of  a  little  over  one  fire  every  two  years.  Probably  a  cor- 
rect average  would  be  about  one  fire  a  year. 

Of  the  one  hundred  and  nine  fires  in  which  the  season  is  stated, 
twenty-six  occurred  in  the  winter  time,  twenty-seven  occurred  in  the 
spring,  twent3'-five  occurred  in  the  summer,  and  thirty-one  occurred 
in  the  autumn. 

Of  the  fortv-three  fires  in  which  the  time  of  dav  is  stated,  thirteen 
occurred  between  6  a.  m.  and  6  p.  m.,  and  thirty  between  G  p.  m.  and 
6  A.  M.  The  largest  number  of  fires  occun'ed  in  the  month  of  Decem- 
l)er  (12),  and  the  least  in  Januar}'  (6). 

LIST  OF  FIRES  IN  TOPSHAM. 

Though  the  town  of  Topsham  has  suffered  from  no  very  extensive 
conflagration,  it  has  had  the  usual  experience  in  fires  of  other  manu- 
facturing and  ship-building  towns  of  its  size.  The  onh'  accounts  of 
such  occurrences  before  the  present  century-  are  of  the  burning  by  the 
Indians  of  the  houses  of  Gyles,  Thomas,  and  York,  and  the  tradi- 


268      msTORY  OF  bbunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell, 

tional  account  of  the  house  of  Robert  Patten  having  been  twice 
destroyed  b}-  fire.     The  dates  of  all  the  above  fires  are  unknown. 

[1801.]  In  ^larch  or  April  of  this  year  Captain  Robert  Patten's 
house  was  destroyed  b}'  fire. 

[1810.]  On  Saturday,  July  21 ,  a  large  building,  occupied  b}'  Messrs. 
Coombs  and  Hodgdon,  the  office  of  Benjamin  Orr,  Esquire,  and  three 
stables  (probabh^  misprint  for  stores  in  the  newspaper  account) ,  belong- 
ing to  H.  Purinton,  N.  Green,  and  Messrs.  T.  &  N.  Sandford,  were 
consumed  by  fire. 

[1826.]  Satnrda}',  Januar}-  14,  '*  Sager's  house  in  Topsham  was 
burnt  about  three  o'clock;" 

On  Sunday,  January  15,  between  three  and  six  o'clock  a  m..  the 
large  three-story  building  owned  by  George  F.  Richardson,  and  a 
shop  owned  by  Daniel  Dennett,  were  burned.  The  upper  stories  of 
the  house  were  occupied  by  the  families  of  Messrs.  Richardson,  Oliver 
Conant,  and  Elipbalet  Bryant.  The  inmates  escaped,  but  saved  noth- 
ing. The  lower  story  was  occupied  by  Major  Nahum  Perkins  am: 
Samuel  R.  Jackson  as  a  grocer}"  store.  Richardson's  loss  was  estimated 
at  $4,000,  Perkins  &  Jackson's  about  $4,000,  and  S.  &  N.  Perkins, 
in  notes  and  accounts,  about  $7,000,  togethef  with  all  their  account- 
books.  Mr.  Gillet  lost  his  shop  and  stock,  about  $1,000.  There  was 
no  insurance.  It  rained  hard  and  there  was  snow  on  the  roofs,  or  the 
greater  part  of  the  village  would  have  been  destro^'cd. 

Saturday,  July  8,  P.  Dinsmore's  tavern,  owned  by  Captain  Samuel 
Perkins,  with  the  barns  and  out-houses,  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The 
Brunswick  people  had  to  la}'  planks  across  the  stringers  of  the  bridge 
(which  was  being  repaired),  to  get  their  engine  across. 

December  24,  about  12.30  at  night,  the  store  owned  b}-  General 
Samuel  Veazie,  and  occupied  b}*  Abel  Merrill,  Junior,  was  burned. 
The  goods,  valued  at  $1,000,  were  all  consumed,  together  with  three 
hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  cash.  The  building  was  not  insured, 
but  the  goods  were  insured  for  $1,500. 

[1828.]  On  January  27,  General  Veazie's  house,  situate<i  where 
Mr.  Woodbury  B.  Purinton  now  lives,  was  partiall}'  burned. 

[1842.]  July  25,  a  fine  new  ship  of  about  four  hundred  tons,  on 
the  stocks,  and  nearly  completed,  was  destro\'ed  by  fire  at  the  yard  of 
John  Goilfrey.  The  heat  was  so  intense  that  the  house  of  Mr.  F.  T. 
Purinton,  a  few  rods  distant  (near  the  junction  of  Main  and  Green 
Streets),  took  fire  several  times,  but  was  saved  by  the  exertions  of 
the  firemen.  A  stable  and  chaise-house  near,  belonging  to  Mr.  Pur- 
inton, were  consumed,  and  a  dwelling-house,  occupied  by  Mr.  Small, 
much  damaged  by  fire  and  water. ' 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  269 

The  vessel  was  yalaed,  as  she  stood,  at  $15,000.  She  was  owned 
by  Mr.  Godfrey,  and  Messrs.  Frost,  Haskell,  Perkins,  and  Mallet, 
the  greater  part  of  the  loss  falling,  however,  upon  Mr.  Godfrey.  No 
insurance.  The  whole  loss,  including  buildings,  etc.,  was  estimated  at 
not  less  than  $20,000. 

[1843.]  The  woods  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town  were  burned. 
Probably  what  was  known  as  the  *^  undivided." 

[1844.]  March  25,  the  house  of  Mr.  Leiden  Cook  was  destroyed 
by  fire. 

[1845.]     May  12,  woods  bunied. 

[1850.]  December  23,  Mr.  RuAis  Rogenf  s  mill,  at  the  upper  dam, 
was  destroyed  by  fire. 

December  29,  Mr.  Charles  Thompson's  store,  occupied  by  F.  T. 
Littlefield,  tailor,  and  C.  A.  Berry,  harness-maker,  was  totally  con- 
sumed.    The  contents  were  saved. 

[1851.]     January  20,  Ephraim  Griflln's  stal)lc  was  partially  burned. 

[1854.]     Railroad  bridge  was  partially  burned  this  year. 

[1857.]  December  3,  at  a  quarter  before  two  o'clock  in  the  morn- 
ing, Mr.  Alfred  White's  store  was  de8tro3'ed  by  fire. 

.On  the  9th,  al>out  eleven  and  a  half  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  the 
old  Court  House  (Acadeni}')  was  burned.  It  was  owned  at  the  time 
by  Charles  Thompson,  Joshua  Haskell,  AV.  B.  Puriuton,  William 
Dennett,  and  Warren  Johnson. 

On  the  17th,  John  Flagg's  house  was  totally  consumed. 

[1858.]  January  11,  the  Walker  house  sufleretl  slightly  from  fire. 
It  was  supposed  to  have  l)een  set  on  fire  b}*  an  iiicendiar}-. 

[1859.]     In  August  some  woods  were  burned. 

[I860.]  February  18,  the  old  store  of  F.  T.  &  W.  B.  Purinton, 
on  Main  Street,  was  burnt.  Dunlap's  paint-shop,  also,  at  the  same 
time.     It  was  thought  to  be  the  work  of  an  inceiuliary. 

April  23,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  night,  the  house,  bam,  and  sheds, 
with  their  contents,  of  Mr.  F.  W.  Dearborn  caught  fire,  and  were 
consumed.  The  house  was  unoccupied  at  the  time.  Loss  81,800. 
Partial Iv  insured. 

May  30,  John  F.  Blondell's  house,  four  miles  from  the  village, 
with  bam,  sheds,  etc.,  and  from  forty  to  fifty  cords  of  wockI  belonging 
to  Messrs.  William  and  Charles  T.  Patten,  was  destroved  l>v  fire. 

[18^j2.]  April  2,  John  Preston's  house,  barn,  and  sheds  on  the 
mill  road,  together  with  eight  cords  of  wood,  one  half  ton  of  ha}',  and 
two  fowl,  were  consumed  by  fire.     Insured  partially. 

[1863.]     August  25,  at  one  o'clock  at  night.  Maxwell  &  Jameson's 


270        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

blacksmith  shop  was  burnt.     Supposed  to  be  the  work  of  an  incen- 
diary.    Loss,  four  hundred  dollars.     No  insurance. 

[1864.]  April  23,  the  house  owned  by  Miss  Hannah  Thompson 
and  her  sister,  and  occupied  by  Miss  Thompson  and  Mrs.  Merris,  was 
burned.  No  insurance.  July  17,  the  woods  north  of  the  fair  grounds 
were  burned.     Considerable  damage  done. 

[1865.]  October  7,  an  old  dwelling,  belonging  to  Mr.  Rufus  Rog- 
ers, was  totall}'  consumed  by  fire.  October  12,  Wildes  P.  Walker's 
barn  was  set  on  fire,  but  was  extinguished  with  but  slight  damage. 

[1868.]  April  21,  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  the  barn  and 
shed  of  W.  1).  Haskell  acnd  the  bam  and  shed  of  H.  P.  Mallett  were 
consumed  bv  lire.     Both  were  insured. 

July  3,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening,  Perkins's  saw-mill  on  the  west 
side  of  the  Topsham  end  of  the  toll-bridge  was  burned.  It  was  the 
work  of  an  incendiar}'.     Loss  $1,500.     No  insurance. 

[1871.]  Ma}'  24,  in  the  night,  a  blacksmith's  shop  near  Mr.  Rufus 
Rogers's  mill  was  burned. 

[1873.]  April  14  (to  19),  Cornelius  Gleason's  house  on  the  old 
Bowdoinham  road  was  destroyed  b}-  fire.     No  insurance. 

April  19,  the  old  "Fuller"  Haley  house  was  burned.  It  h^d 
been  unoccupied  for  a  long  time,  and  the  fire  was  undoubtcdl}'  incen- 
diary. 

[1874.]  Juno  11,  the  barn  and  ha}'  of  Charles  E.  White,  and  lum- 
ber worth  $1,000,  were  destroyed  by  fire.     No  insurance. 

August  8,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  on  the  Mallet  road, 
some  three  or  four  miles  from  the  village,  Mr.  Charles  Purinton's 
house,  stable,  and  barn  were  burned.  Loss  about  $4,000.  Insured 
for  $2,000. 

The  following  is  the  resume  of  the  foregoing  list. 

The  number  of  fires  known  to  have  occurred  in  this  town  is  thirty- 
eight,  an  average  of  one  in  two  and  a  half  3'ears.  Of  the  thiil}'  fires 
in  which  the  month  is  given,  twelve  occurred  in  the  winter,  eleven  in 
the  spring,  nine  in  the  summer,  and  two  in  the  autumn.  The  largest 
number  occurred  in  December,  and  none  in  JSeptember  or  November. 
Five  fires  are  recorded  as  occurring  in  the  daytime  and  eight  at  night. 

LIST  OF  FIRES  IK   HARPS  WELL. 

Tradition  says  that  the  lower  end  of  Harps  well  Neck  was  at  one 
time  burned  over  and  the  cinders,  flying  across  to  Bailey's  Island,  set 
fire  to  the  woods  on  that  island,  and  they  were  all  destroj-ed.  No  date 
is  given  of  this  occurrence,  but  it  was  probabl}'  very  early  in  the  histor}' 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  271 

of  the  town,  quite  likely  before  its  incorporation.  Verj'  few  buildings 
have  ever  been  destroyed  by  fire  in  this  town.  It  is  said  that  the  only 
building  ever  burnt  on  Bailey's  Island  was  an  old,  dilapidated  school- 
house. 

On  the  23d  of  Januarv,  1822,  James  Barstow's  house  on  Orr's  Island 
was  burned  to  the  ground.  Mrs.  Barstow,  who  was  then  seventy-four 
A'ears  of  age  and  who  was  very  fleshy,  was  taken  out  in  her  night- 
clothes  and  carried  some  distance  to  the  house  of  a  friend.  A  |K)rtion 
of  the  way  she  had  to  walk.  She  died  three  days  after  in  consequence 
of  the  exposure.  Mr.  Barstow  never  recovered  from  the  shock  and 
exposure,  and  was  at  times  insane.  He  died  in  1820.  The  origin  of 
the  fire  was  a  candle  which  was  placed  under  and  in  too  close  prox- 
iinitv  to  a  shelf. 

Phineas  AVebber's  house  on  Great  Island  caught  fire,  date  un- 
known, from  some  boiling  tar  upon  a  stove.  The  house  and  contents 
were  entirely  destro3'ed.  The  loss  was  about  ?l,000.  Insured  for 
two  hundred  dollars.  It  was  the  first  house  in  Ilarpswell  that  was 
ever  insured. 

On  July  4,  1868,  the  Mansion  House  on  Harps  well  Neck  was 
burnecl.     The  cause  of  the  fire  is  unknown.     The  loss  was  $3,000. 

There  have  doubtless  been  other  fires  than  those  enumerated,  but 
these  are  all  of  which  we  have  been  able  to  learn. 

Owing  to  the  few  cases  recorded,  no  resume  of  the  fires  in  tiiis  town 
is  nee<led. 

The  fii*st  fire-engine  in  Brunswick  was  purchased  in  IJ^IO,  by  indi- 
viduals. It  was  a  small  "  tub'*  and  had  to  be  filled  bv  buckets.  An 
etfort  was  made  in  1810  to  induce  the  town  to  appropriate  some 
amount  towards  the  purchase  of  this  engine,  but  the  article  in  the 
warrant  for  this  object  was  dismissed.  In  1814  an  attempt  was  made 
to  induce  the  town  '^  to  accept  of  the  engine,"  but  it  declined  so  to  do. 
This  engine  was  used  as  late  as  1847,  at  which  time  "Whitten  & 
Meder's  factory  was  bunied.  This  engine  had  no  name  at  first,  but 
was  after  some  vears  named  the  "  Mechanic." 

The  first  lire  compau}'  in  Brunswick  was  called  the  Washington 
Fire  Club.  It  was  certainly  formed  as  early  as  1821,  and  very  likely 
at  the  time  of  purchase  of  the  engine,  in  1«10.  No  records  of  this 
company  have  been  found,  but  it  is  known  that  the  mombershii)  was 
voluntary,  and  that  each  member  agreed  to  have  in  readiness  for  use, 
one  canvas  bag,  one  bed-key,  and  two  leathern  tire-buckets.  In  1825 
this  company  had  charge  of  the  engine,  as  is  sho\<n  by  a  bill  against 
the  company  for  repairs  to  the  pumps  of  the  engine.     In  182G  there 


272      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsbam,  and  harpswell. 

were  about  fift^'  members  to  this  club,  among  whom  were  Doctor  Isaac 
Lincoln,  Professor  Parker  Cleaveland,  General  Richard  T.  Dunlap, 
Greneral  Abner  B.  Thompson,  General  John  C.  Humphre3's,  and  Mr. 
John  Coburn. 

After  the  ''Great  Fire"  in  1825,  the  town  appointed  Professor 
Parker  Cleaveland,  Robert  Eastman,  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  Doctor 
Jonathan  Page,  and  John  Coburn  a  committee  to  purchase  a  new 
engine,  and  eight  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  purpose, 
with  the  proviso  that  an}*  unexpended  balance  should  be  used  for 
building  an  engine-house.  The  selectmen  were  also  this  3'ear  directed 
to  increase  the  number  of  engine-men  to  twenty-five.  This  second 
engine  was  the  "  Hydraulian."  It  was  made  in  Philadelphia.  It  had 
a  suction  attachment,  not  flexible  like  those  of  the  present  day.  but  of 
straight  copper  tubing,  with  curved  joints.  There  were  platforms 
over  each  wheel,  upon  which  three  or  four  men  stood  to  aid  those  who 
stood  on  the  gro'ind  m  working  the  breaks.  Thi.s  engine  was  sold  in 
1852,  in  exchange  for  the  ''  Protector  No.  4." 

No  records  of  the  Hydraulian  Engine  Company  have  been  found 
previous  to  its  reorganization  in  1843,  but  it  is  known  that  Professor 
Cleaveland  was  especially  instrumental  in  its  organization.  He  was 
its  first  commander,  and  held  the  {K>sition  for  twenty  years.  He  was 
always  one  of  the  first  on  the  ground  at  a  fire,  always  managed  the 
hose  pipe,  and  always  stoo<l,  when  duty  required,  in  the  place  of  the 
greatest  exposure  and  danger. 

In  the  summer  of  1828  or  1830,  a  force  pump  was  erected  at  the 
upi)er  dam.  It  was  oi)erated  by  water  i)ower,  and  it  forced  water 
fh>m  the  river  through  pipes,  into  a  large  tank  which  was  situated  on 
the  high  ground  west  of  Union  Street,  about  where  the  corn-house  of 
the  Honorable  C.  J.  Gilman  now  stands.  From  thence  the  water  was 
carrieil,  by  its  own  gravity,  through  pipes  to  Maine  Street,  just  north 
of  Lincoln  Street,  where  it  flowed  continuously  through  a  standing 
pilKJ.  and  thence  along  the  gutter  at  the  side  of  the  street  to  the  cove. 
where  it  entert»d  the  river.  This  arrangement  worked  well  in  summer, 
but  when  winter  came  the  water  froze  in  the  gutter,  the  street  and 
sidewalks  were  overflowed  and  covered  with  ice  for  a  long  distance, 
and  the  experiment  was  abandoned.  It  was  probably  a  private  enter- 
prise to  secure  the  property  of  individuals  from  loss  i)y  fire,  as  there 
is  nothing  in  the  town  rec*ords  to  indicate  that  the  town  had  an\^hing 
to  do  with  it. 

The  third  engine  in  Bninswick  was  the  '*  Niagara.  No.  3."  It  was 
purchased  by  the  town  in  1848.     This  engine  was  exchanged  in  1870 


FIRES  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES,  273 

for  a  larger  and  better  one,  called  the  "  Niagara,  No.  3,"  also,  but 
which  was  really  the  fourth  engine. 

The  early  records  of  Niagara  Engine  Company  have  not  been 
found.  The  onl}*  thing  known  about  it  prior  to  its  reorgnnization  is 
that  on  the  evening  of  June  11,  1855,  the  company  paraded  the 
streets  with  torch-lights. 

The  records  which  we  have  seen  commence  in  1858.  The  officers 
of  the  company  at  that  time  consisted  of  three  directors,  a  standing 
committee  of  four,  exclusive  of  the  first  director,  one  steward,  one 
assistant  steward,  three  pipemen,  one  foreman  of  hose,  five  leading 
hosemen,  three  suction  hosemen,  two  axemen,  and  one  clerk.  The 
latter  was  paid  between  five  and  ten  dollars  per  year.  During  the  year 
there  were  sixty-seven  members  in  the  company. 

The  only  events  worthy  of  mention,  to  be  gleaned  from  the  records, 
are  the  following :  — 

October  17,  1858,  the  company  attended  the  funeral  of  Professor 
Cleaveland.  August  7,  1860,  the  company  was  presented  with  a  flag 
b}'  Edward  W.  Thompson,  Esquire.  On  December  4,  of  the  same 
year,  a  flag  was  also  presented  by  Colonel  Alfred  J.  Stone.  Probably 
one  of  these  was  an  ensign.  On  July  4,  18C5,  the  conipan}-  went  to 
Lewiston  to  celebrate  the  day.  August  7,  186G,  the  compan\'  was 
disbanded,  but  was  reorganized  on  the  thirteenth  of  that  mouth,  and 
the  old  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted. 

No  entry  appears  in  the  records  later  than  the  year  1871.  The  fiflh 
engine  in  Brunswick  was  called  the  •'  Protector  No.  4."  It  was  pur- 
chased in  1852.  The  town  that  vear  authorized  the  scleetnion  to  di?- 
pose  of  the  two  old  engines  and  to  purchase  a  new  one.  Two  hun- 
dred dollars  was  appropriated,  to  be  added  to  the  proceeds  of  the 
sale  of  the  old  engines.  The  first  book  of  records  of  the  Protector 
Company  has  not  been  found.  From  the  second  book  it  appears  that  at 
the  first  meeting,  held  April  »3,  1854,  the  following  officers  were  chosen  : 
H.  M.  Bowker,  first  director;  J.  H.  Toothaker,  second  director;  R. 
L.  McManus,  third  director ;  Hiram  Talbot,  clerk :  John  Andrews, 
steward;  John  Andrews,  Joseph  McKeen,  Charles  Ilinkloy,  A.  S. 
Aubins,  suction  hosemen ;  Charles  E.  Owen,  first  pipenian  ;  Jordan 
Snow,  second  pipeman ;  John  D.  Stan  wood,  third  pipeman.  C.  P. 
Lunt,  William  Reed,  B.  Boutelle,  John  Ilinkley,  G.  W.  Swett,  I. 
Taylor,  A.  Colby,  hosemen ;  Curtis  Harmon,  A.  Underhill,  axemen  ; 
David  Bonney,  James  French,  torch-boys. 

The  sixth  engine  in  Brunswick  was  the  '*  Kennebec  No.   1.*'     It 
was  bought  in  1875. 
18 


274     msTOBY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

In  1836  the  village  of  Brunswick  was  created  a  corporation,  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature,  and  invested  with  power  "  to  raise  mone\'  for 
the  purchase,  repair  and  preservation  of  one  or  more  fire-engines, 
hose,  or  other  apparatus  for  the  extinguishment  of  fire,  for  the  con- 
struction of  reser\''oirs  and  aqueducts  for  procuring  of  water,  and 
for  organizing  and  maintaining  within  the  limits  of  said  territorj- 
an  eflicient  fire  department.  The  ofldcers  were  a  supervisor,  clerk, 
treasurer,  pmdential  committee  of  three,  and  from  five  to  nine  fire- 
wardens. 

At  a  meeting  of  this  corporation,  held  in  November,  1836,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  ''  to  devise  ways  and  means  for  protecting  the 
village  against  fire." 

This  committee  reported  in  favor  of  building  eighteen  brick  cistern?, 
circular,  and  about  twelve  feet  in  diameter  and  fourteen  feet  deep. 
They  also  recommended  the  purchase  of  a  double-cha^pbered  engine 
for  raising  the  water  from  the  cisterns  and  conveying  it  to  difiTerent 
parts  of  the  village.  How  far  these  recommendations  were  carried 
out  is  not  known. 

In  1875  the  town  purchased  the  two  and  a  half  inch  iron  pipe  which 
had  been  laid  by  the  Compressed  Air  Compan}',  from  the  bridge  to 
the  railroad  station.  It  was  connected  with  tlie  force  pump  of  the 
Pulp  Company,  and  was  found  to  throw  a  powerful  stream  of  water 
for  a  long  distance,  through  two  hundred  feet  of  hose. 

The  following  was  the  condition  of  the  fire  department  of  Bruns- 
wick, in  March,  1876. 

The  number  of  engines  was  three,  viz.,  the  "  Niagara,  No.  3,"  "  Pro- 
tector, No.  4,"  and  "  Kennebec,  No.  1." 

The  ''  Niagara  "  was  built  by  Ilunneman  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  in  1870. 
The  diameter  of  its  cylinder  is  ^\'e  and  three  fourths  inches.  It  is  a 
first-class  machine  and  is  provided  witli  folding  brakes.  The  "  Pro- 
tector" was  built  by  Ilunneman  &  Co.  in  1852.  The  diameter  of  its 
C3'linder  is  five  inches.  The  ''  Kennebec  "  was  made  by  Button  &  Son 
of  Waterford,  New  York,  in  1867.  The  diameter  of  its  cylinder  is  ten 
inches.  There  were  at  this  time  twenty-three  reservoirs  in  good  con- 
dition. 

The  first  engine  in  Topsham  was  purchased  al)out  1810  by  private 
individuals.  In  1813  an  efibrt  was  made  to  induce  the  town  to  take 
charge  of  it,  but  the  town  voted  **  not  to  accept"  the  gift.  The  next 
year,  however,  it  was  generously  voted  to  accept  it,  ''''provided  the 
town  should  never  he  at  any  expense  either  for  the  purchase  or  repairs,*' 
The  town  did,  however,  in  1826,  vote,  without  any  rescr>'ation,  to 


FIRK8  AND  FIRE  COMPANIES.  275 

accept  and  take  care  of  this  engine.     Like  the  first  engine  in  Bruns- 
wick, this  one  was  a  small  affair,  and  had  to  be  filled  by  buckets. 

The  earliest  fire  company  established  in  Topsham,  of  which  there 
is  any  record,  was  the  Lincoln  Fire  Club.     The  exact  date  of  its 
organization  is  not  known,   but  the   regulations   of  the   club   were 
printed  in  1829.     It  ma}',  however,  have  been  in  existence  for  some 
years  previousl}*.     According  to  their  regulations,  tlie  club  met  four 
times   a  year,  on  the  first  Tuesdays  of  January*,  April,  July,  aiul 
October.     Whoever  was  absent  the  whole  evening  was  fined  twenty- 
five  cents,  and  if  any  member  left  the  meeting  without  the  express 
consent  of  the  club  he  was  fined  twentv-five  cents  also.     The  officers 
were  a  chairman,  secretary',  and  treasurer.     In  oixler  to  In?  eligible 
for  membership,  one  must  be  proposed  at  a   previous  meeting  and 
receive  three  fourths  of  the  ballots  of  those  present  on  the  night  of 
his  election.     He  must  also  pay  in  the  sum  of  one  dollar  as  an  admis- 
sion fee.     Honorary-  members  were  elected  in  the  same  way,  but  were 
exempt  from  all  assessments  and  fines. 

Each  member  was  required,  within  three  months  after  his  admission 
to  the  club,  to  furnish  himself  with  two  good  leathern  fire-buckets, 
holding  at  least  ten  quarts  each.  The  fire  hooks  and  ladders  were 
under  the  control  of  and  were  probably  owned  by  this  club.  From 
there  being  no  other  oflfiicers  than  those  mentioned,  it  would  appear 
as  though  this  club  had  nothing  to  do  with  Engine  No.  1 . 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1850  the  town  appropriated  81,250  to 
purchase  a  fire-engine  and  other  apparatus,  and  Nahum  }*erkins, 
Sparrow  Chase,  and  Sandford  A.  Perkins  were  cliosen  a  committee  to 
make  the  purchase. 

The  engine  bought  at  this  time  was  the  ••'  Androscoggin,  No.  2." 
It  is  one  of  the  Hunneman  make,  and  is  the  onl}-  one  ever  bought  b}' 
the  town.  It  ranks  No.  2  in  size.  It  is  one  of  the  best  engines  of 
its  class  ever  made,  and  the  citizens  of  Topsham  justly  feel  some  pride 
in  the  good  work  it  has  done. 

The  company  having  control  of  this  engine  was  formed  in  1S50. 
The  first  meeting  was  held  over  the  store  of  George  S.  Holt  on 
April  5.  The  first  meeting  for  the  election  of  officers  was  held  April 
15,  at  which  time  Sandford  A.  Perkins  was  chosen  first  fonMuan  ; 
Varius  Stearns,  second  foreman;  John  R.  Hebbard,  third  foreman; 
David  Farrar,  treasurer;  A.  G.  Poland,  clerk;  and  James  ^Maxwell, 
R.  P.  Whitne}',  and  Eben  Colby  were  chosen  as  a  standing  committee. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  have  a  uniform,  consisting  of  a  blue 
frock  with  red  collar,  red  webbing  belts,  a  glazed  cap,  and  dark  pants. 


276        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

The  constitution  and  by-laws  of  the  companj*  were  adopted  at  the 
annual  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  in  Ma}'.  The  company  at  this 
time  numbered  seventj'-one.  June  28,  1850,  the  company  vote<I  to 
purchase  an  ensign.  December  2,  of  this  same  3'ear,  a  flag-staff 
was  raised  in  front  of  the  engine-house.  Jul}*  25,  1851,  the  companx* 
vote<l  to  attend  the  firemen's  jubilee  to  be  held  in  Ilallowell  on 
August  G.  At  this  celebration  the  company  took  the  prize  —  a  sil- 
ver trumpet  —  as  being  the  best  engine  of  its  class  present.  It  also 
has  taken  several  prizes  since  that  time,  at  different  celebrations  of 
firemen. 

On  March  3,  1852,  the  company  was  reorganized  by  the  choice  of 
the  following  officers:  F.  T.  Littlefield,  first  director;  E.  E.  Max- 
well, second  director;  D.  A.  Hall,  third  director;  C.  G.  Jaques,  sec- 
retary ;  I>.  A.  Ilall,  stewaitl.     The  number  of  members  was  fiftv-five. 

The  new  organization  appears  to  have  been  for  some  reason  unsat- 
isfactor}',  as  in  August,  1853,  the  company  was  again  reorganized. 

In  1^57,  at  a  special  town  meeting  held  December  28,  it  was  voted, 
"  To  authorize  the  selectmen  to  pay  each  man  (not  to  exceed  sixt}*  in 
number)  who  shall  faithfully  perform  his  duty,  twelve  and  a  half  cents 
per  hour  for  his  services  while  at  fires,  so  long  as  there  may  be  a  well- 
organized  fire  company  in  Topsham  village."  The  selectmen  were 
also  authorized  to  offer  a  reward  of  fiftj'  dollars  for  the  detection  of 
incendiaries. 

In  1^00  the  town  forbade  the  company  to  take  the  engine  out  of 
town,  except  for  fires  and  upon  July  the  Fourth. 

In  18(19  the  town  voted  to  buy  two  hundred  feet  of  hose,  and  to  pay 
the  members  of  the  engine  company  twenty-five  cents  per  hour  when 
in  active  service. 

There  was  never  a  fire-engine  or  a  fire  companj-  in  Harpswell. 
Fire-wardens  are  chosen  by  the  town  annuall}',  and  the  citizens  gen- 
erally are  provided  with  buckets,  etc.,  to  protect  their  own  property. 
The  population  of  Flaipswell  is  so  scattered  that  an  engine  would  be 
of  no  service  to  a  large  majority  of  the  people. 


COURTS  AND  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS,       277 


CHAPTER  VII. 

COURTS   AND    TRIALS,    CRIMES   AND    CRIMINALS,    LAWYERS. 

The  earliest  court  ever  held  in  this  vicinity  was  the  one  held,  in 
1654,  at  the  house  of  Thomas  Ashle}^  which  has  already  been  men- 
tioned. The  meeting  held  at  his  house  was  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
ization merely,  and  there  is  no  evidence  that  Thomas  Purchase,  who 
was  appointed  at  that  time  an  assistant  to  the  commissioner,  ever 
tried  any  cases.  The  laws  and  regulations  adopted  at  this  meeting, 
however,  are  sufl3ciently  interesting  to  warrant  their  insertion  here  in 
a  condensed  form.     They  were  as  follows :  — 

ft 

1.  All  capital  crimes,  such  as  treason,  murder,  witchcraft,  arson, 
rape,  and  adultery,  were  to  be  tried  by  the  General  Court  at  New 
Pl^-mouth. 

2.  All  other  crimes  were  within  the  jurisdiction  of  the  commissioner 
or  the  assistant.  Theft  was  punishable  by  the  restitution  by  the 
offender  of  three  or  four  times  the  value  stolen.  Drunkards  were 
fined  five  shillings  on  conviction  for  the  first  offence,  ten  shillings  for 
the  second,  and  for  the  third  were  put  in  the  stocks.  The  punish- 
ment for  Sabbath-breaking  was  left  at  the  discretion  of  the  assistant. 
For  selling  liquor  to  the  Indians,  the  punishment  for  the  first  offence 
was  the  forfeiture  of  double,  and  for  the  second  offence,  of  four  times 
the  value  sold,  or  if  the  transgressor  was  a  stranger,  a  fine  of  either 
£10  or  £20. 

3.  All  fishing  and  fowling  were  expressly  continued  free  to 
every  inhabitant.  All  actions  between  part}'  and  party  were  to  be 
tried  before  a  jury  of  twelve  men  ;  but  no  civil  cause  above  £20  ster- 
ling was  triable  in  the  local  courts  without  the  consent  of  both  parties. 

From  this  time  until  the  province  of  L^-gonia  came  under  the  juris- 
diction of  Masssachusetts,  there  is  reason  to  suppose  that  all  minor 
offences  were  tried  —  if  tried  at  all  —  bv  Thomas  Purchase,  a  magis- 
trat«  under  the  authority  of  the  New  Plymouth  Colon}'  (1652).  In 
1660  all  legal  cases  in  this  vicinity  were  tried  at  York. 

No  cases  of  trial  of  persons  from  this  vicinitj',  prior  to  1722,  have 


278        HISTORY  OF  BSUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

been  discovered.  This  year  the  case  of  John  Giles,  of  Brunswick, 
gentleman,  vs.  John  Goddard,  of  Roxbun',  gentleman  and  cord- 
wainer,  is  recorded.  The  plaintiff  let  the  defendant  a  horse,  with 
bridle  and  saddle,  at  the  beginning  of  June,  1722,  and  by  order  of  the 
plaintiff,  one  Robert  Dunning,  soon  after,  in  the  same  month,  deliv- 
eretl  the  said  horse,  at  Falmouth,  to  the  defendant,  which  the  de- 
fendant promised  to  deliver  to  the  plaintiff  at  Roxbury,  or  to  his 
order,  with  bridle  and  saddle,  of  value  of  £12:  yet  the  defendant, 
though  often  requested,  never  delivered  to  the  said  plaintiff,  horse, 
bridle,  or  saddle.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  for  plaintiff  of  £8 
damage,  and  cost  of  couil,  against  the  eaid  John  Goddard.' 

The  next  case  met  with  occurred  in  1726,  when  Captain  AVilliam 
Woodside  was  tried  by  a  committee  appointed  by  Governor  Dummer 
for  cheating  the  Indians  in  trade,  and  otherwise  defrauding  them. 
Some  of  the  charges  were  proved  against  him,  and  he  was  required  to 
make  ample  remuneration,  acknowledge  his  fault,  and  give  assurance 
that  he  would  defraud  them  no  more.* 

Mr.  John  Minot  was  appointed  a  magistrate  and  chief  justice  of 
the  Court  of  Common  Sessions  under  George  II  about  the  year 
1730  or  1732.  An  old  account-lxwk  of  his  has  been  preservecl,  which 
contains  on  its  blank  leaves  an  account  of  some  cases  tried  bj'  him  in 
1782,  which  are  here  presented  to  the  reader:  — 

*'  Y    ss.    To  THK  Sherrif  of  y«  CorNTY  OF  York  his  under   Sherrif 
/N  OR  Deputy  Greeting. 

"'  AVhereas  Complaint  ui)on  Oath  hath  bin  made  before  me  by 
Sam^  Boone  of  Northvarmouth  in  ve  Countv  of  York  that  some  time 
past  he  had  Stole  and  Carried  away  from  Menyconeag  neck  a  black 
Cow  with  a  white  face  and  also  Stole  and  carried  away  from  Chel>eag 
Island  three  Calves  one  being  a  Bull  Calf  the  other  a  Stear  and  the 
other  a  heffer  Calfe.  which  were  mark'd  with  a  Cross  in  the  left  ear 
and  a  slit  in  it  and  a  flower  Dlue  in  y*  right  ear  —  These  are  there- 
fore in  his  i^Iaj'"  name  to  require  you  to  make  Diligent  Sear(*h  after 
said  Cattle  if  the^*  maA*  be  found  in  your  precinct  and  them  safely  to 
keep  in  your  Custoily  maiking  a  returne  of  these  your  proceeiliugs  to 
me  or  some  other  of  his  Maj*7  'Justice  of  y*  peace  in  said  County  that 
the  Affair  may  l>e  Examined  into,  and  the  partyes  with  whom  said 
Cattle  mav  be  found  mav  be  dealt  with  according  to  law  —  vou  are 
also   hereby  required  to  Summons  Moses  Gatchell,  Hannah  Smith, 


1  York  County  Rerords,  C.  C.  P.,  Vol.  7,  p.  88. 
'  McKten,  MUb.  Lecture. 


COURTS  AND  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS.     279 

W"*  Woodside  Jas.   Malcum   and  Eliz*  Malcum   to  give   Evidence 
relating  to  this  Affair  hereof  you  are  not  to  fail  given  under  my  hand 
and  Seal  the  16th  day  of  Aug**  1732. 
"  [Coppy.]  "  Jn-  Minot. 

"THE  RETURNE. 

"Brunswick,  Aug*'  20i»»  1782. 

''  Having  made  search  after  the  within  mentioned  Cattle  tliis  ma}' 
certifye  that  I  have  found  and  taiken  up  three  young  Cattle  uppon 
Suspision  which  were  in  the  hands  of  Cap'  Will™  Woodsidc  which  I 
have  taken  into  Custody. 

"  £b£N£Z£R  Stanwood,  D.  Sherriff. 

"THE  JUDGMENT 

**Y    S8  "Brunswick,  Aug  21"*  1732 

''  Sam*-  Boon  Plint.  and  Will"  Woodside  Defend. 

''  Having  issued  out  a  warrant  to  search  for  severall  Cattle  that 
Sam*  Boone  upjion  Oath  Swore  he  lost  at  Chebeag  Isl.  &  Merry coneage 
neck  and  having  Summonsed  Sundry  witnesses  as  by  said  warrant  will 
appear,  I  have  Examined  said  witnesses  uppon  Oath  (they  all  having 
veiw'd  the  Cattle)  whether  they  knew  them  Cattle  to  be  Mr.  Boons 
which*  the}'  all  deny  to  have  any  knowledge  of  saving  M™  Malcum 
who  saj's  she  remembers  something  of  one  of  them  but  not  pcrfecktly 
so  as  to  give  her  Oatli  to  it.  I  find  therefore  Cost  for  said  Boon  to 
pay  and  have  ordered  the  Cattle  to  be  Delivered  to  the  said  Wil" 
Woodside  again. 

"  [Coppy]  "  Jno.  Minot  J.  P." 

Notice  of  complaint  of  James  Smith  against  Anthony  Vincent  for 
calling  his  wife  Hannah  Smith  improper  names. 

"  The  Complaint  of  Hannah  Smith  against  Will'"  Mackness  in 
behalfe  of  our  Soveraign  I^rd  the  King  that  shee  goes  in  Dainger  of 
her  Life." 

"'The  Complaint  of  Will"  Mackness  against  James  Smith  and  his 
wife  Hannah  that  he  lives  in  dainger  of  his  Cattle  and  Substance  that 
they  will  be  destroyed  by  them  they  using  threatening  words  to  kill 
their  piggs  &c.  and  that  the}'  will  burn  his  house. 

"[Signed]  *' John  Minott." 

No  other  records  of  Judge  Minot*s  cases  have  been  met  with. 
At  the  October  term  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  in   1743  the 
selectmen  of  the  town  of  Brunswick  made  a  complaint  against  Isaac 


280        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AXD  HARPSWELL, 

Snow,  "in  manner  following,  \-iz.,  that  Isaac  Snow  of  Brunswick 
aforesaid,  husbandman,  the  thirtieth  day  of  August.  1743.  at  a  legal 
town  meeting  held  at  Brunswick  aforesaid,  was  chosen  one  of  the 
constables  for  said  town  for  the  year  1743,  who  was  legally  notified 
thereof,  but  i-efused  either  to  take  the  oath  of  a  constable  or  to  pa}' 
the  fine  for  not  serving  as  a  constable."  After  a  full  hearing  by  the 
court  the  case  was  decided  in  favor  of  the  defendant,  and  the  com- 
plainants were  charged  with  the  costs. 

At  the  April  term  of  the  same  court,  in  1744.  committees  were 
appointe<l  by  the  court  "  to  inform  against  and  prosecute  the  violators 
of  an  act  made  in  the  seventeenth  year  of  his  Majesty's  reign,  entitled 
'  an  act  to  prevent  the  great  injury  and  injustice  arising  to  the  inhab- 
itants of  this  province  b}'  the  frequent  and  verj-  large  emissions  of  bills 
of  public  creilit  in  the  neighboring  governments.'  .  .  .  And  Messrs. 
William  AVoodside,  Peter  Cooms,  David  Dunning,  vSamuel  Ilinkley 
and  James  Tliompson,  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Brunswick  in  said 
County,  were  apix>inted  b}-  said  Court  to  the  otlice  aforesaid." 

At  the  April  tenn  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  Cumberland 
County,  in  1705,  William  Hasty,  of  Hari>swell,  was  lined  ten  shillings 
*^  for  sailing  his  coasting  schooner  in  Quohog  Bay  to  the  open  sea,  the 
space  of  three  miles,  on  the  Lord's  day."  At  the  same  term  of  court. 
William  Blake,  of  Ilarpswell,  was  fineil  ten  shillings,  and  costs,  £1  •'>«. 
4d.,  for  neglecting  to  attend  public  worship  for  the  space  of  two 
months. 

About  this  time,  probably  the  next  year,  John  Orr,  of  Mair  Point, 
accused  Captain  William  Woodside  of  cheating  the  Indians  '•  bj'  sell- 
ing them  ItranH  rings  for  gold  rings."  and  the  ease  was  informaVy  tried 
by  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  in  a  dining-room  at  Falmouth. 
Woodside  was  acquitted,  made  friends  with  Orr,  and  having  just 
obtained  his  commission  as  a  justice  of  the  peace  for  Cumberland 
County,  he  *'  stood  treat "  for  the  court. 

In  those  old  times  physical  punishment  was  often  made  use  of 
towards  otfendei*s.  The  whi|)ping-i)osl  and  the  stoc^ks  were  found  in 
every  settlement  and  generally  in  close  proximity  to  the  meeting-house. 
These  implements  of  the  law  were,  doubtless,  at  the  time  they  were  in 
vogue,  of  great  service  in  restraining  the  evil-intentioned  from  com- 
mitting many  misdemeanors  an<l  minor  crimes,  and  although  the  ob- 
jections tf)  their  use  ai*e  many  and  serious,  yet  one  is  tempted  to  believe 
that  their  occasional  use  might  )>e  fraught  with  go<Kl  even  in  these 
days.  The  punishments  by  means  of  these  implements  were  inflicted 
bv  the  constables,  in  acconlance  with  the  sentence  of  the  selectmen. 


COURTS  AND  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS    281 


when  there  was  no  justice  of  the  peace,  or  other  magistrate,  to  give 
sentence.     Petty  crimes,  in  which  the  damage  did  not  exceed  forty 
Bhillings,  came  under  their  cognizance.     No  account  has  been  pre- 
served of  2A\y  stocks  or  whipping-post  in  Topsham.     The  only  refer- 
ence in  regard  to  Harps  well  is  the  indictment  of  that  town,  in  the 
April  term  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  1769,  ''  for  not  being  supplied 
with  stocks  against  the  Peace  of  the  Lord,  the  King  and  tlie  law  of 
the  Province."    The  selectmen  appeared,  and  after  a  full  hearing,  the 
attorney  for  the  king  decided  he  would  not  ftirther  prosecute.     Possi- 
bly the  selectmen  promised  to  proWde  these  necessary  instruments  of 
correction  thereafter. 

Frequent  allusion  is,  however,  made  to  the  stocks  in  the  Brunswick 
records.  In  the  latter  town  thej*  are  said  to  have  stood  a  short  dis- 
tance back  of  the  old  west  meeting-house. 

The  whipping-post  was  about  a  foot  square,  shaq)ened  at  the  top 
like  a  picket,  and  the  8haq)ened  part  was  painted  red. 

At  the  time  stocks  and  whipping-}X)sts  were  used,  many  towns  had 
also  a  ducking-stool,  and  at  one  time  all  towns  in  Massachusetts  were, 
by  law,  required  to  have  one.  No  account,  however,  has  been  found 
of  an}'  in  this  vicinity.  Tliis  implement  of  punishment  consisted  of 
an  upright  post,  with  a  cross-piece,  from  which  was  suspended  a  seat. 
The  arm  could  be  swung  out  over  the  water,  and  the  occupant  of  the 
seat  could  tjius  be  easily  ducked.  It  was  used  more  especially  for  the 
punishment  of  scolding  icives. 

The  following  description  of  the  stocks  actually  used  in  Brunswick 
is  from  the  pen  of  a  former  minister  of  Harpswell :  '•  Tliey  consisted 
of  two  upright  posts  of  oak,  set  in  foot-pieces  of  the  same  material, 
and  strongly  braced.  Between  them  was  secured  a  thick  plank,  set 
on  one  edge,  rising  up  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  ground.  The  posts 
above  this  were  grooved,  and  in 
these  another  plank  was  inserted, 
which  could  be  raised  or  lowered. 
In  the  lower  e<lge  of  this  were  arched 
holes,  just  large  enough  to  fit  a  i^jr- 
son's  legs  above  the  ankle.  In  the  top  edge  of  this  plank  were  hollows 
to  receive  the  wrists,  while  another  came  down  upon  it  to  secure  them. 
The  criminal  was  made  to  sit  on  the  ground  and  place  his  legs  in  the 
hollows  of  the  lower  plank,  when  the  upper  one  was  let  down  ])y  the 
constable,  and  locked  with  a  key,  as  a  door.  Sometimes  this  was 
the  only  punishment ;  at  other  times  both  hands  and  feet  were  put  in, 


282        HIbTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

when  the  officer,  putting  the  key  in  his  pocket,  left  the  prisoner 
exposed  to  sun,  wind,  and  rain."  * 

The  only  person  in  this  place  known  to  have  been  punished  by  being 
put  in  the  stocks  was  one  Jenny  Eaton.  When  Deacon  Stanwood's 
house  was  torn  down,  Mr.  James  Dunning  found  an  old  document  pnr- 
l>orting  to  be  a  decision  upon  the  trial .  of  this  indiWdual.  She  had 
l)ennitted  the  embrace  of  a  man  named  Rogers,  on  the  promise  of  some 
sugar,  tea,  and  coffee.  The  man  failed  to  keep  his  word,  she  averred, 
and  she  therefore  entered  a  complaint  against  him,  and  the  case  was 
tried  before  Esquire  Woodside.  The  plaintiff  could  not  prove  the 
charge,  and  the  magistrate  gave  the  following  verdict:  "That  Jenny 
Eaton  be  stretched  upon  the  public  stocks  and  rotten  eggs  thrown 
at  her  by  the  passing  spectators  for  abfamiug  the  character  of  an 
innocent  man."-  . 

Some  time,  probably  between  1752  and  1770,  one  Ann  Conner 
committed  suicide  b}'  hanging  herself  from  a  pine-tree.  The  magis- 
trates ordered  (old  Roman  law)  that  she  be  buried  where  four  roads 
met,  and  a  stake  be  driven  through  her  bod\\  It  was  done  on  the 
Harpswell  road  a  little  way  south  of  the  college.  It  is  said  that, 
although  it  was  in  force  at  that  time,  this  was  probabl}'  the  only 
instance  when  the  law  was  put  into  execution  in  this  country.^ 

Cumberland  County-  was  set  off  from  York  County  in  1760,  and,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  a  new  county  court  was  soon  established.  The  first 
grand  jurors  drawn  for  this  count}'  from  Brunswick  were  Isaac  Snow 
and  John  Orr ;  IVom  Harpswell,  Thomas  McGregor  and  John  Hall. 

At  the  June  terra  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  of  the  Peace, 
held  at  Pownalborough  in  1777,  Mr.  John  Merrill,  of  Topsham,  took 
his  place  on  the  bench  as  one  of  the  justices.  He  officiated  in  that 
capacity  as  late  as  1783,  but  no  records  of  any  cases  tiried  before  him 

have  come  to  hand. 

« 

In  1783  James  Hunter,  Esquire,  George  White,  John  Reed,  Wil- 
liam Malcom,  all  of  Topsham,  and  John  Lemont,  Esquire,  Samnel 
Lemont,  Esquire,  William  Swanton,  George  Andrews,  and  Stephen 
Sampson,  the  two  latter  blacksmiths,  all  of  Bath,  were  bound  over  to 
the  court  to  answer  to  the  charge  of  breaking  open  the  jail  at  Pow- 
nalborough, and  for  rescuing  two  prisoners  who  were  lawfully  com- 
mitted. They  were  tried,  and  each  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  six 
shillings  and  costs. 


^  The  Sophomores  of  Radcliffe.    Kellogg.  *  P^epscot  Papert, 

«  P^epscot  Papers.    McKeen ,  MUS.  Lecture. 


COUETS  AND  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS.     283 

At  the  Maj  tenn  of  the  court  for  Cumberland  Count}',  the  next 
year,  Isaac  Rolf,  of  Brunswick,  was  sentenced  to  pay  a  fine  of  £7  10«., 
and  to  receive  Jive  stripes  on  his  naked  back,  for  stealing  five  sheep. 
If  be  returned  any  of  the  sheep,  "  the  owner  was  to  restore  hiin  back 
one  fold,  the  fine  being  treble  value  of  the  property  stolen." 

In  1796  a  Commissioner's  Court  was  held  in  an  old  red  school- 
house,  which  stood  near  the  lower  end  of  the  Mall,  in  Bnniswick.  It 
was  held  to  consider  the  respective  claims  of  the  Pl}Tnouth  and  Pejep- 
scot  proprietors.  Governor  Sullivan  and  other  distinguished  persons 
were  present.  This  building  was  afterwards  moved  away  and  placed 
on  the  bank  of  the  cove,  near  the  building  where  General  A.  B. 
Thompson  afterwards  had  an  oflftce,  and  which  is  now  a  factory 
boarding-house. 

In  1800  terms  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  Lincoln  County 
were  api>ointed  to  be  holden  in  Topsham,  and  on  the  ninth  of  Septem- 
ber of  that  3'ear  the  court  opened  there  for  the  first  timc.^  It  is  said 
that  this  first  court  was  held  in  an  unfinished  house  belonging  to  a 
Mr.  Sprague,  the  Court  House  not  being  finished  until  some  time  the 
next  vear.  Mr.  James  Wilson,  father  of  the  James  Wilson  now  liv- 
ing,  gave  the  land  for  it,  for  a  term  of  years.  Few  cases  of  impor- 
tance, affecting  the  citizens  of  the  three  towns,  were  ever  tried  in  it, 
but  such  as  have  been  found  will  be  given  in  the  proper  onler. 

December  24,  1822,  a  military  court  was  held  at  Brunswick  for  the 
trial  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Da\id  Stan  wood.  It  will  be  referred  to 
hereafter,  in  another  connection. 

At  the  Mav  term  of  the  court,  held  in  Portland  in  1823,  one  Pat- 
rick  Cole,  of  Brunswick,  was  convicted  of  manslaughter,  and  was  sen- 
tenced to  undergo  six  months  of  solitarj'  imprisonment  and  four  years 
at  hard  labor.. 

In  1824  the  selectmen  of  Brunswick  were  authorized  by  the  town 
to  erect  forthwith  a  House  of  Correction  on  the  town  lot  in  the  village, 
and  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  appropriated.  This  building, 
which  to  judge  from  its  c^st  could  have  been  nothing  more  than  a  lock- 
up, stood  where  the  poorhouse  used  to  be,  back  of  the  present 
residence  of  Mr.  Robert  Bowker. 

At  the  August  term  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  at  Topsham,  in 
1825,  Honorable  John  Dole,  a  justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  Lin- 
coln Count}',  was  tried  on  a  charge  of  slander  against  Samuel  II.  Clark, 
of  Jefferson,  the  former  having  charged  the  latter  with  having  com- 

1  Jonathan  Ellis* 8  Diary. 


2H        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

mitted  adultery  and  other  such  crimes.     Verdict  for  plaintiff.     Dam- 
ages, $1,058. 

In  1826  five  persons  were  brought  before  Charles  R.  Porter,  a  jus- 
tice of  the  i>eace,  of  Topsham,  on  suspicion  of  having  set  fire  to  the 
bam  of  a  Mr.  Millet,  of  Bowdoin.  Four  of  them  were  discharged, 
but  the  fifth,  Reuben  Jones,  was  bound  over  for  trial  before  the  Su- 
preme Judicial  Court,  to  ]t>e  held  at  Wiscasset. 

This  year  a  case  was  tried  in  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  of  Cum- 
berland Countv,  of  considerable  interest.  It  was  the  First  Parish  of 
Brunswick  vs,  Joseph  McKeen,  on  a  plea  of  trespass.  The  First  Par- 
ish had  erected  a  fence  from  the  meeting-house  to  the  corner  of  what  is 
now  Cleavelaud  Street,  claiming  the  land  enclosed  as  belonging  to  the 
parish.  Mr.  McKeen  caused  the  fence  to  be  torn  down,  and  the  parish 
thereupon  prosec^uted  him  for  trespass.  His  defence  was  that  the 
Harpswell  road  was  laid  out  in  the  rear  of  the  church,  and  had  always 
been  used  as  such  until  fenced  by  the  parish.  On  the  other  side,  the 
parish  claimed  that  the  Harpswell  road  came  out  south  of  the  church. 
The  case  was  carried  to  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court,  and  was  there 
decided  in  favor  of  tlie  defendant.  Packard  and  Longfellow  were  the 
counsel  for  the  plaintiffs,  and  Orr  and  Greenleaf  for  the  defendants. 

In  1827  a  case  was  tried  at  Topsham  which  excited  considerable 
local  attention  at  the  time,  on  account  of  the  character  and  standing 
of  the  parties,  and  the  questions  involved.  The  case  was  that  of 
General  Samuel  Veazie  vs,  Henrj'  Jewell,  both  of  Topsham.  It  was 
an  action  for  damages  on  account  of  assault  and  battery,  brought,  in 
reality,  to  test  the  ownership  of  property. 

The  facts  in  the  case  seem  to  be  as  follows :  Messrs.  Henrv  Jewell, 
Stephen  Jewell,  Gardner  Green,  Samuel  Perkins,  and  Nahum  Perkins 
owned  the  "•  Great  Mills  "  and  the  ground  under  the  same.  Four  undi- 
vided fourteenth  parts  of  the  land  (a  bed  of  rocks)  was  within  twenty- 
four  feet  of  this  mill,  on  the  south  side  below  the  dam,  which  was  owned 
by  Gardner  Green,  Ezekiel  Thompson,  James  Thomi>son,  and  Mart' 
lliompsou,  the  three  last  being  heirs  of  Brigadier  Thompson.  General 
Veazie,  witliout  |)ermission  from  Green  or  the  Thompsons,  and  against 
their  wish,  attempted  to  lay  the  foundation  of  a  saw-mill,  and  collected 
several  sticks  of  timber  and  placed  them  under  the  fioor  of  a  mill-shed 
on  the  premises  claimed  by  Green  and  others.  Thereupon  Jewell,  by 
direction  of  Green  and  the  Thompsons,  in  onler  to  compel  him  to 
desist  and  to  leave  the  premises,  threw  slabs,  and  afterwards  emptied 
buckets  of  water  upon  Veazie  and  his  workmen.  Veazie  defended 
himself  with  an  axe-haft  and  a  pitchfork,  and  for  a  while  a  serious 


COURTS. AKD  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS.    285 

quarrel  was  threatened.  Veazie  at  length  desisted  fVom  his  attempt, 
and  this  suit  was  ultimatel}'  brought  to  test  the  respective  rights  of 
the  two  parties  to  the  bed  of  rocks.  Veazie  had  purchased  the  right 
to  it  from  some  of  the  heirs  of  Brigadier  Thompson,  but  not  from 
those  mentioned.  The  case  was  decided  against  Veazie.  This  deci- 
sion, though  undoubtedly  a  just  one,  in  all  probability  was  a  cause  of 
depriving  the  towns  of  Brunswick  and  Topsliam  of  the  services  of  one 
who  afterwards  did  so  much  for  the  manufacturing  interests  of  Bangor 
and  the  neighboring  towns  upon  the  Penobscot.  The  above-mentioned 
atfray  occurred  February  o,  1827. 

In  November,  1829,  one  Patrick  Kincaid,  of  Brunswick,  was  fined 
b}'  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  $1,100  and  costs,  for  breach  of  prom- 
ise to  a  3'oung  lady  whom  he  had  engaged  to  wed,  —  a  warning,  it 
doubtless  proved,  to  all  bachelors,  hereabouts,  of  inconstant  minds. 

In  1843  occurred  the  trial,  at  Portland,  of  Thomas  Thorn  and  Mrs. 
Lois  Wilson,  for  the  murder  of  Mr.  Elisha  Wilson,  of  Ilaq^swell. 
The  facts  of  this  case  were  as  follows :  — 

In  1840,  Thomas  Thorn  came  to  Great  Island,  Haq^swell,  from 
New  York,  to  visit  his  sister,  the  Widow  Dyer.  He  remained  in 
Harpswell  during  the  summer,  and  while  there  he  made  the  acquaint- 
ance of  a  young  lady  named  Lois  Alexander,  with  whom  he  became 
quite  intimate.  He,  however,  left  town  and  did  not  return  until  early 
in  the  winter  of  1842-43.  In  the  mean  time.  Miss  Alexander  had 
married  Elisha  Wilson,  and  Mrs.  Dyer  had  married  Elisha's  brother 
Benjamin.  On  his  return.  Thorn  went  to  Elisha  Wilson's,  where  he 
remained.  On  the  morning  of  tlie  fifth  of  February,  1843,  between 
the  hours  of  three  and  four,  Mr.  Samuel  Toothaker  was  aroused  bv 
Thoni,  who  tokl  him  that  Elisha  had  fallen  out  of  his  bed  in  the  night, 
in  a  fit,  and  was  dead.  Toothaker  immediately  repaired  to  the  house, 
and  found  Wilson  dead,  and  to  all  appearances  as  if  he  had  been  so 
for  some  hours.  Some  bedclothes,  which  had  been  washed  and  car- 
rieil  up  stairs  wet,  at  once  aroused  suspicion  of  foul  play.  An  inquest 
was  held,  and  Thorn  and  Mrs.  Wilson  were  apprehended,  and  bound 
over  to  the  April  term  of  the  Supreme  Court,  at  Portland,  at  which 
time  they  were  indicted  for  the  murder  hy  the  grand  jur}',  and  were 
tried.  Mrs.  Wilson  was  acquitted,  but  Thorn  was  convicted  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  hung.  His  sentence  was  afterwards  commuted  to 
imprisonment  for  life.  He  was  taken  to  the  State  prison,  where  he 
remained  for  over  thirty  years.  A  few  years  ago,  on  account  of  his 
good  behavior  while  in  prison  and  his  failing  health,  he  was  pardoned, 
and  returned  to  New  York,  where  he  was  recently  living.     The  fol- 


286        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICKy  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

lowing  letter,  which  had  been  passed  to  Thorn  wrapped  up  in  a  piece 
of  tobacco,  was  produced  at  the  trial :  — 

''  poor  lois  i  pity  you  and  my  hart  akes  for  you  and  you  must  mind 
when  you  Come  to  Cort  and  clear  me  if  you  dont  tha  will  hang  me 
and  you  must  mind  how  you  talk  i  will  wright  to  3'ou  once  in  fore 
da^'s  i  whaut  to  see  you  once  more  and  then  if  you  dont  clear  me  i 
shall  be  willing  to  dy  fore  you  i  want  you  to  write  back." 

This  letter,  with  the  piece  of  tobacco,  are,  it  is  said,  on  tile  in  the 
clerk  of  court's  office  in  Portland. 

In  1847,  Topsham  ceasetl  to  be  a  half-shire  town,  and  Mr.  Jonah 
Morrow  was  appointed  b}*  the  court  a  committee  to  sell  the  Topsham 
Court  House.  He  did  so,  and  reported  the  amount  received  for  the 
building  to  be  nine  hundred  and  ten  dollars ;  and  for  the  furniture, 
eleven  dollars  and  forty-seven  cents.  The  bell  was  reserved  to  be 
afterwards  disposed  of  as  might  be  directed  by  the  count}'  conunis- 
sioners. 

The  state  of  morals  among  the  young  in  Brunswick  must  have  been 
rather  low  about  this  time,  as  the  town  in  1849  passed  the  following 
resolution :  — 

"  Whereas  it  is  currently  rep>orted  that  bo^'s  and  other  persons  are 
in  the  habit  of  visiting  the  mills  and  other  places  near  the  water  on  the 
Sabbath,  for  the  purpose  of  gambling,  voted,  that  the  selectmen  employ 
a  suitable  person  to  see  that  the  Sabbath  and  the  laws  of  the  State  are 
not  violated  ;  also,  to  stop  the  playing  at  ball  or  flj'ing  of  kites  in  the 
streets." 

In  I80O  the  legislature  passed  an  Act,  approved  August  28,  entitled 
*'  An  Act  to  establish  a  Municipal  Court  in  the  town  of  Brunswick,  in 
the  county  of  Cumberland."  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  subsequent  to 
the  passage  of  this  Act,  it  was  voted  to  accept  its  provisions  and  to 
estabUsh  such  a  court. 

In  April,  IM06,  Charles  Crips,  of  Topsham,  was  indicted  before  the 
grand  jury  at  Bath  for  the  miuxler  of  his  wife  in  the  fall  of  the  previous 
year.  He  caused  her  death  by  beating  her  with  a  club.  He  was  tried 
before  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  at  Bath,  in  the  Septemlier  follow- 
ing, and  was  convicted  of  manslaughter,  and  was  sentenced  to  the 
State  prison  for  life.  He  was  pardoned  by  the  governor  before  the 
expiration  of  liis  sentence. 

This  year  there  were  numerous  burglaries  committed  in  Topsham, 
but  the  perpetrators  of  them  were  not  discovered. 

On  Monday  night,  November  9,  of  this  year,  Eliphalet  Berrj-,  of 
Topsham,  was  murdered  near  Perkins's  lumber-shed  on  '•  the  island." 


COURTS  AND  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS    287 

He  and  several  others  had  been  to  Branswick  and  were  returning 
home,  intoxicated,  with  a  jug  of  rum.  A  difficulty  arose  between 
Berry  and  David  Y.  Dudley*  in  regard  to  the  possession  of  the  jug. 
They  both  disappeared  for  a  few  minutes,  and  Dudley  returned  alone. 
Berry  was  soon  found  a  short  distance  off  in  a  d^ing  condition,  having 
been  stabbed  to  the  heart.  Dudley  was  tried  before  the  Supreme 
Judicial  Court  at  Bath  in  1858,  and  on  September  4,  the  jury  in  the 
case  brought  in  a  verdict  of  manslaughter,  and  he  was  sentenced  to 
five  years  of  hard  labor  in  the  State  prison.  He  was  pardoned  for 
good  behavior  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  service. 

In  1875,  John  Miller,  of  Birch  Island,  opposite  Mair  Point, was  con- 
victed of  manslaughter  and  sentenced  to  the  State  prison  for  life. 
Miller  was  abusing  his  wife.  His  son  interfered  and  his  father  shot 
him.  Miller  is  a  descendant  of  Reverend  John  Miller,  a  former 
minister  of  the  First  Parish  in  Brunswick. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  accounts  that  Topsham  suffers 
from  rather  an  unenviable  reputation,  for  so  small  a  town,  on  account 
of  the  number  of  pereons  it  has  had  of  marked  homicidal  proclivities. 
Besides  those  already  mentioned,  two  other  persons  from  this  town,  a 
Mr.  Clough  and  Henry  Richards,  have  suffered  the  penalty  of  the  law 
for  murders  committed  by  them  elsewhere.  Notwithstanding  this 
unpleasant  fact,  it  is  believed  that  the  integrity  of  its  business  men  and 
the  general  character  of  its  citizens  for  morality,  justness,  and  tem- 
perance will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  other  similar  communities 
of  even  a  larger  population. 

Of  late  years  but  few  trials,  except  of  minor  importance,  of  any  of 
the  citizens  of  either  of  the  three  towns,  have  ])een  had,  and  but  few 
crimes  of  importance  have  occurred  here. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  BAR. 

The  earliest  lawyer  in  Bninswick  is  said  to  have  been  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Hobbs,  who  is  described  as  a  shrewd,  smart  man,  but  not 
very  well  educated.  Next  to  him  came  Peter  O.  Alden,  who  was 
admitted  to  the  Ciunberland  bar  in  1797.  He  was  the  onl}'  lawyer  in 
town  for  the  remainder  of  that  century  and  for  several  years  in  the 
present  one.  He  continued  to  practise  his  profession  until  his  death 
in  1843,  but  his  business  was  very  small  for  many  years  previous  to 
his  death. ^ 

After  Alden  came  Henry  Putnam,  who  practised  law  in  Brunswick 

1  <S'ee  Biography, 


288      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

from  1806  to  1823,  or  thereaboats.  His  practice  was  not  extensive. 
From  1807,  Isaac  Gates,  for  a  few  years  ouly,  practised  law  in  this 
town. 

David  Staxwood,  of  the  class  of  1808,  Bowdoin  Collie,  studied 
law  for  'one  year  with  Peter  O.  Alden,  then  with  Benjamin  Hase}*  for 
one  3'ear,  and  afterwanls  one  year  with  Samuel  Thatcher.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1811,  and  removed  from  Brunswick  in  1888. 

Ebenezek  Kverett  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Bnmswick  in  1817,  from  which  time  to  1828  he  was  also  cashier  of 
the  Union  Bank.  He  afterwards  devoted  his  whole  time  to  his  pro- 
fession until  1858,  when  the  infirmities  of  age  compelled  him  to 
retire  from  its  active  duties.  He  had  a  large  practice  and  was 
deeme<l  a  verv  excellent  counsellor.* 

Robert  V.  Duxlap  *  was  in  practice  from  1818  until  about  1830, 
when  he  ent(*rcd  into  politics  and  gave  up  his  law  business. 

Benjamin'  Our*  moved  to  Brunswick  from  Topshara  about  1822, 
and  continued  in  practice  until  his  death,  in  1828.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  eminent  lawyers  in  the  State. 

Charles  Packard  *  had  a  remunerative  practice  in  town  between 
the  years  1825  and  1834,  at  which  latter  date  he  entered  upon  a 
course  of  sliidy  for  the  ministry. 

Phixeas  Barxes  practised  law  in  town  between  1839  and  1841. 
He  was  likewise  a  (jashier  of  one  of  the  banks  at  the  time. 

Leoxard  p.  Merrill  ^  was  in  the  practice  of  the  law,  for  a  few 
vears,  about  1845. 

WiLLL\M  G.  Barrows,  now  judge  of  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court 
of  Maine,  practised  law  in  Brunswick  from  1842  to  1803. 

Hexry  Okr  commenced  the  practice  of  his  profession  in  town  in 
1850,  and  has  pui-sued  it  up  to  the  present  time.  In  1853  he  was 
appointed  by  Governor  Crosbj'  a  judge  of  the  Municipal  Court. 

J.  D.  SiMMoxs  also  practised  here  from  1850  to  1870. 

From  1859  until  1861,  George  Barron  and  Eciward  Thompson,  the 
latter  of  tiie  class  of  1856,  Bowdoin  College,  followed  the  practice  of 
law  in  partnership.  Mr.  Thompson  entered  the  army  in  1861,  and 
since  then  Mr.  Barron  has  practised  alone.  Since  1871,  Mr.  Weston 
Thompson  has  lK»en  a  practising  lawyer  in  town. 

The  first  lawyer  to  settle  in  the  town  of  Topsham  was  Bexjamin 
Hasey.^  P^squire.  lie  commenced  practice  in  June,  1794,  and  con- 
tinued it  lor  man}'  years,  but  abandoned  its  active  duties  for  some 

1  See  Biography. 


COURTS  AND  TRIALS,  CRIMES  AND  CRIMINALS,  LAWYERS.     289 

time  before  his  death.  His  office  was  at  first  in  a  small  building 
which  stood  just  south  of  the  Bank  building.  It  was  afterwards 
removed  to  the  northeast  corner  of  Summer  and  Main  Streets,  where 
he  continued  to  occupj'  it  for  many  j'ears.  Still  later  his  office  was 
over  the  bank. 

In  1801,  Benjamin  Orr  commenced  practice  here.  Ilia  office  was 
over  T.  G.  &  N.  Sandford's  store,  in  the  building  where  Mountford's 
shop  is  now.  He  removed  to  Brunswick  About  1822,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  his  brother,  Robert  Orr,  who  practised  there  until  his 
death,  in  1829. 

During  the  latter  year  Moses  E.  Woodman  oj^ened  an  office  in  the 
V>niiding  formerly  occupied  by  Nathaniel  Green  as  a  post-offi(;e  and 
l^egistry  of  Deeds.     lie  remained  for  a  few  years  only. 

In  1843,  John  W.  Davis  was  practising  law  in  Toi)sliam.  When  he 
first  came,  or  how  long  he  remained,  has  not  been  ascertained. 

The  town  of  Ilarpswell  can  boast  of  never  having  a  professional 
lawj'er  settled  within  its  limits.  There  were,  of  course,  trial  justices, 
but  never  an^'  lawyers.  The  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  this  town, 
that  is  now  remembered,  was  Benjamin  Dunning. 


Ill 


2J<0        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

TAVERNS   AND   PUBLIC   HALLS,    NEWSPAPERS,  ETC. 
TAVERNS  IN  BRUNSWICK- 

WiTHOUT  doiil)t,  the  first  public  house  in  this  vicinity  was  established 
in  the  vear  1740.  On  the  tweutv-ninth  of  October  of  that  vear,  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  application  ha\ing  been  pre- 
viously made  for  encouragement  on  the  part  of  the  proprietors  to 
some  suitable  person  to  erect  a  house  for  the  entertainment  of  travel- 
lers on  Brunswick  Plain,  at  the  place  where  the  North  Yarmouth  and 
several  other  roads  met,  it  was  voted,  '•  That  a  tract  of  Land  be 
granted  to  such  person  as  shall  be  approved  of  by  the  Committee  of 
the  pr()i)rietors,  he  giNing  security  for  the  faithfull  and  seasonable 
peifomiance  thereof.'*  * 

This  offer  was  undoubtedly  accepted  by  some  one,  and  there  is 
reason  to  believe  it  was  by  Robert  Spear,  who  kept  a  tavern  a  little 
west  of  the  old  meeting-house,  between  the  years  1744  and  1760, 
perhaps  later.  This  inn  was  also  a  garrison  house,  protected  by  a 
timber  fortification,  and  soldiers  were  kept  in  it  by  the  government, 
for  the  safety  of  travellers,  as  well  as  for  the  protection  of  the  citi- 
zens. It  was  used  as  a  public  house  after  the  Spanish  or  Fifth  Indian 
War  had  tenninated,  in  1748.  Town  meetings  were  frequently  held 
in  this  inn  in  cold  weather,  and  here,  on  Sunday,  the  people  were 
wont  to  congregate  for  lunch  and  grog.*^ 

The  next  inn,  in  point  of  time,  was  the  one  kept,  about  1750,  by 
James  Thompson.^  This  was  on  the  farm  at  New  ^Meadows,  where 
Bartlett  Adams  now  lives.  It  was  afterwards,  it  is  said,'*  kept  by  his 
son.  Brigadier  Thompson,  until  he  removed  to  Topsham,  about  1784. 
It  was  certainly  kept  either  by  the  Brigadier  or  some  one  of  that 
family  as  late  as  1780.^  About  17G2,  Samuel  Coombs  was  licensed  as 
an  inn  holder.® 

"^Pejepscot  Records.  ^McKeen,  3/.S*S.  Lecture,  ami  eUerchere. 

*yfcKcen,  J/JSiS'.  Lecture.    He  was  licensed  in  17(>l  bfj  the  Court  of  General  SeMsionM 
for  Lincoln  County, 

*P§lmrJmcf^n,  ^  Low's  Almanac,  1780.  ^  Court  Records,  Portland. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  291 

In  1764  ^  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ross  kept  a  tavern,  which  tradition 
places  near  the  site  of  the  present  dwelling  of  Mr.  Kufus  Jordan,  on 
the  Maquoit  road,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  Morse  road.  This 
inn  was  certainly  kept  as  late  as  1777.* 

As  early  as  1767,  Benjamin  Stone  kept  a  tavern  in  or  near  the 
fort,  as  is  plainl3'  shown  by  the  following  extract  from  the  field-book 
of  the  company  who  made  the  survey  of  Bakerstown,  now  Minot, 
November,  1767.  A  part  of  the  company,  wishing  to  visit  Brunswick, 
hired  a  boat,  and  on  Wednesday,  November  25,  1767,  about  '*  ten  of 
the  clock,  started,  and  after  i*owing  about  three  hours  over  a  calm 
bay,  covered  with  abundance  of  wild  fowl  (we)  arrived  at  tlie  liead  of 
Maquoit  Bay  at  the  house  of  Squire  Wood  side.  .  .  .  From  Maquoit, 
we  travelled  three  and  a  half  miles  to  Brunswick  Fort,  which  is 
founded  on  a  rock,  and  built  in  an  exact  and  regular  manner,  of  stone 
and  lime,  in  a  four-square  form,  with  two  bastions  on  two  of  the  cor- 
ners, defended  by  two  wooden  towers  or  watch-boxi'S.  Tliis  da}'  fair 
weather.  Here  we  loilged  this  night,  and  a  pretty  good  house  of 
entertainment  is  kept  by  Benjamin  Stone.*' 

From  the  foregoing,  it  would  appear  that  Mr.  Stone  was  at  this 
time  keeping  a  public  house  inside  the  fort,  whore  tradition  says 
there  was  a  comfortable,  two-story  house,  but  it  is  i)oa8ible,  though  not 
probable,  that  this  tavern  was  outside,  but  near  the  fort,  and  tliat  the 
allusion  in  the  foregoing  extract  to  *'  Bninswick  P'ort"  reftMivd  to  the 
settlement  around  it  as  much  as  to  the  fortification  itself.  Stone  is 
known  to  have  kept  tavern  near  the  Bmnswick  Falls  as  lat<»  as  1799.^ 

About  1776,  later  rather  than  earlier,  a  Mr.  Curtis  is  said  to  have 
kept  a  tavern  where  Thomas  Grouse  now  lives,  near  where  the  rail- 
road crosses  the  New  Meadows  River.*  This  house  was  kept  as  an 
inn  as  late  as  1791. 

The  house  owned  and  occupied  by  the  late  Doctor  John  D.  Lincoln, 
which  was  built  in  1772,  was  kept  by  Captain  John  Dunlap  as  a  pub- 
lic house  a  portion  of  the  time  between  then  and  1800.^ 

In  1796  or  1797,  Talle3Tand,  the  distinguished  French  priest  and 
political  character,  visited  this  countr}'.  He  landed  at  Castine,  and 
on  his  way  to  Boston  he  passed  through  Brunswick,  and  si)eut  the 
greater  part  of  the  da}'  at  this  house.® 

Where  the  post-oflftce  and  engine-house  now  stand  on  Maine  Street, 


•  Nathaniel  Ameti*s  Almanac,  MCA.         2  Farmers*  Almanac,  1777. 

•  Xnthaniel  Ijnw*$  Almanac,  179l>.  *  Peter  Jordan,    Low's  Almanac^  1791. 

•  McKeen,  in  Brunswick  Telegraph,       ^Ibid, 


2J»2        mSTORT  OF  BRUXSWICK,  T0PSHA3i,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

there  was  formerlv  a  buildins  which  was  for  manv  vears  a  tavern,  and 
was  known,  a  part  of  the  thne,  as  Washington'  Hall.  It  was  bnilt 
by  David  Dunning  about  1772,  and  was  occupied  by  him  for  some 
years  as  a  i)rivatc  residence.  It  was  afterwards  occupied  by  his  son 
John,  who  kept  a  tavern  there  until  1807,  when  Da^^d  Owen  bought 
it  and  put  on  a  large  addition  in  front,  using  the  old  building  as  an  L. 
Here  Owen  kept  a  tavern  until  a])out  1812,  when  Isaac  O.  Robertson 
took  it  and  occupied  it  as  an  inn  until  1815.  The  latter  was  succeeded 
bv  Russell  Stoddanl,  who  remained  alx)ut  two  vears. 

Ebenezer  Nichols,  who  had  been  keeping  tavern  directly  opi>osite, 
then  took  it.  and  Stoddard  moved  to  a  building  where  the  Tontine  now 
stands.  Nichols  continued  as  landlord  until  his  death,  in  1824,  and 
his  widow  carried  on  the  business  until  1827,  when  she  moved  back 
across  the  street  to  the  building  her  husband  had  previously  occupied. 
While  she  kept  this  inn  it  was  called  *'  Mrs.  Nichols's  Inn."  William 
Hodgkiiis  moved  from  the  comer  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets  into 
this  Washington  llall  building  when  Mrs.  Nichols  left  it.  Here  he  re- 
mainerl  for  a  few  years.  After  it  was  vacated  by  him  it  was  occupied  as 
a  tenement  house  and  for  business  purposes,  till  it  was  ]>umed,  in  1856.^ 

In  17002  a  Mr.  Chase  kept  a  tavern  which  tradition  places  on  the 
Captain  William  Woodside  place,  at  Bunganock  Landing. 

The  old  tavern  which  stood  in  the  northwest  comer  of  the  college 
vartl,  l>est  known  as  Mooriiead's  Tavern,  was  built  in  l^<(^2  bv  Eben- 
ezer  Nichols,  but  was  not  finished  or  occupied  until  early  in  1803. 
Nichols  was  landlortl  of  it  until  1800.  During  this  time  it  was  the 
principal  public  and  stage  house  in  the  town.  Mr.  Nichols  was  suc- 
ceeded, in  1810,  bv  Colonel  T.  S.  Estabrook,  who  continued  in  it  for 
some  vears.  After  Estabrook  left  it.  a  man  bv  the  name  of  Coflin 
took  it,  and  kept  it  until  1818,  when  he  sold  out  to  Isaac  Dow.  The 
latter  kept  it  until  1820,  when  he  committeil  suicide.  In  September 
of  this  year  it  was  offered  for  sale.  It  was  occupie<l  at  that  time  by 
William  Ilo^lgkins.  The  advertisement  stated  that  it  had  ''  six  rooms 
on  the  lower  door,  some  large  and  well  furnished  ;  a  spacious  and  con- 
venient iiall.  a  good  cellar  and  never-failing  well.  The  appurtenances 
are  a  large,  well-finished  stable,  with  other  out-buildings ;  a  good 
garden  of  more  than  an  acre."^ 

Whether  the  house  was  sold  at  this  time  is  not  known,  but  in  1825 
Alexander   ^loorhead   was   the   proprietor.     About    the   year   1831, 


1  Dean  Svift,  tkintttl  Dunning^  and  other  old  refid^nts. 
^Loic's  Almanac  J  17U9L  *  Maine  InUlWjencer,  1820. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.         293 

Moorhcad  retired  from  business,  removed  from  town,  and  engaged  in 
farming.  He  was  succeeded  by  John  L.  Seavey,  who  kept  the  house 
for  two  or  three  years.  The  latter  was  succeeded  by  James  Elliot, 
who  was  proprietor  until  1839,  at  which  time  Mr.  Moorhead  returned 
to  Brunswick  and  again  assumed  the  management  of  this  public  house. 
Moorhead  continued  to  keep  it  until  1842,  when  the  building  was  pur- 
chased b3'  the  trustees  of  Bowdoin  College.  It  was  taken  down  in 
1847  and  rebuilt  on  Noble  Street,  and  is  now  the  residence  of  IMr. 
Joyce.  ^ 

A  short  distance  west  of  Cook's  Comer  there  stood  for  many  years 
what  was  known  as  the  Pumpkin  Taverx,  so  called  on  account  of 
its  sign,  which  was  a  large  ball  about  the  size  of  a  pumpkin,  which 
it  greatly  resembled.  It  was  a  two-story  house  built  by  one  Wads- 
worth  previous  to  the  war  of  1812-14.  Here  he  kept  a  public  house 
until  about  1836  or  1837.  It  was  seldom  patronized  by  travellers, 
and  was  in  fact  more  a  groggery  than  a  tavern. 

In  the  early  part  of  this  century  "pumpkin  taverns"  were  quite 
common,  there  being  one  in  nearly  everj'  town,  and  they  were  all 
of  about  the  same  character,  —  the  resort  of  the  intemperate  and 
depraved  i 

Soon  after  the  war  of  1812-14,  Ebenezer  Nichols,  who  had  formerly 
kept  the  tavern  on  the  hill,  bought  a  one-story  house,  situated  between 
what  is  now  the  residence  of  Doctor  N.  T.  Palmer  and  that  of  the 
late  L.  T.  Jackson,  put  a  second  story  upon  it,  and  fitted  it  up  for  a 
public  house.  Here  he  kept  tavern  for  a  few  years,  and  then  moved 
into  the  Washington  Hall  building. 

About  the  year  1817,  Kussell  Stoddard  opened  a  public  house,  called 

»Stoddard's  Inn,  in  a  large  building  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the 

present  Tontine  Hotel.      It  was  built  in  1803  for  a  store,  and  was 

occupied  as  such  until  Mr.  Stoddard  took  it  for  a  tavern.      It  was 

occupied  by  him  until  1825,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  John 

Barker  and  Charles  M.  Rogers.     Barker  soon  sold  out  his  interest, 

and  Rogers  assumed  the  sole  management.      The  building  was  de- 

stroved    bv  fire  in  1827.      This  house  durincr  its  existence  was   the 

stage  office  and  principal  public  house  in  Brunswick.     It  htul  a  hall  in 

which  entertainments  of  various  kinds  were  occasionally  held.     Stoil- 

dard  had  kept  in  the  W^ashington  Hall  building  for  a  year  or  two 

previous  to  opening  this  house. 


•" 


*  hlcKeen^  in  Brunswick  Telegraph ;  also  Dean  Stciftf  Samuel  Dunning,  Mrs.  Lamb, 
and  other  old  citizens. 


294        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

The  dwellinor-house  on  the  comer  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets, 
now  owned  and  occupied  by  Captain  Alfred  H.  Merryman,  was  built 
by  the  Honorable  Jacob  Abbott  for  his  residence,  in  1807.  At  his 
death,  in  1820,  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son  Jacob,  who  occu- 
pied it  until  1823,  when  he  removed  to  a  house  opposite  the  colleges, 
and  this  house  passed  \\\Ui  the  hands  of  William  Ilodj^kins,  who  fitted 
it  up  for  a  tavern,  and  occupied  it  as  such  from  January,  1824,  until 
some  time  in  1827.  The  house  was  known  as  Hodgkins's  Inn,  and 
a  hall  which  was  situated  in  the  L  of  the  building  was  known 
as  HoDGKiNs's  Hall.  In  1827,  Hodgkins  sold  out  to  Charles  M. 
Rogers,  and  moved  into  the  Washington  Hall  building,  which  had  just 
been  vacated  by  Mrs.  Nichols.  Mr.  Rogers  had  been  burned  out 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street,  where  he  had  been  proprietor  of 
the  Stoddard  House.  He  remained  in  his  new  quarters  for  about 
a  year,  when  he  moved  to  Topsham  and  opened  the  Lincoln 
House  in  November,  1828.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  charge  of 
Hodgkins's  Inn  by  John  L.  Seavey,  who  occupied  it  as  the  Maine 
Hotel  until  1830.  At  this  time  it  was  repaired  and  refitted,  and* 
Major  John  Stinchfield  took  it  and  kept  it  imtil  1837,  at  which  time 
he  bought  the  house  now  occupied  by  Captain  Isaac  L.  Skolfield,  and 
fitted  it  up  for  a  public  house.  Mr.  James  ^Mustard  then  became  pro- 
prietor of  the  Maine  Hotel.  In  1840,  Mr.  Mustard  died.  The  house 
was  then  kept  for  two  years  by  Erastus  Niles,  and  then  for  a  single 
3'ear  by  Joseph  W.  Sargent,  when  Mr.  Niles  again  assumed  the  man- 
agement and  kept  it  until  1845. 

James  Mustanl,  son  of  the  former  landlord,  took  it  in  184.")  and  con- 
tinued until  1849,  when  Aaron  Adams  became  the  proprietor.  While 
under  the  management  of  the  latter,  the  house  was  known  as  the 
Pejepsoot  House.  In  1853  a  Mr.  Marston  became  proprietor,  but  he 
dieil  within  a  year,  and  the  house  passed  into  the  hands  of  J.  R.  W. 
Iloitt,  and  was  known  as  the  American  House.  In  1850  it  was  kept 
as  a  boaixling-house,  called  the  Brunswick  House,  by  Benjamin  Libby. 
In  18G0,  John  R.  iJaly  occupied  it  as  a  boarding-house.  He  was  suc- 
ceeded, in  1861  by  Timothy  Bradley,  and  in  18G2  by  E*.  F.  Anderson, 
who  k(»pt  a  public  house  for  a  short  time. 

In  1«G3,  Captain  Merryman  purchased  the  house  and  fitted  it  up  for 
his  residence.  The  house  and  grounds  were  greatly  improved  and  are 
now  an  orniunent  to  the  village. 

The  Tontine  Hotel  was  built  in  the  year  1828  by  a  corporation 
known  as  '•  The  Brunswick  Tontine  Hotel  Company."  The  incor- 
porators were  Roger  Merrill,  David  Dunlap,  Benjamin  Weld,  Richaitl 


TAVKSITBAKD  PUBLIC  HALLB,  NEWSPAPERS,  STC. 


295 


T.  Dnnlap,  and  John  Owen,  2(1.  The  Act  of  Incorporation  limited 
the  capital  stock  to  '^  not  less  than  $6,000  nor  more  than  8I5.U00,  in 
ghareB  of  one  hnndred  dollars  each.  Among  the  original  xtock holders 
were  Ebenezer  Everett,  Enquire.  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  General  A.  B. 
Thompson,  Colonel  A.  J.  Stone,  General  J.  C.  Humphreys,  L.  T, 
Jackson,  Caleb Cushing,  R.  P.  Dunlap,  David  Shaw,  Geonfc  Skolfleld. 


TOHTIHB    HOTII» 


James  Otis,  and  others.  The  liotel  was  bnilt  <hirin^  the  summer  and 
fall  of  18:ifi.  by  Anthony  C.  Raymond,  and  was  o|)eiu-<l  to  the  public 
on  Xew  Year's  day,  lfl29.  The  establishment  cost  nearly  87,000. 
On  the  evening  of  .laniiary  "2.  the  landlonl.  Colonel  Elijah  1'.  Pike, 
gave  a  supper  to  nhont  fifty  citizens  of  Bnniswick  and  Topsliam. 

The  AndroKoggin  Free  Prenn  of  Jannary  14,  1829,  in  a  ]iaragraph 
describing  the  building,  says :  — 

"It  contains  thirty  apartments  besides  closets.  stori'-rooniK.  etc.. 
and  a  hall  which,  for  elegance  und  spaciousness,  is  not  Hiir|iiisscd  in 
the  State."! 

Colonel  Pike  eontinned  landlord  of  the  hot<'l  until  l*(;i(i,  when 
Erastiis  Kichanla  lease<l  it  for  two  or  three  years.     He  was  sui-cewlcd, 

in  1839.  by Holland  and  Jacob  M.  Berry.     The  next  year  Mr. 

Bern-  assumed  the  sole  management  of  the  hotel,  lunl  coiitinnetl  its 
landlord  until  IS50,  when  he  went  to  California,  leuvinj^  the  niiuiage- 
mcnt  of  the  hotel  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  Leonaitl  TownKcinl.  Mr. 
Berry  had  been  in  C.ilifornia  only  a  few  months  when  he  dieil.  The 
contract  with  Mr.  Townaentl  h;iving  iieen  made  for  a  yeiir,  lie  contin- 
ued the  management  of  the  hold  until  lis.')!,  when  the  conlro]  of  the 
property  passed  into  the  hnnils  of  Mr.  James  Item',  a  ln-olher  of 
Jacob.  Mr.  Berry  at  once  assumetl  the  management  of  the  hotel,  and 
continued  landlord  until  1867,  when  he  sold  out  to  Mr.  H.  B.  Jlnkham, 


296        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICKy  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

who  conducted  the  hotel  until  1875.  He  was  succeeded  bv  Mr.  S.  B. 
Harmon,  and  the  bitter  was  in  1877  succeeded  bv  Mr.  Brewster,  the 
present  landlonl.  From  the  building  of  the  hotel  till  the  completion 
of  the  railroad,  this  hotel  was  the  stage  ollice  and  the  principal  public 
house  in  town. 

Stinxhfield  House. —  The  house  now  o^Tie<l  and  occupied  as  a 
residence  l)y  Captain  Isaac  L.  Skolfield,  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and 
SchcK>l  Streets,  was  in  1837  purchased  of  the  heirs  of  Honorable  Ben- 
jamin Orr,  by  Major  John  Stinchfield,  and  fitte<l  up  for  a  public  house. 
Major  Stinchfield  kept  a  tavern  there  until  his  death,  in  Septemlier, 
1844.  His  family  continued  the  business  for  a  short  time  longer, 
after  which  the  building  was  occupietl  by  Mr.  G.  C.  Swallow,  who 
kept  school  in  it.  From  the  o|)ening  of  this  public  house,  in  1837, 
until  the  Moorhead  tavern  was  sold,  in  1842,  there  were  four  public 
houses  in  the  village,  viz.,  the  Tontine,  the  ^Iaine  Hotel,  Stinch- 
FiELi>V,  and  Moorhead's. 

An  inn  called  Gatchell's  Tavern  was  kept  near  Gatchell's 
Mills,  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  town,  from  1S37  to  1850.  or 
thereabouts.  It  was  kept  at  first  by  Joseph  an<l  Francis  Gatchell, 
and  after  1840  by  Francis  Gatchell  alone.  It  was  a  famous  place  for 
'•  sprees."  and  was  the  resort  of  students  and  others  bent  \\\>oik  having 
'•  a  goo<l  time." 

William  1*.  Storer  kept  a  public  house  for  three  or  four  years  from 
1^37,  in  the  westcni  part  of  the  town,  near  the  Durham  line,  at  what 
was  then  known  as  Storer  s  Comer. 

In  1838.  Paul  R.  Cleaves  opened  a  public  house  west  of  **  Powder- 
House  Hill."  just  beyond  the  comer  of  Mill  and  Pleasant  Streets.  He 
remained  only  a  year  or  two,  not  receiving  sutlicient  patronage  to 
warrant  his  continuing  the  business  in  that  location. 

About  the  ye.nr  l^<25,  Benjamin  Peterson  kept  a  tavern  on  the  Bath 
road,  about  a  mile  beyond  Cook's  Corner,  whicli  was  known  as  the 
Half-Way  1IoU!?e.  In  1835  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  town  of  Jeffer- 
son, sold  this  tavern,  and  moved  awav.  Probal»lv  Thomas  AVheeler 
l»ought  it  at  this  time,  as  he  kept  a  tavern  at  this  place  for  some  years 
prior  to  1845,  which  always  went,  with  the  colU-ge  students,  by  the 
name  of  ()m>  Wheeler's.  It  was  a  large  one-story  laiilding.  Like 
most  of  the  public  houses  out  of  the  village,  it  was  a  noted  resort  for 
carousals. 

In  1870,  John  T.  Smith  purchased  the  residence  of  the  late  Gen- 
eral Richard  T.  Dunlap,  and  couverteil  it  into  a  public  house,  calleil 
the  BowDoix  Hotel. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  297 

In  1868  the  building  owned  by  Mr.  Jotbam  Varney  on  Maine 
Street,  opposite  the  mall,  was  converted  into  a  public  house,  and  has 
been  occupied  as  such  by  different  parties  until  the  present  time.  It 
is  now  called  the  Brctnswick  House. 

The  foregoing  comprise  all  the  public  houses  known  to  have  been 
kept,  at  any  period,  in  Bnmswick. 

The  earliest  public  hall  to  which  we  have  found  any  reference  was 
the  one  in  the  tavern  which  stood  where  the  post-oflice  and  engine- 
house  are  now.  At  first  the  hall  was  known  by  the  name  of  its  pro- 
prietor, as  Owen's  Hall  in  1807,  Robertson's  Hall  in  1812.  It 
rec*eived  the  name  of  Washington  Hall  about  the  vear  1815.  It 
was  for  man}'  years  the  only  hall  in  which  public  entertainments  were 
given.  In  this  hall,  also,  private  schools  were  taught  at  different 
times. 

Stone's  Hall,  on  the  comer  of  Maine  and  Mill  Streets,  was,  in 
1^12  and  subsequently,  used  for  religious  meetings  and  for  other  pur- 
lK)ses  not  requiring  a  larger  hall. 

Masonic  Hall,  on  Mason  Street,  now  the  engine-house  and  hall  of 
*'  Niagara,  No.  3,"  was  built  in  the  year  1817,  and  besides  being  used 
for  masonic  puq^oses,  the  building  has  been  useil  at  different  times  for 
|>rivate  schools,  and,  if  we  mistake  not,  lor  public  lectures. 

Stoddard's  Hall  was  in  the  tavern  kept  by  Russell  ^Stoddard  in 
a  building  which  oi'cupied  the  site  of  the  present  Tontine  Hotel,  and 
which  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1827.  Frequent  allusions  have  been 
found  to  this  hall,  and  it  was  probably  large  and  comfortable,  and 
adapted  to  the  requirements  of  the  town  at  that  time. 

While  Ilodgkins  kept  an  inn  in  the  house,  now  the  residence  of 
Captain  Alfred  Merryman,  there  was  a  hall  in  the  L  which  was  known 
as  HoDGKiNS  Hall.  In  this  hall  religious  and  political  meetings 
were  sometimes  held,  and  it  was  also  used  as  a  school- room,  and  for 
public  entertainments. 

The  Tontine  Hall  was,  for  many  years  subsequent  to  its  erection 
in  1828,  the  principal  hall  in  Brunswick  for  all  sorts  of  pul>lic  gather- 
ings, and  it  has  alwa3's  been  a  favorite  place  for  balls  and  assemblies. 

HuMriiREY's  Hall  was  over  the  store  now  occupied  by  Mr.  IJal- 
coin  as  a  hartlware  store,  and  in  1841,  and  thereabouts,  was  used  for 
(lances  and  for  public  meetings,  not  requiring  a  large  hall. 

Odd  Fellows  Hall  was,  from  1H44  to  1849,  over  the  store  of 
•lolm  S.  Cushing,  where  Lemont  Block  is  now.  The  building  was 
Immed  in  1849,  and  the  Odd  Fellows  then  went  into  a  room  over  the 
Htore  of  A.  T.  Campbell,  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Lincoln  Streets. 


298        HISTORY  OF  BBUXSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

McLellan*s  Hall  was  opened  as  a  public  hall  alwut  the  year  1851, 
and  from  that  time  until  the  erection  of  Lemout  Hall,  in  1870,  it  was 
used  almost  exclusively  for  public  meetings  of  all  kinds  and  for 
public  entertainments. 

Lemunt  Hall  has  been,  since  its  erection,  the  best  hall  in  town. 
It  is  a  n(»at  and  comfortable  room,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  about 
eight  hundred  It  is  not  adapted  to  all  classes  of  enti'rtainments,  but 
for  lectures,  concerts,  fairs,  etc.,  it  is  far  superior  to  funy  of  its  pred- 
ecessors. 

IX  TOPSHAM. 

There  is  some  doubt  in  regard  to  who  kept  the  first  house  of 
entertainment  in  Topsham.  Adam  Hunter,  who  came  to  town  in 
171^,  and  wlio  died  about  the  year  1770,  is  said  to  have  kept  the 
first,  though  not  a  licensed  one.  On  the  other  hand,  the  statement 
is  made  l»v  the  verv  same  authorilv  ^  that  Colonel  Samuel  Winchell, 
who  settleil  on  the  Cathance  in  1750,  ••  kept  the  first  public  house, 
not  a  tavern,  as  is  usual  now,  but  his  house  was  deemed  the  first  in 
town,  and  for  his  house  strangers  use<l  to  inquire." 

Next  to  this  house,  in  order  of  time,  was  the  one  kept  by  David 
Ree<l,  fivi*  miles  below  the  Falls  on  the  lower  road  to  Bowdoinham. 
near  the  line.  He  was  licensed  Mav  2r>,  1701,  as  an  innholder.  in 
the  alx  folk)win«:  vears  as  a  retailer,  and  ajrain  as  an  innholder  in 
1772,  1«73,  and  1874 .-^ 

In  1702.  Samuel  Wilson  was  licenseil  as  an  innholder,  and  for  each 
successive  year,  down  to  September.  17G(>.  when  his  last  license  was 
granted.^  John  Reed  kept  an  inn,  i>ro)»ably  this  one,  in  1708.  This 
last  year.  AVilliam  AVilson  is  mentioned  in  the  Pej\'pscot  Pajx^rs  as  an 
innhohler  in  Topsham.  He  was  licensed  in  17G1.  and  an  Isa1>ella 
"Wilson  in  1707."*  The  precise  locality  of  the  two  inns  kept  by  the 
Wilsons  is  not  known,  but  thev  were  doubtless  within  the  limits  of 
what  now  constitutes  the  villnge  of  Toi)siiam.  The  reason  for  this 
supposition  is,  that  Samuel  and  William  Wilson  owned  lots  in  KG^ 
opposite  the  fort.'*  and  in  1773  there  was  a  tavern  kept  at  Topsham 
Ferrv  bv  a  Mr.  Wilsou.® 

A)»out  1770,  Mr.  John  Hunter  ke[>t  a  tavern  about  two  miles  from 
the  villnge.  on  the  road  to  Bowdoinham.  Nothing  definite  is  known 
as  to  Ihi-  leuglh  of  lime  Mr.  Hunter  kept  an  inn,  but  it  was  probably 


*  l.inri,1n  ('niint'j  C"ni't  Records.  ^  Finn  nf  Tup-^Iunn  in  ITtW. 

*  line's  Alni'umr,  1773. 


TAVERyS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  299 

for  five  or  six  years.  He  was  town  clerk  from  1773  to  1775.  He 
died  when  thirty-two  years  of  age.  In  1777  a  town  meetifcg  was  held 
at  '*  Widow  Hunter's."  From  these  facts  it  is  probable  that  Mr. 
Hunter  died  in  1775  or  1776,  and  he  had  probably  kept  tavern  for  some 
3'ears  pre\dous  to  that  time.  Mrs.  Hunter  carried  on  the  business  for 
some  years,  until  she  married  Mr.  Alexander  Rogers.  It  used  to  be 
the  custom  for  parties  of  five  or  six  to  ride  from  the  village  to  this  inn, 
and  for  the  last  one  who  arrived  to  pay  for  the  ''  treat."  Town  meet- 
ings were  occasionally  held  at  this  house,  when  the  severity  of  the 
cold  made  the  meeting-house  too  uncomfortable.  It  was  at  this  house 
that  an  old  negro,  who  lived  in  the  vicinity,  known  as  ''  Bill  Fortin," 
attacked  the  mistress  with  warm  words  of  invective,  because  some  one 
had  tokl  him,  in  sport,  that  she  had  said  that  they  had  never  any 
hlw:k  sheep  in  their  flocks  until  he  sheared  them. 

While  Mrs.  Hunter  carried  on   this  house,  an   old  soldier  named 
Pike  (pronounced  Peek),  returning  from  the  war  in  tattered  clothes 
and  with  his  faithful  musket  upon  his  shoulder^  begged  of  h(»r  to  allow 
him  to  remain  and  work  upon  her  farm.     She  consented  and  gave  iiim 
plenty  to  eat  and  a  new  suit  of  clothes ;  whereupon  he  remarked  that 
he  would  stay  as  long  as  he  lived.     In  after  years  he  remarked  in  still 
stronger  terms,  that  he  would  remain  with  her  ''as  long  as  a  single 
shingle  remained  on  the  roof."     The  old  house  still  stands. in  its  oaken 
strength,  while  Pike,  a  faithful  ser\'ant,  has  long  since  mouldered  in 
the  dust.     After  Widow  Hunter's  marriage,  the  house  ceased  to  be  a 
tavern.     Mr.  Rogers,  however,  in  1803  and  for  some  years  after  his 
marriage  to  Mrs.  Hunter,  kept  an  iun  at  his  mvn  house,  and  it  was  the 
resort  for  lunch  and  grog  on  Sunday  noons  of  all  who  atteurled  meet- 
ing in  the  old  east  meeting-house.     Here,  too,  the  militiii  collected  on 
training  days,  and  here  the  procession  was  fonned  when  Washington's 
death  was  observed,  in  1800.     The  house  descended  from  ^Ir.  Rogers 
to  his  son,  Honorable  George  Rogers,* and  from  him  to  the  late  George 
A.  Rogers,  Esquire,  in  whose  family  it  now  remains. 

In  1773,  John  Merrill  was  licensed  as  an  iiniholder.  For  how  long 
a  time  he  kept  a  public  house  is  not  known. 

In  1774,  James  Purington,  and  in  1779,  John  Whitney,  kept  tavern 
somewhere  in  Topsham.  Samuel  Tilton  was  licensed  in  1778,  and 
John  Blanchard  in  1791. 

In  1792,  Brigadier  Samuel  Thompson  kept  a  public  house  in  the 
building  afterwards  occupicKl  b}'  Harvey  Thompson,  now  destr()ye<l, 
near  the  entrance  to  the  depot  grounds.  Hezekiah  Wyman  was 
licensed  the  same  year. 


300        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

From  about  1800  to  1829,  Francis  Tucker  kept  a  public  house  in 
the  building  which  is  still  standing  on  Main  Street  neai'ly  opposite  the 
Bank  building.  This  was  for  man}'  3'ears  the  principal  public  house  in 
town. 

The  old  Gideon  Walker  house,  which  stood  a  few  rods  south  of  the 
present  Walker  homestead,  was  used  as  a  tavern  for  some  years  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  last  century,  as  early  as  1792  and  as  lately  as  1803. 

About  1812  the  Sagek  House  was  kept  by  a  Mr.  Sager.  It 
was  situated  on  the  northwest  comer  of  Main  and  Winter  Streets, 
where  the  Perkins  Building  is  now.   It  was  afterwards  destroyed  by  fire. 

From  1822  until  about  1855,  John  Jack  kept  a  tavern  in  what,  is 
known  as  the  Jack  neighborhood,  near  the  little  river  line.  During 
the  earlj'  part  of  the  time  there  was  a  great  deal  of  travel,  and  the 
house  was  generall}-  full.  Lewiston  was  then  a  small  village,  and 
Topsham,  Brunswick,  and  Bath  were  the  markets  for  all  of  the  interior 
towns. 

From  1814  to  1829,  Nathaniel  Green  was  a  licensed  innholder  in 
Topsham.  Between  the  \'ears  1831  and  1836  he  kept  a  public  house 
for  the  accommodation  of  persons  attending  court,  in  the  building  now 
U8e<l  by  the  Franklin  Family  School.  The  next  year,  1837,  he  went 
to  Augusta,  where  he  kept  the  Palmer  House. 

Prior  to  1826  a  public  house  was  kept  b}'  Sullivan  Haines,  and  in 
1826  b}'  Prince  Dinsmore,  in  a  building  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
late  residence  of  Mr.  Ikhvin  M.  Stone  on  Winter  Street.  In  1826 
the  house  was  burned.  It  was  owned  at  that  time  bj'  Captain  Samuel 
Perkins.  It  must  have  •been  rebuilt  at  once,  as  in  1828,  Charles  M. 
Rogers,  of  Brunswick,  took  it  and  advertised  it  as  the  Lincoln  Hotel, 
'*  a  new  and  commodious  house."  From  1830  to  1834  this  tavern 
was  kept  by  James  Mustartl.  In  1836  it  was  kept  by  Suel  and  Alden 
Baker  as  the  Temperance  Hotel.  In  1837  it  was  kept  by  Jeremiah 
Clough.  In  1838  and  1839  (and  probabl}'  later),  by  Aaron  Crowley. 
Afterwards,  for  a  short  time,  by  a  Mr.  Moulton.  In  1844  by  Joseph 
C.  Snow,  and  in  1845  by  A.  W.  Hewey,  during  which  time  it  again 
went  by  the  name  of  the  Lincoln  House.  After  this  it  was  kept  by 
Leeman  Hebberd  for  a  while. 

In  1817,  Thomas  G.  Sandford,  Jonathan  Baker,  George  F.  Richard- 
son, Daniel  E.  Tucker,  and  Samuel  Veazie  were  all  licensed  as 
innholders. 

.  In  1829,  Daniel  Dennett  was  a  heensed  innholder.  His  house  was 
on  the  east  side  of  Main  Street,  a  little  above  tlie  present  post  office. 
It  was  not  much  of  an  estabUshment. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  BALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  301 

About  1845,  George  Green  had  a  tavern  on  the  island,  known  as 
the  "WAsmNGTONiAN  House.  It  was  afterwards  called  the  Elm 
House. 

Several  of  the  above-named  public  houses  had  halls  attached  for 
dancing  and  other  public  purposes.  Besides  these  there  have  been  at 
difTerent  times  in  Topsham  the  following  public  halls  :  — 

In  a  building  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Godfrey  House,  on 
Green  Street,  there  was  a  hall  in  which  a  dancing-school  was  kept  in 
1799.  This  house  was  purchased  about  1804  by  Reverend  Jonathan 
Ellis.  The  hall  had  a  swinging  partition  in  it,  the  liinges  of  which 
were  at  the  top.  When  this  partition  was  opened  it  was  fastened  up 
to  the  ceiling  by  hooks  and  staples^ 

The  Court  House  was  occasionall}'  used  as  a  public  hall  during  the 
whole  period  of  its  existence.  It  was  used  for  a  public  oration  as 
early  as  1804.  At  a  later  period  it  was  occupied  on  Sundaj-s  by 
different  religious  organizations,  and  by  the  town  for  many  years  for  its 
annual  meetings.  It  was  also  occasionallj-  used  for  travelling  shows 
and  other  exhibitions. 

At  a  later  day  the  town-house,  situated  opposite  the  village  burj-ing- 
g:round,  was  the  principal  place  for  public  entertainments. 

Still  later,  the  hall  of  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural  Society  was,  and 
now  is,  used  for  fairs,  dances,  etc.,  but  it  is  too  large  for  lectures  or 
for  any  ordinary  entertainments. 

Perkins  Hall  and  White's  Hall,  over  stores  on  Main  Street,  have 
been  used  for  meetings  of  one  kind  and  another,  not  requiring  larger 
acconunodations.  The  engine  hall  has  also  been  used  for  small 
gatherings.  Topsham  has  never  had  a  hall  suitable,  in  all  respects, 
for  public  entertainments,  the  halls  referred  to  being  either  too  large 
or  too  small,  and  not  adapted  for  all  occasions  for  which  a  hall  is 
required. 

IN    HARPSWELL. 

About  1 762,  Richard  Starbird  and  Timoth}'  Bailey  were  licensed  as 
innholders,  in  Harpswell. 

A  Mr.  Eastman  kept  a  sailor  boarding-house*  on  the  east  side  of 
Condy's  Point,  Great  Island,  before  and  during  the  Revolution.  The 
only  public  house  on  this  island  since  that  time  is  believed  to  be  the 
L'mon  House,  which  was  built  in  18G2  by  David  W.  Simpson,  and 
was  conducted  by  him  for  one  year.     It  not  proving  a  success,  he 

^Statement  by  Dr.  Asher  Ellis. 


302         mSTORT  OF  BRUXSWICK,  TOPlbBAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

gave  it  up  aud  went  to  sea.  It  was  bought  by  Robert  Watson,  and 
in  18C5  was  changed  to  a  church  and  parsonage,  and  part  of  the  pews 
were  sold.  In  18G6  or  1867,  Watson  bought  back  the  jjews.  changed 
the  church  to  a  tavern  again,  and  carried  on  the  house  for  one  year. 
In  1867,  James  Jewell,  the  present  landlord,  hired  the  house  and 
opened  it  for  company.  In  1876,  Moses  Paul  bought  the  house  and 
had  last  summer  considerable  patronage. 

Ou  Orr's  Island  there  has  never  been  a  tavern  or  public  house  of 
anv  kind. 

In  1829,  Elijah  Walker  was  licensed  as  an  innholder  on  Harpswell 
Neck. 

The  Mansion  House  was  built  "by  Alexander  P.  Wentworth,  now 
of  Brunswick,  in  1835,  and  was  occupied  by  him  as  a  public  house  for 
a  short  time,  and  was  then  sold  to  John  Col])v,  who  was  succeeded 
by  others  wlu)se  names  have  not  been  ascertained.  Frederic  W.  Dear- 
bom,  of  Topsham,  was  the  last  owner  and  landlord.  The  house  was 
destroyed  by  fire  in  1868.  Mr.  Charles  Johnson  was  licenserl  as  an 
innholder  in  1837,  but  whether  he  had  charge  of  tliis  house  does  not 
appear. 

MAIIJ3  AND  POST-OFFICES. 

At  the  time  of  the  earlier  settlements  here,  before  the  establishment 
of  any  post-office,  letters  were  brought  to  the  inhabitants  by  the 
coasters  which  plieii  lx*tween  ^Nlaquoit  and  the  larger  towns,  or  by  anv 
chance  traveller  who  might  be  journeying  this  way.  For  a  time  even 
after  the  establishment  of  a  mail-route,  letters  were  S(»ut  by  coasters 
as  a  matter  of  convenience. 

The  first  mail-routt*  from  Boston  to  the  Kennebec  was  established 
a  little  while  iK'fore  the  commencement  of  the  Kevolutionarv  war. 
when,  f(»r  a  short  time,  Luke  Lambanl  carried  the  mail  on  horseback 
once  a  fortnight,  leaving  the  letters  for  Brunswick  Jind  vicinity  as  he 
passed  by.^  The  mail  was  first  carrie<l  Ijetween  Portland  and  Bath, 
once  a  fortnight,  by  Kichanl  Kimball,  who  went  on  foot  and  often  car- 
ried the  letters  in  his  jwcket.  It  was  not  until  al>out  1800  that  the  mail 
was  carrietl  oftener  than  onc»e  a  week.*  In  1803  there  were  three 
mails  a  week  from  Boston,  which  arrivetl  in  Brunswick  on  the  thini 
day.  In  18C4  it  n>ache<l  that  plac-e  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  1805  in 
the  morning  of  the  second  day  from  Boston.^ 


1  Maine  HUtorit-al  Collection,  2,  p  219. 
s  McKeen,  in  Brumwick  Telegraph,  Jubj  30,  1853. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.         303 

Henry  McInt}Te  drove  the  first  four-horse  stage  from  Portland  to 
Brunswick  about  1803.  He  was  living,  at  tlie  age  of  ninety-three,  at 
New  Sharon,  Maine,  on  April  30,  1875.^ 

In  1802,  T.  S.  Estabrook,  of  Bninswick  (afterwanls  Colonel),  began 
to  cany  the  mail  to  Augusta,  passing  through  Topshani  and  LitehGeld. 
He  carried  it  at  first  on  horseback,  leaving  Brunswick  every  Monday. 
In  1806  he  commenced  running  a  passenger  coach  twice  a  week.  It 
left  Brunswick  on  Saturday-  and  Tuesday  at  eleven  o'clock  a.  m., 
and  arrived  in  Augusta  on  Sunday  and  Wednesday  at  ten  a.  m. 
Returning,  it  left  Augusta  at  noon  on  Sunday',  and  at  eight  a.  m.  on 
Thursdav.^ 

The  first  daily  mail  is  thought  to  have  commenced  in  18 10.^  Jn 
1824  "  no  mail  from  Brunswick  could  reach  the  towns  on  the  Andros- 
coggm  River,  except  by  way  of  Portland  and  Hallo  well,  ami  not  all  of 
said  towns  were  reache<l  in  that  way ;  consequently  the  publisher  of 
the  Bnptist  Herald  found  it  necessary  to  establish  at  his  own  expense 
a  weekly  mail-route  as  far  as  Jay,  al)out  forty-five  miles ;  passing  up 
the  west  side  of  the  river  and  down  the  east.  The  United  States 
government,  two  years  later,  assumed  the  route  and  continued  it  until 
other  facilities  of  transportation  made  it  unnecessary."  ^ 

In  183G  a  new  mail-route  was  established  between  Brunswick  an<l 
Turner,  passing  through  Durham,  Danville,  Lewiston,  and  Minot.  It 
left  Brunswick  at  eight  o'clock  on  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and  Saturday. 
Another  route  was  established  at  the  same  time  to  Lewiston,  through 
To])sham  and  Lisbon.  A  route  was  also  established  liiis  year  between 
Bninswick  and  Haq)swell.  Alter  the  cars  commenced  to  run  on  the 
Kennebec  and  Portland  Railroad,  there  was  a  <lailv  mail  from  each 
end  of  the  road,  and  in  1864  two  mails  daily  were  n»ctMved  and 
sent. 

The  first  i)ost-ofl[ice  established  in  Brunswick  was  in  1793,  and 
Deacon  Andrew  Dunning  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  otfice  was 
kept  until  shortly-  before  the  death  of  Deacon  Dunning  in  his  dwelling 
on  Maine  Street,  just  north  of  what  is  now  Noble  Street.  The  estate 
remains  in  the  Dunning  familv,  but  the  present  house  is  not  tiie  one  in 
which  the  post-office  was  kept.  Mr.  Dean  Swift  distinctly  remembeis 
being  sent  to  Deacon  Dimning's  for  letters,  when  a  boy,  and  he  says 
that  the  deacon  kept  them  in  a  desk  in  a  corner  of  the  room,  and  that 
it  was  customarv  for  the  citizens  to  look  over  the  letters  tiiemselves, 

^  Bnmtwick  Telef/raph.  *  ^  North,  History  of  Awjuahi,  p.  \VXS. 

^Farmers'  Almanac,  1810.  "*  Giijffin,  PrcM  o/  Maine,  p,  74. 


304        BISTORT  OF  BRUXSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AXD  BARP8WELL. 

an-i  to  select  therefrom  such  as  bore  their  address.     Robert  Danniiig, 
who  saccee<ied  his  father  in  1801 .  kept  the  office  on  the  northern  cor- 

m 

ner  of  Maine  and  Dunlap  Streets.* 

In  1824  the  office  was  kept  on  Mill  Street,  near  the  present  resi- 
dence of  Mrs.  A.  J.  Stone.  In  182C  it  was  removed  to  the  comer  of 
Maine  and  Mason  Streets,  where  Lorenzo  Dav*s  store  now  stands. 
The  next  year,  the  office  was  removed  to  a  building  south  of  the 
stage  house,  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  James  Bi-ny*.  near  the  foot  of 
the  mall,  where  it  remained  until  1842.  when  it  was  removed  to  its 
present  Ux^tion.  It  was  subsequently  moved  back  to  the  Berry  build- 
ing, and  in  1871  it  was  moved  to  its  present  location. 

The  incouie  of  the  jwstmaster  at  this  office  during  the  year  1826 
was  one  hundred  and  sixty  dollars,  and  in  1845  was  eight  hundred 
and  sixtet-n  dollars  and  eighty-one  cents.  From  these  sums  the  post- 
master was  required  to  pay  for  office  rent,  clerk  hire,  wood  and 
li^ls.     The  mails  in  the  latter  year  arrived   at   eleven   p.  m.    and 

two  A.  31. 

On  July  14,  1803,  Major  Lemuel  Swift  was  ap]>ointed  post- 
master, in  ])lace  of  Robert  Dunning.  The  appointment  was  probably 
made  without  the  knowledge,  or  at  least  consent,  of  Mr.  Swift,  as  he 
declined  to  accept  it  then,  as  he  did  also  at  other  times. 

The  following  is  a  correct  list  of  all  the  iwstmasters  of  Brunswick 
and  the  date  of  their  appointment.  It  is  denve<l  from  the  (^cial 
records  of  tlie  Post  Office  Department  at  Washington :  — 

Andrew  Dunning.  api>ointe<l  March  20.  1793:  Robert  Dunning, 
apiK>inted  January'  1,  1801;  Henry  Quinby,  apijointed  January  1, 
18'J4  ;  Jonathan  Stone,  appointed  May  2U,  1807:  Joseph  McLellan. 
api>ointed  Septeml>er  15,  1823 ;  Theodore  S.  McLellan,  appointed 
December  29,  1840;  Elijah  P.  Pike,  appointed  Februaiy  9,  1842: 
Theodore  S.  McLellan,  apiwinted  September  11,  1843;  Joseph  F. 
Dunning.  ai>pointed  May  2,  1849 :  John  McKeen,  apjwinted  Septem- 
ber 28,  1850 :  Robert  P.  Dunlap,  api>ointed  May  13,  1853  ;  Alfh?d  J. 
Stone,  appoiute<l  March  24,  1858 ;  Benjamin  G.  Dennison,  appointed 
April  8, 1801  ;  Albert  G.  Tenney.  api)ointed  August  24,  18C6  ;  George 
C.  Crawfoni,  appointed  April  3,  18G7. 

The  first  post-office  in  Topsham  was  up  stairs  in  a  building  which 
stood  directly  opposite  the  bank.  Charles  R.  Porter,  the  postmaster, 
was  a  lawyer,  and  the  mail  was  kept  in  his  office,  lie  nad  for  an 
assistant,  Oliver,  son  of  Major  Nathaniel  Walker,  who  remained  with 

*  P^jepscot  Papers. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBUC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  305 

him  for  two  or  three  years,  and  was  then  succeeded  by  his  brother, 
Wildes  P.  Walker,  then  a  lad  of  ten  or  eleven  years  of  age.  The 
roUowing  is  the  list  of  postmasters  in  Topsham,  derived  fVom  the 
same  source  as  the  preceding :  — 

Charles  R.  Porter,  appointed  February  6,  1821 ;  Nathaniel  Green, 

appointed  Juh'   13,   1826;   Nathaniel  Walker,  appointed  April   19, 

1M31  ;  John  H.  Thompson,  appointed  August  12,  1841  ;   Nathaniel 

Walker,  appointed  November  26,  1844;  William  Ricker,  appointed 

July  19,  1845 :  Charles  E.  White,  appointed  February'  9,  1849  ;  John 

Tebbet«,  appointed  April  11,  1849;  Octavius  A.  Merrill,  appointed 

May  3,    1853 ;   Lewis  M.  Work,   appointed  September  22,    1853 ; 

Amos  D.  Wheeler,  appointed  February  29,  1856  ;  Alexander  Ridley, 

appointed  October  6,  1856 ;  Robert  P.  Whitney,  appointed  May  6, 

1861. 

The  first  post-oflSce  in  Harpswell  was  established  at  the  lower  end 
of  Harpswell  Neck  in  1842,  about  three  miles  from  the  old  meeting- 
house, the  mail  being  received  at  that  time  every  Tuesday.     The  first 
postmaster  was  Washington  Garcelon.      Residents  of  Great  Island 
and  the  upper  part  of  the  Neck  continued  to  go  to  Brunswick  for  their 
ietters  for  many  years  afterwards,     'ihere  are  several  separate  oflices 
in  the  town  of  Harpswell,  and  the  following  is  the  official  list  of  the 
postmasters  in  each. 

The  office  in  West  Harpswell  was  established  October  14,  1847. 
The  postmasters  were,  Washington  Garcelon,  appointed  Octol)er  14, 
1847  ;  Ebenezer  Pinkham,  appointed  July  14,  1849  ;  Alcot  S.  Morri- 
man,  appointed  April  10,  1850.  The  oflice  was  discontinued  May  27, 
1854,  but  wa3  re-established  in  September,  18(52.  David  Webber, 
appointed  September  11,  1862;  Miss  Helen  M.  Webber,  appointed 
December  22,  1865;  Miss  Lydia  F.  Webber,  appointed  June  16, 
1868;  Miss  Mai^aret  M.  Thomas,  appointed  February  28,  1871; 
Miss  Eleanor  Thomas,  appointed  June  15,  1872. 

The  office  at  North  Harpswell  was  established  Februar}'  25,  1864, 
and  Charles  Johnson  was  appointed  postmaster  on  that  day. 

The  office  on  Orr's  Island  was  established  May  13,  1868,  and  Sam- 
uel E.  Smullen  was  appointed  postmaster  at  that  time. 

Postage  on  a  letter  to  Boston  in  1833  was  twelve  and  a  half  cent«, 
eighteen  and  three  fourths  cents  to  New  York,  and  twenty-five  cents 
for  anv  distance  over  five  hundred  miles. 
In  1 820  the  rates  were  as  follows  :  — 

Sinyle   letters^   for  any  distance   not  exceeding   thirtj'  miles,  six 
cents ;  over  thirty  and  not  over  eighty  miles,  ten  cents ;  over  eighty 
20 


306        UISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,   lOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  not  over  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles,  twelve  and  a  half  cents ; 
over  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  not  over  four  hundred  miles,  eighteen 
and  a  half  cents ;  over  four  hundred  miles,  twenty-five  cents. 

Double  letters^  or  those  composed  of  two  pieces  of  paper,  double 
the  above  rates. 

Ship  letters^  not  carried  by  mail,  six  cents. 

NEWSPAPEHS.  ETC. 

The  following  account  of  the  newspapers  and  press  in  Brunswick, 
Topsham,  and  Harpswell  is  mainly  derived  from  a  recent  work  by  the 
late  Joseph  Griffin,  entitled  '*  The  Press  of  Maine,"  with  a  few  addi- 
tions, which  the  character  of  his  work  led  him  to  omit. 

The  first  press  in  Bninswiek  was  set  up  early  in  December,  1819, 
by  Joseph  Griffin,  who  graduated  at  the  printing-office  of  Messrs. 
Flagg  &  Gould,  in  Andover,  Massachusetts.  His  office  was,  at  first, 
on  the  cast  side  of  Maine  Street,  facing  Pleasant  Street.  In  1821  he 
removed  to  the  building  opposite  the  north  end  of  the  mall,  and  which 
he  occupied  until  his  death,  in  1875. 

For  twenty-nine  years  Mr.  Griffin  printed,  annuall}',  one  edition  of 
the  Catalogue  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  for  twenty  years  he  printed 
two  editions  each  year.  He  also  printed  sixteen  editions  (1 ,600  copies 
each)  of  the  College  Triennial  Catalogue. 

The  first  work  ap[)roximating  to  a  newspaper,  or  rather  to  a  period- 
ical, which  emanated  from  his  press,  was  in  pamphlet  form.  It  was 
issued  in  June,  1 820.    The  third  number  had  the  following  title-page  :  — 

''  The  Management  of  the  Tongue  and  Moral  Observer.  No.  III. 
Price  per  annum,  $1.50.  Published  &  Printed  by  Joseph  Griffin. 
Issued  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  each  Mouth. 

"Contents.  —  Part  1.  The  Boaster,  consisting  of  Two  Maxims 
and  Reflections.  Part  2.  The  III  Tongue,  consisting  of  Three 
Maxims  and  Reflections.  Part  »3.  Moral  Observer,  No.  III. 
Melissa ;  a  tale.  Observation  upon  the  Passions,  addressed  to  the 
ladies.  Poetry :  Mathon's  Return.  'I  he  Season.  Communication, 
suggesting  a  Legal  Act  in  favor  of  '  Sitters '  or  Loafers.  An 
Anecdote." 

On  the  last  page  was  an  advertisement  of  Griffin  &  Hazelton*s 
bookstore.     Only  three  numbers  were  printed. 

It  was  followed  by  the  first  newspaper  that  was  printed  in  Bruns- 
wick. This  was  the  Maine  Intelliijencer^  a  demiquarto  of  eight 
pages,  published  by  Joseph  Griffin,  and  edited  by  John  M.  O'Brien, 
Esquire,  who  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College   in  the  class  of  1806. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  307 

The  publication  of  this  paper  was  commenced  in  September,  1820, 
and  was  given  up  at  the  end  of  six  months,  not  proving  remunerative 
to  the  publisher. 

The  Mnine  Baptist  Herald.  — The  first  number  of  this  paper  was 
printed  by  Mr.  Griffin,  July  17,  1824.  It  was  a  demifolio.  It  was 
edited  for  about  six  months  by  Benjamin  Titcomb,  Jr.,  a  graduate 
of  Bowdoin  College,  1806,  and  son  of  the  first  printer  in  Maine. 
After  the  time  named  the  Herald  was  under  the  sole  management  of 
the  publisher.  At  the  commencement  of  the  second  volume  it  was 
enlai^ed  to  a  royal  folio  size,  and  continued  weekly  for  six  years. 
During  the  last  two  years  of  its  existence  it  was  called  the  Eastern 
Galaxy  and  Herald^  the  name  having  been  changed  in  consequence  of 
a  larger  part  of  its  columns  being  subsequently  devote<l  to  secular 
interests.  In  the  latter  years  of  this  publication  the  subscribers  num- 
l>ere<l  over  eleven  hundred,  —  a  larger  cir(.*ulation  than  can  be  claimed 
for  any  other  of  the  man}'  papers  subsequently  commenc*e<l  in 
Brunswick. 

The  Herald  was  the  first  paiK?r  coinciding  fully  with  the  faith  and 
practices  of  the  primitive  Baptists  ever  publishe<l  in  the  United  States. 
It  was  also  one  of  the  earliest  pai)ers  in  New  England  to  take  a  stand 
against  the  inroads  of  intemperance,  by  exposing  the  causes  leading 
thereto.  In  1826  api>ears  in  the  Herald  the  first  complaint  and  argu- 
ment against  indiscriminate  licenses  for  the  sale  of  alcoholic  liquora. 

Androscftggin  Free  I'ress. — This  paper  was  a  royal  folio,  twent}*- 
six  by  twenty.  It  was  edited  and  published  by  Moore  &  Wells, 
assistefl  by  Charles  Packard,  Esquire.  It  was  commenced  in  1827 
and  continued  about  two  years.  In  politics  it  was  the  exponent  of 
the  principles  of  the  Whig  party. 

The  Escritoir  was  a  semi-monthly  mngaziue  of  thirty-two  pages, 
octavo,  published  in  182()-27  by  a  club  of  students,  of  which  John 
llodgdon  was  chairman.     It  was  printed  by  Joseph  Griffin. 

The  Northern  Irh^  a  monthh'  of  thirty-two  pages,  went  forth  from 
the  Bowdoin  press  for  six  months,  in  1829.  The  editor  and  publisher 
was  Sumner  Lincoln  Fairfield,  a  gentleman  from  the  South.  It  was 
edited  with  ability,  but  depending  on  unsolicited  [)atronage  it  was  not 
remunerative.  Mr.  Fairtield  had  considerable  reputation  as  a  poet. 
He  died  while  young. 

In  1830  the  Brunswick  Journal  made  its  ap])earance.  It  was  a 
royal  folio  sheet,  published  by  William  Noyes.  now  one  of  i\w  editors 
and  publishers  of  the  Saro  ludependvut .  Associated  with  him  a  part 
of  the  time  was  Henry  W.  Fairfield,  now  the  printer  of   the  Nen- 


308        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

England  Farmer^  Boston.  The  Journal  was  a  Whig  paper,  support- 
ing J.  G.  Hunton  for  governor  of  Maine,  and  Henrj'  Clay  for  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States.  Charles  Packard,  Es(|uire,  then  attorney 
at  law,  edited  it  for  a  short  time,  after  which  Francis  D.  and  John  S. 
Cushing  were  the  principal  writers.  It  was  a  well-conducted  paper, 
but  it  was  pubUshed  for  only  a  year  and  three  months. 

The  Juvenile  Key^  commenced  in  1831,  was  a  children's  paper,  nine 
by  seven,  in  neatly  printed  newspaper  fonn,  published  weekly  for  two 
\'ears.  A  considerable  portion  of  the  type- work  of  this  paper  was 
done  by  two  children  of  Joseph  Griffin  who,  at  the  commencement, 
were  only  nine  and  seven  years  of  age,  re8i>ectively.  Their  names 
appeared  as  publishers.  The  first,  a  daughter,  is  now  the  wife  of  a 
clergyman  in  New  Hampshire ;  the  second,  a  son,  Joseph  Warren 
Griffin,  was  lost  at  sea  in  February,  1841),  on  his  passage  to  California. 

After  the  suspension  of  the  Brunsin'rk  Journah  the  Key  was 
enlai^ed  to  a  twelve  b}'  nine  size,  four  pages,  to  make  it  more  com- 
pletely a  family  paper  and  give  room  for  advertising.  From  this  time 
it  was  calle<l  the  Family  Pioneer  and  Juvenile  Key,,  and  was  published 
with  good  success  for  four  j-ears.  It  was  the  endeavor  of  the  editor 
of  the  Family  Pioneer  and  Juvenile  Key  to  operate  upon  the  public 
mind,  especially  that  of  the  young,  by  the  jiublication  of  interesting 
narratives,  setting  forth  in  a  clear  light,  not  only  the  evils  of  an 
intemperate  use  of  intoxicating  drinks,  but  the  dangers  of  temperate 
drinking.  The  abolition  of  negro  slavery,  and  of  the  death  penalty  for 
crime,  were  strongly  advoi^ated  in  tiie  columns  of  the  Pioneer  and  Key. 

The  Eastern  Baptist  was  commenced  in  November,  1837,  by  Thomas 
W.  Newman,  and  was  continued  about  a  vear  and  a  half,  when  it  was 
discoutinned,  and  the  list  of  subscril)ers  transferred  to  the  Zion's  Ad- 
roca//',  in  Portland.  1  he  paper  was  started  and  edite<l  by  an  associ- 
ation of  Baptist  ministers.  These  were,  in  1.S3S,  David  Nutter,  Exlwin 
R.  Warren,  A.  J.  W.  Stevens,  and  Luther  C.  Stevens.^ 

Mr.  Newman  also  published  at  this  time,  at  No.  2  Forsaith's  Block, 
the  Advocate  of  Freedom,  This  was  a  semi-monthh*  sheet,  published 
under  tlie  direction  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  the  Maine  Anti- 
slavery  Societ}',  and  issued  at  tiity  cents  per  annum.  The  prosi>ectus 
state<l.  *•  It  will  ex])lain  and  defend  the  princi[)les  held  by  the  society 
and  the  measures  approved  by  it.  It  will  be  a  vehicle  of  the  anti- 
slavery  intelligence  of  the  day,  and  a  repositorj'  of  facts  and  ai^- 


^  This  account  u  not  given  in  the  Prcs^f  of  Maine.    It  teas  furnished  us  by  Mr.  iVVio- 
man. 


TAVERNS  AND  PUBLIC  HALLS,  NEWSPAPERS,  ETC.  309 

ments  on  the  subject  of  slayeiT  and  the  measures  for  its  speedy  and 
peaceftil  removal."  1  he  e<iitorial  work  was  done  principally  by  IVo- 
fessor  William  Smyth.  The  paper  was  devoted  exclusively  to  the 
antislaven'  cause.     There  were  no  l<x*al   items  or  advertisements  in 

« 

it.  Number  1,  Volume  I,  was  printed  March  8,  1838.  Number  25, 
the  last  printed  here,  was  printed  Februar}'  21 ,  1839.  The  size  of  the 
pai)er  was  twent}'  by  twenty-five.  The  publication  of  this  paper  was 
continued  at  Augusta  as  a  weekly  {)aper. 

The  ReQvhUor,  a  royal  folio,  Democratic  paper,  was  published  for 
two  vears,  1837  and  1838,  bv  Theodore  S.  McLellan.  I.  A.  Beanl 
was  the  editor. 

The  Brnnswicker^  a  neutral  paper,  was  printed  and  published  for  one 
year,  1842,  byT.  S.  McLellan.  John  Dunla]),  B.  A.,  was  the  editor, 
it  was  8uccee<led  by  a  pajH^r  called  Thp.  Yagerhamer^  of  which,  how- 
ever, but  two  or  three  numbers  were  issuwl. 

The  Forester  was  printed  in  1845  by  Noyes  &  Stanwoo<l.  Its  editor 
Was  II.  A.  8tanwoo<l.     Only  one  volume  of  this  paper  was  published. 

The  Pejepscot  JournaL  a  weekly  sheet,  was  pul)li8hed  at  Brunswick 
in  1846,  one  year;  edited  by  G.  C.  Swallow,  now  I^rofessor  of  Geology 
and  Agriculture  in  Missouri. 

The  Juvenile  Watchman  was  edited  and  publishtMl  in  1854  by 
Howard  Owen,  who  is  now  one  of  the  enteri)rising  [)ublishers  of  the 
Kennebec  Journal.  It  was  a  small  sheet,  eleven  bv  sixteen.  It  was 
^sued  on  the  first  and  thinl  Monday  of  each  month  at  the  olHce  of  the 
Brunswick  Telegraph,  It  was  devottMl  principally  to  the  cause  of 
temperance,  especially  among  the  young.  It  was  discontinued  at  tl>e 
expiration  of  six  months. 

The  Musical  Journal  was  published  monthly  in  1855  by  George  W. 
Chase,  editor  and  proprietor.     It  hnd  but  a  short  existence. 

The  Brnnsirick  Telegraph  was  commenced  in  1853  by  Waldron  & 
Moore,  as  publishers,  and  Wm.  G.  Barrows,  Esquire,  as  editor.  It 
was  afterwards  issuetl  bv  Waldron  &  Fowler,  then  by  Fowler  &  Chase. 

The  publishers  in  185(5  transferred  their  interest  to  Geo.  W.  Chase, 
who  published  it  as  editor  and  proprietor  about  one  year,  when  Howard 
Owen,  now  of  the  Kennebec  Journal,  was  admitted  as  a  partner,  and 
took  charge  of  the  agricultural  depart uient.  After  being  <*onnected 
with  the  establishment  alK)ut  five  months,  Mr.  Owen  became  dissatis- 
fiecl  with  his  unrennmerated  labors  and  sold  his  interest  to  Mr.  Chase. 
Early  in  1857  Mr.  Chase  abandoned  the  Telegraph  and  went  to  Bath, 
where  he  published  the  yfasfmie  Journal  and  taught  nnisic. 

Mr.  A.  Cr.  Tenney,  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  class  of  1835, 


310        HISTORY  OF  BHLNISWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

purchased  the  Telegraph  establishment  in  1857,  reissued  the  paper,  and 
has  since  continued  to  edit  and  i)ubli8h  it  weekly.  Of  Mr.  Tenney's 
fitness  for  the  position  of  editor,  the  Ri'ess  of  Maine  ^  well  says,  "  To  a 
liberal  education  and  a  mind  capable  of  close  reasoning  and  of  arriv- 
ing at  logical  conclusions,  he  adds  unwearied  industry'  and  constant 
application  "  Under  Mr.  Tenne^-'s  management,  the  paper  has  been 
particularly  valuable  for  the  energ}'  and  fidelity  which  the  editor  has 
displayed  in  his  efforts  to  make  it  a  good  local  paper,  and  in  this 
respect  it  has  no  superior  in  the  State. 

The  only  paper  ever  published  in  Topsham  was  a  Second  Adventist 
paper,  which  was  printed  about  the  year  1844,  in  a  chamber  over  John 
Larrabee*s  workshop  on  Elm  Street.  No  copy  of  the  pai)er  has  been 
found,  and  its  name  is  forgotten.  The  enterprise  was  abandoned  at 
the  expiration  of  a  few  months. 

In  Harpswell  there  has  been  but  one  paper  published.  It  was  the 
Harpswell  Banner,  The  first  number  was  issued  in  May,  1832.  It 
was  published  weekly,  for  six  months,  by  Josiah  8.  Swift  and  Jonathan 
R.  Snow.  Jesse  Snow,  2d,  was  the  agent.  It  was  printed  on  a  sheet 
six  by  ten,  and  the  price  was  four  cents  for  six  numbers.  In 
August,  J.  S.  Swift  became  the  sole  proprietor  and  editor.  In 
September,  the  paper  was  enlarged  to  a  sheet  seven  by  thirteen,  and 
the  next  week  eight  and  one  half  to  thirteen  and  one  half,  and 
the  title  was  changed  to  that  of  the  Literary  Banner^  terms  thirty-two 
cents  i>er  annum ;  semi-monthly  The  last  numl>er,  however,  was 
issued  October  24  of  this  year.  One  number  contained  an  advertise- 
ment bv  the  editor  that  he  would  draw  *'  with  accuracv.  for  one  shil- 
ling,  views  of  country  seats,  buildings,  etc.  ;  also  land  and  marine 
views."  This  paper  was  i)rinted  at  the  editor's  home  on  Sebascodigan 
Island.  Swift,  then  a  lad,  now  a  clergxTiian,  residing  in  Farmington, 
''  procured  a  small  font  of  worn-out  t\'pe,  which  had  l)een  thrown  into 
pi  in  the  office  of  the  Bath  Maine  Inquirer.  This  he  sorted  out,  laid 
in  a  case  of  his  own  construction,  and  having  made  a  wooden  chase, 
some  tin  rules,  and  cut  a  head  on  a  lilock  of  wood,  he  printed  a  seven 
by  nine  weekly  paper  on  an  old  cheese-press.  He  received  the  pat- 
ronage and  encouragement  of  many  of  the  literati  of  Batli  and  Bruns- 
wick. The  late  John  McKeen  became  a  regular  correspondent  "  * 
'i  he  boy  finally  abandoned  the  enterprise  to  enter  the  oflSce  of  the 
Bath  Inquirer^  where  he  remained  for  some  years,  and  finally  became 
the  proprietor  of  that  paper. 

» Paye  171.  «  Griffin,  Press  of  Maine,  p.  197. 


DISEASES  AND  ACCIDENTS,  FRESHETS.  311 


CHAPTER   IX. 

DISEASES^    AND   ACCIDENTS,    FRESHETS. 

We  are  unable  to  give  an  extended  comparison,  as  to  the  relative 
healthfulness  of  the  towns  of  Topshani,  Brunswick,  and  Ilarpswell,  or 
of  their  average  rate  of  mortality.  It  may  be  said  briefly,  however, 
that  as  regards  both  endemics  and  epidemics,  Ilarpswell  is  the  most 
healthy  of  the  three  towns,  and  Brunswick  the  least  so.  Topsham 
probably  occupies  an  intermediate  position  between  the  two.  The 
cause  of  the  difference  is  in  the  configuration  of  the  land,  the  nature  of 
the  soil,  the  proximity  to  the  sea,  and  the  density  of  the  population. 
Topsham  and  Harpswell  possess  by  far  the  best  drainage,  though 
that  of  Brunswick  is  amply  sufficient,  if  properly  cared  for.  No  data 
exist  from  which  to  calculate  accurately  the  death-rate  of  either  town, 
but  in  each  there  have  been  a  few  individuals  who  have  lived  to  an 
advanced  age.  Harpswell  probably  bears  off  the  palm  in  this  respect, 
for  in  one  house  four  persons  arc  said  to  have  die<l,  whose  average 
age  was  ninet\'-nine  and  a  half  years.  They  were  Taylor  Small,  who 
died  in  1812,  aged  ninety-six;  Peter  Birthright,  who  died  in  1822,  at 
the  age,  it  is  said,  of  one  hundRKl  and  fifteen ;  Tabitha  Small,  who 
(lied  in  184C,  at  the  age  of  ninety-nine ;  and  Mark  Small,  who  died  in 
1852,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight. 

In  this  connection  a  brief  mention  of  the  different  physicians^  who 
have  from  time  to  time  settled  here,  will  not  be  inappropriate. 

The  first  physician  who  settled  in  either  of  these  towns  was  undoubt- 
edlv  Samuel  Gyles,  who  died  in  Brunswick  in  1738,  and  who  had 
practised  there  for  a  short  time  previously.  He  came  from  Salisbury, 
Mass. 

Next  in  Brunswick  was  William  Spear,  son  of  Robert  Spear,  one 
of  the  early  settlers.     Dr.  S[)ear  was  in  pracrtice  about  the  year  1740, 


^  The  late  Dr.  John  D.  Lincoln  commenced  to  prepare  for  the  authors  a  chapter  on 
the  wnitary  condition  and  mortality  of  the  three  towns.  His  sickness  and  death  pre- 
Ignited  its  completion  or  revision^  and  ire  arc  consequently  obliged  toyive  a  more  meagre 
tketch  than  we  otherwise  should. 


312        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

but  for  how  long  a  time  is  not  known,  and  nothing  is  known  as  to  his 
professional  qualifications. 

Doctor  Phineas  Nevers  was  in  Brunswick  from  1755  to  1765,  and 
perhaps  longer.     Nothing  is  known  of  him  as  a  physician. 

Doctor  Samuel  Duxcan  came  to  Brunswick  from  Topsham  in 
1770,  and  was  in  practice  until  his  death,  in  1784.  He  was  a  3'oung 
man,  but  was  called  a  skilful  physician,  and  he  had  an  extensive 
practice.     He  lived  at  New  Meadows. 

Doctor  Ebexezer  H.  Goss^  came  to  Bnmswick  during  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  live<l  at  Maquoit  until  1804,  when  he  moved  to  the  "lillage, 
and  soon  after  moved  to  Paris,  Maine.  He  had  an  extensive  practice 
and  was  accounted  a  good  pM'sician. 

Doctor  Balthazar  Stilket  was  a  Hessian  sui^eon,  who  came  over 
with  Burgoyne's  forces,  and  after  the  war  (about  1790)  settled  in 
Brunswick  near  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Martin  Storer,  north  of 
Cook's  Comer.  He  practised  there  for  several  3'ears.  But  little  is 
known  of  him.     He  is  said  to  have  been  something  of  a  quack. 

Doctor  Jonathan  Richardson  Parker  was  in  Brunswick  for  one 
or  two  years  onl3',  about  1799. 

Doctor  Jonathan  Page  *  came  to  Brunswick  in  1795,  and  commenced 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  1800.  His  practice  soon  became  exten- 
sive, and  continued  increasingly  so  until  his  death,  in  1842.  He  held 
a  highly  respectable  rank  in  his  profession.  His  residence  was  for 
man>'  years  in  the  house  just  south  of  the  ^lason  Street  Church. 

Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln^  moved  to  Brunswick  from  Topsham  in 
1820.  He  enjoyed  a  very  extensive  i)ractice  until  a  short  time  before 
his  death,  in  18G8.  He  held  a  high  rank  in  his  profession.  He  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College,  1800,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the 
first  physician  in  Brunswick  who  had  received  a  collegiate  education. 

John  D.  Lincoln,*  son  of  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  was  a  graduate  of 
Bowdoin  College,  class  of  1843,  and  of  the  Medical  School  of  Maine, 
class  of  1846.  He  practised  in  Brunswick  from  1846  till  within  a  few 
weeks  of  his  death,  in  1877.  He  was  a  most  excellent  physician  and 
his  practice  extended  into  many  of  the  neighboring  towns,  and  even 
to  more  remote  portions  of  the  State. 

Other  physicians  in  Brunswick,  for  a  short  time  only,  have  been 

J.  D.  Wells,    1829;   Cushman,  1836;   J.  E.  Shaw,    1857; 

T.  S.  Foster,  1864  ;  J.  B.  Soto,  1871  to  1873. 

Of  those  now  residing  in  Brunswick,  Ashkr  Ellis  commenced  prac- 

'  See  Biography, 


DISEASES  AND  ACCIDENTS,  FRESHETS.  313 

tice  in  Branswick  in  1842,  Nathaniel  T.  Palmer  in  184 />,  Alfred 
IJliTCHELL  in  1865,  and  Daniel  F.  Ellis  in  1866. 

The  earliest  physician  in  Topsham,  the  date  of  whose  residence  can 
te  determined,  was  Doctor  I^ilip  Hott,  who  died  in  June,  1790  (see 
epitaph).  Tradition  reports  him  as  an  excellent  physician.  In  1793 
there  was,  if  no  mistake  has  been  made  in  the  recorded  dates,  a 
Doctor  Hoyt  in  town  who  was  a  member  of  the  church.  Possibl}-  he 
was  a  son  of  the  one  first  named. 

Doctor  Ebenezer  Emerson  came  to  Topshani  prior  to  1792.  He 
came  to  Maine  from  Reading,  Mass.  At  first  he  boanied  with  James 
Wilson,  but  he  afterwards  built  and  occupied  the  house  now  occupied 
by  Swansey  Wilson,  just  be3'ond  Cyrus  Purington*s  on  the  Bowdoinham 
road.     He  was  settled  here  at  least  six  years  and  probably  longer. 

While  Doctor  Emerson  boarded  at  Mr.  Wilson's  there  was  also 
another  ph3*8ician  named  Hay  who  boarded  with  him  Doctor  Hay 
did  not,  however,  long  remain. 

A  Doctor  Parker  succeeded  Doctor  Emerson  and  lived  in  the 
same  house  that  the  latter  had  previousl}'  occupied.  He  remained  in 
town  several  years. 

A  Doctor  Osborne  practised  in  Topsham  i)rior  to  Doctor  Phineas 
Never's  residence  in  Bnms wick,  probably  about  17i)4.  He  boaixied 
at  a  Mr.  Gray's,  who  lived  near  Ferry  l*oint.  His  sta}'  in  town  was 
short. 

D<xrroR  Dl'ncan  is  supposed  to  have  located  himself  in  Topsham 
before  he  went  to  Bnmswick.  If  so,  his  stay  could  not  have  been 
for  more  than  a  few  weeks.  Both  of  these  last  are  said  to  have  died 
at  New  Meadows,  from  consumption. 

A  3'oung  man  named  Doctor  Guild  was  here  for  a  few  years, 
about  1796. 

In  some  old  papers  of  Brigadier  Thompson  a  Doctor  Whittaker 
is  alluded  to  in  a  manner  to  imply  that  he  was  a  resident  of  Topsham. 
Nothing  is  positively  known,  however,  in  reganl  to  it. 

Prior  to  1804,  Doctor  Stockbridge  (the  elder  Dr.  Stockbridge  of 
Bath,  deceased)  settled  in  Topsham  for  a  short  time.  He  boarded 
with  Jacob  Abbott  in  what  is  known  as  the  '•  Hacliel  Patten"  house. 
Stockbridge  Howland  and  John  Stockbridge  Patten  are  8ai<l  to  have 
been  named  for  him. 

About  the  same  time  a  Doctor  Sawtter  settled  in  Topsham,  kept  an 
apothecary  store,  and  practised  his  profession.  Doctor  Sims  and 
Doctor  Fairfield  >)oth  practised  here  not  far  from  this  time,  certainly 
before  1804.    'fhe  latter  also  had  an  apothecary  store. 


314        HISTORY  OF  BRUy^WICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP-^WELL. 

In  1804,  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln  *  moved  to  Topsham  and  soon  had 
an  extensive  practice.     In  1820  lie  removed  to  Brunswick. 

In  1820,  Doctor  James  McKeen^  commenced  to  practise  in  Tops- 
ham.  His  office,  at  that  time,  was  over  Jonathan  Baker's  store,  and 
he  boarded  at  Humphrey  Purinton's  boarding-house.  He  continued 
in  practice  until  a  short  time  l)efore  his  death,  in  1873. 

In  1843  a  ''  botanic  doctor,"  by  the  name  of  Norton,  came  to 
town,  but  did  not  remain  more  than  a  year  or  two. 

Between  the  last  date  and  1856,  Doctors  J.  S.  Cushman,  Cook, 
and  Springer  were  settle<l  in  Topsham  for  short  i>eriods. 

In  18o6,  Doctor  Joseph  McKeen,  Jr.,  commenced  practice,  and 
is,  at  the  present  time,  the  only  resident  ph3'sician  of  this  town. 

Although  the  town  of  Harpswell  has  been  unable  to  dispense 
entirely  with  the  services  of  physicians,  yet  it  has  done  so  to  a  great 
extent.  There  have  been  but  four  physicians  located  in  the  town,  and, 
with  one  exception,  they  remained  but  a  few  3'ears.  The  practice  in 
the  town  has  been  mainly  carried  on  by  Brunswick  doctors.  Prior  to 
1840  a  Doctor  Norton  resided  in  the  town  for  several  3'ears.  He 
was  suecee<led  about  1843  bv  a  Doctor  Bliss.  In  1850,  or  there- 
abouts.  Doctor  Dai  ley  settled  in  this  town  and  has  remained  to  the 
present  time.  In  1870,  Doctor  J.  B.  Soto  settled  here,  but  remained 
but  one  year,  when  he  removed  to  Brunswick,  where  he  died. 


DISEASES  AND   ACCIDENTS. 

If  Brunswick  and  Topsham  cannot  be  considered  as  pre-eminently 
healthy  places,  yet  it  can  with  truth  be  asserted  that  they  are  as 
healthy  as  other  towns  of  like  character,  situation,  and  population. 
Since  the  Great  Plague  among  the  Indians,  about  1G15  or  1616 
(which  extended  all  over  New  England),  there  has  no  devastating 
epidemic  occurred  here.  Pulmonary  consumption,  pneumonia,  acute 
rheumatism,  typhoid  fever,  scarlet  fever,  measles,  epidemic  dysentery, 
and  cholera  infantum  produce  the  same  ravages  here  as  elsewhere,  but 
are  none  of  them  endemic.  Cholera  and  vellow  fever  have  never,  it 
is  believed,  api)eared  here,  and  no  quarantine  has  ever  been  estab- 
lished here. 

Small-pox  has  prevailed  a  number  of  times,  but  never  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent.  Its  first  appearance  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  fall  of 
1792.^     How  many  cases  there  were  in  this  epidemic  is  not  known, 

^  See  Biography,  *  P^epscot  Papers. 


DISEASES  AND  ACCIDESTS,  FRESHETS.  315 

but  the  citizens  were  greatly  alarmed,  and  the  town  of  Brunswick 
'verj*  properly  took  aU  the  precautions  possible  to  prevent  the  spread 
of  the  disease.     In  October  of  that  year,  the  town  "  voted  not  to 
allow  any  person  in  this  town  to  inoculate  for  to  take  the  small-pox, 
but  to  take  all  possible  care  to  prevent  the  spreading  of  the  disorder." 
Eighteen  inspectors  were  chosen  from  the  different  parts  of  the  town, 
whose  duties  were  to  erect  "smoke-houses"  wherever  they  thought 
best ;   to  examine,  smoke,  and  clean  all  goods  brought  into  tow:n  for 
the  space  of  two  months,  and  to  stop,  examine,  and  cleanse  any  per- 
son whom  they  might  suspect  of  being  infected.     The  town  also  voted 
to  build  a  hospital  twenty-eight  feet  long  by  fourteen  feet  wide  and 
one  story  high.     The  hospital  was  to  be  on  the  Conunons,  but  the 
exact  location  was  left  to  the  decision  of  the  selectmen.     No  physi- 
cian was  allowed  to  attend  small-pox  patients  without  the  authority 
of  the  selectmen.     After  this  epidemic  had  passed  by,  there  were  no 
eases  of  this  disease  for  thirty-two  years,  unless,  i)erchance,  there 
were  a  few  cases  not  known  to  the  public. 

In  1824,  owing  to  fears  of  an  epidemic  of  this  disease,  the  town  of 
Brunswick,  at  a  meeting  held  May  10,  appointed  the  selectmen  as  a 
committee  to  take  prompt  and  efficient  measures  to  liave  all  in  town 
vaccinated  who  had  not  previously  been.  The  agents  of  the  different 
school  districts  were  directed  to  be  present  and  see  that  all  not  pre- 
viously vaccinated,  attended  at  the  time  appointed  hy  the  [)hysician. 
The  names  of  all  persons  vaccinated  were  to  be  recorded  on  the  town 
records,  and  the  expense  of  the  vaccination  was  to  be  paid  by  the 
town.  Nothing  further  is  known  in  reganl  to  an  epidemic  at  this 
time.  In  1851  there  were  a  few  cases  of  small-pox  in  this  vicinity, 
and  at  the  May  meeting  in  Brunswick,  the  town  instructed  the  select- 
men ''  to  cause  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  be  vaccinated  without 
delay."  Doctors  N.  T.  Palmer,  Asher  Ellis,  and  J.  D.  Lincoln  were 
also  chosen  at  this  time  as  a  Board  of  Health.  There  were  a  few 
cases  of  this  disease  in  18G1,  and  a  number  in  1866,  when  there  were 
three  fatal  cases.  But  few  cases  of  this  disease  can  have  occurred  in 
Topsham,  since  no  record  is  to  be  found  of  any,  except  shigle  cases. 

In  1810  a  committee  was  chosen  to  vaccinate  all  who  had  not  had 
the  small-pox,  and  this  committee  reported  the  next  year  that  Doctor 
Isaac  Lincoln  had  vaccinated  four  hundred  and  three  persons,  of 
which  number  three  hundred  and  ninety-one  cases  were  successful 
and  twelve  were  doubtful. 

In  1824  the  people  of  Topsham  were  again  vaccinated.  Ilarpswell 
seems  to  have  been  quite  free  from  this  disease,  so  much  so,  appar- 


316        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

ently,  as  to  have  no  dread  of  it,  for  in  1832  the  town  voted  against 
having  the  people  vaccinated. 

It  is  thought  that  the  ratio  of  cases  of  insanity  was  greater  in  the 
early  part  of  the  centurj',  in  this  %icinity,  than  it  is  at  present.  At 
one  time,  about  1820,  there  were  four  insane  ])ersons  in  Brunswick 
and  five  in  Topsham.  In  1886  the  town  of  Brunswick  authorized  the 
erection  of  a  building  for  the  accommodation  of  this  class  of  patients, 
at  an  expense  not  exceeding  three  hundred  dollars.  The  api>arently 
greater  number  of  cases  of  this  kind  in  former  years  may  be  partially 
acc»ounted  for  bv  the  fact  that  there  wiere  not  at  that  time  so  many  of 
this  unfortunate  class  under  treatment  in  asvlums  abroad,  and  conse- 
quontly  each  case  was  well  known  to  the  whole  community. 

Besides  the  ordinary'  cases  of  disease  atfecting  the  mortality  of  this 
\'icinity,  many  cases  of  ac<?ident  resulting  in  premature  death  have 
occurre<l  from  time  to  time.  Foremost  among  these  are  the  accidents 
from  falling  into  the  water.  From  the  list  of  cases  we  have  collected, 
only  a  few  of  the  earliest  or  most  remarkable  ones  are  inserted  here. 
The  earliest  case  of  the  kind  of  which  we  have  received  anv  account, 
occurred  in  March.  1765.  a  Mrs.  Babbage  and  son,  who  lived  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  the  heirs,  of  the  late  John  Pennell,  and  a  young 
man  bv  the  name  of  Barnes,  a  son  of  Henn*  and  brother  of  the  late 
William  Barnes,  who  lived  on  the  fann  now  owned  bv  James  Alexan- 
der.  in  Harps  well,  while  crossing  Merriconeag  River  to  a  grist-mill 
on  the  old  Kwing  place,  had  their  float  caught  in  the  running  ice  and 
overset,  and  were  all  three  drowneil.  Mrs.  Barnes  and  William  were 
watching  them  from  the  shore  when  the  accident  happened.  Their 
bodies  were  recovered  the  following  June.  The  only  other  similar 
deaths  occurring  prior  to  1800  were  of  Daniel  Winchell,  before 
1777,  at  some  place  unknown ;  Adam  Hunter,  at  sea,  in  1778  :  Samuel 
Potter,  date  and  place  both  unknown,  but  some  time  in  the  last  cen- 
turv ;  Robert  Potter,  at  sea.  before  1794  :  James  and  Ro>>ert  Winchell, 
at  the  same  time,  at  Cathance,  date  unknown :  John  Winchell,  at 
Bath,  between  171>0  and  1800  :  Benjamin  Randall  and  Thomas  Wilson, 
both  at  sea  and  prior  to  1800. 

Some  time  pr(»viou8  to  1820.  Major  Burt  Townsend  and  a  Mr.  Gross 
were  on  a  raft  of  logs  above  the  upper  dam  on  the  Androscoggin,  at 
Bruns\nck.  'I'he  raft  broke  loose  and  went  over  the  dam.  Just  as 
they  reached  the  falls.  Major  Townsend.  with  great  pn^sence  of  mind, 
leaped  ahead  into  the  river  below  and  thus  escapeil  both  the  undertow 
and  the  falling  logs,  and  was  thus  able  to  swim  ashore,  while  Mr. 
Gross,  who  either  did  not  jump  at  all,  or  else  not  sufficiently  far,  was 
drowned. 


DISEASES  AND  ACCIDENTS,  FRESHETS.  317 

From  the  list  referred  to,  we  are  able  to  give  the  following  siim- 
mary :  The  number  of  cases  of  drowning  in  Bninswick  and  Tops- 
liam  (exclusive  of  those  drowned  at  sea,  of  which  the  list  is,  as  a 
matter  of  course,  very  incomplete)  is  forty-five.  Of  these  forty-five 
cases,  there  were  drowned  on  the  Cathance  River,  in  Topshani,  five ; 
on  the  Androscoggin  River  (including  Merr3Tneeting  Bay),  twent}'- 
seven  ;  on  the  New  Meadows  River,  in  Brunswick,  one ;  at  Maquoit, 
three;  at  other  places  mentioned,,  fi  ve ;  and  where  the  place  was  un- 
known, four.  Of  the  twenty-seven  drowned  in  the  Androscoggin, 
eight  were  drowned  on  the  Topshani  side,  ten  on  the  Bnmswick  side, 
five  in  Merrymeeting  Bay,  and  four  in  the  stream,  awa^*  from  the 
shore.  Of  the  ten  persons  drowned  on  the  Brunswick  side,  seven 
were  drowned  near  the  Factor}-  or  lower  mills  and  two  near  the  upi)er 
bridge.  Of  the  eight  on  the  Topsham  side,  four  were  drowned  at  the 
bathing-place  above  the  upper  bridge  and  two  near  the  mills. 

Next  in  the  list  of  fatal  accidents  come  those  bv  fire.  'I  he  first  of 
these  to  which  reference  has  been  found  was  in  1737,  when  the  house 
of  the  widow  of  Andrew  Dunning  was  burned,  and  she  was  burned  m 
it.  No  reference  to  any  other  death  by  fire  in  the  last  centiuy  has 
been  found.  Jn  September,  1829,  Hannnh  J.  Brown,  of  1  opshnm, 
aged  eight  years,  was  badly  burned  by  a  brand  which  fell  from  the 
an<lirons  on  her  cotton  gown  and  set  it  on  fire.  She  lingered  for 
twenty -six  days  before  she  succumbed  to  her  injunes.  On  January 
15,  1857,  Mrs.  James  Maxwell,  of  Topsham,  was  fatally  burned,  in 
consequence  of  the  overflowing  of  a  lighted  lamp  containing  campheue. 
She  lived  but  a  short  time.  On  January  25,  1859,  a  daughter  of  John 
Merritt,  of  Brunswick,  was  fatally  burned  in  consequence  of  her 
clothes  being  caught  in  the  blaze  of  the  fire.  On  March  1 1th  of  this 
same  vear.  Mr.  Isaac  Center  was  fatnllv  burned  bv  the  explosion  in 
ins  hand  of  a  lighted  lamp,  containing  burning  fluid. 

In  this  connection  may  be  mentioned  with  propriety'  the  cases 
(though  not  fatal)  of  accidents  in  consequence  of  lightning.  'I  he 
first  occurrence  of  this  kind  was  in  1828,  when  a  house  in  Mill  Street 
was  struck  by  lightning,  and  a  man  injured.  The  next  case  occurred 
September  5,  1845,  when  one  person  was  stunned  and  another  pros- 
trated by  the  lightning,  which  struck  Common's  Hall.  At  the  time 
the  '*  Henrj'  Jordan "  house,  on  Cleaveland  Street  was  struck  by 
lightning,  June  23,  1874,  two  persons  standing  on  the  doorsill  were 
struck,  but  not  seriously  injured.  Other  cases  have  probably  occurred 
of  which  no  account  has  been  preserved.        » 

Numerous  accidents  have  occurred  from  time  to  time  at  the  mills 


318        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  factories,  though  fortunately  but  few  have  resulted  fatally.  The 
earliest  occurrence  of  this  kind  was  in  the  last  centur}',  though  the 
precise  date  is  unknown.  Hugh  WMlson,  of  Topsham,  who  was 
married  in  1785,  had  his  leg  broken  among  the  mill  logs  on  the  east- 
ern branch  of  the  Cathance  River  An  amputation  was  performed  by 
a  physician  from  Casco  (Portland),  but  he  did  not  long  sur\'ive  the 
operation.  'Ihe  next  occurrence  of  which  we  have  seen  any  account, 
also  in  Topsham,  was  in  August,  1825.  At  this  time  a  little  child, 
aged  four  3'ears,  fell  through  a  saw-mill  and  fractured  his  skull.  On 
October  7,  of  the  same  3'ear,  another  child,  aged  ten  )'ears,  while 
asleep  in  a  saw-mill  in  Brunswick,  where  his  father  was  working  at 
the  time,  got  up  and  fell  out  on  to  the  rocks,  a  distance  of  twent^'-five 
feet,  and  was  instantly  killed.  Reconl  lias  been  found  of  only  two 
accidents  in  the  mills  since  this  date,  but  there  were  doubtless  many 
others  wliich  were  unrecorded,  save  in  the  memon'  of  afflicted  friends. 

At  least  eight  fatal  accidents  are  known  to  have  happened  ui>on  the 
railroad  in  this  vicinity,  and  it  is  possible  there  have  been  more.  Only 
one  of  these  cases  happened  in  Topsham. 

The  following  are  a  few  of  the  cases  of  death  that  have  occurred 
from  other  causes  than  tliose  already  specified :  — 

November  30,  1833,  AVilliam  B.  Merriman,  of  Brunswick,  mate  of 
the  brig  "  Veto,"  was  murdered  In-  the  pilot,  a  Spaniard,  while  at 
Barbaras,  in  the  lagoon  of  Maracaibo.  In  November,  1858,  Richartl 
L.  iVIcManus  fell  into  the  hold  from  the  deck  of  the  ship  "  Screamer,'* 
in  the  port  of  London,  and  died  on  December  7,  in  consequence  of 
lockjaw  induced  by  the  injur}'  he  sustained. 

On  August  27,  1861,  a  young  lad  fell  on  to  the  rocks  from  the  high 
blutr  in  front  of  the  residence  of  Miss  Narcissa  Stone,  in  Brunswick, 
and  was  instantly  killed.  On  the  27th  of  September,  1806,  a  young 
child  was  accidentally  sliot  in  Topsham. 

The  deaths  caused  by  the  personal  violence  of  another  have  been 
mentioned  in  a  different  connection.  The  eases  of  suicide  occurring 
in  Brunswick  and  Topsham  have  ])een  (including  that  of  Ann  Conner 
already  referred  to)  only  eight,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained.  These 
cases  occurred  in  the  years  1752  to  1770,  1820,  1823,  1833,  1852, 
1855,  1858,  and  1869.  Two  of  these  were  destroyed  by  cutting  their 
own  throats,  one  by  hanging,  one  by  shooting,  and  two  by  drowning. 

The  manner  of  death  of  the  other  two  is  not  known.  There  have 
undou])tedlv  been  other  cases  of  this  kind,  but  these  are  all  in  which 
the  facts  have  been  found»recorded. 

Among  what  might  be  classed  under  the  head  of  accidents  to  prop- 


DISEASES  AND  ACCIDENTS,  FPESHETS.  319 

^rty,  but  which  might  with  even  more  propriety  be  classed  under  a 
xneteorological  heading,  and  which  for  convenience  nierel}*  are  intro- 
duced in  this  place,  are 

FRESHETS. 

The  earliest  reference  found  to  any  ft-eshet  in  the  Androscoggin 
was  to  one  that  occurred  in  February,  1723.  At  that  time  the  river 
was  verj'  ftiU,  '*  the  lowland  full  of  water  and  the  river  open  not  only 
Wow  but  even  to  the  falls  thirty  miles  above  Pejepscot.**  This  it  will 
be  noticed  was  in  midimnter,  * 

The  next  great  ft-eshet  occurred  in  1780,  in  the  winter  season/-^ 
There  was  considerable  ice  in  the  river  at  the  time,  which  dammed  up 
the  water  so  that  it  flowed  across  the  lower  pai*t  of  Topsham  village, 
and  men  went  across  Main  Street  below  the  bank  in  boats.  Ice  was 
carried  by  the  water  into  the  cellar  of  the  Hodge  house,  which  stood 
where  the  bank  now  stands,  and  it  was  alno  brought  up  the  gully  by 
the  town  landing,  nearly  as  far  as  the  present  Congregational  Church. 

I  he  next  freshet  was  in  1784.  It  occurreil  some  time  in  tlie  fall. 
'Ihe  baru  of  Andrew  and  John  Dunning  was  brought  down  by  the 
water  from  the  inter\ale  east  of  Rock}'  Hill.  This  barn  continued 
entire  until  it  reached  the  falls.  The  standing  corn  in  the  fields  along 
the  banks  of  the  river  remained  fixed,  but  pumpkins  came  down 
in  great  abundance.  The  great  mills  on  the  island  were  carried  otf* 
at  this  time.3  In  October  of  the  next  vear"*  there  was  another 
freshet  that  carried  otf  a  saw-mill  and  nine  saws,  two  grist-mills,  a 
fulling  mill,  and  three  houses.  On  account  of  the  amount  of  damage 
(lone  b}-  the  sudden  rise  of  water  at  tliis  time,  tiie  town  of  Tops- 
ham  preferred  a  petition  to  Uie  General  Court  for  an  abatement  in  the 
tax  for  that  year.  'I'he  next  unusual  rise  of  water  in  the  river 
occurred  in  1811.  At  this  time  the  toll-bridge  was  partially  carried 
off.  It  was  at  tliis  time,  also,  that  two  men,  Johnson  Wilson  and 
'"  Noggin"  Potter,  went  across  the  ice  to  Shad  Island,  where  Wilson 
owned  a  mill,  and  went  to  work.  I  here  had  been  a  rain,  but  Wilson 
and  Potter  did  not  anticipate  a  rise  of  water  sufficient  to  break  up  the 
ice.  At  n(X)n,  however,  when  they  left  work  and  started  for  home, 
the}*  found  the  ice  had  broken  up  and,  as  there  was  no  bridge  to  the 
island  at  that  time,  they  were  unable  to  reach  the  shore.  The  ice  was 
running  rapidly,  and  it  would  be  dangerous  to  attempt  to  reach  them 
by  boat ;  they  were  therefore  obliged  to  remain  on  the  island.     As  it 


^  Pejepicot  Paptri,  ^Ihid.  ^Ibid.  *  Ibid. 


820        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

was  uDcertain  how  long  they  might  have  to  remain  there,  their  friends, 
who  were  on  the  Brunswick  shore,  threw  crackers,  pieces  of  fish,  etc., 
to  them,  and  thus  their  hunger  was  api>eased.  They  were  obliged  to 
remain  on  the  island  nearly  two  days,  when  Major  AVilliam  Frost  and 
some  one  else  took  a  boat  and  brought  them  safely  ashore.^ 

In  the  great  freshet  of  1814  twentj'-one  saw-mills  were  swept  away, 
or  rendered  useless,  and  many  other  buildings  and  manufactories  were 
destroyeil.  An  expensive  viaduct  for  conveying  boards  past  the  falls 
was  also  destroyed.  Mills,  bams,  etc.,  came  down  to  the  falls  erect, 
as  though  resting  on  their  foundations,  and  were  there  dashed  to 
pieces.  The  Patten  mill,  in  Topsham,  was  carried  down  the  river 
and  across  the  island  about  where  the  pajier-mill  now  stands  :  catch- 
ing for  a  moment  on  the  rocks  at  this  place,  the  roof  came  off.  Four 
saw-mills  on  the  lower  falls  started  at  one  time  and  carried  off  the 
greater  portion  of  the  bridge.  The  toll-man  had  just  quitted  his  dwell- 
ing. There  was  a  rise  of  water  of  twenty-eight  feet  in  this  freshet. 
In  October,  1819,  there  was  a  heavv  freshet  which  carried  off  the 
upper  mills.  The  town  of  Brunswick  petitioned  the  legislature  to 
make  a  dtHluetion  from  their  valuation  in  consequence  of  the  loss  of 
proiK?rty  occasionefl  by  it. 

In  the  summer  of  1820  the  river  was  lower  than  it  had  been  for 
sixt\'  years  previous,  and  all  business  in  mills  and  factories  was  sus- 
l)ended  for  some  time.  This  unusual  drought  was.  however,  only  the 
precursor  of  a  great  freshet  which  occurred  on  the  sixteenth  and 
seventeenth  of  October  following.  At  this  time  all  the  booms  al>out 
the  falls  l>roke,  containing  logs,  it  was  said,  sufficient  to  supply 
twenty-three  saws  for  two  years.  —  the  greatest  number  ever  on  hand 
at  that  season  of  the  year.  The  lower  dam  on  the  Brunswick  side 
starteil  and  cameil  with  it  alx>ut  sixty  feet  of  the  Androscoggin 
bridge,  and  two  mills  for  manufacturing  clapboanls,  owned  hy  Jaquith 
and  Eastman.  **"  A  greater  i)ortion  of  the  most  exiK»nsive  dam  on 
the  falls'*  then  started,  and  it  was  supposed  it  could  not  l>e  repaired 
under  nine  or  ten  months.  Fifteen  saws,  two  grist-mills,  a  carding- 
machine.  two  clapl>oanl-mill8,  and  a  lath-mill  were  rendered  useless 
until  this  dam  was  repaire<l.  The  estimated  loss  was  over  $125,000. 
There  was  also  great  loss  of  proi>erty  at  Lisbon. 

On  April  15,  1824,  a  '*  very  great  freshet "  is  reconled,  but  no  par- 
ticulars are  given.  On  August  30,  182G,  the  most  unexpected  and 
rapid  rise  of  water  in  the  Androscoggin  occurred  that  had  ever  been 


^  James  Wilson, 


DiaEA8SS  AND  ACCIDESTS,  FRESHETS.  321 

Iknown.  In  Livermore  and  Jay  the  water  rose  eight  feet  in  one  niglit. 
3t  swept  awa}'  in  its  course  everj-  movable  thing  on  the  shores,  such 
AS  timber,  ferrj'-boats,  etc.  The  swell  of  water  reached  Brunswick 
on  Tuesda}'  eye.  Between  one  and  two  thousand  logs  that  had  been 
rafted  below  the  booms  at  this  place  were  swept  over  the  dams,  and 
some  damage  was  done  to  a  number  of  the  mills.  The  loss  at  this 
point  was,  however,  more  than  balanced  by  a  fine  run  of  logs  from 
above.     There  had  been  no  rains  in  this  vicinity. 

Another  serious  rise  of  water  occurred  on  April  25  and  April  26, 
1827.  The  boom  broke  on  the  night  of  the  twenty-fifth,  and  allowed 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  logs  to  come  down  the  river. 
In  their  course  they  carried  off  the  new  double  saw-mill  belonging  to 
Doctor  Jonathan  Page,  about  two  hundred  feet  of  the  toll-bridge,  and 
the  gulf  dam.     The  Eagle  Factory  was  also  injured. 

No  freshet  is  recorded  as  occurring  in  1829,  but  in  November  of 
that  year  the  tide  in  the  river  is  said  to  have  risen  five  feet  higher 
than  ever  before  known,  and  to  have  done  some  slight  damage. 

Other  considerable  freshets  occurred  on  January  2,  1881,  May  22, 
1832,  and  April  7,  1833.  At  the  one  in  1832,  the  Roger  Merrill  saw- 
mill and  also  the  Patten  mill  and  the  bridge  dam  were  carried  away. 

In  February,  1839,  there  was  a  serious  ice  tVeshet,  which  carried 
away  the  upper  dam  and  booms,  and  the  Goat  Island  mill,  and 
seriously  injured  the  Great  Mills.  The  ice  became  goi-ged  at  the  Nar- 
ro^irs,  and  was  sixty  feet  high  below  the  toll-bridge.  It  was  piled  so 
high  between  the  bridge  and  the  lower  falls,  that  a  man  stepped  off  the 
bridge  and  walked  on  the  ice  to  the  roof  of  the  mill  on  Shad  Island. 

A  freshet  occurred  on  Ma}'  22,  1843,  at  which  the  dam  on  the 
Topsham  side  gave  way,  and  the  lower  boom  above  the  fiills  also  gave 
way,  carrying  off  the  Rogers  mill  in  Topsham,  and  about  thirty  feet 
of  the  Shad  Island  bridge.  The  bank  on  the  -•Intervale"  road  in 
Brunswick  was  washed  away,  and  a  house  undermined  at  this  time. 

'Ihe  next  noteworthy  freshet  was  in  May,  1854.  It  was  said  at  the 
tune  to  be  the  greatest  of  an}-  since  1814,  though  but  little  damage 
was  done.  The  old  Hodge  mill  was  carried  off,  but  the  new  Hodge 
mill  was  uninjured. 

In  1857,  April  6,  the  water  in  the  river  was  very  high,  and  the  old 
Purinton  mill  in  Topsham  was  carried  off. 

On  March  31,  1859,  the  ice  carried  awa}'  Maxwell  &  Jameson's 
blacksmith  shop,  on  the  island,  and  also  an  old  grist-mill  near  by. 

On  April  19,  1862,  an  unoccupied  house  on  the  island  in  Topsham, 
next  to  the  small  bridge,  was  carried  away  by  the  water,  and  the  draw 
21 


i 


322        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  about  two  hundred  feet  of  the  Bay  Bridge,  on  the  Brunswick  side, 
were  also  destro^-ed.     Cow  Island  was  entirely  submerged. 

On  November  19,  1863,  there  was  a  high  freshet.  The  northern 
abutment  of  the  small  bridge  in  Topsham  was  undermined,  and  car- 
riage travel  stopped.  There  were  some  logs  lost,  but  no  other  dam- 
age is  known  to  have  been  done  at  this  time. 

April  19,  1865,  the  water  was  quite  high,  but  did  no  damage. 
There  was,  however,  at  this  time,  an  extremely  high  wind,  which  blew 
down  fences,  signs,  etc.,  and  did  considerable  harm.  A  bam  on  the 
Island,  in  Topsham,  was  blown  into  the  river  with  all  its  contents, 
even  the  hens. 

On  April  20,  1866,  there  was  a  heav}'  ice  freshet.  A  small  portion 
of  the  dam  of  Perkins's  saw-mill,  and  the  outer  tier  of  posts  of  the 
Purinton  flour-mill,  both  in  Topsham,  were  carried  away.  Some 
damage  was  also  done  to  the  Coburu  mill  in  Brunswick.  There  was 
also  another,  though  lighter,  freshet  in  November  of  this  )'ear. 

In  1869  there  were  two  freshets.  At  the  first,  on  April  20,  a  boom 
broke,  and  a  large  numljer  of  logs  belonging  to  Hiram  Toothaker, 
and  to  Coburn  &  Thompson,  went  down  river.  The  loss  was  esti- 
mated at  about  $40,000. 

At  the  other  freshet,  October  5,  several  cows  on  Cow  Island  were 
drowned,  and  two  hundred  bushels  of  corn,  belonging  to  John  Merry- 
man,  at  Rock}'  Hill,  were  washed  away. 

The  last  freshet  of  consequence  was  on  April  16.  1873.  The  ice 
became  gorged,  and  carried  away  the  flume  at  the  paper-mill  in 
Topsham. 


I 


STAGES,  RAILROADS,  NAVIGATION,  ETC.  323 


CHAPTER    X. 

STACfES,    RAILROADS,    NAVIGATION,    TELEGRAPH,    EXPRESSES,    PUBLIC 

CARRIAGES. 

STAGES,   ETC. 

The  first  regular  stage  for  the  accommodation  of  passengers  is 
thought  to  have  commenced  running  about  the  year  1800.  The  first 
four-horse  stage  between  Bninswick  and  Portland  is  known  to  have 
been  driven  in  1803  by  Henry  Mclntyre.  In  180r»,  Colonel  Estabrook 
drove  a  biweekly  stage  between  Brunswick  and  Augusta. 

In  1807,  or  soon  after,  Nahum  Perkins,  of  'i'opsham,  drove  a 
through  stage  between  Portland  and  AugusUi. 

The  first  daily  stage  commenced,  in  connection  with  the  mails,  in 
1810.     It  was  between  Portland  and  Bnmswick. 

A  writer  in  1820  remarks  concerning  the  stages  to  and  from  Bruns- 
wick at  that  time,  **  From  the  great  eastern,  western,  and  northern 
routes  the  stages  arrive  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  and  so  well  are 
they  regulated  that  they  often  arrive  at  the  same  moment.  There  is 
no  other  place  in  Maine  so  well  situated  in  this  respect.  From  the 
east,  west,  and  north,  they  arrive  and  depart  every  day  in  the  week.** 
These  coaches  were  probabh*  run  by  the  Maine  Stage  Company,  as 
that  is  the  earliest  company  to  which  any  reference  has  been  found. 

On  January  1,  1821,  William  B.  Peters  commenced  running  a  stage 
between  Portland  and  Bath,  leaving  tiie  former  place  on  IMonday. 
Wednesda}*,  and  Frida}',  and  the  latter  on  Tuesday,  Thursday,  and 
Saturday.  The  Brunswick  office  w^as  at  Ilodgkins's  tavern.  The  fare 
was  the  same  as  in  the  mail  stage.  '1  his  was  an  opposition  line  to 
the  regular  mail  stage.     How  long  it  was  maintained  is  not  known. 

On  August  20,  188G,  the  Brunswick  and  Turner  Stage  Company 
began  running  a  stage  between  those  two  towns,  leaving  Stinchtield's 
Hotel  in  Brunswick,  Tuesdays,  Thursdays,  and  Saturdays  at  eight 
o'clock  A.  M.,  passing  through  Durham,  Danville,  Lewiston,  East 
Minot,  East  Turner,  and  aniving  in  Turner  at  three  o'clock  p.  m. 
Returning,  it  left  Turner  on  Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Fridays  at 


324        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

eight  o'clock  a.  m  ,  and  arrive<l  in  Brunswick  at  four  p.  m.  The  fare 
to  Lewiston  was  one  dollar  and  twenty-five  cents,  and  to  Turner  one 
dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  During  the  winter  of  this  year,  Jacob 
Harris  drove  a  two-horse  team  twice  a  Week  to  Portland,  for  freight 
and  passengers. 

On  December  25,  1854,  the  Bnmswick  and  Lewiston  stage  line  was 
established,  John  Holland,  Jr.,  being  the  agent.  A  passenger  coach, 
capable  ot  seating  nine  persons  inside,  left  I-^ewiston  for  Brunswick 
every  Monday,  Wednesday,  and  Friday,  and  arrived  at  the  latter 
place  in  season  for  the  noon  train  for  Bath  and  Augusta.  It  left 
Brunswick  on  its  return  at  half  past  nine  a.  m.  It  passed  through 
Topsham,  Little  River,  and  Lisbon.  The  fare  between  Brunswick  and 
Lewiston  was  one  dollar  and  twenty-  five  cents.  This  line  was  kept 
up  for  several  3'ears.  In  185G  M.  K.  Marean  was  its  agent.  The 
last  stage  run  to  any  i>oint  accessible  by  the  cars  was  in  1858.  In 
November  of  that  year,  C.  M.  Plummer  commenced  to  run  a  daily 
stage  to  Bath  in  npjxmtion  to  the  cars.  The  fare  by  stage  was  forty 
cents,  and  by  cars  twenty-five  cents. 

There  arc  at  present  three  lines  of  stages  leaving  Brunswick.  One 
is  a  daily  stage  to  Potts's  Point  on  Ilarpswell  Neck ;  another,  thrice 
weekly,  to  Condy's  Harbor  on  Great  Island  ;  and  another,  thrice  weekly, 
to  Orr's  Island.  The  first  stage  over  the  latter  route  was  driven  by 
Kphraim  Johnson  of  Orr's  Island,  on  June  1,  1868. 

Among  the  different  lines  of  stages  which  have  been  enumerated, 
the  Maine  Stage  Company  deservedly  takes  the  first  rank.  I  he  corn- 
pan}'  at  one  time  owned  $60,000  worth  of  stock.  Its  coaches  were 
large  and  comfortable,  and  its  horses  were  of  the  best  1  he  line  was 
well  patronized  and  the  profits  were  large.  A  quarterh*  dividend  of 
thirty  dollars  on  the  hundred  is  known  to  have  been  distributed.  The 
stages  of  this  line  continued  running  to  Portland  for  some  time  after 
the  railroad  was  completed.  The  fare  to  Portland  by  stage  was  one 
dollar,  and  by  cars  ninety  cents,  but  the  stage  called  for  and  delivered 
passengers  at  their  residences,  thus  saving  carriage  hire.  Among  the 
drivers  for  the  Maine  Stage  Company  were  Calvin  Gossam,  Charles 
Owen  (son  of  Elder  Shimuel  Owen),  Hiram  Tibbetts  (father  of  Mr. 

J.  H.  Tibbetts),  Jal>ez  Sawin, Savage,  Jacob  Sands, 

Stanwood,  Plummer,  Job  Sawyer,  Hobbs,  and  John 

Beals. 

Gossam  was  a  careful  driver,  prompt  in  business,  attentive  to  the 
wants  of  his  passengers,  and  scrupulously  neat  in  his  apparel ;  his  hat, 
boots,  and  gloves  were  always  stylish;  when  he  announced,  '^  Stage 


STAGES,  RAILROADS,  NAVIGATION,  ETC.  325 

read}- /'  no  better  dressed  gentleman  entered  the  coach.  Gossara  went 
to  California,  where  he  drove  successAilly  several  years  before  his 
death. 

Mr.  Sands  drove  a  part  of  the  time  between  Bninswick  and 
Angusta,  and  a  part  between  Brunswick  and  Portland.  In  1849,  when 
the  steamer  jF/Y<«Ain[/ made  her  dail}' trips  between  New  AVharf  and 
Portland,  he  drove  a  stage  connecting  with  the  steamer.  He  was  a 
careful  driver  and  a  pleasant,  genial,  whole-souled  man.  Those  who 
desired  to  relieve  the  monotony  of  a  stage  journey  by  pleasant,  face- 
tious, and  oft  times  instnictive  conversation,  invariubU'  chose  a  seat 
beside  him  upon  the  box. 

Concerning  the  other  drivers,  nothing  has  been  learned,  except 
what  would  naturally  be  hiferred,  that  they  were  all  good  '*  whips" 
and  handled  the  "  libbons"  skilfullv. 

Accidents  were  not  inft-equent  in  old  stage  times.  In  several 
instances  the  towns  of  Bmnswick  and  Topsham  were  obliged  to  pay 
damages  to  the  stage  company,  in  coiisecjuence  of  injuries  to  their 
coaches  caused  by  defects  in  the  highways. 

One  incident  is  i)erhaps  illustrative  of  the  whole.  On  Novemljer 
17,  1829,  a  stage  containing  eleven  passengers,  among  whom  were 
Governor  Dunlap,  and  Mr.  Charles  J.  Xo3'e8,  of  Brunswick,  was 
upset  on  McKeen  Street,  and  tipped,  top  down,  into  a  ditch  full  of 
water,  so  that  the  doors  couhl  not  be  opened.  No  one  was  seriously 
injured,  but  all  were  bedaubed  with  mud.  A  mother  and  her  babe 
were  among  the  inside  passengers,  and  the  child  was  found  safely  pre- 
8er\'ed  on  the  shelf  made  by  the  inverted  coach-seat. 

KAILROADS. 

The  first  local  project  for  rail  communication  from  Brunswick  was 
broached  some  time  in  1833.  No  serious  attempt  toward  anything 
of  the  Hoit  was  inaugurated,  however,  until  183.").  That  year  the 
legislature  incorporatetl  Elijah  P.  Pike,  Nathaniel  Davis,  Alfred  J. 
Stone,  Charles  Stetson,  Roger  Merrill,  Jordan  Wooflward,  Benjamin 
Pennell,  John  S.  Cushing,  and  Solomon  P.  Cushman  and  their  asso- 
ciates, successors,  and  assigns,  *'  into  a  bod}'  politic  and  corporate" 
by  the  name  of  the  Britnswick  Railroad  Company.  This  company 
was  authorized  *'  to  locate  and  construct  a  railroad  from  the  Andros- 
coggin River,  near  Brunswick  village,  to  some  navigable  waters  of 
Casco  Bav.  with  one  or  more  branches,"  and  were  invested  with  all 
the  necessary  powers  to  carry  their  intention  into  effect.  I  his  coq>o- 
ration  met  June  4th  of  that  year,  and  adopted  a  code  of  bj'-laws,  and 


326        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

elected  their  officers.     The  road,  however,  was  never  laid  out,  and  no 
other  meeting  of  the  company  is  known  to  have  been  held. 

The  first  railroad  to  enter  Brunswick  was  the  Kennebec  and  Port- 
land, which  was  incorporated  in  183G,  and  was  soon  after  surveyed. 
In  1845  the  time  of  building  was  extended  ten  years,  and  of  U>catiiig, 
five  years.  On  May  1,  1845,  the  corporators  met  and  chose  a  com- 
mittc^e  to  confer  with  a  committee  of  the  Bath  and  Portland  Railroad 
Company,  which  had  been  incoqwrated  a  short  time  previously.  The 
result  of  the  conference  was  a  union  of  the  two  roads.  On  August 
6th,  of  this  year,  a  citizens'  meeting  was  held  at  the  Baptist  Church, 
Maine  Street,  Brunswick,  **  to  adopt  measures  in  relation  to  the  Port- 
land, liath,  and  Augusta  Railroad."  Honorable  R.  P.  Dunlap  was 
chosen  chairman,  and  John  D.  Cobum.  secretary.  Speeches  in  favor 
of  the  road  were  made  by  the  chairman,  and  by  George  Evans,  of 
Gardiner,  and  P.  Sheldon,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  present 
subscription  papers  to  the  citizens.  The  town  of  Brunswick,  in  1850, 
voted  to  loan  its  credit,  to  aid  in  the  completion  of  this  road,  to  the 
amount  of  875,000.  The  same  year  Topsham  voted  to  loan  its  credit 
for  the  same  purpose  to  the  amount  of  $30,000.  The  first  work  upon 
the  railroad,  near  Bnniswick,  was  commenced  in  1847. 

In  March,  1849,  Mr.  John  S.  Cushing  was  called  by  the  directors  of 
the  Kennebec  and  Portland  Railroad  to  take  chaise  of  the  grounds 
now- occu])ied  by  the  depot  of  the  Maine  Central  Railroad  Company, 
and  prepare  them  for  the  use  of  the  former  company ;  to  provide  wood 
and  materials  for  the  construction  of  the  n>ad,  which  was  then  in  pro- 
cess of  building ;  and  to  pa}'  the  gravel-train  men,  and  others  in  the 
employ  of  the  company-. 

On  the  ninth  of  June,  1849,  a  locomotive  steam-engine  entere<l 
Brunswick  for  the  first  time.  On  the  fourth  of  July,  1849,  the  track 
having  been  laid  from  Bath  to  Yarmouth,  it  was  decided  to  put  on  a 
train  of  gravel  cars,  and  with  the  fii*st  engine,  the  "'  Kennebec,"  and 
with  such  accomnioiiations  as  could  be  prepared,  to  run  the  train  back 
and  forth  between  Bath  and  Yarmouth  for  the  day,  giving  every 
one  who  desired  it  a  '*  free  ride."  Though  the  train  was  comi)oseil 
chiefly  of  dump-cars,  and  the  passengers  probably  paid  for  their 
ride  in  the  discomfort  attending  it,  yet  it  was  to  them  a  new  an<l 
gratifying  exi>erience,  and  such  was  the  delight  of  the  public  that 
many  urged  the  directors  to  commence  running  a  passenger  train 
at  once.  To  this  request  the  directors  accedeil,  and  without  any 
preparation  of  books,  blanks,  or  tariff's,  the  train  was  put  on  the 
fifth   of  Jul}',  and  continued   to  nin  regularly,  canning  passengers 


STAGES,  RAILROADS,  NAVIOATION,  ETC.  327 

to  Yarmouth,  and  there  transferring  them  to  the  ears  of  the  Atlantic 
and  St.  Lawrence  Railroad  for  l^ortland. 

This  sudden  and  unprepared- for  event  cast  a  good  deal  of  labor 
and  responsibility  upon  Mr.  Cushing,  who  at  once  had  tickets  printed 
at  the  office  of  Mr.  Griffin,  for  the  four  stations.  In  addition  to 
this,  freight  began  to  flow  on  the  road,  and  Mr.  Cushing  was  in- 
8tructe<i  to  fix  such  rates  as*  he  thought  proper  on  all  merchandise 
as  it  came  in. 

Mr.  Joseph  McKeen  was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  road,  and  it  was 
by  his  request  that  Mr.  Cushing  did  whatever  was  necessary  to  meet 
the  emergencies  as  they  arose,  and  collect  all  moneys  from  ticket  sales 
and  conductors,  and  return  to  him.  Thus  Brunswick  became  sud- 
denly a  place  of  importance  as  the  headquarters  of  the  Kennebec  and 
Portland  Railroad  Company,  and  as  the  place  where  the  first  impulse 
was  given  to  the  trains  of  this  road. 

The  fares  between  the  stations  of  the  Kennelwc  and  Portland  Road  and 
Portland  were  adjusted  on  the  presumption  that  the  Atlantic  and  St. 
Lawrence  Company  (now  the  Grand  Trunk)  would  gladly  receive  so  large 
a  contribution  of  passengers  at  the  same  rate,  twenty- five  cents  each, 
at  which  they  transported  stage  passengers  from  Yarmouth  to  Port- 
land. This  amount  the  agent  of  the  Kennel)ec  and  Portland  Company 
added  to  the  price  of  their  tickets  to  Yarmouth,  for  all  Portland  pas- 
sengers. Upon  settlement  with  the  Atlantic  and  St.  Lawrence  Com- 
pany, at  the  close  of  the  month  of  July,  they  claimed  tiiirty-five  cents, 
which  was  their  lo<tal  fare  from  Ynnnouth  to  Portland,  on  all  passen- 
gers coming  over  the  Kennebec  and  Portland  Hoad.  They  consented, 
however,  to  deduct  fme  ha[f  cfnt  from  each  ticket  issued  by  the  latter 
c-ompany,  obliging  them  to  pay  thirty-four  and  a  half  cents  on  each 
passenger  to  Portland,  although  they  had  only  received  twenty-five 
cents  eacli  for  that  jwrtion  of  the  route.  This  action  of  the  Atlantic 
and  St.  Lawrence  Company  was  received  with  great  indignation  by 
the  directors  of  the  Kennebec  and  Portland  Company.  'I'wo  members 
each  said  that  they  would  be  one  among  ten  to  build  a  new  road  from 
Yarmouth  to  Portland,  and  it  was  in  consequence  of  the  imjust  ad- 
vantage thus  taken  of  their  necessities  that  tiie  road  was  built  about 
two  years  subsequently.  This,  however,  was  not  the  only  disagree- 
ment between  the  two  companies.  'I'he  directors  <^f  the  Kennebec  and 
Tort  land  Company  solicited  the  otiier  conij)any  to  put  down  a  third 
rail,  and  allow  their  trains  (of  a  ditlerent  gauge)  to  run  on  that  road 
to  Portland.  This  the  Atlantic  and  St.  Lawrence  Comi)any,  sj)eaking 
tlu*ough  their  engineer,  declared  impracticable.     Alter  the  new  road 


328        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

m 

was  contracted  for,  however,  they  offered  to  give  this  accommodation, 
but  were  told,  in  reply,  that  it  was  then  '*  impracticable."  'Ihus  the 
short-sighted  policy  of  the  Atlantic  and  St.  Lawrence  Company's 
directors  was  the  cause  of  the  building  of  the  new  road  into  Port- 
land, i 

Included  in  the  purchase  of  the  depot  lot  was  a  small,  one-story, 
unfinished  wooden  building,  which  stood  near  Maine  Street.  This  was 
hastily  fitted  up  with  ladies*  and  gentlemen's  rooms,  and  a  ticket-office 
batween  the  two.  The  I^  was  used  for  a  baggage-room.  The  ac- 
commodations for  passengers  were  small  and  poorly  arranged.  The 
building  stood  much  nearer  Maine  Street  than  the  present  one.  After 
the  second  <iepot  was  built,  the  first  one  was  moved  over  to  the  north, 
next  to  the  building  once  occupied  by  Isaac  Center,  and,  at  a  later 
date  by  Mr.  I*oland,  and  was  occupied  by  Ezekiel  Thompson,  the  first 
baggage-master.  It  is  still  owned  by  the  raiboad  company  and  leased 
by  them  as  a  dwelling.  At  the  time  the  first  depot  was  prepared, 
John  S.  Cushing  actetl  as  station  agent,  and  George  French  as  switch- 
man. This  was  the  force  as  organized  at  Brunswick,  which  was  the 
headqaart(*rs  of  the  road  at  that  time. 

The  first  engine  went  over  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Andros- 
coggin, below  the  falls,  on  the  thirteenth  of  December,  I80O,  and  cars 
ran  to  Augusta  not  long  afterwards.  The  Topsham  depot  was  erect«l 
in  1  «50-o  I . 

The  first  large  depot  in  Brunswick  was  finished  in  July,  \%'>'k  It 
was  one  hun<lred  and  sixty  feet  in  length  and  about  one  hundred  feet 
in  width,  including  the  two  wings,  the  main  Ixxly  of  the  building 
being  sixty  feet  in  width,  with  a  height  of  fifty- two  feet  to  the  ridge- 
pole. Three  tracks  ran  through  it.  The  north  wing  was  divided  into 
a  ticket-office,  with  public  waiting-rooms  for  gentlemen  and  ladies  on 
either  side,  a  refreshment- room,  and  a  baggage-room.  Space  was 
also  left  for  a  stairway  into  the  upper  story  of  the  building,  where  it 
was  intende<l  to  have  some  of  the  office  rooms  of  the  company. 
The  south  wing  was  used  lor  freight.  This  depot  was  burned  in  1857. 
The  present  building  was  erected  soon  after.  It  is  much  larger  now 
than  it  was  originally,  having  received  additions  several  times  since 
its  erection.  Until  1870  there  were  but  two  tracks  nmning  through 
the  depot,  and  the  southern  side  of  the  building,  where  the  third 
track  is  now,  was  used  for  the  freight  department.     The  freight-oflBce 


1  This  matter^  though  rather  beyond  the  scope  of  this  History^  is  introduced  Aere  as  ii 
matter  0/ interest  to  our  citizeMy  and  because  it  has  never  be/ore  appeared  in  print. 


STAGES,  RAILROADS,  NAVIGATION,  ETC.  32^ 

antl  telegraph-office  were  in  the  southeastern  corner.  The  waiting- 
rooms,  refreshment-room,  and  ticket-office  were  small  and  inconven- 
ient. In  1870  the  present  freight  depot  was  built,  and  the  passenger 
depot  was  enlarged  and  improved.  Since  then  the  refreshment-saloon 
and  the  ticket-office  have  l)een  still  further  improved. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1849,  Mr.  Gushing  was  taken  into  the  office  of 
Treasurer  McKeen  as  book-keeper,  in  the  place  of  Mr.  George  F. 
Dunning,  who  removed  to  Philadelphia. 

In  1851,  Mr.  McKeen  resigned  his  treasurership,  and  Mr.  A.  H. 
Oilman,  of  Portland,  was  elected  ;  and  in  the  following  year  the  treas- 
urer's office  was  removed  to  Augusta,  where  Mr.  Gushing  was  contin- 
ued as  general  ticket  agent  and  freight  accountant  until  1857,  when 
he  was  elected  treasurer.  In  this  capacity  he  has  been  continued 
through  the  different  organizations  of  Portland  and  Kennebec  and 
Maine  Gentral  Railroad  Gompanies  to  the  present  time,  —  a  period  of 
twenty  years.  The  length  of  the  Kennebec  and  Portland  Railroad  was 
twenty-four  miles  in  1849,  and  that  of  the  Maine  Gentral  in  1871  was 
three  hundred  and  fifty-five  miles. ^ 

The  Lewi^ton  and  Topsham  Railroad  Gompany  was  formed 
about  1853,  with  Francis  T.  Purinton,  of  Topsham,  as  its  president. 
A  road  between  these  two  places  was  survej-ed  but  never  laid  out,  and 
the  company  failed  to  do  anything.  This  company  was,  however,  the 
forerunner  of  the  Androscoggin  Railroad,  work  on  which  was  com- 
menced in  1860,  and  the  first  trains  on  which  ran  regularly  in  October, 
18G1. 

As  illustrative  of  the  difference  in  travel  between  the  present  and 
former  times,  it  may  be  state<l  that  in  1819,  the  time  of  travel  between 
Brunswick  and  Boston  was  ordinaril}'  three  days,  the  very  quickest 
being  two  and  a  half  days,  and  the  expense  attending  a  tiip  was 
twelve  dollars.  Now,  the  time  required  is  but  six  hours,  and  the 
expense  three  dollars  and  a  quarter.  Tiien  there  was  one  stage  dail}* 
iu  each  direction,  passing  through  Brunswick.  For  a  number  of  years 
after  the  railroad  went  into  operation,  there  was  but  one  passenger 
train  a  da}*  each  way,  and  the  trains  seldom  had  more  than  two  pas- 
senger CATS  and  a  baggage  car.  At  the  same  time  a  thrice-weekly 
freight  train,  each  wa}*,  was  all  that  was  required. 

Now,  four  passenger  trains  each  wa}'  are  run  on  the  main  line,  with 


^  For  most  of  the  f<icU  given  in  the  foregoinff  account  we  arc  indebted  to  Mr.  Cushing, 
vehose  connection  with  this  road  from  its  first  inception  up  to  the  present  time  renders 
his  statements  entitled  to  the  fullest  credence. 


330        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSM'ICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

from  two  to  eight  cars  iu  each,  and  there  are  two  regular  freight  trains 
each  way  daily,  besides  almost  daily  extra  trains.  In  addition  to  these 
trains,  there  are  on  the  Bath  branch  six  trains  daily,  each  way,  includ- 
ing freight  trains,  and  on  the  Lewiston  branch  there  are  four  trains 
each  way  daily,  including  freight  trains. 

NAVIGATION. 

In  the  very  earliest  times,  l)cforo  the  era  of  stages  or  even  of  the 
introduction  of  horses  to  this  region,  before  roads  were  even  thought 
of,  the  travel  was  conducted  exclusively  bv  means  of  lK)ats  and  vessels. 
The  pioneer  settlers  always  located  themselves  at  or  near  the  head  of 
some  navigable  stream.  It  should  be  remembered  that  in  those  times 
the  streams  were  all  undammed  and  were  all  of  them  navigable  for 
much  lai^er  craft  than  at  present.  Large  vessels  might  then  come  to 
the  foot  of  the  falls  of  the  Pejepscot  without  difficulty,  and  it  was  even 
possible  to  tow  boats  over  the  rapids.* 

The  earliest  provision  made  for  a  boat  of  any  size  for  use  in  this 
vicinity  was  in  1716.  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  Februan* 
21,  of  that  3'ear,  it  was  voted,  *'  That  a  proper  boat  be  proWdeil  b}' 
Messi-s.  Minot  &  AVatts  with  sails,  oars,  etc."^  The  intention  of  this 
vote  may  have  been  to  furnish  a  boat  for  travel  ujwn  the  river,  but 
as  the  proprietors  soon  after  purchased  a  sloop  called  the  Ppjtpscot^  for 
the  puqx)se  of  establishing  communication  with  Boston,^  it  is  probable 
that  the  latter  object  was  what  was  intended  by  their  vote. 

The  next  vessel  to  which  reference  is  to  be  found  was  the  sloop 
Maquoit^  which  was  built  by  the  proprietors  and  was  used  in  carrying 
lumber  and  provisions  between  Maquoit  and  Boston. 

There  is  some  uncertainty  as  to  whom  belongs  the  credit  of  build- 
ing the  first  vessel  in  this  region,  though  it  is  probable  that  it  was 
built  on  the  New  Meadows  River.  Accoi-ding  to  one  authorit}*,  it 
was  built  by  John  Lemont,  in  174o,"*  but  by  another  it  is  said  to 
have  been  constructed  by  George  Harwood  (with  others).^  Prob- 
ablv  it  was  the  same  vessel,  and  more  than  one  or  two  were  interested 
in  it. 

The  first  vessel  constnicted  at  Middle  Bay  or  Maquoit  was  built 
previous  to  the  Revolution  In*  Robert  Dunning.     The  exact  time  is 


» Maine  Historical  Collection^  3,  p.  318. 
^  Ppjepscot  Records.  '  McKccn^  MS-  Lecture. 

*I^montj  Historical Datef  of  Bath,  etc.,  p.  52. 
^McKeen,  in  Brunswick  Teleyraph,  '*  Gleaninys"  J\'o.  4. 


8TA0E8,  RAILROADS,  NAVIGATION,  ETC.  331 

not  known.     In  1753  there  were  three  sloops  owned  at  Maquoit  and 
New  Meadows.^ 

In  1707  the  schooner  Unity ^  of  Topsham,  is  mentioned  in  Brigadier 
Thompson's  papers. 

The  first  vessel  launched  above  the  Chops  and  the  second  above 
Bath  was  built  by  John  Patten,  AVilliara  Patten,  John  Fulton,  and 
Adam  Hunter,  of  Topsham,  about  the  year  1708.  She  was  a  sloop 
of  about  ninety  tons,  and  was  named  the  Merry  Me.tthtg.  She  was 
Iniilt  for  the  purpose  of  coasting  to  Boston.  When  slie  was  laimche<l 
all  the  people  in  the  neighboring  towns  came  to  see  her,  and  were 
provided  with  a  dinner.  Captain  William  Patten  was  master  of  the 
Merry  Meetimj,  He  loaded  her  with  wood  and  went  to  Boston  and 
sold  it  for  81.50  per  cord,  two  thinls  of  which  went  to  the  owners. 
At  other  times  she  was  loaded  with  boards  and  timber. 

Wages  at  that  time  were  A'ery  low.  Howard,  the  shipwright  who 
built  the  Merry  Meeting^  received  four  shillings  per  da}'.  He  lived  at 
New  Meadows.  Captains  in  the  West  India  business  received  four 
])ounds  per  month  ;  mates,  three  pounds  ;  seamen's  wages  were  about 
six  dollars.  The  sails  and  rigging  for  the  Merry  Meet  in  fj  were  pnr- 
chase<l  of  Mr.  Hooper  ("  King"  Hooper  he  was  called),  of  Salem. ^ 

The  Defiance  was  afterwards  built  and  owned,  principally,  by  John 
Patten.     She  was  employed  in  coasting  to  Boston  ^ 

The  schooner  Industry,  the  first  that  ever  went  to  the  West  Indies 
from  the  Kennebec,  was  owned  by  John  Patten,  his  son  Robert,  his 
son-in-law  Kobert  Fulton,  Mr.  Jameson,  and  C-aptain  Ilnrward. 
She  was  built  about  1772.  Captain  James  Maxwell  was  mnster. 
She  was  loaded  the  (irst  time  with  boanls,  shingles,  and  four  masts. 
A  part  of  the  boards  were  sawed  at  Cathance  Mills  and  the  rest  at 
Topsham  Falls.  They  were  sold  for  four  dollars  per  thousand.  Cap- 
tain Maxwell  went  twice  to  the  AYest  Indies  in  the  IndHafry.  She 
was  sold  during  the  Revolutionary  war  for  paper  money.  Captain 
Robert  Patten's  eighth  pait  enabled  him  to  buy  a  horse  and  saddle  for 
four  hundred  dollars. *• 

About  1790  the  Si>eedweU,  a  coaster  of  ninety-seven  tons*  burden, 
under  command  of  the  Captain  McLellan  who  married  Molly  Finney, 
ran  between  Brunswick  and  Boston.  On  one  of  her  trips  she  landed 
at  Bimganock,  and  took  on  board  ninety  cords  of  wood  for  Boston. 
The  price   here  was   three   shillings  and  nineix»nce,  and  .at  Boston, 


*  Memorandum  on  cover  of  Bmnfxrick  Records  in  Pcjepscot  Collcrtiona. 
2  Dr,  Mis.    Notes  of  Robert  ratten,  » Ibid.  *•  Ibid. 


832        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  AARPSWELL. 

twelve  shillings  per  cord.     The  crew  were  four  in  number,  and  the 
average  wages  of  each  was  seven  dollars  per  month. 

Several  vessels  were  owned  in  Brunswick  in  1790.  On  September 
13,  1791,  John  Peterson  made  a  request  to  the  selectmen  of  Brunswick 
for  an  abatement  of  the  tax  on  ^^  one  of  my  vessels,  as  she  was  cast 
ashore  last  Christmas  day  on  Cape  Cod,  and  by  that  accident  I  lost 
the  value  of  one  yoafs  earnings  of  said  schooner." ' 

The  brig  Hope  was  built  in  Brunswick  by  AVilliam  Stanwood  and 
John  Dunlap,  a  short  time  previous  to  1800.  They  sold  a  portion  to 
Richard  Taj)pan.  In  January,  1800,  she  sailed  fh)m  Bath  for  Barba- 
does,  West  Indies,  loaded  with  about  one  hundred  and  thirtj'  thousand 
feet  of  boards,  and  one  hundred  and  five  thousand  shingles  and  other 
small  lumber.  The  crew  consisted  of  Richanl  Tappan,  master  ;  John 
Dunlap,  Junior,  mate ;  and  Melzer  House,  John  McDonald,  Noah 
Moulton,  'Ihomas  Stanwood,  and  Philip  Cornish,  seamen.  They 
reached  Barbadoes  safely,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  the  island  of 
Tobago,  where  Captain  Tappan  met  with  a  Mr.  Kerr,  of  Grenada,  to 
whom  he  sold  his  cargo  of  boards  at  the  rate  of  forty  dollars  per 
thousand,  and  the  shingles  at  four  or  five  dollars  per  thousand,  to  be 
delivere<l  at  the  island  of  Grenada.  They  sailed  from  Tobago  on  the 
third  of  March,  and  the  same  night,  between  Tobago  and  Grenada, 
they  were  boarded  and  taken  possession  of  by  a  French  privateer  from 
Gaudaloui>e.  All  the  crew  except  the  captain  were  taken  out,  and 
the  brig  was  sent  into  Basseterre,  Gaudalou|)e,  where  she  was  con- 
demned. The  first  officer  and  crew  were  imprisoned,  but  through  the 
interference  of  a  Danish  merchant  thev  were  released  an<l  went  on 
board  of  a  vessel  which  he  had  purchased  there  and  went  with  him  to 
Santa  Cruz.  From  thence  thev  went  to  Saint  l  homas,  where  thev 
waited  for  an  American  convo}*  from  St.  Kitts,  which  arrived  in  a  few 
days.  With  this  convoy  was  the  brig  Hannihd^  owned  by  the  Dun- 
laps,  commanded  by  Captain  Nehemiah  Peterson.  This  brig  had 
also  been  taken  by  a  French  privateer,  but  had  been  retaken  b^'  the 
United  States  man-of-war  John  Adams.  Captain  Tappan  and  John 
Dunlap  returned  home  in  the  HannibaL  the  rest  of  the  crew  in  the 
/ris,  commanded  b)'  Captain  Samuel  Snow. 

About  the  year  1800  the  ship-yard  at  Brunswick  called  Skolfleld's 
was  constnicted,  and  vessels  began  to  be  built  there. 

About  the  year  1802  a  vessel  of  sixtv-three  tons  was  built  at  Lis- 
bou  by  a  Captain  Woodward,  launched  into  the  Androscoggin  during 


^  P^epscot  Papers. 


STAG f 8,  RAILROADS,  NAVIGATION,  ETC.  333 

a  freshet  and  brought  down  as  far  as  the  booms  ahove  the  upper  dam. 
Here  she  nv^as  taken  out  of  the  water  and  hauled  on  rollers  through  the 
woods  to  what  is  now  McKeen  Street,  thence  down  Maine  Street  to  the 
cove,  \vhere  she  was  again  launched  into  the  river  and  did  good  ser- 
vice for  about  twenty-five  years.  Dean  Swift  well  remembers  the  cir- 
cumstance,  though  but  a  boy  at  the  time.  He  says  one  hundred  yoke 
of  oxen  were  employed  in  hauling  the  vessel  on  the  land. 

In  1808,  Mr.  Robert  Given  built  a  gunboat  for  the  United  States 
navy,  in  a  3'ard  a  little  north  of  the  ship-3'ard  of  the  Skolfields,  on 
Harpswell  Neck.  The  contract,  still  preserved,  was  for  thirty  dollars 
per  Ion,  the  iron  to  cost  twelve  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  one  hundred 
pounds,  the  vessel  to  be  heavily  timbered,  and  the  gun-deck  to  be  of 
white  oak  and  yellow  pine. 

In  1819,  George  F.  Patten  &  Brothers  built  the  brig  Statirn,  of 
one  hundred  and  eighty-three  tons,  at  Muddy  River,  'I  opsham. 

About  1820  there  were  in  the  neighborhood  of  1 ,000  tons  of  shipping 
in  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  and  about  2,000  tons  in  Harpswell, 
besides  numerous  small  fishing-vessels.  On  September  20,  of  this 
vear,  the  shipping  list  of  the  Maine  IntelWjevcer  contained  the  an- 
nouncement of  the  arrival  at  Bninswick  of  the  brig  Ameriof^  Otis, 
from  Martinique,  with  one  hundred  and  forty-six  hogsheads  of  molasses 
consigned  to  the  owners,  Messrs.  Dun  lap  ;  of  the  sloop  Eliza  ^  Douglas 
(regular  packet) ,  from  Boston ;  of  the  brig  Maine^  S^ivester,  with  a 
cargo  of  molasses  and  sugar,  and  schooner  Susan  ^  Rodick,  from  the 
southward,  both  to  I).  Stone  and  others. 

The  brig  Maine  appears  to  have  been  a  regular  packet,  as  this  same 
list,  under  date  of  September  29,  mentions  its  arrival  from  Boston, 
together  with  the  sloop  Amhition^  with  freight  and  passengers.  A 
brig  also  arrived  the  same  day  from  Bath. 

A  wharf  was  built  about  this  time  on  the  New  Meadows  River,  and 
one,  seven  hundred  and  fifty  feet  in  length,  at  Maquoit.^ 

Penneirs  ship-3'ard,  at  Middle  Bay,  was  built  about  1822.  Wharves 
were  also  erected  on  the  west  side  of  Maquoit  Bay  about  this  time. 

In  \H'23  a  small  schooner  called  the  EUzaheth^  which  was  built  about 
1793  on  Sebascodegan  Island,  was  cast  awa}*  at  the  southern  part  of 
Condy's  Point  in  the  month  of  February.  The  crew,  consisting  of  four 
men,  were  all  badly  frost-bitten.  'I  hey  were  taken  care  of  by  the  good 
people  on  the  island  until  they  were  suflilciently  recovered  to  go  to 
their  homes  in  Massachusetts.  The  schooner  was  loaded  with  fruit, 
groceries,  and  spirit. 

1  Putnam,  Description  of  Brunwcick, 


334        UISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL, 

About  the  same  year  a  vessel  was  built  at  Durham  and  hauled  over 
land  to  Maquoit.  It  was  built  b}*  a  person  of  doubtful  gender,  who  at 
first  wore  woman's  apparel  and  afterwards  changed  tliem  for  man's, 
and  who  was  at  first  called  Hannah,  but  afterwards  Stover. 

Not  far  from  this  time  Mr.  Robert  Labish  built  a  vessel  of  about 
four  hundreil  tons  in  Topsham.  He  had  his  lumber  all  read}'  at  Lisbon 
to  be  conveyed  to  Topsham,  but  tlie  winter  being  mild  and  the  roads 
bare,  he  was  unable  to  have  it  carried  where  he  wished.  Being  a  man 
of  energy  and  detenni nation,  he  went  with  a  party  of  men,  and,  guided 
by  a  compass,  cut  a  road  through  the  woods  to  Lisbon,  and  hauled  his 
timber  through  it.  This  road  (not  a  highway)  is  still  in  existence*, 
and  is  called  Labish's  Road. 

In  the  winter  of  182-1,  Mr.  Go<lfrey,  of  Topsham,  built  a  vessel  in 
Lisbon  and  had  it  conve\'ed  on  runners  to  Topsham,  where  it  was 
launched.  The  experiment  was  a  costly  one,  as  the  expense  of  get- 
ting her  to  Topsham  more  than  offset  the  cheapness  of  the  materials 
at  Lisbon. 

October  11,  1825,  the  sloop  Ambition,  owned  b}' Samuel  Lemont,  of 
Brunswick,  and  commanded  by  a  Captain  Perkins,  went  ashore  at 
Sandy  Bay,  on  Cape  Ann,  Massachusetts,  on  her  way  to  Brunswick, 
and  went  to  pieces.  She  had  a  full  cargo  of  dry  goods,  valued  at 
$10,000,  none  of  which  was  insureil.  A  part  was  saved,  however, 
in  a  damaged  comlition.  The  goods  were  for  Messrs.  Stone  6c  Morse, 
E.  Karlc  &  Co.,  O.  Nichols,  and  William  Snowdon,  of  Brunswick, 
J.  Dwinal,  of  Lisbon,  and  the  Maine  Cotton  and  Woollen  Factory, 
of  Brunswick. 

March  27,  1830,  during  a  severe  northeast  snow-stonn,  several 
sloops  in  Maquoit  Bay  were  stranded  and  a  portion  of  the  wharf  there 
was  carried  awav. 

What  is  known  now  as  the  New  Wharf  Ship- Yard  was  first  used  as 
such  in  1830.  The  new  wharf  itself  was  built  in  1837,  by  Captain 
Anthony  Chase,  Captain  William  Stanwood,  Israel  Simpson,  Samuel 
Dunning,  Captain  Robert  Simpson,  Captain  .John  Given,  David  Dun- 
lap,  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  and  Stone  &  Morse. ^  Its  cost  was 
between  83,000  and  $4,000. 

The  earliest  reference  to  what  is  known  as  the  Alfred  White  Ship- 
Yard,  in  Topsham,  is  in  1842.  On  October  8,  of  that  3'ear,  the  brig 
Bernards,  of  one  hundred  and  sixty  tons,  owned  by  B.  C.  Bailey-,  of 
Bath,  was  launched  there. 

^Samuel  Dunniny. 


STAGES,  RAILROADS,  NAVIGATION,  ETC.  335 

The  first  regular  packet  vessel,  excepting  tliose  under  the  control 
of  the  proprietors,  is  believed  to  have  been  the  sloop  Friendship,  In 
Maj,  1814,  she  was  advertised  to  ply  between  Portland,  Harps  well, 
Bath,  and  Bninswick,  coming  up  the  New  Meadows  River  to  the  Turn- 
pike bridge,  until  she  could  have  permission  to  go  round  Small  Point, 
and  then  she  was  to  run  to  Hallowell  and  Augusta,  as  usual.  ^  She 
was,  possibly,  debarred  from  going  up  the  Kennebec  in  consequence  of 
the  smuggling  carried  on  at  that  time  beweeu  Augusta  and  Castine, 
the  latter  being  then  under  British  authority. 

The  next  packet  to  which  any  reference  has  been  found  was  the 
sloop  Caroline^  Skolfield,  master,  which  was  advertised  on  September 
9,  1824,  to  sail  from  Brunswick  for  Norfolk  and  Baltimore.  She  had 
*•'  su|>erior  accommodations  for  eight  or  ten  passengers." 

On  April  1,  1829,  the  sloop  II(*pe^  Captain  Connelly,  having  been 
completely  repaired,  was  advertised  to  ply  regularly  between  Bourne's 
Wharf,  at  New  Meadows,  and  Boston.  The  Hope  continued  on  this 
route  for  several  years. 

On  March  24,  1830,  the  packet  Maquoit,  Captain  Anthony  Chase, 
was  advertised  to  ply  between  Brunswick  and  Portland.  At  the  same 
time  the  sloop  Orlando,  Captain  Dunning,  was  advertised  to  go  be- 
tween Maquoit  and  Boston. 

March  7,  1834,  the  sloop  Union,  Captain  Jordan  Woodward,  was 
advertised  to  make  regular  trips  between  ISIaquoit  and  Boston.  In 
1836  the  schooner  Boston  took  her  place  on  this  route. 

In  1842  the  "  new  and  splendid  "  schooner  Alice,  Captain  Robert 
Chase,  made  i*egular  trips  between  Brunswick  and  Boston,  touching 
at  Portland.  Her  first  trip  was  on  May  fourth.  She  was  built 
expressly  for  this  route  and  contained  ••'  superior  accommodations  for 
passengers."  On  June  filleenth,  of  the  same  year,  an  opposition 
packet,  the  schooner  Acconiniodatim,  Captain  Anthony  Morse,  was 
put  u|>on  the  same  route. 

Some  uncertainty  exists  as  to  tlie  first  steamer  which  ever  made  its 
ap|)earance  on  the  Androscoggin.  Mr.  Dean  Swift,  who  has  an 
excellent  memory*,  and  whose  statements  relative  to  many  other  events 
have  been  proved  by  recorded  facts  to  be  remarkably  correct,  sa^'s 
that  the  first  steamer  was  a  small,  flat-bottomed  one  that  was  built 
about  1819,  in  Wiscasset,  by  a  lawyer  of  the  name  of  Gordon ;  that 
he  came  up  the  Androscoggin  in  this  little  steatn^r,  and  then  returned 
to  Wiscasset  with  her.     Mr.  Swift  says,  furthermore,  that  a  vear  or 


^North's  History  of  Auf/uMa,  p.  417. 


336      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsuam. 


^A<^ 


two  later  Gordon  built  another  small,  flat-bottomed  steamboat  at 
Brunswick,  and  went  with  her  to  Hallowell  and  thence  to  Bath,  where 
he  sold  her  to  Jere  Hunt,  who  took  her  to  New  Meadows,  cut  her  in 
two,  and  made  two  gondolas  of  her.  This  statement  is  undoubtedly 
substantially  correct.  Mr.  Samuel  Dunning,  however,  thinks  Gordon 
built  his  steamer  on  the  Androscoggin  as  early  as  1816,  and  he  is 
positive  that  it  was  sold  to  the  owners  of  Maquoit  Wharf,  and  not  to 
Mr.  Hunt 

Lemont  ^  says  that  the  first  steamer  which  ever  went  up  the  Ken- 
nebec was  the  Torn  Ihumb.  He  says  she  was  brought  down  from 
Boston  in  tow  of  a  packet  in  1818,  and  steamed  up  the  river;  that 
she  was  an  open  boat,  about  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  long,  with  side 
wheels  and  with  her  machinery  all  in  sight.  He  saj's,  further,  that 
the  second  steamer  was  fitted  up  on  Governor  King's  Wharf,  in  Bath, 
in  1822,  and  that  she  was  a  flat-bottomed  lx)at,  and  was  called  the 
Kennebec, 

This  statement  conflicts  with  that  of  Mr.  Swift  only  so  far  as  relates 
to  the  Kennebec  River.  Ver}'  likely  the  Tom  Thumb  was  the  first 
steamer  to  ascend  the  Kennebec,  and  the  fact  of  a  steamer  coming 
fix>m  Wiscasset  to  Brunswick  and  Topsham  a  year  later  may  not  have 
come  to  the  knowledge  of  Mr.  Lemont. 

In  1823  the  steamer  Pattnt^  Captain  Porter,  which  had  just  been 
put  on  the  route  between  Boston  and  Bath,^  touched  at  Pennell's 
Wharf  at  Commencement  time  at  Bowdoin  College.  In  1824  ^  she  ran 
between  Boston  and  St.  John,  Nova  Scotia.  In  1825^  she  was  adver- 
tised to  run  between  New  Wharf,  in  Brunswick,  and  Portland.  It  is 
thought  she  made  but  a  few  trips  to  New  Wharf  before  her  landing- 
place  was  changed  to  Bourne's  Wharf,  at  New  Meadows,  where  a 
stage  for  Bath  connecteil  with  her.^ 

The  first  and  oulj-  steamboat  that  ever  made  regular  trips  to  Middle 
Bay  was  the  Flushing^  Captain  Robert  Chase,  wliich  plied  regularly 
between  Portland  and  New  Wharf  from  1846  to  1849.  J.  S. 
Cushing  was  the  agent.  No  steamboat  is  known  to  have  ever  run 
regularl}'  from  Maquoit. 

The  steamboat  Rough  and  Ready  used  to  go  up  and  down  the 
Androscoggin,  about  1847,  on  excursions. 

On  May  12,  1855,  the  steamboat  Victor,  built  by  Master  Sampson, 
and  owned  by  John  R.  Ilebberd,  F.  T.  Littlefield,  and  Mr.  Woodside, 


1  HiMtorical  D<Ue$  of  Bath,  etc,,  pp.  71,  72.  •  Ibid, 

^history  of  Camden,  p.  153.  *  AdcertUement.  <  TradUional. 


STAGES,  RAILKOADS,  NAVIQA2I0N,  ETC,  337 

was  launched  at  Topsham.  She  was  well  modelled  and  thoroughly 
built,  was  eightj^  feet  long  and  twenty-four  feet  beam.  Her  engine 
was  rated  at  forty  horee-power.  John  R.  Ilebberd  commanded  her. 
She  was  intended  for  pleasure  excursions  and  for  a  tow-boat.  She 
made  her  first  pleasure  trip  about  the  first  of  June.  She  was  the  first 
steamboat  ever  built  in  Topsham,  and  the  second  built  on  the 
Androsco^n. 

In  1856  the  pleasure-boat  Elijah  Kellngg^  twenty-two  feet  in  keel 
and  seven  feet  in  beam,  built  by  John  Given,  was  advertised  to  take 
pleasure  parties  from  Pennell's  or  Chase's  Wharf.  She  was  built 
expressly  for  this  business,  and  is  thought  to  be  the  first  of  the  kind 
built  here.  There  are  numerous  pleasure-j'achts  owned  here  at  the 
present  day. 

TELEGRAPH. 

The  first  movement  for  a  telegraph  ofl3ce  in  Brunswick  was  in  1853. 
On  August  6,  of  that  year,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  Tontine  Hotel 
to  take  some  action  relative  to  securing  the  establishment  of  a  tele- 
graph ofl3ce  in  the  town.  Ilemarks  were  made  by  General  A.  B. 
Thompson,  Honorable  C.  J.  Gilman,  and  General  J.  C.  Humphre3's. 
Messrs.  W.  G.  Barrows,  C.  J.  Noves,  and  T.  S.  McLellan  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  procure  the  necessary  information  upon 
which  to  proceed,  and  the  meeting  adjourned  to  be  called  together 
again  by  the  chairman,  Colonel  A.  J.  Stone,  whenever  the  committee 
were  ready  to  report.  There  is  no  report  of  another  meeting,  but  the 
exertions  of  this  committee  undoubtedly  led  the  wa}'  to  the  establish- 
ment of  an  ofiUce  in  town.  The  telegraph  office  was  opened  for  the 
first  time  to  the  public  in  Brunswick,  in  January,  1854. 

I  he  line  was  owned  by  the  ]Maine  Telegraph  Company,  and  its  wires 
extended  from  Boston  to  Calais.  This  line  was  afterwards  leased  to 
the  American  Telegraph  Company,  and  still  later  to  the  Western 
Union  Telegraph  Company. 

The  first  operator  in  Brunswick  was  M.  H.  Prescott.  The  oflSce 
was  situated  on  the  corner  of  Maine  Street  and  the  depot  grounds. 
It  was  afterwards  removed  to  the  depot,  where,  with  the  exception 
of  a  single  year,  it  has  remained. 

The  only  opi>osition  line  east  of  Portland,  previous  to  1877,  was 

that  of   the   International  Telegraph   Companj',    which    established 

an  office  in  Brunswick  in  1867.      In  1872  the  line  was  sold  to  the 

Western  Union  Company,  and  the  instruments  were  removed  to  their 

office. 

22 


338        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HASPS  WELL. 

In  1877  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  Telegraph  Company  opened  an 
office  in  Brunswick. 

EXPRESSES  AND  HACKS. 

Upon  the  completion  of  the  railroad  in  1849,  Carpenter  &  Co.  estab- 
lished an  express  route  and  opened  an  office  in  Brunswick  on  the  first 
day  of  August  of  that  year.  Mr.  A.  L.  Stan  wood  was  appointed 
agent,  and  the  office  was  in  his  store  under  the  Mason  Street  Church. 
Subsequentl}'  the  company  consolidated  with  other  companies  under 
the  name  of  the  Eastern  Express  Company.  In  1852  the  office  was 
moved  to  a  building  which  stood  on  the  lot  opposite  the  foot  of  the 
mail,  where  Eaton's  liamess-shop  is  now.  A  few  3'ears  later  the 
building  and  office  were  removed  to  their  present  location  adjoining 
the  Tontine  Hotel.  Mr.  Stan  wood  has  continued  the  agent  up  to  the 
present  time,  and  it  is  worth}'  of  record  that  during  all  this  time  he 
has  not  been  absent  from  duty  for  anj'  cause,  excepting  for  one  day 
about  the  year  1854. 

The  first  public  carriage  other  than  stages  was  run  to  the  depot  by 
a  Mr.  Bean,  upon  the  first  opening  of  the  road  in  1849,  and  for 
a  few  years  subsequently.  Mr.  Ephraim  Griffin  began  during  the 
same  year,  and  has  served  the  public  faithfully  as  a  hack  man  from  that 
time  to  the  present.  Other  persons  have  owned  or  driven  public 
carriages  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time. 


i 


BURIAL  PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS,  339 


CHAPTER  XI. 

BURIAL-PLACES    AND   EPITAPHS. 

"  I  WOULD  rather"  remarks  Edmund  Burke,  "  sleep  in  the  southern 
comer  of  a  little  country  churchyard  than  in  the  tomb  of  the  Cajndets" ; 
and  doubtless  the  same  sentiment  is  felt,  if  not  expressed,  by  many 
whose  departed  friends  repose  in  rural  graveyards. 

The  method  of  conducting  funerals  in  olden  times  was  substantial!}'  the 
same  as  at  present,  so  far  as  relates  to  the  performance  or  non-perform- 
ance of  religious  rites.  The  mode  of  carrying  the  remains  of  the  dead, 
however,  from  the  house  to  their  last  resting-place,  was  slightlj'  ditferent. 

Previous  to  the  introduction  of  the  first  hearse,  in  1818  in  Bruns- 
wick, and  still  later  in  Topsham  and  Harps  well,  bodies  were  carried 
to  the  grave  on  stretchers  and  the  colIin  covered  with  a  pall.  In 
lirunswick,  the  pall  was  kept,  at  one  time,  by  Airs.  Benjamin  Stone. 
Usually  eight  men  accompanied  the  corpse,  four  carrying  it  until  tired 
and  then  being  relieved  by  the  other  four.  The  stretchers,  or  biers, 
were  made  of  poles,  young  trees  with  the  bark  on,  and  were  discarded 
after  being  once  used.  They  were  not  made  for  permanent  use,  but 
were  hastily  made  for  each  occasion. 

Many  of  the  burying-grounds  in  this  vicinity  are  of  old  date.  The 
earliest  'one  in  Brunswick  of  which  there  is  an}'  record  or  tradition 
was  situated  about  midway  between  Bow  and  Mill  Streets,  fronting 
on  Maine  Street.  It  was  just  south  of  and  adjoining  the  stone  fort 
built  by  Governor  Andross  in  1689.  This  graveyard  was  used  for 
the  burial  of  the  dead  until  about  the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the 
town.  In  this  yard  was  the  stone  marking  the  burial-place  of  Ben- 
jamin Larrabee,  agent  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  one  of  the  com- 
manders of  Fort  George,  and  the  ancestor  of  the  Larrabees  now  liv- 
ing in  this  vicinity.  Here  also  were  the  gravestones  of  Robert  and 
Andrew  Duiming,  who  were  killed  by  the  Indians  at  Mason*s  rock. 
The  site  of  this  yard  is  now  covered  with  buildings. 

Another  graveyard,  probably  of  still  earlier  date,  though  nothing 
whatever  is  known  in  regard  to  it,  was  situated  on  what  is  now  a 
portion  of  Woodlawn  Street,  on  the  estate  of  Miss  Narcissa  Stone. 


340        mSlORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPifHAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

On  the  thirt3*-fir3t  of  May,  1856,  two  skeletons  were  exhumed  bj  the 
workmen  engaged  in  grading  the  street.  It  is  not  unreasonable  to 
suppose  that  these  were  the  remains  of  some  of  Purchase's  fishermen, 
and  if  so,  they  were  undoubtedly  the  first  white  people  buried  in  this 
\illage,  though  perhaps  not  the  first  in  the  town. 

The  old  graveyard  of  the  First  Parish,  Brunswick,  situated  one 
mile  south  of  the  colleges,  has  been  occupied  as  such  since  1735.  In 
this  burying-ground  are  many  stones  the  inscriptions  upon  which  are 
ill^ble,  and  in  some  instances  the  stones  themselves  have  crumbled 
to  pieces,  so  that  only  a  small  portion  of  each  one  remains.  Of  those 
which  can  be  deciphered  the  following  are  of  interest  on  account  of 
their  age,  the  quaintness  of  the  inscriptions,  or  the  character  of  those 
thev  commemorate :  — 

HERE    LYETH    THE    BO 
DY    o'    M*     ANDREW 
D  U  N  I N  G 

WHO    DEPARTED    THIS 
LIFE    JANUARY    THE 
18'«    ANNODOM 

17  3  6 
AGED    72    Y*«. 
1660  Charles  2'*  

1685  James  2^  i  r  fi  4  Lordoo 

1689  W-  &  Mary  1  0  b  4  1666   airnT 

1702  Queen  Ann 
17U  George  !•» 
1727  George  2^ 


Hkrr  lyes  Buried  the  Body  of 

SAMUEL  moody,  esq. 

one  of  his  Majesty's  Just««  of  y* 

Peace  for  the  County  of  York 

&  Commaudcr  of  his  Majesty s  Fort 

George  at  Brunswick  who  D'ceas'd 

Sept.  22-1758. 


SHcreb 

TO    THE    MEMORY    OF 

REV.   ROBERT   DUNLAP. 

First  settled  minister  of  Brunswick, 

Born  in  Ireland,  Aug.  1715 

£<lucated  in  Edinburgh ; 

Came  to  America,  June  1736 : 

Settled  at  Brunswick,  1747; 

Died  June  26,  1775, 

JEt.  60. 

"Behold  a  Sower  went  forth  to  bow." 


BURIAL-PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS,  341 

The  two  following  epitaphs  are  from  stones  in  the  old  Baptist  Bur}'- 
ing- Ground,  at  Maquoit.  This  graveyard  was  first  used  as  such 
about  1794. 

The  first  epitaph  reads  thus  :  — 

**  To  be  much  lov'd  in  life  mnch  moum*d  in  death, 
A  wldow'd  husband  of  a  wife  bereft, 
With  tears  inscribes  this  monamental  stone, 
Which  holds  her  ashes  and  expects  his  own.'* 

The  second  is  evidently  that  of  a  man  accustomed  to  serious  and 
deep  thought.     It  runs  thus :  — 

'*  This  languishing  head  is  at  rest, 
Its  thinking  and  aching  are  o*cr.'* 

The  old  burying-ground  at  New  Meadows  was  first  used  as  such 
some  time  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  It  contains  tlie  head- 
stones of  many  former  residents  of  that  part  of  the  town,  but  there 
are  none  that  require  particular  notice  lie  re. 

The  burying-ground  at  "  Growstown"  in  Brunswick  was  first  used 
about  1813.     The  following  inscriptions  are  found  in  it :  — 

|n  mtmor]2  of 

ELD   GEORGE   LAMB 

who  departed  tliis  life 
Dec  14  -  183G 

Mr.  Lamb  was  converted  to  God  at  the  age  of  15  and  engaged  in  the  minis- 
try at  the  age  of  23.     He  laboured  faithfully  in  his  Masters  service  25  years 
and  died  in  ftiU  assurance  of  a  blessed  immortality  beyond  the  grave. 
Remember  how  he  spake  unto  you  when  he  was  yet  with  you. 

The  following  epitaph,  which  appears  to  us  entitled  to  an  insertion 
here,  is  to  be  found  in  this  graveyard :  — 

**  Dear  husband  wliile  you  spill  your  tears 
In  numbering  o*cr  past  happy  years, 
But  yet  remember  while  you  weep, 
With  me  you  in  the  grave  must  sleep ; 
But  the  last  trumpet  we  shall  hear, 
Before  our  God  we  must  appear, 
And  then  with  Jesus  we  shall  reign 
And  never  part  nor  weep  again." 

Pine  Grove  Cemetery,  in  the  village  of  Brunswick,  a  short  dis- 
tance east  of  the  colleges,  was  laid  out  in  the  year  1825.     The  land 


342        JUSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWKLI^ 

originally  was  a  part  of  the  college  grounds,  but  in  1821  it  was 
deeded,  by  vote  of  the  tnistees,  to  Robert  Eastman,  Nahum  Hough- 
ton, Abner  Bourne,  "  and  their  associates,  heirs,  executors,  admin- 
istrators, or  assigns,"  so  long  as  it  should  be  used  for  the  interment 
of  the  dead,  and  if  not  so  used,  to  revert  to  the  college.  The  amount 
of  land  thus  deeded  was  two  acres,  which  was  bounded  as  follows, 
*'  Beginning  at  the  southwesterly  side  of  the  old  County  Koad  lead- 
ing to  Bath,  at  a  strike  and  stone  at  or  near  the  angle  which  it 
makes  with  the  Bath  turnpike,  and  running  by  said  turnpike  west 
20°,  north  12  rods,  thence  south  20°,  west  26$  rods,  thence  east  20°, 
south  12  rods,  and  thence  north  20°,  east  2GJ  rods  to  the  first 
l>oundary."  The  tnistees  also  reserved  the  exclusive  right  at  all 
times  to  hold  as  a  place  of  interment  for  the  dead  '*"  that  pait  of  the 
premises  extending  from  said  turnpike  road  on  the  westerly  line  of 
said  lot,  eighteen  rods  in  length,  and  one  and  a  half  rods  in  breadth,*' 
subject  only  to  such  general  regulations  as  should  be  binding  upon 
other  owners  of  lots.  ^ 

This  cemetery  is  pleasantly  situated,  with  handsome  grounds  and 
walks,  which  are  kept  in  gooil  onler ;  it  is  enclosed  with  a  neat  and 
ornamental  fence,  and  contains  many  handsome  monuments  and 
memorial  tablets.  ISIajor  Lemuel  Swift  was  the  first  person  burie<l 
here.  Among  the  monuments  and  headstones  to  be  seen  there  an» 
those  of  Presidents  IMcKeen  and  Appleton ;  Professors  Cleaveland, 
I'pham,  and  Smyth  ;  and  Governor  Dunlap. 

The  tomb  of  President  McKeen  is  in  the  extreme  northwestern 
angle  of  the  cemeterj',  the  head  toward  Bath  Street.  In  form,  this 
tomb  is  an  oblong  rectangle,  covering  the  grave,  and  about  three  feet 
in  height.  The  i>edestal  is  of  Egyptian  marble,  and  is  sunnounted  by 
a  heav}'  slab  of  white  marble,  which  l>ears  the  following  inscriptiou  :  — 

11.   S.  E. 

QrOT)   MOKTALE   Fl'IT 
ViRI   ADMODUM   ReVEUEXDI, 

DNI  JOSEPHI   McKEEX,    S.   T.    1). 

AC   COLLEGII   BOWDOIXEN'SIS   rH.I':SIl>LS  PrIMI. 

Natus  est  Octob*  dii'  XW  Auno  Dom.  MDCCLVIl, 
in  UopublicA  Nec>-IlautoiiicM)si, 
ubi  priino  in  Uteris  liiiniunioribus  iiistitutus, 
honorcs  ntti^it  Academicos. 


1  Fmm  orif/iiuil  deed. 


BURIAL-PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS.  343 

Postea  Verbi  Divini  ministerio  apnd  Beverleam, 

in  Republic&  Massachusettensi, 

annos  scptciidccim 

strenu^  juxta,  ac  ))eiiigiie  perftinctus  est. 

Novissim^  autem,  Nostratium  omnium  favore, 

ac  pra?cipu^  doctornra  piornmque, 

Collegium  hie  loci  auspicato  Aindatum, 

quinque  vix  annos, 

eA,  quA  par  est,  dignitate  et  sapeutiA, 

fldeliter,  feliciter  rexit ; 

donee,  morbo  Ilydropico  irapedltus, 

JuIiidieXV?  Ann.  MDCCCVIT,  in  Domino  abdormlvit. 

Ingenio  ftiit  sagaci,  judicio  imprimis  acerrimo, 

priscorum  temporum  gravitate  aemulus, 

moribus  autem  facllls, 

et  benevolently  omnlno  Christianus. 

Pletatem,  doctrinam,  artes  optimas, 

quoniam  gnavlter  excolebat  ipse, 

In  allis  semper  amavit,  et  quoad  potuit,  auxlt. 

M.   S. 

Monumentum  hocce, 

luctus,  eheu  I  solamcn  leve, 

at  testimonium  tamen, 

Senatvs  Academicvs, 

P.   C.» 

In  the  adjoining  lot  south  is  the  monument  of  President  Appleton. 
Its  form  is  the  same  as  that  of  President  ^IcKeen.  The  following  is 
the  inscription :  — 


'  Here  U  buried  what  teas  mortal  of  the  reverend  and  most  learned  man^  Joseph 
McKeen^  S.  T.  Z>.,  the  first  president  of  Bowdoin  Colletje.  He  was  born  October  15, 
A  I).  1742.  in  the  State  of  Neic  Hampshire,  where,  first  of  all,  instructed  in  sectdar 
learning,  he  attained  academic  honors.  Afterwards  lie  discharged,  actively  as  well  as 
kindly,  the  duty  of  a  minister  of  the  Gospel,  at  Beverly,  in  the  Commonwealth  of  Atassa- 
rhusetts,  for  seventeen  years.  But  lately,  a  college  having  been  auspiciously  founded 
here  in  this  town,  not  quite  five  years,  with  the  a])probation  of  all  our  countrymen,  and 
especially  of  the  educated  and  pious,  he  presided  over  it,  as  is  meet,  with  dignity  and 
visdom,  faithfully  and  fortunateAyj  untilj  embarrassed  by  a  dropsical  disease,  on  t/ie 
fifteenth  day  of  July,  in  the  year  1807,  lie  fell  asleep  in  the  Ijord.  He  was  a  Christian  of 
sagacious  mind,  of  especially  acute  discernment,  in  dignity  emulous  of  former  times,  but 
courteous  in  manner  and  uniformly  kind.  He  always  loved  in  others,  as  he  himself 
diligently  cultivated,  piety,  education,  the  best  occupations,  and,  so  far  as  he  could,  he 
promoted  tfiem.  Sacred  to  the  m^imory,  Tliis  monutnent  of  grief,  alas  !  slight  consolation, 
but  yet  a  testimony,  the  Academic  Council  have  caused  to  be  placed. 


344      msTORT  OF  brvnswjck,  topsham,  and  harpswell, 

Huic  tomnlo  mandantur  reliquis 

REV.   JESSE    APPLETON,    S.  T.    D. 

Mariti  Dksidekatissimi.    Patris  Optimi. 

Almeque  Nostra  Academije 
Secuxdi  Presidis. 

Vlr  fUit  ingenii  acumine  insiguis^.  moribus 

compositis,  ac  aspectu  benigno, 

majestatcm  quondam  prss 

se  ferente ; 

6cd  morti  inexorabili  nihil  est  sanctum. 

Eruditionc  magna, 

inter  literatorum  priucipes  justissime  collocandns ; 

at  tlieologicce  scientite  lauream  praicipue  meritus : 

line  enim,  quo  homines  audeant, 

cognovit  et  teutavit. 

Integra  fide,  disciplinaque  salutari, 

duodecim  annos, 

res  Academlcas  adminlstravit. 

Nimiis  tandem  vigilils  laboribusquc  consumptus, 

sublimii  ejus  animo  sapeniis  intento, 

ad  quietem  se  contullt. 

Ita  vixit,  ut  omnes  moribund!,  sic  se  vixlsse, 

velint ;  ita  mortuus  est, 

ut  omnes,  sic  se  morituros  esse,  optarent  : 

tameu  volult  inscribi,  se  salutem  sperasse  in  Jesu. 

Natus  est  Novem  *•  die  17™® 

Anno  Domini  MDCCI^XII. 

Obiit  Novem  »■  die  li**?®  Anno 

Domini  MDCCCXIX.» 

On  the  soutU  end  of  the  tomb  is  inscribed :  — 

Seuatus  Academiae  Bowdoineusis, 

summa  reverentla, 

hoc  monumentum  posueniut.* 


>  To  this  tomb  are  committed  the  remains  of  Reverend  Jesse  Appleton^  S.  T.  D.  The 
most  regretted  husband,  the  best  father,  and  the  revered  second  president  of  our  college. 
He  was  a  man  distinguished  by  acuteness  of  mind,  composed  manners,  and  benign  asptct, 
occasionally  manifesting  dignity  :  but  nothing  is  sacred  to  inexorable  deat/i.  Of  great 
emdition,  most  justly  placed  atnongst  the  first  of  teachers,  but  especially  deserving  the 
laurel  in  theological  knowledge:  for  this,  where  men  may  presume,  he  eiamineil  and 
tested.  He  administered  the  affairs  of  the  college  with  incorruptible  fidelity  and  with 
salutary  discipline  for  twelve  years.  At  length,  worn  out  by  excessive  vigils  and  labors, 
his  exalted  mindjixed  upon  celestial  things,  fie  betook  himself  to  rest.  He  so  lived  as  all 
who  are  at  the  point  of  death  may  wish  themselves  to  have  lived :  thus  he  died,  as  all 
themselves  about  to  die  might  desire.  Yet  he  wished  it  to  be  inscribed  that  Tie  hoped  for 
salvation  in  Jesus,    He  was  born  November  17,  1772.    He  died  November  12,  1819. 

2  The  trustees  and  overseers  of  Bowdoin  College,  with  the  greatest  reverence,  hare 
erected  this  monument. 


BURIAL-PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS,  345 

In  the  third  lot  south  of  President  Appleton's  is  the  monument  of 
Professor  Smyth.  It  is  a  heavy,  rectangular  pillar  of  granite,  about 
ten  feet  in  height.  The  pedestal  bears  the  family  name,  while  on  the 
Dorthem  side  of  the  shaft  is  the  following  insciiption :  — 

WILLIAM   SMYTH 
born  Feb.  2d  1797,  died  April  4th  1868. 

Below  this  is  the  name  of  his  wife,  with  tlie  date  of  her  birth  and 
death,  and  on  the  eastern  side  is  a  record  of  the  names  and  dates  of 
birth  and  death  of  several  children. 

The  second  lot  south  of  Professor  Smyth's  contains  the  monument 
of  Professor  Cleaveland,  a  plain  yet  elegant  granite  sarcophagus.  On 
the  eastern  side  it  bears  the  words  "  Parker  Cleaveland"  ;  on  the  south 
end  is  the  date  of  his  birth,  1 780,  while  on  the  north  is  that  of  his  death, 
lHo2.  Two  headstones  of  white  marble,  one  upon  the  east  and  one 
ui)on  the  west,  mark  the  resting-places  of  wife  and  daughter. 

The  monument  of  Professor  Upham  stands  in  the  next  lot  south- 
ward of  Professor  Cleaveland's.  This  also,  like  the  two  last,  is  of 
plain  granite,  and  is  in  form  an  obelisk.  The  pedestal  is  propor- 
tionately large,  and  bears  on  the  western  side  the  initials  T.  C.  U. ; 
while  on  the  south  side  is  the  date  of  birth,  1799,  and  on  the  north 
are  the  figures  1872,  the  date  of  his  death.  The  plinth  bears  the  fam- 
ily name  in  distinct  raised  letters. 

The  Dunlap  monument  is  situated  near  the  principal  entrance  to  the 
cemeter}'.  It  consists  of  a  base,  sub-base,  plinth,  die,  —  with  three 
marble  tablets  inserted,  —  cap,  and  bust  of  Dunlap.  It  is,  without  the 
bust,  ten  feet,  four  inches  high,  and  of  granite,  though  the  bust  is  of 
marble.  It  was  made  b}*  Simmons.  Upon  the  north  tablet  is  the 
following  inscription :  — 

So  t^e  S^tmorg 

of 

ROBERT  PINCKNEY   DUNLAP, 

who  was  three  times 

Grand  Mastku 

of  the 

Ghani)  Lodge  of  Maine, 
and 

filled  the  highest  places  lu  the 
Masonic  Fraternity 
of  the  State  and  the 
United  States,  v 


346        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWJCK,  TOPSHAM,  and  HARP8WELL. 

This  roonument  is  erected  by  the 
Free  Masons 

of  the 

State  of  Maine. 
They  knew  his  virtnes ; 
They  honor  his  memory. 

On  the  west  side :  — 

ROBERT  P.   DUNLAP 

was 

Governor  of  Maine 

from  1834  to  1838. 

He  had  been 

Representative,  Senator,  and 

twice  President  of  the  Senate, 

in  the  State  Legislature; 

and  Executive  Councillor ;  and  was 

afterwards  representative  in 

Congress  and  Collector  of  the 

Port  of  Portland. 

He  honored 

every  position  he  \\x\s  called  to  fill 

by  an  able  and  faithful  discharge 

of  its  duties. 

The  State 

gives  to  his  memory-  the  tribute 

of  its  respect  by  inscribing 

upon  this  tablet  its  grateftil 

recollection  of  his  many  virtues 

and  its  high  appreciation  of 

his  public  services. 

On  the  east  side  is  the  following :  — 

DEAREST 

TO  THE  nearest: 

BEST 

TO  TIIEM   WHO  KNEW   11 IM   BEST. 

In  Christ  here : 

With  Christ  forever. 

Died 

Oct.  20,  1859. 

JEt.  Go. 

Inscribed 

by  wife  and  children 

in  loving  and  reverent 

remembrance. 

One  of  the  oldest  graveyards  in  town  is  that  at  New  Meadows  in 
the  wQods  near  Bartlett  Adams's,  where  rest  the  remains  of  several 


BURIAL  PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS.  347 

members  of  the  Thompson  family.  There  are  other  bur3ing  grounds 
in  Brunswick,  some  of  which  are  of  recent  dates  and  require  no 
particular  mention  in  these  pages. 

The  oldest  burying- ground  in  Topsham  of  which  there  are  now  any 
traces  was  in  the  vicinity  of  James  Mustard's  residence,  about  two 
miles  from  the  village  on  tlie  road  to  Merrymecting  Bay.  There  are 
but  three  or  four  stones  remaining.  They  are  of  slate,  and  are  in  a 
good  state  of  preservation.  They  are  in  the  woods  alK)ut  a  third  of  a 
mile  from  the  road.  The  earliest  date  given  uY>on  these  stones  is  1752, 
and  the  latest  1771. 

The  burying-ground  near  tlie  old  First  Parish  Meeting-IIouse  is  the 
oldest  in  this  town  of  which  there  is  any  record. 

In  1769  the  town  purchased  of  James  Hunter  "  the  land  on  the 
south  side  of  the  count}'  road  where  the  grave^'ard  is,"  pa^'ing  therefor 
three  pounds ;  and  the  same  3'ear  the  town  appropriated  £iy  (>«.  Hd, 
'•  for  fencing  the  graveyard,  nine  rods  square,  with  white  oak  or  cedar 
posts  and  good  boards,  with  a  good  gate,  with  a  lock  and  key,  the 
fence  to  be  five  feet  high."  There  are  a  few  stones,  the  inscriptions 
u|X)n  which  are  illegible,  whether  from  greater  age  or  poorer  slate  can- 
not be  determined.  The  earliest  date  to  be  found  upon  any  stone  is 
1769.  The  following  are  a  few  of  the  more  interesting  inscriptions  to 
be  found  in  this  burying  ground :  — 

IIic  Jacknt  Sepi'lta 

the  Kcmnins  of 

PHILIP   G.    HOYT   PHYSICIAN 

who  (lied  June  2^"  1790 

.fil'ATIS  36. 

I*m  to  this  silont  Grave  retired, 
Thouj^h  once  esteemed  and  desired ; 
All  human  ills  had  once  a  place, 
And  weighed  justly  in  this  breast, 
All  mortal  jy^riefs  arc  now  past  o'er, 
A  broken  heart  can  bleed  no  more. 

PaiLiP  Q-.  IIOYT'8  Epitaph  on  Himhelf  Nov  y*  2J'i  1789. 


jSacreb  to  t^e  mrmorg  of 

JOHN    REED    ESQUIRE, 

A   Capt  in  the  late  American  War  where  he  served  with  reputation  till 

oblipfcd  to  retire  in  consecpience  of  a  wound  received  in  an  action 

a   little   preceding  the   capture    of   Genl    Hurjroine    and 

array.      He    so  far  recovered  his    health    and 

activity  that  he  was  elected  to  and 

sustained  the  ottice  of  Lt. 

Col.  till  his  death. 


348      msiORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  habpswell. 

He  was  an  affectionate  Husband  and  Parent  and  his  hos- 
pitality endeared  him  to  many  who  mourned  his 
departure  which    was    suddenly,    in   a 
paroxism  of  the    cholic    on  the 
20th  day  of  Oct.  A.  I).  1797. 
Aged  50  years. 


LIEUT  JAMES  PURINTON 

Dec  7'*  1832 

Aged  90  years. 

One  of  the  revolutionar}'  oflicers  and  Staunch  supporters  of  the 

Republican  Constitution. 

Several  stones  bear  the  following  inscription  :  — 

Behold  and  see  as  yon  pass  by, 
As  you  are  now  so  once  was  I, 
As  I  am  now  so  you  must  be, 
Prepare  fur  death  and  follow  me. 

The  third  burjing-ground  in  Topsham,  in  point  of  age,  is  the  one 
about  a  mile  west  of  the  village,  where  the  first  Baptist  or  *'  old  yellow  " 
meeting-house  used  to  stand.  In  this  ground  are  the  remains  of  John 
Merrill,  Esquire,  Captain  Peletiah  Haley,  and  others  of  the  early  set- 
tlers who  lived  in  that  portion  of  the  town. 

There  was  formerly  a  private  burying-ground  on  what  was  known 
as  "'  Ferrj*  Point"  (the  point  of  land  at  the  Topsham  end  of  the  iron 
railroad  bridge).  Here  were  buried  the  remains  of  Brigadier-General 
Thompson  and  others  of  the  famil}-.  AVhen  the  railroad  was  laid  out, 
the  remains  were  removed  to  the  village  graveyanl,  those  of  Brigadier 
Thompson  being  placed  in  the  grave  with  his  son,  Humphrey  Thomp- 
son. 

The  village  bur}ing-ground  in  Topsham  was  laid  out  in  1825.  It 
is  owned  by  the  proprietors  of  the  lots.  The  unoccupied  laud  is 
owned  by  Mrs.  Susan  T.  Purinton.  Among  the  inscriptions  of  par- 
ticular interest  in  this  ground  are  the  following :  — 

ERECTED 

by  the  Baptist 
Church  in  Topsham 

Jn  SUinor{  of 

REV.   CHARLES  JOHNSON 

their  Pastor,  who  died 

Feb.  29,  1836 

in  the  aoth  year 

of  his  age. 


BURIAL-PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS.  349 

Behold  a  Chrintian's  grave  —  He  walked  with  God 
Iq  the  same  path  the  dear  Redeemer  trod ; 
He  loved  the  Church  and  prayed  for  Its  increase 
Lived  mach  belov*d  &  died  in  perfect  peace. 


to 

THR  MRMOBT  OF 

REV.    OLIVER  n.    QUINBY 

who,  having  zealously  proclaimed  a  AiU  and  t^ee  Salvation 
for  all  mankind  through  Christ,  for  nearly  two 
years,  fell  gently  asleep  in  the  arms  of 
Jesns,  at  his  residence  in  Lisbon, 
Jany.  23d  1842 
Aged  23  years. 

"  Glory  to  God  "  he  cried, 
Then  bowed  his  head  and  died. 
His  soul  was  borue  ou  angels  wings 
To  blissftil  rest,  where  seraphs  sing. 

There  are  four  graveyards  in  Harps  well,  one  upon  the  Neck,  one 
on  Great  Island,  one  upon  Orr's,  and  one  upon  Bailey's  Island,  the 
oldest  of  which  is  the  one  adjoining  the  old  First  Parish  Mceting- 
HoQse.  The  oldest  stone  in  this  j-ard  is  undecipherable.  It  was 
probably  placed  there  about  1758.  There  are  several  interesting 
gravestones  in  this  3'ard,  which  the  space  at  our  disposal  prevents  us 
from  gi^•ing.  We  insert  here,  however,  the  inscriptions  upon  the 
tombstones  of  the  first  pastor  of  that  church,  and  of  his  wife,  and 
also  of  William  McNess,  of  the  second  pastor  of  the  church,  and  of 
Deacon  Andrew  and  Benjamin  Dunning.  The  inscription  upon  Elisha 
Eaton's  stone  is  as  follows :  — 

HERE  LYES  INTEKllED  THE  DOI>Y  OF  THE 

Revd   MR.  ELISHA   EATON, 

first  Pastor  of  the  Church  in  HarpswcU  who 
triumphantly  Departed  this  Life  on 
the  22d  of  April,  A.   1).  1764. 
In  the  62d  Year  of  his  Age. 

Est  Commune  mori, 

Mors  nulU  Parcit  llonori, 

Neque  ulli  JEtatl 

Ergo.    Memento  Mori.* 


^TodkU  common^  death  tpcures  no  nobility  nor  any  age.    Ther^ore  remember  death. 


0        mSlORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8RAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

The  inscription  on  his  wife's  tombstone  is  :  — 

9*0  t^e  9P^emoT]|  of 

MR»  KATHARINE  EATON, 

The  virtuous  Relict  of  the  Rev.  Mt 
Elisha  Eaton,  who  Departed 
THIS  Life  April  12,  1767,  M.  61. 

Here,  Passenger,  confined  reduc'd  to  Dust, 
Lies  what  was  once  religious,  wise  &  just, 
Fixt,  in  deep  Slumbers  here  the  Dust  is  glv'n. 
Til  tlie  last  Trumpet  shakes  the  Frame  of  Heav'n, 
Then  ft^sh  to  Life  the  Waking  Saint  shall  rise, 
And  in  new  Triumphs  glitter  up  the  skies. 
Like  her  be  virtuous,  you  like  her  shall  shine, 
In  Bliss  above,  immortal  &  divine. 

The  inscriptions  upon  the  otlier  stones  are  as  follows :  — 

Here  Lies  Buried 

the  Body  of 

MR  WILLIAM   MACKNES, 

who  Departed 

this  Life  Maj' 

ye  i2tJ»    1782 

Age     103 

years  Old. 


THE   REV.    SAMUEL   EATON, 

2*    MlNISTEIt  OF  HaRPSWELL, 

bom  April  3  1737 

graduated  at  Harvard  College  1763 

Ordained  Oct  24,  1764, 

&  died  Xov.  5,  1822. 

in  the  86  year  of  his  age 

&  b^^  of  his  Ministry. 

Blessed  are  the  dead  who  die  in  the  Lord. 


Satitb  to  l^t  memory  of 

DEAC.   ANDREW   DUNNING, 

who  was  chosen  Deac.  of  the  Church  in  this  town,  June  17,  1767; 
which  office  he  filled  till  his  decease,  March  27,  1808.    -E.  81. 

His  life  was  useAiI  his  death  peaceful. 

Sleep  sweetly  in  the  grave  of  rest, 
Which  Christ  perftimed  and  also  blest 
Till  he  shall  call  thee  to  the  skies. 
Shall  bid  thy  sacred  dust  arise ! 

Survivors  walk  Christ's  path  as  straight 
And  enter  In  the  heavenly  gate. 


BURIAL-PLACES  AND  EPITAPHS,  351 

So  t^e  mrmorj  of 

BENJ'A   DUNNING  ESQ. 

who  with  the  atmost  composure  breathed  his  last  Jan.  8,  1808 
^t  71.    As  a  Husband,  Parent,  Christian,  and  civil  Mag- 
istrate he  was  conspicuous.    The  Town,  which  for 
many  3*ears  he  represented.  The  Board 
of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College, 
and  in  line,  civil  society,  are 
deprived  of  a  useful, 
wise  and  peaceAil 
member. 

But  tho'  his  loss  fills  us  with  grief  and  pain 

Our  loss  is  his  inestima])le  gain For 

Thro'  the  ethereal  blue,  his  soul  immortal. 
Borne  on  angelic  wings,  at  the  third  Heaven 
Arriv'd  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect, 
Joined  in  lofty  hallelujahs  to  the  sacred 
Time,  eternity  throughout. 

In  tbis  connection  it  is  proper  to  mention  the  discovery,  in  18G1,  of 
an  undoubted  Indian  burying-ground  in  IIaq)swcll.  It  is  on  the  farm 
of  Henry  Barnes,  on  the  eastern  side  of  Middle  Baj-,  near  the  shore. 
F\3urteen  skeletons  have  been  disinterred.  Tiiough  of  course  there  are 
no  headstones,  it  is  known  to  have  been  an  Indian  burying-place  b}- 
the  appearance  of  the  skeletons,  the  ornaments  found  on  or  near  them, 
its  vicinity  to  the  "  carrying- place,"  a  tradition- to  that  effect,  and 
lastly  by  the  testimony  of  a  party  of  seven  Penobscot  Indians  who 
once  stopi)e<l  there  on  their  way  to  Portland,  and  who  i)ointed  out  the 
six>t  as  an  Indian  burying-place  and  stated  that  there  was  once  an 
Indian  village  near  by. 


352        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


CHAPTER  XII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY   OF   BRUNSWICK. 
EARLY   PROVISIONS  FOR  PUBLIC  WORSHIP. 

The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts,  by  its  incorporation  of  the 
town  of  Lebanon  in  1733,  established  the  precedent,  which  it  has  gen- 
erally' followed  since,  of  requiring  towns,  when  incorporated,  to  set 
apart  three  lots,  one  for  the  ministry,  one  for  schools,  and  one  for  the 
first  settled  minister.^ 

Tlie  Pojepscot  proprietors  did  not,  however,  wait  for  any  legal 
enactment  of  this  kind,  but  very  early  set  apart  the  required  amount 
of  land  both  in  Brunswick  and  in  Topsham,  and  also  assisted  in  the 
erection  of  a  meeting-house  in  each  town. 

In  1715  they  voted  that  the  meeting-house  should  be  located  mid- 
way between  the  fort  and  Maquoit,  and  that  the  lots  for  the  ministry, 
the  first  minister,  and  the  school  be  the  centre  lots. 

In  1717  the  General  Court  voted  to  pay  seven  hundred  and 
fift}'  dollars  annually  for  missions  to  the  Indians,  with  board  and 
lodging  for  the  missionaries.  The  latter  were  accordingly  sent  to 
Brunswick  as  well  as  to  other  places, ^  It  was  probably  in  conse- 
quence of  the  above-mentioned  vote  tliat  on  October  3,  1717,  several 
of  the  '"prajing"  Indians  sent  a  petition  to  the  General  Court, 
''  That  }-•  Great  Governor  and  Councill  would  order  a  small  Praying- 
house  to  be  built  near  the  ffort  the  English  and  VS  to  meet  in  on 

Sabbath  days. 

"  Sabatis  [Mark] 

Warenowbe  [Mark] 

"Fort  George  at  Brcns^ick  Ueneque        [Mark]* 

Oct  y«  3  1717. 

John  Gyles,  Interpreter.^'* 

The  missionary  to  Maine  was  Reverend  Joseph  Baxter,  of  Med- 
field,  Massachusetts,  and  "'he  was  particularly  urged  to  use  his 
best  endeavors  to  bring  over  the  Indians  to  the  Christian  Faith."  ^ 


1  WaUamson,  History  of  Maine,  2,  p.  180.        «  Vamey*B  History  of  Maine,  p.  12a 
s  J/aM.  Archives  31,  p.  9i.  ^McKeen,  MS,  Lecture. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  353 

The  following  extracts  from  Mr.  Baxter's  diary  are  of  interest :  — 

'"  On  Satunlay,  August  24th,  [1717]  I  went  up  to  Brunswick,^  and 
the  next  day  preached  in  y*  fort,  and  3  of  y*  Indians  came  to  meeting 
in  y*  afternoon,  when  sermon  was  ended  I  repeated  the  heads  of  it, 
and  Capt :  Giles  interpreted  y"  to  y*  Indians,  &  they  seemed  to  be 
well  pleased  therewithal. 

"  On  Mondaj'  I  had  some  discourse  with  y*  Indians  to  shew  them 
y*  necessity  of  sanctifying  y*  sabbath  which  was  occasioned  hy  their 
shooting  a  gun  on  y*  Sabbath  day. 

''On  Saturday,  Aug.  31'*,  I  discoursed  with  several  Indians  at 
Bninswick  al)out  Religion,  and  the}'  seemed  to  be  ver}*  well  pleased 
with  my  discourse. 

*'  September  y*  1'*  I  preached  at  Bnmswick,  and  several  Indians 
came  to  hear  me.  Capt  Giles  inteipreted  to  them  y*  heads  of  y*  ser- 
mons, and  they  seemed  well  please<l  therewith. 

"'Octo*;  Cl*  I  preached  at  Brunswick  ami  staid  there  y*  ensuing 
week  &  preached  there  on  Octob.  13**"." 

'*  AVhile  I  was  at  Brunswick  I  was  informed  by  CaptP  Giles  y'  the 
Amberoscoggin  Indians  had  sent  a  Petition  to  y*  Geneial  Court  to 
have  a  Praying-house  built  for  them  at  Brunswick  to  meet  with  y* 
English.'' 

[1718.]  "January  19***  I  preached  at  Brunswick,  and  there  came 
3  Indians  to  meeting,  the  most  of  y*  Indians  being  gone  from  thence 
before  I  came  thither. 

-'  January  20*.'*  I  preached  at  Bninswick." 

"  April  20***  I  preached  at  Brunswick. 

''  April  23**.  I  discoursed  with  Three  Indians,  one  of  them  was 
inquisitive  about  things  in  Religion,  and  I  had  a  great  deal  of  dis- 
course with  him." 

''  April  y*  20*!*  an  Indian  came  to  desire  me  to  go  to  his  squaw  who 
was  ver}'  sick  &  like  to  die,  accordingly  I  went  to  her  with  Cap**  Giles, 
and  discoursed  with  her  about  v*  state  of  her  soul,  &  directed,  her 
how  to  get  prepared  for  death,  and  she  seemed  to  be  very  well  pleased 
witli  what  was  said  to  her. 

'*  April  y*  27*.**  I  preached  at  Brunswick."^ 

From  the  journal  above  referred  to  it  would  appear  that  Mr.  Baxter 
did  not  remove  to  Brunswick  with  his  family,  but  that  he  came  here 
upon  several  occasions  to  preach,  and  that  he  was  at  CJeorgetown 


^Fram  Oeoryetown, 

2  Baxtei'*8  Journal  in  MS.  in  Library  of  Maine  Historical  Society, 
23 


354        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

during  the  greater  portion  of  his  stay  in  Maine.  The  proprietors, 
however,  deeded  him  ''  the  second  Island  in  Pejepscot  River,  coming 
out  of  Merrymeeting  bay,"  and  he  took  up  lots  numbers  14  and  15  in 
Topsham,  which  were  afterwanls  sold  for  non-fulfllment  of  conditions. 
It  will  also  he  seen  a  little  farther  on  that  there  was  a  house  on 
lot  number  G  in  Bninswick  called  '*  Air.  Baxter's  house."  In  the 
absence  of  positive  information,  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  the  propri- 
etors built  a  house  for  him,  in  the  hopes  or  expectation  that  he  would 
settle  there. 

FIRST  PARISH. 

'I  he  first  action  in  religious  matters  taken  by  the  people  was  while 
Brunswick  was  a  parish  or  plantation,  under  the  Pejepscot  proprietors. 
It  api>ears  by  the  records  that :  — 

**Att  a  Leagual  Town  meeting  in  Brunswick  Novm**"  3**  1718,  It 
was  Voted  That  whereas  the  Proprietors  of  S**  Township  in  their 
paternal  Care  for  our  Spiritual  Goo<l,  have  by  there  Joyut  Letter 
Sought  to  v*  Reverend  M'  James  Wo<xlsidc  to  be  our  Minister  &  in 
onler  there  to  proposed  Conditions  for  his  Settlement  on  their  part. 
AVee  the  Inhabitance  of  Brunswick  will  Give  Fourty  pounds  pr  annum 
toward  y  support  of  y*  S**  Mr.  Woodside  &  a  Sum  in  proportion  there 
to  from  this  time  untill  May  next  (if  he  Come  to  us)  &  rio<l  in  his 
providence  Should  Then  part  us. 

*'  It  was  also  at  this  meeting  Voted  That  M*"  Baxters  house  on  y* 

r»***  Lott   in    Brunswick   Be   forthwith   made   habitable  for  v*  s**  Mr. 

AV<x>dside.     That  y*  Charges  there  of  y'  Transporting  him  &  his  fam- 

oly  from  Falmouth  to  Brunswick  be  paid  Equally  by  us  y*  inhabitance 

of  s'*  Biiniswick.ife  y*  Capt  (iyles  is  here  by  impowerod  to  se  y*  Buis- 

ness  effected. 

**  Joseph  Heath  Town  C'^'' 

The  first  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  was  probably  com- 
menced m  1710.  It  stood  about  a  mile  south  of  the  e<»lle<4es.  where 
the  old  burying-ground  is.  It  was  not,  however,  finished  for  several 
years,  and  it  is  probable  that  Mr.  Woodside  preached  in  the  fort. 

On  Mav  H,  17PJ,  it  was  vote<l.  that :  — 

'^AVhereas  the  Reverend  M*"  James  Woodside  for  Some  time  past, 
has  preached  to  us  in  order  to  his  Self  lenient,  some  of  us  not  being 
well  Sattisfied  with  his  Conversation,*  And  fhinking  It  most  ivas<m- 
y*  M'  Woodside  as  well  as  our  Selves  should  have  further  time 


*  Used  in  the  now  obsolete  sense  of  character. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  355 

for  consideration  in  so  weighty  an  affair,  Tlieirfore  it  is  voted  that  if 
M'  Woodside  please  to  Continue  preaching  to  us  Six  Moneths  Ix)nger 
he  Shall  receive  of  y*  town  after  y*  rate  of  £40  per  annum  provided 
those  of  us  who  are  Dissatisfied  with  his  Conversation  (as  afore  Said) 
Can  by  Treating  with  him  as  becomes  Christians  receive  Such  Sattis- 
faction  from  him  as  that  they  will  heare  him  preach  for  y*  Time 
afore  s^." 

He  did  not  give  sufficient  satisfaction,  for  "  Att  a  T^agual  Town 
Meeting  in  Bnmswick  Sept  10"*  1719  it  was  voted  that  whereas  the 
conversatipn  of  the  Reverend  Mr  James  woodside  is  Displeasing  to 
3*  most  of  us,  which  renders  us  unable  to  reverence  him  as  our  Minis- 
ter, therefore  wee  will  not  heare  him  any  Longer  as  such.  And  the 
Select  men  are  Impowered  &  Desired  to  grant  a  rate  &  Commit  it  to 
y*  Constable  to  Collect  So  y'  y'  S'*  Mr.  Woodside  may  be  paid  accord- 
ing to  our  agreement  with  him  viz.  after  y*  rate  of  £40  pounds  i)er 
annum  his  Time  to  begin  \''  2**  Day  of  Novem'  «fe  Continue  to  y"  Date 
of  this  vote  except  y*  several^  weeks  he  was  absent  on  his  own  buis- 
ness  at  Boston  «fe  elsewhere." 

[1721.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  settlers  held  May  6,  1721,  twelve 
pounds  was  assessed  upon  the  inhabitants  for  the  support  of  tlie 
Reverend  Isaac  Tajior,  who  agreed  with  the  proprietors  to  preach 
alternately  in  Brunswick  and  Topsham  for  one  year. 

[1730.]     In  1730  a  chaplain  was  allowed  at  Fort  George. 

The  first  minister  who  preached  here  after  the  incorporation  of  the 
town  was  Reverend  Robert  Rutherford.  In  the  petition  for  an  Act  of 
Incorporation  it  was  stated  that  the  people  had  obtained  "  a  pious 
and  orthodox  minister"  to  settle  with  them,  and  he  was  doubtless  the 
one  to  whom  reference  was  made,  as  he  commenced  liis  labors  here 
al)Out  173i3.  He  does  not  seem  to  have  liad  a  formal  call,  however, 
for  several  vears,  and  was  never  actuallv  settled. 

[1739.]  At  the  annual  town  meeting,  held  April  10,  1739,  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  make  an  arrangement  with  Mr.  Rutherford,  or 
if  he  should  decline  his  services,  to  agree  with  some  other  minister. 

At  a  meeting  held  the  following  July  it  was  voted,  "-That  the 
minister  should  preach  at  the  soutlieast  end  of  the  town  [New  Mead- 
ows] according  to  what  rates  and  taxes  the  residents  of  that  part  of 
the  town  should  pay  towards  the  support  of  the  Ministry."  At 
anotiicr  meeting  hel<l  in  September,  it  was  voted  '•  That  the  Reverend 
Mr.  Rutlierford  should  preach  at  the  east  part  of  the  town  as  nftm  as 


*  Several  or  nei'rn:  the  writhiu  h  ilUnihle. 


( 


356        HISTORY  OF  BRVXSWIVK,  TOPSHAM,  AXD  HARPSWELL. 

he  pleases J*^  A  vote  was  also  passe<l  "*  That  James  Hue  should  have 
the  one  half  of  the  two  hind  seats  to  make  a  Pew  of  on  the  southeast 
end  of  the  meeting-house." 

[1740.]  In  the  year  1740  the  town  appropriated  £150  for  Mr. 
RutlierfonVs  salarv.  and  also  voted  to  raise  £200  as  a  settlement,  '*  if 
he  lives  and  dies  minister  of  Brunswick/'  and  to  raise  £G6  138.  id. 
that  vear. 

[1 741 .]  The  town  appn>priated,  in  the  year  1 741 ,  £150  for  supiK)rt 
of  the  minister  and  £GC  towards  his  settlement.  The  proprietors  also 
this  vear  voteil  to  lav  out  a  "  ministrv*  lot"  of  one  hundreil  acres,  near 

ft  •  ft 

the  meeting-house,  on  the  south  side  of  the  road.  To  judge  from  tlie 
recoRl.  the  settlers  must  have  been  aceompanieil  at  church  ver}*  fre- 
quently by  their  canine  companions,  as  the  town  voted,  "That  earh 
pei*son  that  sutters  his  Dog  to  com  to  the  meeten-hose  one  the  Lonls 
Day  shall  forfet  the  sum  of  twelve  i)ence." 

[1742.]  Keverend  Mr.  Rutherfonl  closed  his  labors  here  early  in 
the  year  1742,  having  preached  in  town  for  alvout  seven  yeai*s.  "  In 
Fel>ruary  of  this  year  a  committee  was  ap[v>inted  by  the  town  to 
obtain  a  minister  to  preach,  on  probation,  with  a  view  to  settlement. 
This  committee  ihyes  not  seem  to  have  accomplished  much,  however, 
for  in  June  following  another  committt^e  was  chosen  •'  to  agree  with 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Jonathan  Pieqiont,  or  some  other  minister,  to  preach 
to  us  for  two  or  three  months." 

In  Septemlx*r,  the  town  vote<l  "  that  y*  Re\'^  Mr.  Sam"  Orsel>orne 
and  y*  Kev'*  Mr.  James  Morton  be  neither  of  them  imploye<l  in  the 
publick  w(H)rke  of  the  Ministrey  in  this  town  for  the  fughter."  -Anti  a 
new  committee  was  appointed  to  sv?cure  the  services  of  some  suitabU? 
''  orthmlox  "  mirtister  to  preach  on  probation  during  the  winter,  and  to 
l>e  permanently  8ettle<l  if  an  agreement  could  be  had  l.>etweeu  him  and 
the  town.  The  coininiltee  were  authorized  to  advance  £3  a  week  to 
the  minister  who  might  be  employed.  This  action  was  owing  to  the 
fact  that  there  was  a  conflict  between  the  eastern  and  western  i)ortions 
of  the  town  arising  from  ditt'erencvs  in  n»ligious  views,  and  the  town  at 
this  time  having  two  ministers  on  its  hands,  in  oixler  to  hannonize  mat- 
ters, voted  that  neither  of  them  should  be  employetl. 

The  i)eople  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  tt)wn  wore  principally  descend- 
ants of  the  first  settlers  of  New  England.  'I  hose  who  residini  in  the 
west  part  of  the  town  were  for  the  most  part  Scotch-Irish  Presbyte- 
rians. The  latter  forme  I  at  this  time  the  most  numerous  portion. 
The  people  of  New  ^leadows  wished  to  have  the  platform  of  the 
churches  at  York,  Berwick,  Kitterv*.  etc.,  and  ''  a  Mr.  Lumbers  [or 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  357 

Lombards],  a  busybody,  was  dispatched  for  a  cop}'  of  Mr.  Moody's 
plattbrm." » 

Besides  the  ministers  already  mentioned.  Reverends  Blowers,  Crum- 
Ine,  and  McClanathan  were  employed  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time. 
The  latter  not  only  preached,  but  taught  a  school  for  some  time^ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  at  Boston,  September  20, 
1742,  it  was  voted  that :  — 

'^  AVhereas  the  Town  of  Bninswick  is  at  present  destitute  of  a  min- 
ister, and  is  in  quest  of  another  minister.  That  Lott  Number  Eight 
on  the  South  easterly  side  of  the  Twelve  Rod  Road  leading  from  Fort 
Geoi^e  to  Maquoit  containing  one  hundred  acres  and  fifty  acres  more 
adjoining  to  it  on  the  south  westerly  side  of  said  Lott,  making  together 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres,  be  and  hereby  is  granted  to  the  First 
Learned  «fe  Orthodox  Minister  who  shall  be  Ordained  and  Settle  there 
&  shall  continue  in  the  Ministry  there  for  the  space  of  seven  years, 
if  he  shall  live  so  long,  to  be  to  him  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever. 
And  if  he  should  continue  in  the  Ministry  there  during  his  lifetime, 
though  he  should  dye  before  the  expiration  of  said  term  of  seven  years, 
to  be  to  his  Heirs  and  their  assigns  notwithstanding.  Otherwise  to 
revert  to  the  Proprietors." 

And  it  was  also  voted :  — 

*'  That  Lott  Number  Seven  ^  on  the  Southeasterly  side  of  the  Road 
be  &  hereby  is  granted  to  the  Town  of  Bninswick  for  a  ministry  Lott, 
containing  one  hundred  acres,  to  be  &  continue  for  said  use  forever. 
.  .  .  Both  the  above  granted  Lotts  lying  near  &  commodious  to 
the  meeting  house." 

In  November  of  this  j-ear  the  town  made  an  agreement  with  the 
Reverend  Mr.  Hodges,  of  Falmouth,  to  preach  for  five  or  six  months 
on  a  salary  of  £3  per  week. 

In  May,  Deacon  Samuel  Hincklej'  was  authorized  to  secure  a  minis- 
ter to  preach  on  probation,  with  a  view  to  settlement,  and  the  town 
paid  him  £6  ''  for  ten  days  going  after  a  minister  to  supply-  the  town." 
Some  question,  probably,  arising  about  this  time  as  to  whom  the  con- 
trol of  the  meeting-house  was  vested  in,  the  proprietors,  at  a  meeting 
held  in  Boston,  June  1,  1743, 

"  Voted^  Whereas  the  Proprietors  out  of  an  earnest  desire  to 
promote  the  preaching  of  the  Gospell  in  the  Town  of  Brunswick  did 
some  years  since  signify  to  the  Setlers  or  Inhabitants  of  said  Town, 


*  Pqfepscot  Papers.  2  75  id^ 

•  This  lot  had  been  previously  laid  out  for  this  purpose. 


358        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARf  SWELL 

i 

That  in  ca?»e  they  would  at  their  Charge  provide  &  raise  *he  Frame  of 
a  meeting  house  in  said  Town,  tlie  proprietors  would  at  their  Expence 
furnish  Glass,  Nails  &  other  Materials  <&  finish  the  said  meeting  house 
which  they  have  aeconlingly  done  :  It  is  therefore  now  agi"eed  &  Voted, 
That  the  sai<l  meeting  house  is  to  be  &  continue  to  the  use  of  the 
Inhabitants  of  said  Town,  for  carrying  on  the  publick  worship  of  God 
therein,  and  that  no  particular  Inhabitant  or  Inhabitants,  Proprietor 
or  Proprietors,  pretend  to  claim  the  same  for  their  particular  use  or 
projxerty  contrary  to  the  true  Intent  and  design  for  whidi  said  house 
was  erected,  or  to  the  Exclusion  of  anv  of  the  Inhabitants  from 
enjoying  the  lienefitt  of  said  House. 

•-  Provi<leil  Notwithstanding  that  the  Pew  on  the  Right  Side  of  the 
Front  Door  b?  &  remain  for  the  use  of  the  Proprietors  their  Heirs  & 
Assigns  &  wiiolly  at  our  Disposal." 

[1744.]  There  was  no  minister  settltMl  in  the  year  1744.  A  prop- 
osition was  made  in  Februarv,  however,  to  extend  a  call  to  Reverend 
James  Morton,  but  the  town  voted  in  the  negative.  In  March  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  procure  a  minister  to  supply  the  town  "'for 
some  time,"  on  as  reasonable  terms  as  possible. 

[1740.]  In  May,  1745,  Deacon  Samuel  Hinckley  was  selected  as 
an  agent  to  procure  a  minister,  but  he  not  meeting  with  success,  in 
Octol  er,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Stanwood  was  appointed  agent  for  that  pur- 
l>ose,  and  was  promised  forty  siiillings  for  his  services. 

[1746.]  In  Dec*ember,  1746,  the  town  voted  to  extend  an  invita- 
tion to  Reverend  Robert  Dunlap,  of  Sheepscot  Bridge,  New  Castle, 
Massachusetts,  to  preach  with  a  view  to  settlement,  and  the  selectmen 
were  instnicted  to  communicate  with  him  bv  letter,  and  Messrs. 
Rol>ert  Ciiven  and  Vincent  AVoodside  were  chosen  a  committee  to  go 
afler  him,  and  were  to  be  allowed  twelve  shillings  per  day  for  their 
services.  The  town  also  voted  to  pa}'  Mr.  Dunlaj)  £4  per  Sabbath, 
aiiil  a  committee  was  chosen  to  take  up  a  contribution  each  Sabbath 
to  help  pay  the  minister's  salar}'. 

[1747.]  In  March  of  the  following  year  the  town  voted  to  settle 
Mr.  Robert  Dunlap  at  a  salary-  of  £200  per  3'ear  (old  tenor),  and  with 
a  settlement  of  £200  "  when  the  war  is  over."  The  town  also  votiMl 
to  hire  a  house  for  his  uso  "  during  the  present  war,^  and  to  paj-  the 
charge." 

As  Mr.  Dunlap  was  a  'Presbyterian,  and  naturally  desired  to  be 
ordained  bj'  a  presbyter}',  and  there  being  none  nearer  than  London- 

1  Spanish  or  fifth  Indian. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IUST0R7  OF  BRUNSWICK.  359 

(IcTiT,^  it  was  mutually  agreed  between  him  and  the  town  tliat  the 
ordination  should  take  place  at  Boston,  and  Deacon  Samuel  Ilinckle}' 
and  Mr.  Ebenezer  Stanwood  were  apix)inted  commissioners  to  appear 
at  the  ordination  and  receive  Mr.  Duulap  in  behalf  of  the  town. 
The}'  were  allowed  £30  to  defray  the  cost  of  the  ordination  dinner, 
but  the  exi)enses  were  afterwards  found  to  amount  to  upwards  of  £60. 

The  ordination  took  place  in  Boston,  in  August  or  September,  in 
the  meeting-house  of  Reverend  Andrew  Le  Wercier,  minister  of  tiie 
Protestant  French  Church,  by  a  presbytery  composed  of  Reverend 
Mr.  Le  Mercier,  Reverend  Mr.  Morton,  of  Colrain,  Reverend  Mr. 
Davidson,  of  Londonderry,  Reverend  Mr.  Wilson,  and  Reverend  Mr. 
M.  Lothlius.9 

[1750.]  In  March,  1750,  the  town  voted  a  present  to  Mr.  Dunlap, 
of  £40  old  tenor,  and  in  May  there  was  raised  b}'  the  town  for  his 
salary  £26  13s.  Ad.  lawful  money,  and  £13  6s.  8rf..  to  be  given  as  a 
present,  and  the  same  amount  for  his  *'  settlement." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  this  year,  July  9,  it  was 
voted  by  them  to  dispose  of  the  vacant  land  at  New  Meadows,  and  to 
expend  the  money  thus  obtained  in  tinishiiig  the  meeting-house. 

A  note  at  the  bottom  of  the  records  says  that  this  assistance  was 
not  accepted  by  the  town. 

[1751.]  In  1751  the  town  voted  to  add  £13  65.  Sd.  lawful  money, 
to  Mr.  Dunlap*s  salary,  '*  providing  he  will  take  his  pay  in  such  specie 
as  the  town  can  pay  him  in,  at  the  market  price,  otherwise  Mr.  Dun- 
lap  must  adhere  to  his  first  agreement  with  the  town."  At  its  annual 
meeting  the  town  also  volcd  to  raise  for  his  salary  £40  lawful  money, 
**  in  such  specie  as  it  can  produce  in  lumber  at  the  market  price,"  and 
£8  in  cash. 

[1752.]  The  next  year  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  petition 
the  General  Court  to  have  Topsham  annexed  to  Brunswick  in  or<ler  to 
assist  in  maintaining  the  gospel,  *'  unless  the  inhabitants  of  Topsham 
will  bind  themselves  to  the  satisfaction  of  our  selectmen,  to  pay  the 
lieverend  Mr.  Dunlap  eight}'  pounds,  old  tenour,  this  year."  I  he 
Province  laws  at  this  time  allowed  the  taxing  of  adjacents,  which  had 
no  minister,  and  whose  people  attended  preaching  in  the  town  which 
taxed  them. 3 

The  town  also  this  year  voted  £40,  lawful  money,  for  his  snlary, 
''  to  be  paid  in  lumber,  landed  in  Boston  at  the  market  price,  where 


*  Pfjep^cot  Papers.  2  Grcenleafs  Ecdcaiastical  Sk^tcJies. 

«  McKeen,  MS.  Lecture. 


360        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

our  minister  shall  order,  two  thirds  to  be  delivered  there  bv  the  first 
day  of  October  next,  and  the  other  third  by  the  first  of  Ma}-  next." 
What  effect  the  petition  referred  to  above  had,  does  not  appear  from 
'  the  record,  but  in  all  probability  it  hastened  the  efforts  made  in  Tops- 
ham  to  settle  a  minister.  The  cause  of  this  petition  was  undoubtedly' 
due  to  the  fact  that  the  people  of  Topsham,  having  no  preaching  in 
their  own  town,  were  accustomed  to  attend  religious  services  in  Bruns- 
wick, without  contributing  their  due  share  towards  the  support  of  the 
same. 

[1754.]  This  year  the  proprietors  made  a  deed  to  Reverend  Mr. 
Dunlap  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  previousl}'  granted 
to  the  first  settled  minister.* 

[1755.]  About  this  time  a  meeting-house  was  built  at  the  east  end 
of  the  town,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  residents  of  that  locality. 
Before  the  erection  of  this  building,  Mr.  Dunlap  used  to  preach  in  that 
part  of  the  town  in  the  barn  of  James  Thompson ,2  which  stooii  where 
Bartlett  Adams  now  (1877)  lives.  During  the  war  with  the  Indians 
he  was  escorted  to  the  place  by  his  neighbors,  aniied.^ 

[1756.]  In  the  3'ear  1756  the  town,  in  addition  to  the  usual  ai)pro- 
priation  of  £40  for  the  minister's  salar}',  voted  to  pay  the  rent  of  his 
house  for  that  year. 

[1759.]  In  1759  the  town  voted  that  the  inhabitants  of  the  south- 
east part  of  the  township  should  have  preaching  every  second 
Sabbath. 

[1760.]  In  October,  1760,  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  town  to 
call  a  council  of  ministers  "to  decide  our  unhappy  diflTerences  with 
the  Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap."  The  council  consisted  of  Reverend 
Messrs.  Smith,  of  Falmouth,  Morrill,  of  Biddeford,  and  of  Revereml 
Mr.  Lorrain.  The  council  resulted  in  the  speed}'  dismission  of  Mr. 
Dunlap.  It  will  be  noticed  that  although  Mr.  Dunlap  was  a  Presb}'- 
terian,  yet  this  was  a  Congregational  council.  The  difficulties  on 
account  of  which  the  council  was  held  are  said  by  Greenleaf  ^  to  have 
been  in  regard  to  the  pa^-ment  of  his  salary.  McKeen,*  however, 
implies  that  he  was  dismissed  on  account  of  "  having  become  weak 
and  imbecile  in  mind  and  body,  owing  to  a  paralytic  shock."  That 
Greenleaf  was  correct  in  his  statement  is  evident  from  the  following 
communication  from  Mr.  Dunlap  to  the  town,  which  is  given  ver- 
batim :  — 


»  Brunswick  Records  in  Pcjcpscot  Collections, 

2  yfcKcen,  MS.  L^rture.  *  Pejepscot  Papers. 

*  Ecclesiastical  Sketches  of  Maine.  «  Brunswick  Telegraph,  July  SO,  1853. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  361 


"  To  THE  Town  of  BRirxs"  June  30^"  1760. 

•'  Seeing  It  pleased  Divine  providence  to  obstruct  my  Being  at 
Londonderrej  at  the  Last  Sitting  of  the  Pres^  which  will  appear  by 
my  Journal  &  other  evidence  If  Called :  1  By  advice  of  some  worthy 
men  ;  offer  to  y'  Considderation  these  proposals  — 

"•  1!!  that  no  mans  monne}'  or  Rates  Shall  Ever  Come  Into  my 
pock^ ;  or  private  use  In  aney  Shape :  as  ministerial  taxes  In  this 
town  ;  that  Do's  not  adhere  to  my  min7 

'•"  'l\y  that  Such  as  Be :  or  may  be  adherents  To  my  min7  Have 
Liberty  to  pay  there  ministerial  taxes  &  other  Ecclesiastical  Dues 
when  they  Go  to  hear  the  word  :  or  have  or  may  Joine  In  Conection  : 
with  the  old  Church  of  Christ  In  Brunswick :  &  Such  as  pretend 
aney  Sci-uple  of  Conciencc  In  Joineing  with  us:  I  Lord  not  over 
their  Conciences  the}*  may  use  their  Christian  Libert}' :  their  monney 
Shall  be  at  their  own  Disposal :  I  have  always  tho*t  this  was  the 
Best  way  to  pace :  tho't  I  woud  Rather  quit  my  title  to  part  of  a 
town  tax :  or  Rate  then  have  a  hand  In  Divisions :  &  uneasyness :  I 
am  no  Longer  able  to  Live  under  — 

'*  2*|.  proposi  whether  Deacon  Hinkley  &  Capt.  David  Dunning :  as 
we  have  a  Rev*.  &  Good  Presbr^.  to  go  to,  will  continue  their  adher- 
ence, as  I  think  wee  agreed  &  signifyd,  and  for  which  T  am  now  pre- 
j)aring  &  slill  am  Desirous  of  Such  Government,  &  Do  profess  the 
west=minst''.  Confession  of  faith  to  be  the  Confession  of  my  faith 
unless  better  light  offer  to  my  understandin 

"•  3'^  that  whereas  3'ou  are  or  maj*  Be  aquainted  :  with  my  Going  to 
the  wes'f  Twice  — 

"  1*J  to  ask  Counsel  tending  to  the  publig*  Benefit  &  Tranquility  & 
that  our  unhappey  Divisions  might  Be  heald :  2'^  To  waite  on  the  Rev* 
P  BY  which  wind  &  weather  Disapointed  me  In  :  my  Journal  wil^ 
Demonstrate.  I  therefor  Intreate  you  would  let  me  have  my  Arears : 
of  Last  Sallary.  I  have  no  minuets  of  the  exact  time  when  I  accepted 
3*  Call  But  am  pretty  Certain  It  was  In  marcii  or  aprill  after  which  I 
looked  on  m}'  Self  y""  min'  tho'  not  realty  ordained  :  and  went  to  Boston  : 
to  prei)are  m}'  self  after  which  no  pay  was  Rec*  By  me  from  aney 
people  for  preaching  the  Gospel :  as  far  as  I  can  Remember :  But 
Came  to  Bruns^  In  the  night  of  the  eighth  Day  of  Juty,  which  I  am 
Reade}'  to  Depone. 

"  You  ma}'  all  See  I  am  not  wanting  aney  Charges:  only  my  Just 
arears  :  which  will  Satisfy  &  may  possibly  make  us  Easey.  Sure  I  think 
I  aim  at  the  Honest  part. 


362        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

'*  Altbo  I  spent  of  m}'  own  nionney  about  £30  Going  to  Boston  :  & 
hireing  a  horse,  and  riding  to  Derrey  when  I  was  ordained  :  — 

*'  and  these  Last  Expenses  :  which  I  am  sure  is  more  &  not  less :  of 
which  I  say  nothing  at  this  time  — 
*'pr 


»»i 


A  meeting  of  the  town  was  held  not  long  after  his  dismissal,  and  a 
committee  chosen  to  procure  a  minister  to  preach  on  probation. 

[1761.]  In  March,  17G1,  the  town  chose  a  committee  *'to  treat 
with  Mr.  Fairfield  or  Mr.  Whitwell  to  preacli  to  us  for  some  time,  on 
probation,  and  to  ofter  neither  of  them  over  eight  pounds,  old  tenour, 
per  Sabbath,  and,  if  they  refuse,  to  get  somebodj'  else."  Probably 
the  inducement  was  not  suilicient,  as  neither  of  these  gentlemen  was 
obtained,  and  in  August  following  another  committee  was  appointed 
to  confer  with  Reverend  John  Miller,  of  Milton,  Massachusetts,  as  to 
the  terms  upon  which  he  would  be  willing  to  settle.  At  a  meeting 
held  in  December  the  town  voted  "  to  concur  with  tiie  church  and  give 
a  call  to  Reverend  John  Miller  to  settle  with  us  as  a  minist^jr  of  the 
gospel."  The  town  voted  him  a  salary  of  £G6  13s.  4(1,,  lawful  mone}', 
and  to  give  him  £100  to  enable  him  to  settle,  this  amount  to  be  paid 
in  three  annual  instalments,  one  third  each  year,  and  if  he  desired  to 
settle  on  the  "  ministerial  lot,"  it  was  voted  to  lay  out  £200  in  a  house 
and  improvements.  The  arrangements  for  preaching  were  that  Mr. 
Miller  should  be  excused  from  preaching  at  New  Meadows  during  tlie 
first  three  months  of  the  year,  and  as  a  compensation  to  the  residents 
of  that  portion  of  the  town,  he  was  to  preach  there  ever\'  Sabbath  for 
two  of  the  summer  months  and  every  alternate  Sunday  for  the  rest  of 
the  year. 

[1762.]  In  September,  1762,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  receive 
Mr.  Miller's  answer  to  the  call  given  him  by  the  church  and  town. 
His  answer  was  as  follows  :  — 

"  B>'  virtue  of  3'our  vote  passed  in  your  meeting  the  14th  day  of 
September,  1762,  as  you  then  voted  me  a  salary  and  settlement  refer- 
ence being  had  to  said  vote,  I  cheerfully'  accept  of  3'our  unanimous 
and  friendl}'  offers  and  engage  to  settle  with  you  as  your  minister  dur- 


Pejepscot  Papers, 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  863 

ing  life,  unless  something  material  happens,  b}'  being  legally  parted ; 
and  I  engage  to  conform  to  your  vote  passed  September  Ist,  17G2,  in 
regard  to  preaching  at  New  Meadows  so  long  as  m}'  health  will  admit 
of,  or  till  the}'  are  set  off,  or  otherwise  voted,  and  wishing  that  we 
may  by  our  preaching  and  example  edify  and  advance  each  other's 
eternal  interest  and  live  in  love  and  peace  as  long  as  life  lasts. 

'*  John  Millkr  Junior." 

The  ordination  took  place  on  the  third  of  November,  the  exercises 
boing  conducted  by  the  Reverends  Smitli,  Eaton,  Lorain,  El  vans, 
Wevburn,  and  Obens. 

David  Dunning  provided  an  entertainment  for  the  ministers  and 
their  attendants,  b}'  order  of  the  town. 

[17G8.]  In  1768  some  difficulties  began  to  arise  in  regard  to  the 
singing  on  the  Sabbath,  and  a  proposition  was  made  to  set  off  a  i)art 
of  the  gnller}*  in  the  west  meeting-house  for  the  use  of  the  singers,  but 
it  was  defeated  hy  a  vote  of  the  town. 

[1779.]  The  records  contain  nothing  of  special  interest  from  this 
time  until  the  year  1779,  when  the  town  voted  to  make  Mr.  Miller 
such  a  compensation  for  that  year  as  might  be  agreed  upon,  in  consid- 
eration of  the  scarcity  and  dearness  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  and 
Messrs.  Aaron  Hinkle}',  Thomas  Skolfield,  and  Captain  William  Stan- 
wood  were  chosen  a  committee  to  decide  as  to  what  sum  was  proper. 
Subsoquentl}-  the  town  voted  not  to  add  anything  to  Mr.  Miller's 
salary,  but  to  leave  it  to  the  generosity'  of  the  people,  and  the  usual 
salary  of  £GG  13^.  4c?.  was  accordingl}'  voted. 

[17^<0.]  In  1780  the  town  voted  to  pay  Mr.  Miller's  regular  salary' 
•'  in  })roduce  of  the  country,  at  the  price  such  articles  were  in  1775, 
or  so  much  of  the  present  currency  as  will  purchase  so  much  of  said 
articles." 

[178G.]  In  the  year  1786  the  town  voted  to  allow  the  people  in 
the  east  end  of  the  township  to  '^  regulate  the  way  of  singing  in  Divine 
Service  in  the  east  end  as  they  shall  think  proper."  In  June  of  this 
year,  owing  to  troubles  now  but  imperfectly  understood,  but  prob- 
ably connected  with  matters  of  church  government,  the  town  votcil  to 
dismiss  Mr.  Miller  from  his  pastoral  office,  and  a  conimittoe  was 
chosen  to  notif}'  him  of  the  action  of  the  town.  He  must,  however, 
have  refused  to  accept  his  dismissal  as  [1787]  on  the  eighth  of  May 
of  the  next  year,  agreeabl}'  to  his  own  desire,  a  vote  of  the  members 
of  the  church  was  taken,  as  to  whether  he  should  or  shoukl  not  be  dis- 
missed.    The  result  of  this  vote  was  nine   for  dismission   and  five 


364         UI>TORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

against  it.  As  this  did  not  seem  satisfactory^  the  congregation  was 
then  called  upon  to  vote  on  the  subject.  The  result  of  this  vote  was 
twelve  for  dismission  and  eighteen  against  it.  The  town  thereui)on, 
without  taking  direct  action, ^  voted  to  raise  no  raone^''  for  his  support. 

[178S.]  In  178S  the  town  again  voted  not  to  pay  him  any  salary, 
and  also  voted  to  call  a  council  of  the  neighborinor  churches  to  hear 
the  grievances  of  those  who  were  dissatisfied  with  him.  As  there  is 
no  evidence  that  a  council  was  ever  actuallv  assembled,  and  as  Mr. 
Miller  died  before  the  close  of  the  year,  it  is  probable  that  the  calling 
of  the  council  was  deferred  on  account  of  his  ill-health. 

[1789.]  The  next  year  a  committee  was  appointed  to  pay  the 
executor  of  Mr.  Miller's  estate  the  amount  of  his  salary  due  him  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  secure  another 
minister  on  trial. 

[1790.]  A  committee  was  chosen  in  April,  1790,  to  invite  Kever- 
end  Mr.  Corn  well  to  preach  on  probation ;  but  in  August  the  town 
voted  not  to  settle  him,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  secure  some 
other  minister. 

[1791.]  The  following  proposal  was  made  to  the  town  in  Decem- 
ber :  — 

'*  Six  months  I  propose,  at  the  desire  of  the  Committee  to  suppl}' 
the  people  of  Brunswick  as  a  Preacher,  allowing  me  to  be  absent  two 
months  in  the  Winter,  more  or  less  as  convenient,  provided  it  is 
agreeable  to  the  town. 

*'Abra«  Moore. 
"Dkckmb*    2d  1791."  « 

[1 792.]  In  January,  1792,  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Moore  was  accepted, 
and  he  was  engaged  to  preach  for  six  months  on  probation.  In  Au- 
gust the  town  voted  unanimously  to  give  him  a  call  to  settle,  at  a  salary 
of  £100  and  with  a  settlement  of  £100,  to  be  paid  him  in  one  year 
after  his  settlement. 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  Baptists  in  this  town  who  can  produce  a 
certificate  that  they  belong  to  a  Baptist  society  shall  have  a  right  to 
draw  the  money  that  was  last  assessed  as  a  ministerial  tax,  to  be 
appropriated  to  pay  their  own  preacher,  and  that  they  be  no  longer 
taxed  in  the  ministerial  tax. 

It  was  also  voted  that  the  minister  should  preach  every  other  Sunday 
at  the  east  end  of  the  town. 


1  Which  was  needleaSy  in  viiw  of  the  vote  taktn  the  preceding  year, 
^Pfjepscot  Papers, 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIIHTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  365 

Mr.  Moore  declined  the  call  to  settle  ]>ennanentl3'  and  in  September 
of  the  following  5-ear  [1703],  the  town  voted  unanimously  to  extend 
a  call  to  the  Reverend  Ebenezer  CofHn,  and  to  give  him  a  salary  of  £100 
and  £200  for  a  settlement.     He  was  ordained  June  23,  171)4. 

[1801.]  Mr.  Coffin  left  in  1801.  There  is  no  account  in  either  the 
town  or  church  records  of  any  formal  dismissal,  but  there  is  probably 
no  doubt  that  he  was  compelled  to  resign.  From  this  time  until  1806 
there  was  occasional  preaching  in  the  old  meeting-house. 

[1806.]  At  that  time  the  old  house  was  abandoned  by  the  First 
Parish,  and  a  new  one  on  the  hill  was  occupied  instead. 

The  participation  of  the  town  in  the  doings  of  the  First  Parish  having 
now  ceased,  the  remainder  of  its  history  will  be  included  in  that  of  the 

CHURCH  OF  THE  FIRST  PARISH. 

It  does  not  appear  anywhere,  as  a  matter  of  reconl,  that  there  was 
any  church  oi^ganization  during  the  pastorate  of  Keverend  Mr  lluther- 
ford,  or  that  he  was  regularly  onlained.  No  mention  is  made  of  any 
church  act  at  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap,  but 
it  is  said  that,  soon  after  that  event,  Keverend  Mr.  Murray  formed  a 
church  in  this  place,  in  connection  with  the  presbytery.  ►Samuel  Clark 
is  said  to  have  been  the  first  deacon.^ 

It  is  narrated  that  on  one  occasion,  while  ^Ir.  Mnrrav,  of  Boothbav, 
was  here  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  the  church  and  was  engnged  in 
preaching,  Aaron  Ilinkley,  displeased  with  something  that  he  hud  said, 
stepped  out  into  the  aisle,  and  addressing  Mr.  Murray,  inquired  of 
him  if  he  knew  in  whose  presence  he  was  speaking ;  to  which  Mr. 
Murray  replied  that  he  was  aware  that  he  was  in  the  presence  of  the 
Judge  of  the  Inferior  Court.  Mr.  llinklev  then  said,  '*  I  sav  to  vou 
as  the  Lord  said  to  Elijah,  'What  dost  thou  here,'  John  Murray?** 
The  question,  with  the  verse  following  in  this  connection,  '*  I  have 
been  very  jealous  for  the  Lord  God  of  hosts ;  for  the  children  of 
Israel  have  forsaken  thy  covenant,  thrown  down  thine  altars,  and 
slain  thy  prophets  with  the  sword  "  (1  Kings  xix,  U,  10),  gave  a  text 
to  Mr.  Murray*  upon  which  he  continued  to  preach,  making  some  very 
severe  and  sarcastic  remarks,  and  putting  an  end  to  all  further 
questions.^ 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  this  church  was  originally  established  on 
Presbyterian  principles,  and  continued  so  during  the  ministr}*  of  Mr. 
Dunlap. 

1  Woodman* $  noU$.  ^McKeen,  MS.  Lecture. 


r 

y 


366       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

The  male  members  of  this  church  in  1761  were^  John  Minott,  Sam- 
uel Clarke,  Klienezer  Stanwood,  William  Simpson,  Da^-id  Dunning, 
John  Orr,  Samuel  Whitney,  Isaac  Snow,  James  Thompson,  Aaron 
Ilinkley,  Samuel  Stanwood,  James  Elliott,  William  Ross,  William 
Stanwood.  Thomas  Adams,  Thomas  Skolfleld,  and  John  Smart. 

After  the  settlement  of  Mr.  Miller,  the  church  assumed  a  mixed 
character  for  about  seven  vears.  The  number  of  church  members  was 
then  about  seventy,  among  whom  were  seven  deacons.* 

Mr.  Miller  was  ordained  November  3,  1762.  The  council  con- 
sisted of  Messrs.  Smith.  Loring,  Elvin,  Wibird,  Robbins,  and  Eaton. 
At  a  church  meeting  held  a  few  days  subsequently,  it  was  voted : 
"  Whci*eas  this  church  as  to  its  government  since  it  has  been  gathered 
and  more  especially  while  Mr  Dunlap  was  their  pastor,  has  not  been 
duly  kept  up  in  the  beauty  and  order  of  the  Gospel,  by  reason  of 
which  they  have  greatly  separated  in  the  Ceremonials  of  Government, 
it  was  therefore  voted  :  That  all  those  who  are  not  in  fdll  communion 
with  the  church  and  who  never  had  any  children  baptized  or  were 
never  baptized  themselves,  in  order  to  receive  the  onlinances  either 
for  themselves  or  their  children  are  required  to  be  propounded  to  the 
church  at  least  the  Sabbath  before  Baptism,  in  order  to  own  the  Cov- 
enant of  Baptism." 

Revei*end  Mr.  Miller  was  ordained  as  a  Congregational ist,  but  after 
some  years  the  church  and  parish  returned  to  the  Londonderry  Pres- 
bvterv,  from  which  thev  had  seceded.^ 

»  •.  ft 

How  much  soever  a  portion  of  his  congregation  may  have  been  e«li- 
fied  by  his  preaching,  some  of  them  were  not  sufficiently  so  to  give  close 
attention  to  him,  and  it  was  not  at  all  uncommon  for  numbers  of  people 
to  be  asleep.  At  such  times,  it  is  narrated,  Mr.  Miller  was  in  the  hal^it 
of  stopping  in  the  midst  of  his  sermon,  and  saying,  ••  Wake  up,  hearei-s  I" 
After  a  while  it  was  made  the  duty  of  old  Mr.  George  Coombs  to  wake 
the  sleepers  by  rapping  on  their  pew-doors  with  his  statf.** 

At  the  council  for  the  ordination  of  Mr.  Miller,  Reverend  Thomas 
Smith  was  the  moilerator,  and  Mr.  Loring,  scrit)e.  At  the  onlination, 
prayer  was  made  by  the  Reverend  Mr.  Loi'ing.  the  charge  by  Mr. 
Smith,  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  Mr.  Eaton,  and  the  sermon  by 
Mr.  Miller  himself. 

The  following,  in  regard  to  church  government,  was  found  on  an 
old  paper,  undated,  and  very  much  worn :  — 


1  Pejepfcot  Pai>€r8.      ^  Greenleaf,  Ecclesiastical  Sketches.    *  Mr  Keen,  }fS.  I.ertvre. 
*  James  Curtis' s  Journal,  in  Library  of  Maine  Historical  Society. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  3G7 

*'  These  concerning  the  Church  of  Christ  in  Brunswick  as  to  the 

order  and  Constitution  of  this  Church.     It  was  at  first  set  up  in  the 

Presbyterian  order  to  be  governed  by  a  Session  and  since  we  have 

left  off  that  order  and  government  we  have  got  into  Disorder  and 

have  no  government  at  all,  therefore  we  the  subscribers  hereof  advise 

the  members  of  the  Church  to  look  to  God  for  a  blessing  and  direc- 

tion  herein,    in  setting  up  their  old  Constitution  and  choose  ten  or 

twelve  elders  and  have  them  ordained  to  their  charge  and  duty,  herein 

to  act  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  this  church,  and  in  all 

Kcclesiastical  affairs  belonging  to  this  chnrch  that  ma}'  come  before 

them  to  decide  them  impartially  without  favor  or  affection.     This  is 

our  deliberate  judgement  and  advice  and  that  we  cannot  come  into 

peace  and  goo<l  government  without  taking  these  steps. 

"JuDAH  Chase.  David  Dunning. 

KonERT  Dunning.  Andrew  Dunning. 

Willi  A  31  Stan  wood.  Samuel  Stan  wood. 

Samuel  Stanwood,  Jr.  John  Dunlap. 

Samuel  Stanwood.  .-Jd.  AViLLiA3f  Stanwood,  2d. 

Lkwis  Simpson.  Willia3i  Spear. 

Stephen  Skolfield.  Samuel  Dunlap. 

William  Woodside.  John  Swett. 

Daniel  Woodside,  Jr.  James  Cary. 

Anihony  Woodside.  James  Klliott. 

David  Dunning,  Jr.  William  Stanwood,  3d." 

[1762.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  held  Monday,  Novem])er  15, 
it  was  — 

Voted,  '•  That  all  such  as  desire  admittance  into  full  Communion 
with  the  Church,  shall  privately  signify  their  desire  to  the  minister, 
and  [make  a  statement  of  their  religious]  views,  aller  which  the  min- 
ister shall  propound  them  to  the  Church  at  least  a  week  before  the 
Sacrament,  that  if  any  of  the  Communicants  have  anything  to  object. 
th(?y  may  have  time  so  to  do  before  the  Sacrament,  which  olgection  is 
to  be  made  to  the  Deacons,  who  shall  before  Sacrament  day  acquaint 
the  minister  of  it,  that  the  minister  may  have  time  to  inform  the  per- 
'^on.  but  if  no  objections  appear,  the  minister  shall  proceed  to  admit 
the  person."  Also,  '*  That  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  be 
administered  once  in  two  months  in  the  winter,  licginning  the  first 
Sabbath  of  December,  and  once  in  six  weeks  in  the  summer  months.*' 

[ITG:].]  On  May  12,  the  church  voted,  ''That  the  contribution  be 
continued  at  both  ends  of  the  town  in  order  to  purchase  utensils  for 
this  church. 


368        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARFSWELU 


(& 


To  purchase  four  flagons,  eight  tankards,  twelve  cups,  foor  dishes, 
two  tablecloths,  and  two  napkins  for  the  use  of  this  charch. 

^'  That  Aaron  llinkley  and  Deacon  Dunning  take  charge  of  the 
contribution,  and  see  the  articles  purchased  as  soon  as  ma}'  be. 

^^  That  Deacon  Clark  and  Deacon  Samuel  Stanwood  take  u 
account  of  the  nione}'  collected  at  the  west  meeting-house,  and  Dei- 
con  Snow  and  Deacon  Whitney  take  account  of  the  money  collected 
at  the  east  meeting-house,  before  delivered  into  the  hands  of  Deaooa 
Dunnin<^  and  Mr.  Ilinklev." 

It  is  diflicult  to  understand  the  necessity  for  this  vote  to  pnrduue 
flagons,  etc.,  because  (if  there  is  no  mistake  in  the  date  inscribed 
upon  them)  two  tlagons,  three  plates,  and  four  cups  were  presented 
to  the  church  in  \TM  by  IJenjamin  Larrabee  and  John  Minot.  Tbej 
are  now  in  the  possession  of  Professor  A.  S.  Packard. 

At  this  same  meeting  of  the  church,  it  was  '^  voted  to  sing  Tate  and 
Brad^^s  version  with  the  hymns  annexed  thereto,  composed  by  Isasc 
Watts,  I).  D."  Mr.  Aaron  llinkley  declined  serving  as  deacon,  and 
was  excused. 

[ITOt.]  This  year  an  indiviclual  who  desired  baptism  for  his  two 
cliildren  was  o])liged  to  make  a  public  confession  of  his  criminal  inti- 
macy with  Ann  Conner,  who  su])se(iuently  committed  suicide. 

[I7r>.").]  September  ^^  the  church  met  and  voted  to  have  a  covenant 
drawn  up  and  signed  ]»v  each  member. 

The  following  is  foun<l  on  the  cover  of  one  of  the  old  reconls:  — 

"  October  17G')  The  j)eople  in  Brunswick  began  to  quarrel  with  their 
minister,  John  Miller,  headed  by  William  Woodside  Senior." 

[17()0.]  ()n  ^lay  i^,  a  church  meeting  was  held  to  consider  this 
•' quarrel'^ ;  and  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  held  May  22,  the  church 
votvd  that  ^Ir.  Wooilside  should  apologize  to  the  pastor  He  refliscd 
to  do  so,  and  the  church  then  voted  that  '■'  Mr.  Miller's  Character  stood 
fair  in  the  eve  of  the  church." 

[ITiJT.]  May  KJ,  William  Woodside  was  suspended  until  he  con- 
fessed his  fault  to  the  church  and  pastor. 

[I7<is.]  July  2S).  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  on  this  day  objec- 
tion was  oll'ered  to  the  baptism  of  a  child  of  Thomas  Thompson,  '*on 
account  of  said  Thomas  standing  np  and  reading  the  Psalm  in  the 
public  worship  of  (iod."  The  child  was,  however,  baptized.  At  a 
meeting  on  September  G,  William  W^oodside,  Senior,  openly  asked  the 
forgiveness  of  the  church  and  the  pastor,  as  to  his  past  misconduct, 
and  was  received  again  into  the  church.  A  number  of  the  members 
were  also  reconciled  to  each  other  at  this  meeting,  an  uncommon  spirit 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IIISTOHY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  369 

of  forgiveness  prevailing,  and  the  members  appearing  to  be  ''of  one 
he^rt  and  of  one  mind."  At  this  meeting  Mr.  Miller  openly  declared 
himself  to  be  the  pastor  of  a  church  on  the  Congregational  plan. 

[1770.]  In  May,  1770,  the  church  records  show  that  the  members 
had  been  le<l  to  consider  the  decline  of  religion ;  and  accordingly'  a 
day  of  fasting  and  prayer  was  appointed  ''to  implore  pardon  of  God, 
and  his  aid  and  help."  The  day  was  seriously  observed.  After 
public  senices  the  church  met,  confessions  wore  made,  alienations 
and  differences  composed,  and  tokens  appeared  of  a  reviving  spiritual 
influence  among  the  Christian  ix)rtion  of  the  community. 

[1771.]  The  question  whether  the  church  should  be  Congrega- 
tional or  Presbyterian  in  form  came  up  tliis  3'ear.  A  meeting  was 
held  at  the  west  meeting-house,  which  the  members  of  the  east  end  did 
not  attend.  Subsequently  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  east  end  which 
was  attended  b}'  both  parties.  The  next  day  some  of  the  members  at 
the  east  end  met  at  Captain  Thompson's,  without  notifying  the  other 
members.  To  reconcile  the  difficulties  a  meeting  was  held  on  [1772] 
June  16,  and  the  following  agreement  was  drawn  up  and  signed  :  — 

"  In  the  fii*st  place  we  propose  that  this  Church  aild  the  Discipline 
thereof  be  governed  agreeable  to  the  Congregational  Constitution  and 
platform  of  the  churches  in  New  England  —  excepting  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  ordinance  of  liapti.sm  and  the  Lord's  supper  to  be 
administered  agreeable  to  the  custom  of  the  Presbyterian  Churches, 
and  to  have  only  one  preparation  da}'  before  each  sacrament. 

''Consented  to  by  me,  "  JoiiN  Miller. 

*'  David  Dunnino  ; 
Aakon'  IIinkli:v  j 
Samuel  Clakk  / 
Jamks  TnoMP.soN  \  Church 
Samukl  Stanwooi»(  ^''^'^'^^i^tpp. 
Isaac  Snow 
TnoMAS  SkolmrldJ 

"  Voted  and  accepted  in  Church. 

"  N.  li.  It  is  to  be  uuder^tood  bv  the  Pastor  and  the  Church  that 
the  al.Kjve  writing  was  drawn  up  and  executed  in  consequence  of  all 
differences  and  uneasiness  that  did  subsist  between  the  Pastor  and 
Church,  and  the  same  were  adjusted  and  settled  in  an  amicable 
manner." 

[1774.]     At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  on  May  16,   at   the   west 
meeting-house,  the  above  vote  having  caused  some  uneasiness,  and 
24 


370       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICKy  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

some  of  the  members  at  the  east  end  of  the  town  not  being  disposed 
to  comply  with  it,  it  was  voted  that  the  sacrament  might  be  adminis- 
tered at  tlie  west  meeting-house  from  the  long  table,  the  communi- 
cants sitting  around  it  or  in  the  body-i>ews  as  the}'  might  see  fit ;  and 
that  it  might  be  administered  at  the  east  moeting-house  in  the  Con- 
gregational form.  The  ordinance  of  baptism  to  be  administered  in 
either  form  as  i^ersons  might  choose. 

[1785.]  At  a  meeting  held  on  September  13,  the  church  consid- 
ered the  matter  of  lay  exhorters,  who  were  becoming  quite  common 
in  town.  No  action  was  taken,  however,  as  some  of  the  church  evi- 
dently' favored  such  persons. 

[17S6.]  At  a  meeting  held  April  17,  the  subject  of'chosing  ruling 
elders  was  brouorht  forward,  and  it  was  voted  not  to  choose  anv.  The 
church  then  considered  in  regard  to  the  new  mode  of  singing  adopted 
at  the  east  end  of  the  town,  and  it  was  voted  that  the  psalms  and 
h^'mns  should  be  read  by  the  deacons,  i.  f?.,  line  by  line,  until  all  had 
had  time  to  furnish  themselves  with  books.  Charles  Thomas  was 
chosen  chorister  at  the  east  end,  and  John  Dunning  at  the  west  end  of 
the  town,  with  li.berty  to  appoint  their  own  assistants. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  5,  there  was  a  pretty  warm  discussion  in 
regard  to  the  mode  of  singing.  After  a  while  the  discussion  turned 
upon  the  question  whether  the  church  was  Congregational  or  Presby- 
terian. '  The  meeting  closed  without  settling  the  point. 

[171M).]  At  a  meeting  held  in  March,  there  being  no  minister, 
Stanwood  Duiuiing  was  chosen  permanent  moderator.  Several  per- 
sons beinji:  asked  whv  thev  had  absented  themselves  from  church 
meetings,  etc.,  one  replied,  "  because  there  was  no  order  in  the 
church  "  ;  another,  that  he  could  not  sit  down  to  the  Lord's  table"  with 
a  certain  member;  and  others  answered  that  "  tiiey  had  joined  the 
Baptists.** 

[1703.]  December  18  the  church  voted  a  call  to  Reverend  Mr. 
Cotlin,  and  that  the  twenty-third  of  January  be  set  for  his  onlination. 

[17tM.]  January  22,  the  council  for  the  ordination  met.  It  con- 
sisted of  Daniel  Little,  Kennebunk ;  Paul  Coffin,  Buxton  ;  Thomas 
Brown,  Stroudwater;  Alfred  Johnston,  Kreeport;  Samuel  Eaton, 
Harpswell ;  Jonathan  Ellis,  Topsham  ;  and  the  usual  lay  delegates. 
The  ordaining  services  were  performed  the  next  day  in  the  west  meet- 
ing-house. 

The  minutes  of  only  two  church  meetings  are  recorded  during  the 
whole  of  Mr.  Coffin's  pastorate.  May  10  of  this  year  it  was  vote<l 
that  there  should  be  four  communions  a  year.     June  26  it  was  voted 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IlISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  371 

'*  that  candidates  for  the  baptiRin  of  their  first  child  should  be  pro- 
pounded as  such  one  fortnight,  that  if  there  should  be  any  objections 
made,  they  may  be  made  in  season  to  the  minister  that  he  may  act 
accordingh'." 

On  July  21,  1808,  the  new  meeting  house,  which  had  been  built  by 
subscription,  was  given  to  and  accepted  by  the  parish,  the  north  gal- 
lery- being  reser^-ed  for  the  use  of  the  students  of  Bowdoin  College, 
that  institution  having  contributed  funds  towards  its  erection.  After- 
ward, in  the  present  building,  the  soutli  gallery  was  substituted  in 
lieu  of  the  north. 

On  Februar}'  8,  1810,  the  parish  extended  an  invitation  to  Reverend 
John  Bartlettto  settle  over  them.  The  call  was  not,  however,  accepted. 
On  the  twenty-first  of  April,  of  this  year,  the  pansh  voted  to  petition 
the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  for  a  remission  of  the  fine  that  had  been 
inii>osed  upon  them  ''  for  not  l>eing  supplied  with  j)reaching." 

Since  1802  there  had  l>een  no  settled  minister  over  them  and  a  por- 
tion of  the  time  no  preaching,  though  <]uring  this  time  Presidents 
McKeen  and  Appleton  often  olliciated. 

On  April  2,  1811,  the  parish  voted  *'  to  appoint  a  suitable  person  to 
care  for  the  meeting-house,  sweep  the  same,  and  rhifj  the  hull.''  This 
is  the  first  allusion  to  anv  bell  in  town  and  this  bell  was  undoiibtediv 
the  one  on  the  college  chapel.  In  October,  1H24,  however,  the  parish 
anthonzed  a  bell  to  be  put  in  the  tower  of  tiie  meeting-house,  and  it 
was  done  shortly  after.  This,  the  first  parish  b(»ll.  was  bought  b\' 
subscription,  and  cost  about  five  Inmdred  dollars.'  The  college  paid 
fifty  dollars  towards  its  purchase,  on  condition  that  the  j)arish  wouhl 
give  them  the  right  to  use  both  it  and  the  meeting-house,  fur  literary 
exercises  on  Commencement  week  and  at  other  times  for  spec^ial  pur- 
poses, u]K)n  ten  days*  notice  being  given. 

In  1M17  the  question  of  heating  the  meeting-house  came  nj),  and  on 
the  eighteenth  of  January  the  parish  voted  to  grant  permission  to 
have  stoves  put  in.  This  was  probably  nf)t  done,  though,  at  this 
time,  for  in  1824  the  matter  again  came  up  and  was  referred  to  a 
wjpimittee,  who  reported  it  inexpedient  to  use  stoves.  In  November, 
1888,  the  parish  authorized  the  assessors  '^  to  adopt  the  plan  used  in 
Kcverend  Mr.  Ellingwood's  church,  in  Rath." 

In  1810,  John  .Sctwartkin,  of  Holland,  was  allowed  to  partake  of  the 
communion  without  a  letter  of  recommendation,  In^cause  he  was  a 
stranger  in  a  foreign  country. 


1  At  all  eventif,  the  tiub.^rrip(injix  nmnunti-d  to  a  trijtp  ortT  thin  sunt. 


372      msTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

In  Reverend  Mr.  Mead's  replj-  to  a  call  of  the  church,  in  18  2,  he 
made  it  a  condition  of  his  acceptance  tliat  he  should  have  the  right  to 
dissolve  the  connection  with  the  church  whenever  Ihe  compensation 
he  received  failed  to  amount  to  seven  hundred  dollars  a  year. 

His  ordination  semces  were  held  tiiis  year  and  were  as  follows: 
introductory  prayer,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Mittimore,  of  Falmouth; 
sermon,  by  Reverend  Doctor  Payson,  of  I'ortland ;  consecrating 
prayer,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Gillet,  of  Ilallowell ;  charge,  by  Reverend 
Doctor  Packard,  of  Wiscasset ;  right  hand  of  fellowship,  bj'  Reverend 
Mr.  Smith,  of  Portland ;  address  to  the  peo[)le,  by  Reverend  Mr. 
EUingwood,  of  Batli ;  closing  prayer,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Pomeroy,  of 
Gorham. 

Mr.  Mead  was  dismissed,  at  his  own  request,  in  Jul}',  1829.  On 
the  lilth  of  that  month  he  preached  his  farewell  discourse,  which  was 
printed  by  request,  and  a  copy  of  which  is  presei'ved  in  tbe  library  of 
the  IMaine  Historical  Societj'.  During  his  ministry  a  creed  and  cov- 
enant were  adopted  b}*  the  church  and  a  church  library  started,  to 
which  the  books  of  the  BiTinswick  Female  Humane  Society  were 
added. 

About  this  time  the  attention  of  the  parish  was  directed  to  tlie 
question  of  the  ownership  and  boundaries  of  the  meeting-house  lot. 
The  fencing  of  this  lot  and  the  legal  contest  connected  therewith  is 
mentioned  in  another  connection. 

In  ^November,  1821),  Reverend  George  E.  Adams  was  invited  to 
become  the  pastor  of  this  parish.  Having  alreadj'  been  ordained, 
although  without  a  charge,  he  was  installed  Tuesday,  December  2U. 
The  installation  services  were  as  follows :  — 

Introductory  prayer,  by  Reverend  Seneca  White,  of  Bath ;  sermon, 
by  Dr.  Tyler,  of  Portland ;  installing  prayer,  by  Dr.  H.  Packarti,  of 
Wiscasset;  charge,  by  Reverend  Asa  Mead,  of  Gorham;  right  hand 
of  fellowship,  b}'  Reverend  Jacob  C.  Goss,  of  Topsham  ;  addi-ess  to  the 
church  and  to  the  people,  by  Reverend  Benjamin  Tappan,  of  Augusia; 
concluding  pra^'er,  b}*  Reverend  William  Mittimore,  of  Falmouth. 

On  ^November  27,  1834,  Thanksgiving  da}*,  the  meeting-house,  hav- 
ing been  repaired  and  somewhat  altered,  was  dedicated  anew. 

In  1835  the  parish  voted  to  receive  an  organ,  in  trust,  for  the 
church.  Two  years  later  the  debt  due  upon  thi^organ  was  assumeii 
by  the  parish.  On  May  16,  1840,  a  motion  was  made  in  parish  meet- 
ing to  pay  the  organist  filYy  dollars.  This  motion  produced  an  ani- 
mated discussion.  One  individual  remarked,  ''  I  don't  wish  to  wound 
the  feelings  of  anj*  one.     1  have  felt  very  unpleasant  ever  since  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  373 

oi-gan  came  into  the  nieeting-lionse.  It  is  not  acceptable  to  God.  It 
is  very  offensive.  It  begins  to  make  a  noise  after  the  hymn  is  read,  — 
before  they  begin  to  sing.  It  has  a  very  immoral  tendency.  It  keeps 
our  minds  from  other  things."  No  objection  to  the  motion  was  made 
by  any  one  else,  and  the  amount  was  therefore  voted. 

\\\  1842  a  now  bill  was  p  it  in  t!n  toT3r  in  placo  of  the  old  on?, 
which  had  been  cracked  in  consequence  of  ringing  a  fire  alarm,  on  the 
seventeenth  of  December  of  the  previous  year.  The  cost  of  tliis  new 
hell  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  and  the  sum  was  raised 
by  subscription. 

On  February  lo,  1815,  the  parish  voted  to  have  a  new  meeting- 
liousc  built,  and  to  dispose  of  the  old  one.  Work  was  at  once  com- 
menced on  it,  and  it  was  finished  early  the  next  3'ear.  Its  cost  was 
113,101.08.  It  was  dedicated  on  March  18,  1816.  The  public  exer- 
cises were  as  follows :  A  voluntary  on  the  orjijan ;  an  anthem  bv  the 
choir ;  reading  of  Scripture  by  Ileverend  Ray  Palmer,  of  Hath  ;  prayer, 
by  Reverend  Jonathan  Clement,  of  Topsham ;  hymn,  by  Reverend 
John  O.  Fisk,  of  Bath ;  sermon,  by  the  pastor,  Reverend  George  K. 
Adams  ;  prayer,  by  Reverend  John  W.  Chickering,  of  Portland  ;  hymn, 
by  Reverend  E.  G.  Parsons,  of  Freeport ;  benediction,  bj-  Reverend 
James  Drummond,  of  Lewiston. 

Doctor  Adams  closed  his  ministry'  in  August,  1870.  When  he  went 
to  Brunswick  he  was  called  from  the  Professorship  of  Sacred  Rhetoric, 
in  the  Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  and  b}'  experience  and  culture 
ijeeme<l  unusually  well  endowed  for  the  work  of  the  ministr}',  which, 
with  uninterrupted  unanimity,  was  continued  forty-one  years.  •'  With 
pr^rhaps  as  few  trials  as  have  fallen  to  the  lot  of  any  of  his  contempo- 
raries, he  was  permitted  to  witness  repeated  special  manifestations  of 
the  Divine  favor,  and  a  lai^e  increase  of  the  church  and  of  the  societ}-. 
Having  come  to  it  when  it  was  comparatively  weak,  he  closed  his  long 
service  when  it  had  become  one  of  the  strong  societies  of  the  State. 
When  at  last,  after  an  unusually  prolonged  pastorate,  at  his  own 
re([uest,  moved  to  it  by  an  inviting  call  to  Orange,  New  Jersey,  he 
asked  to  be  released  from  this  ministry,  he  received  a  united  and 
costly-  testimonial  from  his  whole  people  of  their  affectionate  and 
grateful  esteem  and  affection."  * 

Notwithstanding  Doctor  Adams's  resignation  was  accepted  by  the 
parish,  his  formal  connection  therewith  was  never  severed  by  any  act 
of  council,  and  he  died  the  legal  pastor  of  the  society. 

*  Church  Manual. 


374       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

In  December,  1870,  Reverend  Ezra  11.  Byington  (Universit}'  of 
Vennont,  1852)  was  invited  to  supply  the  pulpit,  and  on  January  10, 
1871,  he  received  a  quite  unanimous  call  to  settle.  He  accepted  and 
has  remained  to  the  present  time,  but  no  formal  settlement  has  3'et 
occurred. 

To  this  history  of  the  church  and  society  we  add  a  brief  notice  ol* 
their  Sabbath  school. 

The  following  sketch  of  the  origin  and  earl}'  history  of  the  Sab- 
bath school  is  obtained  from  the  church  manual.  The  particulai-s 
were  obtained  from  a  private  journal  of  the  late  Deacon  John  Perr\', 
for  many  ^^ears  an  active  and  efficient  member  and  officer  of  the 
church  :  — 

"In  the  winter  of  181 1-1 '2  an  account  of  a  Sabbath  school  in 
England,  in  a  newspaper,  suggested  to  Mr.  Perry  the  idea  of  attempt- 
ing the  same  agenc}'  for  good  in  this  community,  lie  consulted  the 
minister.  Reverend  Mr.  Baile^',  and  President  Appleton,  about  the 
expediency  of  such  a  movement  and  the  proper  method  of  conducting 
it.  They  favored  the  project,  but  were  not  informed  of  the  wa}'  in 
which  such  schools  were  managed.  They,  however,  thought  that 
nothing  but  reading  of  a  religious  character  should  be  allowed.  To 
the  inquiry  whether  small  children,  abecedarians,  should  be  admitted, 
after  deliberation  of  some  days,  they  decided  in  favor  of  it,  on  the 
ground  that  unless  such  children  were  taught  to  read,  they  could 
never  read  the  Scriptures.  Mr.  PeiTy  then,  Ma}',  1812,  gathered 
some  eighteen  of  his  own  and  neighbors'  children  in  the  red  school- 
house.  School  Street,  during  the  hour  before  morning  service.  Alter 
the  hour  was  spent,  most  of  his  school  accompanied  him  to  the  church. 
The  school  was  opened  by  Scripture  reading  and  pra^'cr ;  lessons 
were  recited  in  the  Bible  and  primer.  Those  that  could  read,  read  in 
the  Bible  at  least  once,  and  the  portion  read  he  explained  as  he  best 
could.  That  first  season,  closing  in  October,  passed  without  an 
assjistant  or  a  visitor ;  and  so  his  service  of  love  continued  until  in 
18 1(),  Mr.  David  Starret,  a  student  In  college  (1819),  was  secured  as 
an  assistant,  and  more  interest  was  tnken  in  this  humble  work. 
President  Appleton  exhibited  decided  interest  in  the  movement.  At 
his  suggestion,  several  of  the  church  and  parish  met  in  1817  to  con- 
sider its  claims,  and  the  first  formal  organization  of  a  Sabbath  school, 
as  an  element  in  the  work  of  the  church,  was  made.  A  superintend- 
ent was  chosen,  teachers  were  appointed,  wider  interest  awakened, 
and  the  institution  permanently  established." 

According  to  another  account  with  which   we  have  been  favored. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  UISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  375 


i( 


the  first  school  of  this  kind  was  opened  early  in  1816,  in  the  clotli- 
room  of  the  fac^torj',  by  Mr.  Jaeob  Abbott,  ^fr  Bourne,  and  Mr. 
Edwards,  the  ere<iit  of  suggest injij  it  belonging  to  the  former  gentle- 
man. Deacon  John  Perry  and  several  other  gentlemen  were  invited 
to  act  as  teachers.  As  the  cold  weather  came  on,  the  school  was 
moved  to  the  school- house  near  Miss  Narcissa  Stone's,  and  David 
Starrett  and  a  Mr.  Vance  were  the  teachers.  After  a  while  it  was 
move<l  to  the  red  school-house."  The  writer  of  the  above  was  con- 
necte<l  with  this  school  from  its  formation  until  1826,  and  says  that 
if  one  was  formed  earlier  it  certain Iv  died  out,  as  there  was  none  in 
town  when  this  school  was  fonned,  in  1816. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  settled  pa^stors  of  the  church,  and 
of  the  deacons  and  members  prior  to  the  present  centurj' :  — 

PASTORS. 

Reverend  Robert  Dunlap,  1747-1760;  Reverend  John  Miller,  1762- 
1788;  Reverend  Ebenezer  Coffin,  1704-1802;  Reverend  Winthrop 
Bailev,  1811-1814;  Reverend  Asa  Mead,  1822-1821);  Reverend 
George  Kliashib  Adams,  1829-1870;  Reverend  K.zra  B3'ington,  1871. 

DEACOXS. 

Samuel  Stanwood,  David  Dunning,  Samuel  Clark,  Isaac  Snow. 

MEMBERS. 

(This  list  of  members  is  supposed  to  be  quite  imperfect,  but  it 
includes  all  the  names  which  can  be  found  in  the  records.) 

List  in  the  Handwiuting  of  Rkveuexd  John  Miller,  who  was 
0Ri>AiNED  November  J^,  1762.  — John  Miller,  i)astor;  John  Orr,  Mair 
Point ;  Samuel  Stanwood,  deacon  ;  Ebenezer  Stanwood,  died  Jul}* 
18,  1772;  Thomas  Adams,  recommended  to  the  church  in  Scotland, 
July,  1765;  William  Ross ;  David  Dunning,  deacon;  William  Simp- 
son ;  Samuel  Clark,  deacon ;  James  llewey  ;  Rol)ert  Ciiven ;  John 
Given;  Thomas  .Skolfield  :  John  (4atcliell,  Senior;  Isaac  Snow,  (lea- 
con;  Peter  Coombs,  died  Jjuuiarv,  17()8;  Peter  Coombs,  Junior; 
Aaron  Hinkle\' ;  James  Thompson,  renounced  the  church  ;  Alexnnder 
Thompson;  James  Curtis,  received  May,  1763;  Samuel  Whitney, 
deacon,  disraisse<i  to  a  chun^h  to  be  gathered  at  St.  John's  River, 
eastward;  Reverend  Robert  Dunlap;  Knoch  Danforth,  received  May, 
1763,  from  church  in  Arundel;  Henjaniin  Stone;  (George  llayden,  or 
lleadon,  or  Iladdean,  received  September,  1765;  Joseph  Snow, 
received  September,  1765;  William  Wilson,  received  December,  1762; 


376        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPiiHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Samuel  Snow,  son  of  Deacon  S.,  received  October,  17G5  ;  Robin  Mil- 
ler   (colored  man);  Robert  Dunning,   received  May,  1772;  

Allen;  Andrew  Dunning,  deacon,  received  Juh',  1772;  William  Cot- 
ton ;  Daniel  Browne,  received  J11I3',  1 772 ;  Thomas  Peunell ,  Susan- 
nah Orr ;  Hannah  Moody,  remove<l  to  Falmouth ;  Hannah  Minot, 
Cath.?rine  Smart,  removed  to  Penobscot ;  Jane  Rutherford,  removed 
to  Georges,  eastward  ;  Eliza  Stanwood,  wife  of  William  ;  Jane  Stan- 
wood  ;  John  Smart ;  ^  John  Minot ;  ^  Jane  Dunlap,  wife  of  Reverend 
Robert :  Mar}-  Spear,  wife  of  Robert ;  Elizabeth  Ross,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam;  Mary  Dunning;  Hannah  Harward ;  Agnes  Simpson,  wife  of 
William :  Martha  Clark,  wife  of  Samuel ;  Anna  Given ;  Marv  Skol- 
field,  wife  of  Thomas;  Mary  Snow,  daughter  of  Deacon  S.,  receivcnl 
October,  17G5;  Mary  Whitney,  wife  of  Deacon  S.  W.,  dismissed  to 
St.  John's  River,  October,  1765;  Sarah  Gray,  received  Soi)tember, 
1765  ;  Dorothy  Gray,  received  September.  1765  ;  Thompson;  Thomp- 
son ;  Hinkley  ;  Ham ;  Elizabeth  Hayden,  wife  of  G.,  received  Sep- 
^tember,  1762;  Dorcas  Danforth,  wife  of  E.,  received  Maj',  1763; 
Sarah  Gray ;  Mar}'  Snow ;  Sarah  Dunning,  wife  of  Robert,  received 
Jul}',  1772;  Mary  Hunt;  Margaret  Miller,  wife  of  Reverend  John; 
Elizabeth  Dunning,  wife  of  Andrew,  received  July,  1772 ;  Mrs.  Wil- 
liam Cotton,  received  July,  1772  ;  Mrs.  Daniel  Browne,  received  July, 
1772  ;  Alice  Pennell,  wife  of  Thomas,  died  1839  ;  Sarah  Car}'.  Total 
number  of  members,  seventy-two. 

The  following  names  are  found  in  a  list  of  those  admitted  to 
the  church  during  Mr.  Miller's  ministry,  which  are  not  found  in 
the  preceding  one.  This  list  is  apparently  also  in  Mr.  Miller's 
handwriting. 

Daniel  Hunt,  James  Elliot,  William  Dunning,  Ephraim  Hunt, 
Samuel  Dunlap,  Joseph  Morse,  Joseph  Haley,  Janett  Hunt,  wife  of 
Daniel,  Ruth  Elliot,  wife  of  James:  all  received  April  20,  1783. 

A  List  of  Members  who  signed  a  Church  Document  which  is 
WITHOUT  Date,  but  is  at  least  as  late  as  1783.  as  it  includes  three 
Names  admitted  in  1783. — Judah  Chase  ;  Robert  Dunning  ;  William 
Stanwood  ;  Samuel  Stanwood,  Junior ;  Samuel  Stanwood,  3d  ;  Lewis 
Simpson ;  Stephen  Skolfield ;  William  Woodside ;  Daniel  Woodside, 
Junior  ;  Anthony  Woodside  ;  David  Dunning  ;  David  Dunning,  Junior ; 
Andrew  Dmming ;  Samuel  Stanwood  ;  John  Dunlap  ;  William  Stan- 
wood, 2d  ;  William  Spear ;  Samuel  Dunlap  ;  John  Swett ;  James  Cary  ; 
William  Stanwood,  3d. 


*  Pcjepscot  Papers^  5,  /).  311,  et  seq.  *  Ibid. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.     '  377 

In  a  list  of  church  meinhors  during  the  ministn'  of  Keverond  Eben- 
ezer  Coffin  and  subsequently,  tlie  following  are  not  found  in  previous 
lists :  — 

William  Owen  ;  l*atrick  Kineaid,  deacon,  Jul^',  1800  ;  Tobias  Still ; 
James  Curtis,  deacon,  removed  to  Li8])on  ;  Marv  Owen  ;  Sarah  Given  ; 
Martha  Koss;  Mrs.  Eunice  Harding:  Mrs.  Hannah  Lunt,  received 
August,! 795;  Jeremiah  Minot,  received  August,  17JJG;  Jane  Dunlap, 
received  August,  179C;  Mrs.  Goss,  received  May,  1801. 

On  account  of  the  former  connection  of  the  First  Parish  with  the 
town,  an  account  is  here  inserted  of  the 

r^msii  FUND. 

The  origin  of  the  fund  was  this :  The  meeting-house,  which  was 
built  in  1806,  was  built  by  individuals  with  the  understanding  that  the 
pews  should  be  sold  at  auction,  and  that  all  that  was  paid  over  the 
amount  needed  to  reimburse  the  builders  was  to  go  to  the  ])arish  as  a 
uiinisteriid  fund,  onlv  the  interest  of  which  was  to  be  available  for 
parish  purposes.  This  fund  could  })e  added  to  by  donations  and  other- 
wise, but  the  principal  was  not  to  l>e  used.  In  181C  the  overplus  of 
the  town  Commons  —  one  hundred  and  ninety-seven  acres  —  was  set 
o!!'  to  the  parish  and  was  afterwanls  sold  to  Mr.  John  Given.  The 
proceeds  of  thp  sale  were  added  to  this  fund.  This  orerpltat  of  the 
Commons  was  the  amount  of  land  over  the  one  thousand  acres,  which 
by  the  proprietor's  deed  of  178:j  was  to  go  to  the  First  Parish.  It 
was  not  the  '•  ministerial  lot"  of  one  hundred  acres  lai<i  out  bv  the 
proprietors  in  1741.  What  became  of  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the 
latter,  we  do  not  know.  It  may  have  been  expended  in  biiilding  the 
first  two  meeting-houses.  It  formed  no  part  of  the  parish  fund. 
Tiiis  fund  is  said  at  one  time  to  have  amounted  to  S'),000  or  more. 
At  first  it  was  loaned  to  individuals,  ami  some  of  the  loans  were  lost 
by  the  parties  dying  insolvent.  Afterwards  the  trustees  of  the  fund 
bought  some  thirt}'  or  more  i>ews  in  the  meeting-house,  and  loaned  the 
balance  of  the  funds  to  the  parish.  1^}'  bad  management  this  fund 
has  dwindled  awa}',  and  nothing  now  remains  but  a  small  lot  of  land 
back  of  the  church. 

BAPTIST  SOCIETIKS. 

The  first  services  in  Brunswick  by  any  preacher  of  the  Baptist 
<lenomination  were  held  in  the  vear  178;J.  About  this  time  Elders 
Case,  Potter,  and  Lord  preached  here  in  some  private  houses,  and 
though  it  is  not  known  that  they  made  any  converts,  the  attention  of 


378        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

the  people  was  thus  drawn  to  their  particular  theological  views.  On 
October  21,  1783,  Reverend  Isaac  Case  arrived  in  town.  The  next 
afternoon  he  preached  at  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Woodard,  and  on  the 
afternoon  of  the  following  day,  he  preached  at  the  house  of  Mr. 
Samuel  Getchell.^ 

In  1789  2  or  1790,^  Samuel  Woodard  and  others  formed  themselves 
into  a  Baptist  Society  and  refused  taxes  to  the  First  Parish.  In  May, 
1 790,  Joseph  Morse  entered  in  the  town  records  his  protest  against 
ever  paying  anj'thing  to  any  Congregational  or  Presbyterian  preacher. 

On  June  20,  1794,  Judah  Chase,  William  Mariner,  Aaron  Snow, 
Samuel  Mariner,  John  Getchell,  John  Mariner,  Charles  Cowan,  Peter 
Jordan,  Robert  Jordan,  Anthony  Woodside,  David  Ferrin,  John  Fer- 
rin,  Robert  Dunning,  David  Clark,  Benjamin  Getchell,  Stephen 
Getchell,  John  Williams,  George  Williams,  I^hilip  Iliggins,  Reuben 
Higgins,  Sylvanus  Combs,  Philip  Higgins,  Jr.,  Samuel  Williams, 
William  Thompson,  Joseph  O'Donehue,  Joseph  Morse,  Richard  Orr, 
William  Stanwood,  Samuel  Dunlap,  Daniel  Brown,  Philip  Owens,* 
Samuel  Iluey,  Joseph  Ross,  John  Mariner,  Jr.,  Josiah  Simpson, 
Michael  Grows,  Nathan  Combs,  George  Winslow,  Joseph  Saint 
Combs,  William  Dunning,  Samuel  Woodward,  Peter  Woodward,  Wil- 
liam Gatchell,  Jr.,  Ezekiel  Spaulding,  Kzekiel  Spaulding,  Jr.,  John  S. 
Gatchell,  John  Ridout,  Samuel  Gatchell,  John  Matthews,  David  Lin- 
scot,  William  Woodside,  Jr.,  George  Combs,  and  George  Combs,  Jr., 
were  incorporated  by  the  name  of  The  Baptist  Relkwois  Society 
IN  BuuxswicK,  Harpswell,  and  Batii."^  Previous  to  this  time  the 
societv  had  no  lejral  existence. 

In  May,  1795,  tlie  town  voted  to  pass  by  the  fourth  article  in  the 
warrant  concerning  allowing  the  Baptists  to  use  the  meeting-houses  a 
part  of  the  time. 

Tlie  following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who  joined  the 
Baptists  in  1796:  — 

On  March  4,  David  Whitney,  Simeon  Whitnev,  Samuel  Bean,  Joshua 
Purinton,  Abraham  Cai)elon,  Lemuel  Standish,  Jonathan  Osgood,  Jr., 
Jonathan  Osgood,  Francis  Winter,  Benjamin  Chellbrd,  Charles  Peter- 
son, William  Grace,  John  Grace,  James  Ward,  Thomas  Crawford, 
Thomas  McKonny,  Isaiah  Crooker,  Hannah  Crooker,  Elijah  Williams, 
Thomas  Williams,  Jr. 


'  MiW'tl.  "^  Greenlea/'s  Kvdesiastiral  Sketches  ^Pcjepscot  Puftera 

*Said  to  hum  been  the  first  person  erer  hfiptized  by  immersion  in  Brtmsicirk. 
^Massachusetts  Special  Laws,  1,  p.  621). 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  371) 

On  March  10,  William  Swanton,  Jr.,  John  Ix)woll,  Otis  Little, 
Patrick  Murray. 

On  March  12,  Joseph  West,  James  Wakefield. 

On  March  14,  John  Whitmore,  James  Mitchell,  Eliphalet  J^owell, 
William  S.  Crooker,  Samuel  Lumber,  Josei)h  Lumber,  Binluck  Berry, 
Thomas  Mitchell. 

On  March  IG,  John  McFarlan,  John  Eneos,  Patrick  Williams, 
Thomas  Williams,  John  Williams,  Joshua  Williams.  John  Campbell, 
John  I-emont,  Stephen  Combes,  Stephen  Combes,  Jr.,  Tliomas  Combes, 
John  llolbrook,  John  Sprague,  Simeon  llijrgins,  Jacob  Low,  James 
Ix)w,  Zedoc  Lincoln,  William  Marshall,  William  Marshall,  Jr. 

On  March  17,  William  Jackson,  Edward  Oliver,  Christopher 
Dalev. 

On  March  18,  Samuel  Davis,  James  Davidson,  Samuel  Todd, 
Simeon  Tumor,  Charles  Lincoln,  Jonathan  Ryon,  Benjamin  Brown, 
Jr.,  Eliphalet  Brown,  David  Coultson,  Patrick  Grace,  Nathaniel 
Springot,  John  Sinclair.^ 

In  179«  the  town  voted  ''  to  allow  the  Baptist  Society  their  extraor- 
dinary expense  in  the  lawsuit  between  them  and  the  other  so<;iety  in 
this  town,"  which  was  to  be  in  full  of  all  demands.  The  object  of 
this  suit  is  nowhere  stated,  but  the  record  of  the  Court  of  ('ommon 
Pleas  shows  that  at  the  October  term  of  Court  in  1795,  •*  Samuel 
Woo<lward  of  Brunswick  in  the  Countv  of  Cumberland,  Clerk  and 
Teacher  of  Piety,  Religion  and  Morality,"  brought  a  suit  against  the 
inhabitants  of  Brunswick,  one  of  whom  was  Thomas  Tliompson,  a 
deputy  sherift*,  in  a  plea  of  the  case  that  the  inhabitants  were  indebted 
to  the  said  Woodward  in  the  sum  of  £10  17s.  i\d.  The  plaintiff 
failed  to  retjover,  and  costs  were  awarded  to  tiie  defendants  for  nine- 
teen dollars  and  eighty-six  cents.  The  plaintiff  appealed  to  a 
higher  court.  This  was  prol>a])ly  the  lawsuit  referred  to,  though  we 
cannot  be  certain  about  the  matter,  since  tlie  original  papers  cannot  be 
found.  It  is  probable  that  there  was  an  assessment  of  taxes  made  by 
the  town,  which  was  also  the  First  Parish,  upon  property  of  some  kind, 
to  sustain  preaching,  and  the  suit  was  instituted  by  this  society  to  obtain 
its  share  of  the  amount  collecte<l. 

In  171M.),  Philip  Owen,  William  Dunning,  Daniel  Brown,  Judah 
Chase,  Samuel  Dunlap,  Ji  siah  Simpson,  Anthony  Woodsitle.  Michael 
Grows,  and  Joseph  Ross  withdrew  from  this  socit'ty  and  foiined  one 
at  Maquoit. 


1  Pt'j'.'pscot  Ptipt  m. 


380        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8IIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL 

The  meeting-liouse  of  the  Brunswick,  Ilarpswell,  and  Bath  society 
was  nt  New  Meadows.  The  date  of  its  erection,  according  to  the 
inscription  upon  the  present  building,  was  about  1800.  The  recoixls 
of  this  church  are  in  existence,  but  we  have  not  been  able  to  procure 
the  loan  of  them  and  are  theiefore  unable  to  give  an}'  further  account 
of  it. 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  OF  BRUNSWICK. 

[1799.]  A  small  number  of  persons  having  been  led  to  embrace 
"  Believers'  Baptism,"  thought  it  might  conduce  to  the  glory  of  God 
and  their  comfopf;  to  be  embodied  together  in  church  order.  They 
therefore  applied  to  the  church  in  North  Yarmouth  and  the  church  in 
Ilarpswell,  of  the  Baptist  order,  for  their  assistance.  Agreeably  with 
this  request  the  elders  and  messengers  from  those  churches,  together 
with  Elder  Williams,  met  at  the  Baptist  meeting-house  at  Maquoit,  on 
the  second  week  in  September,  1 799.  Elder  Woodward  preached  a  ser- 
mon in  the  forenoon  on  the  nature  of  church  order. 

The  brethren  and  sisters  who  met  to  be  embodied  were  examine*! 
with  regard  to  their  ailicles  of  faith  and  covenant,  and  it  appearing 
that  they  had  adopted  the  same  which  is  embraced  by  the  Bowdoin- 
ham  Association,  a  summary  of  which  is  printed  in  their  minutes,  the 
council  decided  to  give  them  the  hand  of  fellowship  as  a  distinct  Bap- 
tist church.  The  names  of  those  thus  embodied  were,  Judah  Chase, 
Samuel  Dunlap,  William  Stanwood,  Sarah  W'oodside,  Philip  Owen, 
Mrs.  Iloss,  wife  of  William  Ross,  and  J.  Merrill. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  dismissed  from  the  liowdoin  church  and  the 
others  from  the  Ilarpswell  church  in  order  to  form  this  new  church  in 
Bninswick. 

William  Woodside  was  baptized,  and  then  the  church  made  choice 
of  Samuel  Dunlap  as  deacon. 

Elder  W'illiams  having  for  some  time  ])reached  to  the  Baptist 
society  in  Brunswick  and  in  Topsham,  they  mutually  requested  him 
to  remove  his  residence  among  them  and  preach  for  the  two  societies 
alternat<jly.  The  invitation  was  accepted,  and  he  moved  with  his 
family  to  Bninswick,  January  24,  1800,  preaching  half  the  time  for 
the  Baptist  society  in  Bmnswick,  and  half  for  the  Baptist  society  in 
Topsham. 

On  the  fifteenth  of  April,  1800,  an  arrangement  was  made  by 
which  Elder  Williams  should  preach  for  the  ensuing  year  for  the  socie- 
ties of  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  each  societ}^  paying  oue  hundred 
dollars  for  his  services. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  381 

In  April,  1801,  Elder  TVilliams  was  engaged  to  preach  for  the 
Bninswiek  society  alone  at  a  salarj-  of  two  hundred  dollars,  and  in 
April,  1802,  he  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  another  year. 
In  the  spring  of  1803  he  removed  to  Beverly,  Massachusetts,  having 
preaehe<l  his  farewell  discourse  on  the  twenty- fourth  of  April. 
"  After  Elder  Williams  left  us,  a  Brother  Kendall  provide ntiallj*  fell  in 
here  and  preached  for  us."  * 

On  the  twenty-second  of  February,  1803,  Hiilip  Owen,  William 
Dunning,  Daniel  Brown,  Judah  Chase,  Samuel  Dunlap,  Josiah  Simp- 
son, Anthonj'  Woodside,  Michael  Grows,  Jose])h  Ross,  Samuel  Stan- 
wood,  William  Woodside,  Andrew  Blake,  Abraham  Toothaker,  Wil- 
liam Starbird,  David  Curtis,  James  Stan  wood.  Adam  Woodside. 
David  Dunning,  WiUiam  Ross,  Frederic  French,  Nathaniel  Chase, 
James  Chase,  William  Swett,  Shimuel  Owen,  Abner  Melcher,  William 
Ix>w,  Charles  Ryan,  Ephraim  Hunt,  William  Lunt,  Andrew  Dunning, 
William  Hunt,  Anthony  Chase,  Gideon  Toothaker,  John  Given, 
David  Given,  and  Uriah  Elliot  were  incorporated  as  the  Baitist 
SociKTv  IN  Brunswick. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  members  of  the  church  in  1803; 
Deacon  Samuel  Dunlap,  Judah  Chase,  Philip  Owen,  John  MerriJl, 
Esquire,  Wm.  Woodside,  IMrs.  Sarah  Woodside,  Mrs.  Ross,  wife  of 
Wm.  Ross,  Abraham  Toothaker  and  his  wife,  Betse}-  Owen,  Molly 
Toothaker,  Jane  Curtiss,  Molly  Merryman,  Mr.  Browning  and  Mrs. 
BrowniiiiT,  Elisha  Snow,  Jean  Dunnini;,  Betsev  Alexander,  Martha 
Hunt,  Jane  Martin,  Mrs.  Snow,  wife  of  Elisha  Snow,  Mrs.  Brown, 
wife  of  Daniel  Brown,  Sarah  Alexander,  Mrs.  Sparks,  Hitty  llasey, 
Abner  Melcher,  Nabby  Atherton,  Katharine  WilLson,  Andrew  Blake, 
lleziah  Blake,  Peggy  Stanwood,  Ann  Chase,  and  Shimuel  Owen. 

On  September  8,  1«04,  Elder  Titcoml),  of  Portland,  at  the  request  of 
the  church  and  society,  agreed  *'  to  minister  to  them  in  holy  things." 
'ihis  invitation  was  formally  extended  by  the  society  on  August  21), 
1805,  and  was  accepted  by  him  on  the  first  of  the  following  September. 

On  June  2,  1821,  Elder  Titcomb  was  dismissed  at  his  own  recpiest, 
and  received  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  other  churches.  The 
church  was  destitute  of  a  settled  pastor  for  some  time,  but  had  occa- 
sional preaching  from  Elder  Titcomb  and  others. 

On  January  23,  1822,  Benjamin  Titctmib,  Jr.,  was  ordained,  the 
churches  in  Topsham,  Portland,  North  Yarmouth,  Bath,  Harpswell, 
and  Freeport  assisting.     On  November  1 1  of  the  same  year  a  com- 


*  AU  of  this  account  is  from  the  church  and  parish  rccnrds. 


382        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

mittec  consisting  of  David  Given,  John  O'Brien,  and  PLphraim  Brown 
was  fhosen  *'  to  provide  a  suitable  place  in  the  village  and  also  an- 
other at  Maquoit,^  to  meet  in  the  winter  for  worship,  and  to  take  into 
consideration  our  present  difficult  situation  in  regard  to  making  a 
selection  of  a  teacher  for  the  present  j'ear." 

On  the  eleventh  of  March,  1824,  it  was  voted  that  Elder  Benjamin 
Titconib  continue  his  labors  in  the  church  as  usual. 

On  the  ninth  of  August  of  that  year  Shimuel  Owen,  a  member  of  this 
church,  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  In  November,  a  connuittee 
was  appointe<l  to  ascertain  the  minds  of  the  individual  church  members 
as  to  whether  the}'  were  satisfied  with  the  labors  of  Elder  Titcomb. 

It  appears  from  the  records  that  the  church  had  been  somewhat 
divided,  and  on  the  sixth  of  April,  182r»,  it  was  voted  that  *'  this 
church  views  with  abhorrence  and  detestation  their  present  stiite  as  a 
church,  and  feeling  desirous  to  walk  together  in  the  faith  and  fellow- 
ship of  the  gospel,  we  do  here))}'  unitedly  agree  to  bur>'  forever  in 
oblivion  all  hardness  which  we  may  have  felt  or  do  now  feel  in  our 
minds  against  any  of  our  brethren  or  sisters,  and  that  we  will,  with 
the  help  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  freely  and  voluntarily  forgive  all  that 
may  have  trespassed  against  us.'*  Up  to  this  time  the  whole  meml)er- 
ship  of  the  church  was  about  one  hundred  and  fifty .*^ 

On  the  tenth  of  April  the  following  members  requested  to  be  dis- 
missed to  form  themselves  into  a  church,  or  to  join  some  other  church, 
and  the  request  was  granted  :  — 

Aaron  Dunning,  Philip  Owen,  Catharine  II.  Putnam,  Mary  Hum- 
phreys, Sarah  Owen,  Margaret  Donahue,  Elizabeth  Gould,  Nancy 
Swift,  Elizabeth  Dunning,  Mar}'  Blake,  Mar}'  Chase,  Betsey  Petingill, 
and  Sarah  Slanwood. 

At  the  same  meeting  the  church  refused  to  grant  permission  to  two 
of  its  members  to  withdraw  and  join  the  church  of  the  Second  Society, 
and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  prepare  a  statement  of  facts  relative 
to  the  conduct  of  the  other  church  since  its  formation. 

On  the  twenty- sixth  of  June.  182(>,  a  petition  was  addressed  to 
Peter  O.  Alden,  Esquire,  a  justice  of  the  peace,  requesting  him  to 
issue  his  warrant  to  one  of  the  subscribers,  directing  him  to  call  a 
meeting  of  those  persons  who  were  desirous  of  being  incorporated 
into  a  religions  society,  to  be  called  the  Fiust  Bai»tist  Religious 
Society  of  Buunswick. 


1  There  tc(jut  no  chimney  in  the  Maquoii  meeting-house,  and  there  was  therefore  no  way 
of  hratiwj  it. 
*  a  MUiet. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRVySWICK.  383 

In  accordance  with  this  petition,  Esquire  Aldeu  issued  his  warrant 
to  Ephraim  Brown,  directing  him  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  petitioners 
on  the  eighth  da}'  of  July,  182G.  At  this  meeting  the  society  was 
organized  b}'  the  choice  of  the  following  officers :  — 

.John  Brown,  moderator  ;  Jonathan  Snow,  clerk  ;  David  ( Jiven,  John 
Brown,  and  Captain  John  Given,  Jr.,  assessors;  David  (iiven,  col- 
lector and  treasurer;  John  Brown,  David  (liven,  Ephraim  Brown,  and 
Samuel  (iiven,  standing  connnittee ;  Ephraim  Brown.  William  II. 
Morse,  William  James,  wardeus ;  Nathaniel  Melcher,  sexton. 

This  organization  was  virtual!}'  the  same  as  that  incorporated  in 
1803  as  the  '*  Baptist  Society  in  Brunswick.**  Many  of  its  memlwrs 
had  withdrawn  and  had  established  themselves  as  a  society  in  the 
village,  called  the  '^  Second  Baptist  Society."  It  is  quite  probable 
that  the  ofHcers  of  the  old  societv  were  amonj?  those  who  seceded, 
and  being  thus  left  without  an  organization,  tin*  remaining  members 
applied  to  a  justice  of  the  pejwre  under  the  laws  <»f  Maine,  for  authority 
to  reorganize  under  a  slightly  ditierent  name. 

In  July  the  W)ciety  voted  to  raise  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  ensu- 
ing vear. 

On  Septeml>er,  18iG,  the  churches  of  the  First  and  Second  Societies 
nu»t  to  discuss  their  dillerences.  The  church  of  the  First  Societv 
claimed  that  the  other  church  had  no  right  to  admit  as  members  those 
who  were  excluded  from  the  former,  until  they  had  been  restored  to 
fellowship  and  regularly  dismissed  by  it.  The  church  of  the  Second 
Societv  claimed  that  tliev  had  a  ri^ht  to  admit  sueh  members,  so  long 
as  the  other  church  liad  nothing  agjiinst  the  Christian  character  of 
these  individuals.  No  agreement  was  reaehe<l  between  the  two.  In 
November,  Adam  Wilson  was  invited  to  pri'ach  one  half  the  time. 

On  Jamiary  8,  1827,  it  wjis  voted  to  ym\  in  fellowship  with  the 
Second  Church,  which  had  acknowlcdgc<l  some  irregularities  in  receiv- 
ing members  who  were  excluded  from  the  First  Church. 

On  Fel^ruary  23,  Elder  BcMijamiu  Titcomb  asked  permission  to 
preach  to  those  of  the  society  who  resided  in  tlu?  village,  or  to  hold 
meetings  in  that  part  of  the  town,  and  it  was  voted  **  that  it  is  the 
opinion  of  this  church  that  Elder  Titcomb  is  at  liberty  to  preach  any- 
wliere  in  this  town  where  he  views  it  to  be  his  duty."  In  April  some 
of  the  members  of  the  old  society  comi)lained  that  many  members 
absented  themselves  and  attended  Mr.  Titcomb's  meeting  in  the  vil- 
lage instead  of  their  own. 

It  had  been  the  practice  for  some  years  to  \\o\i\  {\w  meetings  of  the 
8(X'iety  in  the  village  in  the  winter,  and  at  the  old  meeting-house  at 


384      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  lOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Maquoit  in  the  summer.  This  3'ear,  on  June  1,  the  village  members 
requested  that  the  meetings  might  continue  in  the  village  through  the 
summer,  but  it  was  voted  not  to  do  so.  A  few  days  later  thirteen 
members  petitioned  for  liberty  to  attend  meeting  in  the  village,  as  it 
would  be  more  convenient  for  them,  but  their  request  was  not  granted. 
In  October,  Elder  Titcomb  asked  a  dismissal,  which  was  granted  him, 
and  also  to  Marj- ,  his  wife,  and  to  Elizabeth  Titcomb,  tiphraim  Brown, 
and  Rebecca,  his  wife,  Thomas  Stanwood  and  wife,  Thomas  Noycs, 
Joanna  Moore,  and  Mary  R.  Dunlap :  and  on  the  third  of  November, 
Joshua  Bishop,  David  Wilson,  William  Randall,  ^Ifxry  IVrkins, 
Patience  Bishop,  James  Wilson,  Isabelle  Merry  man,  and  Ruth  Skol- 
field,  of  Harps  well,  were  dismissed  to  form  a  church  in  that  town. 

On  January  4,  1828,  a  resolution  was  passed  that  Elder  Titcomb, 
Ephraim  Brown,  John  O'Brien,  and  others,  "  having  asked  dismission 
for  the  purpose  of  uniting  with  some  other  church,  and  having  joined 
the  First  Church  at  Bath,  and  under  their  patronage  have  established  a 
meeting  in  the  village  while  there  is  already  one  church  of  this  faith 
there,  causes  us  grief,  and  we  feel  in  duty  bound  to  express  disfellow- 
ship  with  such  a  procedure." 

During  the  summer  of  this  year,  thirty -eight  were  added  to  the 
church. 

In  consequence  of  the  action  of  the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Bath  in 
sustaining  the  new  movement  in  Brunswick  village,  a  council  was  held 
February  29,  1829,  to  settle  the  dilliculties  between  that  church  ami 
the  First  Baptist  Church  in  Bnmswick,  but  the  action  of  the  council  is 
not  recorded.  On  May  31,  however,  the  Bath  church  sent  a  confes- 
sion of  their  wrong-doing  in  having  set  up  a  branch  church  in  Bruns- 
wick without  consultation  with  the  churches  already  existing  there. 
This  action  of  the  Bath  church  evidently-  reconciled  this  church  to  the 
formation  of  the  new  one  in  the  village,  for  on  OctolKjr  11,  Jonathan 
Snow  and  Thomas  Ward  were  chosen  delegates  to  assist  in  organizing 
the  branch  of  the  Bath  church,  known  ns  the  Federal  Street  Church, 
in  Brunswick,  into  an  independent  church. 

The  pulpit  of  the  Maquoit  or  First  Baptist  Church  had  been  sup- 
plied during  the  past  three  j'ears  b}'  Elders  Samuel  Mariner,  Adam 
Wilson,  Shimuel  Owen,  and  Henry  Randall.^ 

On  May  22,  18»30,  it  was  agreed  to  tr}*  to  raise  monc}'  b}'  subscrip- 
tion for  the  support  of  the  gospel. 

On  the  twentieth  of  August,  1831,  it  was  voted  that  Elder  John 


Milieu. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BUUXSWICK,  385 

Bailey,  formerl}*  of  Wiscassct,  take  the  pastoral  care  of  the  church. 
He  resigned  his  pastorate  in  June,  1833. 

Elder  William  Johnson  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  1836,  and 
continued  in  that  capacity  until  1840.  In  Jul}',  1836,  Elder  Noah 
Norton  and  wife  were  received  b}'  letter  from  the  Baptist  Church  in 
Bowdohi.  In  1838  the  parish  voted  to  raise  by  tax  one  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars  for  the  ensuing  year's  expenses. 

In  April,  18-40,  it  was  voted  to  engage  Elder  Noah  Norton,  and  to 
raise  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  by  tax,  and  fifty  dollars  b\'  sub- 
scription. 

It  was  voted  this  year  that  all  pew-owners  should  give  up  their 
pews,  and  that  thereafter  the\'  should  all  be  free. 

On  May  1,  1841,  it  was  voted  to  build  a  new  mecting-honse,  and 
that  it  should  stand  on  the  west  side  of  the  twelve-rod  road,  near  the 
road  leading  to  Haq)swell ;  and  Captain  William  Stanwood,  Jonathan 
Snow,  Jacob  Skolfield,  and  William  Stanwood,  2d,  were  chosen  a 
building  committee.  Although  there  is  nothing  further  upon  the  sub- 
ject in  the  reconls,  it  is  known  that  instead  of  building  a  new  meeting- 
house, the  one  on  Federal  Street,  belonging  to  the  Universalists,  was, 
about  1840,  purchased  and  moved  to  a  lot  near  the  junction  of  the  old 
llarpswell  and  Mair  Point  roads,  and  it  was  thereafter  known  as  the 
''  Forest  Church." 

From  1841  to  1845,  Elder  Norton  was  annualh'  chosen  preacher. 

EUler  Joseph  Hutchinson  was  chosen  pastor  in  1848,  and  in  1852 
was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 

Meetings  seem  to  have  becMi  held  in  the  years  1853,  1858,  and 
1806,  but  there  is  no  record  of  any  settled  pastor,  or  of  any  impor- 
tant transactions. 

On  Mav  10,  l^<67,  Grenville  M.  Atkins  was  invited  to  become  their 
pastor,  and  accepted  tiie  invitation,  lie  was  ordained  June  13,  1867. 
lie  pi*eached  a  lew  days  over  a  year,  resigning  his  charge  on  May  31, 
1868.     Since  then  there  has  been  no  settled  pastor  of  this  church. 

The  last  entry  in  the  reconls  is  dated  April  2i),  1867,  and  is  to  the 
effect  that  the  parish  met  on  tiiat  day  and  reorganized,  and  voted  ''  to 
raise  all  we  can  for  the  support  of  the  gospel." 

Corniected  with  the  history  of  this  church  is  the  following  anecdote 
which  is  told  of  William  Woodside.  He  became  **  converted"  under 
the  preaching  of  Elder  Potter,  an<l  at  one  of  the  meetings  related  his 
'*  experience,"  and,  as  was  the  custom  in  those  daj's,  he  had  much  to 
say  derogatory  of  himself,  lie  was  in  reality  a  ver^-  good  man,  but 
in  his  remarks  he  called  himself  a  bad  man,  one  who  was  wholly  evil, 

25 


386         HISTORY  OF  DliUySWICK.  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

whose  every  act  was  wicked,  and  whose  imaginations  were  all  vain. 
When  he  sat  down,  a  relative  arose  and  with  becoming  gravitj'  said 
that  he  could  vouch  for  the  truth  of  all  AVilliam  had  said ! 

SF.COND  BAPTIST  CHURCH   AND  SOCIETY. 

On  Tuesday,  May  5,  1825,  a  church  was  regularl}'  constituted  in  this 
place,  agreeably  to  the  Baptist  platform,  by  a  council  assembled  for 
the  puq)ose,  under  the  title  of  the  "  Second  Baptist  Church  in  Bnins- 
wick."  The  council  consisted  of  delegates  from  eight  churches,  who 
were  unanimously  agreed  in  giving  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  The 
I'ecords  of  this  church  have  not  been  found,  and  it  is  not  positivel}' 
known  who  were  its  members.  It  is  probable,  however,  that  Aaron 
Dunning,  Philip  Owen,  Catharine  H.  Putnam,  Mary  Humphreys,  Sarah 
Owen,  Margaret  Donahue,  Elizabeth  Gould,  Nancy  Swift,  Elizabeth 
Dunning,  Mary  Blake,  Mary  Chase,  Betsey  Pettingill,  Sarah  Stan  wood, 
lleman  Pettingill,  and  Stan  wood  Dunning  were  among  the  first  mem- 
bers All  of  these  persons  were  previously  members  of  the  First 
Baptist  Church,  and  were  dismissed  from  that  church  on  the  tenth  of 
April  of  that  year  in  order  '*  to  form  themselves  into  a  church,  or  to 
join  some  other  church."  The  Second  Baptist  Society  was  not  formed 
for  a  year  later. 

In  I82(>  a  meeting-house  was  erected  on  School  Street.  Elder 
Shimuel  Owen  was  pastor  of  this  society  from  1827  until  it  dissolved, 
in  1840.*  The  building  was  then  sold  to  the  Congregationalists,  and 
has  been  used  b}'  them  ever  since  as  a  vestry. 

FEDERAL  STREET   BAPTIST  SOCIETY. 

In  1828,  Elder  Benjamin  Titcomb,  E[>hraim  Brown,  John  O'Brien, 
and  a  few  other  members  of  the  First  Baptist  Societ}',  asked  and 
received  dismission  from  that  church  and  united  with  the  First  Baptist 
Church  of  Bath,  under  whose  patronage  they  establishc<l  meetings  in 
the  village  of  Brunswick.  Notwithstanding  there  was  at  the  same 
time  another  Baptist  society  in  the  village  (the  Second  Baptist),  and 
notwithstanding  the  opposition  made  toward  this  new  movement  bj' 
the  First  Baptist  Societj*,  it  was  successful,  and  in  1829  it  was  organ- 
ized as  a  church.  In  April,  work  was  begun  upon  a  meeting-house, 
and  the  building  was  completed  on  the  twelfth  of  the  following  Sep- 
tember. It  was  situated  on  Fedeial  Street,  at  the  corner  of  what  is 
now  Franklin  Street. ^     This  church,  it  is  said,  was  under  the  pastoral 


Millet,  2  jt  is  nmc  (he  Catholic  Church, 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  387 

care  of  Elder  Titcomb  during  the  whole  period  of  its  existence.  It 
was  dropped  from  the  association  of  Baptist  churches  in  1839.  No 
records  of  the  church  having  been  fonnd,  we  are  unable  to  give  a  more 
complete  and  accurate  sketch. 

MAINE  STREET  BAPTIST  CHURCH   AND  SOCIETY. 

In  the  early  part  of  1840  a  ver}'  extensive  revival  took  place  in 
Topsham  and  Brunswick.  In  October,  twenty-four  persons  from  the 
church  in  Topsham,  who  resided  in  Brunswick,  were  organized  into  a 
church.  The  society  was  formed  in  the  same  year,  and  a  meeting- 
house, containing  seventy-five  pews,  was  erected  on  Maine  Street,  a 
few  rods  north  of  Lincoln  Street.*  The  Reverend  Paul  S.  Adams, 
from  South  Berwick,  was  the  first  pastor,  from  January  3,  1841,  to 
1843.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  Dudley  C.  Ilaj-nes,  whose 
pastorate  lasted  l>etween  two  and  three  years. 

Reverend  John  Hubbard,  Jr.,  was  chosen  pastor  January,  184(5,  at 
a  salary  of  two  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  His  pastorate  ended  Oc- 
tober 4,  1851.  Reverend  J,  W.  Coburn  was  pastor  from  March  15, 
1852,  until  June  2,  1853  ;  and  in  November  of  the  latter  year  he  was 
succeeded  b}-  the  Reverend  Charles  Ayer,  wlio  remained  until  Septem- 
her  1,  1856.  Reverend  E.  Andrews,  an  evangelist,  then  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  a  few  months,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  Reverend  James  I). 
Keid,  in  October,  1857.  In  1859,  Reverend  Charles  A3-er  again  sup- 
plie<i  the  pulpit. 

In  June,  1800,  the  Reverend  George  Knox  was  installed  as  pastor 
of  the  societ}'.  In  June,  1861,  Mr.  Knox  was  granted  a  leave  of 
absence  to  act  as  chaplain  of  a  Maine  regiment,  and  Reverend  S. 
W.  Ta3'lor  was  engaged  to  supply  the  pulpit  during  his  absence. 
The  former  was  discharged  from  his  pastorate,  at  his  own  request, 
November  17,  1861.  He  was  afterward  killed  by  a  fall  from  his 
borse. 

In  1862,  Reverend  T.  J.  B.  House  was  chosen  pastor,  and  remained 
with  the  society  three  years.  In  1865,  Reverend  C.  M.  Herring  was 
chosen  pastor.  During  his  pastorate  a  vestry'  was  built  and  the 
meeting-house  was  repaired  and  remodelled. 

Mr.  Herring  resigned  his  pastorate  July  26,  1868,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded, the  next  spring,  by  Reverend  S.  W.  Emerson,  who  remained 
but  one  vear. 

Reverend   B.    F.    Lawrence    became   pn.stor   in   June,    1870,    and 


*  The  present  Baptist  Church. 


388        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

remained  for  four  jears.     Reverend  E.  S.  Small,  the  present  pastor, 
began  his  pastorate  February  20,  1876. 

The  foregoing  sketch  of  this  parish  is  made  from  notes  furnished  by 
the  parish  clerk.  It  is  not  so  full  as  could  be  wished,  but  is  as  com- 
plete as  possible  from  the  notes  furnished. 

SOCIETY   OF  FRIENDS. 

There  has  never  been  an}*  organized  society  of  Friends  in  Bruns- 
wick, but  about  1772  several  Quakers  moved  into  town  and  settled 
not  far  from  tlie  line  between  Brunswick  and  Durham.  Some  of 
them  had  previously  been  living  in  llarpswell.^  Otliers  joined  them, 
and  there  are  now  a  number  of  excellent  people  in  the  west  end  of  the 
town  who  belong  to  this  denomination.  Their  meeting-house  is  in  the 
town  of  Durham,  and  thej*  belong  to  the  society  of  that  town. 

FREE-WILL  BAPllST  SOCIETIES. 

About  1793,  Elder  Pelatiah  Tingley,  of  Waterboro',  formerly  of 
Sanford,  began,  with  others,  to  hold  religious  meetings  in  Brunswick. 
These  meetings  were  usuallj'  held  at  the  house  of  William  Alexander.^ 
About  1799  the  First  Free-Will  Baptist  Society,  or  as  it  was  some- 
times called,  the  '*  Christian  ("iiurcu  in  Brunswick  and  Freepokt," 
was  formed.  The  first  church  meeting  was  held  at  James  Elliot's  on 
October  23.  The  members  were  Obadiah  Curtis,  Adam  Elliot,  Wil- 
liam  Alexander,  Anthony  Morse,  Joseph  Ward,  John  Coombs,  Susan- 
nah Morey,  Hannah  and  Margaret  Coombs. 

In  1807  the  records  state  that  there  was  considerable  contention  in 
the  church,  but  the  cause  thereof  is  not  given.  On  August  27,  of 
this  year,  the  church  numbered  forty  members.  In  1809  there  was  a 
'*  considerable  want  of  union  and  many  backsliders.*' 

In  1810  the  church  was  more  prosperous,  and  man}'  converts  were 
made.  This  j'car  their  meeting-house  was  built.  It  was  a  one-story 
building,  and  was  situated  near  Noah  Melcher's,  on  the  old  Freeport 
road.  It  was,  it  is  said,  the  second  meeting-house  of  this  denomina- 
tion in  the  State. 

In  1813,  on  December  16th,  Elder  Adam  Elliot,  who  had  been  set- 
tled about  August,  1803,  died,  and  the  pulpit  became  vacant.  In 
181 G,  Elder  George  Lamb  was  settled.  The  whole  number  of  mem- 
bers up  to  June  1,  1817,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty. 

On  Ma}'  2,  1818,  a  division  occurred  in  the  church,  on  the  question 


*  P^epscot  Papers.  a  Stewart's  Free-  WUl  Baptists. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  LlbTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  380 

of  washing  of  feet  after  the  manner  of  the  early  disciples,  and  a  few 
members  withdrew  because  the  rite  was  not  observed. 

On  Febniary  22 •  1823,  owing  to  the  small  number  of  members  and 
the  low  state  of  interest  existing,  the  society  was  declared  dissolved. 
On  January  17,  1826,  the  church  was  reorganized  b}-  a  committee  from 
thcQuarterh'  Meeting.  The  first  meeting  after  the  reorganization  was 
held  on  the  fourth  of  Februar}'.  On  November  14,  1827,  the  Union 
Meeting- House  at  ^'Growstown"  was  finished,  and  the  future  meetings 
of  this  socMctv  were  held  in  it. 

In  1831,  June  25,  the  church  voted  to  use  a  bass-viol  with  their 
singing.  A  resolve  to  use  no  ardent  spirits,  except  as  a  medicine, 
was  passed  at  this  meeting.  On  February  22,  1834,  it  was  voted  to 
deal  with  all  church  members  who  had  taken  the  pledge  of  temperance 
and  had  violated  it.  Elder  Lamb  resigned  his  pastorate  on  Soptemlier 
25,  1835.  .  He  died  in  Bnmswick,  December  14,  1836,  having  served 
as  pastor  nineteen  years.  August  12,  1837.  Kldcr  Andrew  Rollins 
was  received  as  pastor  of  the  church.  The  whole  number  of  members, 
between  1826  and  1839,  was  one  hundred  and  ninetv-tliree. 

On  Ma}*  16,  1840,  it  was  voted  to  increase  Elder  Rollins's  salary 
from  three  hundred  to  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Februarv  20, 
1841,  it  was  voted  to  recognize  singing  as  a  means  of  worship,  and  to 
make  regulations  in  regard  to  the  same.  On  Juh'  22,  1842,  Amos 
Lunt,  Amos  Lunt,  Jr.,  Thomas  Coombs,  George  Cobb,  and  Phineas 
Collins  were  dismissed,  to  organize  the  Freeport  and  Brunswick 
Church.     On  June  30,  Elder  Ezra  Crowell  was  ordained. 

June  8,  1844,  Elder  E.  G.  Eaton  was  elected  as  pastor.  lie  was 
dismissed  Februarv  12,  1847.  During  the  latter  year  Elder  E.  F. 
Page  ofliciate<l.  On  February  12,  1848,  Elder  Almon  Libby  was 
settled.  He  was  dismissed  Februar}'  14,  1852,  and  in  May  of  that 
year  Elder  Rollins  was  again  settled.  The  whole  number  of  mem- 
bers up  to  1851  was  three  Imndred  and  sixty-eight,  of  which  two 
hundred  and  twenty- five  were  females. 

February  12,  1853,  tiie  church  repealed  the  old  covenant  and  adopted 
the  New  Test'nnmt  as  n  covenant.  On  September  20,  1856,  Polder  D. 
Waterman  was  settled.  In  1859,  Elder  Chanev  was  settled  over  the 
church,  but  his  pastorate*  was  a  short  one,  as  he  resigned  in  the  Octo- 
ber followinj;.     On  Februarv  16,  I860,  Elder  Ilntchinsou  was  settled. 

TiiK  FiiEE  Baitcst  Society  of  Brunswick  Village  was  originalh* 
coinix).sed  of  members  of  the  church  at  Topsham  who  resided  in 
Brunswick,  ancl  who,  on  account  of  the  distance,  resolved  to  form  a 
church  of  llieir  own. 


390        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  IIARPSWELL. 

The  first  sennon  was  delivered  in  McLellan  Ilall,  by  Reverend 
Doctor  Graham.  No  step  had  at  that  time  been  taken  to  form  a  soci- 
ety, though  tlie  matter  had  been  somewhat  discussed.  On  the  evening 
of  October  25,  1865,  five  men  met  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Ezekiel 
Thompson  to  form  a  society.  Cluirch  officers  were  appointed  to  sen*e 
six  months,  and  on  the  next  Sabbath  Reverend  A.  II.  Heath,  then  of 
Bates  College  Theological  School,  was  invited  to  preach  at  tlie  Good 
Templars'  Hall.  The  Sunday  school  was  organized  at  the  second 
meeting  of  the  society-,  November  5,  18G5.  Mr.  Heath  continued  to 
preach  until  the  spring  of  187G,  when  he  returned  to  his  studies  at 
the  Theological  School,  and  Reverend  E.  C.  B.  Hallam,  a  returned 
missionary,  was  engaged  to  preach  in  his  stead. 

On  the  afternoon  of  April  12,  18()G,  a  council  of  ministers  met  at 
McLellan  Hall,  —  to  which  place  the  society  had  moved  its  meetings, 
—  to  formally  organize  the  church.  Forty  persons,  including  five  con- 
verts, composed  the  society  at  this  time.  The  council  api)rove«l  the 
course  that  had  been  taken,  accepted  the  letters  of  recommendation 
that  were  presented,  and  extended  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  to  the 
new  society.  Mr.  Ilallam  was  then  installed  as  pastor.  On  the  third 
of  June  following,  the  first  communion  service  was  held.  !Mr.  Ilallam 
was  requested  by  the  Missionary  Board  to  return  to  India,  and  in  con- 
sequence of  his  acquiescence,  he  was  obliged  to  preach  his  farewell 
sermon  on  Sunda}'  eve,  November  1 1 . 

In  1807,  Reverend  S.  I).  Church  was  called  to  the  pulpit,  and 
preached  for  two  years.  During  his  pastorate  eleven  persons  were 
received  into  the  church.  Reverend  W.  F.  Smith  commenced  to 
preach  to  this  society  on  August  22,  18G9.  The  church  at  that  time 
had  sixty-five  members  and  a  growing  congregation.  Ui)on  the  com- 
pletion of  Lemont  Hall,  in  1870,  the  majorit}'  of  the  society  desired  to 
occupy  it,  and  it  was  accordingly  engaged  for  the  Sabbath  services. 
This  change  of  place  met  with  earnest  opposition,  however,  from  a 
few  members,  who  refused  to  enter  the  new  hall  and  withdrew  their 
support  to  the  society.  Consequently,  upon  the  eighth  of  June,  nine 
persons,  including  both  deacons,  were  excluded  fi'om  church  member- 
ship. During  Mr.  Smith's  pastorate  forty-three  persons  were  added 
to  the  church  bj'  baptism  or  by  letter. 

On  November  80,  1872,  the  resignation  of  Reverend  Mr.  Smith  was 
accepted.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  H.  P.  Lamprey,  who 
preached  for  one  year,  then  by  Doctor  Heath,  of  Hallowell.  The  time 
of  the  latter  was  divided  between  two  churches  and  the  practice  of 
medicine. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  391 

In  the  early  part  of  1875,  Reverend  B.  M.  Edwards,  the  present 
pastor,  was  settled.  The  society  had  for  some  time  desired  a  house  of 
worship,  and  in  1874  a  lot  of  land  upon  O'Brien  Street  was  purchased 
for  the  site  of  one.  In  the  autumn  of  1875  the  building  was  com- 
menced. The  vestr}'  on  the  lower  floor  was  finished  before  the  middle 
of  the  following  summer,  and  on  the  ninth  of  July,  187G,  the  first  ser- 
mon in  the  new  house  was  preached  by  Mr.  Edwards.  It  was  owing 
largely  to  the  efforts  of  the  pastor  that  the  building  was  erected. 

This  church  in  its  first  years  was  unfortunate  in  losing  many  of  its 
les^ding  members  b}'  death,  among  whom  were  Deacon  Dresser,  Mr. 
Ezekiel  Thompson,  and  Mrs.  Smiley.  *'  Aunt  Smiley,"  as  she  was 
called,  had  prayer-meetings  at  her  house  for  more  than  thirty  years, 
and  when  this  society  was  formed,  their  weekl}-  prayer-meetings  were 
liold  there  until  after  her  death.  Mr.  Thompson  was  elected  a  deacon 
after  Mr.  Dresser  died,  and  served  faithfully  up  to  the  time  of  his  own 
decease.  Deacon  Dresser  was  one  of  the  most  active  members  in 
forming  the  society  and  was  always  zealous  in  its  support. 

A  good  degree  of  religious  interest  has  always  been  kept  up  in  this 
society,  and  the  church  shared  largely  in  the  revival  work  of  the  past 
winter.  There  are  now  one  hundred  and  twenty-nine  members.  The 
Sunday  school  has  been  well  supported,  and  there  are  now  connected 
with  it  nine  teachers  and  one  hundred  and  thirty  scholars.^ 

UNIVEUSALIST  AND  UNITARIAN  SOCIETIES. 

The  records  of  the  Uxiversalist  Society,  previous  to  its  uniting 
with  the  Unitarians  in  1850,  having  been  lost  or  destroyed,  a  per- 
fectly accurate  history  of  the  societ}"^  is  impossible.  It  is  believed, 
however,  that  the  following  sketch  is  substantinlh'  correct,  and  it  is  as 
complete  as  could  be  made  from  the  material  at  our  disposal. 

The  first  movement  toward  sustaining  Universalist  preaching  here 
was  made  in  the  yemv  1812.  The  nature  of  that  movement  is  best 
shown  by  the  following  agreement,  the  original  of  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  Harvey  Stetson,  son  of  the  Ilarve}'  Stetson  who  is 
named  in  the  agreement :  — 

**  Brinswick,  January  20th,  1812. 

"  We,  whose  names  are  here  under  written,  Do  Profess  to  believe 
in    the   Doctrine   of  I'niversal    Salvation   bv  our   Lord   and  Saviour 

■ 

fJesus  Christ:  And  feeling  it  our  Dut}*  as  well  as  our  privilege  and 


»  For  the  particvlars  of  the  foreyoiatj  sketchy  we  are  in'Icbtcd  to  th-::  pastor  and  to  the 
IHirish  clerk. 


392        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

highest  happiness  to  worship  the  one  living  and  true  God  in  Christ 
Jesus :  Do  hereby  agree  and  enter  into  Solemn  Covenant  to  assemble 
together  as  a  Religious  Society  on  the  Sabbath  as  often  as  we  can 
convenient!}'  to  worship  the  most  high  God :  And  that  we  will  pa}' 
our  proportion  towards  the  expense  of  procuring  a  convenient  place 
for  convening  together  for  pu]>lick  and  social  Worship :  and  for  the 
support  of  Publick  Teachers  of  Piety,  Religion  and  Christian  Morality 
in  our  Society : 

"Lemuel  Swift  Dean  Swift 

Jonathan  Eastman  Nathv   Hadger  * 

James  Merrill  Harvey  Stetson 

James  Cary  Edward  Raymond 

James  Jones  James  Maxw'ell 

Robert  Eastman  Edward  Welch 

E.  n.  Goss  Phineas  Taylor 

James  Gary  Jr.  Ira  Fuller 

Roger  Merrlll  Joseph  Kimball 

Elijah  Hall  John  Lee 

John  Marston  Edmund  Prady 

Abner  Pratt  Solomon  Gray 

Benj.  Stephens  Reed  Welch 

John  Gray  Burt  Toavnsend 

Abner  A.  Kelley  Allen  Wing. 
Stephen  Lennox  31 " 

Thej'  were  incorporated  in  October  of  that  year  as  the  First 
Universal  Christian  Society  in  BK^NSW^CK.  Mr.  Dean  Swift  is 
probabl}'  the  only  one  of  the  signers  of  the  foregoing  paper  who  is 
now  living. 

Soon  after  this  agreement  was  made,  aiTangements  were  made  with 
the  Reverend  Thomas  Barnes,  of  Norway,  to  preach  here  once  a 
month.  The  meetings  were  held  in  Washington  Hall.  Mr.  Barnes 
came  here  on  Saturday,  on  horseback,  and  returned  on  Monday. 
After  the  cotton-mill  was  built,  in  1812-13,  he  received  a  good  part 
of  his  pay  in  cotton  yarn,  which  he  carried  home  in  his  saddle-bags. 
He  preached  here  for,  probably,  a  3'ear  and  a  half.  Mr.  Barnes  was 
called  the  "  Father  of  Universalism  in  Maine."  lie  came  to  Maine 
from  Massachusetts  in  1 799  as  an  itinerant  preacher.  He  was  ordained 
over  the  united  societies  of  Non^^ay,  New  Gloucester,  Falmouth,  and 
Gray,  January  6,  1802.     He  died  in  Poland  in  1814. 

Reverend  Jacob  Wood,  of  Saco,  succeeded  Mr.  Barnes,  preaching 
here  occasion  all}',  but  for  how  long  a  time  is  uncertain.     Probabl}- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  393 

other  itinerants  visited  the  place  from  time  to  time.     In  1 826,  Reverend 
Sylvaniis  Cobb '  preached  here  several  Sabbaths. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  January,  1827,  Major  Biirt  Townsend,^ 
Captain  Roger  Merrill, ^  Captain  Joseph  McLellan,^  Thomas  Ta^'- 
lor,*  Colonel  Andrew  Dennison,^  Joshua  Lufkin,^  ^ar^'ey  Stetson,^ 
James  Derby,^  A.  C.  Raymond,  Joseph  Lunt,  John  L.  Swift, 
and  others  whose  names  we  cannot  ascertain,  formed  a  society 
under  the  name  of  The  Universalist  Society  of  Brunswick  and 

TOPSIIAM. 

Arrangements  were  at  once  made  with  Reverend  Mr.  Cobb  to 
preach  once  in  three  or  four  weeks.  The  meetings  were  held  in  Wash- 
ington Hall.  This  engagement  continued  until  February',  1828  (about 
one  vear),  when  it  terminated. 

In  April  of  that  year  Reverend  Seth  Stetson  (Father  Stetson,  as  he 
was  called  in  later  vears)  came  East  on  a  missionarv  tour,  nnd 
preached  here,  for  the  first  time,  on  Thursday  evening,  April  17,  1828. 
On  the  following  Sunday,  as  he  sa\'s  in  his  diary,  he  ''preached  in  a 
large  hall  to  a  good  number  of  men."  The  next  day  he  went  to  Tops- 
ham,  where  he  was  the  guest  of  Major  William  Frost,  and  in  the 
evening  he  preached  in  the  court-house.  From  Topsham  he  went  to 
Bowdoinham  and  other  places  in  the  vicinity,  and  soon  after  returned 
to  Boston,  where  he  then  resided. 

About  the  first  of  June  following,  he  received  an  invitation  to 
remove  to  Brunswick,  and  preach  in  the  three  towns  of  Bnmswick, 
Bath,  and  Bowd6inham,  alternately.  lie  accei)ted  the  invitation,  and 
on  the  twenty-second  of  June,  1828,  he  preached  in  Brunswick,  and 
continued  to  preach  there  every  third  Sabbath  until  May  10,  1829, 
when  his  engagement  closed. 

A  meeting-house  for  this  parish  was  er-  cted  in  1829.  It  was 
situated  on  Fe<leral  Street,  direct ly  oj)posite  the  jireseut  high- 
school  building.  Reverend  Mr.  Stetson  was  invited  to  prench 
in  the  new  meeting-house  during  the  winter,  for  which  ho  received 
eight  dollars  a  Sabbath.  After  the  twenty-first  of  February,  1830, 
he  preached  a  few  Sabbaths  for  what  he  could  get.  a  collection 
l>eing  taken  up  each  Sabbath.  The  amount  collected  being  too 
small  for  his  necessities,  he  gave  up  the  field  and  went  on  a  mis- 
sionarv tour,  and  in  Mav  following  removed  with  liis  familv  to 
Buck  field. 

'  Ihi  teas  aflenoards  snttlefl  at  Maldm^  Maasachusf^tta,  ichere  h*:  dkd.    Ik  vcas  a  prom- 
innd  fUrfpjman  in  the  denomination, 
■-*  Veceased. 


894        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

From  this  time  until  1835  the  Uuiveraalists  were  without  preaching, 
and  their  meeting-house  was  occupied  by  the 

UNITARIANS. 

On  the  eleventli  of  December,  1829,  a  meeting  of  Unitarians  was 
held,  and  it  was  decided  to  form  a  society  for  the  establishment  and 
maintenance  of  Unitarian  preaching  in  Brunswick.  The  oi^aniza- 
tion  was  effected  on  the  third  day  of  January,  1830,  under  the 
title  of  The  Skcond  CoxaKEOATiONAL  Society  of  Brunswick,^ 
and  was  composed  of  twenty-three  members,  all  of  whom  were 
ayowed  Unitarians.  No  records  having  been  kept,  we  are  unable 
to  giye  a  complete  list  of  the  members.  Among  them,  however, 
were  the  following:  Benjamin  Weld,  Charles  Weld,  Governor 
Dunlap,  Professor  Ilenrv  W.  Longfellow,  Ebenezer  Everett.  John 
Coburn,  John  S.  Gushing,  Humphrey'  Purinton,  and  Major  William 
Frost. 

A  subscription  paper  was  soon  after  circulated  to  raise  funds  to  sup- 
port preaching.  This  list  niunbered  tifty-five,  and  included  some 
Universalist^  who  sympathized  with  the  Unitarians,  and  were  willing 
to  aid  in  supi)ort  of  Unitarian  preaching. 

The  Universalists  gave  the  use  of  their  meeting-house,  and  in  June, 
1h30,  the  first  Unitarian  sermon  was  preached  in  Brunswick.  Reverend 
Andrew  Bigelow  was  the  preacher. 

From  June,  1830,  to  Juno,  1835,  there  was  regular  Unitarian 
preaching,  but  there  was  not  any  of  this  time  a  settled  minister. 
Of  those  who  supplied  the  puljiit,  Mr.  Wiswell  remained  the 
longest.^  He  preached  here  from  1832  to  1834,  —  a  little  more 
than  two  years. 

The  other  ministers  supplied  for  a  longer  or  shorter  time,  var}'- 
ins:  from  two  to  ten  or  twelve  Sundays  each.  The  meetings  were 
well  attended,  the  building  being  generally  well  filled,  but  seldom 
or  never  crowded.  Professor  Longfellow  conducted  a  Bible  class 
for  several  years,  which  was  largely  attended,  and  which  is  spoken 
of  by  members  of  the  class  as  having  been  exceedingly  interesting 
and  instructive. 


1  Thiti  society  had,  however  no  legal  existence. 

^The  ministers  supply inr/  the.  pulpit  after  Mr,  Bigelow,  were:  H.  Edes,  AUm  Put- 
nam, Caleb  Stetstm,  William  Newell,  John  II.  Williams,  Alonzo  Hill,  l^idney  Willard. 
A.  B.  Muzzey,  John  Goldsbury,  William  D.  Wiswell,  William  A.  Whitwtll,  Jabez 
Whitman,  R,  A.  Johnson,  A.  Davis,  and  Charles  A.  Farley. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IlISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  395 

A  part  of  the  congregation  was  composed  of  Topsham  i>eople,  and 
after  a  time  the  meetings  alternated  between  Brunswick  and  Topsham 
to  accommo<late  them.  Finally  it  was  agreed  between  the  Universal- 
ists  and  Unitarians  that  the  former  should  maintain  preaching  in 
Brunswick  and  the  latter  in  Topsham.  (See  sketch  of  rnitariau  soci- 
et}'  of  Topsham.)     In  1835  the 

UXIVERSALISTS 

Made  a  third  engagement  with  Reverend  Seth  Stetson  to  supi)ly 
their  pulpits.  Acconlingly  he  again  removed  to  Brunswick  with 
his  famih',  and  ever  after  resided  here.  Ilis  engagement  began 
on  the  twenty-eighth  of  June,  183.5,  and  ended  on  the  twenty- 
eighth  of  February,  1836. 

Early  in  June,  1836,  Reverend  Stephen  A.  Snealhen  came  here 
from  Massachusetts,  and  preached  occasionally  during  tlie  months  of 
June,  July,  and  August.  Reverend  G.  M.  (iuinby,  then  settled  at 
Yarmouth,  also  preached  here  occasionally  during  the  same  period. 
On  the  tenth  of  August,  in  this  year,  Mr.  Sneathen  entered  into  an 
engagement  to  preach  every  other  Sabbath,  a  part  of  the  time  in 
Topsham.  This  arrangement  was  continued  during  the  remainder  of 
the  3'ear.  On  the  twentj-filth  of  January-,  1837,  Mr.  Sneathen  was 
ordained,  and  became  the  first  settled  minister  of  the  societv.  He 
was  a  young  man,  phj'sicall^'  a  cripple,  but  said  to  be  a  s^n^aker  of 
more  than  ordinary  ability.  Ilis  pastorate  ended  in  the  spnng  of 
183«. 

Mr.  Sneathen  was  succee<led  bv  Reverend  Sidnev  Turner,  whose 
pastorate  commenced  in  June  or  July,  1H3h,  and  lasted  until  about 
the  first  of  September,  1840.  Father  Stetson  says  of  him  in  his 
diary,  ''  He  was  a  young  Congregational  minister  who  turned 
Univcrrsalist,  but  after  a  year  or  two  he  turned  back  again.  He 
married  a  minister's  widow  in  Bingham,  where  he  was  settled  in 
1849  " 

In  October,  1840,  "Father"  Stetson  began  his  fourth  and  last 
engagement,  preaching  every  other  Sunday  until  April,  1842. 

He  was  succeeded  bv  Reverend  Giles  Bailey,^  who  be<ran  a 
supply  of  the  pulpit  in  April,  1812.  In  July  he  renjoved  here 
from    AVinthrop,    the   place    of    his    first    pastorate,    and    where    he 


^  Xtxtc  prtMor  of  the  Unirersalist  Churrh  in  Rvadimj,  P(  nfistflrania,  and  to  trhotn  ire 
are  indtbtcd/or  many  of  the  facts  cuntaincd  in  this  skctrh. 


396        mSTORT  OF  URUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

was  ordained.  lie  preached  regularly  during  the  3'ear,  but  was 
not  formally  installed  until  January  7,  1843.  The  installation 
sermon  was  preached  by  Reverend  Mr.  Gardiner,  of  Waterville. 
The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Bailey  continued  until  September,  1848,  when 
he  resigned  to  enter  upon  the  duties  of  the  missionary  agency  of 
the  Maine  Universalist  Convention.  The  societ}'  was,  during  the 
pastorate  of  Mr.  Baile}',  in  its  most  flourishing  condition.  The 
officers  of  the  societv  at  that  time  were  Colonel  Andrew  Donnison, 
and  Anthony  Raymond  (or  ''  Father"  Raymond,  as  he  was  called), 
deacons ;  Isaac  Center,  clerk ;  Nathaniel  Badger,  collector  an<l 
treasurer.  During  this  pastorate  the  Mason  Street  Church  was 
built.     It  was  dedicated  in  December,  1^46. 

After  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Baile}'  the  church  was  without  a  pastor 
for  several  months.  Early  in  the  year  1849,  Reverend  W.  C.  George 
was  called  to  the  charge.  He  remained  only  a  year,  when  the  society 
was  again  without  a  i)astor. 

The  Universalist  Societv  of  Brunswick  and  the  Unitarian  Societv  of 
Topsham  were  both  at  this  time  in  a  feeble  condition,  the  result 
chiefly  of  deaths  and  removals.  It  was  therefore  proposed  to  unite 
the  two  societies  in  one  organization,  to  be  known  as 

THE  MASOy  STREET  RELIGIOUS  SOCIETY. 

The  necessary'  arrangements  were  made,  and  went  into  effect  on  the 
first  Sunday  in  November,  1850.  Reverend  Amos  D.  Wheeler,  of 
Topsham,  Unitarian,  was  the  pastor. 

There  was  a  debt  of  one  thousand  dollars  upon  the  house,  six  hun- 
dred dollars  of  which  was  procured  by  the  pastor  from  i)ronjinent 
U'nitarians  in  Boston,  and  the  balance  was  paid  by  individual  sub- 
scriptions in  the  society. 

The  engagement  of  Reverend  Doctor  Wheeler  was  for  five  years 
onlv,  and  the  salary  was  to  be  raised  in  equal  proportions  by  the 
members  of  the  societv  from  the  two  towns.  Doctor  Wheeler's 
engagement  was  renewed  from  time  to  time,  so  that  his  services 
were  not  discontinued  until  October  1,  18()5,  at  which  time  he 
delivered  his  farewell  discourse,  having  been  appointed  by  the 
American  Unitarian  Association  to  act  in  a  missionary  capacity  in 
the  State  of  Maine. 

During  Doctor  Wheeler's  pastorate  the  ladies  of  this  society  formed 
an  association,  the  object  of  which  was  :  — 

^^  Firat^  the  promotion  of  kind,  social,  Christian   intercourse   and 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  3S>7 

feeling  among  its  members  and  generally  throughout  the  society'  with 
which  it  is  connected ;  and  sfcondit/^  to  aid  in  the  accomplishment  of 
any  religious  or  benevolent  puqiose  from  its  funds  or  otherwise  as  a 
majority  of  its  members  may  determine.*' 

Doctor  Wheeler  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  William  Ellery  Cope- 
land,  who  was  ordained  on  Thursday,  July  26,  18G6.  The  senices 
were  as  follows  :  — 

Introductory'  pra^-er,  by  Reverend  Casneau  Palfrc}',  D.  D.,  of 
Belfast ;  reading  of  Scripture,  by  Reverend  John  NMchols,  of  Saco ; 
anthem,  by  choir;  sermon,  by  Reverend  George  Putnam,  1).  D., 
of  Roxbur^',  Massachusetts ;  hymn ;  ordaining  prayer,  by  Reverend 
A.  1).  Wheeler,  D.  1). ;  charge,  by  Reverend  Kdward  E.  llule, 
(»f  Boston ;  right  hand  of  fellowship,  b}'  Reverend  Charles  C  Sal- 
ter, of  West  Cambridge,  Massachusetts ;  address  to  the  people,  b}' 
Reverend  Charles  C.  Everett,  of  Bangor;  hyum ;  beneiliction,  by  the 
pastor. 

Mr.  Copeland,  like  his  predecessor,  was  a  Unitarian  in  his  views. 
The  societv,  however,  owinjj:  to  the  various  causes  which  usuallv  com- 
bine  to  weaken  an}*  religious  association,  became  graduall3'  feeble,  and 
as  it  became  so,  the  Universalist  element  preponderated.  Mr.  Cope- 
land  gave  goofl  satisfaction  while  pastor,  though  ho  laid  himself  open 
to  the  objection  that  was  made,  that  he  cared  more  for  the  temperance 
cause  than  he  did  for  the  success  of  this  church.  lie  resigned  his 
charge  in  18Gi),  and  in  \S7i)  Reverend  William  R.  French,  al'iiiversal- 
ist,  was  chosen  to  fill  his  place,  and  continued  as  pastor  of  the  society 
until  l>47r),  when  he  resigned.  During  his  pastorate  Mr.  French 
labored  faithfully  and  well  for  the  interests  of  the  society.  Since  his 
resignation  no  regidar  services  have  been  held  by  either  the  Universal- 
ists  oi  Initarians. 

THE  UNirAIITAN   S0('IP:TY    OIT   liRLTNSWIUK. 

This  society  was  legally  organized  on  the  fifth  <lay  of  August,  187-1. 
The  incuri)orator8  numbered  fifty-three.  Stephen  J.  Young,  W.  B. 
Purintoii,  A.  G.  Poland,  Emelinc  Weld,  and  Harriet  Tebbets  were 
elected  a  stan<ling  connnittee ;  Henry  W.  Wheeler,  clerk;  A.  V. 
Metcalf.  treasurer;  Humphrey  Purinton,  collector;  H.  1*.  Thompson 
and  Alonzo  Day,  assessors. 

A  code  of  by-laws  was  adopted  and  a  committee  chosen  to 
present,  at  some  future  time,  plans  for  a  chapel  suitable  for  the 
acconnno<lation  of  the  societv,  and  to  take  measures  to  secure  a 
suitable  lot. 


398        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSTIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

In  March,  1875,  a  lot  was  purchased  on  the  corner  of  Federal  and 
Pearl  Streets  for  81,500,  the  amount  having  been  subscribed  b}-  mem- 
bers of  the  society.  The  society-  has  not  jet  erected  a  church  edifice, 
but  the  organization  is  maintained. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  SOCIETY   OF  BRUNSWICK. 

The  first  Methodist  preaching  in  Brunswick,  of  which  we  have 
any  account,  was  in  the  year  1821.  At  that  time  Melville  li.  Cox, 
while  laboring  on  a  circuit  approaching  within  eight  miles  of  this 
place,  came  here  and,  securing  the  use  of  the  school-house  near 
the  colleges,  commenced  a  course  of  Sunday-evening  lectures.  His 
devout  appearance  and  the  pathos  of  his  words  interested  his 
hearers  and  soon  drew  a  considerable  congregation,  among  whom 
were  many  students.  One  family  in  the  place  kindly  opened  their 
doors  for  his  entertainment.  After  he  had  continued  his  appoint- 
ment for  some  time,  he  came  one  Sabbath  evening,  wearied  with 
the  labors  of  the  day  and  a  long  ride,  from  his  place  of  preaching 
during  the  day,  and  called  at  the  house  of  his  host.  Tie  saw  no 
signs  of  any  one  in  the  house,  and  knocked  at  the  door  several 
times,  when  at  length  the  man  came  to  the  door  and  said  that  he 
was  verj*  sorry  to  inform  him  that  he  must  turn  him  away  from  his 
house  or  be  turned  away  himself.  The  preacher  repaired  to  the 
place  of  meeting  without  a  supper,  preached  his  last  sermon  in 
Brunswtck,  and  then  rode  eight  miles  to  find  a  lodging ;  such  was 
the  opposition  at  that  time  against  the  Methodists. 

In  the  latter  part  of  1828,  or  early  in  1829,  Reverend  William  H. 
Norris,  then  stationed  at  Bath,  preached  a  few  times  in  this  place, 
after  which  meetings  were  held  occasionallv  by  local  preachers  from 
Bath.  At  the  Maine  Annual  Conference,  held  in  JuU',  1820,  Rever- 
end Benjamin  Bryant  was  appointed  to  the  Bath  circuit,  including  the 
upper  part  of  Bath,  New  Meadows,  and  Bmnswick.  He  spent  a  few 
Sabbaths  in  this  village  and  formed  a  *'  class "  of  five  members, 
namely,  Mrs.  Snowden,  Miss  Jane  Blake,  Miss  Kunice  McLellan, 
JVIiss  Margaret  Todd,  and  Miss  Maria  Walker.  The  last  two  are  still 
living. 

The  encouragement  was  so  small  that  the  place  was  abandoned,  and 
at  the  succeeding  Conference  the  circuit  was  merged  in  the  Bath 
station. 

Soon  after  the  above-mentioned  class  was  formed,  two  Methodist 
students  entered  Bowdoin  College  (in  1828  and  1829).  One  of 
these,   John  Johnston    (afterwards    Professor    of   Natural    Science 


ECCLESIASTICAL  inSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  399 

in  Wosleyan  University),  manifested  a  firm  attachment  to  Metho- 
dism and  cordially  identified  himself  with  the  humble  society  at 
Bmnswick.  The  other,  Charles  Adams,  was  a  licensed  preacher, 
and  preached  in  the  neighborhood  of  Brunswick  as  occasion  offered 
during  his  college  course.  Under  his  direction  the  small  class 
increased  in  numbers,  strengthened  h\  occasional  recruits  from  the 
college  students. 

In  the  fall  of  1833  the  class  consisted  of  about  fourteen  persons,  of 
whom  TwQ  were  students  in  college?. 

In  the  winter  of  1834  an  arrangement  was  made  with  a  number  of 
preachers  in  neighlx)ring  towns  to  sui)ply  preaching  one  half  the  time 
on  the  Sabbath,  until  the  session  of  the  Conference  in  the  following 
July.  The  preaching  was  gratuitous,  the  society  paying  the  travelling 
exi>enses  of  the  minister. 

At  this  Conference  (1834)  an  application  was  made  for  a  preacher 
to  be  supported  in  part  by  funds  of  tiie  Missionary*  Society.  But  the 
comlition  of  the  funds  would  not  allow  such  an  appropriation.  The 
services  of  Reverend  James  Warren,  a  very  acceptable  local  preacher, 
were  obtained  one  half  of  tlie  time.  The  request  for  a  preacher  was 
renewed  the  next  3*ear,  1835,  and  Mr.  Warren  was  appointed  to  Bow- 
floinham  and  Brunswick  circuit.  In  conseciuence  of  ill-health,  Mr. 
Warren  retired  from  the  circuit  in  two  or  three  months,  and  Asahel 
Moore,  who  had  just  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  who  had  al- 
ways been  warmly  interested  in  the  society,  was  engaged  to  take 
charge  of  it  and  visit  it  once  in  two  or  three  weeks,  )K»ing  then  engaged 
in  teaching  school  at  Gardiner.  Earh'  in  the  spring  of  1830  he  closed 
his  school  and  devoted  his  whole  time  to  the  societv  in  Brunswick. 
At  this  time  there  were  about  fortv  members  in  the  societv,  including: 
seven  college  students. 

These  meetings  were  held  on  the  Sabbnth  in  the  Congregational 
conference-room,  or  in  the  Universalist  meeting-house,  which  was 
hired  for  this  purpose. 

On  the  sixteenth  of  April,  1H3G,  Eliphalet  S.  Bryant,  Daniel  Smith, 
Charles  Evans,  Bufus  Kich,  Ebenezer  Stockbridge,  and  Albert  Mer- 
rill requested  Moses  E.  Woodman,  Esfpiire,  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
to  issiie  a  warrant  to  one  of  the  aj)plicants,  directing  him  to  call  a 
meeting  of  the  applicants  for  the  purpose  of  organizing  a  religions 
society  or  parish,  by  the  name  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society, 
in  Brunswick.  The  warrrant  was  issued,  and  on  the  twentv-dfth 
of  April  the  applicants  referred  to  met  at  the  Baptist  Meeting- 
1  louse    on    Federal    Street,    and    after    appointing   Asahel    Moore, 


400        HIbTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  ASD  UARPSWELL. 

Saiidford  K.  Ballard,  Stei:Jion  M.  Vail,  and  Samuel  G.  Lane  to 
be  their  associates,  organized  b}'  the  choice  of  Sanford  K.  Ballard, 
chairman,  and  Stephen  M.  Vail,  clerk.  A  constitution  was  then 
adopted,  and  a  board  of  trustees  was  elected,  consisting  of  Honor- 
able Allen  F.  Cobb,  of  Durham,  John  Wilkinson,  of  Bath,  Eben- 
ezer  Moore,  of  Gardiner,  John  Moore,  of  Gardiner,  Eliphalet  Bryant, 
of  Brunswick,  Ephraim  Sturdivant,  of  Cumberland,  and  Samuel  G. 
Lane,  of  Brunswick. 

In  September  following,  the  meeting-house  on  the  east  side  of 
Federal  Street,  called  the  ''Baptist  Branch  Meeting-I louse,*'  previ- 
ously occupied  by  the  society'  of  which  Reverend  Mr.  Titcomb  was 
pastor,  was  bought  by  the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Society 
for  the  sum  of  $1,900,  and  the  lot  upon  which  the  building  stood  was 
purchascnl  for  fifty  dollars  additional.  In  payment  the  trustees  gave 
notes  pa^'able  at  the  expiration  of  one  year.  Something  more  than 
one  half  the  amount  was  paid  during  the  year,  and  new  notes  were 
given  for  the  balance. 

On  the  tenth  of  January,  1838,  the  house  was  i)aid  for,  and  on  the 
seventeenth  of  April  following  the  society  was  entirely  free  from  debt. 
The  whole  pecuniary  responsibility  in  the  purchase  of  the  meeting- 
house was  assumed  by  Mr.  Sturdivant.  Some  help  was  received  from 
abroad,  but  in  order  to  relieve  Mr.  Sturdivant  from  his  heavy  buixlon 
the  parsoniige  (which  had  been  built  mostly  by  the  generosity-  of 
Thomas  Knowlton)  was  deeded  to  him,  and  tlie  debt  due  to  him 
mostly  paid. 

At  the  annual  Conference,  held  in  August,  1H;5G,  the  Reverend 
Mark  Trafton  was  appointed  to  Brunswick.  He  remained  with  the 
society  about  three  months,  and  lell  in  the  apprehension  that  he  could 
not  receive  a  support.  The  society  was  thus  thrown  into  great  dis- 
couragement. In  this  emergenc}'  the  pulpit  was  su])plied  by  Isaiah 
McMahon,  a  student  in  college. 

In  1H37,  Reverend  C.  P.  Bragdon  took  charge  of  the  societ3'.  His 
labors  were  quite  successful,  and  a  considerable  number  were  added  to 
the  chuich.  From  1838  to  1840,  Reverend  C.  C.  Cone  was  tlie  preaciier 
in  charge.  His  labors  were  quite  successful,  and  the  society-  was 
increased  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven.  He 
was  succeeded  by  lieverend  A.  P.  Ilillman.  During  the  two  years* 
appointment  of  this  preacher  the  society  was  reduced  to  ninety-three 
members.  No  cause  for  this  dimiimtion  of  membership  is  given  in 
the  society  *s  records. 

In  the  year  1842,  Reverend  Asahel  Moore  was  appointed  to  Bruns- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  401 

vick.  The  society  was  laboring  under  great  embarrassment  from  its 
feebleness,  but  was  consi(leral)ly  improved  under  the  labors  of  Mr. 
Moore,  there  being  one  hundred  and  fifteen  meinl)€rs  at  the  close  of 
bis  two  years'  lal)or. 

Keverend  Cornclhis  Stone  was  the  preacher  in  charge  in  1844.  A 
few  conversions  occurred  during  the  vear,  but  the  numlHjr  of  deaths 
an<l  removals  was  more  than  suttlcient  to  otl'set  the  gain. 

In  1^4.5,  Reverend  Daniel  Fuller  was  appointed  to  Brunswick. 
During  the  second  year  of  liis  labors  his  health  broke  <lown  and  he 
did  not  long  sun-ive.  His  last  sennon  was  preacheil  in  January, 
l«r)7,  his  subject  being  the  Eternal  World.  He  was  a  good  preacher 
and  a  faithful  pastor. 

His  successor,  Reverend  John  W.  True,  was  ap])ointed  at  the  C'on- 
fertMice  held  in  Saco  the  same*  vear.  The  church  at  this  time  was 
much  eufeeble<l  by  riMUOvals  and  in  consequence  of  ])eing  deprived  of 
their  pastor  most  of  the  year.  The  pastor  was  CK)nsi<leral>ly  inter- 
rupted in  his  work  bv  si<'kuess  and  other  embarrassments,  and  the 
society  hardly  held  its  own  <luriug  these  two  years. 

During  the  year  1H49  the  society  was  without  a  preacher. 

In  the  spring  of  IMoO  the  society  raise<l  the  sum  of  two  hundred 
dollnrs  and  repaired  the  meeting-house.  Reverend  Ezekiel  Robinson 
was  the  preacher  in  charge. 

Revei-end  Charles  Plunger  was  pastor  in  1851-2,  and  Reverend 
Jos<'ph  Hawkes  in  lMr>;5. 

Reverend  J.  C.  Perry  was  ai)pointed  to  Brunswick  in  1854,  and  a 
considerable  revival  occunetl  during  the  vear. 

In  18.'».'>,  Reverend  Pjirker  Jntpies  was  the  i)reacher. 

In  1m,h;-.>9,  Reverend  Charles  W.  Morse  silent  three  years  and  ten 
months  at  Brunswick  with  varied  success. 

From  1845  till  1854  Brunswick  was  a  missionarv  stnticm.  There 
was  no  appropriation  subsequent  to  that  time.  Mr.  Morse  was  retired 
from  active  duties,  but,  on  account  of  the  protracted  sickness  of  his 
wife,  he  had  charge  for  the  fourth  year  at  Brunswick. 

\\\  1«<)()  and  18(31  no  material  change  occurred  in  the  condition  of 
the  society.     Reverend  John  Cobb  was  pastor. 

In  18r»2-3,  Reverend  Josiah  H.  Newhall  was  preacher  in  charge. 
Durinj;  the  second  vear  there  was  considerable  relij'ious  excitement  in 
the  village,  caused  by  the  labors  of  the  revivalist,  Reverend  Mr.  Ham- 
mond, and  a  considerable  revival  occurred  in  the  MethcxHst  Societv. 
Mr.  Newhall  was  a  fine  scholar,  a  native  of  Lynn,  an<l  a  gra<luate  of 
Wesleyan  University.  He  died  suddenly  of  paralysis  in  18CG. 
26 


402        lUSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HAEPSWELL, 

III  1804,  Reverend  W.  W.  Baldwin,  an  enei*getic  yonng  man,  was 
preaclier  in  charge  and  had  considerable  success.  The  following  j'ear 
ho  went  to  Montana  as  a  missionary. 

Reverend  John  B.  Lapham  was  appointed  to  Brunswick  in  1^<6.'>  and 
18()7.  Under  his  labors  there  was  considerable  revival  and  accession 
to  ihe  strength  of  the  society.  In  186()  the  old  meeting-house  was 
sold  and  the  present  one  erected.  In  1808  furniture  for  a  parsonage 
was  purchased,  and  a  new  communion  service  was  bought. 

Reverend  Stephen  Allen  was  preacher  in  charge  for  two  years,  1807 
to  1809.  Under  his  pastorate  there  was  a  gratifN'ing  gain  in  member- 
ship, and  he  left  his  charge  with  good  prospects  for  the  future.  Mr. 
AIKmi  was  a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  College,  class  of  IsSo.  lie  is  a  tine 
scholar,  an  interesting  preacher,  and  is  one  of  tlie  leading  men  in  the 
denomination,  lie  was  succeeded  b}*  Reverend  James  McMillan,  who 
had  charge  of  the  parish  for  three  years,  1809  to  1872.  There  was  an 
extensive  revival  during  his  second  year,  resulting  in  large  additions 
to  the  church. 

Reverend  II.  C.  Sheldon,  a  graduate  of  Yale  ColU^ge  and  a  rii>e 
scholar,  succeedcHl  Mr.  McMillan,  remaining  here  two  years,  1872  to 
1874.  lie  is  now  a  professor  in  the  Boston  University'.  lie  was  suc- 
ceeded, in  1H74,  by  Reverend  C.  W.  Morse,  who  was  also  i>astor  here 
from  18r)0  to  1850,  and  wlio  has  won  the  sincere  respect,  not  only  of 
the  members  of  his  parish,  but  of  the  citizens  of  the  town  generally. 

Reverend  W.  S.  Jones  is  the  present  pastor. 

ST.   PAUL'S  rAHISII. 

The  first  Episcopalian  service  ever  heUl  in  Brunswick  was  held  in 
the  college  chapel  in  18-12.  The  Reverend  J.  Cook  Richmond,  on  his 
way  from  Gardiner  to  Portland,  was  obliged  to  stop  over  night  at 
Brunswick.  Wishing  to  improve  the  opportunit}'  to  present  the  ser- 
vices of  the  church  to  the  people  of  the  town  and  the  students  of  the 
college,  he  asked  the  consent  of  the  Congregational  ministcT  to  such  a 
service,  which  he  faileil  to  receive.  He  then  appealed  to  the  president 
of  the  college  (Doctor  Woods),  who  sai<l  to  him,  *'  There  is  one  place 
in  this  town  over  which  I  have  control,  and  you  can  hold  a  service  in 
the  college  chapel."  Timely  notice  was  given,  and  at  half  past  seven 
in  the  evenin;^  a  large  congregation  was  gathered  to  hear  (many  of 
them  for  the  first  time)  the  evening  service  of  the  Urayer-Btiok.  Mr. 
Richmond  then  preached  and  held  the  attention  of  his  hearers  for 
nearly  two  hours. 

This  was  the  first  step   towards   introducing  the  services  of  the 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  403 

cliurch  here,  and  doubtless  suggestcil  and  encoiirage<l  the  idea  of  the 
permanent  estiiblishmcnt  of  a  parish.  The  nextsen'ice  of  the  church 
was  held  in  the  Congregational  vestry  on  School  Street,  by  the  Kight 
Reverend  J.  E.  K.  llenshaw,  liishop  of  Rhode  Island  and  Provisionj.l 
Bishop  of  Maine,  on  his  first  visitation  to  this  State,  in  October,  1843. 
He  was  accompanied  by  the  Reverend  Messrs.  James  Pratt  of  Portland, 
and  Thomas  K.  Fales  of  Rhode  Island,  and  after  evening  prayer 
*'  preached  to  a  respectable  and  attentive  audience."  Mr.  Fales  nfter- 
wanls  returned  as  a  missionary,  and  on  the  fifth  of  November,  1843, 
being  Sunday*,  he  began  regular  services  in  what  was  then  known  as 
the  Pleasant  Street  Seminary,  nearly  opposite  the  present  Methodist 
Church,  but  which  has  since  been  removed  to  Maine  Street,  and  is  now 
used  for  business  purposes. 

Mr.  Fales  thus  became  the  first  rector  of  this  parish.  He  was  edu- 
cated for  the  ministry  at  the  (leneral  Theological  Seminary  in  New 
York  City ;  was  onhiined  deacon  by  Hishop  Griswold  in  Rhode  Island, 
July  22,  1840,  and  priest  by  tlie  same  bishop  in  1841  ;  an<l  on  the 
same  day  of  the  same  month,  July  21,  he  received  the  degree  of  li.  A. 
from  Bristol  College,  Pennsylvania,  and  M.  A.  from  the  I'niversily  of 
New  York. 

Mr.  Fales  continued  to  hold  meetings  in  the  school -house  from 
November,  1«40,  until  the  completion  of  the  church  in  July.  184'». 
There  was  at  first  considerable  opimsition  to  the  establishment  of  this 
church,  but  it  soon  i)assed  away.  This  parish  has  from  tlie  first  been 
a  mission,  support<*d  mainly  by  the  *'  General  Hoard  ''  and  by  the 
'•  Diocesan  Board  of  Missions."  I'p  to  1^48  no  contril>iition  had 
been  made  by  the  parish  towards  the  support  of  the  rector,  and  then 
it  only  amounted  to  a  small  sum.  At  the  time  Mr.  Fales's  labors 
began,  the  number  of  p]i)iscoi)alians  was  very  small.  There  were  only 
three  connnunicauts,  Daniel  R.  Gomlwin,  Mary  R.  Goodwin,  and 
Isabella  McDougal. 

The  families  of  Professor  Gooilwin,  of  the  college,  and  of  Mr.  Sam- 
U(?l  Harris,  of  Topsham,  were  the  only  entire  households  wliicli  identi- 
fied themselves  with  the  church.  Five  or  six  of  the  stu<lcnts  were 
Churchmen.  The  attendance  on  the  services,  however,  increased,  and 
on  the  eighth  of  January,  181  J,  a  parish  was  duly  organized  according 
to  the  laws  of  the  State.  There  were  seven  original  memhcrs,  namely, 
Professor  D.  R.  Goodwin,  Joseph  Badger,  Samuel  Harris,  (Jeorge 
Earle,  Joiin  O  B.  Dunning,  Khenezcr  M.  Johnson,  and  Sanniel 
Dunning. 

The  first  oflicers  elected  were,  for  wardens,  D.  R.  Cioodwin  and 


404        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Joseph  W.  Sargent;  for  vestiTmen,  Abner  B.  Thompson,  Joseph 
Badger,  George  Earle,  Samnel  Dunning,  John  O.  B.  Dunning,  Eben- 
ezer  M.  Johnson,  and  Samnel  Harris. 

It  was  then  voted  that  the  parish  assume  the  name  of  St,  PauPs^ 
and  that  the  Reverend  T.  F.  Fales  be  invited  to  settle  as  rector  of 
the  church.  The  invitation  was  accepted  on  the  twelfth  day  of  Feb- 
ruar}',  1844. 

From  the  very  organization  of  the  parish,  the  Ladies'  Society  lias 
been  most  faithful  and  most  efficient  in  raising  and  8ui)pl}'ing  all  that 
was  needed.  Nothing  except  the  improvements  made  )>y  Mr.  Taylor 
has  been  done  without  them.  In  fact,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  self- 
sacrificing  labors  of  the  ladies  of  the  parish,  it  might  never  have  lived 
for  thirty  years.  In  1845  they  furnished  the  church  with  the  read- 
ing-desk and  pulpit,  altar  and  chairs.  In  1848,  chiefly  through  their 
exertions,  an  organ  was  procured  and  placed  in  the  gallery.  Previ- 
ousl}'  stringed  instniments  were  used. 

The  communion  set  used  from  the  first  till  now  was  presented  by 
Mrs.  Griswold  of  the  '*  Eastern  Diocese,"  as  it  was  called.  The  stone 
font  was  given  in  18G1  by  a  nimiber  of  persons,  chiefly  graduat<?s  of 
Bowdoin  College.  The  organ  was  removed  from  the  gallery  to  the 
east  transept  in  18G7,  and  was  replaced  by  a  new  one  in  September, 
1873. 

There  have  been  six  rectors.  The  Reverend  Thomas  F.  Fales,  the 
first,  remained  here  just  six  years.  He  has  since  been  rector  of 
Christ  Church,  Waltham,  Mass. 

The  Reverend  Andrew  Croswell  was  here  three  vears  and  five 
months.     He  no\v  resides  in  Cambridge,  Mass. 

The  Reverend  Professor  D.  R.  Goodwin  supplied  services  for  six 
months,  when  there  was  a  vacancy'  for  ten  months  with  only  occa- 
sional lay-reading. 

The  Reverend  William  Stone  Chadwell  was  the  third  rector,  and 
remained  here  three  years  and  eight  months.  He  is  now  rector  of 
Grace  Church,  Brooklyn,  Long  Island,  New  York. 

The  Reverend  Edward  Ballard  immediately  succeeded  him,  and 
was  rector  of  the  parish  for  twelve  years  and  seven  months.  (See 
Biographical  Sketch.) 

After  a  vacancy  of  six  months,  during  which  time  there  wore 
occasional  ser^*ices,  Reverend  Joseph  Pemberton  Taylor  entered  on 
the  charge  of  the  parish,  and  remained  here  two  years  and  four 
months.  He  was  immediatelv  succeeded  bv  Reverend  Frederick  S. 
Sill,  M.  A.',  and  is  now  residing  in  Camden,  New  Jersey. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  lUSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  405 

Reverend  Mr.  Sill  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  H.  P.  Nichols,  who 
was  onlained  to  the  priesthood.  May  27,  1877. 

In  this  parish,  since  its  formation,  one  hundred  and  thirty*  individ- 
uals have  been  baptized,  eight\*-three  confirmed,  sixty-three  buried, 
and  thirty  married.  The  present  number  of  communicants  is  about 
twenty-nine ;  of  individuals,  about  seventy-five. 

ROMAN  CATHOLICS. 

The  fonnation  of  a  societv  of  ])elievers  in  the  doctrines  of  the 
Church  of  Rome  was  begun  in  this  town  about  1800,  or  a  short  time 
previously.  Services  were  at  first  performed  b\'  the  priest  stationeil 
at  Bath.  The  society,  however,  gi-adually  increased  in  numbers,  and 
in  186G  purchased  their  present  church  building  on  Federal  Street,  of 
the  Methodist  Society,  and  Father  Powers  was  soon  after  sent  to 
them.  This  society  is  now,  numerically*,  by  far  the  largest  in  town. 
About  five  sixths  of  the  congregation  are  French  Canadians.  They 
number  aliout  eight  hundred.  The  present  priest.  Father  Noiseux,  is 
a  French  Canadian. 

STATISTICS  OF  CHURCH-GOERS,  ETC,   IX  1873. 

In  1873,  Mr.  Charles  Ilill,  agent  of  the  Brunswick  Bible  Society, 
eanvassetl  the  town  and  collected  statistics  relative  to  the  number  of 
church-goers,  etc.  The  following  is  a  summary  of  his  report,  and 
shows  the  religious  views  of  tlie  citizens  as  well  as  such  a  canvass  can, 
but  it  is  not,  i)robably,  absolutely  correct. 

Xumber  nttoiKlin«r  charcli  (iioiniiially) .3,050 

**  not  attftndinfr  oliiirfli 1,001 

**  chihireii  attendiD^  Sabbath  schools 704 

**  children  not  attend inj?  Sabbath  schools          .        .        .        .  122 

**  Catholics  (French,  477;  Irish,  131;  colored,  59)    .         .         .  0G7 

"  Protestants 2,a?^9 

"  CoiJji^rejLratlonallsts  (Orthodox) r>98 

**  Free  Baptists 574 

»•  Methodists ;^r,l 

"  Baptists 300 

**  Friends 15J) 

**  Vnlversalists 151 

**  Adventists 82 

**  l'nitari:ms 01 

»*  Episcopalians 50 

**  For  Union  of  Churches 39 

♦*  Spiritualists 2 


• 


406        HISTORY  OF  BJIUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AKD  HABPbWELL. 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   OF   TOPSHAM. 

But  little  is  known  concerning  the  condition  of  religions  matters  in 
Topsham  prior  to  the  incori^ration  of  the  town.  In  the  year  1721 
the  Reverend  Isaac  Taylor  was  eini)loyed  by  the  proprietors  to  preach 
there  one  half  the  time.  In  1730  there  was  a  chaplain  at  the  Fort  in 
Brnnswick,  supported  by  the  proprietors,  wlio  attended  to  the  religions 
needs  of  the  several  neighboring  communities,  but  wlio,  most  likel}*, 
preached  only  in  Bninswick.  There  is  little  doubt  that  previous  to 
the  erection  of  the  first  meeting-house  in  Topsham,  the  inhabitants  of 
that  place  were  accustomed  to  attend  rel'gious  services  at  Brunswick. 
In  1739  the  inhabitants  of  Topsham  contributed  to  the  support  of 
preaching  in  Brunswick,  and  it  is  probable  that  such  had  been  the 
custom  for  some  years  preAnons.^  'I'he  town  was  incorporated  in 
17G4,  and  at  this  date,  therefore,  properly  begins  the  histor}'  of  the 

FIRST   PARISH. 

[1 764.]  At  the  second  meeting  of  the  town,  held  Juue  2,  1 704,  John 
Fulton,  John  Reed,  and  .lohn  Merrill  (the  selectmen)  wore  chosen  a 
committee  ''  to  get  an  orthodox  minister  to  preach  for  the  space  of  three 
months."  The}'  evidently  employed  Reverend  Mr.  Buzzell,  for  at  a 
subsequent  meeting  he  was  employed  for  ''four  Sabbaths  longer." 
'  Whether  he  was  unwilling  to  remain  still  longer,  or  whether  he 
failed  to  give  satisfaction,  is  not  known,  lie  could  not  have  remained 
over  the  paiish  more  than  the  four  months  for  which  he  had  been 
employed,  or  the  town  would  not  have  chosen  a  committee  '*  to  get  a 
minister  b}-  next  spiing  to  preach  to  us." 

[17G0.]  On  March  18,  £60  was  raised  "  for  a  minister  and  school- 
master" for  this  year.  As  the  same  individual  was  sometimes  em- 
ployed for  both  purposes,  it  is  probable  that  such  was  the  intent  of 
that  vote. 

1  P(^ep8cot  Papers. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  407 

At  a  subsequent  meetino;  the  town  decided  \qv\  strongly  in  favor 
of  the  l^resbj'terian  form  of  worship,  and  voted  to  extend  a  call  to 
Reverend  Stephen  Scales.  Goin  Fulton,  Adam  Hunter,  and  Tliomas 
AVilson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  make  an  agreement  with  him. 

[1767.]  In  July,  Reverend  Mr.  Thompson  was  engaged  for  two 
months  alter  the  expiration  of  his  first  contract. 

In  consideration  of  the  agreement  made  at  the  time  of  the  confir- 
mation of  their  title  bv  the  government  of  Massachusetts,  as  well  as 
in  conformity  to  the  laws,  the  proprietor  about  this  time  set  apart  a 
lot  of  land  in  Topsham  "for  the  use  of  the  Ministry"  and  one  for 
"the  first  settled  Minister."  The  ministerial  or  pai*8onage  lot  was 
"  Number  Twenty-six  lying  in  the  Range  of  Lotts  fronting  on  Pejeps- 
cott  River  containino;  one  hundred  acres."  The  lot  for  the  minister 
was  "  Number  sixty  four,  containing  One  hundred  acres,  lying  on  the 
Rear  of  Lotts  belonging  to  Alexander  Potter  and  James  Potter,  Jr., 
bounding  Northeast  on  Land  of  Robert  M^Farlands  and  Southwest  on 
the  School  Lott." 

[1768.]  In  17G8  the  town  voted  to  give  James  Hunter  a  lot  of 
land  called  the  School-house  Lot,  in  exchange  for  which  he  was  to  give 
the  town  one  hundred  acres  where  the  meeting-house  stood.  Mr. 
Southmaid  was  employed  to  preach  in  the  winter  "  as  a  probationer." 

[1 770.]  At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  a  Mr.  Stuart  was  engaged 
to  preach  until  the  first  of  the  following  November,  and  it  was  voted 
to  assess  one  fourth  part  of  the  minister's  salary'  on  the  holdiTS  of 

|K»WS. 

[1771.]  The  first  church  organization,  as  distinct  from  that  of  the 
parish,  was  organized  in  1771.  It  was  of  the  Presbyterian  order,  and 
was  onjranized  bv  Reverend  Mr.  Murrav,  a  Presbvterian  minister  of 
Bootlibay,  and  by  Reverend  Joseph  Prince.  It  consisted  of  twenty- 
seven  meml»ers.^  Who  these  mem))ers  were  is  not  now  known,  but  it 
is  not  improbable  that  two  of  the  early  members  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  ^[essrs.  Alexander  Patten  and  James  Fulton,  were  among 
the  number.  This  church  was  at  no  time  very  strong,  and  ceased  to 
exist  al)Out  the  year  1789.     No  records  of  its  meetings  can  be  found. 

Committees  were  api>ointed  in  the  years  1771  and  1772  to  obtain 
the  services  of  a  minister,  so  that  it  is  probable  that  there  was  preach- 
ing a  part  of  this  time. 

[1773.]  Reverend  Samuel  AVheeler  ])robably  officiated  for  a  while 
this  vear,  as  the  town  voted,  November  29,  '*  to  send  a  man  west- 


1  Greenle<if"8  L'cvl(:i<ia*tkal  ,*<ketche8. 


408        HISTORY  OF  BRUNtiWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

ward  to  bring  Mr.  Samuel  Wheeler's  character,  provided  Mr.  Samuel 
Wheeler  will  pay  the  charges";  and  John  Merrill,  consenting  to  go 
upon  these  terras,  was  duly  chosen  for  that  pur[K)se. 

[1774.]  Mr.  Merrill's  report  as  to  Mr.  Wheeler's  character  must 
have  been  satisfactory,  as  he  this  year  received  a  call  at  a  salary  of 
£6(;  13.S.  4f/.,  lawful  money,  and  with  £100  as  a  "  settlement."  The 
town  this  year  reversed  its  former  action,  and  decided  to  adhere  to  the 
Congregational  form  of  worship.  This  action  of  the  town  gave  serious 
offence  to  the  minority.  Messrs.  Adam  Hunter,  Goin  Fulton,  James 
Henry,  John  Orr,  John  Fulton,  James  Fulton,  and  Alexander  Potter 
entered  their  protest  against  the  meeting  as  being  illegal  and  destruc- 
five  to  the  church.  These  persons  were  evidentl}'  strong  in  the  Presby- 
terian faith,  and  probabl}'  some,  if  not  all  of  them  were  members  of 
the  First  Church.  There  is  no  evidence  that  Mr.  Wheeler  was  ever 
formally  installed  over  the  church  and  society  of  the  First  Parish,  and 
his  pastorate  could  not  have  been  a  very  satisfactor}'  one,  as  tlie  next 
year  [177;')]  a  committee  was  appoint<}d  to  obtain  a  minister,  and  also 
one  '*  to  converse  with  Mr.  Samuel  Wheeler  concerning  the  abatement 
of  his  wajjes  and  to  make  return." 

[177G.]  In  December  of  the  next  j'ear  the  town  also  vot«d  not  to 
pa}*  his  board  nor  his  horse  keeping.  From  this  time  to  1783,  tiiere 
is  no  record  of  any  settled  minister  in  the  town,  although  there  is  no 
doubt  but  that  there  were  religious  senices  held  for  a  few  Sundays  in 
each  vear,  since  the  town  in  some  at  least  of  tiiese  years  chose  a 
committee  to  obtain  a  minister.  In  1778,  however,  the  committee 
were  instructed  not  to  agree  with  one  for  more  than  a  service  of  two 
months  without  the  consent  of  the  town. 

[1783.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  May  27,  1783,  the  CK)mmit- 
tee  to  obtain  a  minister  were  instiiicted  to  employ  the  Keverend  Mr. 
l>quhart  to  preach  eight  Sabbaths  after  the  Sabbath  next  ensuing, 
and  to  use  their  own  discretion  as  to  the  terms.  At  a  later  meeting 
of  this  year,  hold  September  10,  it  was  voted  to  employ  Mr.  IJrquhart 
*'  one  Sabbath  when  he  returns  from  the  westward."  At  this  meeting 
there  was  also  a  committee  appointed  to  see  why  the  porch  to  the 
meeting-house,  which  the  town  voted  in  1770  to  have  built,  was  not 
finished.  Tiie  citizens  of  the  town  can  easily  be  excused  for  getting  a 
little  impatient,  after  having  waited  thirteen  years  for  the  construction 
of  this  porch.  At  a  meeting  held  two  months  later,  Mr.  Urquhart  was 
em[>loyed  for  one  3'ear  at  a  salar\'  of  £80,  he  to  have  the  privilege  ol 
leaving  if  he  had  a  call  to  settle  elsewhere. 

[1784.]     At  a  meeting  held  in  October,  1784,  the  town  voted  to 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOP  SHAM,  409 

hire  Reverend  Mr.  Urquhart  for  one  year  more  after  the  expiration  of 
his  first  year.  To  this  action  of  the  town,  Messrs.  John  Merrill,  Jon- 
athan Whitney,  Actor  Patten,  Peletiah  Halev,  Alexander  Gray,  and 
William  Reed  declared  their  disa[)proval  "  for  several  reasons,  but 
more  particularlj*  because  we  have  reason  to  believe  that  the  said  Urqu- 
hart has  two  wives  now  living,  and  we  think  that  disqualifies  him  to 
administer  any  of  the  Gospel  ortlinances." 

This  charge  was  sustained  by  the  facts,^  and  it  is  not  probable  that 
Urquhart  preached  in  Topsham  after  the  expiration  of  his  second  j'ear, 
if  indeed  he  was  allowed  to  complete  his  engagement. 

In  regard  to  Urquhart  as  a  preacher,  it  has  been  said  that  ''  his 
mode  of  preaching  was  marked  for  its  lunnor  and  quaintness,  and  he 
would  arouse  his  drowsy  listeners  on  a  summer  afYernoon  by  some 
stirring  anecdote  or  exclamation.  On  one  occasion  he  stopped  sud- 
denly in  his  sermon  and  then  exclaimed,  *  I  'jn  3'our  shepurd  o'er  all  o' 
ye,  and  Wully  Wilson  is  me  grant  bull-dog.'  The  deacon,  either  not 
relishing  this  publicity,  or  to  signalize  that  he  vuis  not  asJpep,  sturdily' 

callerl  out  yet  louder  still,  '  I  'm  not  3'our  bull-dog  !  What  did  you  saj' 
that  for? '"2 

[1786.]  In  1786  the  town  voted  to  give  Mr.  Kellogg  an  invitation 
'*  to  return  and  preach  with  us  after  he  has  been  to  study  divinity  six 
months,  provided  he  will  settle  with  us  if  desired." 

[1788.]  This  j'car  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis  was  invited  to  settle  in 
town  at  a  salary  of  £85  and  a  *'  settlement"  of  £150.  The  '*•  settlement 
to  be  paid  in  boards,  shingles  and  other  Lumber,  or  any  produce  of  the 
country."  Mr.  Ellis  did  not  accept  this  call,  but  [178i)]  the  next 
year,  at  a  meeting  held  June  9,  the  town  agreed  to  settle  him  on  con- 
dition that  he  would  take  his  dismission  if  two  thirds  of  the  legal  voters 
of  the  town  should,  at  any  future  time,  prefer  not  to  remain  under  his 
ministrj'  and  should  so  declare  at  a  legal  town  meeting,  and  that,  in 
case  such  a  thing  should  occur,  he  should  be  allowed  to  continue  six 
months  thereafter  and  no  longer.  Mr.  Ellis  was  present  at  the  meet- 
ing and  agreed  to  these  conditions. 

On  August  31  of  this  year  there  were  two  legal  meetings  of  the 
town.  The  first  was  called  by  warrant  of  John  Merrill,  a  justice  of 
the  iKjace,  ui>on  the  application  of  more  than  ten  voters,  the  i)rincipal 
object  being  to  see  if  the  town  would  consent  that  those  not  willing  to 
settle  under  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Ellis  should  be  allowed  to  withdraw 
from  his  support  and  maintain  a  minister  for  themselves.     The  second 

1  See  AniuUs  of  Warren^  p.  172  et  scq,  2  j)r.  James  McKeen's  Notes, 


410        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL, 

meeting  was  on  the  usual  warrant  issued  by  the  selectmen,  and  was 
for  tlic  purpose  of  taking  action  in  regard  to  Mr.  Ellis's  ordination. 
At  the  first  meeting  thirty-five  persons  voted  to  withdraw  from  being 
under  Mr.  ElHs*s  niinistr}',  and  sixt^'-seven  voted  to  be  under  his 
ministry.  At  this  meeting  the  town  also  voted  that  one-fourtli  part 
of  the  expense  of  repairing  the  raeeting-house  should  be  assessed  on 
the  pew-holders,  and  the  remainder  paid  by  the  town.  At  tlie  second 
meeting  the  town  voted  that  the  council  which  was  to  be  at  the 
ordination  of  Mr.  Ellis  should  meet  and  sit  at  Mr.  Josei)h  Foster's 
house,  and  that  they  and  their  attendants  should  be  entertained  at 
Captain  David  Reed's  and  James  Fulton's  houses.  It  also  voted 
that  Doctor  Philip  lloyt,  James  Wilson,  and  Joseph  Haley,  clothier, 
should  be  a  committee  to  attend  upon  the  council  on  the  day  of 
ordination. 

The  ordination  of  Mr.  Ellis  occurred  September  Ifi,  17«9.  The 
sermon  on  the  occasion  was  preached  by  Reverend  Andrew  Lee,  of 
Lisbon,  Connecticut.  The  chai-ge  was  by  the  Reverend  John  Ellis, 
of  Rehoboth,  Massachusetts.  'I'hc  right  hand  of  fellowship  by  the 
Reverend  Josiah  Winship,  of  AVoolwich,  Maine.  Tlie  sermon  was 
printed,  but  no  copy  of  it  can  now  be  found.  The  following  is  the  title- 
page,  which  has  been  preserved  :  — 

''  Tiie  Duty  of  Gospel  Ministers  |  Ilhistrated  in  a  Discourse  preached 
I  at  the  ordination  of  the  Rev.  Jonathan  Ellis  |  to  the  pastoral 
office  in  the  church  |  at  Toi)sham,  Massachusetts,  Sept.  |  16th  17^^1). 
By  Andrew  Lee  A.M.,  |  Pastor  of  a  church  at  Lisbon,  |  Conn,  |  Keep 
thyself  pure  —  St.  Paul.  |  Portland  —  Ih-inted  by  Thomas  |  Baker 
Wait.     MDCCXC." 

The  Congregationalist  Church  held  its  fii*8t  meeting  in  June,  17H9, 
at  which  a  day  of  fasting  was  appointed,  and  it  was  voted  to  send  for 
a  council.  This  council  met  June  26,  1789,  for  the  ordination  of 
Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis,  and  voted  "  that  the  members  of  the  church 
at  Topsham  be  considered  as  a  regular  church  of  Christ,  on  the  Con- 
gregational form  of  worship  and  discipline." 

On  October  23  of  the  same  year  the  church  adopted  a  covenant. 

On  June  27,  1790,  the  first  sacrament  since  the  organization  was 
administered.  It  was  administered  in  the  Presbyterian  manner,  the 
communicants  sitting  around  the  table.  Eleven  members  were  pres- 
ent, beside  five  from  the  church  in  Brunswick. 

[1791.]  The  only  thing  noticeable  in  any  of  the  records  this  year 
is  the  fact  that  the  town  appointed  a  committee  of  three  '*  to  keep  the 
dogs  out  of  the  meeting-house." 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  411 

[1793.]     This  year  the  following  names  of  members  appear  ui)on 
the  church  records  :  — 

Captain  John  Patten  (deacon),  Mrs.  Mary  Fulton, 
Captain  James  Mustard,  Mrs.  Esther  Haley, 
Alexander  Patten,  Mrs.  Hajinah  Henry, 
James  Fulton,  Mrs.  Anna  ^Vinc•holl, 
John  Small,  Mrs.  Mary  Kills, 
Joseph  Hale}',  Mrs.  Nancy  Stockman, 
AVhitum,  Mrs. IVrry, 


William  Randall,  Mrs.  Jane  Randall, 

Doctor  Philip  Hoyt,  Mrs.  Hacliel  Rood, 

Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis,  Widow  Jameson, 

Mrs.  Mary  Patterx,  Widow  Sarah  Cohh. 

[17t)4.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  May  20,  171M,  it  was 
voted  not  to  oppose  the  petition  of  John  MeiTill,  Esfpiire,  and  others, 
pra^^ng  the  General  Court  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation  as  a  Baptist 
society,  provided  they  would  withdraw  their  suit  at  law,  of  Job 
Macomber  vs.  The  Town  of  Topsham,  in  which  case  i\w  town  agreed 
that  the  execution  against  Abraham  Cummings  ^  should  not  be  put  in 
force,  and  that  all  future  taxes  for  the  minister's  salary,  of  members 
of  the  lia[)tist  society,  might  be  drawn  by  them  from  tlu*  treasurer  or 
the  constable,  they  producing  a  certificate  that  they  had  |)aid  an  equal 
sum  for  the  Baptist  society,  provklod  they  obtained  an  Act  of  Incor- 
poration within  one  \*ear.  An  attem]»t  was  made  this  year  to  obtain 
a  two-tiiirds  vote  to  dismiss  Reverend  Mr.  Ellis,  but  failed.  After 
this  date  the  Fii*8t  Parish  held  meetings  distinct  from  those  of  the 
town,  and  the  latter,  therefore,  has  only  occasionally  since  then  taken 
any  action  in  regard  to  religious  matters. 

[17yr>.]  The  incori>oration  of  the  Baptist  Society  which  had  just 
occurred  had  the  unfortunate  and  rather  singular  effect  of  depriving 
the  First  Parish  of  all  it.s  ofllcers.     It  is  certainlv  rather  remarkable 

« 

that  all  these  otlicei*s  should  have  atliliated  with  the  Bai)tists.  That 
such  was  the  actual  fact,  however,  is  shown  by  a  petition  to  John 
Merrill,  Esquire,  justice  of  the  peace,  rer|uesting  him  to  call  a  meet- 
ing of  the  freeholders  of  the  First  Parish.  This  petition  expressly 
sets  forth  the  fact  that  the  First  Parish  had  no  ofllcers  and  **  were 
consecjuently  incapable  of  coiulucting  and  managing  its  affairs." 
This  petition  was  dated  April  2()th,  and  on  Ai)ril  8<)th  the  tlnst  meet- 
ing of  the  parish,  af^er  the  separation,  was  held  at  tin*  meeting-house. 


1  Probably  f(.*r  ixon-puymcnt  of  minister's  t<if.. 


412        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

A  new  hoard  of  parish  oflieers  was  chosen,  mone}'  raised  for  support 
of  the  minister,  and  Richard  Knowles  elected  sexton,  "  with  allow- 
ance of  twelve  shilUngs."  At  a  snbseqnent  meeting  this  year  a  com- 
mittee was  chosen  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Ellis  and  to  concert  measures  for 
rendering  the  ministerial  lot  of  some  benefit  to  the  minister  and 
parish. 

[17*J7.]  In  179G  and  1797  considerable  repairs  were  made  to  the 
meeting-house.  In  May  of  the  latter  year  a  committee  was  chosen 
*'  to  wait  on  the  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining 
iaforination  how  his  proposals  may  in  the  best  way  be  answeretl,  and 
report  to  the  Parish."  What  proposals  tlie  j)astor  had  made  is  not 
known,  but  on  the  twenty-sixth  of  June  following,  the  parish  decided 
not  to  increase  his  salary  **  at  the  present  time,  on  account  of  the 
depreciation  of  money." 

[1799.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  parish,  held  Septeml>er  9,  Captain 
Alexander  Rogers,  James  Fulton,  and  Arthur  Hunter  were  chosen  to 
settle  with  Mr.  Ellis  and  to  pay  him  the  arrearages  due  to  him.  They 
were  also  authorized  to  grant  him  a  discharge  from  the  parish  if  he 
desired,  and  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  while. 

[1^00.]  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  parish  this  year,  the  sum 
of  three  hundred  dollars  was  raised  for  current  expenses.  This  sum 
was  between  thirtv  and  fortv  dollars  less  than  had  usuallv  been  raised 
for  the  minister's  salarv  alone.  At  tlie  annual  meeting  of  the  town, 
Messrs.  John  Merrill,  William  Wilson,  James  Purinton,  Doctor  Porter, 
and  Alexander  'I  hompson  were  chosen  a  committee  to  consi<ler  the 
practicability  of  uniting  the  two  societies.  The  desire  for  such  union 
probably  arose  in  consequence  of  the  difliculty  experienceil,  at  that 
time,  in  furnishing  adequate  sui)port  to  two  ministers. 

[isOl.]  The  committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit  were  instructed  by 
the  parish  '•  to  write  to  the  Professor  of  Divinity  at  Harvard  College 
rocpiesti ng  him  to  recommend  a  candidate  to  them  of  ability  and  good 
moral  character."  and  were  also  instructed  to  employ  no  transient 
preacher  until  it  was  positively  ascertained  that  no  suitable  candidate 
could  lu?  sent.  The  parish  also  voted  •*  not  to  employ  Mr.  Thompson 
any  longer  to  supply  the  Desk."  It  would  appear  from  this  action 
that  Mr.  Ellis  had  receiveil  his  discharge  from  the  committee  appointed 
in  17i>9  to  settle  with  him. 

[IS02.]  The  Reverend  Mr.  Western  was  employed  as  a  preacher 
until  C)ct<»ber,  \M'l.  At  a  meeting  of  the  parish  in  June.  Benjamin 
Hasey,  Estpiire,  Doctor  Porter,  and  Ezra  Smith  were  chosen  a  com- 
mittee to  petition  the  legislature  '*  for  iK»rmission  to  sell  the  Parsonage 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM,  413 

Lot,  or  take  measures  to  render  the  same  profitable  to  the  Parish, 
agreeable  to  the  original  intentions  of  the  Grantors  " 

[1803.]  On  April  23  of  this  year,  the  parish  passed  a  vote  invit- 
ing Mr.  Ellis  to  preach  for  one  year  at  a  salary  of  two  hundred  and 
eighty-three  dollars  and  thirty-three  cents,  he  to  have  "  the  privilege 
of  keeping  school  such  part  of  said  year  as  he  shall  choose." 

[1805.]  An  etfort  was  this  \'ear  made  to  unite  with  the  Second 
Parish  in  obtaining  a  minister  to  preach  alternately  in  the  two  parishes. 

[180C.]  At  a  town-meeting,  held  November  3,  180G,  it  was  voted 
'*  that  the  town  having  heard  and  dul}'  considered  the  projwsal  of 
the  Honorable  Benjamin  J.  Porter  and  others,  to  build  a  meeting- 
house near  the  Court  House,  do  unitedly  approve  of  the  same  and  do 
earnestly  recommend  it  to  the  members  of  lx)th  parishes  of  the  town 
to  become  united  as  soon  as  may  be  into  one  corporate  bo<ly  for  the 
purpose  of  supporting  public  worship  in  said  town  when  [it  shall  be] 
erected. 

'*  And  it  is  further  voted  that  the  town,  with  a  view  to  promote  an 
anion  of  the  parishes,  for  the  support  of  public  worship,  agreeably  to 
the  proposal  of  said  Porter  and  others,  will  appoint  a  connnittee  of 
seven  jKjrsons  with  full  power  to  pursue  any  measures  necessary  and 
proper  on  the  part  of  the  town  to  promote  the  building  of  said  house 
and  to  support  public  worship  therein.". 

In  December  the  parish  voted  to  hold  their  business  meetings  and 
religious  services  in  the  Court  House  imtil  a  new  meeting-house  should 
be  built,  but  the  vote  was  subsequently  changed  so  as  to  have  the 
meetings  for  public  worship  held  one  half  the  time  at  the  Court  House 
and  the  i*emainder  of  the  time  either  at  the  old  meeting  house  or  at 
the  school-house  near  it. 

[1810.]  At  the  annual  meeting  this  j'ear  the  parish  voted  "  that 
the  treasurer  l)e  directed  to  renew  or  exchange  the  securities  or  col- 
lect, if  nec^essar}',  the  money  that  is  now  at  interest,  belonging  to  the 
parish,  and  also  to  receive  the  interest  annualh'  or  tike  notes  for  the 
same."  It  is  evident  from  this  that  the  parish  had  something  of  a 
fund  at  this  time,  but  from  what  source  it  was  derived  is  not  so  easv 
to  understand.  The  amount  of  mone}-  raised  each  year  was  seldom 
more  than  enough  to  i)ay  current  expenses  and  often  not  sufHcient  for 
that  puipose,  and  the  ministerial  lot  was  not  sold,  notwithstanding 
the  vote  in  1802,  until  1819. 

At  this  same  meeting  Benjamin  Orr,  Esquire,  was  appointed  to 
obtain  from  the  committee  chosen  in  1799  a  certificate  of  the  dis- 
charge of  Reverend  Mr.  PMlis,  and  to  deposit  the  same  with  the 


414        UIt>TORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSTIAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

parish  cleik.      This  doeinnent,  which  was  tlie  only  legal  annulment 
of  the  contract  ]»otween  the  pastor  and  parish,  was  dated  May  7,  1810. 

Owing  to  the  separation  which  had  occniTcd  in  the  parish,  and  to 
other  causes,  the  church  had  gradually  dwindled  away,  and  after  the 
dismissal  of  their  i)astor  it  became  nearly  extinct.  During  the  period 
of  Mr.  Ellis's  ministry  it  was  Conajrej^ational  in  name,  but  not  what 
would  now  l»c  called  strictly  Orthodox,  since  it  i)aid  more  attention  to 
the  fonn  of  church  polity  than  it  did  to  uniformity  of  belief.  Rev- 
erend Ezra  S.  (loodwin  had  been  preaching  this  year,  and  on  October 
12,  the  parish  expressed  to  him  their  approbation  of  his  past  services 
and  requested  him  to  continue  with  them  awhile  longer. 

[1811.]  An  attemi)t  was  made  this  year,  unsuccessfully,  to  have 
the  minister  over  the  First  Parish  supply  the  pul[)it  of  the  Second 
Parish  also.  The  thanks  of  the  parish  were  again  given  to  Mr. 
Go(Mlwin  for  his  services,  and  the  regret  expresseil  that  the  linancial 
situation  di<l  not  a<hnit  of  their  employing  him  longer. 

[1814.]  Nothing  further  of  special  importance  occurs  in  the 
parish  records  until  the  year  1H14,  when  an  attempt  was  again  made 
to  unite  the  two  |)arishes.  The  committee  on  the  part  of  the  First 
Parish  chosen  to  confer  with  the  other  parish  were  instructed  that  '*  if 
an  union  of  r^aid  i)arishe3  could  not  be  obtained  on  any  other  princi- 
ple, that  till*  meetings  for  pul)lic  worship  be  holden  two  thirds  of  the 
time  at  the  Court  House  and  the  other  third  at  the  upper  meeting- 
house." 

[181').]  In  IHIj,  Messrs.  Benjamin  Orr,  Alexander  Kogers,  and 
Jehiel  Abell  were  apj)ointed  a  connnittee  to  petition  the  legislature,  in 
iK'half  of  the  parish,  *'  for  leave  to  sell  the  parsonage  lot  in  Topsham, 
under  such  restrictions  and  limitations  as  tlK*y  ^hall  think  proper." 

[181S.]  The  mei'ting-house,  about  this  time,  must  have  b(K?n  get- 
ting sadly  in  need  of  re[)air,  since,  in  A[)ril,  1818,  the  parish  commit- 
tee were  iustructril  to  repair  it,  '•  b^-  building  doors,  glazing  the 
wiuiiows,  and  um^riiinning  the  house  so  as  to  secure  it  from  falling." 

[181JL]  On  .May  10,  1811).  the  committee  appointed  in  1815  to 
sell  the  minisii'rinl  lands,  reported  that  **  ihry  have  soM  the  whole  of 
said  lands  nt  aut-tiou  to  the  highest  bidders  on  the  22d  daj*  of  April 
181 'J,  as  follows,  to  wit.  To  Samuel  Hunter  twelve  acres  and  80 
rmls  for  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and  twentv-live  dollars:  To  Arthur 
Hunter  Ihirtv-iiirht  acres  anil  seventv  rods  for  the  sum  of  two  hun- 
dred  and  thirty  dollars  and  02^  cents ;  To  Thomas  Patten  twenty -four 
acres  and  ten  rods  for  two  hundred  and  sixteen  dollars  and  tilty-six 
cents ;  To  George  Kogers  twenty  live  acres  for  two  hundred  dollars. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSUAM.  415 

All  ami  sincrular  of  which  sums  to  be  paid,  with  interest,  in  four  years 
from  the  time  of  sale,  one  quarter  part  of  the  principal  of  each  sum 
to  bi»  paid  amnially,  and  interest  semi-aniuially  on  the  whole  amount 
of  sales      Amounting  in  the  whole  to  the  sum  of  8772.18 

*'(i>igned)  ''  Actor  Pattkn^, 

IIUMPIIUKY   PuniNTO.V, 

Tiios.  G.  Sandfoiid." 

[1821.]  In  the  year  1821,  a  committee  was  chosen  to  ascertain 
and  report,  at  an  adjourned  meeting,  who  were  members  of  tiie  First 
Varish.  The  parish  this  year,  moreover,  agreed  to  accept  the  neio 
meeting-huuse  on  the  tenns  ottered  by  the  proprietors  of  the  same, 
which  were  as  follows:  ^' That  tlie  propnetcjrs  of  the  nureting- 
liouse  present  the  same  to  the  First  Parish,  reserving  the  right  to  the 
proprit'tors  of  selling  all  their  right  thereto  and  receiving  the,  pro- 
ceeds ;  and  whether  the  same  is  sold  or  unsold,  it  shall  not  be  liable  in 
any  manner  whatever  to  be  taxtMl  ])y  the  First  Parish  ;  and  it  is 
understood  by  the  foregoing  reservation  that  the  parish  shall  never 
assess  any  moneys  that  it  may  hereafter  raise*  either  wholl}'  or  in  part 
upon  the  pews  or  seats  of  any  individual  proprietors  therein  ;  and  the 
proprietors  further  present  the  parish  with  one  of  the  front  i)ews  on 
the  lower  tloor,  numbered  thirty-one,  and  the  two  pews  in  the  gallery 
behind  the  singing  seats,  and  the  overplus  of  moneys  arising  fn)m  the 
sale  of  pews  in  said  house,  alter  paying  the  bills  of  said  house,  shall 
be  annexed  to  the  funds  of  the  First  Parish. 

"  That  in  future  the  meetings  for  publick  worship  be  holden  one 
third  of  the  time  at  the  old  meeting-house,  and  two  thiids  of  the  time 
at  the  new  meeting-house,  for  six  months  in  the  year,  connnencing 
the  first  Sabbath  in  May ;  the  remainder  of  the  year  at  the  new  meet- 
ing-house." 

At  a  subse(pient  meeting,  a  number  of  p(»rsons  who  hail  previously 
joined  the  Second  Parish  were  accepted  as  membei-s  of  the  First 
Parish.  At  the  same  meeting  an  agent  was  chosen  to  ol»tain  a  deed 
of  the  meeting-house  from  the  proprietors,  and  to  give  deeds  of  pews 
to  the  owners  thereof. 

On  August  2(),  3821,  the  church  was  reorganized.  The  following 
persons  constituted  its  membership  at  tiiis  time :  — 

William  Randall,  John  Harmon,  Deacon  Samuel  Winslow,  Mrs. 
Jane  Kandall,  Mrs.  Margaret  Patten,  Mrs.  Mary  Fllis,  Mrs.  Hannah 
Patten,  Mrs.  Martha  Kogers.  Mrs.  Hetsey  Perkins,  .Miss  Hannah 
Patten,  Widow  Mary  Foy,  Widow  Mary  l*atten,  and  Widow  Kachel 
Keed. 


416        HISTORY  OF  BRUXSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

[Ift23.]  Tliis  3'ear  an  attempt  was  made  to  settle  Reverend  Mr. 
Dauforth,  at  first  for  five  years  and  then  for  one  year.  There  was  a 
good  deal  of  diflicult}'  in  raising  the  necessary  amount  of  money  by 
subscription,  and  it  is  evident  tliat  he  was  not  engaged,  as  at  a  meet- 
ing held  on  the  twenty-second  of  November,  the  parish  committee 
were  instructed  to  employ  a  preacher,  and  to  paj'  him  out  of  the 
money  already  raised. 

[1824.]  The  parish  this  year  invited  Reverend  Jacob  C.  Goss  to 
settle  as  their  pastor,  "  until  six  Tn(mths*  notice  on  either  side  shall  be 
given  for  a  discontinuance  of  his  services."  The  salary'  of!ere<i  was 
five  hundred  dollurs.  .To  this  invitation  Mr.  Goss  made  an  answer 
containing  the  following  proposals,  which  were  accepte<i  by  the 
parish :  — 

**  First.  Provided  that  I  mav  have  libertv  to  be  absent  four  weeks 
each  year,  and  during  this  time  shall  not  be  under  obligation  to  supply 
the  desk. 

"  Serond.  Provided  either  party  may  have  liberty  to  dissolve  this 
connection,  giving  to  the  other  one  year  previous  to  such  dissolution. 

''  IVn'rd,  Should  the  ssdarv  which  vou  otter  me  be  found  on  trial 
insufHcient  to  meet  my  .expenses,  I  shall  exi)ect  it  will  be  increased." 

Thomas  G.  Sandfonl,  Actor  Patten,  Colonel  Samuel  Veazie,  Charles 
R.  Porter,  Doctor  James  McKeen,  and  IVIajor  Nahuui  Perkins  were 
chosen  on  behalf  of  the  parish,  and  Samuel  Winslow  on  behalf  of  the 
church,  to  make  the  arrangements  for  the  ordination. 

On  December  7  the  council  for  ordination  met  at  the  house  of 
jSathaniel  Green.  There  were  present.  Reverend  Ilezekiah  Packard 
and  David  Owen,  Wiscasset ;  Reverend  Eliphalet  Gillett  and  Samuel 
P.  Ingraham,  llallowell ;  Reverend  William  Mittimorc  and  Jona- 
than Moody,  Fahnouth ;  Reverend  John  W.  Ellingwocxl,  David  Stin- 
son,  and  Gillett  Trufant,  Rath ;  Reverend  Enos  Merrill  and  Nathan 
Scales,  Freeport;  Reverend  Asa  Cummings  and  Gushing  Prince, 
Brunswick ;  Reverend  Seneca  White,  Levi  Houghton,  an  I  Daniel 
Marston,  2d,  Bath  ;  Reverend  Caleb  Ilobaii;  and  ,Iacob  Hayes,  North 
Yannouth ;  Reverend  Benjamin  Tappan  and  John  Eveleth,  Augusta, 
and  William  Allen,  D.  D.,  president  of  Bowdoin  College. 

Reverend  Doctor  Allen  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Benjamin 
Tappan,  scribe. 

The  onlination  took  place  December  8,  1824.  The  introductory 
prayer  was  made  b}-  Reverend  Mr.  Mittimore ;  the  sermon  was  by 
President  Allen,  from  Isaiah  lii,  7,  ''  How  beaut  if nl  upon  the  mouhfains 
are  the  feet  of  him  that  bringeth  good  tidings " ;   the   consecrating 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSUAM.  417 

pra\-er  was  by  Reverend  Doctor  Gillett ;  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  by 
Reverend  Doctor  Packard,  of  Wiscassot ;  the  right  hand  of  fellow- 
ship, by  Reverend  Mr.  Mead ;  address  to  the  church  and  society,  by 
Reverend  Mr.  Tappan ;  and  the  concluding  prayer,  b3'  Reverend  Mr. 
Elliiigwood. 

[1825.]  At  a  churt-ih  meeting  held  January  20,  it  was  decided 
'*  that  the  ordinance  of  the  sacrament  should  be  administered  the  first 
Sabbath  in  every  other  month,  and  tliat  a  regular  cluirch  meeting 
should  be  held  every  Thursda}'  previous  to  communion." 

[1820.]  This  year  the  parish  voted  that  the  notice  of  its  meetings 
"'  be  in  futiire  posted  on  the  meeting-house  door  and  in  the  publish- 
ment-box *  to  said  meeting-house." 

On  Mav  1 1  of  this  vear  Samuel  Winslow  was  chosen  as  deacon.  — 
the  first  one  since  the  reoi^anization  of  the  church.  On  August  10, 
one  of  the  members  was  charged  witli  a  *'  too  frequent  use  of  spirit- 
uous liquors,"  and  was  susi>ended  from  fellowship  and  afterwards  was 
excommunicated. 

[1829.]  In  April,  1829,  Mr.  Goss  sent  in  his  request  for  a  dis- 
missal, on  the  ground  of  dissatisfaction  with  his  present  condition  and 
prospects.  A  committee  was  appointed  by  the  parish  to  confer  with 
him  and  to  make  to  him  a  full  disclosure  of  the  condition  of  the 
parish,  and  to  inform  him,  if  they  found  it  expadient,  that  the  parish 
felt  unable  to  support  him  after  the  expiration  of  the  year.  At  a 
subsequent  meeting  the  assessors  were  instructed  to  devise  measures  for 
paying  the  arrearages  due  him.  Notwithstanding  his  resignation,  Mr. 
Goss  seems  to  have  remained  for  some  time  longer,  for  at  a  meet- 
ing held  early  the  next  year  [1830]  another  committee  was  appointed 
to  inform  him  •'  of  the  embarrassed  situation  of  the  parish  on  tlie 
subject  of  dissolving  his  connection  with  said  parish  "  ;  and  on  July 
IG,  a  committee  was  chosen  ''  to  invite  him  to  dissolve  the  connection 
between  him  and  the  parish  and  discontinue  his  services  as  early  as 
may  be  convenient  to  him  and  prior  to  the  first  of  December  next, 
and  that  the  connection  be  now  accorilingly  dissolved."  A  week  later 
Mr.  Goss  sent  a  letter  to  the  parish  in  which  he  consented  to  the 
annulment  of  their  contract,  provided  all  arrearages  were  paid  and  his 
salary  paid  up  to  the  date  of  the  termination  of  his  services,  other- 
wise his  resignation  was  to  be  null  and  void.  Upon  the  receii)t  of 
this  communication,  the  parish  voted  to  use  so  much  of  the  interest  of 


»  A  box  with  a  glass  door^  in  rohich  the  toion  clerk  posted  the  names  of  th.se  intetiditi  / 
marriaofi. 


418        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

the  parish  fund  as  miofht  be  found  necessary  to  pay  what  was  due. 
This  terminated  the  civil  contract  between  the  parish  and  pastor,  but 
the  pastoral  connection  of  the  church  with  Mr.  Cioss  was  not  severed 
bv  act  of  council  until  Jinie  10,  1830.  Mr.  Goss  commenced  his 
labors  under  ven*  favorable  auspices,  and  so  far  as  can  ])e  determined 
from  the  records  there  was  no  dissatisfaction  with  him.  and  his  dis- 
missal was  owing  solely  to  the  feeble  condition  of  the  paiish  at  this 
time. 

[183G.]  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  i)arish  in  1^36,  a  committee 
was  appointed  to  examine  the  recortls  of  the  parish.  an<l  ascertain 
who  were  members  of  it  and  report  a  list  of  the  same.  This  re^wrt. 
on  account  of  the  infunnation  it  contains  in  regard  to  parishes  in  gen- 
eral, is  herewith  given  in  full :  — 

'-The  committee  appointed  at  a  meeting  of  the  First  Parish  in 
Topsham,  held  on  the  twelfth  instant,  to  ascertain  who  are  the  legal 
meml>ers  thereof,  respectfully  report  that  they  have  examincHl  the 
statutes  and  reported  cases  in  point,  and  have  unanimously  come  to 
the  conclusion  that  all  inhabitants  of  twenty-one  years  of  age  and 
upwards,  within  the  bounds  of  said  parish,  and  who  have  not  with- 
drawn therefrom  by  leaving  a  written  notice  thereof  with  the  parish 
clerk,  are  members  of  said  parish,  with  the  exception  of  such  persons 
only  as  are  legal  members  of  some  poll  parish.  That  all  inhabitants 
coming  to  reside  within  the  limits  of  the  said  First  Parish  and  who  are 
not  members  of  a  poll  parish,  with  all  such  as  reside  therein  and  with- 
drawn from  the  poll  parish  to  which  they  were  connected  by  leaving 
a  written  note  thereof  with  the  clerk  of  said  parish,  do  on  their 
claiming  and  exercising  their  rights  of  niemlK»rship  thereby  become 
members  of  said  Fii-st  Parish. 

*'  To  visit  each  individual  within  the  limits  of  said  First  Parish,  and 
to  ascertain  from  them  iK*rsonally  whether  they  belong  to  the  parish 
or  not,  would  require  more  lime  than  your  connnittt'r  could  conven- 
iently bestow  on  the  subject.  They  therefore  have  examined  the 
reconls  of  the  i>oll  parish,  within  the  bounds  of  the  First  Parish,  and 
from  which  it  appears  the  following  named  iK^rsons*  are  memlKTs  of 
the  Second  Parish  of  this  town.  .  .  .  Your  committee  further  re|>ort 
that  they  are  divided  in  opinion,  in  n^gard  to  the  point  whether  the 
memlicrsof  a  poll-parishioner's  family,  at  arriving  at  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  do  thereby,  without  first  withdrawing  from  the  \)o\\  parish. 


*  These  nam*r8  apjKar  in  the  account  of  the  BaptUt  .S«x'i'/y,  and  are  thtrc/ore  omitted 
here. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM,  419 

become  members  of  the  territorial  parish  within  the  bounds  of  which 
the  poll  is  situated.  A  majority'  of  3'our  committee,  Messrs.  Perkins, 
Tibbets,  and  Ellis,  are  of  opinion  that  they  do.  The  other  members 
of  your  committee  are  of  a  different  opinion.  The  case  has  been  sub- 
mitted to  two  of  our  most  able  counsellors,  who  differ  in  opinion  on  the 
subject.  Your  committee,  therefore,  to  avoid  all  unccrtaint}',  recom- 
mend to  i)er8ons  so  situate<l  to  withdraw  from  the  poll  parish,  in  case 
they  are  desirous  of  connecting  themselves  with  the  territorial,  or 
from  the  territorial  if  they  prefer  continuing  with  the  poll.  They 
wouhl  further  recommend,  in  case  the  parish  should  resort  to  taxes, 
that  such  iMJi'sons  so  situated,  and  arriving  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
should  not  be  taxed  or  considered  as  members  of  said  parish  until 
tbey  claim  and  exercise  their  rights  of  membership. 

'Xaiium  Perkins, 

per  order  of  Committfe.-^ 

The  ministerial  fund  of  the  First  Parish  amounted  at  this  time  to 
seven  hundred  and  thirty-sixty  dollars  and  sixty-one  cents.  No 
parish  meetings  were  held  later  than  this,  and  the  majority  of  tlie  pew- 
holders  l)ecame  members  of  the  Unitarian  Societv.     The  continuation 

« 

of  the  histor\'  of  the  First  Parish  Church  organization  will  be  given 
further  on,  under  the  title  of  the  ''  Congregational  Church."  The  lat- 
ter is  ^le  direct  lineal  descendant  of  the  old  First  Parish  Church, 
though,  for  reasons  given  elsewhere,  the  members  of  it  no  longer 
belonged  to  the  First  Parish,  but  formed  a  new  poll  parish. 

THE   FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  AND   SOCIETY,   OR   SECOND  AND 

THIRD    PARISHEa 

The  first  Baptist  preaching  in  Topsham  was  by  Elder  Simon  Locke, 
it  is  believed,  in  1770.  On  the  fifth  of  June  of  that  year  he  ])ap- 
tize<l  Miss  R.  Purington,  who  was  the  first  one  in  town  to  receive  the 
ordinance  by  immersion. 

After  1782,  Keverend  Mr.  Potter  preached  occasionally  for  several 
years,  but  without  making  many  converts.  During  the  years  17^3 
and  17H4,  Klders  Case  and  Macomber  preached  occasionally.* 

Reverend  Job  Macomber  also  preached  here  in  17H9,  17l>0,  and  171)1. 
These  ministers  were  paid  for  their  services  by  the  voluntary  contrilni- 
tion  of  individuals,  as  appears  from  a  receipt  given  by  Macomber  to 
Actor  Patten,  Joseph  and  Pelatiah  Haley,  and  John  Merrill. 

The  General  Court  of  Massachusetts,  by  an  Act  passed  in  June, 


» From  Millet. 


420         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

1794,  incorporated  John  Merrill,  Plsqiiire,  Stephen  Doutj',  Actor 
Patten,  Hugh  Wilson,  Robert  Cleaves,  Jr.,  James  Purington,  Jr., 
Ebenezer  Farrin,  William  Bragdon,  John  Starboard,  Jr.,  John 
Ilewey,  John  Duggan,  Joseph  Jack,  Elnathan  llinklej',  Alexander 
Thompson,  Elijah  White,  Benjamin  Woodard,  Moses  Hodgkins,  John 
Sandford,  John  Ware,  William  Hunter,  Samuel  Wilson,  Calvin  Wade, 
Thomas  Smith,  John  Starboard,  Luther  Hall,  Thomas  Rideout,  John 
Reed,  William  Malcom,  Robert  Cleaves,  John  Wilson,  Joseph  Haley, 
Humphrey  Thompson,  Willard  Sears,  Moses  Owen,  William  Colla- 
more,  Nathan  Wyman,  Hezekiah  Wyman,  William  W^-man,  and 
James  Purington  into  a  society  by  the  name  of  the  ''Baptist  Religious 
Society  in  Topsham."  ^ 

The  first  meeting  of  this  societv  was  held  at  the  house  of  Actor 
Patten  on  February  9,  1795.  This  societj*  constituted  the  Second 
Parish  of  the  town.  At  this  meeting  James  Purington  was  chosen 
moderator,  and  John  Merrill  parish  clerk.  It  was  voted  to  build  a 
meeting-house  "  forty  feet  long  and  thirty  feet  wide,  this  season,  and 
that  it  be  set  betw^een  Joseph  Haley's  house  and  Benjamin  Eaton's.'* 
It  was  to  be  owned  b}'  each  proprietor  in  proportion  to  the  amount 
subscribed. 

This  meeting-house,  subsequently  known  as  the  *'  old  yellow  meet- 
ing-house," was  built  principally  b}'  Joseph  Haley,  Captain.  Actor 
l*atten,  1st,  John  Merrill,  Esquire,  Captain  Pelatiah  Hale}',  and 
James  Purington,  the  tanner. 

April  17,  1797,  the  parish  voted  to  give  Elder  Elihu  Purington,  of 
Bowdoinham,  an  invitation  to  preach  for  them  one  half  the  time. 
This  invitation  was  accepted. 

In  the  year  1800,  Reverend  Mr.  Williams  preached  in  the  meeting- 
house of  the  Second  Parish.^ 

The  following  is  the  list  of  members  subsequent  to  the  incorporation 
of  the  parish,  down  to  April  7,  1808:  179G,  James  Sampson,  Obed 
Burnham ;  1797,  Andrew  Whitehouse,  Joshua  Whitten,  Joseph  Whit- 
ten,  John  Whitten,  Stephen  Pennell,  William  Wilson,  Jr.;  1798, 
Nathaniel  Melcher,  Benjamin  Eaton,  Charles  Gowell,  Joseph  Graves, 
Joshua  Graves,  Samuel  Graves,  Moses  Plummer,  Gideon  Walker; 
1799,  Francis  Douglass,  Benjamin  Metcalf;  1800,  James  Potter; 
1803,  John  Rogers,  John  Hern,  David  Work,  Jeremiah  Staples,  Wins-  ' 
low^  Staples,  Moses  Graves,  Joseph  Berry,  James   Staples,  Thomas 


1  Masmchusetts  Special  Laws,  Vol.  l,p.  5^57. 

2  biary  of  Jieveretui  Jonathan  Ellis. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  421 

Hiint<*r,  Arthur  Hunter,  Robert  Alexander,  William  Malconi,  Jr., 
John  Given,  William  Reed,  Thomas  Reed,  Robert  Reed,  David  Reed, 
William  Reed  Hunter,  Timothj'  Hern,  Joseph  Quint,  Josiah  Staples, 
John  Graves,  Jr.,  Jacob  Graves,  Samuel  Staples,  P2benezer  Work, 
William  Given,  Jacob  Stockman,  Daniel  Gray,  Caleb  Curtis,  Lemuel 
Thompson ;  1808,  Daniel  Holden,  Nathaniel  Green,  Jolham  Chick, 
Stephen  Harris,  James  Cook,  Samuel  Towns,  Jonathan  Blaisdell,  Moses 
Wevmouth,  David  Foster,  Timothy  Foster,  Gideon  Larrabee,  Aaron 
Thompson,  John  Rogers,  Jr.,  Joshua  Haines,  Isaac  Johnson,  Sanuiel 
Perkins,  Joseph  M.  Perr}',  Robert  Sager,  Nathaniel  Quint,  James 
Thompson,  John  Jameson,  Francis  Card,  James  G.  Goold,  William 
Frost,  Nahum  Houghton,  Joseph  Haley,  Jr.,  David  Flagg,  Jesse  T. 
llalev,  and  Peter  H.  Green. 

[1808.]  On  April  28,  1808,  the  parish  voted  to  raise  four  hundred 
dollars  for  the  supi)ort  of  the  ministry,  but  the  vote  was  reconsidered 
in  June,  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  was  then  voted.  From  this 
time  until  about  1883,  tiie  amount  annually  raised  for  the  supply  of 
the  pulpit  and  all  other  expenses  was,  ordinarily,  only  one  hundred 
dollars. 

[1815.]  In  September  of  this  3'ear  three  males  and  five  females 
])elonging  to  this  societ}'  were  organized  into  a  church  at  Oak  Hill, 
under  the  title  of  ''  The  Predestinarian  Baptist  Church  of  Toi>sham." 
It  is  probable  that  Mr.  Elihu  Purington  was  then  ordained  as  an  elder,* 
since  the  records  of  the  church  state  that  at  this  time  Elder  Kendall 
preached  the  introductory  senuon.  Elder  Titcomb  gave  the  right  hand 
of  fell  oir  ship,  and  Elder  Temple  made  the  concluding  prayer. 

[1818.]  On  June  4,  1818,  Mr.  Winslow  Staples  was  ordained  b}- 
council ;  Elder  Stearns  preached  the  sermon,  Elder  Persons  offered  a 
prayer.  Elder  Temple  gave  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  Elder  Stinson 
gave  the  charge,  and  Elder  Frost  made  the  concluding  praj'er.  The 
church  at  this  time  numbered  over  fifty  members. ^ 

At  a  meeting  held  April  18,  of  this  year,  the  parish  voted  that  a 
committee  which  had  been  chosen  to  settle  the  accounts  of  the  parish 
should  be  authorized  *"  to  move  the  meeting  "  to  any  part  of  the  town 
if  the}'  judged  it  expedient.  Accordingly,  the  meetings  were  held 
this  year  in  two  places,  —  in  the  ''  old  yellow  meeting-house  "  and  in  a 
scliool-house.3 

[1819.]     In  April,  1819,  the  frame  of  a  new  meeting-house  was 


1  Adam  Wilson' *  ffisforical  Ih'HCourbCj  p.  10.  -  Millett. 

*  Autobioyruphif  0/  Elder  Kendall. 


422        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  UARPSWELL, 

raised,  and  in  November  the  building  was  completed.  It  was  small, 
containing  onl}'  thirty  pews.^  This  building  was  the  one,  opposite  the 
village  graveyard,  which  was  afterward  used  as  a  town-house. 

This  year  *'  one  half  of  the  male  and  several  female  members  of  the 
church  were  expelled  for  intemperance,  until  only  eight  were  left."  ^ 

[1820.]  Elder  Staples's  pastorate  could  not  have  been  a  very  suc- 
cessful one,  as  in  February  2G,  1820,  the  church  and  parish,  in  joint 
session,  passed  a  vote  of  censure  against  him.  At  a  parish  meeting, 
held  A[)ril  15  of  this  year,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  confer  with 
Elder  Ilenrj'  Kendall  as  to  the  terms  on  which  he  would  consent  to 
become  their  settled  minister. 

At  a  meeting  held  April  29,  1820,  it  was  voted  to  accept  Elder 
IIenr\'  Kendairs  projjosals,  and  to  consider  him  as  their  settled  min- 
ister, agreeablj'  to  the  conditions  specified  by  him.  These  conditions 
were  as  follows  :  — 

'*  1.  It  will  not  be  expected  by  me  that  the  societ}'  bind  itself  to 
pav  me  any  si)ecified  sum  for  my  services  as  their  minister,  nor  would 
it  be  pleasing  to  me  on  my  settlement  that  any  obligatory  grant  should 
be  made  to  me,  but  that  the  whole  subject  should  be  left  with  the  soci- 
ety to  give  me  annually  much  or  little  as  the}*  xtaxy  consider  duty  or 
proper. 

"2.  That  a  committee,  to  be  composed  of  members  of  the  church 
and  societ}',  be  annuall}*  raised,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  confer  with 
me  on  the  subject  of  my  situation  and  the  number  of  Sabbaths  1  ought 
to  serve  the  society  for  the  sum  they  may  by  grant  or  subscription 
annually  raise,  and  report  as  soon  as  may  be  the  result  of  this  con- 
ference to  me  and  the  assessors  of  the  society. 

"3.  That  whenever  I  shall  think  it  duty  to  request  a  dissolution  of 
mv  ministerial  connection  with  this  societv,  and  shall  ofliciallv  make 
known  mj'  desire,  the  society  shall,  without  an}'  unnecessary  delay, 
attend  to  tlie  subject,  and  if  the}'  are  not  disposetl  to  grant  my  request 
tiiey  shall  join  me  in  choosing  a  council  of  the  elders  and  churches  of 
our  order,  to  hear  and  determine  the  subject  of  the  request,  whose 
decision  shall  be  binding  on  the  parties. 

'*  4.  That  whenever  a  majority  in  parish  meeting,  legally  called  for 
that  purpose,  shall  by  vote  declare  tliat  my  ministerial  labours  is  no 
longer  useful,  and  vote  my  dismission,  then  my  ministerial  connection 
shall  ]>e  considered  dissolved." 

Uj)  to  this  time  the  Second  Paiish  contained  both  Calvinist  and 


1  Autobiography  of  Eldt^r  KencUdl.  '  Ibid. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSTIAM.  423 

Free-Will  Baptists,  but  a  separation  nowoocnrred,  and  in  1821  Joshua 
and  John  Whitten  were  dismissed  to  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Society. 

[1824.]  At  a  meeting  held  April  17,  1824,  the  parish  voted  ''  to 
dismiss  Elder  Henry  Kendall  from  being  any  longer  their  settled  min- 
ister, —  agreeable  to  his  request."  The  church  records  contain  a  state- 
ment to  the  ett'ect  that  the  dismission  of  Elder  Kendall  gave  rise  to 
some  dissatisfaction. 

Nothing  of  importance  occurs  in  the  records  of  the  Second  Parish 
subsequent  to  this  date,  though  the  records  do  not  close  until  the  3'ear 
1832.  As  the  Baptists  withdrew  that  year,  and  formed  a  new  society, 
it  would  seem  as  tliough  the  Second  Parish  must  thereafter  have  been 
composed  exclusively  of  Free-Will  Baptists  or  else  that  tliere  were 
two  religious  societies  in  one  \x>\\  parish. 

THK   BAPTIST  CHURCH  SOCIETY. 

On  January  19,  1824,  Ilenr}*  Kendall,  Jabez  Perkins,  James  Cook, 
Richard  Orr,  Sanmel  Wilson,  James  Wilson,  f^lijah  White,  George 
How  land,  and  Daniel  Welch  petitioned  the  legislature  for  incori)ora- 
tion  as  a  religious  society.  The  petition  was  granted,  and  on  Feb- 
ruar}'  2,  1824,  the  society  met  and  elected  Henry  Kendall,  moderator, 
and  James  Cook,  clerk.  Jabez  Perkins  was  chosen  collector,  and 
Deacon  Elijah  White  and  Mr.  James  Cook  as  parish  committee. 
The  members  of  this  society  constituted  the  third  parish  of  the 
town. 

Joseph  Foster,  Jr.,  Daniel  Welch,  Leonard  Blondell,  JalH>z  Per- 
kins, David  wScribner,  James  Cole,  John  Owen,  Charles  White,  Joshua 
Haskell,  Aaron  Hinkley,  Charles  Hunter,  Edward  Welch,  David 
Dunlap,  William  Randall,  Jr.,  Jonathan  Baker,  James  Rogers,  Benja- 
min Hase}',  John  Hunter,  2d,  Benjamin  Thompson,  Francis  Tucker, 
George  Rogers,  William  Work,  and  John  Mustard  joined  the  societ}' 
about  this  time,  tliough  a  number  of  them  afterwards  went  back  to  the 
First  Parish.  The  members  at  their  first  meeting  voted  to  call  them- 
selves by  the  name  of  ''The  Baptist  Church  Society."  They  built 
this  year  a  small  meeting-house  in  the  village,  at  a  cost  of  about  six 
hundre<l  dollars. 

[1825.]  This  3'ear  there  was  a  powerful  revival  in  the  church, 
thoujrh  Imt  little  mention  is  made  of  it  in  the  records. 

[182n.]  At  a  meeting  held  on  Ai>ril  .S,  the  society  voted  that  as 
less  monev  than  was  needed  had  heretofore  been  raised,  'Mf  the 
society  should  not  be  able  to  raise  by  voluntary  snbs(Tii)tion  at  least 
one  hundred  dollars  for  Ehler  Kendall  the  present  year,  that  they  will 


424      msiORY  OF  brux^mick,  topsham,  and  uarpswell. 

not  require  his  ministerial  labors  beyond  a  proportion  of  the  time  for 
the  sum  they  siiall  raise  and  pay  over  to  him." 

[1h:^4.]  At  a  church  meeting,  held  February  22,  the  subject  of 
building  a  new  meeting-house  was  discussed,  and  it  was  thereupon 
voted  '•  that  Jaln^z  Perkins,  David  Scribner,  Samuel  Perkins,  Josiah 
Sanford,  and  L.  Ilibbai-d  be  a  committee  to  solicit  means  t4>  carrv  the 
same  into  etfect  "     On  October  4,  of  this  vear,  Samuel  Perkins  and 

ft. 

David  Scribner  were  chosen  deacons. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  society,  held  A\m\  7,  it  was  decidc<l  to  accept  a 
lot  of  land  for  a  meeting-house,  that  had  been  purchasinl  of  Pelatiah 
anil  Xancv  Ilalev.  Jabez  Perkins  and  David  Scribner  were  chosen  a 
committee  to  raise  subscriptions  for  and  to  buihl  a  new  meeting- 
house. 

[18.*^,').]  On  April  6,  1.^3.'),  tiiis  committee  reported  that  they  had 
contracted  with  S.  &  K.  D.  Meiciier  for  the  erection  of  a  meeting- 
house. That  the  wholo  expense  would  be  82,*2o0.  and  that  the  build- 
ing would  pn>bably  be  completed  in  about  six  weeks.  At  this  meeting 
Jabez  Perkins,  Samuel  Perkins,  and  James  Cook  were  apiK)int(»d  a 
committee  to  sell  the  pews,  but  were  instructed  to  resi«ne  one  pew 
next  the  desk,  on  each  side,  and  two  floor  pews  near  the  stove.  ft»r/re^ 
pews.  The  so<*iety  also  authorized  their  agent  to  sell  tiie  old  meeting- 
house if  the  consent  of  the  pew-owners  could  be  had.  It  was  bought 
by  Deacon  Joshua  Haskell  for  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Society.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  church,  held  March  21,  Elder  Charles  Johnson  was 
invited  to  settle  on  a  salary  of  three  hundred  dollars  ptr  annum.  The 
next  meeting  of  the  society  was  held  May  27  in  tlu^  new  or  present 
Baptist  meeting  house.  At  this  meeting.  Elder  .lohn^on  was  onlaiue<l 
and  the  new  church  building  was  dedicated.  The  year  was  remark- 
able for  a  revival  in  this  and  the  other  societies. 

[1>^;J7.]  On  February  2o.  1837,  the  church  extended  a  call  to  Rev- 
erend Edwin  K.  Warren,  and  the  amount  of  salarv  to  be  otfereti  him 
was  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  church  otiicers. 

[1838.]  During  the  year  1838  a  controversy  c<mmunced  between 
the  conuuittee  of  management  of  the  *'  Edstern  B"pffs(  "  and  Mr.  E. 
Brown.  It  continued  several  vears  and  caused  considi'vaV»le  trouble 
in  tliis  cinirch. 

[1840.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  held  October  2.').  forty-four 
members  were  dismissed  from  this  church,  in  order  to  be  organized 
into  a  Baptist  church  in  Brunswick  village.  There  was  a  great  revi- 
val this  year.  Meetings  were  held  for  more  than  one  hun<lred  succes- 
sive evenings,  and  one  hundred  and  fifty-two  persons  were  added  to 
the  church  by  baptism. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  UISTOBY  OF  TOPSHAM.  A2b 

[1H41.]  On  Juh'  25,  Elder  Warren  resigned  the  pastorate,  and 
Reverend  George  Kiiox  was  invited,  November  1,  to  succeed  him  on 
a  salarv  of  four  hundred  dollars.  On  December  14,  foitv-nine  dele- 
gates,  representing  eighteen  churches,  met  in  council  for  the  purpose 
of  his  ordination.     The  sen'ices  were  as  follows  :  — 

An  anthem  ;  reading  of  Scriptures,  by  Elder  V,  S.  Adams  ;  a  hymn  ; 
a  prayer,  b\'  Elder  F.  Merriam  ;  a  sermon,  by  Elder  Z.  Bradford  ;  an 
anthem ;  an  ordaining  prayer,  by  Polder  Z.  Adlain ;  the  charge,  by 
Elder  Adam  Wilson  ;  a  In'mn  ;  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  by  Elder 
E.  11.  Gray;  an  address  to  the  church,  by  Elder  11.  (i.  Oott;  an 
anthem  ;  a  closing  prayer,  b}*  Elder  E.  K.  Warren  ;  and  the  benedic- 
tion, by  the  pastor. 

[1840.]  On  May  25,  1845,  Elder  Knox  resigned,  and  on  February' 
1,  of  the  following  year,  Reverend  James  Gilpatrick  was  invited  to 
settle  as  pastor,  on  a  salarv  of  four  hundred  dollars.  He  accepted 
the  call  February  5,  and  was  installed  April  22,  1H4G.  The  sen  ices 
were  as  follows  :  — 

Reading  of  Scripture,  by  Elder  J.  Hubbard ;  prayer,  by  Elder  N. 
Norton;  sennon,  by  Elder  N.  W.  Williams;  prayer,  by  Elder  H. 
Hawes;  charge,  by  Polder  W.  C.  Grant;  right  hand  of  fellowship,  by 
Elder  M.  Hanscrom  ;  address  to  church,  etc.  by  Elder  William  Bailey  ; 
prayer,  by  Elder  J.  Ricker ;  benediction,  by  the  pastor. 

[1853.]  Ehler  Gilpatrick,  having  determined  to  move  with  his 
family  to  Kansas,  — then  beginning  to  be  settled,  —  sent  in  his  resig- 
nation April  2,  1853,  and  it  was  accepted  by  the  church  to  take  place 
in  June  following.  On  Jul^'  17,  Elder  A.  Robbins  was  invited  to  set- 
tle as  pastor,  on  the  same  salary  as  his  predecessor.  On  the  twenty- 
fourth  of  the  following  Sei)tember,  however,  his  salarv  was  increased 
to  four  hundred  and  fit\v  dollars. 

[1859.]  On  June  5j  1859,  Elder  Robbins  resigned  under  circum- 
stances that  led  man}*  to  have  doubts  as  to  his  litness  for  his  position. 
When  his  resignation  was  accepted,  however,  some  commendatory 
resolutions  were  passe<l  by  the  church.  These  resolutions  were  dis- 
pleasing to  some  of  the  members,  and  for  a  time  the  matter  seriously 
disturbecl  the  church. 

[I860.]  March  25,  1860,  Reverend  L.  P.  Gurney  received  a  call 
from  the  church  to  settle  as  their  pastor,  and  accepted  the  invitation 
the  following  Ma}'. 

[1862.]  At  a  meeting  held  on  A\m\  6,  1862,  the  church  was 
presented  by  Deacon  William  Barron  with  a  complete  silver  commu- 
nion service. 


426      msTOHY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  nAUPSWEiL. 

[1865.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  church,  held  July  1,  1865,  Reverend 
L.  P.  Gurne}^  Deacons  David  Scribner  and  William  Barron,  William 
Skolfield,  George  A.  Rogers,  and  W.  E.  Haley  were  chosen  a  Com- 
mittee of  Arrangements  for  a  semi-centennial  anniversarj'  of  the  for- 
mation of  the  church.  On  September  2  the  anniversary  was  celebrated 
in  an  appropriate  manner,  Reverend  Adam  Wilson,  D.  D.,  delivered 
an  historical  discourse,  which,  in  accordance  with  a  vote  of  the  church, 
was  printed  in  1866. 

[1866-1868.]  March  1,  1866,  Elder  Gurney  resigned  his  chaise, 
and  the  church  was  for  a  time  without  any  settled  minister.  On  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1867,  however,  Reverend  A.  Bryant  united  with  the  church 
and  supplied  the  pulpit  until  February  11,  1868. 

In  1869,  Reverend  Ira  P.  Leland,  the  present  pastor,  was  in- 
stalled. 

THE  FREE-WILL  BAPTIST  CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY.! 

[1783.]  The  first  minister  of  this  denomination  who  preached  in 
Topsham  was  Elder  Benjamin  Randall,  who  preached  once  or  twice 
in  John  Merrill's  barn  about  the  vear  1783. 

[1815.]  The  Secx)nd  Parish,  as  alread}'  stated,  was  made  up  of 
both  Calvinist  and  Free- Will  Baptists.  Their  first  pastor  was  Elder 
Purington.  He  sympathized  in  his  views  with  the  Free-Will  Baptists. 
In  1815  he  baptized  six  persons,  who  subsequently  joined  the  Free- 
Will  Baptist  Church.  The  next  preacher  of  this  denomination  was 
Elder  Benjamin  Thorn,  who  preached  one  season  or  more  in  the  '*  old 
yellow  meeting-house."  The  precise  time  that  he  was  engaged  with 
this  church  is  not  stated,  but  it  must  have  been  between  the  fall  of 
1815  and  the  fall  of  1816. 

[1816-17.]  In  1816,  Elder  George  Lamb  preached  a  few  times 
and  was  succeeded  by  Elder  Farwell,  who  preached  to  the  society  in 
1817. 

[1822.]  There  was  occasional  but  not  regular  preaching  after  this 
up  to  about  1822,  when  Elder  Briggs  settled  for  about  one  year.  He 
preache<l  a  portion  of  the  time  in  the  Topsham  Court  House,  and  the 
remainder  of  the  time  in  a  hall  in  Brunswick  village.  Why  services 
were  not  held  in  the  3'ellow  meeting-house  is  not  known.  It  was  not 
occupied  by  the  Bai)tists,  and  the  presumption  is  that  the  Court  House 
was  used  because  the  meeting-house  was  so  far  out  of  the  village. 
About  this  time  the  Free-Will  Baptists  began  to  leave  the  Calvinist 


From  a  sketch  of  tfie  same  hy  the  late  Mr.  William  Whitten, 


:ECCLE8IA8TICAL  mSTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  427 

Baptist  Church.  As  the  latter  had  given  up  the  Second  Parish  IVIeet- 
ing-House,  and  had  been  incoq>orated  into  a  new  society,  it  is  In-  no 
means  unreasonable  to  supix>se  that  the  former  constituted  then,  and 
are  now,  the  Second  Parish. 

[1825-6.]  In  the  autumn  of  1825,  Elders  Clement  Phinney, 
Allen  Files,  and  Abizer  Bridges  came  to  Topsham  and  preached 
occasionally.  On  December  15,  1825,  the  church  was  organized  by 
Elder  Bridges,  who  baptized  the  eight  individuals  of  which  it  was 
composed. 

Additions  continued  to  be  made  to  the  church,  and  on  Satunlav, 
Februarj'  4,  1826,  a  meeting  was  held  at  John  Haley's,  near  the  yellow 
meeting-house.  At  this  meeting  Elder  Bridges,  having  been  chosen 
moderator,  the  church  elected  Elder  Allen  Files,  pastor ;  Andrew 
Jack  and  Joshua  Haskell,  deacons ;  and  Uriah  Jack,  clerk. 

[1830.]  After  five  3'ears'  service.  Elder  Files  resigned,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Polder  Dexter  Waterman,  in  1830.  He  remained  but  one 
year,  and  after  he  left  the  church  was  without  a  pastor  and  Iiad 
preaching  only  occasionally,  for  about  five  years.  During  this  time 
the  church  became  very  low  and  feeble.  Some  of  its  members  had 
died,  others  had  left  town,  and  but  a  few  remained  who  were  able  to 
be  of  much  assistance  in  sustaining  a  preacher. 

[1836.]  March  22,  1836,  p:iders  George  Lamb  and  Clement  Phin- 
ney were  sent  b}-  the  Bowdoin  Quarterly'  Meeting  to  visit  the  church, 
and  try  to  revivify  it.  Accordingly,  on  that  day,  the  church  met  at 
the  old  red  school-house  and  chose  Elder  Lamb,  moderator.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  meeting  the  members  were  verv  much  discour- 
aged,  and  were  inclined  to  give  up  their  organization  and  join  other 
churches.  Elder  Lamb,  however,  said  to  them,  ^*  You  ought  to  be 
ashamed  to  let  your  own  fire  go  out,  and  then  crawl  in  and  warm 
yourselves  by  another  man's."  This  and  similar  remarks  served  to 
insjnre  them  with  new  zeal,  and  the}'  determined  to  make  strenuous 
efforts  to  support  a  church  and  society.  They  at  once  voted  to  engage 
Elder  Lamb  to  preach  one  half  the  time.  As  the  society  owned  no 
meeting-house,  the  yellow  one  being  owned  ])y  members  of  both  Bap- 
tist societies,  a  committee  was  cliosen  to  purchase  one.  This  com- 
mittee was,  however,  saved  from  all  trouble  in  the  matter  hy 
Deacon  Joshua  Haskell,  who  purchased  the  former  Baptist  meeting- 
house or  vestry  (the  one  afterwards  uswl  as  a  town-house)  at  an 
exi)ense  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  Elder  Lamb  com- 
mence<l  his  pastoral  labors  in  May,  183(>,  and  remained  over  the  church 
until  his  death,  which  occuiTed  on  the  fouilccnth  of  the  following 


428        UISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

December.  At  the  same  time  that  Elder  Lamb  was  preaching  in  the 
village,  Elder  Charles  Bean  was  preaching  in  the  '*  Mallett"  neigh- 
borhood. He  made  many  converts,  who  all  joined  the  church  in  the 
village. 

In  183C  it  was  decided  to  build  a  new  meeting-house.  This  enter- 
prise received  the  hearty  encouragement  of  all  tlie  members,  and  the 
present  building  was  accordingly  completed  in  August,  1837,  at  an 
expense  of  $3,000.     A.  C.  RajTnond,  of  Brunswick,  was  the  builder. 

Previously  to  the  erection  of  this  building  a  Sabbath  school  was 
organized,  in  which  A.  R.  Bradbury  and  J.  J.  Butler,  students  in 
Bowdoin  College,  took  an  active  part. 

After  the  death  of  their  pastor,  Mr.  J.  J.  Butler  supplied  the  pulpit 
for  a  while.  Elder  Phinney  also  preached  for  a  few  months,  but  there 
was  no  one  settled  until  May,  1837.  On  May  20,  1837,  Elder 
Daniel  Jackson  moved  to  town  with  his  famil}',  and  was  settled  as  the 
pastor  of  this  church.     He  remained  over  them  until  some  time  in  1 840. 

[1842.]  He  was  succeeded  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  b}'  Elder 
Andrew  RolHns,  wlio  remained  until  the  spring  of  1842. 

[1843.]  Elder  Rollins  was  succeeded  by  Elder  Peter  Folsom,  who 
continued  until  February,  1843,  when  he  was  obliged  to  leave  on 
account  of  illness. 

[1843-1846.]  In  the  summer  of  1843,  Elder  DanielJackson  was 
again  engaged  to  take  the  pastoral  care  of  this  church.  He  remained 
until  some  time  in  the  early  part  of  1846.  Dunug  his  last  pastorate, 
in  1843  and  1844,  the  "Miller"  excitement  prevailed  in  the  town. 
The  members  of  the  church,  not  wishing  '*  to  stand  against  an3'thing 
that  looked  like  tnith,"  permitted  their  church  to  be  used  for  the  pro- 
mulgation of  the  new  views.  The  result  was  a  loss  of  some  t<;n  or 
more  members,  and  some  disaffection  amongst  those  who  remained. 
The  trouble  was  not,  however,  of  long  duration. 

Elder  Peter  Folsom  succeeded  Elder  Jackson,  and  preached  for  one 
year,  when  he  was  himself  succeeded  by  Elder  Charles  Bean,  who 
remained  about  two  years. 

[1849.]  In  September,  1849,  E.  B.  Fernald,  a  student  from  the 
Biblical  School  at  Whitestown,  received  a  call  and  connnenced 
preaching  to  this  church.  He  was  ordained  at  the  meeting-house  in 
Topsham  in  October  following.  He  remained  pastor  of  this  church 
about  two  3'ear8  and  a  half.* 


*  Mr.  Whitien's  sketch  ends  at  this  point.  He  intended  bringing  it  down  to  a  more 
ncent  date,  but  hit  sickness  and  d*:ath prevented,  and  we  are  now  unable  to  give  a  mort 
complete  account. 


ECCLESIASIICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  429 

Since  then  the  following  preachers  have  been  settled  over  this 
society :  — 

Keverend  William  T.  Smith,  from  1852  until  18r)7  ;  Reverend  M.  W. 
Burlincrame,  from^lSi')?  until  18(53;  Reverends.  D.  Stront,  from  18r>r> 
until  1864  ;  Reverend  A.  A.  Smith,  from  l«fi4  to  1H70;  Reverend  E. 
Manson,  from  1«70  to  1874  ;  J.  A.  Simpson,  for  about  six  months  in 
1874-5,  after  which  there  was  no  settled  minister  until  June,  l«77, 
when  Reverend  A.  G.  Hill,  the  present  pastor,  was  settled  over  tlie 
society. 

OKTHODOX   CONr.REOATIONAL  CHUHCII   AND  SOCIETY. 

Tiic  Congregational  Church  was,  as  stated  in  the  account  of  the  First 
Parish,  the  dinrch  of  that  parish,  tiiough  the  nociettf  constituted  only  a 
portion  of  it.  The  following  sketch  is  therefore,  so  far  as  it  concerns 
the  church,  a  continuation  of  that  of  the  First  l*arisii. 

[1835.]  Ou  May  10,  1835,  the  church  a(h)pted  their  present  con- 
fession of  failli,  ami  this  date  may  be  considered  as  proba])ly  the  last 
met»ting  of  the  ciuu'ch  prior  to  tiie  dissohition  of  the  First  l*arish. 

[1«3(;.]  In  May,  183(1,  Reverend  J.  T.  Ilawes,  wlio  imd  been  set- 
tled over  the  First  Parish  in  1H31,  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Revt?rend  Mr.  High,  who  supphod  the  pulpit  for  eight  weeks,  by  Rev- 
erend Mr.  Cleavehiud  for  eleven  weeks,  and  by  Professor  Siuvth,  of 
liowdoin  College,  for  eight  months.  A  new  house  of  worship'  was 
erected  this  year  by  voluntary  subscri|)tions. 

•  ^  ft  I. 

[1837.]  In  July,  1837,  Reverend  Thomas  X.  I»rd  commenced 
preaching  to  this  society  and  was  ordained  in  August.  He  was  invited 
at  a  joint  meeting  of  the  church  and  society  held  in  the  Couit  House 
in  Jaiumry,  1837.  His  salary  was  live  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
The  council  for  his  ordination  met  August  7. 

The  services  were  held  on  the  next  day  and  were  as  follows :  — 

Sjnging  by  the  choir;  prayer,  by  Reverend  Ray  Palmer,  2d  church, 
Bath;  singing  l»y  the  choir;  sermon,  by  Reverend  David  'i'hurston, 
Winthrop;  c<;nsecrating  prayer,  by  Reverend  Josiah  T.  Hawes,  Kdge- 
comb ;  charge  to  pastor,  by  Reverend  Jacob  C.  (loss,  Woolwich; 
singing  by  choir;  right  hand  of  fellowship,  by  Reverend  (ieorge  K. 
Adanjs,  Brunswick ;  address  to  church  and  peoph',  by  Reverend  'i'im- 
otliy  Davis,  Litchfield  ;  concluding  prayer,  by  Professor  Smyth,  Bow- 
doin  College ;  benediction,  by  the  pastor. 

[1841.]  At  a  meeting  held  September  21,  1841,  the  church  passed 
the  following  resolutions:  — 


^  'J  he  present  edifice . 


430        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

"  Resolved,  that  we  have  entire  confidence  in  the  abilit}^  and  piety 
of  our  pastor,  and  that  the  welfare  of  this  church  and  the  interests  of 
religion  in  this  place  demand  that  the  connection  be  continued. 

'*  Resolved,  that  in  the  opinion  of  this  church,  Reverend  Mr.  Lord 
has  faithfully  preached  the  gospel,  and  the  church  is  willing  to  sustain 
him."  The  foregoing  resolutions  evidently  indicate  the  existence  of 
some  dissatisfaction  in  the  society,  though  not  in  the  church. 

At  a  joint  meeting  of  the  church  and  societj-,  held  July  2,  1842,  Mr. 
Lord  in  a  verbal  communication  requested  to  have  the  connection 
severed  between  himself  and  the  societ}',  on  account  chiefly  of  the 
state  of  his  health,  but  parti}'  on  account  of  some  disaffection  which  he 
thought  existed.  The  meeting  voted  that  Major  Nahum  Perkins  and 
Matthew  Patten  be  a  committee  to  settle  up  the  affairs  of  the  society ; 
"  that  John  liarron,  Alfred  Perkins,  and  Samuel  Douglass  be  a  com- 
mittee to  take  charge  of  the  meeting-house,  ring  the  bell,  settle  with 
the  minister,  etc. 

*'  That  Deacon  Sprague,  Nahum  Perkins,  Given  Jameson,  and 
Alfred  8.  Perkins  be  a  committee  to  consult  with  Reverend  jNIr.  Lord 
concerning  his  request." 

[1842.]  On  July  5,  1842,  this  committee  reported  that  Mr.  Lord 
still  wished  to  dissolve  his  connection  with  them,  and  the  church  and 
society  accordingly  gave  their  assent  and  voted  to  call  an  ecclesiasti- 
cal council.  On  Jul}'  12  the  council  met,  and  after  long  deliberation 
agreed  by  a  very  small  majority  to  sever  the  connection. 

At  a  church  meeting,  held  September  18  of  this  year,  the  standing 
committee  of  the  church  was  instructed  to  make  an  agieement  with 
Reverend  Daniel  Sewall  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  that  3'ear,  commen- 
cing July  1,  1842,  and  ending  July  1,  1843.  lie  had  already  preached 
five  Sabbaths. 

[1843.]  Between  October  2,  1842,  and  August  5,  1843,  the 
slaver}'  question  began  to  be  discussed  in  the  church,  and  caused 
some  disaffection.  One  member  was  refused  a  letter  of  recommen- 
dation to  a  church  of  which  the  members  were  slave-owners,  and  sev- 
eral resolutions  against  slavery  were  passed,  which  so  offended  a 
number  of  the  members  that  the}'^  absented  themselves  from  church 
meetings  for  some  time. 

[1844.]  At  a  meeting  held  Ma}'  16,  1844,  complaint  was  made 
against  several  persons  that  they  had  withdrawn  from  the  communion 
and  had  embraced  ''  unscriptural  and  erroneous  doctrines,"  having 
accepted  the  views  of  the  Second  Adventists.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  visit  and  argue  the  matter  with  them,  but  their  argu- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOBSILAM.  431 

ments  had  no  effect,  and  these  individuals  were  excommunicated  about 
a  mouth  later. 

On  July  14  of  this  year  a  letter  was  received  from  the  ncthvj  ])a8- 
tor,  Reverend  David  Sewall,  urging  the  church  to  settle  a  perma- 
nent minister.  Isaac  L.  Cook,  Deacon  Willis  Sprague,  and  Samuel 
Jameson  were  chosen  a  committee  "  to  ascertain  if  a  sutlicient  sum 
could  be  raised  to  secure  a  minister." 

[1845-6.]  In  August,  1845,  the  church  extended  an  invitation  to 
Reverend  Jonathan  Clement,  of  Chester,  New  Hampshire,  to  preach 
.to  them  as  a  candidate  for  settlement,  and  on  September  5,  1840,  the 
church  voted,  '*  To  concur  with  the  parish  in  extending  a  call  to  the 
Reverend  Jonathan  Clement  to  become  pastor  over  the  church."  He 
accepted,  and  was  installed  Februarv'  1,  1847. 

[1852.]  May  13,  1852,  Reverend  *Mr.  Clement  and  his  wife  were 
dismissed  from  this  church,  and  recommendeil  to  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Woodstock,  Vermont,  where  he  had  received  a  call  to  settle. 
During  Mr.  Cl«*ment's  pastorate  the  church  was  prosperous,  and  noth- 
ing appears  on  the  reconls  save  a  few  cases  of  discipline  not  neces- 
sary to  be  mentioned. 

From  the  time  of  the  dismission  of  Mr.  Clement  until  his  successor 

* 

was  installed,  the  pnlpit  was  supplied  by  Professor  Alpheus  S.  Pack- 
ard, of  Bowdoin  College. 

In  December,  1852,  a  call  was  extended  to  Reverend  John  Wilde, 
of  Falmouth,  and  a  council  was  called  for  his  installation. 

[1853.]  This  council  met  January  4,  1853,  and  the  following 
ser\ices  were  held  :  — 

I*rayer,  by  Reverend  P.  F.  Barnard;  sermon,  by  Reverend  William 
Warren;  installing  prayer,  b}'  Reverend  J.  W\  Turner;  charge  to 
pastor,  by  Reverend  J.  W.  Ell iug wood ;  right  hand  of  fellowship, 
by  Reverend  George  E.  Adams,  1).  I).  ;  address  to  people,  by  Rev- 
erend J.  O.  Fisk ;  concluding  prayer,  by  Reverend  E.  Whittlesey  ; 
benediction,  by  the  pastor. 

[1854.]  On  August  19,  1854,  a  letter  was  received  from  Mr. 
Wilde  asking  to  have  a  council  called  to  act  upon  his  recpiest  for 
a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation,  the  reason  of  his  retiuest  be- 
ing the  inadequacy  of  his  salary.  In  compliance  with  this  request 
the  church,  4"^"^^  ^^i  voted  to  call  a  council,  'i'his  council  met 
shortly  afterwards,  and  dissolved  the  relation  l)etween  the  pastor  and 
church. 

[185G.]  After  Mr.  Wilde  left,  Reverend  James  M.  Pahner  supplied 
the  pulpit  for  one  year.     He  was  followed  by  Reverend  J.  Q.  Peabody, 


432        miSTORT  OF-BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

of  Ipswich,  Mass.,  who  supplied  till  October,  1856,  when  he  accepteti 
a  call  to  settle  at  Frj-eburg. 

In  December,  1856,  Reverend  Daniel  F.  Potter,  of  Union,  was 
invited  to  preacli  for  a  few  Sabbaths.  lie  was  then  invited  to  settle, 
but  declined,  agreeing,  however,  to  preach  to  the  sodety  dnring  their 
mutual  pleasure. 

[1865-6.]  June  3,  1865,  Mr.  Potter  notified  the  church  that  on 
account  of  ill-health  he  should  be  unable  to  preach  any  more.  Between 
this  date  and  June,  1866,  the  desk  was  supplied  by  Professors  Pack- 
ard and  Sewall,  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  by  Reverend  Elijah  Kellogg, 
of  Boston. 

[1868.]  During  the  year  1868  a  new  and  handsome  spire  was 
erected  on  the  meeting-house,  and  the  whole  building  was  remodelled. 

[1860-1875.]  On  February  4,  1869,  the  building  was  rededicaU?d. 
The  services  of  the  occasion  were  as  follows :  — 

Invocation,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Bryant,  of  the  Baptist  Church ;  read- 
ing of  Scriptures,  b}'  Reverend  Mr.  Potter;  sermon,  by  I^rofessor 
Jotham  S.  Sewall,  of  Bowdoin  College ;  dedicatory  prayer,  by  Rev- 
erend Doctor  Adams,  of  Brunswick;  hymn,  prater,  and  benediction, 
by  Reverend  Mr.  Smith,  of  the  Free  Baptist  Church.  Topsham. 

From  the  records  of  this  church  the  following  facts  have  been 
gleaned :  — 

The  number  adniitted  to  the  church  up  to  1821  was        ....  22 

♦*                  "          up  to  1874  was 2G3 

Whole  number  atliiiitted  on  confession 238 

*'            **               ''        by  letter 20 

**            *'        dismissed 49 

**            **        suspended 5 

"            **        excommunicated 6 

**            **        who  died  up  to  1874 92 

The  number  of  infants  baptized  between  Octol^er,  18:33,  and  July, 
1871,  was  thirt3'-four,  — twenty-two  bo3's  and  twelve  girls. 

The  number  of  members  in  1874  was  one  hundred  and  twelve,  of 
which  the  males  numbered  seventy' -eight  and  the  females  one  hundreil 
and  eighty-five.  Reverend  Nahum  W.  Grover  has  i)reached  for  this 
societ}'  since  thd  fall  of  1875. 

THK   UNITARIAN  SOCIETY. 

Previous  to  the  formation  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational  Society, 
in  1836,  the  First  Parish  had  ceased  to  hold  meetings  as  such.     A 


ECCLESIASTICAL  BISTORT  OF  TOPSHAM.  433 

majority  of  the  owners  of  pews  in  the  second  meeting-house  of  the 
First  Parish  being  Unitarians,  meetings  were  held  in  the  meeting- 
house for  many  years,  which  were  conducted  by  Unitarian  preachers. 

The  first  preacher  of  this  denomination  who  ever  conducted  relig- 
ious services  here  is  thought  to  have  been  a  Reverend  Mr.  Greeley, 
who  preached  on  one  occasion  in  the  old  east  meeting-house.  He  was 
afterwards  a  deacon  of  Doctor  Channing's  church,  in  Boston. 

[1836-1838.]  Reverend  H.  Edes  preached  in  town  on  December 
11,  183G,  whether  for  more  than  one  Sunday  is  not  known.  He 
was  followed  by  Reverend  Mr.  Russell,  Reverend  J.  O.  Day, 
Reverend  Mr.  Crafts,  rind  Reverend  G.  M.  Rice.  The  engagement 
of  the  latter  commenced  in  August,  1837,  and  ended  August  25, 
1839. 

[1839.]  On  the  date  last  mentioned  Reverend  Amos  D.  Wheeler, 
then  of  Standish,  preached  on  an  exchange  with  Mr.  Rice.  The 
same  evening  a  committee  of  the  '*  subscribers  for  the  support  of 
Unitarian  preaching  "  invited  him  to  take  charge  of  the  pulpit  for  the 
term  of  three  3'ears,  that  being  the  unexpired  portion  of  the  time  for 
which  their  subscriptions  had  been  made.  The  committee  consisted 
of  the  following  persons  :  — 

Humphrey  Purinton,  William  Frost,  Benjamin  Hasey,  Gardner 
Green,  Charles  Thompson,  John  Coburn,  and  John  S.  Gushing. 

The  iuA-itation  was  accepted,  and  he  removed  to  Topsham  ^ith  his 
family  on  the  twent^'-sixth  day  of  October  of  that  3'ear,  having  in 
the  mean  time  preached  there  two  or  three  times. 

From  fear  of  losing  their  rights  as  members  of  the  First  Parish, 
this  society  refrained  from  asking  for  an  Act  of  Incorporation, 
neither  was  any  church  formally  constituted  by  council,  according  to 
Congregational  usage. 

The  pastor,  however,  did  collect  togetlier  into  a  church  such  as 
were  willing  to  sign  the  following  covenant :  — 

"'One   is    your  Master  even  Christ,   and  all  ye  are  brethren.*  —  Matthew 

xxiii,  8. 
"  *  One  shall  say,   I  am  the  Lord's,   and  another  shall   call  himself  by  the 

name  of  Jacob,  and  another  shall  subscribe  with  his  own  hand  unto  the 

Lord.' —  Isaiah  xliv,  5. 

"  We  whose  names  are  hereunto  annexed,  receiving  the  Bible  as 

the  rule  of  our  faith  and  practice,  do  hereby  associate  for  our  mutual 

improvement  in  tnith  and  holiness,  as  the  disciples  ctf  Christ.     And 

we  declare  it  to  be  our  sincere  desire  and  jnirpose,  as  far  as  lieth  in 

us,  to   walk  in  all  the  conunandments  and  ordinances  of  the  Lord 
28 


434        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

blameless,  and  to  cherish  and  maintain  towards  all  Christians  'the 
unity  of  the  Spirit  m  the  bond  of  peace.'  " 

From  the  pastor's  records  the  following  names  of  the  communi- 
cants are  obtained.  The  date  at  which  they  joined  the  church  is  not 
given :  — 

John  Coburn,  Nathaniel  Dunning,  John  S.  Gushing,  Joseph  N. 
Dunning,  Amos  D.  Wheeler,  Charles  H.  Wheeler,  Javan  H.  Hall, 
Mr.  Bicknell,  Joshua  Young,  John  M.  Gooilwin,  George  N.  Richanl- 
son,  Mr.  Talbot,  Mr.  Fitch,  Mr.  Moreton,  John  D.  Cobuni,  Sarah  E. 
Purinton,  Sarah  C.  Gushing,  Isabella  M.  Dunning,  Delia  A.  Dunning, 
Mary  W.  Green,  Mary  A.  Green,  Mar}'  ^Thompson,  Harriet  N. 
Houghton,  Louisa  A.  Wheeler,  Mary  B.  H.  Wheeler,  Annie  E. 
Thompson,  Sarah  A.  Thompson,  Hannah  Rogers,  Mrs.  Coburn,  Mrs. 
Dunning,  Mrs.  N.  Walker,  Mrs.  H.  Purinton,  Mrs.  Sarah  Thompson, 
Miss  Palmer,  Miss  Webb,  Mrs.  Shaw,  Elizal)eth  W.  Purinton,  Pen- 
thea  S.  Hall.  Many  of  these  members  belonged  in  Brunswick,  and 
some  of  the  males  were  students  in  college. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Reverend  Doctor  Wheeler  in  this  town  the 
average  attendance  at  meeting  was  al>out  one  hundred.  The  building, 
having  been  erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  whole  town,  was  of 
course  too  large  for  any  one  of  the  four  societies  wliich  then  existed  in 
the  town,  and  consequently  the  attendance  at  the  Unitarian  senices 
alwaj's  appeared  smaller  than  it  really  was.  Although  small  in  num- 
bers, it  had,  however,  its  full  share  of  the  intelligence  and  i>ecuniari' 
ability  of  the  community. 

[1850.]  At  the  expiration  of  a  little  more  than  ten  years  from 
the  settlement  of  their  last  pastor,  arrangements  were  made  to 
unite  the  two  ''liberal"  societies  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham.  The 
arrangements  were  completed  and  went  into  etfect  in  November, 
1850. 

[1853.]  In  1853  the  "  proprietors  of  the  Unitarian  Meeting-House 
in  Topsham"  obtained  authority  from  the  legislature  to  sell  it.  It  was 
accordingly  sold,  and  in  December  of  that  year  taken  down  and 
removed  to  a  ship-yard  at  Middle  Bays,  owned  by  Robert  Pennell,  Jr., 
and  others,  where  it  was  erecteil  into  a  boarding-house. 

The  ministerial  fund  of  the  First  Parish  came  into  the  hands  of  the 
pew-holders  of  the  Unitarian  Society.  It  amounted  in  1830  to  seven 
hundred  and  thirty-six  dollars  and  sixtj'-one  cents.  This  sum  was  in 
the  hands  of  various  individuals,  who  gave  their  notes  for  the  several 
amounts  in  their  possession.  After  the  transference  of  the  preaching 
to  Brunswick,  these  notes  were  unintentional!}*  allowed  to  become  out- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSBAM.  435 

lawed,  and  the  fund  has  thus  become  lost  beyond  recovery,  some  of 
the  parties  owinj?  the  money  having  died. 

Nothing,  therefore,  now  remains  in  Topsham  to  remind  one  of  the 
old  First  Parish  Society  except  the  graveyard  attached  to  the  old  first 
meeting-house. 

CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY   OF  THE  SECOND  ADVENTISTS. 

About  the  year  1843  an  individual  by  the  name  of  Starkweather 
came  to  town,  and  preached  the  peculiar  views  of  this  society  in  the 
Free  Will  Baptist  Meeting-llouse.  He  was  succeeded  by  several  others 
of  the  followers  of  *'  Joe  Miller,"  and  quite  a  number  of  converts  were 
made,  some  coming  from  nearly  all  the  churches.  A  society  was 
formed  and  regular  meetings  were  Ireld  on  Saturday.  The  society 
owned  no  place  of  worship,  but  were  accustomed  to  meet  at  the  houses 
of  members.  About  the  year  1844  a  paper  was  issued  for  a  short 
time  by  this  societ}'.  It  was  devoted  exclusively  to  the  dissemination 
of  their  religious  views.  Several  predictions  were  made  as  to  the 
second  coming  of  the  Messiah,  and  on  at  least  one  occasion  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  the  event.  The  society  gradually  dwindled  away, 
though  meetings  of  its  members  were  held  each  Saturday  until  about 
1852. 

OTHER  DENOMINATIONS. 

No  other  religious  society  was  ever  formed  in  this  town,  but  other 
denominations  have  occasionall}-  had  preaching  here  for  a  short  time,  — 
tlie  Universalists  in  the  Court  House  in  1841, ^  and  the  Methodists  and 
Episcopalians,  and  perhaps  others,  at  other  times. 


1  A.  D.  Wfieeler'8  Diary, 


43<)        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

ECCLESIASTICAL   HISTORY   OP   HARPS  WELL. 

The  earl}'  settlers  of  Harps  well  belonged,  for  the  most  part,  either  to 
the  Congregational  or  to  the  Church  of  England  denomination.^  There 
were,  however,  amongst  them  a  few  Quakers,  who  set  up  a  monthly 
meeting  about  the  year  1751.  The  inhabitants  at  first  contributed  to 
the  support  of  preaching  in  the  First  Parish  of  North  Yarmouth,  as  it 
appears  from  the  records  of  that  town  that  on  April  16,  1744,  the 
town  excused  the  inhabitants  of  Merriconeag  from  paying  the  minis- 
ter's rate  for  that  year.  In  1751  Merriconeag  became  a  parish,  styled 
the  Second  Parish  in  North  Yarmouth,  and  from  this  time,  if  not 
before,  voluntarily  employed  a  minister  of  their  own.  The  first  was 
Reverend  Richard  Pateshall,  a  graduate  of  Harvard  College.  He 
preached  for  two  or  three  3'ears,  but  was  not  permanently  settled.  He 
was  succeeded  by  Reverend  Mr.  Packard,  who  preached  onl}'  for  a 
short  time. 

[1753.]  In  1753  a  church  was  formed  and  Reverend  Elisha 
Eaton  was  settled.  The  council  that  met  to  ordain  him  assembled  at 
the  house  of  Lieutenant  Eaton,  it  being  the  onlj'  house  in  town,  at  that 
date,  that  had  plastered  rooms. ^ 

[1758-9.]  In  1758  and  1759  the  meeting-house  on  Merriconeag 
Neck  was  built,  though  it  was  not  entirely  completed  for  main'  3*ears. 
This  building  will  be  more  particularly  described  in  another  chapter. 

In  1758  the  town  voted  that  "  the  Selectmen  should  proportion  the 
preaching  on  the  Island  according  to  the  Rates  they  pay,  and  to  loose 
an  equal  proportion  of  the  time  that  is  deficient."  Also  to  pay  four 
shillings  for  each  Sabbath  to  the  persons  who  conveyed  Mr.  Eaton  to 
the  Island. 

On  May  19,  1 759,  the  town  voted  that  Mr.  Eaton  should  preach  ''  in 
the  meeting-house  for  the  future,  except  foul  weather  prevents." 
The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire  persons  to  convey  him  to  the 

1  Kellofjg,  MS.  Lecture,  ^Ihid. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  437 

I<tlancl.  In  1760  the  town  voted  that  the  people  on  the  Island  should 
be  taxed  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  preaching  they  had.  These 
votes  show  clearly  that  Mr.  Eaton,  thus  early,  was  accustomed  to 
preach  on  Sebascodigan  Island,  as  well  as  on  the  Neck.  But  little  is 
known  concerning  the  affairs  of  this  clmrch  during  the  ten  or  eleven 
years'  pastorate  of  Mr.  Eaton ;  no  records  have  been  found,  and  even 
our  knowledge  of  its  existence  at  that  time,  as  an  oi^anized  church, 
is  traditional.  What  Mr.  Eaton's  salar\'  was  is  not  known  with  cer- 
taint\-.  In  1758  the  town  raised  for  that  purpose  sixty-five  pounds, 
in  1760  sevent}'  pounds,  and  in  1762  sevent3'-five  pounds. 

[1764.]  Reverend  Elisha  Eaton  died  on  Sunday  morning,  April 
22,  1764,  aged  sixty-two  years.  On  May  22  a  committee  was 
chosen  to  supply  the  pulpit  with  a  minister.  The  town  also  at  this 
meeting  voted  £37  7«.  to  defra}'  Mr.  Eaton's  funei*al  expenses,  and 
'*  to  give  the  widow  of  the  Deceased  Rev'd  Mr.  Eaton  a  Decent  sute 
of  mourning." 

On  July  :3d  of  this  3'ear  the  town  voted  to  pay  William  Modg- 
ridge  eight  shillings,  for  making  Mr.  Eaton's  coflln,  and  to  pay  a  Mr. 
Babb  five  shillings  for  assisting  in  making  the  coflin  and  digging  the 
grave. 

On  July  1 7th  the  town  voted  to  give  Reverend  Samuel  Eaton,  the 
son  of  their  former  pastor,  an  invitation  to  settle  with  them,  the  vote 
having  been  unanimous  on  the  part  of  the  church  and  congregation. 
It  was  also  voted  to  give  him  £120  as  a  settlement  and  to  pay  £40  a 
year  until  the  settlement  was  y)aid.  £66  13.s.  4d.  was  also  voted  as 
his  3'early  salary.  Benjamin  Jaques  and  Nathaniel  Purinton  were 
chosen  to  represent  the  town  in  the  committee  chosen  b}-  the  church 
to  deliver  the  invitation. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  held  August  27,  it  was  voted  that  the 
"  minister  should  go  to  the  Island  called  Great  Island,  fifteen  Sab- 
baths a  year,  3*early,  allowing  each  day  that  is  appointed  by  s**  Minis- 
ter to  be  one  of  s**  fifteen  days,  and  the  Minister  to  go  when  he 
pleases  till  the  fifteen  da3's  each  3'ear  are  completeil." 

The  town,  at  this  meeting,  also  voted  to  fix  upon  a  place  for  a 
meeting-house  on  the  Great  Island. 

For  some  reason  the  invitation  voted  to  Mr.  Eaton  seems  to  have 
been  unsatisfactorj',  and  accordinglj-  it  was  renewed  b}'  both  the  town 
and  the  church,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  nineteenth  of  September. 

At  this  latter  meeting  a  committee  was  chosen  to  make  the  arrange- 
ments for  his  ordination.     He  was  ordained  the  following  October. 

[1765.]     In  May,  1765,  the  town  voted  an  appropriation  of  £206 


438         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

6j?.  lid.,  old  tenor,  to  defray  the  charges  attendant  upon  this  ordi- 
nation. 

No  further  action  appears  to  have  been  taken  by  the  town  in 
regard  to  ecclesiastical  matters  for  some  3'ear8,  and  no  parish  or 
church  records  have  been  found  of  an  earlier  date  than  the  3'ear 
1770. 

The  first  church  records  of  Harpswell  that  are  to  be  found  begin 
>vith  a  church  meeting,  held  August  2,  1770,  on  Sebascodigan  Island, 
at  which  Isaac  Snow  was  chosen  deacon. 

At  a  subsequent  church  meeting,  October  24,  1770,  the  following 
preamble  and  votes  were  passed  :  — 

'*  We  that  thro'  God's  Goodness,  have  been  combin'd,  &>  are  still 
continued  a  Chh.  of  his,  having  heretofore  consented  unto  the  Cove- 
nant of  Grace,  according  to  the  gracious  Terms  whereof,  we  have 
made  Choice  of  the  Lord  Jehovah,  Father,  Son  &.  Spirit  as  our  God, 
and  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  the  glorious  Mediator,  upon  whose 
Fullness  of  Merit  &  Power  we  relj*,  as  well  to  be  strengthened  for 
the  Duties,  as  to  be  invested  with  y*  Blessings  of  that  well  oixlered 
Covenant ;  being  withall  sensible  y*  our  Justification  by  Faith  in  the 
Kighteousness  of  him  who  is  a  Saviour  and  Surety  for  us,  does  very 
strongly  oblidge  us  to  close  with  all  the  Commands  of  God,  as  holy, 
just  &  good,  and  as  those  Rules,  in  Confonnity  to  which  alone,  our 
Peace  can  be  lengthened  out :  y'  its  our  Duty  to  walk  circumspectly, 
not  as  Fools  but  as  wise,  redeeming  the  Time,  because  the  Days  are 
evil,  and  calling  to  Mind  y*  sinfuU  Miscarriages  of  some  Professora, 
who  are  Spots  in  our  Feasts  of  Charit}',  and  our  Duty  to  Watch  over 
y"  for  their  good ;  and  considering  further  that  the  Doors  of  the  Chh. 
do  not  by  God's  Appointment  stand  so  wide  open,  y*  all  sorts  of  Per- 
sons good  &  bad  may  freely  enter  in  at  their  pleasure  ;  y'  the  Eunuch  of 
Ethiopia  was  examiu'd  by  Philip  ;  y*  the  Angle  of  the  Chh.  of  Ephesus 
is  commended  for  trying  such  as  said  they  were  Apostles,  and  were 
not ;  and  y'  twelve  Angles  were  set  at  y*  Gates  of  y*  Temple,  lest 
such  as  were  ceremonially  unclean  should  enter  thereinto,  (2  Chron. 
23,  19.  Mat.  13,  25,  &  22,  12.  Acts  8,  37.  Kev.  2,  2,  &  21,  12,) 
Have  accordingly  conveined  ata  Chh.  Meeting,  at  the  Meeting  House 
duly  notified  by  the  Pastor,  this  24  Oct°.  1770,  and  made  the  following 
Resolves :  — 

'*  The  Rev.  Samuel  Eaton  Moderator. 

"1.  Voted^  that  it  is  the  Intention  of  this  Chh.  according  to  the 
best  of  their  knowledge,  to  adhere  closely  to  y*  sacred  Scripture  for 
their  Guide,  and  to  the  Rules  therein  contained  for  their  mode  of  Dis- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  HABPSWELL,  439 

cipline^  aud  to  come  into  no  Resolves,  for  which  they  have   not  a 
divine  Warrant. 

"2.  Voted^  y*  it  would  be  a  great  evil  in  us,  if  we  should  not 
accord'f  to  y*  best  of  our  Capacit}',  attend  &  support  y*  Institutions  of 
God  in  the  l^Iidst  of  us,  &  that  Chh.  Discipline  w***  he  has  commanded 
in  his  Word,  that  there  may  be  Nothing  wanting  thereunto. 

'*  3.  Vuted^  y*  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Chh.  y*  the  receiving  into 
Chh.  Communion,  or  w*  is  called  owning  the  Covenant,  those  persons 
who  live  praj'erless  in  their  Families,  is  a  scandal  to  our  holy  Religion. 
Therefore, 

"4.  Vuted^  y'  this  Chh.  will  not  for  y^  future  receive  into  Chh. 
Commiuiion,  or  what  is  called  owning  the  Covenant,  those  persons 
who  live  prayerless  in  their  Families. 

'••o.  Votvd^  y^  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Chh.  y*  maliciously  to 
make,  or  injuriously  to  spread  abroad  any  false  Report,  or  ReiK)rts 
to  y*  Injury  of  the  Innocent,  is  detestable  in  the  sight  of  God,  &  ought 
to  be  so  to  us.     Therefore, 

"'  G.  Voted^  3'*  if  any  chh.  Member  or  p''sons  in  Covenant,  shall 
maliciously  make,  or  injurioush'  spread  abroad  any  false  Report,  or 
Reports,  to  the  Injury  of  the  Innocent,  he  or  she,  upon  Conviction  by 
the  Month  of  two  or  three  witnesses,  shall  be  lyable  to  y*  censure  of 
this  Church,  as  those  who  sin,  are  to  be  rebuked  before  all. 

*•  7.  V(ttd^  y'  if  an}'  Chh.  Member,  absent  him  or  herself  from  the 
Oitlinance  of  the  Lord*s  Supper,  in  its  stated  administration,  he  or 
she,  shall  be  accounted  in  the  eye  of  the  Chh.  as  a  disorder!}'  Walker, 
&  guilty  of  the  Breach  of  his  or  her  Covenant  Obligations. 

'•  8.  Voted^  y*  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  chh.  that  the  Custom  of 
young  People,  of  both  sexes,  getting  together  in  the  Night,  in  those 
Companies  for  Mirth  &  Jollity,  Fiddling  and  Dancing  }*'  the}'  call 
Frolicks,  so  spending  the  Time  together  till  late  in  the  Night,  in  their 
Jollity,  to  the  neglect  of  family  Prayer,  and  violating  all  Order,  is  a 
sin  detestable  in  the  sight  of  God,  &  ought  to  be  so  to  us.  There- 
fore, 

*^  9.  Vuted^  y'  if  any  chh.  Member,  or  Members,  or  p'sons  in 
Covenant,  shall  assemble  at  those  places,  where  such  things  are,  or 
allow  of  the  same  in  their  Houses  sh"  come  under  the  censure  of  this 
Chh.  so  far  as  to  be  debarred  Chh.  priviledges,  til  they  give  Scripture 
Satisfaction. 

*'  10.  Vuttd,  y*  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Chh.  y'  Churches  ought  to 
preserve  Communion  one  w*'*  another,  because  yy  are  all  united  unto 
Christ,  not  only  as  a  mistical,  but  as  a  political  Head :  Therefore 


440        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

"11.  Voted.  V*  this  Chh.  will  not  hold  Communion  w***  the  Mem- 
ber  of  another  regular  Chh.  who  is  und'  the  Censure  or  Suspension  of 
3''  Chh.  til  he  or  she  gives  that  Satisfaction  agree****  to  Scripture,  &  as 
practiced  by  the  Chh*  in  N.  England. 

'*  12.  Voted^  J*  Mess"  Edw^  Cuningham,  Benj*  Jaques,  and 
Jacob  Blake,  be  a  Committee  for  the  Neck,  and  John  Snow  «Sc  Nath 
Purington  for  the  Island  called  great  Sebascotligin,  to  inspect  y*  walk 
of  Professors,  and  enquire  into  Reports  if  any  there  may  be,  and 
accordingly  make  Report  to  the  Pastor. 

"13.  Voted ^  y*  it  is  the  Opinion  of  this  Chh.  y*  for  Profes- 
sors unnecessarily  to  frequent  a  Tavern  on  the  Lords  Day  there 
to  spend  some  part  of  it  needlessly  drinking  spirituous  Liquor, 
is  a  sin  detestable  in  the  sight  of  God,  and  ought  to  be  so  to  us, 
Therefore, 

"14.  Voted,  y*  if  any  Professor  shall  unnecessarily  frequent  any 
Tavern  on  the  Lord's  Day,  or  there  repair  with  a  view  needlessly  to 
drink  spirituous  Liquor,  or  shall  at  any  Time  be  guilty  of  Drunkeness, 
or  drinking  to  excess,  he  or  she  shall  come  und"^  the  Censure  of  this 
Church. 

"15.  Voted,  y*  it  is  -f  Opinion  of  this  Chh.  that  some  provision  be 
made  by  them,  for  the  Relief  of  such  Chh.  Members,  (being  well  re- 
ported of)  as  are  by  the  providence  of  God  cast  into  indigent  Circum- 
stances.    Therefore, 

"  IC.  Voted,  y'  Messrs.  Edward  Cuningham,  Ben'  Jaques,  and 
Jacob  Blake,  be  a  Committee  for  the  Neck,  and  John  Snow  &>  Nathan- 
iel Purington  for  the  Island,  y*  if  any  Chh.  ^Members,  who  conduct 
according  to  the  Gosple,  and  are  well  reported  of  but  by  the  provi- 
dence of  God  are  cast  into  those  circumstances  w"*  necessarily  call 
for  Releif,  may  apply  to,  and  the  Committee  to  make  it  known  to 
the  Pastor,  and  the  Pastor  to  call  the  Brethren  together  that  they 
may  judge  of  their  Case,  and  accord*  to  their  Liberality  releive 
them. 

"17.  Voted,  y*  this  Chh.  will  receive  No  Report  unless  proved  by 
the  Mouth  of  Two  or  Three  Witnesses. 

"18,  Voted,  y*  these  Resolves  be  entered  upon  the  Chh.  Records, 
and  publicly  read  upon  the  Lords  Day. 

"  A  true  Copy  from  the  Minutes  examined  and  attested, 

"By  Saml.  Eaton,  Moderator. 

"  Consented  to 

'*  Saml  Eaton,  Potior:^ 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  44 1 

[1777.]  At  a  meeting  held  May  29,  1777,  Joseph  Ewing  was 
chosen  a  deacon. 

[1784.]  At  a  church  meeting  held  at  the  meeting-house,  May  31, 
1784,  it  was  voted  that  those  who  desired  church  privileges  should  be 
examined  before  the  church,  and  that  those  living  holy  lives  might  hnve 
their  children  baptized  though  they  themselves  were  not  church  mem- 
bers. That  the  deacons  should  be  a  committee  to  inspect  the  walk  of 
church  membei*s,  and  that  the  pastor  had  liberty,  "  provided  he  sees 
his  way  clear,  to  baptize  by  Immersion  those  who  conscientiously 
desire  it,  provided  they  give  Satisfaction  to  the  Church  of  tiieir  Faith 
in  Christ  &  live  holy  Lives." 

At  a  meeting  held  August  31,  1786,  the  church  unanimously  voted 
to  rescind  the  seventeenth  vote,  in  regard  to  receiving  reports  against 
members,  that  was  passed  October  24,  1770. 

[1787.]  The  previous  nnanimity  in  regard  to  religious  aftairs  in 
this  town  began  to  be  disturbed  about  this  time.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
town,  held  in  March,  1787,  it  was  voted  that  those  persons  who  did 
not  intend  to  pay  the  minister's  tax  should  give  in  their  names  to  the 
committee  chosen  for  the  purpose,  and  should  give  their  reasons  to 
this  committee  in  writing.  The  committee  were  to  report  at  a  subse- 
qnent  meeting,  but  no  such  report  is  in  the  records. 

[1803.]  At  a  church  meeting,  held  on  April  28,  1803,  James 
Wilson  was  unanimouslj'  chosen  a  deacon. 

[180C.]  This  year  the  town  voted  that  Mr.  Eaton  need  preach 
only  in  the  west  meeting-honse,  on  account  of  the  dilBculty  of  a  per- 
son of  his  age  going  to  and  from  the  Island. 

[1813.]  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  1813  it  was 
agreed  that  Mr.  Eaton  should  preach  only  in  the  west  part  of  the 
town  that  3'ear,  and  that  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Island  should 
be  exempt  from  paying  a  tax  for  his  support,  '*  excepting  the 
Ewings."  The  reason  for  thus  excepting  one  family  was  undoubtedly 
because  they  lived  so  near, — just  across  the  Narrows,  —  and  could 
easil}'  and  were  accustomed  to  attend  the  meetings  on  the  Neck ; 
and  also  because  they  were  strong  •  supporters  of  Mr.  Eaton  and 
were  well-to-do  people. 

A  special  town  meeting  was  held  in  September  of  this  year,  at 
which  John  Blake,  Isaiah  Snow,  and  Paul  Raymond  were  chosen  a 
committee  *'  to  go  and  converse  with  the  Rev*d  Samuel  Eaton."  The 
nature  of  the  conversation  is  not  recorde<l,  but  it  mav  have  been  in 
regard  to  the  taxing  for  his  support  of  residents  upon  Sebascodigan 
Island,  as  following  the  record  of  the  meeting  is  this  entry  :  — 


442         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  IIARPSWELL. 

"IlARPSWELL,  Sept.  3*,  1813. 

"  I  hereby  Ccrtif}'  that  I  do  from  this  Date  for  Kver  Relinquish  the 
Civil  Contract  botwceu  great  Sebascodegiu  Island  and  my  Self. 

"  Samuel  Eaton 
^'Anthony  Coombs,  Jr. 

Marlboro  Sylvester 

"Marlboro  Sylvester  T.  C/erA" 

[1818.]  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town,  held  July  13,  Marlboro 
Sylvester,  S^'lvester  Stover,  and  Peleg  Curtis  were  chosen  to  etiect  a 
settlement  of  accounts  with  Mr.  Eaton.    Their  report  was  as  follows  :  — 

''  We  the  subscribers  chosen  a  Committee  by  the  Town  of  Harps- 
well  to  settle  with  the  Kev'd  Sam*l  Eaton  in  behalf  of  said  Town, 
have  attended  the  service  of  our  appointment  the  l.-V^  day  of  July 
1818  and  we  find  that  since  the  last  settlement,  which  was  up  to  July 
13**"  1813,  there  is  due  to  him  from  the  Town,  for  five  years  past  ser- 
vices, the  sum  of  8lll«^.  to  this  date,  of  which  one  third  part  was 
relinquished  to  Great  Sebascodegiu  Island,  which  was  $371.60,  leaving 
a  balance  due  to  hun  from  the  westerh*  part  of  said  town  of  §743.31. 

"  Marlbro'  Sylvester  ^ 
Sylvester  Stover       V  Committee  " 
Peleg  Curtis  J 

Following  this  report  in  the  town  records  is  this  entry :  — 

''  I  do  relinquish  to  the  Town  of  Ilarpswell  the  whole  of  the  above 

balance  and  acknowledge  all  accounts  settled  and  balanced  up  to  the 

above  date  of  July  13th  1818. 

"  Samuel  Eaton." 

The  reason  why  Mr.  Eaton  chose  to  relinquish  so  lai*ge  a  sum 
which  was  justl}'  his  due  requires  some  explanation.  The  attendance 
upon  his  services  was  at  this  time  small.  The  Baptists  had  with- 
drawn, many  citizeas  objected  to  being  taxed  for  the  support  of  a 
minister,  and  some  had  absolutely  refused  to  pay  their  taxes.  The 
parish  ollicers  did  not  hke  to  urge  payment,  for  fear  of  creating  still 
further  opposition,  which  would  result  in  the  further  injury  of  the 
parish,  and  thus  the  unpaid  taxes  were  allowed  to  accumulate.  Mr. 
Eaton  could  have  compelled  the  town  to  pay  the  amount,  but  he 
relinquished  it  for  the  sake  of  harmony. 

Probably  about  this  time,  though  the  exact  date  is  nowhere  given, 
Reverend  Mr.  Sanmel  Eaton  resigned  his  pastorate.  From  an  exami- 
nation of  the  church  reconls,  it  appears  that  while  IMr.  Eaton  had 
charge  of  this  church,  he  baptized  five  hundred  and  eighty-four  male 


ECCLESIASTICAL  mSTORT  OF  HARPSWELL.  443 

children,  t\o  handred  and  thirty-flve  female  children,  nine  adult 
maleR,  seventeen  adult  females,  and  two  children  of  whom  the  sex  was 
not  designated,  making  in  all  one  thousand  one  hundred  and  forty- 
seven  persons  baptized  by  him. 

In  this  connection,  the  following  document,  obtained  from  an 
account-book  of  Reverend  Elisha  Eaton,  will  prove  entertaining.  It 
is  certainly  in  the  handwriting  of  Reverend  Samuel  Eaton,  and  is 
probably  a  portion  of  some  report  of  his  to  the  Missionary  Associ- 
ation. From  the  number  of  baptisms  recorded,  it  must  have  been 
written — judging  from  the  list  of  baptisms  in  the  church  records  — 
about  the  year  1767. 

*"  If  I  am  not  mistaken  in  my  Calculat"  I  have  preached  40  Sei-m"* 
exclusive  of  Sabbath,  &  the  N*  of  Baptisms  stands  thus,  — 

Childn 157 

Adults 11 

Total 108 

*'  I  now  beg  leave  to  make  a  few  gen*  Remarks.  The  pple  who 
were  y*  Objects  of  my  mission,  are,  in  y*  main  in  a  broken  iState  as 
to  Religion.  So  far  as  I  am  able  to  judge,  I  impute  it  to  y*^  multi- 
plicity of  lay  preachers,  and  y*  paucity  of  those  who  are  regular  and 
learned.  Y^  are  an  open  Prey  to  every  Irai)oster.  Missionanes  (as 
many  well  inclined  &  who  even  tremble  for  3*  Ark  of  G.  observed  to 
me)  were  never  more  needed  y"  at  this  Day.  I  have  found  some,  I 
believe,  who  know  genuine  religion,  who  are  clear  &  distinguishing  in 
their  notions,  &  are  not  earned  about  by  ever}'  Wind  of  Doctrine. 
Others  who  api/  to  me  to  boil  over  w^^  Enthusiasm,  others  who  are 
thotless  of  y'  w***  ought  to  be  their  chief  Concern,  and  others  who  were 
enquiring  w*  yy  should  do  to  be  saved.  I  feel  for  y*  pple;  3'v  need 
Guides,  yy  need  Instruction,  yy  need  y*  right  sort  of  preach".  May 
G.  of  his  infinite  Mere}'  prevent  their  perishing  for  lack  of  vision. 
In  my  I'ublic  Discourses,  as  well  as  private  Conv'^sation,  I  endeav- 
oured to  distinguish  between  Truth  &  Error,  an  imaginary  &  tine 
religion,  &  y*  Operat"  of  both — to  reclaim  y*  Erroneous — To  detect  y* 
Hypocrite,  to  encourage  &  help  y*  inquiring,  to  warn  y*  hardened 
Sinn%  to  comfort  those  who  mourn  in  Zion,  &  to  establish  y*  tnie 
Xtian.  Neither  have  I  omitted  v"  Inculcation  of  moralitv,  &  v* 
necessity  of  encouraging  human  Literature  &c. 

"  80  far  as  I  am  acquainted  y*  pple  are  hospitable,  have  treated  me 
w**^  great  respect  &  kindness,  &  all  Denominations  have  industriously 
attended  my  preach*  on  the  Sabb*^  and  Lectures. 


444        HItiTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

"  I  pray  G.  to  water  y*  seed  w*^**,  &c,  &>  to  have  y^  iind'"  his  keeping 
and  Guidance,  to  bless  y"*  w"*  spiritu^  &  tem[poral]  Favours,  &  y'each 
meml/  of  y*  Societ}'  ma}'  be  reward**  w***  an  hund*^  fold  here,  &  here- 
after w***  an  unfading  Crown  of  Glory.  I  conclude  only  w**"  adding  y' 
I  have  endeavoured  to  execute  my  Mission  in  a  mann'^  most  agreeable 
toy*"  Intentions  of  y*^  Society." 

[1H23.]  The  earliest  records  of  the  First  Parish  that  have  come  to 
our  hands  commence  August  23,  1823.  At  this  meeting  Jonathan 
Johnson  was  chosen  moderator ;  Joseph  Eaton,  clerk ;  Samuel  Skol- 
lield,  treasurer;  Benjamin  Dunning,  collector;  George  Skolti(4d  and 
Jonathan  Johnson,  assessors ;  Benjamin  Dunning,  Joseph  Eaton,  and 
Deacon  James  Wilson,  a  standing  committee.  This  committee  was  to 
supply  the  pulpit  until  the  middle  of  ^Jovember,  from  the  money  that 
had  already  been  subscribed. 

The  church  this  year,  at  a  meeting  held  December  30,  voted  '•  to 
assent  to  the  Cumberland  Church  Constitution." 

[1826.]  At  a  parish  meeting  held  April  15,  it  was  voted  that  the 
committee  for  supplying  the  pulpit  be  also  a  committee  *'  to  admit  or 
reject  the  application  of  Strangers  and  others  who  may  wish  to  hold 
meetings  in  the  Meeting  House." 

[1828.]  The  parish  at  a  meeting  held  July  14,  1828,  voted,  though 
not  with  unanimit}',  to  give  Reverend  Ebenezer  Ilalping  an  invitation 
to  settle  as  their  pastor.  They  also  voted  that  the  money  for  his  sup- 
port should  be  raised  b}-  subscription,  and  that  James  Orr,  Sylvester 
Stover,  and  Joseph  Eaton  be  a  committee  to  wait  upon  Mr.  Ilalping 
and  see  for  what  sum  he  would  agree  to  settle  with  them.  The  parish 
also  choose  a  committee  of  three  to  confer  with  a  like  committee  of  the 
Baptist  Society,  ''  to  see  if  they  concitute  [conciliate?]  Matters." 

At  a  meeting  held  August  4,  it  was  voted  that  '-  Captain  James 
Orr  be  a  committee  to  go  and  see  Mr.  Halping  and  state  to  him  the 
means  that  we  have  to  settle  him  and  know  if  he  would  accept."  It 
was  also  voted  that  Mr.  Ilalping  should  have  what  he  could  obtain 
from  the  Cumberland  Conference  in  addition  to  what  the  parish 
gave. 

[1829.]  On  January  21  the  church  voted  to  have  a  copy  of  the 
covenant  and  articles  of  faitli  distributed  to  each  familv  connected 
with  the  church. 

[1830.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  parish  on  April  12,  1830,  it  was 
voted  to  8upi)ly  the  pulpit  for  that  jear  by  subscription,  and  it  is 
therefore  most  likely  that  Mr.  Halping  did  not  accept  the  call,  though 
he  ma}'  have  supplied  the  pulpit  for  a  while.     At  a  meeting  held  De- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  IHSTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  445 

cember  20,  the  parish  voted  to  hire  Reverend  Moses  Welch  for  one 
year  at  a  salarv  of  four  hundred  dollars. 

[1831.]  On  October  3  the  parish  and  church  united  in  extending 
an  invitation  to  Reverend  William  Harlow,  who  had  been  preaching 
to  them  through  the  summer,  to  settle  as  their  pastor,  provided  they 
could  obtain  the  sum  of  two  hundred  dollars,  and  that  he  should 
obtain  what  sum  he  could  from  the  Maine  Missionary'  Society"  and  the 
Cumberland  County  Conference.  At  a  meeting  held  December  7.  it 
was  decided  to  have  a  stove  in  the  meeting-house.  Reverend  Mr. 
Harlow  accepted  the  invitation  to  settle,  and  at  this  meeting  it  was 
determined  that  tlie  council  for  his  installation  should  be  entertained 
by  individuals  without  expense  to  the  parish. 

[1832.]  Mr.  Harlow  was  ordained  and  installed  January-  25,  1832. 
The  services  were  as  follows  :  — 

IVayer,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Adams;  sermon,  by  Reverend  Mr.  ^lit- 
tiniore ;  installing  prayer  and  charge,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Ellingwood  ; 
right  hand  of  fellowship,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Adams ;  address  to  the 
people,  by  Reverend  Mr.  Hawes. 

Following  the  above  in  the  church  records  appears  the  following 
entrN' :  — 

**  The  Reverend  Mr.  Harlow  took  the  liberty  (without  asking  the 
consent  of  his  people)  to  absent  himself  from  them  froin  the  ninth  of 
July  to  the  thirteenth  or  fourteenth  of  Auj^ust,  1832,  therefore  it  may 
be  considered  that  the  ciyil  contract  expired  the  day  he  went  away." 

This  was  signed,  not  by  the  real,  but  by  an  acting  clerk.  This  mis- 
take of  taking  a  vacation  without  the  consent  of  his  parishioners  was, 
however,  afterwards  rectified. 

[1833.]  At  a  parish  meeting  held  November  1),  1833,  it  was  voted 
to  allow  him  four  Sabbaths  a  year  in  which  to  visit  his  friends.  A  vote 
was  also  passed  at  this  meeting  that  the  Maine  Missionary  Society' 
should  be  aske<l  to  give  Mr.  Harlow  fift}'  dollars  that  year.  The 
same  request  was  made  for  several  years  in  succession. 

[183-1.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  in  April  of  this  year  at  the 
house  of  Stephen  Sinnett,  it  was  voted  '^  that  the  record  relative  to 
the  Reverend  William  Harlow,  on  the  foregoing  page,  was  made  with- 
out the  knowledge  or  approbation  of  the  said  church." 

[1837.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  church  hold  in  May,  1837,  in  compli- 
ance with  the  vote  (»f  a  council  that  was  held  in  September  of  the  pre- 
vious year,  the  acting  clerk,  who  had  been  excomnuinicatovl  on  account 
of  his  entry  in  the  records  and  his  subsequont  con<luct,  was  restored 
to  the  fellowship  of  the  church.     At  this  meeting  also,  Deacon  Simeon 


446        UlbTOJiT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Orr  and  Benjamin  Dunning  were  chosen  a  committee  *'  to  requcBt  Mr. 
Harlow  to  ask  a  dismission,  if  he  declined  to  invite  a  council." 

[1838-1840.]  Mr.  Harlow  probably  resigned  in  the  winter  of 
1838,  |>erhap8  earlier.  From  March,  1839,  to  March,  1840,  the  pulpit 
was  supplied  in  turn  b}'  Reverends  Clark,  Cornish,  Gillett,  Kenderick, 
Purington,  Merrill,  Parsons,  and  Peasley. 

The  dismission  of  Mr.  Harlow,  or  some  other  cause,  seems  to  haA'c 
produced  considerable  disaffection  in  the  church,  and  during  the  year 
1838  several  members  of  the  church  were  suspended  or  excommunicated. 

Reverend  Jotliam  Sewall,  of  Freeport,  filled  the  pulpit  for  a  while 
alter  Mr.  Harlow  left,  and  at  a  church  meeting,  held  February  29, 
1840,  it  was  voted,  ^*That  the  thanks  of  this  church  l»e  })resented  to 
the  church  in  Freeport  for  tjie  faithful  aud  interesting  labors  of  their 
pastor  with  us  of  late." 

[1843.]  About  this  time  a  new  meeting-house  was  built  and  a  new 
societv  formed.  Though  the  church  and  societv  of  the  P'irst  Parish 
probaljly  continued  to  exist  for  some  time  after  this  event,  yet  no 
records  were  kept  after  the  year  1844,  and  the  preaching  was  probably 
only  occasional  in  the  old  meeting-house.  The  church  organization 
mav  have  connected  itself  with  the  new  society. 

FIRST  BAPTIST  CHURCH  AND   SOCIETY. 

The  first  Baptist  preaching  in  Harpswell  was  in  the  year  1783,  b\' 
Reverend  Isaac  Case  and  Mi*.  Potter.  The  former  preached  twenty- 
five  sermons  to  the  people  on  Great  Island  in  the  course  of  a  few 
months.  There  was  some  opposition,  and  Mr.  Case  said  that  he  was 
treated  ''rather  coollv"  bv  Reverend  Sauuiel  Eaton.  On  the  nine- 
teentli  of  January,  1785,  a  church  was  organized  on  this  island  by 
Reverend  Messrs.  Case  and  J.  Macomber.  It  consisted  of  thirtv-one 
members,  of  whom  only  a  portion  belonged  in  Harpswell. 

A  short  time  after  the  oi^anization  of  tliis  cimrch  !Mr.  Potter  was 
baptized  and  united  with  it,  and  on  October  5,  178o,  he  was  ordained 
as  an  evangelist  by  Messrs.  Case  and  Macomber,  Mr.  Case  ])reaching 
the  sermon  for  the  occasion.  Elder  Potter  soon  received  an  invita- 
tion and  took  the  pastoral  chai'ge  of  this  churcii.  During  his  ministry 
about  twent\'  were  added  to  it.  He  resigned  in  1788.  In  1790.  Elder 
Elisha  Snow,  of  Thomaston,  was  ordained  as  his  successor,  and 
preached  al>out  two  years.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reverend  Samuel 
Woodanl,  of  Brunswick,  who  was  ordained  at  his  own  house. 
October  11,  1792.  Elder  Woodard  resigned  his  charge  in  the  latter 
part  of  1801,  and  was  succeeded  b}'  Reverend  Samuel  Mariner,  who 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  447 

was  ordained  in  January,  1802.  Elder  Mariner  remained  as  pastor 
until  bis  death  in  1832.  After  the  death  of  Elder  Mariner,  up  to  the 
year  1845,  this  church  had  no  settled  minister,  though  its  pulpit  was 
supplied  the  greater  part  of  the  time  by  Elders  S.  Owen,  Henry 
Kendall,  D.  Pierce,  William  Johnson,  J.  Butler,  and  N.  Hooper. 

This  church  lias  had  at  different  times  several  distinct  names.  At 
fii-st  it  was  called  the  Harpswell  Church,  then  Harpswell  and  Bruns- 
wick, and  later  it  went  by  the  name  of  the  East  Brunswick  C'liureh. 
The  whole  number  of  members  up  to  the  year  1843  was  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty. ^  Reference  has  been  made  to  this  church  in  the 
preceding  chapter. 

SECOND  BAPTIST  CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY   OF  HARPSWELL. 

[1827.]  This  church  was  organized  November  13,  1827.  The 
records  commence  with  the  following :  — 

'•  We  whose  Names  are  hereunto  affixed  —  Having  a  hope  that  God 
has  Renewed  our  Hearts  by  his  rich  Grace,  and  has  made  it  our  duty 
to  Glorif}'  him  on  the  Earth  —  AVe  feel  a  desire  to  be  emlnxlied  into  a 
visible  l*redestinarian  Baptist  Church  that  we  may  More  perlectly 
Glorify  him  and  enjo^'  the  ministration  of  his  word  and  ordinances." 

The  above  was  signed  b}' :  — 

John  L.  Lambert,  Elizabeth  Lambert,  Hannah  Thomas,  Lozana 
Alexander,  Jane  Wilson,  Robert  B.  Gardner,  Lucy  Ann  Farr,  James 
S.  Wyer,  Mary  Alexander,  Norton  Stover,  Joshua  Bishop,  Patience 
Bishop,  Isabella  Merryman,  Perry  Alexander,  Rosanna  Alexander, 
Margaret  W^-er,  David  Wilson,  2d,  James  Wilson,  Jr. 

At  a  meeting  held  November  3,  1827,  the  following  was  sent  to  the 
Baptist  churches  in  Topsham  and  Brunswick,  and  to  the  ^^  Harpsv:oU 
Church  in  Brunsirkk" 

" '  Beloved  Brethren  :  we  wish  vou  to  send  us  vour  Elders  and  such 
brethren  as  you  may  think  proper,  to  sit  witli  us  in  Council  for  the  pur- 
pose of  organizing  us  into  a  Predestinaiian  Baptist  Church,  to  meet 
with  us  at  the  Lower  School  House  on  the  Neck,  on  Tuesday  the  13th 
inst.  at  10  o'clock  a.  m." 

In  reply  to  this  request  the  Topsham  church  sent  Elder  Heniy  Ken- 
dall, Ebenezer  Whittemore,  and  James  Cook ;  the  Brunswick  church 
sent  Elder  Benjamin  Titcomb,  David  Given,  Jr.,  and  Samuel  Given; 
the  Harpswell  church  in  Brunswick  sent  Elder  Samuel  Mariner.  Robert 


*  The  forptjoing  account  is  taken  from  a  *'  History  of  tlie  Baptists  in  MuinCf''  by  Rtv- 
trend  J.  Millet,  1845. 


448      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell, 

Jordan,  and  Ilenr}^  Jordan.  This  council  met  November  13,  and  after 
choice  of  officers,  thev  examined  into  the  faith  and  order  of  the  candi- 
dates,  and  voted  to  give  them  the  right  hand  of  fellowship. 

The  services  were  as  follows  :  — 

Prayer,  b}'  Mr.  Hall ;  sermon,  by  Reverend  Henry  Kendall ;  after 
which  the  members  arose  and  received  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  as 
a  sister  church  ;  prayer,  by  Elder  Mariner. 

[1828.]  At  a  meeting  held  January  5,  1828,  William  Randall  and 
John  L.  Lambert  were  confirmed  as  deacons. 

[1^^31 .]  The  first  elder  to  preach  to  them  seems  to  have  been  Elder 
Kendall  in  1831. 

[1H4G-1850.]  Elder  Pinkham  preached  to  them  in  1846,  and  at  a 
cliurch  meeting  held  August  15, 1847,  he  was  fonnally  invited  to  settle 
as  their  pastor.  He  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request  on  October  4, 
18r)0. 

[lHr)3-i>4.]  Elder  L.  Barrows  began  to  preach  to  this  church 
about  May,  1853,  and  on  November  5  formall}'  united  witii  them.  In 
July,  1854,  he  was  dismissed  in  order  to  unite  with  the  Baptist  Church 
in  Kennebunk. 

[1856.]  Elder  J.  Hutchinson  of  the  Maquoit  church  in  Brunswick 
preached  occasionally  after  the  dismissal  of  Polder  Barrows,  and  on 
August  25,  1856,  having  been  dismissed  by  the  Maquoit  church,  was 
received  into  the  fellowship  of  this  church. 

[I860.]  In  1859,  Elder  Nelson  was  preaching  to  them  ;  and  on 
August  5,  1860,  Elder  Evans  was  sent  as  a  delegate  to  a  meeting  of 
the  Baptist  Association,  so  it  is  safe  to  infer  that  he  was  preaching  to 
this  church. 

[1862.]  April  5,  1862,  ReA'ei*end  II.  Perkins  was  received  as  a 
member  of  this  church.  On  December  3  he  received  a  certificate  to 
enable  him  to  join  the  church  at  Mechanic  Falls,  where  he  was  already 
settled. 

[1865.]  On  February  4,  1865,  Elder  N.  P.  Everett  was  admitted 
to  fellowship. 

[1HC6.]  On  August  4,  1866,  Elder  Sargent  was  chosen  a  delegate 
to  the  association. 

[1869.]  On  August,  1869,  Elder  R.  Goud  was  settled  as  pastor; 
and  on  the  following  twenty-fifth  of  December,  Elder  Everett  was 
dismissed. 

[1874.]  On  July  4,  1874,  Reverend  William  R.  Millett  and  wife 
were  received  into  the  cliurch  bv  letttjr  from  the  church  in  South 
Auburn.     He  died  in  August,  1875. 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  HABPSWELL.  449 

The  last  entrj-  in  tli,e  church  records  is  dateil  December  5,  1874. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  voted  to  discontinue  the  Sunday  school,  and  to 
hold  Sabbath  prajer- meetings  immediately  after  the  morning  8er>'ice 
instead  of  the  evening. 

THE   FIRST  FREE-WILL  BAPTIST  CHURCH  AND  SOCIETY. 

This  societ}'  was  organized  on  Great  Island,  April  17,  1817.  'ITie 
following  are  the  names  of  the  original  members  :  — 

Daniel  Curtis,  Stephen  Ihirinton,  Anthony  Coombs,  Arthur  Hall, 
John  Snow,  Swanzey  Wilson,  Jane  Dingle}',  Ruth  Snow,  Mary  Purin- 
ton,  Mary  Rich,  Desire  Dingley,  Sallj'  Kemp,  Mar}'  Totman,  Maiy 
Raymond,  Polly  Purington,  Fannj'  Merritt,^  Martha  Hall,  Deborah 
Rich,  Mary  Linscott,  Betse}'  Rich,  Almira  Purinton,  Mary  Purinton, 
Hannah  Totman,  Ruth  Page,  Joanna  Curtis,  Hannah  Curtis,  Sally 
Dingley,  Priscilla  Purinton,  Eunice  H.  Purinton,  and  Hannah  Dingley. 

Reverend  George  Lamb,  of  Brunswick,  was  the  settled  minister  from 
the  organization  of  the  society  until  his  death,  in  1835  or  1836.  From 
that  time  until  1831)  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  transient  preachers.  In 
1S39,  Reverend  O.  W.  Smith  was  settled  over  the  church  until  1842, 
aud  during  this  time  sixty  members  were  added  to  it.  From  1843 
to  1854,  Reverend  Levi  Hersey  was  the  pastor.  From  1857  to  1800, 
Reverend  David  Libl»y  Hind  was  settled,  and  during  his  pastorate 
thirtv-five  new  members  were  added  to  the  church.  In  1860,  Reverend 
L.  C.  Burr  was  settled  for  three  years.  Since  then  Reverend  Messrs. 
D.  Libby,  A.  Libby,  Heath,  and  Preseott  have  supplied  the  pulpit. 

The  meeting-house  of  this  society  is  the  Free  Union  Baptist  Meeting- 
House  on  Great  Island.     It  was  built  by  subscription  in  1843. 

This  society  is  now  feeble  and  the  number  of  its  membere  is  small. 
They  are  also  quite  scattered  through  the  town.  Its  present  member- 
ship is  but  thirtj'-two. 

THE  SECOND,  OR  ORR'S  ISLAND  FREE-WILL  BAPTIST  CHURCH  AND 

SOCIKTY. 

This  society  was  organized,  in  1858,  by  Reverend  J.  Fuller.  Its 
original  mcmlx^rs  were  :  — 

George  W.  Card,  Reul>en  Dyer,  John  Black,  Cummings  Alexander, 
Sarah  Dyer,  Mary  Green,  Martha  Sinnett,  Adaline  Orr,  Henrietta 
Sinnett,  Patience  Orr,  and  Jane  Alexander. 

This  society  uses  the  Orr's  Island  Union  Meeting-House,  which  was 


>  The  only  one  fww  living, 
29 


450        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

bnilt  about  1855,  alternately  with  the  other  societies  owning  the  build- 
ing. The  society  is  quite  small,  its  present  membership  being  but 
thirty.  No  facts  have  been  obtained  as  to  the  ministers  who  have  had 
charge  of  it. 

FIRST  UNIVERSALIST  SOCIETY  IN   IIARPSWELL. 

[1838.]  The  first  preaching  of  Univcrsalist  doctrines  in  Harps- 
well  was  in  April,  1838.  Reverend  Seth  Stetson  visited  Harpswell  at 
this  time,  and  preached  two  sermons  to  about  thirtj'  hearers  in  the 
Number  Two  School-House  on  the  Neck. 

[1839.]  The  next  summer  Reverend  Mr.  Stoddard  preached  there 
on  two  Sundays.  In  1839  theUniversahsts  raised  about  thirty  dollars, 
and  employed  Reverend  Mr.  Stetson  for  six  or  seven  Sabbaths. 

[184U.]  In  1840  a  similar  amount  was  raised,  and  preaching  was 
had  for  about  the  same  length  of  time. 

[1841.]  In  1841  the  Universalists,  together  with  some  of  a  differ- 
ent faith,  built  a  Union  Meeting-IIouse,  which  was  dedicated  by  the 
Universalists  on  September  21.  The  sermon  was  by  Reverend  John 
T.  Oilman,  of  Bath.  There  was  a  sermon  in  the  afternoon  bv  Reverend 
E.  Wellington,  and  another  in  the  evening  by  Reverend  G.  Bates. 

[1842.]  In  1842  they  raised  about  fifty  dollars,  and  emplo\*ed 
Reverend  L.  P.  Rand  to  preach  one  fourth  of  the  time  during  tliat 
year. 

[1844.]  On  April  20,  1844,  a  Univcrsalist  society  was  legally 
organized  b}-  the  choice  of  Isaac  Stover,  moderator ;  Thomas  Alexan- 
der, clerk  ;  Samuel  Dunning,  treasurer ;  and  Sanmel  Dunning,  Joshua 
Stover,  and  Thomas  Alexander,  parish  connnittee.  The  following 
constitution  was  adopted  :  — 

'*  We  the  subscribers  being  desirous  of  forming  ourselves  into  a 
society,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  and  enjoying  the  preached 
Gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  do  hereby  unite  and 
agree  to  walk  together  in  hannou}'^  and  love.  And  to  guide  ourselves 
understandingly  we  adopt  the  following  rules  :  — 

"  1st.  We  take  the  name  of  the  First  Univcrsalist  Societv  of 
Harpswell. 

"  2d.  We  take  the  Bible,  containing  the  Old  and  New  Testaments, 
AS  the  rule  of  our  faith  and  practice. 

"  3d.  We  agree  to  meet  together  as  often  as  convenient  for  the 
worship  of  the  one  living  and  tnie  God,  the  Father  of  the  spirits  and 
the  Father  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

'*  4th.     We  agree  to  subscribe,  so  far  as  we  are  able,  for  the  sup- 


ECCLESIASTICAL  UISTORT  OF  HARPSWELL.  451 

port  of  the  preached  Gospel  and  the  maintenance  of  Christian  wor- 
ship. 

"  5th.  We  agree  to  strive  to  live  in  a  moral  and  virtnons  manner 
that  we  may  give  no  oc'casion  to  tlie  adversary  to  speak  reproaehfull}', 
and  that  we  ma}*  honor  our  God  and  Saviour  b}'  a  well-ordered  life 
and  Christian  conversation. 

'"  6th.  Any  person  of  a  sober,  moral  character  may  become  a 
member  of  this  society'  by  subscribing  his  or  her  name  to  the  forego- 
ing niles. 

^'  7th.  Anv  memlwr  mav  withdraw  from  this  societv  when  they 
flliall  liave  paid  tlieir  subscription  and  signified  tlieir  desire  so  to  do, 
to  the  clerk  of  this  societv." 

The  following  names  were  affixed  to  this  constitution  :  — 

Isaac  Stover,  Thomas  Alexander,  Samuel  Dunning,  David  Curtis, 
Joshua  Stover,  Paul  U.  Thomas,  James  Merymau,  2d,  Alcot  S.  I'en- 
uell,  Robert  Pennell,  Sylvester  Stover,  2d,  Jacob  Blake,  Alcot  Stover, 
Harmon  Pennell,  Thomas  Pennell,  and  KolK.»rt  Dunning.  In  1H45 
this  society  was  received  into  the  Kennebec  Association  of  Univer- 
salists. 

The  entries  in  the  reconls  of  this  society  are  very  brief,  and  contain 
little  else  than  the  lists  of  officers  chosen  annuallv. 

At  a  meeting  held  April  14, 1849,  it  was  voted  to  support  a  preacher 
that  3*ear  by  subscription,  and  not  by  taxation. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  21,  IHCO,  the  treasurer  in  his  report  declared 
the  society  to  l)e  free  from  debt.  The  society,  notwithstanding  this 
fact,  had  only  occasional  preaching  for  nearW  ten  years. 

[1870.]  On  January  29,  1H70,  the  society  was  reorganized  by  the 
ch<jic*e  of  Thomas  Alexander  as  mmlerator ;  David  Pennell,  clerk  ; 
Alcot  S.  Pennell,  Benjamin  F.  Randall,  and  Joshua  Stover,  standing 
committee;  B.  F.  Randall  and  A.  S.  Pennell,  collectors;  and  A.  S. 
IVnnell,  treasurer.  The  last  entry  in  the  records  is  dated  May  8, 
1875.  Between  1870  and  1875,  Reverend  William  R.  French,  of 
Bmnswick,  preached  a  portion  of  the  time  in  summer,  in  addition  to 
his  services  at  Bnmswick.  There  is  at  present  no  settled  minister, 
but  the  society  is  still  in  existence. 

CENTIJE  COXGUEOATIOXAL  PARISH. 

[1843.]  This  society  or  parish  originatc»d  in  1843  by  certain  indi- 
viduals combining  for  the  purpose  of  building  a  new  meeting-house. 
It  was  formed,  and  the  first  meeting  was  held  agreeably  to  the  war- 
rant for  the  same,  on  September  27.     Daniel  Randall  was  chosen 


452        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

modorator,  and  William  C.  Eaton,  clerk.     The  following  constitution 
was  adopted  at  this  meeting  :  — 

*'  We  the  undersigned  having  organized  ourselves  into  a  parish 
under  tlie  name  of  the  Centre  Congregational  Parish,  in  Harpswell, 
for  the  promotion  of  good  morals,  for  religious  teaching  and  instnie- 
tiun,  and  for  sustaining  and  propagating  the  tniths  of  the  Gospel  as 
held  by  the  Orthodox  Congregational  denomination  in  this  State,  do 
adopt  the  following  constitution  :  — 

•*  Article  1st.  This  parish  shall  consist  of  those  whose  names  are 
affixed  to  the  application  for  a  warrant  for  organization,  together  with 
such  other  i)ersons  as  they  may  from  time  to  time  elect,  and  who  shall 
sign  this  constitution. 

"'  Art.  2d.  The  officers  of  this  parish  shall  be  a  clerk,  two  or 
more  assessors,  a  treasurer,  a  collector,  and  a  standing  committee  of 
three,  who  shall  l)e  elected  at  the  annual  meetings. 

"'  Art.  3d.  The  annual  meeting  of  this  parish  shall  be  held  in  the 
month  of  April  in  each  year,  on  some  day  to  be  specified  by  the 
assessors. 

'*  Art.  4th.  In  case  the  annual  meeting  shall  not  be  held  at  the 
time  specified,  the  officers  of  the  preceding  year  shall  retain  their 
offices  until  others  are  chosen  and  qualified  in  their  stead. 

**  Art.  r)th.  'I'his  parish  agree  in  the  settlement  of  a  minister,  and 
in  the  support  of  the  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  to  proceed  upon  the 
established  principles  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational  denomination 
in  this  State  and  to  act  in  concert  with  the  church  in  Harpswell  of 
like  order  and  faith. 

*'  Art.  Gth.  A  majority  of  two  thirds  of  all  the  legal  voters  in  this 
parish  shall  be  necessary  to  alter  or  amend  this  constitution." 

The  original  subscrilwrs  to  the  above  constitution  were :  — 

Silvester  Stover,  Joseph  Eaton,  James  Stover,  Simeon  Orr,  Jacob 
Mervman,  lienjamiu  Dunning,  George  S.  Dunning,  Arthur  Orr, 
Thomas  U.  Eaton,  Lemuel  H.  Stover,  Shubal  Merryman,  William  C. 
Eaton,  Daniel  Randall,  Henry  Barnes,  Joseph  Stover,  James  Merj-- 
man,  James  Dunning,  Jeremiah  Meryman,  Angier  H.  Curtis,  Albert 
Stover,  Paul  C.  Randall,  Dominicus  Jordan,  William  Barnes,  James 
Curtis,  Joseph  Curtis,  John  Durgin,  II.  C.  Martin,  Ralph  Johnson, 
Joseph  A.  Stover,  Elisha  S.  Stover,  and  Isaac  Merryman. 

It  was  also  at  this  meeting  vottnl  to  accept  the  meeting-house  offered 
by  the  proprietors,  and  to  assume  all  the  liabilities  and  duties  of  the 
latter. 

The  next  day  the  new  meeting-house  was  dedicated  with  the  follow- 


ing services :  — 


ECCLESIASTICAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.    '  453 

Reading  of  Scriptures,  by  Reverend  Elijah  Kellogg,  then  on  a  mis- 
sionar}'  tour;  prayer,  by  Reverend  Daniel  Sewall ;  scTinon,  by  Rever- 
end J.  W.  Chickering ;  address  to  the  church,  bj-  Reverend  George  E. 
Adams ;  prayer,  b}-  Reverend  Mr   Parsons. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  church  on  November  12,  it  was  voted  :  — 

"  That  the  Centre  Cmgregational  Church  in  Ilarpswell  would  tender 
their  united  thanks  to  the  individuals  in  Bath,  Freeport,  Brunswick, 
and  High  Street  Church,  Portland,  for  their  liberal  donations  to  assist 
them  in  the  erection  of  a  house  of  worship ;  also  to  the  Widow  D. 
Dunlap,  for  the  lil)eral  present  of  a  sofa ;  to  the  president  and  profes- 
sors of  Bowdoin  College,  for  their  services  in  supplying  the  pulpit ; 
and  to  Professor  Upham,  for  his  unweariinl  exertions  in  our  behalf." 

[1844.]  On  April  25,  1844,  the  church  voted,  in  concurrence  with 
the  parish,  to  extend  an  invibition  to  Reverend  Elijah  Kellogg  to  set- 
tle rfs  their  pastor  for  three  hundred  dollare  per  year,  for  four  years. 
This  invitation  was  accepted,  and  was  subsequent!}'  renewed  for  an 
indefinite  period. 

[1847.]  At  a  parish  meeting,  held  November  1,  this  year,  it  was 
decided  that  Mr.  Kellogg  might  go  *'  to  Orr's  Island  the  coming  win- 
ter, and  preach  three  Sabbaths,  if  he  see  fit." 

The  church  records  are  wanting  entirely  between  the  years  1844 
and  1855,  and  from  the  latter  date  down  to  1870  they  contain  only  the 
admissions  to  church  fellowship  and  lists  of  those  baptize<l. 

[1854.]  In  1854,  Mr.  Kellogg  gave  up  the  immeiliate  charge  of 
the  parish,  in  order  to  devote?  more  time  to  literary  pursuits,  but  his 
pastoral  connection  with  the  chunrh  has  never  been  dissolved. 

[1800.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  parish,  held  April  28  of  this  year, 
three  hundred  dollars  was  raised  for  repairing  and  painting  the  meet- 
ing-house. 

[1870.]  At  a  church  meeting  held  on  the  twenty-eighth  of  August, 
it  was  voted  that  the  thanks  of  the  church  *'  be  hereby  mven  to 
Honorable  A.  D.  Lockwood,  of  Lewiston,  for  a  highly  value<l,  ])eau- 
tiful  communion  service,  generously  presented  by  him  for  our  use. 
And  our  prayer  is  that  the  Great  Head  of  the  church  will  aceei)t  the 
act  as  done  to  himself,  and  bountifully  reward  the  giver."  On  Sep- 
tember 24  a  church  meeting  was  held  on  Orr's  Island,  the  fii-st  one 
mentioned  in  the  records  as  being  held  on  that  island. 

[1874.]  At  a  meeting  of  the  parish,  held  April  23,  1874.  it  was 
voted  to  allow  the  sewing  circle  "•  to  enlarge  the  stove-rooms  by  tak- 
ing in  the  pews  in  front  of  each."  The  latest  entry  in  these  records 
is  dated  the  sixth  of  the  following  Septeml)er,  at  which  time  Paul  C. 
Randall  was  chosen  a  deacon. 


454        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

There  has  been  no  settled  minister  over  this  parish  since  Mr. 
Kellogg  left,  but  the  pulpit  is  supplied  a  good  part  of  the  time,  and 
nearly  ever}^  summer,  Uy  Mr.  Kellogg  himself,  who  makes  Harpswell 
the  place  of  his  summer  residence. 

THE  METHODIST  CHURCH  >ND  SOCIETY. 

The  introduction  of  Methodism  into  Haq)swell  dates  back  only  to 
1854,  although  as  early  as  1814  Fathers  Lombard  and  Bennett,  and 
perhaps  others,  had  preached  in  town. 

[1854.]  In  May,  1854,  Reverend  George  C.  Crawford,  of  Bruns- 
wick, was,  at  the  solicitation  of  a  nnmber  of  people  of  West  Harps- 
well,  appointed  to  that  field  of  labor.  At  that  time  there  was  not  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  church  on  Haq)swell  Neck,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  Sidney  Bailey  and  wife.  Mr.  Crawford  commenced  his  labors 
about  the  first  of  June,  holding  the  meetings  in  the  school-house  near 
Mr.  Simeon  Webber's.  On  the  third  Sabbath  of  his  ministr}'^  here, 
he  read  in  public  the  ••'  Doctrines,  Discipline,  and  General  Rules"  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  A  small  "  class  "  was  then  formed, 
consisting  of  Captain  Norton  Stover,  Nathaniel  Pinkham  and  wife, 
and  Sidnej'  Bailey  and  wife.  A  few  weeks  later  Mr.  William  Gillam 
and  wife,  then  of  Orr's  Island,  joined.  After  two  or  three  meetings 
it  was  decided  to  build  a  church  at  once.  A  suitable  lot  was  secured 
in  a  central  location.  Captain  Stover  was  chosen  an  agent  to  pur- 
chase lumber  and  other  material ;  and  W.  W.  Douglass,  of  Bninswick, 
was  chosen  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the  building. 

[1855.]  The  work  was  hastened,  and  in  less  than  one  year  from 
the  time  of  the  first  meeting  in  the  school -house,  a  beautiful  and 
graceful  chapel  was  dedicated.  On  the  day  of  dedication  people 
flocked  to  town  from  all  directions,  and  Reverend  William  F.  Farring- 
don,  then  of  Portland,  delivered  the  dedicatory  address  from  the 
words,  ^'  Searching  what,  or  what  manner  of  time,  the  spirit  of  Christ 
which  was  in  them  did  signif}',  when  it  testified  beforehand  the  suffer- 
ings of  Christ  and  the  glory  that  should  follow."  The  sale  of  pews 
took  place  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day.  The  societ}'  is  largely 
indebted  to  Captain  Norton  Stover  and  Nathaniel  Pinkham,  who 
assumed  the  entire  financial  responsibility  in  the  erection  of  the 
church. 

At  the  Conference  of  1855  Reverend  Ileman  Nickerson  was  ap- 
pointed to  succeed  Mr.  Crawford.  He  was  succeeded  by  Reverend 
Mr.  Russell.  Then  followed,  in  succession,  Reverends  N.  Andrews, 
John  Collins,  II.  B.  Mitchell,  Alpha  Turner,  George  C.  Crawford  (a 


ECCLESIAfiTICAL  BISTORT  OF  HARPSWELL.  455 

second  lime) ,  J.  C.  Perry,  H.  Briggs,  'Iliomas  Hillman,  N.  C.  Clif- 
ford, D.  Dudley,  N.  Andrews  (a  second  time),  and  M.  C.  Baldwin. 
Under  these  preachers  there  were  several  re\'ivals  and  a  large  number 
were  added  to  tlie  church.  The  society  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion, and  is  composed  in  a  large  part  of  the  wealth,  intelligence,  and 
refinement  of  that  section  of  tlie  town. 


456        HISTORY  OF  BBUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

EDUCATIONAL   HISTORY   OF   BRUNSWICK. 

Brunswick,  the  seat  of  Maine's  oldest  and  most  favored  college, 
has  generally  shown  herself  fully  mindful  of  tlie  claims  of  education. 
So  far,  however,  as  the  early  introduction  of  schools  is  concerned,  no 
es|)ccial  credit  attaches  itself  to  the  early  settlers,  who  simply*  acted  in 
accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  had,  indeed,  before 
the  incorporation  of  the  town,  no  volition  in  the  matter.  In  all  proba- 
bility it  has  been  well  for  the  town  that  the  establishment  of  schools 
was  not  left  to  the  discretion  of  the  earlier  settlers,  for  thev  were,  with 
a  few  notable  exceptions,  extremely  ignorant  as  to  all  knowledge 
usually  acquired  from  books.  As  an  illustration  of  the  average  attain- 
ments of  the  time,  it  is  related  of  Thomas  Atkins,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  this  vicinity,  that  he  had  ten  daughters,  of  whom  not  one 
coukl  sign  her  name  to  a  deed.^  Even  so  late  as  Judge  Minot's 
time  it  was  considered  a  rare  accomplishment  for  one  to  be  able  to 
read,  and  it  is  given  as  a  tradition  among  his  descendants  that  on  one 
occasion,  when  he  had  received  a  newspaper  at  the  village,  he  stopped 
on  his  way  home  and  read  from  it  to  some  workmen  on  the  road,  who 
were  greatly  astonished  that  the  judge  should  be  able  to  read.  The 
judge  was  not,  however,  the  only  man  hereabouts  at  that  time  who 
could  read,  for  there  were  then  a  number  of  educated  people  in  town, 
one  of  whom  (Thomas  Skolfield)  was  a  graduate  of  Dublin  University. 

Ample  excuse  is  to  be  found  for  the  neglect  of  the  earlier  settlers  to 
provide  means  for  education  in  the  fact  that  they  were  few  in  numbers, 
constantly  exposed  to  the  incursions  of  a  savage  foe,  and  were  obliged 
to  till  other  fields  than  those  of  an  intellectual  kind,  —  to  break  up  the 
rough  soil  of  the  wilderness,  and  raise  the  scanty  crops  absolutely 
required  for  their  pln'sical  existence.  It  is  simply  another  example  of 
the  fact  that,  in  the  order  of  time,  ph^'sical  must  precede  mental  activity. 

The  first  action  looking  to  the  establishment  of  a  school  in  Bruns- 

*  Reverend  Dr,  Ballard* $  Notes. 


EDVCATIOyAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  457 

wick  was  in  the  year  1715,  at  which  time  the  Pejopscot  proprietors 
voted  that  the  ministerial,  minister's,  and  school  lots  should  be  the 
centre  lots  of  the  town  J 

In  1717  provision  was  made  b}-  the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts 
for  a  school-master  to  reside  at  Brunswick,  and  fift}'  dollars  was  voted 
for  books  and  rewards  for  the  young  Indians  who  raijrht  become  his 
pulpils.2  This  school  was  a  part  of  the  mission  to  the  Indians.  Who 
was  sent  as  teacher  has  not  been  ascertained. 

At  the  November  session  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  this  vear, 
Benjamin  Larrabee,  Esquire,  appeared  in  behalf  of  tlic  townof  Bnins- 
wick,  to  answer  to  the  "  presentment  of  the  town  for  not  having  and 
maintainin<r  a  school-master  in  said  town  to  teadi  children  and  vouth 
to  read  and  write  as  the  law  directs  and  requires."  Larrabee's  excuse 
for  the  delinquency  was  accepted,  but  the  town  was  required  to  pay 
sixteen  shillings,  the  fees  of  court. 

At  a  mexjting  held  February  23,  1743,  the  proprietors  voted  : — 

''  That  Lott  number  six  on  the  southeasterly  side  of  the  Road 
adjoyning  to  the  Ministry  Lott  be  and  hereby  is  granted  to  the  Town 
ofBnmswick  for  a  school  Lott  containing  one  hundred  acres,  to  be 
and  Continue  for  said  use."  ^ 

At  a  town  meeting  in  1739,  a  proposition  to  employ  a  school -master 
was  "  voted  for  and  past  in  the  negative,"  but  the  town  afterwards 
reconsidered  its  action,  and  at  a  meeting  in  September  chopc  a  com- 
mittee to  secure  the  service  of  a  school-master. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school-teacher  employe<l  by  the  t/)wn  was  Jamos  ^McCasli- 
Icn,  who  was  emplo^'cd  in  the  j-ear  1740,  and  was  paid  £10"*  for  his 
services.  In  1741  it  appears  from  a  statement  in  the  Pejopscot 
Pai>er8  that  Reverend  Mr   McClanethan  taught  a  school  here. 

In  1742  a  conmiittee  was  appointed  by  the  town  to  secure  the  ser- 
"i-ices  of  a  school-master,  and  they  were  authorized  ''  to  appoint  him 
the  time  ancl  places  for  keeping  the  Schoole  in  the  Sevarel  partes  of 
the  Town  as  they  shall  Think  proper."  Samuel  Maflitt  was  selected 
as  a  teacher,  and  received  £17  lO.s.  as  his  pay,  but  the  length  of  time 
he  taught  is  not  stated.* 

About  the  year  1752,  Mr.  George  Ilarwood  was  employed  to  teach 
b}'  the  year.^     In  order  to  give  equal  privileges  of  schooling  to  all,  he 


*  Prjepscot  Records,       ^  Varney^  History  of  Maine,  p.  123.        *  P^'jep^^roi  Rmonls. 

*  Town  Records  1,  pp,  23,  49,  50,  61.  ^Ihid.  ^Pcjepscot  Papers, 


458        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICKr  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

taught  in  three  different  parts  of  the  town,  —  at  the  upper  part  of  New 
Meadows!  at  the  old  west  meeting  house,  and  at  lower  New  Meadows. 

In  175:^  a  committee  was  chosen  to  secure  a  sdiool-master  at  the 
rate  of  £220  old  tenor.  In  1754  another  committee  was  raised  for  the 
same  puri)ose,  and  £13  Gs.  8d.  voted  for  the  saiar}'.  The  committee 
were  instnicted  to  station  the  teacher  in  tlie  several  parts  of  the  town, 
acconling  to  the  amount  paid  by  each  part. 

In  1755  the  same  amount  was  paid  as  salar}',  with  the  board  addi- 
tional. This  year  John  Blake  was  employed  as  a  school-master  for 
six  months  from  November  5.  His  engagement  was  probably  not 
renewed,  as  the  town  in  Maj',  175G,  authorized  the  selectmen  "  to 
provide  a  school-master  when  they  see  the  times  to  be  convenient.? 

In  1759,  John  Farrin  was  employed  as  a  teacher,  the  town  paying 
him  at  the  rate  of  £26  13s.  Ad.  per  annum.  lie  was  re-engaged  the 
next  year  at  the  same  salary,  and  continued  to  teach  until  October  1 , 
17()1,  when  his  time  expired.  He  is  known  to  have  taught  again  in 
1776,  because  he  tliat  3*ear  gave  the  town  £15  6s.  M.  of  his  salary,  in 
consequence  of  the  public  distresses  and  the  burdensome  taxes. 
Whether  he  tauglit  between  1761  and  1776  is  not  known,  but  it  is  to 
be  presumed  that  he  did. 

In  1762  the  town  was  virtually  divided  into  two  districts,  by  the 
employment  of  separate  teachers  for  the  eastern  and  western  parts. 
Probably  Mr.  Farrin  was  one  of  the  teachers  employed. 

In  1763,  George  Ilarwood  was  chosen  as  school-master,  by  vote  of 
the  town,  '*  if  he  accepts  of  the  same."  He  did  accept,  for  in  1767  he 
was  paid  for  four  years'  teaching. 

In  1790  the  town  was,  for  the  first  time,  legally  divided  into  school 
districts,  a  committee  being  chosen  at  a  regular  meeting  to  divide  the 
town  into  two  districts. 

In  1797  a  vote  was  passed  by  the  town,  "  that  the  school  money  be 
divided  in  future  accoi-ding  to  the  number  of  scholars  in  each  class, ^ 
tlie  scholars  to  be  numbered,  all  between  four  and  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  but  if  any  others  in  any  class  are  disi)osed  to  go,  he  or  she 
shall  have  a  right  to  do  so,  whether  they  are  over  or  under  the  above 
age." 

In  1798  the  town  voted,  for  the  first  time,  to  choose  a  school  com- 
mittee, and  the  selectmen  were  chosen  to  act  in  that  capacity.  The 
town  also  voted  that  no  person  should  be  allowed  to  teach  in  any  dis- 
trict without  the  approbation  of  the  committee. 


Districts  were  then  called  classes. 


EDICATIONAL  BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  459 

Previously  to  this  time  the  red  school-house  at  the  foot  of  the  mall 
was  built.  1  It  was  afterwards  moved  to  the  Cove.  Who  the  other 
teachei-s  may  have  been,  besides  those  already  named,  prior  to  1800, 
is  unknown.  Mr.  Hichard  Flaherty  is  mentioned  as  having  taught 
here  some  time  in  the  last  centurj',  l)ut  neither  the  date  of  his  teaching 
is  known,  nor  whether  his  school  was  a  public  or  private  one. 

In  1810  the  town  was  divided  into  nine  school  districts.  About 
this  time  Mr.  Dorman  Perkins  taught  in  the  district  schools  of  the 
town.  lie  kept  a  school  one  term  in  Benjamin  Larrabec's  house,  at 
New  Meadows,  near  where  Mrs.  Thomas  now  lives.  He  kept  school 
another  term  in  the  upper  New  Meadows  district,  and  another  term  at 
Maquoit. 

In  1820,  if  not  before,  the  number  of  districts  must  have  l)een 
increased,  as  there  were  this  3'ear  twenty-three  pubHc  or  district 
schools. 2 

In  1820  the  school  committee  were  directed  to  report  at  the  annual 
town  meeting  the  names  of  two  scholars  *•  from  each  class,  one  boy 
and  one  girl,  that  shall  have  made  best  improvement  and  sustained 
good  moral  characters." 

On  November  29,  1824,  the  greater  portion  of  the  ''school  lot" 
was  sold  at  auction.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  school  fund. 
A.  Bourne,  the  auctioneer,  was  the  chairman  of  the  trustees  of  the 
school  fun«l.     The  remainder  of  the  school  lot  was  sold  in  1833. 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  in  March,  1826,  a  petition  of  Benjamin 
Peterson  and  others,  "  that  this  town  set  off  the  colored  people  of 
School  District  Number  14,  into  a  district  b}-  themselves,"  was  referred 
to  the  selectmen.  This  district  was  at  New  Meadows,  where  there 
were  quite  a  number  of  negroes,  and  the  white  citi/.ens  of  that  dis- 
trict had  then  the  same  feeling  in  regard  to  commingling  with  those  of 
a  darker  race  that  is  even  now  prevalent  in  some  quarters.  At 
another  meeting,  held  on  the  eleventh  of  September  following,  the 
town  voted  that  the  money  for  District  Number  14  should  be  divided, 
the  white  people  to  have  a  school  summer  and  winter,  and  the  colored 
population  to  have  a  school  at  the  other  seasons.  The  division  of 
money  was  to  be  made  according  to  the  proportion  of  scholars  in  the 
separate  schools. 

Of  the  different  districts  of  the  town  we  have  succeeded  in  obtain- 
ing the  records  of  but  two,  viz.,  of  District  Number  5  (Giowstown) 
and  of  the  Village  District. 

*  The  red  srhoftl-house  on  School  Street  was  0/  a  later  date. 
2  Putnam,  "  Letters  to  a  Gcjitleman  in  i>ovth  Carolina." 


460        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

The  roconls  of  District  Number  5  commence  February  11,  1817.  At 
this  meeting  a  district  school  committee  were  chosen  to  superintend 
the  school,  and  it  was  voted  to  have  the  school-mistress  *'  board 
round." 

In  1 839  the  district  committee  were  instiiicted  to  visit  tlie  school 
everv  four  weeks,  and  were  to  have  three  dollars  each  for  their  services 
if  they  attended  to  their  duty. 

On  January  29,  1848,  the  district  decided  to  build  a  new  school- 
house,  to  be  located  "  at  the  corner  of  tlie  road  on  land  owned  by 
James  Otis  and  occupied  by  E.  T.  Parsons,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
road  loading  b}'  said  Parsons's  house ;  with  the  understjinding  that  it 
be  given  gratis."  Stephen  Snow,  George  Woodside,  and  Harvey  S. 
Otis  were  chosen  a  building  committee,  and  at  a  meeting  held  the 
next  month,  it  was  voted  to  give  them  discretionar}'  power  to  build  a 
suitable  school-house  and  to  dispose  of  the  old  one. 

On  January  25,  1849,  a  new  committee  was  chosen,  and  the  build- 
ing of  a  school-house  was  set  up  at  auction  to  the  lowest  bidder,  the 
old  house  to  be  given  to  the  successful  bidder,  ''  except  the  stove  and 
Ainnel."  James  Otis  agreed  to  build  it  for  two  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars,  and  the  district  voted  to  raise  two  hundred.  The  school- 
house  was  built  this  year. 

On  April  11,  1857,  the  district  voted  to  admit  pupils  from  other 
districts,  at  the  discretion  of  the  agent,  ''  at  twenty- five  cents  per 
week  and  board  of  teacher  a  proportionate  part,  of  the  time."  This 
permission  appears  not  to  have  worked  well,  or  to  have  given  dissatis- 
faction, for  two  3'ears  later  the  district  voted  not  to  admit  pupils  from 
other  districts  on  any  consideration. 

The  following  are  the  early  teachers  in  this  district  so  far  as 
known  :  Mary  No^'es,  Mary  Merry  man,  and  James  McKeen,  in  1814  ; 
Priscilla  Melcher  and  John  Winslow,  in  1815 ;  Margaret  Kansom 
and  John  Winslow,  in  181G  ;  Deborah  Small  and  Benjamin  Thompson, 
in  1817  ;  Mary  Snow,  in  1818  ;  Mar}'  Stan  wood  and  Benjamin  Thomp- 
son, in  1819. 

THE  VILLAGE  SCHOOL  DISTKICT.i 

Brunswick  village  was  formerly  divided  into  three  school  districts, 
known  as  Numbers  ''  1,  2,  and  20."  In  the  winter  of  1848  several 
informal  meetings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  village  were  held,  to  take 
into  consideration  the  condition  of  the  village  schools. 


1  For  thin  account  we  are  Uirrjcly  indebted    to    MSS.    of  tlie  kite  A.  C.  RvbbinSt 
Esquire  y/ivm  which  toe  have  copied  freely. 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  461 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  collect  information  upon  the  subject 
of  schools  in  other  places,  and  to  see  what  could  be  done  for  the  im- 
provement of  the  public  schools  in  the  village. 

Tliirs  committee  proposed  the  plan  of  uniting  Districts  Numbers  1, 
2,  and  20  into  one  district,  to  be  called  the  Village  District,  for  the 
pur|>ose  of  grading  and  classifying  the  schools,  and  of  adopting  the 
"  high-sc^hool  system." 

On  March  24,  1«48,  Benjamin  H.  Meder  and  fifteen  others  peti- 
tioned the  selectmen  to  insert  in  their  next  annual  warrant  for  a  town 
meeting  an  article  to  so  alter  the  school  districts  that  Districts 
Numbers  1,  2,  and  20  should  constitute  one  district. 

About  the  same  time  John  C.  Humphreys  and  Leonard  C.  jNIerrill 
presented  to  the  selectmen  a  similar  petition,  except  that  it  contained 
in  addition  the  words  *'  provided  such  shall  be  the  wish  of  said  dis- 
tricts respectively." 

In  the  warrant  for  the  annual  town  meeting,  April  3,  1848,  an 
article  was  in8erte<l  in  accordance  with  the  latter  petition,  and  the 
town  at  that  meeting  voted:  ''  I  hat  School  Districts  Numbers  1,  2, 
and  20  be  discontinued  and  to  be  constituted  one  district,  to  be  called 
the  Village  District,  provided  such  shall  be  the  wish  of  the  several 
districts  respectively*." 

At  a  meeting  of  the  legal  voters  of  District  Xamb  r  1 ,  on  April  24, 
1848,  a  committee  of  five  were  chosen  to  take  measures  for  building  a 
new  school-house.  'I  his  committee  were  Allen  Colby,  Waitl  Coburn, 
John  Rogers,  William  II.  Hall,  and  lienjamin  H.  Meder.  It  was  also 
at  this  meeting  voted:  *'  To  join  District  Number  1  and  District  Num- 
ber 20,  to  form  a  High  School."  The  meeting  adjourned  to  May  C,  at 
wliich  time  the  district  proceeded  to  act  on  sundry  matters  as  though  no 
vote  to  join  the  other  district  had  been  passed.  The  following  votes 
were  passed:  1.  To  accept  the  report  of  the  connnittee,  which  was 
in  fcivor  of  building  a  scliool-iiouse  on  liow  Street,  to  be  two  stories 
high.  2.  To  choose  a  prudential  connnittee  of  three.  3.  To  raise 
three  hundred  dollars  by  tax  towards  building  a  school-house.  4.  To 
pay  the  agent  and  clerk  eacli  live  dollars.  5,  C.  To  compel  the  chil- 
dren of  the  district,  who  were  between  the  ages  of  four  and  fourteen 
years,  to  go  to  the  summer  school,  and  to  forbid  those  between  the 
ages  of  four  and  ten  years  to  attend  the  winter  school.  7.  To  require 
pupils  between  the  ages  of  ten  and  twenty-one  years  to  go  to  the 
school  kept  ]>}'  a  male  teacher.  '1  his  was  the  last  meeting  cvtT  held 
bv  Din'rict  Xamb^r  1. 

Thu  legal  votei-s  of  District  Xumbtr  2  held  a  meeting  at  the  red 


462        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

school -house,  on  School  Street,  previously  referred  to,  on  April  22, 
1848.  This  meeting  was  adjourned  to  Ma}'  G,  at  whicli  time  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  (t.  C.  Swallow,  A.,C.  Robbins,  William  Mount- 
ford,  Thtmias  Knowlton,  and  E.  S.  Parshley,  were  chosen  to  obtain 
information  in  regard  to  the  high-school  system,  and  to  report  at  a 
subsequent  meeting.  The  next  meeting  of  this  district  was  lield  June 
24.  The  committee  reported  in  favor  of  the  adoption  of  the  high- 
scliool  system,  and  it  was  voted  '*tliat  the  district  concur  with  Dis- 
tricts Numbers  1  and  20  in  adopting  the  system  and  in  the  fonnution 
of  a  Village  District,  agreeable  to  the  petition  of  Benjamin  Furbish 
and  others  and  a  vote  of  the  town."  G.  C.  Swallow,  George  F. 
Dunning,  A.  C.  Kobbins,  John  F.  Titcomb,  and  John  S.  Cushing 
were  chosen  a  conunittee  to  confer  with  Districts  Numbers  1  and  20. 

At  a  special  meeting  of  Dlnfrict  X^lmber  20,  held  June  24,  1«48,  it 
was  voted  **  to  unite  with  School  Districts  Numbers  I  and  2  for  the 
formation  of  the  Village  District."  The  district  also  chose  Professor 
II.  II.  Booilv,  Charles  J.  Noves,  and  Robert  Melcher  a  committee  to 
confer  with  the  committees  chosen  by  Districts  Numbers  1  and  2,  and 
they  weni  authorized  and  empowered  to  adopt  such  measures  as  might 
be  necessary  on  the  part  of  the  district,  *'  to  bring  the  object  of  said 
prece:ling  vote  into  full  and  complete  ettect." 

On  June  20,  184M,  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  legislature,  stating 
that  the  three  above-mentioned  districts  had  united  and  formed  one 
district,  with  the  consent  of  the  town,  and  requesting  the  passage  of 
an  Act  eonlirming  the  action  of  the  town  *'  and  giving  to  said  district 
power  to  raise  annuall}'  such  sum  of  money  as  may  be  needed  for  the 
support  of  the  public  schools  therein."  This  petition  was  signed  by 
Abner  IJ.  Thompson  and  nineteen  others  in  District  NumlH?r  1,  by 
Robert  P.  Dunlap  and  thirty-live  otiiers  in  District  Number  2,  and 
by  Parker  Cleaveland  and  twenty-three  others  in  District  Number  20. 

In  accordance  with  this  petition  the  legislature,  the  same  year, 
passed  an  Act  confirming  the  vote  of  the  town,  and  granting  to  the 
Village  District  all  the  powere  and  privileges  of  other  districts  in  the 
State ;  authorizing  the  district  to  raise  such  sum  of  mone\'  as  might 
be  deemed  necessary'  for  support  of  the  public  schools  within  the  dis- 
trict, the  amount  so  raised  not  to  exceed  "^  three  fifths  of  the  amount 
apportioned  to  said  district  from  the  school  money  raised  by  the  town 
for  the  same  year  "  ;  requiring  this  money  to  be  assessed  and  collected 
as  other  school-district  taxes  were ;  and  authorizing  the  district  to 
choose  school  agents  and  adopt  proper  by-laws. 

Immediately  alter  the  passage  of  the  preceding  Act,  measures  were 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  463 

taken  for  the  organization  of  the  Village  District.  A  meeting  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  three  districts  in  the  village  was  called  by  the  select- 
men, to  be  held  on  August  18,  1848.  At  this  meeting  a  committee  of 
seven  were  appointed  to  draft  a  plan  of  organization.  To  this  com- 
mittee were  added  the  superintending  school  committee  of  the  town, 
making  a  committee  of  ten.  This  committee  reported,  at  a  meeting 
held  August  80,  as  follows :  In  favor  of  the  annual  election  of  a 
board  of  nine  agents,  three  of  whom  might  be  from  each  of  the  former 
sections  of  the  district,  and  this  board  were  also  authorized  to  act  as 
an  executive  committee,  and  to  prescribe  a  course  of  study  and  deter- 
mine the  text-books  to  be  used ;  to  examine  teachers ;  to  visit  the 
schools ;  to  conduct  examinations  ;  to  promote  deserving  soholnrs  ;  to 
admit  pupils  from  without  the  district ;  and  to  establish  by-laws. 
The  committee  also  recommended  that  there  should  be  three  grades 
of  schools,  —  primary',  grammar,  and  high  ;  determined  which  shouhl 
be  taught  by  male  and  which  by  female  teachers ;  fixed  the  commence- 
ment and  close  of  the  several  terms  and  vacations ;  prescribed  the 
classification  and  course  of  studies  for  each  school,  and  the  require- 
ments at  examinations  and  for  admission  to  school. 

This  rei)ort  was  accepted  at  this  meeting  and  its  reconnnendations 
approved  and  authorized  to  be  j^ut  into  execution,  though  they  were 
afterwards  (April  17  and  Ma}*  8,  1849)  somewhat  modified. 

The  Board  of  Agents  made  a  re^wrt,  8ei)teml>er  27,  1848,  in  which 
the}'  recommended  the  purchase  of  a  lot  on  Union  Street,  between 
O'Brien  and  Lincoln  Streets,  for  the  erection  of  a  granmiar  and  high 
school  building,  the  renting  and  furnishing  of  rooms  for  these  schools 
until  such  a  building  should  be  erected,  and  the  enlargement  and 
repair  of  the  primary  school-houses. 

In  their  next  report,  this  board  state  that  all  the  schools  had  been 
organized  according  to  the  plan  agreed  upon.  During  the  winter  of 
1848-9,  four  primary'  and  two  grammar  schools  had  been  taught,  the 
average  length  of  each  being  fifteen  weeks.  The  number  of  teachers 
employed  was  eleven ;  eight  in  the  primary  schools,  two  in  the  prin- 
cipal gi'amniar  school,  and  one  in  the  select  grannnar  school.  This 
was  Vw^  more  teachers  than  had  been  usually  employed  in  previous 
years.  The  number  of  pupils  at  this  time  in  the  primary  schools 
was  four  hundred  and  forty-six ;  the  number  in  the  principal  gram- 
mar school  was  one  hundred  and  twenty-five,  and  in  the  select 
grammar  school,  forty-six.  The  total  number  of  pupils  in  the  vil- 
lage schools'was  six  hundred  and  seventeen. 

As  the  number  of  scholars  very  much  exceeded  what  had  been  anti- 


464        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

cipated,  the  committee  had  been  under  the  necessity*  of  establishing  a 
fourth  primary  school  on  Union  Street.  The  select  grammar  school 
was  a  temporary'  expedient  made  use  of  at  this  time,  on  account  of 
the  number  of  pupils  really  fitted  to  enter  a  high  school  being  too 
small  to  justif}'  the  immediate  establishment  of  such  a  school. 

Some  fault  having  been  found  with  the  result  of  the  examinations, 
the  board  in  tliis  report  explained  their  method  of  conducting  them, 
and  defended  their  action  in  the  matter. 

The  total  receipts  for  the  village  schools  this  year  were  $1,204,49. 
Of  this  sum,  $1,137.09  was  expended  for  rent  and  repair  of  school- 
houses,  payment  of  teachers,  and  incidental  expenses,  leaving  a 
balance  unexpended  of  sixty-seven  dollars  and  forty  cents.  If  from 
these  expenditures  the  unusual  expense  of  rent,  repaii^s,  etc.,  be 
deducted,  there  remains  a  sum  less  b}*  twent\*  dollars  than  that  ex- 
pended for  the  three  winter  schools  of  the  previous  year,  which  demon- 
strated the  advantage  of  the  system  in  a  financial  aspect. 

The  agents  urged  strongly  the  necessity  of  providing  suitable 
accommodations  for  the  high  and  for  the  principal  grammar  school. 
They  say,  "  B}'  next  September,  at  least  one  hundred  and  fort}' 
scholars  will  be  entitled  to  a  place  in  the  grammar  school,  — a  number 
which  it  is  totally  impossible  to  accommodate  in  any  room  in  the  vil- 
lage of  which  the  committee  have  knowledge." 

In  concluding  this  report  the  board  congratulated  the  district  "  on 
the  sucreasful  introduction  o^  a  new  and  better  s^'stem  of  schools." 

In  their  report  for  the  ^xar  ending  April  2,  1849,  the  superintend- 
ing school  committee  also  speak  of  the  very  decided  improvement  in 
the  schools,  in  consequence  of  the  adoption  of  the  grading  s^'stem  and 
of  a  uniformity  of  school-l>ooks. 

The  Hoard  of  Agents,  in  their  report  for  the  year  1849-50,  make 
the  following  statements :  — 

In  the  sunnner  there  were  two  grammar  and  four  primary  schools 
kept ;  in  the  fall  and  winter,  two  grammar,  three  primary,  and  one 
miscellaneous  school.  The  number  of  teachers  during  the  year  was, 
in  the  summer,  ten,  —  one  male  and  nine  females.  The  school  year 
was  thirtv  weeks,  divided  into  three  terms  of  ten  weeks  each.  In 
the  summer  term  there  were  five  hundred  and  sixt^'-seven,  and  in  the 
fall  and  winter  terms  five  hundred  and  seventy-three  pupils. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  3'ear  there  were  not  enough  children  suffi- 
cienth'  advanced  in  their  studies  to  enable  the  agents  to  constitute 
the  high  school  with  all  its  appropriate  classes.  No  high  school  was 
established,    therefore,  but  the  pupils  were   taught  in  the  grammar 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  465 

school.      The  time  had  then  arrived,  however,  in  their  opinion,  for 
establishing  the  school. 

They  affirm,  "  without  fear  of  contradiction,  that  never  has  there 
been  in  this  village  schools,  public  or  private,  of  so  high  an  order  as 
the  schools  of  this  district  the  last  year." 

The  committee  also  stated  that  thev  had  contracted  with  teachers, 
and  conducted  the  schools  on  the  assumption  that  the  additional  tax 
levied  by  the  district  would  be  paid  promptly.  A  part  only  of  this 
tax  had  thus  far  been  collected,  and  the  most  of  this  had  been  paid  to 
cancel  a  note  of  the  district,  and  that  in  consequence  the  teachers  had 
not  l)een  paid  for  their  last  term's  service.  They  stated  that  most  of 
the  citizens  had  favored,  or  at  least  acquiesced  in,  the  change  in  the 
school  system,  but  all  had  not.  "  On  the  part  of  some,  there  is  an 
avowed  hostility  to  this  system,  which  will  not  be  satisfied  with  any- 
thing short  of  its  entire  overthrow." 

The  committee  stated  that  this  hostility'  was  exhibited  the  previous 
summer  in  an  effort  to  procure  from  the  legislature  a  repeal  of  the  Act 
of  Incorporation  of  the  Village  District.  Failing  in  this,  they  refused 
to  paj'  the  tax  levied  b}'  the  district,  on  the  pretext  that  the  district 
had  not  been  legall}'  constituted,  and  that  the  power  granted  to  it  in 
its  Act  of  Incoq)oration  was  in  violation  of  the  Constitution.  The 
committee  added  that  this  objection  came  with  bad  grace  from  those 
who  signed  the  petition  for  incorporation.  They  considered  the  mat- 
ter practically  settled  bv  the  action  of  the.  legislature,  but  were  ready 
to  meet  the  matter  at  once  l)efore  the  Supreme  Court.  In  accordance 
with  a  vote  of  the  district  they  had  taken  legal  advice,  which  was  that 
the  collector  should  be  asked  to  proceed  at  once  in  the  collection  of 
these  taxes  and  that  he  should  be  supported  therein  by  the  whole 
strength  of  the  district. 

The  petition  to  the  legislature,  to  which  reference  was  made  above, 
was  signed  by  John  Crawford  and  one  hundred  and  fo\ir  others,  and 
declared  that  the  plan  of  uniting  the  schools  into  one  district  bad 
proved  a  failure,  and  therefore  a  repeal  of  the  Act*  was  prayed  for. 
This  petition  was  first  referred  to  the  Committee  on  the  Judiciary,  and 
was  subsequently  laid  before  the  Committee  on  Pklucation.  Seven- 
teen of  the  signers  were  petitioners  for  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of 
the  Village  District. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  above  petition  was  in  circulation, 
a  remonstrance  against  a  repeal  was  at  once  started.  It  was  signed 
b}'  Robert  P.  Dunlap,  Adam  Lemont,  and  two  hundred  and  twenty- 
one  others. 

80 


466       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

One  of  the  positions  taken  bj  the  opponents  to  the  Village  District 
was  that  District  Number  1  never  intended  to  unite  and  form  with 
Dislricts  Number  2  and  20  a  Village  District,  and  that  the}'  did  not 
acquiesce  in  the  matter.  In  refutation  of  this  argument,  Messra.  Isaac 
Lincoln.  William  II.  Hall,  and  Alfred  J.  Stone  deposed,  June  8,  1850, 
"  that  since  the  oi-ganization  of  the  Village  District  in  Bninswick,  in 
the  summer  of  1848,  District  Number  1  has  claimed  to  have  no  legal 
existence,  nor  has  the  said  District  Numlxir  1,  since  that  time,  |)er- 
fornied  any  acts  as  a  district,  but  has  united  with  Districts  Numbers 
2  and  20  in  the  formation  of  the  Village  District. 

'•  No  public  schools  have  been  taught  in  whaj;  was  District  Number  1 
since  the  summer  of  1848  up  to  this  date,  excepting  the  schools  which 
were  under  the  control  and  supervision  of  the  agents  of  the  Village 
District,  to  which  schools  the  people  in  the  part  of  the  Village  Dis- 
trict which  was  formerly  District  Number  1  have  cheerlully  sent  their 
children  for  instruction,  and  have  received  their  full  share  of  benefit 
therefrom." 

'I  he  truth  in  regard  to  the  feeling  in  this  district  is  shown  by  the 
following  facts,  which  were  certified  to  by  John  F.  Hall,  the  last  cleric 
of  the  district :  Of  the  voters  in  District  Number  1 ,  twenty  petitioned 
for  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Village  District,  thirty'five\nit\X\o\\^ 
for  the  repeal  of  the  Act,  and  sixty-seven  remonstratc»d  against  a  rei)eal. 

To  show  that  the  selectmen  recognized  the  Village  District  as  hav- 
ing  an  existence   in  November,  1848,  the  following  certified! te  was 

written :  — 

"  Selectmen's  Office,  Bi:unswick,  June  7, 1850. 

'•  On  the  seventeenth  of  November,  1848, 1  was  called  upon  by  A.  C. 
Bobbins,  one  of  the  Boanl  of  Agents  lor  the  Village  District,  for  that 
vear.  At  his  request  I  balanced  the  accounts  with  School  Districts 
Numbers  1,  2,  and  20,  and  carried  the  balances  forward  to  the  credit 
of  the  Village  District.  At  that  time  there  was  due  to  District  Num- 
ber 1,  8381.03;  to  District  Number  2,  $319.08;  to  District  Number 
20,  8179.40.  Alt  which  balances  were  credited  to  the  Village  District 
in  Brunswick,  since  which  time  we  have  had  no  accounts  with  Dis- 
tricts Numbers  1,  2,  and  20:  the  money  formerlj'due  to  them  being 
credited  to  the  Village  District  in  Brunswick. 

"(Signed)  "  Richard  Greenleaf, 

Chairman  if  Sdecimeny 

In  July,  1849,  the  president  and  directors  of  the  Wanunbo  Manu- 
facturing Company  petitioned  the  legislature  *'  that  the  said  compau}' 
may  be  exempted  from  the  payment  of  the  taxes  by  special  legislation 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTOR'T  OF  BRUNSWICK.  467 

Afnposed  upon  them,  or  th  it  if  they  must  be  specially  taxed  for  such 
objects  beyond  the  general  provisions  of  law,  that  the  avails  may  go  to 
the  benefit  of  the  whole  town  in  which  their  property  is  situated." 

Among  the  reasons  given  for  asking  for  this  exemption  was  that,  in 
the  passage  of  the  Act,  the  corporation  had  no  agency  nor  notice.  It 
was  true  that  they  had  no  notice,  as  a  corporation,  but  the  company 
were  represented  in  the  petition  for  incorporation  by  their  treasurer 
and  one  of  their  directors. 

The  petition  for  the  repeal  of  the  Act  of  Incorporation,  the  petition 
of  the  Warumbo  Manufacturing  Company,  and  the  remonstrance, 
were  all  laid  before  the  Committee  on  Education.  On  an* appointed 
day  the  petitioners  appeared,  and  were  heard  by  their  counsel,  Gen- 
eral A.  B.  Thompson  and  Honorable  James  W.  Bradbury,  'i'he 
remonstrants  were  heard  by  their  representatives.  Professor  William 
Sm^-th  and  Phineas  Barnes,  Esquire,  of  Portland.  Richard  Green- 
leaf,  Esquire,  appeared  as  a  witness  for  the  petitioners. 

After  the  somewhat  protracted  hearing,  the  committee  of  nine,  all 
of  whom  were  present,  voted  eight  to  one  to  give  the  petitioners 
leave  to  withdraw.  On  July  20,  1849,  this  report  of  the  committee 
passed  both  houses  of  the  legislature  without  a. dissenting  vote. 

At  the  annual  town  meetings  in  1848,  1849,  and  1850,  it  was  voted : 
''  That  the  several  school  districts  be  authorized  to  choose  their  sev- 
eral school  agents." 

The  foregoing  account  relates  to  the  organization  of  the  Village 
District.     What  follows  will  relate  to  the  doings  of  this  district. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Village  District,  held  on  the  twenty-seventh  of 
September,  1848,  the  Board  of  Agents  were  authorized  to  borrow 
such  sums  of  money  as  might  be  needed  fVom  time  to  time  for  the 
expenditures  already  authorized,  not  to  exceed  $5,000.  At  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  district  in  1849,  it  was  voted  "to  raise  three 
fifths  of  the  amount  of  money  raised  b}'  the  town,  apportioned  to  this 
district  by  a  tax  on  the  same."  'i  his  vote  was  passed  under  the  law 
of  August  3,  1848. 

Under  the  first  vote,  and  by  the  authority  therein  given,  the  Board 
of  Agents  hired  the  sum  of  three  hundred  and  twent3'-five  dollars  for 
the  purpose  of  altering  and  repairing  the  primary  school-houses,  and 
gave  their  note  for  the  district. 

This  loan  of  three  hundred  and  twentj'-five  dollars,  together  with 
the  amount  raised  by  vote  of  the  district,  April  17,  1849,  was  certified 
to  the  selectmen  and  assessors,  and  at  the  annual  assessment  in  1849 
the  assessors  made  one  tax  for  both  items. 


468        HISTORY  OF  BRVNSWICK,  T0P8IUM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

The  Board  of  Agents  for  the  year  1849  were  William  Smyth,  John 
C.  Humphreys,  Allen  Colb}-,  Benjamin  Furbish,  and  Richard  Green- 
leaf.  They  put  the  schools  in  operation,  basing  their  expenditures 
and  calculations  upon  the  supposition  that  the  extra  tax  of  three 
fifths,  voted  in  April,  1849,  would  be  paid. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1850  it  was  ascertained  that  very  man}'  of 
the  large  tax-payers  had  declined  and  absolutely  refused  to  pay  the 
extra  school- tax.  The  consequence  was  that  the  district  was  largely 
indebted  to  school-teachers,  and  had  no  means  of  paying  their  claims 
so  long  as  the  extra  tax  was  withheld.  A  meeting  of  the  district  was 
held  MarcM  7,  1850,  at  which  the  following  resolution  was  passed:  — 
'•  Whereas  certain  individuals  in  the  district  have  declined  the  pa}*- 
ment  of  their  taxes  upon  the  ground  that  the  law  under  which  the 
tax  is  levied  is  unconstitutional.  Therefore,  Resolved  that  the  Board 
of  Agents  be  instructed  b}*  this  meeting  to  procure  such  legal  advice 
as  they  ma}'  deem  expedient  and  take  such  measures  as  may  in  the 
speediest  manner  test  the  constitutionality  of  said  law  and  secure  the 
collection  of  the  taxes." 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  April,  1850,  the  following  vote  was 
passed :  — 

"  Voted  ^  that  the  town  collector  be  requested  at  once  to  collect  the 
taxes  remaining  unpaid,  by  distraint  or  otherwise,  and  that  the  dis- 
trict will  indemnify  him  in  the  same." 

Tliis  vote  of  the  district  was  fonnally  ceiaified  to  the  collector,  yet 
he  declined  doing  anything  towards  the  collection  of  the  extra  tax. 

The  Boaixl  of  Agents  for  the  year  1850  found  themselves  ver>' 
unpleasantly  situated.  The  district  was  largely  indobt^'d  to  teachers. 
The  larger  part  of  the  extra  tax  was  uncollected,  and  the  collector 
refused  to  perfonn  his  dut}'.  At  a  meeting  of  the  boartl.  Ma}'  7, 
1850,  the  following  vote  was  passed,  all  being  present :  — 

^*  Whereas  IStephen  Snow,  the  collector  of  the  town  of  Brunswick 
to  whom  was  committed  a  certain  tax,  assessed  ui)ou  the  inhabitants 
of  the  N'illage  District  in  said  town,  by  the  proper  authorities  of  said 
town,  raising  money  for  the  support  of  schools  in  said  Village  Dis- 
trict, has  collected  and  paid  over  a  i)art  of  said  tax  and  neglects  and 
refuses  to  collect  and  pay  over  the  balance  of  said  tax,  the  time  men- 
tioned in  his  warrant  of  commitment  having  expired  some  time  ago, 
tlierefore :  N'oted,  that  John  C  Humphreys  be  a  committee  to  call 
upon  the  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Brunswick  and  inform  him  of  the 
neglect  and  refusal  of  Stephen  Snow,  the  collector,  to  i)roceed  in  the 
collection  of  the  taxes,  and  request  the  treasurer  to  issue  his  war- 


EDUCATIONAL  HDSTOBT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  469 

rant  against  the  said  Stephen  Snow,  collector,  agreeably  to  the  pro- 
visions of  the  Revised  Statates,  Chapter  14,  Section  111,  as  the 
contingency  has  occurred  which  makes  it  the  duty  of  the  treasurer 
to  issue  his  warrant  against  the  collector  for  neglect  of  duty." 

Mr.  Humphreys  reported  tliat  he  called  upon  the  treasurer  May  11, 
1850,  and  handed  him  a  cop}'  of  the  vote,  after  reading  which  he 
returned  an  answer  that  he  would  see  the  collector  the  first  of  the 
week  and  see' what  could  be  done  about  it. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Agents,  May  7,  1850,  the  following 
vote  was  passed  :  — 

''  Voted^  that  A.  C.  Bobbins  be  a  committee  to  obtain  legal  advice 
as  to  certain  points  affecting  the  welfare  of  this  district,  and  which 
are  now  in  dispute  between  the  friends  and  opi)osers  of  the  schools." 

Under  this  vote  Mr.  Robbins  made  a  statement  of  all  the  facts  in 
the  case  and  laid  it  before  Phinoas  Barnes,  Esquire,  and  Honorable 
William  Pitt  Fessenden,  of  Portland,  and  received  a  written  opinion 
from  them  in  reph'.  Amongst  other  things  they  sa}',  "  No  particular 
form  of  assent  is  specified  in  the  vote,  and  the  law  regards  substance 
rather  than  form.  ...  If  therefore  the  several  i)roceedings  in 
voting,  certifying,  and  assessing  the  taxes,  and  their  commitment  to 
the  collector,  were  correct  and  legal  (all  which  we  have  taken  for 
granted),  we  have  no  doubt  that  it  is  the  collector's  duty,  and  still 
remaining  so,  to  collect  these  taxes,  accoixling  to  his  warrant.  The 
warrant  constitutes  both  his  authority  and  his  protection."  If  he 
neglects,  they  say  the  treasurer  should  be  requested  to  issue  his  war- 
rant against  him  ;  and  if  the  treasurer  neglects  or  refuses  to  do  so,  the 
proper  remedy  is  to  apply  to  the  Supreme  Judicial  Court  for  a  writ  of 
niandamiis. 

May  23,  1850,  the  treasurer  of  the  town  gave  to  the  Board  of 
Agents  a  written  refusal  to  issue  his  warrant  against  the  collector,  as 
requested  by  them. 

On  the  same  date,  the  Board  of  Agents  gave  an  order  to  Augustus 
I.  Owen,  one  of  the  teachers,  upon  the  treasurer  of  Bmnswick. 

The  latter  indorsed  upon  this  order  the  following :  — 

"  The  subscriber  declines  paying  the  within,  there  being  no  funds  in 
his  hands  subject  to  the  order  of  the  treasurer  of  the  Village  District." 

On  account  of  this  action  of  the  treasurer,  the  Board  of  Agents 
gave  Mr.  Owen  an  order  on  the  selectmen,  on  which  the  latter  in- 
dorsed the  following :  — 

*'  The  selectmen  of  Brunswick  decline  paying  or  accepting  the  above 
order  for  the  reason  that  the  district  has  already  received   its  full 


470        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

proportion  of  school  money  raised  by  the  town,  and  that  the  amount 
raised  by  extra  taxation  in  the  district  has  not  been  collected  and  is 
not  therefore  subject  to  their  order." 

May  25,  1850,  William  Smyth,  Robert  P.  Dunlap,  John  C.  Hum- 
phrey's, Augustus  C.  Robbins,  and  Leonard  Townsend,  the  Board  of 
Agents,  petitioned  the  Supreme  Coui*t  at  the  session  to  be  held  at 
Paris,  Maine,  on  the  last  Tuesday  of  the  month,  for  a  writ  of  man- 
damus against  the  treasurer.  They  showed  in  their  petition  all  the 
facts  given  in  the  preceding  pages. 

Uix)n  the  foregoing  petition,  the  affidavits  in  support  thereof,  by  the 
petitioners,  having  been  heard  and  considered  by  the  court,  it  was,  on 
the  May  term,  1850, 

'*  Ordered,  That  a  rule  be  issued  to  the  said  John  F.  Titcomb, 
treasurer  of  the  town  of  Brunswick,  requiring  him.  to  show  cause,  if 
any  he  have,  wh}'  he  has  neglected  and  refused  to  issue  his  warrant  of 
distress  against  the  said  Stephen  Snow,  named  in  said  petition,  and 
why  a  writ  of  mandamus  should  not  be  granted  by  the  court,  com- 
manding him  to  issue  such  warrant  of  distress  according  to  law ;  at 
the  term  of  this  court  to  be  holden  at  Norridgewock,  within  and  for 
our  county  of  Somerset,  on  the  second  Tuesday  of  June,  1850,  on  the 
third  day  of  the  term,  and  that  the  petitioners  give  notice  thereof  to 
the  said  John  F.  Titcomb  by  causing  an  attested  copy  of  this  petition 
and  of  this  order  thereon,  to  be  served  upon  him  fourteen  days  at 
least  before  the  said  third  day  of  the  term  of  the  court  to  be  holden 
at  Norridgewock  aforesaid." 

At  the  court  held  in  Norridgewock,  the  petitioners  appeared  by 
their  counsel,  Phineas  Barnes,  Esquire,  and  the  respondents  appeared 
by  John  S.  Abbot,  Esquire.  The  respondents  asked  for  a  continu- 
ance, which  was  opposed  by  the  petitioners.  It  was  final  I}'  agreed 
between  the  parties  that  the  case  should  be  continued  to  the  term  of 
the  court  to  be  held  at  Belfast  on  the  fourth  Tuesday  of  Jul}-,  1850. 
It  was  also  agreed  that  a  hearing  then  and  there  shoukl  be  had,  and 
that  the  respondent  should  furnish  the  petitioners  with  an  attested 
copy  of  his  answer,  fourteen  days  before  the  sitting  of  said  court. 

At  the  court  held  in  Belfast  no  witnesses  were  introduced  by  either 
party.  The  petitioners  put  into  the  case  the  documents  already  men- 
tioned. General  Samuel  Fessenden,  of  Portland,  appeared  for  the 
respondents,  and  Phineas  Barnes,  Esquire,  for  the  petitioners. 

In  his  answer  to  the  petition  of  the  Board  of  Agents  for  a  writ  of 
mandamus,  the  treasurer  ga^e  the  following  reasons  for  refusing  to 
issue  his  warrant  of  distress  against  the  collector :  — 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  471 

1.  That  the  Act  of  Incorporation  of  the  Village  District  was 
unconstitutional,  on  account  of  its  allowing  them  to  raise  money  addi- 
tional to  that  raised  by  the  town. 

2.  That  the  district  was  not  legall}'  constituted :  (a)  because  the 
several  districts  had  not  voted  to  form  a  Village  District,  but  only  to 
unite  for  a  *'  high-school  system"  ;  (6)  because  the  old  districts  had 
never  been  discontinued ;  (c)  because  the  meetings  had  not  been 
legal;  (d)  because  the  vote  of  the  town  was  illegal;  (e)  because 
the  Act  of  legislature  was  subsequent  to  the  action  of  the  town,  which 
was  itself  conditional  on  an  act  of  the  district  which  it  had  no  right  to 
delegate  to  them  the  power  to  do ;  (/)  because  the  legislature  has  no 
right  to  create  a  school  district  by  direct  legislation. 

3.  That  the  assessment  of  the  tax  b}'  the  district  was  illegal :  (a) 
because  there  is  no  constitutional  authority  for  the  legislature  to  create 
a  corporation  of  any  kind,  compelling  individuals  to  become  members 
thereof,  and  subject  to  taxation  against  their  will,  except  in  the  case  of 
the  formation  of  a  town;  (&)  because  the  assessors  had  never  had 
any  official  notice  that  the  conditions  of  the  town  had  been  complied 
with,  and  the  district  legally  formed  ;  (c)  because  the  money  assessed 
by  the  assessors  was  never  raised  by  a  legal  vote  of  the  district ;  the 
vote  not  only  authorized  the  purchase  of  land  and  the  erecting  of  a 
school-house  (which  would  be  legal),  but  also  authorized  the  enlarge- 
ment and  repair  of  the  old  school-houses,  and  the  renting  and  furnish- 
ing of  rooms  for  the  use  of  schools,  and  the  whole  was  embraced  in 
one  vote,  contrary  to  the  law  providing  the  way  in  wliich  "  incidental 
expenses "  should  be  paid ;  that  the  money  was  neither  borrowed 
nor  expemled  for  purposes  for  which  a  school  district  is  authorized  by 
law  to  borrow  mone}' ;  (d)  because  the  several  certificates  and  copies 
provided  by  law,  to  be  given  b}"  the  officers  of  the  school  district  to 
the  assessors,  treasurer,  and  clerk,  of  the  town,  were  not  dul}^  certi- 
fied, filed,  and  recorded,  as  required  bylaw;  that  no  certificate  of 
the  vote  of  the  district,  authorizing  the  borrowing  of  money,  was  ever 
certified  by  the  clerk  thereof  to  the  above  officers;  (e)  that  if  the 
legislature  has  power  to  authorize  school  districts  to  raise  money, 
such  power  cannot  be  given  to  a  single  district,  but  should  be  granted 
by  a  general  law  operating  throughout  the  State ;  (/)  that  a  school 
district  is  not  such  an  organized  body,  nor  has  such  interest  as  to 
enforce  the  collection,  by  a  town  collector,  of  a  tax  by  mandamus,  — 
the  treasurer  being  the  oflflcer  of  the  town  and  not  of  an}'  school 
district. 

Allen  Colby,  William  H.  Hall,  and  Benjamin  H.  Meder,  in  behalf 


472        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

of  the  petitioners,  made  depositions,  July  18,  1850,  to  the  following 
effect :  — 

1 .  That  they  resided  in  the  district. 

2.  That  the}'  had  never  known  any  persons  claiming  a  separate 
organization  as  District  Number  1  subsequent  to  the  formation  of  the 
Village  District, 

3.  That  they  had  never  known  of  any  public  school  kept  in  Distrii't 
Number  1,  except  what  was  under  the  authority  of  the  Board  of 
Agents  of  the  Village  District. 

4.  That  the  vote  passed  at  the  annual  meeting  of  District  Number 
1,  April  24,  1848,  did  contemplate  the  throwing  up  of  the  old  organi- 
zation and  the  formation  of  a  new  district. 

G.  That  the}'  never  heanl  the  plan  of  a  high  school  spoken  of  at 
that  or  any  other  meeting  of  the  district,  except  in  connection  with 
the  formation  of  a  Village  District. 

8.  That  they  would  have  known  if  there  had  been  any  schools 
kept  out  of  the  public  funds  in  that  territory,  other  than  those  kept 
under  the  authority  of  the  agents  of  the  Vil  luje  District, 

9.  'Ihat  after  the  oi-ganization  of  the  Villaye  District^  the  |>eople 
in  what  was  formerly  District  Number  1  sent  their  children  to  the 
schools  of  the  Village  District. 

The  committee  on  accounts,  in  their  report  for  1850,  under  the 
"  Treasurer's  Account,"  give  the  amount  received  from  the  agents  of 
the  Village  District^  thus  recognizing  its  existence. 

The  school  committee,  in  1850,  recognized  the  district  in  their 
report  and  spoke  of  the  manifest  improvement  of  the  schools  therein. 

Judge  Howard,  in  ordering  the  issue  of  a  writ  of  mandamus,  made 
an  exhaustive  review  of  all  the  questions  raised  upon  either  side  and 
fully  sustained  the  Board  of  Agents  in  every  material  point,  though  he 
pointed  out  some  errors  made  by  them.  Thus  ended  one  of  the  most 
important  lawsuits  to  which  the  tillage  of  Brunswick  has  ever  been  a 
party,  and  both  sides  in  the  suit  deserve  credit  for  ]>ersisting  in  bring- 
ii>g  to  a  legal  settlement  questions  of  such  momentous  importance  to 
the  welfare  of  the  town  and  to  the  interest  of  education  in  general.^ 

This  opinion  was  delivered  by  the  judge,  March  1,  1851,  and  was 
received  in  Bnmswick  the  same  day.  A  meeting  of  the  Village  Dis- 
trict was  called  on  the  nineteenth  of  the  month.  At  this  meeting 
Professor  AVilliam  Smyth  made  a  report  in  behalf  of  the  Building 
Committee.     In  this  report  a  recapitulation  was  given  of  the  needs  of 

1  For  the/uU  account  of  this  trial,  see  Smith  v.  Titcomb,  31  Me,  272. 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  473 

the  district  in  r^ard  to  school-houses,  and  of  the  votes.  He  reported 
that  the  Building  Committee  and  Board  of  Agents  had  selected  the 
lot  of  Miss  Narcissa  Stone,  on  the  comer  of  Federal  and  Green 
Streets,  and  that  he  had  been  empowered  b}'  a  vote  of  each  committee 
separately  to  purchase  the  lot.  This  he  had  done  at  a  price  of  81 ,000, 
payment  to  be  made  in  five  equal  annual  instalments,  with  interest  at 
six  i>er  cent.     Possession  was  obtained  June  1,  1851. 

The  committee  had  then  turned  their  attention  to  the  erection  of  a 
building  ujKJn  this  lot,  but  in  the  mean  time  it  had  been  found  that  a 
portion  of  the  tax-payers  had  positively  refusetl  to  pay  the  taxes  still 
due  from  them.  The  Building  Committee  had  no  alternative  but  to 
stay  j)r(>eeedings,  and  await  the  decision  of  the  Supreme  Court.  After 
that  decision  had  been  given  tliey  at  once  resumed  their  labors  and 
contracted  at  once  for  the  brick  and  stone  necessarv  for  the  erection  of 
the  building,  and  they  were  being  at  that  time  dei)osited  upon  the  lot. 

The  report  stated  that  the  Board  of  Agents  had  been  very  much 
embarrassed  b}'  the  want  of  suitable  accommodations  for  the  schools. 
They  had  been  obliged  to  break  up  classes,  separate  the  bo3*s  from 
the  girls,  and  virtually  to  return  to  the  confusion  and  inefficiency  of 
the  old  svstem. 

On  Ajml  19,  1851,  William  Smj^h,  chairman  of  the  Board  of 
Agents,  made  a  report  of  which  the  following  is  a  synopsis :  — 

He  stated  that  the  committee  had  l)een  greatly  embairassed  b}' 
want  of  accommodations  and  bv  the  lawsuit.  He  remarked,  those 
opposed  *'  regarded  themselves  as  maintaining  an  important  constitu- 
tional principle  and  their  own  just  rights."  But  the  question  had  now 
been  settled,  and  all  acquiesced  in  it.  The  committee  recommended 
that  the  thanks  of  the  district  should  be  given  to  their  counsel,  Phineas 
Banies,  Esquire,  and  esjx^cially  to  their  colleague,  A.  C.  Robbins, 
ILsquire,  '*  for  the  untiring  effort  and  distinguishe<l  ability  with  which 
their  case  was  prepared  by  him  for  argument,  —  ser>'ices  gratuitously 
rendered  indeed,  but  upon  which  the  success  of  the  district  in  the  late 
suit,  so  far,  at  least,  as  its  legal  existence  is  concerned,  is  mainly  to 
be  attributed."  The  report  goes  on  to  state  that  after  the  termination 
of  the  suit,  the  town  collector  had  collected  enough  to  pay  off  all  the 
debts  of  the  district,  except  the  fees  of  the  counsel  and  the  expenses 
connected  with  the  suit. 

The  report  spoke  favorably  of  the  schools  as  a  whole,  but  considered 
the  primary  schools  as  of  the  chief  importance.  It  recommended  the 
l)ennanent  establishment  of  an  apprentices*  school,  and  stated  that  the 
material  did  not  at  that  time  exist  for  the  perfect  organization  of  the 


474        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

High  School.     Several  suggestions  were  also  made  as  to  the  best  mode 
of  raising  the  necessarj'  money  for  school  purposes. 

The  superintending  school  committee,  in  their  report  for  April,  1851, 
sa}',  ' '  as  their  deliberate  judgment,  that  at  no  period  has  there  been 
so  much  to  commend  in  the  management  and  success  of  the  village 
schools  or  so  little  to  censure. 

"  In  the  general  interests  of  education  in  the  village,  they  think  that 
a  manifest  advance  has  been  made  during  the  3*ear."  They  were  also 
of  the  opinion  that  the  condition  of  the  schools  throughout  the  town 
would  bear  a  favorable  comparison  with  that  of  anj'  former  year. 

The  new  brick  school-house  erected  for  the  use  of  the  schools  of  the 
Village  District  was  dedicated  on  Tuesday,  December  9,  1851.  The 
services  were  opened  by  some  remarks  from  Professor  William  Smyth. 
Then  followed  a  somewhat  detailed  account  of  the  schools  for  several 
years  prc>iously,  by  Professor  D.  R.  Goodwin,  which  was  followed  by 
remarks  by  John  S.  C.  Abbot.  After  a  praj'er  by  Reverend  Doctor 
Adams,  remarks  were  made  by  Messrs.  Adams,  Bood}',  and  Smyth,  a 
hymn  was  sung,  and  tlie  benediction  pronounced  b}-  Father  Stetson. 
There  was  quite  an  audience  present,  and  the  occasion  passed  off  very 
pleasantly. 

In  April,  1852,  the  superintending  school  committee  reported  that 
there  were  nine  hundred  school  children  in  the  village.  The}*  said  that 
"  the  Village  District  has  been  greatly  indebted  to  Mr.  E.  G.  Parshley, 
who  taught  a  separate  school  of  older  pupils  of  the  primary  schools, 
and  who  were  not  entitled  to  enter  the  grammar  schools.  About 
eight}'  attended  this  school,  who  were  well  taught  and  kept  in  admi- 
rable discipline.  The  only  compensation  Mr.  Parshley  had  for  this 
service  was  the  thanks  of  the  communit}'." 

Speaking  of  these  village  schools,  Mr.  John  M.  Adams,  school  com- 
missioner for  Cumberland  County,  in  his  report,  published  in  the 
spring  of  1853,  8a3'S :  — 

'*  This  S3*stem  of  graded  schools  comes  as  near  perfection  as  an}'  I 
have  ever  seen,  not  excepting  even  that  of  Portland,  which  un<ler  the 
fostering  care  of  a  few  efficient  and  devoted  friends,  chief  amongst 
whom  stands  Mr.  Barnes,  has  acquired  a  high  and  well-merited 
reputation." 

The  cost  of  the  brick  school-house,  as  given  in  the  financial  re|)ort  of 
the  Board  of  Agents  in  1858,  was  $5,885.44.  The  cost  of  the  lot, 
which  was  81,000,  is  not  included.  A  portion  ($5,000)  of  this 
amount  was  raised  by  loan,  the  balance  by  a  direct  tax. 

In  1852  there  were,  including  the  Village  District,  twenty-six  school 


EDUCATIOyAL  HISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  475 

districts  in  town.  The  whole  amount  received  from  all  sources  for 
the  schools  this  year  was  $3,329.04. 

On  November  12, 1857,  the  High  School  pupils  commenced  a  series 
of  tableaux  at  their  school-room,  for  the  purpose  of  procuring  funds 
for  the  purchase  of  apparatus.     They  met  with  good  success. 

In  1862  the  apprentice  school,  which  had  been  in  operation  in  the 
winter  season  since  1851,  was  kept  in  the  engine-hall  on  Pleasant 
Street. 

In  1867  the  brick  school-house  on  Bath  Street  was  built.  The 
amount  of  money  for  schools  received  from  all  sources  was  $0,782.27. 

In  September,  1872,  the  school-house  on  the  comer  of  Federal  and 
Centre  Streets  was  completed.  It  contains  four  rooms,  with  large  halls 
in  both  stories. 

The  condition  of  the  schools  in  1876  was  as  follows :  the  whole 
number  of  schools  in  town  was  twent3*-three ;  the  number  of  teachers 
employed  was  thirty-one ;  the  total  amount  of  school  money  received 
from  all  sources  was  $10,403.08. 

It  has  been  found  impossible  to  obtain  a  list  of  the  number  of  pupils 
in  Brunswick  for  each  decade  since  the  organization  of  the  first  town 
school,  but  the  number  at  the  different  dates  mentioned  below  will 
give  some  idea  of  the  rate  of  increase. 

In  1804  the  number  of  pupils  was  845  ;  in  1805  it  was  875  ;  in  1806 
it  was  885;  in  1825  it  was  1,533;  in  1826  it  was  1,5!)8;  in  1829  it 
was  1,603  ;  and  in  1876  it  was  1,782.  The  actual  attendance  this  last 
3*ear  was,  however,  only  864. 

ACADEMICAL  INSTITUTIONS. 

An  account  of  Bowdoin  College  and  the  Medical  School  of  Maine 
might  with  propriety  be  given  in  this  connection,  but  on  account  of 
the  length  of  the  sketch,  as  well  as  for  the  reason  that  they  are  State 
and  not  town  institutions,  a  separate  chapter  will  be  devoted  to  them. 

The  first  academical  institution  which  should  be  mentioned  here  was 
the  Brunswick  Academy. 

This  was  a  Gothic  stnicture,  which  stood  on  Maine  Street  directly 
opposite  the  southwest  corner  of  the  college  grounds.  It  was  built 
by  President  Allen  for  a  classical  school.  Mr.  William  Smyth  (after- 
wards professor)  taught  it  the  first  quarter,  which  67) (led  on  the 
eleventh  of  December,  1824.  The  second  quarter  began  a  week 
later,  and  was  taught  by  William  Hatch.  The  building  was  only  used 
a  few  terms  for  a  school  and  was  then  occupied  by  college  students. 
Afterwards  it  was  used  as  a  dwelling  by  Mr.  Charles  J.  Xoyes,  and 


476         HISTOni  OF  BRDKSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  EABPSWELL. 

still  later  it  was  torn  down  sod  rebuilt,  and  is  now   occupied  as  a 
dwelling. 


Tm  Bbukiwice  Academt. 

Pleasamt  Street  Seminart.  —  This  seminary  biiiUling  was  erected 
in  the  fjiU  of  1S42  or  winter  of  1843,  on  the  south  side  of  Pleasant 
Street,  a  few  rods  from  Maine  Street.  It  was  dedicate*!  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  March,  1843.  An  address  was  delivered  by  Professor  A, 
S.  Pockanl,  jitid  there  was  singing  by  a  choir  under  the  direction  of 
Mr.  Charles  J.  Xoyes.  The  biiihling  was  two  stories,  the  upper  storj- 
bcing  leased  for  a  elub-rooni.  The  lower  floor  was  the  sdiool-room, 
TUe  first  term  began  on  the  twentieth  of  March,  lA-13,  under  the 
instmetion  of  M.  B.  Bartlett  (Bowdoin,  class  of  1SI2).  Hrr.  Bartlett 
is  said  to  have  been  an  excellent  teacher,  and  the  school  was  a  good 
one.  Mr.  Bartlett  conducted  the  school  for  about  three  years,  and 
was  succoe<led  by  Mr.  Alfred  W.  Pike,  a  graduate  of  Dartmouth  CoII<^e, 
who  was  already  an  experienced  teacher.  This  buildiu<r  was  afler- 
warcis,  in  1843.  used  by  the  Episcojialian  society  as  a  chapel.  It 
was  subsequently  removed  to  Maine  Street,  and  is  now  occupied  as  a 
store  by  Mr.  .F.  P.  Weeman,  a  few  doors  north  of  the  post-ofBce. 

The  BuuNSWiCK  Seminary  was  incoqtorated  in  184;"),  with  the 
design  "  of  establishing  an  institntion,  in  which  the  youth  of  Itoth 
sexes  might  receive  a  thorough  and  prantical  knowledge  of  those 
branches  of  education  which  pertain  especially  to  the  ewn/-da>t 
business  of  life;  and,  also,  all  those  higher  branches  of  a  finished 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  477 

education,  which  are  taught  in  boarding-schools  and  the  higher  semi- 


naries." 


In  accordance  with  this  design,  a  commodious  building  *  was  ob- 
tained, with  apartments  so  an-anged  that  the  ladies  and  gentlemen, 
while  they  occupied  different  rooms,  had  all  the  advantages  of  being 
classed  together,  of  meeting  at  recitations,  lectures,  and  other  general 
exercises  of  the  school. 

The  trustees  of  the  school  were  Honorable  Robert  P.  Dunlap, 
president ;  John  S.  Gushing,  Esquire,  secretary' ;  Parker  Clcaveland, 
LL.  D.,  treasurer ;  Leonard  "Woods,  Jr.,  D.  D.,  General  Abner  B. 
Thompson,  Reverend  George  £.  Adams,  General  John  C.  Hum- 
phreys. 

The  instnictors  in  1845-6  were  G.  Clinton  Swallow,  M.  A.,  princi- 
pal ;  Miss  Tryphena  B.  Ilinkley,  preceptress ;  Miss  Frances  K. 
Stowe,  teacher  of  music  on  the  piano,  etc. ;  Miss  Olivia  J.  Record, 
teacher  of  drawing  and  painting;  Albion  K.  Knight,  M.  A.,  teacher 
of  vocal  music ;  Miss  Evelina  Owen,  assistant ;  Miss  Mary  B.  Hill, 
Miss  Ellen  S.  Shaw,  Mr.  John  W.  Watson,  Mr.  John  S.  Fuller, 
monitors. 

During  the  first  year  there  were  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  stu- 
dents, of  whom  eighty-one  were  young  gentlemen  and  eighty-eight 
3'oung  ladies. 

OTHER  PRIVATE  SCH00IJ3. 

In  addition  to  the  seminaries  ali*eadv  mentioned  there  have  been 
many  other  schools  taught  in  town  by  private  persons,  some  of  wliicli 
might,  perhaps,  from  their  size  and  the  successful  manner  in  which 
they  have  l>een  conducted,  be  justl}'  placed  in  the  foregoing  class. 
They  have  not  been,  for  the  reason  that  they  did  not  assume  any 
higher  name  than  that  simply  of  a  i)rivate  school. 

All  of  these  schools,  concerning  which  we  have  been  able  to  gain 
anv  exact  information,  will  be  mentioned  under  the  name  of  their 
respective  teachers. 

Miss  Eunice  Buss  came  to  Brunswick  in  1802  as  the  friend  and 
companion  of  Miss  Lucy  Abbott,  daughter  of  Honorable  Jacob  Abbott. 
After  Miss  Abbott's  marriage  in  1805,  Miss  Buss  taught  a  small  school 
for  3'oung  children.  After  Mr.  Abbott's  death  in  1820,  tlie  family  pre- 
pared a  small  house  for  her  in  a  corner  of  the  ganlen-lot,  about  where 


*  This  buildififf  was  on  the  corner  of  Maine  aiid  iSchool  StreeUy  and  is  now  the  resi- 
dence of  Capt.  Isauc  L,  bkoyield. 


478      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

Captain  John  Bishop's  house  now  stands.  Here  she  taught  school  for 
a  number  of  years.  She  afterwards  maintained  lierself  as  a  seamstress. 
She  was  highly  esteemed,  and  was  the  presiding  oflicer  in  many  of  the 
chantable  associations  of  the  ladies.  In  1835  her  health  became 
impaired,  and  she  returned  to  her  former  home  in  Wilton,  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Mrs.  Caroline  P.  Putnam,  wife  of  Henry  Putnam,  Esquire,  and 
mother  of  George  P.  Putnam,  the  New  York  publisher  (recently  de- 
ceased) ,  taught  school  in  Brunswick  for  about  eighteen  years.  From 
1807  ^  until  about  1818  or  1819,  she  taught  in  what  was  then  known 
as  the  old  Dunlap  house,  now  the  residence  of  the  family  of  the  late 
Doctor  John  I).  Lincoln.  Miss  Narcissa  Stone  was  her  assistant  dur- 
ing a  portion  of  that  time. 

Mrs.  Putnam  next  taught  for  a  year  or  two  in  the  Forsaith  house, 
next  south  of  Dr.  Lincoln's,^  occupying  the  southeast  room  for  her 
school-room,  and  from  there  she  moved  into  the  old  Stone  Mansion, 
which  was  situated  near  the  northerly  corner  of  Maine  and  Mill  Streets, 
but  which  stood  a  little  back  from  both  streets.  She  occupied  one 
half  of  this  house  and  Dean  Swift  the  other  half.  In  this  house 
she  taught  until  1825,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  Mrs.  Putnam 
then  moved  to  New  York,  where  she  ever  after  resided.  She  is  spoken 
of  by  those  who  knew  her  as  an  excellent  woman  and  a  good  teacher. 

John  M.  O'Brien,  a  member  of  the  first  class  of  Bowdoin  College, 
kept  a  private  school  for  two  or  three  j'ears.  The  exact  date  is  not 
known  with  certaint}',  but  the  school^ was  probablj'  kept  between  the 
years  1806  and  1810. 

Miss  Eliza  Chapman,  a  Boston  lady,  sister  to  Mrs.  Governor 
Dunlap,  kept  a  private  school  for  young  ladies  from  1823  until  1829, 
in  the  conference  room  on  Centre  Street.  She  was  a  lady  of  fine  edu- 
cation and  was  a  verj'  successful  teacher. 

Mr.  Smith  taught  a  private  school  in  Hodgkins  Hall,  on  the  corner 
of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets,  in  1824.  This  teacher  is  said  to  have 
been  Mr.  William  Smyth,  afterwards  a  professor  in  Bowdoin  College. 

Ahraham  Preble  kept  a  private  school  under  Masonic  Ilall,  in  the 
winter  of  1825,  and  announced  another  term  to  be  kept  in  another 
place  which  would  better  accommodate  his  patrons.  He  kept  school  for 
several  terms,  but  exactly  how  long  is  not  known. 

Lot  floNES  opened  a  school  over  the  bank  in  September,  1828, 
where  he  taught  the  various  branches  usually'  taught  in  academies,  and 

*  lieminisceiicea  of  Mrs.  Lamb.  ^  Reminiscences  of  Dean  Swi/t, 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  479 

prepared  students  for  college.  He  taught  here  for  about  one  year  and 
was  a  very  successful  teacher.  He  afterwards  became  an  P^piscopa- 
lian  clerg\'man. 

Asa  Dodge,  of  the  class  of  1827,  Bowdoin  College,  and  afterwards 
a  missionary  physician  in  Syria,  taught  a  school  for  young  gentlemen 
and  ladies,  in  1820,  and  for  two  or  three  years  after,  in  the  conference 
room  on  Centre  Street.  His  school  was  one  of  the  best  that  was 
ever  kept  in  Brunswick.  He  was  a  line  scholar  and  instructor,  and 
is  highly  spoken  of  as  a  man  b}'  those  who  knew  him.  He  died  in 
Beirout,  Syria. 

Darius  Adams  taught  a  school  in  Washington  Hall  about  the  year 
1830.     He  was  succeeded  by 

Samuel  Adams,  who  taught  in  the  same  place  for  a  few  terms. 

IIakuiet  Lee  kept  a  private  school  for  misses  in  1830,  in  the  Rod- 
iiev  Forsaith  house,  on  Maine  Street. 

'J'he  Misses  R.  and  S.  Owen  kept  a  female  lK)arding  and  day  school 
in  1830,  and  for  two  or  three  5'ears  after,  in  the  Owen  house,  which 
was  situated  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  O'Brien  Streets,  on  the  lot 
now  occupied  by  the  resideuce  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Greene. 

Richard  Woodiiull,  of  the  class  of  1827,  of  Bowdoin  College, 
taught  a  school  for  one  or  two  terms  about  1830,  in  the  conference 
room  on  Centre  Street.     He  succeeded  Mr.  Asa  Dodge. 

Mr.  Thomas  Baker  (Bowdoin,  class  of  1831)  taught  a  school  for 
young  gentlemen  in  AVashington  Hall,  fVom  1833  until  1838  or  1839. 
From  here  he  went  to  Cape  Ann,  and  from  thence  to  Boston  as  a  head 
master.     He  became  quite  celebrated  as  a  teacher. 

Misses  Deborah  Folsom  and  IMary  Dunning  kept  a  family  school 
for  girls  for  about  three  years,  on  Union  Street,  nearl}-  opposite  O'Brien 
Street.  This  was  about  the  years  1836  to  1838  inclusive.  They  were 
both  successful  teachers. 

Miss  Tryphena  B.  Hinkley  came  to  Topsham  in  1842  as  an  assist- 
ant in  ]Mrs.  P^ield's  school.  Two  years  later  Mrs.  Field  resigned  the 
school,  and  Miss  Hinklev  conducted  it  on  her  own  account  for  about  a 
year,  when,  at  the  solicitation  of  friends  in  Bninswick,  she  united  her 
school  with  that  of  Professor  Swallow,  under  the  name  of  the  Bnins- 
wick Seminar}'.  At  the  end  of  about  a  year  ^liss  Hinkley  withdrew 
from  this  school  and  taught  a  dny-school  in  the  Pleasant  Street  Semi- 
nary. Here  she  taught  for  about  a  3'ear.  She  then  leased  the  house 
on  the  corner  of  Pleasant  and  Union  Streets,  recently  owned  and 
occupied  b}-  Mr.  Samuel  R.  Jackson.  She  taught  in  this  building  for 
about  five  jears,  keeping  a  boarding-school  for  young  ladies.     From 


480        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOFSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

here  she  moved  into  the  O'Brien  house,  which  stood  on  Union  Street, 
nearly  opposite  0*Brien  Street.  In  this  house  she  taught  for  about 
seven  years.  Here  her  school  was  large  and  prosperous.  From  the 
O'Brien  house  she  moved  into  her  present  residence  opposite  the  col- 
leges, which  she  purchased  of  John  S.  C.  Abbott,  and  to  which  she 
made  additions  and  improvements. 

In  all  of  her  schools  Miss  Hinkley  has  been  assisted  b}'  her  sister, 
Miss  Josephine  Hinkley,  whose  special  department  has  been  that  of 
drawing.  Among  the  other  lady  assistants  she  has  had,  at  different 
times.  Miss  Fannie  White,  a  teacher  of  music ;  Madam  Zinunerman, 
a  German  lady  and  a  fine  music  teacher ;  Miss  Frances  Adams  (now 
Mrs.  General  Chamberlain),  Miss  Lizzie  McKeen,  Miss  Fannie 
Stowe,  Miss  Sarah  Newman,  Miss  Emil}'  Poole,  and  Miss  Sophia  W. 
"Wheeler. 

For  gentleman  assistants  Miss  Hinkley  has  depended  largel}'  upon 
the  college.  Among  those  who  have  assisted  her  at  different  times 
have  been  C.  C.  Everett,  W^illiam  Packard,  P!^gbert  C.  Smyth,  William 
S.  Tucker,  Joshua  Leigh  ton,  Henry  Farrar,  her  brother  Eugene  B. 
Hinkley,  and  Professors  Brackett,  Russell,  Tavemer,  and  Briggs. 
The  average  number  of  boarding  scholars  has  been  about  fifteen,  the 
largest  number  about  twenty-seven. 

Alfred  W.  Pike  advertised  the  eighth  term  of  the  "  Brunswick 
High  School"  to  begin  April  10,  1843.  It  was  kept  in  Washington 
Hall.  In  1845  he  advertised  the  '••  Brunswick  High  School  and 
Teacher's  Seminary."  Vocal  music  to  be  taught  by  Jothani  Sewall ; 
mathematics  and  French,  by  Samuel  J.  l^ke ;  drawing  and  painting, 
b}*  Miss  Frances  Adams.  In  184G,  and  for  about  three  years  after, 
he  kept  a  school  in  the  Pleasant  Street  Seminary,  then  in  a  building 
which  stood  on  the  spot  cut  through  for  the  railroad  on  the  east  side 
of  Maine  Street,  and  lastly,  in  his  own  house,  which  was  then  a  cottage 
on  Potter  Street,  but  which  was  afterwards  removed  to  Maine  Street, 
enlarged  and  improved,  and  is  now  the  residence  of  General  Chamber- 
lain. ^ 

D.  Kendrick,  Junior,  taught  a  private  school  for  ladies  in  1845, 
and  for  about  a  year,  in  Dunlap  Block. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  private  schools  for  general  instruction, 
there  have  been  from  time  to  time  others  taught  for  instruction  in 
special  branches. 

SPECIAL   SCHOOLS. 

The  schools  of  this  character  will  be  given  under  the  head  of  the 
branches  taught  in  them. 


EDUCATIONAL  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  481 

Dancing  Academy.  —  In  Januar}',  1821,  L.  Champrosay  began  a 
school  at  Stoddard's  Hall.  The  terms  were  six  dollars  for  twelve  les- 
sons.    He  also  advertised  to  give  private  lessons  in  French. 

School  for  Embroidery.  —  In  1823  a  school  was  established  by  a 
lady  from  Scotland,  for  woiking  in  embroider}'.* 

School  for  Instructtion  in  French.  —  In  1836,  J.  G.  Mivelle 
Dechene  taught  French  at  Mrs.  Pollard's  house. 

School  for  Musical  Instruction.  —  Instrumental.  —  In  1826 
a  Miss  Brown  of  Boston,  gave  instruction  on  the  piano  and  harp. 

School  for  Instruction  in  Navigation. — In  1825  a  school  for 
instniction  in  the  art  of  navigation  was  kept  byB.  F.  Neally,  and  an- 
other one  in  1843  by  John  F.  Hall. 

School  for  Instruction  in  Fancy  Painting.  —  In  1827,  A.  B. 
Engstrom  taught  the  art  of  fancy  painting  on  pajMsr,  satin,  or  wood. 

Singing-Schools.  —  In  1825,  Luke  Hastings  taught  a  school  for 
instruction  in  vocal  music.  In  1836,  Charles  J.  Noyes  kept  a  similar 
school ;  and  so  did  also  L.  W..  Additon.  in  1843.  Since  then  schools 
of  this  character  have  been  too  nnmerous  for  specilic  mention  to  be 
made  of  them. 

Writing-Schools.  —  In  1824,  I.  Morgridge  kept  a  school  for 
instruction  in  penmanship,  in  Stone's  Hall.  lie  was  succeeded  the 
next  winter  by  William  Sawyer.  In  1836  a  Mr.  Butler  kept  a  school 
of  this  kind;  in  1843,  Mr.  I.  O.  Richardson;  and  in  1845  a  Mr.  Fisk 
kei>t  one  in  Dunlap  Block.  Further  mention  of  such  schools  is  un- 
necessarv. 

The  al)ove  by  no  means  completes  the  list  of  miscellaneous  schools, 
but  the3'  are  all  which  have  come  to  our  knowledge  that  are  worthy  of 
especial  mention. 

*  Putnam, 


482        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

EDUCATIONAL   IIISTOKY   OF   TOPSIIAM. 

TiiK  earliest  information  to  be  obtained  in  regard  to  educational 
matters  in  Topsham  is  that  contained  in  the  town  records.  It  appears 
from  tliese  that  on  March  18,  17(50,  the  town  voted  to  raise  £60  for  a 
"  minister  and  school-master"  for  that  year,  and  Ihomas  Wilson  was 
chosen  a  committee  to  agree  with  him  or  them.  At  the  annual  meet- 
ing in  1 7<)8,  John  Reed  and  John  Fulton  were  chosen  a  committee  to 
obtain  a  minister  and  school-master  for  that  year.  At  a  meeting  of 
the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  held  Juh*  23  of  this  year,  it  was  voted  :  — 

*"  That  Lott  Number  sixtyiive  adjoyuing  to  the  aforesaid  I-.ott 
granted  to  y*  first  settled  Minister  lying  on  the  Rear  of  the  Lotts  con- 
veyed to  Benjamin  Thomas  and  bounding  Northwest  on  Land  belong- 
ing to  Heirs  of  William  Wilson  as  described  and  laid  down  in  the 
Plan,  be  and  hereby  is  granted  to  the  Town  of  Topsham,  for  a  Lott 
for  the  Renelitt  and  advantage  of  a  PubHck  School,  to  continue  for 
said  use  forever —  said  Lott  contains  one  hundred  Acres. "^ 

On  July  14,  1770,  the  town  voted  that  the  school-master  should  be 
hired  for  one  3'ear  from  the  date  of  his  first  commencing  school. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1773,  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to 
divide  the  town  into  several  school  districts  and  to  proportion  the  taxes 
according  to  the  number  of  children  in  each  district.  The  amount 
raised  this  year  for  schools  was  £'20  13.h.  4rf. 

From  17«G  to  1792  the  employment  of  a  teacher  was  left  with  the 
selectmen. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  179;"),  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  take  measures  to  secure  the  lot  of  land  called  the 
**  School  lot,"  '*  which  was  said  to  belong  to  the  town."  The  article  in 
the  warrant  to  i)rovide  for  the  emplo3'ment  of  a  school-master  was  this 
year  passed  over. 

At  a  town  meeting  held  May  G,  1799,  the  selectmen  were  instnictcd 

*  Pi^cpscot  Records » 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM,  483 

to  divide  the  town  into  such  school  districts  as  they  should  deem 
adnsable.  Three  hundred  dollars  was  appropriated  for  the  support 
of  schools  this  3'ear. 

The  selectmen  neglecting  for  some  reason  to  divide  the  town  into 
school  districts,  Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis,  Alexander  Thompson, 
Senior,  James  Wilson,  Arthur  Hunter,  William  Wilson,  and  Samuel 
Winchell  were  chosen  a  committee  for  this  purpose  in  1800.  The 
town  also  voted  to  have  six  school  districts  and  to  build  a  school-house 
in  each  district  within  thirteen  months,  and  $1,200  was  appropriated 
for  that  purpose,  upon  the  condition  that  each  district  should  give  the 
land  needed  for  its  school-house. 

In  1801  the  preceding  action  of  the  town  was  so  far  modified  as  to 
make  seven  instead  of  six  districts.  It  was  also  voted  this  3'ear  that 
the  school  committee  should  consist  of  one  person  in  each  district. 

In  1802,  Benjamin  Hasej',  John  Merrill,  and  Benjamin  J.  Porter 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  j)etition  the  legislature  for  permission  to 
sell  the  school  lot  and  to  place  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  us  an  accumu- 
lating fund  until  it  should  net  an  income  of  three  hundred  dollars  per 
annum,  or  in  any  other  way  which  the  General  Court  might  think 
proper. 

In  1803  three  of  the  school  districts.  Numbers  4^  5>  and  6,  were 
consolidated  into  one. 

On  March  6,  1804,  the  General  Court  authorized  the  sale  of  the 
school  lot  and  the  investment  of  the  mone}'  accruing  tUerefrom.^ 

Nothing  of  importance  in  relation  to  educational  matters  appears  in 
the  town  records  subsequently  to  this  time,  until  the  year  182o.  In 
their  report  for  that  j'ear,  the  school  committee  express  doubts 
'*  whether  knitting  and  sewing  ought  to  be  permitted  in  town  schools," 
and  express  the  hope  "  that  parents  in  future  will  be  convinced  of  the 
impropriety'  of  imposing  this  service  on  the  iustructress.** 

In  1828  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  should  make  a  sale  of 
the  school  lot,  in  accordance  with  a  former  vote  passed  for  that  purpose. 

In  1880  the  tnistees  of  the  school  fund  reported  that  the  school  lot 
was  sold  on  the  twelfth  da}'  of  December,  1829,  to  Captain  Samuel 
Perkins,  for  three  hundred  and  fiftj'  dollars. 

In  1833  the  school  fund  arising  from  the  sale  of  the  school  lot 
amounted  to  four  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  and  thirty-four  cents. 

In  1837  the  town  voted  that  the  surplus  revenue  monc}',  that  was  or 
was  to  be  deposited  with  the  town  by  the  State,  should  be  kept  as  a 


484     msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell, 

fUnd,  and  that  the  town  treasurer  should  be  permitted  to  loan  the 
mone}'  on  interest,  under  the  direction  of  the  selectmen,  who  should 
see  that  good  security  was  taken,  and  tlmt  the  interest  should  be 
divided  amongst  the  school  districts.  The  next  year,  however, 
though  a  strong  protest  was  made  against  it,  tliis  vote  was  recon- 
sidered and  the  money  was  divided  among  the  inhabitants. 

Between  1851  and  1870  the  superintending  school  committee  kept 
a  record  of  their  doings.  From  this  record  it  appears  that  the  follow- 
ing j)ersons  were  chosen  for  school  committee  in  1851:  Reverend 
Jonathan  Clement,  James  Gilpatrick,  and  A.  D.  Wheeler.  At  their 
first  meeting  the}'  drew  lots,  as  provided  by  law,  to  determine  the 
time  for  which  they  were  respectivel}^  to  serve  on  the  committee. 
Reverend  Mr.  Wheeler  was  selected  to  serve  one  year,  Mr.  Clement 
for  two,  and  Mr.  Gilpatrick  for  three  years.  There  were  at  this  time 
nine  school  districts  in  town,  which  were  designated  as  follows  :  — 
Number  1  was  called  the  Jameson  district. 

''       3    "       ''        ''    Oak  Hill  district. 

''       4    "       "        ''    Middlesex  district. 

"       5    ''       ''        ''    Mallett  district. 

''       G    ''       ''        "    Cathance  district. 

''       8    ''       ^'        ''    Jack  district. 

"       9    *'       "        ''    Bav  Road  district. 

^'     11     ''       ''        ''    Alexander  distiict. 

."  12  *'  ''  ^'  Little  River  district. 
Numbers  2,7,  and  10  were  united  into  one  district,  which  was  called 
the  Village  District.  Districts  Number  1,  8,  and  12  were  up  the 
river.  Numbers  4,  G,  and  9  were  down  the  river,  and  Numbers  3,  5, 
and  1 1  were  back  from  the  river.  The  total  amount  of  school  money 
received  this  year,  from  all  sources,  was  nine  hundred  and  ninet}'  dollars 
and  thirt3*-two  cents.  The  whole  number  of  children  in  town,  between 
the  ages  of  four  and  twenty-one  years,  was  six  hundred  and  sixt}'. 

In  1852  the  total  amount  of  school  monev  was  six  dollars  and  thir- 
teen  cents  more  than  the  previous  3'ear.  The  school  fund  this  3'ear 
was  six  hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  and  fift}'  cents. 

Nothing  has  been  found  to  show  the  exact  titne  when  the  grading 
83*stem  was  applied  to  the  village  schools,  but  on  November  18,  1854, 
the  following  entry  occurs  in  the  records  of  the  committee :  *'  Messrs. 
Adams  and  Cotton  met  in  the  selectmen's  otHce  and  examineil  Mr. 
Gaslin  for  the  Village  High  School.  He  was  found  well  qualified." 
It  would  seem  from  this,  since  no  previous  reference  to  it  has  been 
found,  that  the  High  School  must  have  been  established  this  3'ear. 


EDUCAIIONAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM,  485 

On  July  22,  1848,  the  school  committee  agreed  upon  the  following 
as  the  requirements  for  admission  to  the  High  School,  namely,  that 
pupils  should  have  gone  in  arithmetic  as  far  as  simple  interest,  in 
gec^raphy  though  Colton's  book,  and  in  grammar  through  etymol- 
ogy. For  admission  to  the  grammar  schools,  pupils  were  required 
to  know  the  multiplication  table  and  the  simple  rules  of  arithmetic  and 
to  have  finished  the  primary'  geography. 

In  1859  the  town  voted  that  '*  the  trustees  of  the  ministerial  fund, 
derived  from  the  sale  of  the  ministerial  land  granted  the  town  for  the 
support  of  the  ministry',  transfer  said  fund,  together  with  accrued 
interest,  to  the  municipal  officers,  clerk,  and  treasurer  of  the  town, 
as  a  fund  for  the  support  of  the  public  schools,  agreeably  to  the 
twelfth  chapter  of  the  Revised  Statutes  of  Maine."  This  fund  was 
not  available,  however,  having  been  loaned  to  individuals,  one  of 
whom  was  dead,  and  the  notes  of  all  of  whom  had  become  outlawed. 

In  1861  the  town  elected  Mr.  Warren  Johnson  as  supervisor  of 
schools.  The  following  resolution  was  found  in  the  town  records  on 
a  slip  of  paper  inserted  between  the  leaves,  and  was  apparently  over- 
looked by  the  clerk  in  copying  his  minutes,  as  it  does  not  appear  on 
the  records :  — 

"Whereas,  in  the  judgment  of  the  town,  it  is  desirable  that  the 
management  of  schools  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  one  supervisor,  and 
whereas  the  ill  health  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wheeler  (the  only  member  of  the 
former  board  of  school  committee)  would  prevent  him  from  discharg- 
ing the  laborious  duties  of  a  supenMsor,  and  the  election  of  another 
necessitates  his  retirement  after  a  service  of  nearly  thiily  years. 

'•  Resolved^  That  we  sensibly  recognize  his  long  and  effectual  ser- 
\ice8  as  an  able  and  earnest  educator,  to  whom  much  is  due  for  the 
former  success  of  our  school  sj'stem." 

In  1862  the  trustees  of  the  school  fund  reported  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing that  this  fund  was  invested  in  good  notes  to  the  amount  of  six 
hundred  and  sixty-four  dollars  and  forty-eight  cents,  and  that  the 
interest,  amounting  to  thirty-three  dollars  and  eighty-seven  cents, 
had  been  paid,  and  had  been  divided  among  the  several  school  districts. 

In  1863  the  town  returned  to  the  practice  of  selecting  a  school  com- 
mittee instead  of  a  supervisor.  In  December  of  this  year  the  com- 
mittee made  the  following  changes  in  school-books :  They  voted  to 
use  the  Trogressive  Series  of  Readers,  in  j)lace  of  Town's  Readers ; 
Weld  and  Quackenbos,  in  the  place  of  Bailey's  grammar ;  and  Green- 
eafs  new  arithmetics,  in  place  of  his  old  ones. 

In  1869  the  Wilson  Series  of  Readers  was  adopted  for  five  3'ears. 


486        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

SCHOOT^TEACHERS. 

The  names  of  the  school-teachers  prior  to  1800  are  unknown.  The 
earliest  teacher  in  town  of  whom  any  record  is  found  was  Reverend 
Jonathan  Ellis.  Mr.  Ellis  taught  school  during  a  large  portion  of  his 
residence  in  Topsham,  between  1789  and  1811.  At  first  he  taught  in 
a  school-house  at  the  eastern  end  of  the  town,  near  the  old  first  meet- 
ing-house ;  afterwards  in  the  school-house,  which  stood  on  the  lot  now 
owned  by  Captain  William  S.  Skolfield,  on  the  corner  of  Pleasant  and 
Elm  Streets.  It  was  a  small  building  directly  opposite  where  the 
Orthodox  Churcli  now  stands.  Afterwards  he  kept  a  school  for  three 
or  four  3'ears  in  the  Court  House.  lie  was  teaching  there  at  the  time 
of  the  great  eclipse  of  the  sun  in  1806. 

Mr.  James  Wilson  distinctly  remembers  that  the  school  closed  at  the 
time,  and  that  the  scholars  came  to  his  father's  house  to  smoke  pieces 
of  glass  in  order  to  watch  the  eclipse.  In  his  diary  Mr.  Ellis  men- 
tions the  fact  that  he  completed  his  school  in  District  Number  4  on 
August  25,  and  in  District  Number  6  on  October  7,  1800.  On  the 
first  date  there  was  a  public  exhibition  by  the  school.  Mr.  Ellis  was 
an  excellent  teacher. 

In  1802,  Mr.  John  Hern  taught  in  a  small  school-house,  which  stood 
near  the  Benjamin  Wilson  house. 

About  1825,  Mr.  Josiah  Perham  came  to  Toi)sham  and  taught 
the  village  school.  He  occupied  the  next  room  to  the  post-office, 
which  then  stpod  opposite  the  bank,  where  he  cooked  his  own  foo<l, 
and  lived  by  himself.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  good  teacher  and 
a  worth}',  persevering  young  man.  In  later  3*ears  he  made  himself 
famous  by  inaugurating  a  series  of  cheap  excursions,  known  as 
'^  Perham's  Excursions,"  and  still  later  was  proprietor  of  "  Perham's 
Seven-Mile  Mirror,"  a  panorama  which  was  exhibited  in  many  of 
the  principal  cities  and  towns  throughout  the  countrj'.  He  is  said  to 
have  been  the  first  man  to  sign  a  petition  for  a  charter  for  the  Pacific 
Kailroad. 

Of  other  teachers  prior  to  this  date,  suflficient  is  not  known  to  enable 
us  to  make  mention  of  them,  and  the  subsequent  teachers  of  the 
public  schools  of  the  town  have  been  too  numerous. 

ACADEMICAL  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Topsham  Academy"  was  started  in  the  3'ear  1847  or  1848  b}'  a 
few  prominent  citizens  of  the  town.  The}'  purchased  the  old  Court 
House  and  converted  it  into  an  excellent  school- house,  with  recitation- 


EDUCATIONAL  BISTORT  OF  TOPSHAM,  487 

rooms,  library,  etc.  The  teachers  the  first  year  were  Messra.  Dexter 
A.  Hawkins,  class  of  1848,  and  Charles  H.  Wheeler,  class  of  1847, 
Bowdoin  College.  They  were  succeeded  by  Messrs.  Albert  II.  Ware 
and  George  O.  Robinson,  both  of  the  class  of  1840,  of  the  same  col- 
lege. The  latter  whs  succeeded  by  Mr.  Francis  Adams,  of  the  class 
of  1850.  Mr.  John  Clement  taught  the  school  after  Adams  lell. 
The  school  was  given  up  about  185S,  the  last  teacher  being  Mr. 
Joshua  Laighton,  of  the  class  of  1857,  Bowdoin. 

The  tuition  at  this  academy  was.  for  instruction  in  the  lower  dei)ait- 
ment,  four  dollars;  in  the  higher  department,  five  dollars.  There 
was  a  quite  good  library  connected  with  this  Institution,  and  a  lit- 
erary society  the  name  of  which  is  not  now  remembered. 

In  1856,  Mr.  Warren  Johnson,  of  the  class  of  1854,  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege, purchased  the  residence  of  Major  William  Frost,  deceased ; 
enlarged  it  somewhat,  and  on  Mav  20,  1857,  opened  it  for  a  boarding- 
school,  under  the  name  of  the  Franklin  Family  School.  While 
imder  his  management,  as  well  as  since,  the  school  proved  to  be  a  very 
excellent  one.  It  was  afterwards  kept  b}'  his  brother,  Samuel  J. 
Johnson,  then  by  IL  A.  Randall,  then  by  R.  O.  Lindsey,  and  the 
latter  was  succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Billings.  It  is  now  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  D.  L.  Smith,  an  experienced  and  successful  teacher.^ 

In  1865  an  earnest  but  unsuccessful  effort  was  made  to  secure  the 
location  of  the  State  Agricultural  College  inTopshain.  Mr.  Daniel  T. 
Coffin,  of  New  York,  formerly  a  resident  of  this  town,  sent  a  donation 
of  two  hundred  and  fitly  dollars  to  aid  in  securing  its  location  there. 
An  account  of  the  efforts  made  by  the  citizens  is  given  in  another  chapter. 

PRIVATE  SCHOOLS. 

Some  time  in  the  last  century  Mr.  Samuel  Thompson  offered  to  keep 
a  private  school,  if  he  could  obtain  twent^'-five  scholars,  at  a  price 
ranging  from  sixteen  to  twenty-five  cents  a  week.  Whether  or  not  he 
succeeded  in  getting  up  tliis  school  is  not  known,  but  it  is  certain  that 
he  taught  a  village  school  for  a  long  time.  lie  was  subject  to  fits  of 
derangement,  and  at  times  the  town  authorities  had  to  confine  him  in  a 
"  cage."  This  was  a  one-storj'  and  one-room  stnicture  at  the  Topsham 
end  of  the  toll-bridge,  somewhere  on  the  site  of  the  present  paper- 
mill.     He  was  attended  to  here  by  Denem  Winslow,  the  toll-gatherer. 


1  Mr.  Warren  Johnson  had  hegnn  to  prepare  for  these  pat/es  an  account  of  the  school, 
but  his  sirkness  and  death  prevented  its  completion^  and  we  are  consequently  unable  to 
give  a  fuller  sketch. 


488        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Moses  M.  Marsh,  a  well-known  school-master  of  Brunswick,  once 
taught  a  school  in  Topsham.  It  roa}'  have  l)een  a  public  and  not  a 
private  school.  Enoch  H.  Hines  also  taught  here  prior  to  his  death 
in  1828.  He  taught  district  schools,  but  may  possibly  have  taught  a 
private  school  also. 

On  May  8,  1826,  the  Topsham  Female  School  was  opened  in 
Greene's  Hall.     It  was  taught  by  a  lady. 

On  March  9,  1829,  a  Miss  Eastman  commenced  a  school  for  young 
ladies.  The  studies  taught  were  reading,  writing,  grammar,  geog- 
rapln',  ancient  and  modern  historj",  arithmetic,  philosoph}',  geometry, 
French,  and  painting,  according  to  the  method  of  Engstrom. 

Tuition  was  three  to  six  dollars  a  term.  How  long  a  tune  this 
school  was  kept  up  is  not  known. 

Mrs.  Fields's  School.  —  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Fields  was  the  widow  of 
Robert  Fields,  Esquire,  barrister  in  England,  a  lawj^er  of  no  mean  abil- 
ity, who  was  induced  to  come  to  America,  and  resided  for  man}*  ^-ears 
in  Boston,  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  died  in  1812.  In  1880, 
Mrs.  P'iolds,  while  on  a  visit  to  General  King's  family  of  Bath,  in  an 
afternoon's  drive,  chanced  to  pass  the  Doctor  Porter  house,'  in  Tops- 
ham, which  General  King  pointed  out  to  her  as  ''  his  property',  once 
the  residence  of  his  sister,  and  now  likely  to  remain  unoccupied  for 
years."  At  once  the  idea  suggested  itself  to  Mrs.  Fields  of  taking 
possession  of  it  as  a  boarding-school  for  j'oung  ladies,  and  after  mak- 
ing the  necessary  aiTangements  with  General  King  regarding  repairs 
and  rent,  she  immediatel}'  procee<led  to  placx;  it  in  order  for  occupancy, 
and  in  1831  opened  her  school  with  twelve  boanling  and  as  many 
day  scholars.  General  King  sent  his  onl}'  daughter,  and  used  his 
influence,  which  was  b}'  no  means  small,  in  inducing  many  of  his 
friends  in  Augusta  and  elsewhere  to  send  their  daughters.  Miss  Car- 
oline Weld  was  the  first  assistant  teacher.  Subsequentl.y  Mrs.  Fields 
secured  the  assistance  of  Miss  Mary  Thacher,  daughter  of  Peter 
Thacher,  Esquire,  of  Lubec,  a  3'oung  lad}-  of  unusually  fine  mind  and 
intellectual  acquirements,  and  a  Mr.  Purinton,  who  was  previously  in 
one  of  the  principal  Bath  schools.  Later,  in  1838,  when  Miss  Thacher 
left  the  school  to  be  married,  her  place  was  filled  by  Miss  Hester  A. 
C.  Hinkley,  from  Hallowell,  equally  competent,  and  who,  in  her  turn, 
having  loft  in  1842  to  be  married,  was  succeeded  by  an  accomplished 
sister,  IVIiss  Tryphena  Hinkley,  who  continued  in  that  capacity  until 
IVIrs.  Fields  gave  up  the  school  in  1844,  when  ]\Iiss  Hinkley  took  it. 


*  Now  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Susan  T.  Purinton. 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  TOFSIIAH. 


490        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  continued  it  on  her  own  account  for  some  time.^  After  Mr.  Pu- 
rinton  left,  his  place  was  alwa^'s  tilled  by  competent  male  teachers, 
among  whom  were  Doctors  Williams,  Parlin,  and  Hall,  then  students 
at  the  Medical  School,  and  after  them  a  Mr.  Curtis,  of  Topshani. 
The  average  number  of  boarders  was  sixteen,  and  of  daj*  scholars 
about  twelve.  Mrs.  Beers,  the  widowed  daughter  of  Mrs.  Fields,  was 
music  teacher  all  the  time.  This  school  was  considered  to  be  of  a 
superior  character,  and  Mrs.  Fields  was  held  in  the  highest  esteem  b^' 
the  entire  community .^ 

To  this  account  we  are  enabled  to  add  the  following  interesting 
reminiscence  of  a  former  pupil :  — 

"  For  four  3'ears  I  was  a  pupil  of  hers,  with  occasional  vacations. 
As  it  was  the  first  school  I  ever  attended,  I  could  not  at  the  time  com- 
pare it  with  others,  but  the  more  I  know  of  other  boarding-schools, 
the  more  clearly  I  see  that  she  was  unique,  an<l  in  many  respects  supe- 
rior. There  were  no  written  regulations.  In  fine  weather  we  were 
encouraged  to  stud}*  out  of  doors i  The  grounds  were  ample,  well 
provided  with  arbors,  shade-trees,  swings,  and  '  teeter-l>oards.* 
There  was  an  old  corn-house  in  view  from  the  school -room  windows, 
which  sometimes  was  a  summer  resort  for  a  diflftcult  French  lesson. 
Five  or  six  of  the  Telemaque  class,  each  with  her  book  and  one  dic- 
tionary, would  often  have  a  fine  social  time  while  getting  out  the 
translation. 

"  Plenty  of  exercise,  in  the  open  air  when  the  weather  would  allow, 
and  in-doors  in  stormy  weather,  was  enforced  upon  us.  Whenever 
the  evenings  were  cool  enough  to  require  a  fire,  a  good  dance,  of  at 
least  an  hour,  was  required  before  going  to  bed.  Ihe  school-room 
was  large,  with  an  immense  fireplace  opposite  the  windows,  and  in 
one  corner,  farthest  from  the  fireplace,  stood  a  large  box-stove. 
When  the  weather  was  very  cold,  both  stove  and  fireplace  were  used. 

"  Mrs.  Fields's  seat  was  at  the  left  hand  of  this  fireplace  by  a  large 
desk,  and  she  used  to  plaj-  the  guitar  herself,  and  call  oflf  for  the 
school-room  dancing. 

"  The  food  was  plain,  wholesome,  and  abundant.  She  always  pre- 
sided at  the  table  and  fared  exactly*  like  her  scholars. 

'"  In  the  mornings  we  all  met  in  the  school-i*oom,  at  half  past  six  in 
summer  and  about  eight  in  the  shortest  daj's  of  winter.  Praj'ers  were 
read,  then  came  breakfast,  and  at  eight  in  summer  and  nine  in  winter 
school  began. 

» See  •'  MiM  Hinkleifs  School r 

2  The  material  for  the  foregoing  is  furnished  by  Mrs.  Mary  De<:rs  McLelluu,  grand- 
daughter  of  Mrs.  Fields, 


EDUCATIONAL  HIS70RT  OF  TOPSHAM.  491 

^^  English  studies  came  first,  arithmetic,  gi*ammar,  anrl  spelling. 
No  one  was  excused  from  spelling.  Mrs.  Fields  would  say,  '  My 
dear,  if  you  can  spell,  it  takes  but  little  of  your  time  ;  if  you  cnnnot^ 
you  ought  to  learn.'  One  of  her  commonest  criticisms  upon  a  com- 
position would  be,  '  Very  well,  my  dear !  Now  take  it  and  rewrite  it, 
and  see  in  how  much  less  space  you  can  get  every  idea  *  She  used  to 
say  that  diffuseness  and  obscurity  were  the  great  faults  of  mo<lcrn 
literature.  Writing  from  dictation  was  with  her  a  favorite  method  of 
drill  in  spelling  and  punctuation. 

"  Some  young  lad}'  was  always  assistant  teacher  for  the  beginners ; 
but  when  the  assistant  least  expected  it,  Mrs.  Fields  herself  would 
st«p  in  and  hear  the  recitations,  sending  the  assistant  to  hear  her  own 
particular  classes  meanwhile. 

''At  about  eleven  a.  m.,  Mrs.  Beers,  her  daughter,  who  was  a 
music  teacher,  came  in  and  attended  to  penmanship,  setting  the  copies 
herself.  At  noon  we  had  an  intermission  of  two  hours  in  summer 
and  one  in  winter,  with  dinner  about  one  o'clock.  We  had  the  range 
of  the  extensive  grounds,  provided  only  that  we  did  not  go  out  of 
bounds  without  permission  and  were  prompt  in  minding  the  bell. 

*'  After  dinner  was  playtime  until  two  o'clock.  Then  came  sewing 
of  various  kinds,  embroidery  and  fanc}',  in  all  its  branches  ;  also  lace 
mending  and  fine  darning,  plain  and  fancy  knitting.  When  we  were 
all  fixed  at  our  work,  some  one  was  called  on  to  read  aloud,  not  more 
than  fifteen  or  twent}'  minutes  at  a  time.  At  five,  school  was  out. 
After  supper  we  usually  had  an  hour  for  study,  and  then  the  tables 
were  cleared  for  a  dance  or  some  other  frolic  until  bedtime. 

'*  The  standard  of  honor  was  very  high  with  Mrs.  Fields,  and  yet  I 
can  recall  no  instance  of  punishment  for  dishonorable  conduct,  except 
her  withering  sarcasm  and  a  feeling  that  the  offender  was  not  trusted. 
There  was  no  standard  of  rank  and  no  public  examination,  though 
visitors  were  always  welcome.  There  was  one  custom  conducive  to 
social  training.  The  house  was  open  for  a  weekly  reception  most  of 
the  time.  Thursday's  Mrs.  Fields  and  her  pupils  were  always  '  at  home ' 
to  all  personal  friends  of  herself  and  pupils.  The  latter  were  taught 
to  behave  as  the  daughters  of  the  house  in  entertaining  guests.  I  do 
not  remember  which  was  treated  as  the  greatest  fault,  —  a  prudish 
avoidance  of  a  gentleman  guest,  or  an  appearance  of  coquetry  and 
flirtation.  Music,  dancing,  and  conversation  were  the  amusements 
of  these  reunions." 

For  several  years  subsequent  to  1840,  private  schools  were  kept  in 
town  by  Miss  Mary  B.  H.  Wheeler,  who  had  an  excellent  reputa- 


492        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

tion  as  an  instnictress  of  3'oung  children.  There  are  many  middle-aged 
persons  in  town  who  received  their  earliest  tuition  from  her,  and  many 
who  remember  her  pleasant  ways  with  children. 

About  the  year  1840,  Miss  Theodosia  Wilson  commenced  a  private 
school.  She  taught  schools,  both  public  and  private,  in  Topsham,  for 
about  thirty-four  yeare.  She  was  well  known  in  the  communit3'  as  a 
successful  and  experienced  teacher  as  well  as  an  accomplished  and 
estimable  lad}'. 

In  the  fall  of  1842.  Messrs.  J.  L.  Nutting  and  J.  F.  Woodside  both 
advertised  that  they  would  teach  a  private  high  school  in  Topsham. 
It  is  pi*esume<l  that  one,  if  not  both,  did  keep  such  a  school  that  year. 

SPECIAL  SCHOOLS. 

Schools  for  special  instruction,  especiallj-  in  writing  and  in  singing, 
have  been  of  quite  frequent  occurrence  in  Topsham.  Sufficient  mate- 
rial has  not,  however,  been  obtained  to  enable  one  to  give  any 
extended  account  of  them.  The  earliest  writing-school  of  which  any 
account  has  been  found  was  taught  in  the  summer  of  1824,  at  the 
school-house,  near  the Com't  House,  by  Mr.  J.  Morgridge.  Tlie  earliest 
singing-schools  known  were  those  taught  by  Andrew  Dennison,  pre- 
vious to  1820,  and  in  1844  by  L.  \V.  Additon, 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  493 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

EDUCATIONAL   HISTORY   OF   HARPSWELL. 

The  earliest  reference  that  has  been  found  to  any  provision  for  a 
school  in  Harpswell  is  the  appropriation  of  £20  for  that  purpose  b}' 
the  town  on  May  9,  1759.  Where  a  school  was  kept  this  year  and 
by  whom  is  nowhere  stated. 

In  Ma}',  1760,  the  town  voted  that  each  part  of  the  Neck,  and  also 
the  Island,  should  draw  their  proportionate  part  of  the  school  mone}' 
that  was  collected  and  sliould  hire  mistresses.* 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  17G1,  the  town  appropriated  £20  for  the 
supi)ort  of  a  school  and  instructed  the  selectmen  to  provide  one. 

In  17G2  the  town  voted  to  raise  £20,  as  usual,  for  a  school. 

At  the  Ma}*  meeting  in  17G3,  the  town  voted  not  to  build  a  school- 
house  near  the  meeting-houde.  The  town  also  voted  to  pay  James 
Booker  £1  and  V3s,  for  going  to  Falmouth,  *'  the  I 'lace  being  Pre- 
sented for  want  of  a  school."  By  reference  to  the  records  of  the 
Court  of  General  Sessions  for  Cumberland  County,  October  term, 
17G2,  it  appears  that  though  the  town  had  been  presented,  it  was 
excused  from  a  tine  bj'  reason  of  the  selectmen  testifying  that  the}*  had 
employed  a  man  as  teacher  who  had  been  taken  sick  and  had  conse- 
quently been  unable  to  attend  to  his  duty. 

In  17G5  the  town  voted  to  pay  William  Sylvester,  Esquire,  £1  and 
lis.  *'  for  the  charges  that  he  had  paid  on  account  of  there  being  no 
school  the  last  summer." 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  March,  1771,  the  town  voted  to  build 
three  school-houses.  It  is  not  known  exactly  where  these  buildings 
were  located,  but  in  all  probability  one  of  them  was  on  Great  Sebas- 
codigan  Island  and  the  other  two  on  the  Neck. 

In  ^lay,  1780,  the  town  voted  to  raise  £300  for  the  support  of 
schools.  The  ditierence  between  this  sum  and  £20  seems  extreme. 
It  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  depreciation  of  the  currency. 


*  yo  reference  occurs  in  the.  records  of  Brunswick  or  Toos/utm  to  the  employment 
of  any  mistresses  in  the  last  century. 


494        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

In  June,  1781,  £15  was  voted  b}'  the  town  for  school  monej',  "  to 
be  reckoned  in  silver  dollars  as  six  shillings  each,  or  in  other  currency 
equal  to  silver." 

From  this  time  until  Ma}',  1791,  the  town  took  no  action  in  regard 
to  school  matters,  except  to  pass  the  usual  appropriation  of  money. 
On  this  latter  date  it  was  voted  that '  •  Orr's  Island  and  Baylie's  Island 
are  to  have  five  pounds  of  the  school  money  for  them  to  keep  a  school 
with  them  the  present  3'ear,  and  for  no  other  use."  The  appropriation 
for  schools  was  this  3'ear  £25. 

In  1797  the  town  voted  that  "  the  selectmen  should  class  the  town 
into  school  classes,  and  appoint  a  day  for  each  class  to  meet  and 
choose  a  head  for  their  respective  classes." 

In  May,  1798,  the  town  voted  to  accept  the  school  classes  or  dis- 
tricts on  the  Island,  as  the  selectmen  liad  divided  them.  Marlborough 
Sjivester  was  chosen  to  be  the  head  of  the  first  district  on  the  Neck ; 
Captain  William  Tarr  to  be  head  of  the  second  district  on  the  Neck ; 
Clement  Orr,  of  the  district  on  Orr's  Island  and  Bailey's  Island  ;  Sam- 
uel Snow,  of  the  first  district  on  Sebascodigan ;  Stephen  Purinton, 
of  the  second  district  on  the  latter  island ;  and  Josiah  Totman,  of  the 
third  district  on  this  island.  From  this  it  appears  that  the  town  was 
divided  into  six  districts,  of  which  two  were  on  the  Neck  ;  one  included 
Orr's  and  Baile}''s  Islands ;  and  the  remainder  were  on  Great  Sebas- 
codigan Island. 

'1  he  records  of  the  town  contain  nothing  further  in  regard  to  schools 
until  1810.  Tliis  j'car  the  town  voted  that  school  committees  should 
be  chosen  in  each  district. 

On  November  7,  1814,  the  town  passed  a  vote  unlike  any  that  we 
have  ever  met  w-ith  in  the  doings  of  any  other  town.  It  voted  '*  that 
the  school  money  raised  on  the  first  Monday  of  May  last  shall  be 
appropriated  towards  pacing  the  expenses  the  selectmen  were  at  for 
their  attendance  and  expenses  for  the  militia."  Inter  arma  leges 
silent  I 

In  September,  1821,  the  town  voted  to  choose  a  superintending 
school  committee  of  three,  and  Reverend  Samuel  Katon,  Alcot  Stover, 
Jr.,  and  Captain  Stephen  Snow  were  elected.  Agents  were  also 
chosen  this  year  for  the  different  school  districts. 

In  1822  a  school  committee  of  seven  members  was  chosen. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  in  September,  1828,  it  was  voted  that  the 
school  committee  should  not  be  paid  for  their  services.  As  there  is 
no  evidence  of  any  dissatisfaction  with  the  committee,  the  above  vote 
probabl}'  indicates  the  impression  that  existed  in  the  town  that  the 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORT  OF  HARPSWELL,  495 

honor  of  holding  such  a  weight}'  office  ought  to  be  considered  a  suf- 
ficient compensation. 

In  1834  a  new  division  of  the  town  into  school  districts  was  made. 

In  1857  the  town  voted  to  dispense  with  a  superintending  school 
committee  and  to  choose  a  supervisor.  Thomas  U.  Eaton  was  elected 
to  this  olfice.  From  this  time  until  1862,  inclusive,  a  supervisor  of 
schools  was  chosen  each  vear. 

In  18();3  the  town  abandoned  the  idea  of  electing  a  supervisor,  and 
went  back  to  the  old  plan  of  choosing  a  school  committee  of  three. 

SCHOOL-HOUSES  AND  TEACHERS. 

The  town  in  1771  voted  to  build  three  school-houses,  but  it  is  not 
known  whether  they  were  erected  that  year  nor  where  the}'  stood.  If 
they  were  all  built  at  that  time,  it  is  probable  that  two  of  them,  at 
least,  were  built  upon  the  Neck.  If  the  other  was  built  upon  Sebas- 
codigan  Island,  it  was  probabk  destroyed  b}'  fire,  as  according  to  ver}' 
tnistworth}'  traditional  testimony  the  first  sch<x)l-house  now  known  to 
have  been  built  upon  that  island  was  not  erected  until  about  1785. 
This  school-house  was  first  located  a  few  rods  south  of  the  buiying- 
ground.  but  about  1845  it  was  removed  to  its  present  location,  about 
two  hundred  ro<ls  north  of  where  it  formerly  stood.  This  house  has  been 
often  repaired  and  is  still  quite  sound,  and  is  annually  used  for  sdiools. 

In  1786,  or  a  year  or  two  later,  the  second  school-house  on  this 
islniid  was  built  on  the  land  of  Nathaniel  Purinton.  It  was  destro3'ed 
by  fire  in  1826,  and  the  present  building  was  erected  soon  after  on  tlie 
site  of  the  former. 

No  information  has  been  obtained  in  regard  to  the  erection  of  school- 
houses  in  other  portions  of  the  town,  and  but  little  can  be  said  con- 
cerninjj:  the  earlv  teachers  here. 

An  Irishman  b}'  the  name  of  Patch  is  said  to  have  taught  the  first 
public  school  on  Great  Islan<l.  He  kept  a  school  in  the  old  school- 
house  for  seven  or  eight  winters.  Some  of  the  later  teachers  in  that 
district  have  been  Wentworth  Dresser,  a  Mr.  Hill,  T.  Coten,  and  Mr. 
Eilgecouib,  of  Topsham,  who  is  the  present  teacher  there. 

The  first  teacher  in  the  second  school-house  was  John  Sullivan,  also 
an  Irishman.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  gCMxl  teacher,  but  addicted  to 
habits  of  intemperance  and  accustomed  to  close  his  scliool  for  a  week 
or  more  in  order  to  go  upon  drinking  "sprees."  Among  his  succes- 
sors in  that  school  have  been  Samuel  Williams,  Nathaniel  Purinton, 
AV.  Dresser,  Doctor  Seward  Garcelon,  Jeremiah  Hacker,  S.  Purinton, 
G.  C.  Smith,  and  the  present  teacher,  Alvah  A.  Plummer. 


496      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

There  are  upon  Great  Island  six  school  districts,  and  the  schools 
average  from  sixteen  to  twenty-eight  weeks  each  in  length.  From 
twenty  to  fort}'  dollars  per  month  and  board  are  the  wages  to  male 
teachers,  and  from  two  to  six  dollars  per  week  and  board  to  female 
teachers.  Board  is  from  two  to  four  and  a  half  dollars  per  week. 
The  average  number  of  scholars  in  each  school  is  about  twenty-. 

ACADEMICAL  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  only  school  of  this  character  in  town  was  the  IIaupswell 
Academy.  Some  of  the  prominent  citizens,  desirous  of  having  better 
advantages  of  education  offered  to  the  children  of  the  town  than  wore 
afforded  by  the  common  schools,  formed  a  corporation  for  the  promo- 
tion of  that  object  in  the  3'ear  1859. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  Ilarpswell  Academy  Corporation  was  held 
June  13,  1859,  in  Johnson's  Hall.  The  Act  of  Incorporation  was 
accepted,  and  a  committee  of  three  were  chosen  to  prepare  a  code  of 
by-laws.  These  b3*-laws,  which  were  accepted  at  the  next  meeting, 
provided,  amongst  other  things,  that  the  annual  meeting  should  be  held 
on  the  second  Mondav  in  June,  that  the  officers  should  consist  of  a 
president,  seeretar}',  treasurer,  and  a  visiting  committee  of  three, 
together  forming  a  Board  of  Trustees ;  that  the  visiting  committee 
should  visit  the  school  twice  each  term,  and  should  have  entire  control 
of  the  school  and  bnilding  ;  that  the  Board  of  I'rustees  should  employ 
the  teachers,  fix  the  terms  of  admission  to  the  school,  and  make  all 
purchases;  and  that  *'  there  shall  never  be  a  majority  of  the  trustees 
elected  from  any  one  sect  or  denomination  of  Christians." 

At  this  meeting,  Paul  Randall  was  chosen  president,  Harmon  Pen- 
nell,  vice-president ;  Robert  Pennell,  secretary  ;  Henry  Barnes,  treas- 
urer; and  Clement  Skolfieid,  Isaiah  Snow,  Stephen  Purinton,  Thomas 
Pennell,  and  Lemuel  U.  Stover,  a  visiting  committee.  A  committee 
of  three  was  also  chosen  to  raise  monc}'  and  select  a  place  for  an  acad- 
emy' building.  On  Julj'  2d  of  this  year,  the  trustees  voted  to  accept  a  lot 
of  one  fourth  of  an  acre  of  land  offered  by  David  S.  Dunning  at  the  sum 
of  twenty-five  dollars,  and  ver}^  shortly  after  this  a  neat  and  substan- 
tial building  was  erected  on  that  part  of  the  Neck  which  is  designat^^d 
North  Ilarpswell.  The  corporators,  however,  went  in  debt  for  the 
building,  and  accordingl}',  at  a  meeting  held  March  1,  1^60,  the 
academ}'  was  mortgaged  in  order  to  raise  money  to  pay  the  indebted- 
ness. On  April  18,  18G5,  the  trustees  voted  to  raise  mone}'  by 
subscription  to  redeem  this  building. 

How  succHJSsful  this  attempt  was,  is  not  stated  in  the  reconls. 


EDUCATIONAL  HISTORY  OF  HARP8WELL.  497 

The  first  term  of  school  in  this  academy  commenced  Monda}',  Sep- 
tember 5,  1859,  under  the  instruction  of  H.  C.  White,  M.  D.,  with  one 
or  more  assistants.     The  rates  of  tuition  were  as  follows :  — 

In  Primary  Department,  per  term    .         .  $2.00 

3.00 


'*   Common  English,  " 

"   Higher  Branches,  " 


4.00 
1.50  to  2.00 
6.00 


"   Drawing  and  Painting,    " 

"    Music,  " 

For  use  of  instrument,  one  dollar  extra. 

The  school  was  kept  up  a  few  3'ears,  but  finally  failed  from  want  of 
adequate  support  and  encouragement.     The  building  is  still  st^mding. 

PEIIVATE  SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school-teacher  upon  Great  Island  was  a  man  named  Hob- 
by. He  taught  in  private  houses.  Private  schools  were  held  in  many 
families  prior  to  the  building  of  the  first  school-house,  but  there  have 
been  but  few  held  in  the  part  of  the  island  where  the  second  school- 
house  is  located.  Stephen  Purintori,  however,  is  known  to  have  had 
schools  for  his  children.  The  only  private  teachers  besides  Hobby, 
who  are  remembered  to  have  taught  here  in  early  times,  were  Messrs. 
Patch  and  Sullivan. 

The  first  teacher  on  Orr's  Island  is  said  to  havcibeen  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Kinnecum,  and  the  first  one  upon  Merriconeag  Neck  is  said 
to  have  been  a  Mr.  Walker.  Both  of  these  teachers  taught  private 
schools. 

The  onU'  teacher  of  a  private  school  on  the  Neck  beside  Mr.  Walker, 
of  whom  we  have  been  able  to  learn,  was  Pareon  P^aton,  who  taught  a 
few  day-scholars  in  some  of  the  higher  branches.  Although  we  have 
no  positive  information  upon  the  subject,  it  is  probable  that  Mr. 
Eaton's  scholars  were  only  those  who  desired  to  secure  a  higher  edu- 
cation than  could  at  that  time  be  obtained  at  the  common  schools,  and 
they  verj'  likelj'  were  the  children  of  the  more  wealthy  citizens. 


33 


498        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAU,  AND  HASPSWELL. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE   UEDICAL  SCHOOL   OP   HAIME. 


Bf>WI>OUI    COLLXHI    IM    l&U 

Ik  November,  1788,  petitions  were  sent  to  the  General  Court  of 
IXassachuBetto  from  the  Cumberland  Association  of  Slinistcrs,  as  well 
as  IVom  the  Cumberland  County  Court  of  General  Sessions,  for  the 
incorporation  of  a  college  in  that  county.  No  decided  action,  how- 
ever, was  tafaen  on  these  petitions  until  1790,  when  a  favorable  report 
was  made  by  a  committee  of  the  legislature,  to  which  the  matter  had 
been  referred.  In  March,  1701,  in  consequence  principally  of  the 
exertions  of  Honorable  Josiah  Thatcher,  a  senator  from  Cumberland 
County,  a  bill  for  a  college,  to  be  called  the  Maine  College,  passed 
the  Senate,  but  failed  to  pass  the  House. 

At  the  next  session,  in  the  winter  of  1791-2,  npon  the  motion  of 
H.  Slocum,  Esquire,  a  member  from  Bristol  County,  a  committee  was 
raised  "  to  consider  the  ex|)edieucj'  of  establishing  a  collie  in  the 
District  of  Maine."    All  mention  of  Cumberland  County  was  avoided, 


BOWDOm  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.    499 

and  the  motion  was  made  by  a  member  from  another  county  in  order 
that  no  prejudice  might  be  excited  against  the  measure.  Governor 
Eustis  was  appointed  chairman  of  the  committee,  and  a  bill  was  pre- 
pare<l,  establishing  a  college  which  was  first  proposed  to  be  called 
Winthrop  College,  but  which  was  called  in  the  Act  of  Incoiporation 
Bowdoin  College,  '^  the  name  being  selected  as  one  of  the  most  hon- 
ored names  that  Massachusetts  could  boast."  The  bill  passed  the 
House  at  this  session,  but  owing  to  a  disagreement  between  the  two 
houses  in  regard  to  the  name  and  location  of  the  college,  the  bill  was 
not  fonually  enacted  until  June  24,  1794,  when  it  passed  both  houses 
and  received  the  signature  of- the  governor,  Samuel  Adams.  The 
towns  of  Gorham,  Portland,  North  Yarmouth,  Brunswick,  New 
Gloucester,  Freeport,  and  Winthrop  were  pertinacious  in  urging  their 
respective  claims  as  being  the  most  fitting  seat  of  the  college,  and 
in  some  of  them  subscriptions  were  raised  to  secure  the  location. 
The  town  of  Brunswick  was  at  length  selected  as  a  compromise 
between  the  confiicting  interests  of  the  claimants,  the  citizens  of  the 
town  having  made  what  was  considered  at  the  time  a  valuable  consid- 
eration for  the  preference. 

The  founders  of  this  institution  appear  to  have  formed  adequate 
conceptions  of  what  such  a  college  should  be.  Their  evident  design 
was,  as  expressed  in  their  own  words,  to  found  a  seminar}*^  which 
should  ^^  promote  virtue  and  piet}',  and  a  knowledge  of  the  languages 
and  of  the  useful  and  liberal  arts  and  sciences." 

The  government  of  the  college  was,  by  its  Act  of  Incorporation, 
vested  in  a  Board  of  Trustees  and  a  Board  of  Overseers,  the  former 
consisting  of  thirteen,  and  the  latter  of  fortj'-five  members.  The 
trustees  are  the  legislative  body,  and  the  overseers  possess  a  vetoing 
power.  Five  townships  of  land,  each  six  miles  square,  of  the  unap- 
propriated lands  in  the  then  District  of  Maine,  were  granted  for  the 
*'  use,  benefit,  and  puri>ose  of  supporting  "  the  college. 

*^  Immediately  after  the  charter  was  granted,  establishing  an  insti- 
tution which  was  to  bear  his  family  name,  the  Honorable  James 
Bowdoin,  of  Boston,  afterwards  minister  plenipotentiarj-  at  the  Span- 
ish court,  generously  bestowed  both  money  and  lands,  the  estimated 
value  of  which  was  $6,800.  The  first  meeting  of  the  Boards  of  the 
college  was  held  at  Portland,  December,  1794.  In  consequence,  how- 
ever, of  a  deficiency  of  available  funds  (for  the  best  lands  of  the  State 
having  been  previously  selected  by  other  grantees,  there  was  great 
difficulty  in  effecting  a  sale  of  the  college  townships,  or  an}*  portion  of 
them,  without  a  sacrifice),  eight  j-ears  passed  before  the  college  went 


500        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPBHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

into  operation.  Indeed,  notwithstanding  the  original  grant  of  the 
legislature,  and  the  patronage  of  the  individual  already'  named,  noth- 
ing but  great  zeal  and  unwearied  perseverance  on  the  part  of  the  most 
active  friends  of  the  project  carried  it  through  to  its  accomplishment. 
Besides  two  stated  meetings  of  the  Boards  each  year,  special  meetings 
were  occasionally  called :  but  it  was  no  easy  matter  to  sustain  the 
interest  of  all  the  members  in  an  institution  which  as  yet  existed  but 
in  name,  and  it  was  alwa^'s  difficult  even  to  form  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business.  Committees  were  rei>eatedl3'  appointed  b}- 
the  Boards  to  soHcit  donations,  but  the  public  had  not  then  learned  to 
give,  and  when  thousands  were  needed,  the  amount  contributed  was 
small,  and  mostl}'  in  books.  Mutual  recriminations  of  inefficienc}' 
and  neglect  passed  l>etween  the  two  Boards,  and  some  were  almost 
ready  to  despair  of  success  " 

Although  but  few  donations  were  made  to  the  college  at  this  time, 
it  is  gratifying  to  know  that  neither  the  citizens  nor  the  Pejepscot 
proprietors  were  unmindful  of  the  benefit  the  location  of  the  college  in 
Brunswick  would  bo  to  this  town.  Thirty  acres  of  land  were  given  to 
the  college  for  its  location  by  Captain  John  Dunlap,  William  Stan- 
wood,  and  Brigadier  Thompson,  though  the  college  afterwards  had  to 
purchase  a  part  of  it  from  more  rightful  owners.^ 

The  Pejepscot  proprietors  also,  at  a  meeting  held  April  3,  1799, 
voted  to  give  a  deed  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  to  the  trustees, 
"  for  the  use  of  the  college  forever." 

The  following  were  the  original  trustees  and  overseers  of  the 
college :  — 

Trustees.  —  Keverend  Thomas  Brown,  Falmouth;  Samuel  Dean, 
D.  D.,  Portland;  John  Frothingham,  Esquire,  Portland;  Keverend 
Daniel  Little,  Wells :  Reverend  Thomas  Lancaster,  Scarboro' ;  Hon- 
orable Josiah  Thatcher,  Gorham ;  David  Mitchell,  Esquire,  North 
Yarmouth ;  Reverend  Tristram  Gilman,  North  Yannouth ;  Reverend 
Alden  Bradford,  Wiscassct ;  Thomas  Rice,  Esquire,  Pownalboro* ; 
William  Martin,  North  Yannouth ;  and  the  president  and  treasurer 
of  the  coll<»ge. 

OvEUSEERS.  —  Edward  Cutts,  Kitt^^rj';  Thomas  Cutts,  Pepi)erel- 
boro* ;  Simon  Frye,  Frj-ebui'g ;  David  Sewall,  York  ;  Nathaniel  Wells, 
Wells ;  Reverend  Moses  Ilemmenway,  D.  D.,  Wells ;  Reverend  Silas 
Moody,  Anindel ;  Reverend  John  Thompson,  Ber\\ick ;  Reverend 
Nathaniel  Webster,  Biddeford  ;  Reverend  Paul  C'offln,  Buxton ;  Rev- 

^John  McKeen,  Reminiscences  of  Brunswick  in  1802. 


BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.     501 

erend  Benjamin  Chad  wick,  Scarboro' ;  Reverend  Samuel  Eaton, 
Harpswell;  Reverend  Samuel  Foxcroft,  New  Gloucester;  Reverend 
Caleb  Jcwett ;  Reverend  Alfred  A  ohnson,  Freeport ;  Reverend  Eli- 
jah Kellogg,  Portland ;  Reverend  Ebenezer  Williams,  Falmouth ; 
Reverend  Charles  Turner,  Sandford ;  Daniel  Davis,  Portland ; 
Samuel  Freeman,  Portland ;  Joshua  Fabvan,  Scarboro' ;  William 
Gorhain,  Gorham ;  Stephen  Longfellow,  Gorham ;  Joseph  No^'es,  Fal- 
mouth ;  Isaac  Parsons,  New  Gloucester ;  Robert  Southgate,  Scarboro' ; 
John  Wait,  Portland ;  Peleg  Wadsworth,  Thomaston ;  William 
Widgery,  New  Gloucester;  Reverend  Ezekiel  Emerson,  Georgetown  ; 
Reverend  Jonathan  Ellis,  Topsham ;  Jonatlian  Bowman,  Pownalboro' ; 
Edmund  Bridge,  Augusta ;  Daniel  Cony,  Augusta ;  Henr}'  Dearborn, 
I'ittston  ;  Dummer  Sewall,  Bath ;  Samuel  Thom|>son,  Topsham  ;  John 
Dunlap,  Brunswick ;  Francis  Winter,  Bath ;  Nathaniel  Thwing,  Wool- 
wich ;  Alexander  Campbell,  No.  4  Washington  County ;  Paul  Dudley 
Sargeant,  Sullivan ;  and  the  president  and  secretary'  of  the  college. 

The  site  for  the  college  was  selected  in  1796.  It  is  situated  on  a 
plateau  about  three  quarters  of  a  mile  south  of  the  Androscoggin 
Bridge,  near  the  pine  plains.  A  beautiful  grove  of  pines  forms  a  part 
of  the  college  grounds,  and  its  proximity  suggested  the  motto  of  one 
of  the  literary  societies  of  the  college.^ 

It  was  decided  at  this  time  to  erect  a  building  as  soon  as  practicable, 
and  in  1 798  one  was  constructed  of  ])rick  fifty  feet  long,  fort}"  feet 
wide,  and  three  stories  high.  Owing  to  lack  of  means,  however,  it 
was  not  ready  for  use  until  the  summer  of  1802.  In  this  latter  year 
a  wooden  house  was  erected  for  the  use  of  the  president  of  the  college. 

About  this  time  a  part  of  the  college  lands  was  sold,  and  thus 
a  new  and  more  vigorous  impulse  was  given  to  the  growth  of  the 

■ 

college. 

'•In  July,  1801,  the  Boards  proceeded  to  elect  a  president.  Among 
several  candidates  the  choice  fell  upon  Reverend  Joseph  McKeen,  a 
clei^jinan  of  high  standing,  of  Beverl}',  Mass.  The  selection  was 
fortunate  for  the  institution.  Possessing  sound  judgment  and  great 
sagacity.  President  McKeen  was  enabled-  to  give  a  wise  direction  to 
measures,  and  to  establish  precedents  of  great  importance  to  the 
future  stability  and  prosperit}'  of  tlie  institution.  Through  his  instru- 
mentality the  tenure  of  otfice,  a  point  which  elicited  much  discussion, 
was  estabhshed  on  a  proper  basis.     In  the  following  November,  John 

^The  tnotCo  of  the  Peucinian  Society  is  ** Pinos  loquentee  semper  hdbemtut"  {Ihe 
murmuring  pines  toe  always  have). 


502        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Abbot,  A.  M.,  Harvard,  was  chosen  Professor  of  Languages.  The 
Resident  and  Professor  of  Languages  were  installed  September,  1802. 
Great  interest  was  felt  by  the  friends  of  learning  and  education 
throughout  the  Commonwealth  in  this  undertaking,  and  the  ceremonies 
of  the  inauguration  attracted  to  Brunswick  a  large  assemblage,  in 
which  were  men  of  the  first  distinction  in  the  State.  For  want  of  a 
building  suitable  for  the  occasion,  a  platform  with  accommodations  for 
spectators  had  been  erected  in  the  pine  grove  in  the  rear  of  the  ground 
where  the  college  grounds  now  stand.  The  scene  in  which  they  were 
participating  could  not  but  have  deeply  affected  the  principal  actore. 
.  .  .  On  this  occasion,  the  name  of  the  college  building,  already 
erected,  was  proclaimed  in  due  form,  —  Massachusetts  Hall. 

*'  On  the  day  following  this  interesting  occasion  eight  students  were 
examined  for  admission  into  the  college,  two  of  whom  came  from  the 
metropolis  of  the  Commonwealth  and  its  neighborhood,  showing  the 
interest  and  the  confidence  felt  there  in  this  new  child  of  promise. 
•  .  •  •  •  . 

"The  duties  to  which  President  McKeen  was  called  were  arduous 
and  highly  responsible.  For  two  years  he  was  aided  only  by  the 
faithful  services  of  the  Professor  of  Languages.  The  obstacles  and 
the  discouragements  he  was  compelled  to  encounter  in  laying  the 
foundation  of  an  institution  which  was  attracting  notice  and  exciting 
much  expectation  in  the  community,  without  apparatus  of  any  kind, 
and  almost  without  funds,  situated  in  a  part  of  the  country  where 
superfluous  wealth  was  not  yet  known,  at  a  period  when  such  an  under- 
taking was  a  novel  one,  cannot  now  be  duh'  appreciated.  Before  they 
were  introduced  to  their  labors,  the  president  and  professor  visited 
the  iii'incipal  colleges  of  New  England,  that  they  might  avail  them- 
selves of  the  best  experience  of  the  time  for  the  successful  manage- 
ment of  the  college.  It  should  be  mentioned  as  an  honorable 
testimonial  to  the  enlarged  and  independent  views  which  governed  the 
measures  then  adopted,  that  the  requisitions  for  admission  at  once 
placed  the  new  institution,  in  this  respect,  on  a  level  with  the  oldest 
and  best  conducted  institutions  in  the  countr}',  —  a  rank  which  it  has 
ever  maintained.*' 

His  house  not  having  been  completed  in  time,  the  president  and  his 
family,  for  a  while,  occupied  rooms  in  Massachusetts  Hall,  the  lower 
stor}'  of  which  had  been  fitted  up,  temporarily,  as  a  chapel  and  recita- 
tion-room, and  the  ui)per  portion  for  dormitories.  There  was  no  bell 
of  any  kind,  and  the  pupils  were  summoned  to  prayers  morning  and 
evening  b}-  the  thumping  of  the  president's  cane  on  the    staircase. 


BOWLOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE,    503 

In  addition  to  these  daily  devotional  exercises,  President  MeKeen 
also  preached  on  8unda.y,  either  in  the  meeting-house  of  the  First 
Parish  or  in  the  college  chapel. 

In  1804,  Samuel  Willard  was  appointed  a  tutor,  and  took  up  his 
residence  within  the  college.  One  or  two  resident  tutors  were  chosen 
annually  ailer  this  until  1824. 

Soon  after  its  incorporation  Mr.  Bowdoin  presented  the  college 
with  £823  4«.,  with  a  *'  request  that  the  interest  thereof  may  be 
applied  to  the  establishment  and  sup[x>rt  of  a  professorship  of  Math- 
ematics, and  of  Natural  and  Experimental  Philosophy,  and  that  this 
interest  be  added  to  the  principal  until  a  professor  shall  be  appointed." 
To  fill  this  professorship  the  boards,  in  May,  1805,  elected  Parker 
Cleaveland,  A.  M.,  Ilarvanl,  who  was  at  that  time  a  tutor  at  Cam- 
bndge.  He  was  inducted  into  otiice  in  October.  During  this  year 
the  first  chapel  was  erected.  It  was  constructed  of  woofl,  with  rooms 
for  the  librar}'  and  philosophical  apparatus  in  the  second  stor}-.  It 
was  not  designed  for  a  permanent  building,  but  was,  liowever, 
enlarged  and  improved  in  1817,  and  served  the  purposes  for  which  it 
was  built  until  1845. 

In  1805  the  first  literarj'  society  was  instituted.  This  society,  the 
Peucinian,  was  founded  by  Charles  Stewart  Daveis,  Alfred  Johnson, 
Nathan  Lord,  Rol)ert  Means,  Enos  Merrill,  Benjamin  Randall,  Joseph 
Sprague,  and  Henrj'  Wood,  members  of  the  three  highest  classes  of 
the  college.  Robert  Means  was  the  first  president.  At  first  the 
society  consisted  solely  of  members  of  college,  but  in  1814  the  mem- 
bers who  had  graduate<l  held  a  meeting  and,  together  with  those 
belonging  to  the  college  society,  formed  a  general  society,  of  which 
Charles  Stewart  Daveis  was  elected  the  first  president.  With  varying 
periods  of  prosperity  and  reverses,  the  society  has  continued  to  the 
present  day.  Its  membership  in  1858,  the  date  of  the  last  catalogue, 
was  as  follows  :  — 

Whole  number  of  members,  1 ,023 ;  initiated  members,  945 ;  hon- 
orary members,  78 ;  members  of  General  Society,  882 ;  members  of 
College  Society,  C3. 

The  first  Commencement  of  the  college  was  celebrated  in  Septem- 
ber, 1806,  when  the  first  class  was  graduated.  The  following-named 
individuals  composed  this  class :  — 

Mr.  Richard  Cobb,  who  died  in  1837,  aged  49 ;  Mr.  Isaac.  Foster 
Coffin,  who  died  in  1861,  aged  74;  John  Davis,  who  died  in  1841, 
aged  62;  Mr.  John  Maurice  O'Brien,  who  died  in  1865,  aged  79; 
Moses  Quinby,  S.  U.  S.,  who  died  in  1857,  aged  71  ;    Mr.  George 


504        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Thorndike,  who  died  in  1810,  aged  21,  and  who  also  received  his 
degree  at  Harvard,  in  1807 ;  Reverend  Benjamin  Titcomb,  who  died 
in  1821),  aged  42. 

At  the  same  time  the  following  fourteen  persons,  graduates  of  other 
colleges,  received  at  their  own  solicitation  honorary  degrees :  Eben- 
ezer  II.  Beckford,  of  Harvard;  Oliver  Bra}',  of  Yale;  Jason  Cham- 
berlain, of  the  University  .of  Brunswick;  'Ihomas  J.  Eckle}',  of 
Harvard ;  Jacob  H.  Elliott,  of  Harvard ;  Abraham  Eustis,  of  Har- 
vard ;  Jacob  C.  Jewett,  of- Harvard ;  Thomas  M.  Jones,  of  Harvard  ; 
Isaac  Lincoln,  of  Har\'ard ;  Samuel  Orne,  of  Harvard  and  Yale ; 
Albion  K.  Pan-is,  of  Dartmouth;  Leverett  Saltonstall,  of  Harvard 
and  Yale  ;  Ichabod  Tucker,  of  Harvard  ;  and  Owen  Warland,  also  of 
Harvard. 

This  being  the  first  occasion  of  the  kind  in  a  i>ortion  of  the  Com- 
monwealth then  looked  upon  as  abnost  a  wilderness,  excited  much 
interest  throughout  Massachusetts.  A  large  number  of  people  attended 
from  the  District  of  Maine,  and  many  from  Boston  and  vicinity.  There 
was,  perhaps,  a  larger  attendance  than  has  been  usual  since  that  time. 
This  Commencement  is  memorable  not  only  on  account  of  its  l)eing 
the  first  one,  but  also  on  account  of  a  storm  of  uncommon  severity, 
which  began  the  day  before  the  one  appointed  for  the  exercises  of 
graduation,  and  for  three  days  raged  without  abatement.  The  exer- 
cises were  postponed  one  day,  but  were  obliged  to  be  held  the  next. 

The  successful  working  of  the  college  at  this  time  is  shown  b}'  the 
fact  that  in  1807  fort^'-four  students  had  been  admitted  to  it,  the 
library  contained  between  fourteen  and  fifteen  hundred  volumes,  and 
a  philosophical  and  chemical  apparatus  had  been  obtained  which  was 
probably  unsurpassed  at  that  time  by  any  in  New  England,  except  by 
that  in  llarvaixl  University.  A  new  building,  subsequently  named 
Maine  Hall,  was  commenced  this  year.  It  was  of  brick,  one  hundred 
feet  long,  fort}*  wide,  and  four  stories  high,  and  was  intended  for 
dormitories. 

In  consequence  of  the  illness  of  the  president  at  this  time,  his 
duties  were  distributed  among  the  three  remaiuing  instructors.  The 
tutor,  Nathan  Parker,  A.  M.,  Harvard,  afterwards  Heverend  Doctor 
Parker,  of  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire, ''  a  most  etllcient  and  able 
officer,  both  of  instruction  and  government,"  performed  rogularlj'  the 
chai>el  duties  of  the  president  during  tlie  vacanc}'  in  that  office. 

In  September,  1807,  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  l^esident 
McKeen,  it- became  necessary  to  choose  his  successor.  Some  perplex- 
ity arose  in  consequence  of  the  number  of  applicants  for  the  position, 


BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  TEE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.     505 

but  finally  the  Boards  made  selection  of  Reverend  Jesse  Appleton, 
A.  M.,  Dartmouth,  who  was  at  the  time  settled  in  the  ministry'  in 
Hampton,  New  Hampshire.  His  inauguration  took  place  in  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year. 

"  President  Appleton  brought  to  the  discharge  of  his  duties  a  con- 
scientiousness which  forbade  him  to  relax  an}'  effort,  and  a  deep  sense 
of  responsibility  both  for  the  literar>'  reputation  and  the  moral  and 
religious  welfare  of  the  institution.  He  possesseil  also  rational  views 
of  collegiate  discipline,  great  discretion,  unshrinking  integrity,  an 
uncommon  spirit  of  command,  true  love  of  learning,  ciiltivate<l  taste, 
habits  of  close  application,  and  a  delicacy  and  refinement  of  character 
which  could  not  be  suri}assed.  He  had  gained  in  a  degree  uuusual 
for  one  of  his  age  the  respect  of  the  clergy,  both  of  Massachusetts 
and  New  Hampshire,  as  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  in  1803  he 
was  one  of  the  two  most  prominent  candidates  for  the  Theological 
Chair  of  Harvard  University.  The  selection  of  such  an  individual  for 
the  presidenc}'  of  the  college  was  deemed  highly  auspicious.  But  he 
was  called  at  the  outset  to  encounter  peculiar  trials.  Not  to  mention 
the  relaxaition  of  discipline  likely  to  ensue  on  account  of  the  pro- 
tracted illness  of  the  fonncr  president,  and  the  interN^al  between  his 
decease  and  the  coming  of  a  successor,  it  was  a  time  when  there  was 
throughout  the  community  a  tendeuc}'  to  looseness  of  sentiment  and 
character.  At  no  period  in  the  history  of  our  colleges  has  there  been 
more  recklessness  on  the  part  of  youth.  The  habits  of  society,  which 
then  made  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors  an  essential  even  of  common 
hospitality,  exerted  a  most  deleterious  influence  on  all  our  colleges. 
.  .  .  By  the  unwearied  assiduity,  however,  of  IVosident  Appleton, 
by  a  uniform  s\'stem  of  discipline,  great  energy,  and  firmness  tempered 
with  parental  solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  his  pupils,  and  the  influence 
of  high  moral  and  religious  principle,  which  i)ervaded  in  an  uncommon 
degree  all  his  intercourse  with  the  students,  the  dilHculties  to  which 
we  have  alluded  were  gradually  overcome,  and  under  his  adminis- 
tration the  college  acquired  high  repute  for  good  morals  as  well  as 
sound  scholarship." 

In  the  month  of  June,  1808,  a  few  students  associated  themselves 
together  for  literarj'  pur[>oses,  under  the  name  of  the  "  Atliensean  So- 
ciety of  Bowdoin  College."  Henry  Wood  was  the  first  president. 
This  society  for  a  few  years  surpassed  its  rival  the  Peucinian,  but 
soon  languished,  and  in  1811  was  temporarily  discontinued.  It  was 
revived  again  in  1813,  but  was  again  disbanded  in  1816  and  its  library 
divided.     In  1818  it  Mfaa  i^aia  revive49  aud  has  continued    till  the 


506       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

present  time.  In  1820  the  General  Society'  was  formed,  and  Levi 
Stowell  was  chosen  as  its  first  president.  In  1822  its  lihrarj*  was 
injured  in  the  burning  of  Maine  Hail,  in  which  it  was  kept.  In 
1828  this  society  was  incorporated  b}'  an  Act  of  the  legislature, 
and  a  new  seal  was  adopted.^  In  1836  its  library  was  again  almost 
totall}^  destroyed  b}'  fire.  In  1850  it  received  the  cabinet  of  curi- 
osities and  other  propert}'  of  the  "  Cahnian  Society."  The  mem- 
bership of  this  societ}'  in  1856,  the  date  of  its  last  catalogue,  was 
as  follows :  Whole  number  of  members,  885 ;  initiated  members, 
739  ;  honorary  members,  79  ;  members  of  the  General  Society,  748  ; 
of  the  College  Society,  67.  Though  these  two  Hterarj'  societies  still 
exist,  yet  neither  of  them,  it  is  believed,  are  supported  with  the  former 
vigor  and  enthusiasm. 

In  181 1 ,  Mr.  Bowdoin,  the  steadfast  friend  of  the  college,  died.  lie 
bequeathed  to  this  institution  his  valuable  private  library  of  more  than 
two  thousand  volumes,  besides  a  large  number  of  pamphlets,  charts, 
maps,  and  several  articles  of  philosophical  apparatus,  a  valuable  col- 
lection of  minerals,  comprising  nearly  five  hundred  distinct  specimens, 
arranged  b}'  Haiiy,  nearl}^  four  hundred  models  in  crj'stallography, 
and  a  valuable  collection  of  paintings  and  engravings  which  he  had 
collected  in  Europe.  The  value  of  this  legacy'  was  certainly  not  less 
than  $15,000. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  college,  on  May  19, 
1812,  it  was  voted  *'  that  in  consideration  of  the  great  munificence  of 
the  late  Honorable  James  Bowdoin,  Esquire,  toward  this  institution, 
and  the  interest  taken  by  it  in  his  lamented  decease,  it  is  expedient 
and  becoming  that  public  notice  be  taken  of  the  event ;  and  therefore, 
voted,  that  the  secretary  of  this  Board  be  requested  to  deliver,  at  the 
ensuing  Commencement,  an  eulogy  on  his  memorj*."  The  Board  of 
Overseers  concurred  in  this  request,  and  at  the  ensuing  Commence- 
ment, September  2,  the  eulogj*  was  delivered  by  Reverend  Mr.  Jenks, 
and  was  afterwards  published  in  pamphlet  fonn  by  a  vote  of  the  Boards. 

This  year  Reverend  William  Jenks,  A.  M.,  Harvard,  at  that  time 
settled  in  the  ministry  at  Bath,  the  secretarj'  of  the  Board  of  Trustees, 
was  appointed  Professor  of  Oriental  and  English  Languages.  He  com- 
menced his  duties  January  5,  1813.  "  The  enidition  of  this  gentle- 
man, and  his  classical  taste,  rendered  his  services  an  important  acqui- 
sition."    His  appointment  was  for  three  years  onl3',  and  he  kept  up 

*  On  the  seal  was  etiff raven  a  head  of  3finerva,  with  the  inscription :  **  Athenaan 
Society,  B.  C,  Cut  6'u.  Sci,  Cor."  The  abbreviations  are  for,  *•  Bowdoin  CoUege,  Cut- 
tores  suos  scieniia  coronat  **  (Science  crowns  her  worshippers). 


BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.    507 

his  connection  with  his  society  in  Bath.  Efforts  were  made  to  retain 
him  as  a  permanent  instructor,  but  they  were  unsuccessful.  At  this 
time  the  finances  of  the  college  were  in  a  low  state,  almost  the  only 
Bource  of  income  being  the  sale  fh)m  time  to  time  of  some  of  its  wild 
lands,  which  were  not  then  of  much  value. 

In  1814  an  Act  was  passed  bj'the  General  Court,  making  an  annual 
grant  to  the  several  colleges  in  the  Commonwealth,  for  ten  years.  The 
portion  allotted  to  this  college  was  $3,000,  one  fourth  of  which  was  to 
be  appropriated  to  the  payment  of  the  tuition  of  indigent  students. 
This  year  the  '*  Benevolent  Society  of  Bowdoin  College"  was  insti- 
tuted. It  was  at  first  composed  entirely  of  graduates  and  undergrad- 
uates of  the  college,  but  it  afterwards  admitted  those  not  connected 
with  the  institution.  It  was  in^rporated  and  had,  at  one  time,  funds 
to  the  amount  of  seven  hundred  dollars.  From  the  printed  constitu- 
tion of  the  society  the  following  facts  are  obtained  :  — 

The  object  of  the  society  was  to  assist  *'  indigent  young  men  of 
promising  talents  and  of  good  moral  character  in  procuring  an  eiluca- 
tion  at  this  college."  No  person  could  receive  pecuniar^'  assistance 
unless  he  had  been  a  member  of  college,  for  at  least  one  term.  Any 
one  of  twent3'-one  j'ears  of  age  or  over  could  become  a  mem])er  by 
paying  one  dollar  on  admission  and  one  dollar  annually,  or  a  life 
member  by  paying  ten  dollars.  The  society  received  donations  of 
books,  furniture,  clothing,  or  money,  and  the  donor  could  designate 
the  manner  in  which  the  gift  should  be  appropriated,  "  provided  it  be 
for  an  object  consistent  with  the  design  of  the  society'."  One  half  of 
the  money  received  into  the  treasury  and  not  appropriated  by  the 
donors  was  reserved  as  a  permanent  fund,  of  which  only  the  annual 
income  could  be  used. 

The  death  of  President  Appleton  occurred  in  November,  1819,  and 
in  consequence  thereof  a  special  meeting  of  the  Boards  was  called  in 
December,  to  elect  his  successor.  Their  choice  fell  upon  Reverend 
William  Allen,  A.  M.,  Harvard,  of  Hanover,  New  Hampshire,  who 
had  been  president  of  Dartmouth  College.  In  September  previous, 
Samuel  P.  Newman,  A.  M.,  Harvard,  was  elected  to  the  professor- 
ship of  Latin  and  Greek,  which  had  been  rendered  vacant  by  the 
resignation,  in  181C,  of  Professor  Abbot.  The  new  professor  and 
president  were  both  inaugurated  in  May,  1820. 

The  formation  of  the  new  State  of  Maine  in  1820  affected  consider- 
ably the  welfare  of  the  college. 

In  the  "  Act  of  Separation,"  passed  by  the  legislature  of  Massrch  i- 
setts,  June,  1819,  it  was  provided  that  the  grants  already  made  to  tbe 


508        niSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

< college,  which  would  not  expire  tinder  four  years,  should  continue  Id 
lull  force  after  the  District  of  Maine  l)ecanie  a  State,  and  that  all  the 
chartered  rights  of  the   college   should  be. enjoyed  without   change, 
''except  by  judicial  process  accordhig  to  the  principles  of  law.    By 
the  Constitution  of  Maine,  on  the  other  hand,  the  legislature  were 
restrained  from  makhig  any  grant  to  an}*  literary  institution,  unless 
they  should  have  a   certain  right  of  control  over  such  institution** 
The  trustees  and  overseers  of  the  college,  therefore,  deemed  it  wise  to 
vest  such  right  of  control  in  the  legislature  of  Maine,  in  order  to  be 
able  to  derive  aid  from  the  State.     Accordingly  an  application  was 
made  by  them  to  the  legislatures  of  both  States  *'  for  their  assent  to 
such  modifications  of  the  college  charter  as  would  remove  any  impedi- 
ment in  the  way  of  tlie  college  receiving  patronage  from  the  legislature 
of  Maine." 

In  response  to  this  petition,  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts,  on 
June  12  of  this  year,  passed  a  resolve  giving  tlieir  consent  to  the  alter- 
ation of  the  clause  in  the  ''  Act  of  Separation  "  whicli  referred  to  this 
college,  provided  the  legislature  of  Maine  consented  thereto,  and  that 
the  alteration  did  not  aflect  the  rights  or  interests  of  the  Commonwealth. 
Four  days  later,  the  legislature  of  Maine  passed  an  Act,  so  far  modi- 
fjing  the  *' Act  of  Separation"  as  that  the  powers  and  privileges  of 
the  president,  trusU^es,  and  overj^eers  of  the  college  should  be  subject 
to  be  **  altered,  limited,  restrained,  or  exteniled  by  the  legislature  of 
the  State  of  Maine,  as  shall  by  the  said  legislature  be  judged  necessary 
to  promote  the  best  interests  of  said  institution."  The  college  having 
given  its  assent  to  this  Act,  the  legislature  of  Maine  granted  a  contin- 
uance of  the  sum  which  had  been  given  by  Massachusetts,  and  which 
had  been  approi)riated  for  the  puri)ose  from  a  tax  on  the  banks.  Hy 
the  power  given  them  in  this  Act,  the  legislature  also,  in  March, 
1821,  passed  another  Act  increasing  the  number  of  trustees  to  twenty- 
five  and  of  overseers  to  sixty,  and  the  governor  and  council,  by  author- 
ity granted  by  the  same  Act,  proceeded  to  fill  by  appointment  the 
places  which  had  been  thus  created.  In  this  way  thirt3'-three  individ- 
uals were  introduced  into  the  two  Boards. 

The  college  buildings  at  this  time  were  three  in  number,  arranged  to 
form  the  three  sides  of  a  stjuare,  birt  at  suitable  intervals  from  each 
other.  The  southern  building  was  of  wood  and  two  stories  high.  The 
lower  apartment  contained  tlie  library,  consisting  at  that  time  of  about 
six  thousand  volumes.  The  building  on  the  north  was  a  large,  square 
brick  building,  three  stories  high,  divided  into  apartments  for  the 
philosophical  apparatus,  laboratory,  mineralogical  cabinet,  etc.     The 


BOWDOIK  COLLEGE  AXD  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE,     509 

eastern  building  was  of  brick,  and  Vras  four  stories  high,  and  contained 
thirtv-two  rooms  for  students. 

In  1822  an  additional  building,  TTinthrop  Hall,  was  erected  for 
dormitories.  In  ]!Harch  of  this  year,  Maine  Hall  took  fire  and  the 
entire  interior  was  burnt,  though  the  walls  were  not  materially  injured. 
Tlie  fire  was  discovered  at  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  when 
first  noticeil  was  beyond  control.  It  is  supposed  to  have  caught  in 
the  garret,  but  no  satisfactory  knowledge  of  its  origin  can  be  given. 
The  loss  by  this  fire  was  considerable.  The  building  alone  cost 
$16,000.  The  theological  librar}*,  consisting  of  from  three  to  four 
hundred  volumes,  was  almost  entirelv  consumed.  Twelve  of  the  stu- 
dents  lost  all  their  wearing  apparel,  except  what  they  had  on  at 
the  time,  together  with  their  furniture  and  bedding.  The  private 
propert}'  thus  lost  was  estimated  at  the  time  at  not  far  from  SI, 500. 

This  severe  blow  to  the  prosix?rity  of  the  college  was  averted  by  the 
public  liberality.  Individual  donations  were  extensively  made,  and 
contributions  were  received  in  a  large  number  of  the  churches  in  Mnine 
and  Massachusetts,  and  thus  the  loss  was  fully  repaired. 

In  1824  two  new  professorships  were  created.  Reverend  Thomas  C. 
Upham,  A.  M.,  Dartmouth,  who  was  settled  in  the  ministry  in  Roches- 
ter, New  Hampshire,  was  chosen  Professor  of  Metaphysics  and  Ethics  ; 
and  Samuel  P.  Newman,  Professor  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory.  The}' 
were  inaugurated  in  Febniarj'  of  the  following  year.  Professor  New- 
man also  conducted  the  recitations  in  civil  polity  and  political  economy, 
and  Hebrew  was  taught  ])y  Professor  Upham. 

This  year  Alpheus  S.  Packard,  A.  M.,  a  graduate  of  the  college  in 
the  class  of  1816,  who  had  been  a  tutor  since  1819,  was  chosen  Pro- 
fessor of  Languages  and  Classical  Literature. 

Professor  Packard  was  the  son  of  Reverend  Doctor  Hezekiah  Packard, 
and  was  born  in  Chelmsford,  Massachusetts,  on  December  23,  1798. 
His  connection  with  the  college  for  a  period  of  fifty-eight  ycai-s  is 
evidence  not  only  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  has  always  been  held 
by  the  public,  as  well  as  by  his  colleagues  and  the  alumni,  but  is  also  a 
proof  of  the  wisdom  originally  displayed  in  his  selection.  Professor 
Packard,  in  addition  to  the  professorship  to  which  he  was  originall}* 
chosen,  was  appointed  from  1842  to  1845  to  fill  the  vacancy  in  the 
Chair  of  Rhetoric  and  Orator}',  and  in  1864  was  made  Professor  of  Natu- 
ral and  Revealed  Religion.  In  addition  to  his  college  duties,  he  has, 
from  time  to  time,  supplied  the  pulpit  in  the  churches  of  the  neighbor- 
ing towns.  In  1860  he  was  honored  with  the  title  of  S.  T.  D.  from 
this  college.     In  1828  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Maine  Ilistori- 


510        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

cal  Society,  in  which  he  has  for  some  years  held  and  still  holds  the 
office  of  secretary.  He  has  also  for  several  years  been  one  of  its 
standing  committee. 

In  1825,  William  Smyth,  A.  M.,  a  graduate  of  this  college  in  the 
class  of  1822,  who  had  been  a  tutor  for  two  years  previously,  was 
appointed  Associate  Professor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosoph3'. 
In  1828  he  was  made  a  professor  in  full.  This  year,  1825,  a  branch 
of  the  literary  society  of  graduates,  known  as  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  of 
which  there  is  a  branch  in  nearlj'  all  of  the  older  colleges  of  the 
countiy,  was  organized  at  this  college. 

In  1826  the  first  graduation^  of  a  student  belonging  to  the  colored 
race  occurred.  John  B.  Russworm,  aftei'wards  governor  of  Liberia, 
was  the  name  of  this  individual. 

In  1829,  Henry  W.  Longfellow,  A.  M.,  a  graduate  of  the  class  of 
1825,  was  chosen  to  the  professorship  of  Modern  Languages,  towards 
the  foundation  of  which  $1,000  had  been  bequeathed  by  Mrs.  Dear- 
born, formerly  the  widow  of  Honorable  James  Bowdoin.  Professor 
Longfellow  resigned  his  office  in  1885,  having  been  invited  to  a  sim- 
ilar professorship  in  Harvard  University.  What  is  usually  designated 
as  '*  Commons  Hall"  was  built  this  year.  It  was  designed,  and  for 
many  years  was  used,  as  a  dining-room  for  the  students.  It  is  now 
used  as  a  laboratory  of  analytical  chemistry. 

In  March,  1831,  an  Act  was  passed  b}'  the  legislature  which  provided 
that  no  person  then  holding  the  otlice  of  president  in  any  college  in 
the  State  should  hold  said  office  beyond  the  day  of  the  next  Com- 
mencement of  the  college,  unless  he  sliould  be  re-elected  ;  and  that  no 
person  should  be  elected  or  re-elected  to  the  office  of  president  unless 
he  should  receive  in  each  Board  two  thirds  of  all  the  votes  given  on 
the  question  of  his  election  ;  and  that  any  person  elected  to  said  office 
should  be  liable  to  be  removed  at  the  pleasure  of  the  Board  or  Boaixls 
which  should  elect  him.  It  was  furthermore  provided  that  the  fees 
usually  paid  to  the  president  for  degrees  should  be  paid  into  the 
treasury,  for  the  use  of  the  college,  and  be  no  longer  a  perquisite  of 
office.  ''This  unprecedented  act  of  legislation  excitwl  the  deep  con- 
cern of  all  who  felt  an  interest  in  the  permanency  and  stability  of  our 
literary  institutions.  Though  applicable  alike  to  both  colleges  of  the 
Stute,  its  immediate  object  and  direct  bearing  no  one  has  ever  pre- 
tended to  disguise." 


1  In  1858  a  colored  gentleman  named  Jacob  M.  Moore  was  graduated  from  the  Medical 
School, 


BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAIXE.     511 

At  their  next  meeting  the  trustees  and  overseers  voted  to  acquiesce 
in  this  act  of  the  legislature,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  choose  a  presi- 
dent, but  failed  in  consequence  of  their  inability  to  g3t  a  two-thirds 
majority  in  both  Boards.  A  committee  of  the  two  Boards  was  chosen 
to  petition  the  legislature  for  a  rei)eal  of  the  pro\i8ion  of  the  Act 
requiring  a  two- thirds  majority  in  each  Board.  President  Allen,  how- 
ever, did  not  wait  the  result  of  this  petition,  but  at  once  proceeded  to 
t«dt  the  constitutionality  of  this  legislative  enactment  b}'  a  suit  in  the 
Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States.  The  case  was  argued  before 
Honorable  Joseph  Story,  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and 
Honorable  Ashur  Ware,  district  judge.  The  decision  of  the  court  had 
not  only  an  important  bearing  upon  the  welfare  of  this  college,  but 
was  also  one  which  involved  the  chartered  rights  of  all  such  institu- 
tions, and  is  deserving,  therefore,  of  more  particular  mention  in  these 
pages. 

Tlie  following  abstract  of  this  decision  is  taken  from  a  published 
sketch  of  the  college  b}'  Professor  Packard,  from  which  we  have 
already  freely  quote<l :  —  ^ 

'*  1.  A  college  established  for  the  promotion  of  learning  and  piety 
is  a  private  and  not  a  public  corporation.  In  the  chaiter  of  Bowdoin 
College  the  visitatorial  power  is  intrusted  to  the  Boards  of  Tmstees 
and  Overseers ;  as  soon  as  the}'  accepted  the  charter,  they  acquired 
a  permanent  right  and  title  in  their  offices,  which  could  not  be  di veiled 
except  in  the  manner  pointed  out  in  the  charter.  The  legislature  was 
bound  by  the  Act ;  they  could  not  resume  their  grant,  and  they  could 
not  touch  the  vested  rights,  privileges,  or  franchises  of  the  college, 
except  so  far  as  the  power  was  reserved  by  the  sixteenth  section  of  the 
Act.  The  language  of  that  section  is  certainly  very  broad,  but  it  is 
not  unlimiteil.  It  is  there  declared  that  the  legislature  '  may  grant 
further  i>owers  to,  or  alter,  limit,  annul,  or  restrain  an}*  of  the  powers 
by  this  Act  vested  in  the  said  corporation,  as  shall  be  judged  necessary 
to  promote  the  best  interest  of  the  college.*  Whatever  it  may  do,  then, 
must  be  done  to  promote  the  best  interest  of  the  college.  It  is  true 
that  it  is  constituted  the  sole  judge  of  what  is  the  best  interest  of  the 
college ;  but  still  it  cannot  do  anything  pointedly  destructive  of  that 
interest.  Its  authority  is  confined  to  the  enlai-ging,  altering,  annulling 
or  restraining  of  the  powers  of  the  coriwration.  It  cannot  intermeddle 
with  its  property ;  it  cannot  extinguish  its  corporate  existence  ;  it  can- 
not resume  all  its  property,  and  annihilate  all  its  powers  and  fran- 

For  tlie/uU  text  of  this  decision  see  Allen  v.  McKeen^  1  Sumner's  Report,  270. 


512        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

chises.  The  legislature  must  leave  its  vitality  and  property,  and 
enable  it  still  to  act  as  a  college.  It  cannot  remove  the  trustees  or 
overseers,  though  it  may  abridge,  as  well  as  enlai-ge,  their  powers. 

"  2.  Bowdoin  College  has  never  surrendered  any  of  its  rights. 
Whatever  may  have  been  the  intentions  of  those  concerned,  at  the 
outset,  in  regard  to  a  surrender  of  the  college  to  the  State,  there  has 
been  a  miscarriage  of  the  parties ;  it  never  has  been  de  jure  under  the 
control  of  the  legislature  of  Maine. 

"3.  But  admitting  that  the  college,  as  was  contemplated,  did 
come  under  the  control  of  the  legislature  of  Maine,  when  it  is  stated 
in  the  Act  modifying  the  college  charter,  that  the  president  and  trus- 
tees and  overseers  of  Bowdoin  College  shall  enjo}-  their  powers  and 
privileges,  subject  to  be  altered,  limited,  restrained,  or  extended  by 
the  legislature,  no  authority  is  conferred  upon  the  legislature  to  add 
new  members  to  the  Boards  b}'  its  own  nomination  or  by  that  of  the 
governor  and  Council  of  the  State.  That  would  be  an  extension,  not 
of  the  powers  and  privileges  of  the  Boards,  but  of  the  legislative 
action  over  them.  If  the  legislature  could  add  one  new  member  of 
its  own  choice  or  appointment,  it  could  add  any  numlwr  whatsoever. 
It  could  annihilate  the  powers  and  privileges  of  the  charter  Boards 
under  the  pretence  of  alteration  or  extension.  The  legislature  might 
authorize  an  enlargement  of  the  Boards,  but  the  places  thus  created 
must  be  filled  bv  the  Boards  themselves. 

"  4.  The  Act  of  the  legislature,  removing  the  presidents  of  Bow- 
doin and  Waterville  Colleges  out  of  office  at  a  certain  time,  is  a  direct 
exercise  of  a  power  which  was  expresslj'  and  exclusively  conferred  on 
the  College  Boards  b}'  the  original  charter,  and  which  has  never  been 
taken  from  them. 

"5.  President  Allen  was  in  office  under  a  lawful  contract  made  with 
the  Boards,  by  which  contract  he  was  to  hold  that  office  during  good 
behavior.  The  Act  of  the  legislature  directly  impairs  the  obligations 
of  that  contract.  It  takes  away  from  him  his  tenure  of  office,  and 
removes  him  from  it.  Holding  his  office  during  good  behavior,  he 
could  not  be  removed  from  it  except  for  gross  misbehavior;  and 
then  only  b}'  the  Boards,  in  the  manner  pointed  out  in  the  original 
charter.  Immediately  ui)on  the  decision  of  the  court  being  an- 
nounced. President  Allen  resumed  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his 
office." 

In  1835,  Daniel  R.  Goodwin,  then  a  tutor  in  college,  succeeded 
Longfellow  as  I*rofessor  of  Modern  Langunges.  lie  served  in  this 
capacity  until  1853,  when  he  resigned,  for  the  purpose  of  accepting  the 
presidency'  of  Trinity  College,  Connecticut. 


BOWDOm  COLLEGE  AXD  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.     513 

President  Allen  resigning  in  1839,  Reverend  Leonard  AVoods,  of 
Bangor  Theological  Seminar}',  son  of  Reverend  Leonard  AVoods,  a 
well-known  divine,  was  elected  as  his  successor.  President  AVoods 
was  at  that  time  well  known  for  his  scholarly  culture  and  attainments, 
an;l  his  reputation  has  steadily'  increased.  In  1839  he  received  the  hon- 
orarj-  degree  of  D.  D.  from  Waterville  College,  and  in  1846  from  Har- 
vard College.  In  1866  he  received  that  of  LL.  I),  from  Bowdoin. 
He  was  not  onlv  an  eminent  scholar  and  a  fine  teacher,  but  he 
attracted  students  bv  his  courteous  demeanor  and  bv  his  lenient  dis- 
position.  He  resigned  in  1866,  after  a  period  of  service  extending 
over  twenty-seven  years,  —  a  much  longer  service  than  that  of  any 
previous  president. 

In  1812  a  professorship  of  Political  Economy  was  founded,  and 
Alpheus  S.  Packard  was  chosen  as  the  first  professor  in  that  branch. 
He  was  succeeded  in  1845  b}'  Henry  H.  Boody,  then  a  tutor. 

On  July  1 6  of  this  latter  year,  the  corner-stone  of  King  Cliapel  was 
laid  with  Masonic  ceremonies.  There  were  present  the  Grand  Lodge 
of  Maine,  the  Boston  Encampment  of  Knight  Templars,  the  Portland 
Encampment  of  Knight  Templars,  the  Mount  Vernon  Chapter  of  Royal 
Arch  Masons  of  Portland,  the  Montgomery  Chapter  of  Bath,  Ancient 
Landmark  Lodge  of  Portland,  Solar  Lodge  of  Bath,  Free|)ort  Lodge 
of  Freeport,  and  United  Lodge  of  Brunswick.  At  the  northwest 
angle  of  the  ground  there  was  a  raised  platform,  upon  which  were  the 
officers  of  the  college,  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  the  Knight  Templars. 
President  AVooils  read  the  psalm  "  Lcetatus  sum"  and  made  an 
address.  Prayer  was  offered  b}'  Reverend  AVillianx  T.  Dwight,  and 
John  T.  Paine.  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Maine,  assisted 
by  Honorable  Robert  P.  Dunlap,  ex-Grand  Master,  then  laid  the  stone 
in  due  form.  A  silver  plate  provided  by  the  college,  and  one  provided 
by  the  Grand  Lodge,  were  then  deposited  in  tUe  proper  receptacle  in 
the  stone. 

In  1855  the  new  chapel  was  completed.  The  entire  cost  was 
845,000.  On  June  7  it  was  dedicated.  The  services  of  the  occasion 
consisted  of  a  selection  from  the  Scriptures  and  a  prayer  by  Reverend 
George  E.  Adams,  a  hymn,  an  addi*ess  by  President  Woods,  a  second 
hymn,  a  sermon  b}^  Professor  Hitchcock,  and  a  concluding  prayer  by 
Reverend  Doctor  Dwight.  The  services  were  attended  by  the  under- 
graduates, many  graduates,  the  college  boards  and  faculty,  and  many 
friends  of  the  college,  who  assembled  in  the  library,  ft-om  whence  they 
moved  to  the  chajjel  in  a  procession  conducted  by  Honorable  Charles 
J.  Oilman  as  marshal. 

33 


514        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIJAM,  AND  UABPSWICLL.' 

Til  l.'^48  a  professorship  of  Rlietonc  aiul  Elocution  was  founded,  that 
of  Political  Kcuiioniv  being  merged  in  it,  and  Professor  Ilenr^^  II. 
Boody  was  appointed  to  this  ofiice.  He  was  succeeded  in  1H5G  by 
Egbert  C.  Smyth,  son  of  Professor  "William  Smyth,  a  graduate  of  the 
college  in  1H4H.  and  a  tutor  in  1S49. 

A  professorship  of  Natural  and  Revealed  Religi<m  was  founded  in  1850 
by  subscriptions  among  the  Orthodox  Cungrcgationalists,  and  Calvin 
E.  Stowe,  D.  I).,  of  the  class  of  l^<2i).  an  cujinent  scliolar  and  theolo- 
gian, was  chosen  to  that  onice.  lie  was  succec<led  in  l^ft'2  by  Roswcll 
D.  Ilitchcofk,  a  graduate  of  Amherst  in  1H3(;,  now  of  New  Yoiic  City. 
In  185G,  l*rofessor  E.  C.  Smyth  was  transferred  to  tliis  chair,  and 
Joshua  L.  ('hami)erlain,  of  the  class  of  18.V2.  was  appointed  to  the 
Chair  of  Khetoric  and  Orator}-.  In  185^,  William  Kusscll,  a  distin- 
guisiied  elocutionist,  assisted  in  his  branch. 

Professor  Goodwin  resigned  in  1855,  and  Charles  Carroll  Everett, 
now  a  professor  in  Harvard  College,  occupied  the  Chiiir  of  Modem 
Languages  for  two  years,  from  1855  to  1857.  lie  was  succeeded  by 
Professor  Chamberlain  for  two  years,  when  William  A.  Packard,  class 
of  1851,  now  professor  at  Princeton,  gave  the  instruction  for  one  year. 
In  18C1,  Professor  Chamberlain  was  again  placed  in  the  Chair  of  Mod- 
ern Languages,  that  of  Khetoric  and  Oratory  IxMug  filled  in  18G2  by 
Keverend  Eliphalet  Whittlese}*,  a  graduate  of  Yale. 

In  August  of  this  year,  1802,  Professor  Chamberlain  resigned  his 
office  to  go  into  the  army  for  the  peiiod  of  the  war  then  raging.  Ihe 
boards,  however,  granted  him  leave  of  absi»nce  instead  of  accepting 
his  resignation,  and  Stephen  J.  Young,  class  of  1S51>,  was  made  Pro- 
visional Instructor  in  Modern  Languages,  to  which,  on  Professor  Cham- 
berlain's resigning  in  1805,  he  was  elected  as  professor. 

Professor  Whiltlese}'  also  went  into  the  army,  and  the  duties  of  his 
chair  were  performed  by  members  of  the  faculty.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  Professor  Whittlesev  resigned,  and  (ieneral  Chamberlain  was 
re-elected  to  the  Chair  of  Khetoric  and  Oratory,  which,  however,  he 
again  resigned  in  180(5,  to  accept  the  office  of  governor  of  Maine.  He 
was  followed  bv  John  S.  Sewall,  class  of  1850',  who  held  the  chair 
until  1875,  when  Professor  Henry  L.  C'hapman,  Bowdoin,  class  of 
18GG,  was  transferred  to  this  from  the  C'hair  of  Latin. 

In  185D,  Paul  A.  Chadbourne,  a  graduate  of  Williams,  was  chosen 
Professor  of  Chemistrv  and  Natural  Ilistorv.  He  was  suceeedeil  in 
1803  by  Cyrus  F.  Braekett,  a  graduate  in  1851),  tutor  in  1803.  In  1864, 
Professor  IJrackett  was  appointed  Adjunct  Professor  of  Natural  Sci- 
ence, and  in  1865  to  a  full  professorship  in  the  Josiah  Little  Chair  of 


BOWDOm  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE,     /)15 

Natural  Science,  to  which,  however,  in  1868,  George  L.  Goodale,  a 
graduate  of  Amherst  in  1800,  was  elected. 

In  18G2,  William  P.  Tucker,  class  of  1854,  tutor  since  18.57,  was 
instructor  in  mathematics  for  one  year.  He  had,  in  the  mean  time,  as 
librarian,  prepared  an  elaborate  and  valuable  catalogue  of  the  college 
librar}'.  In  18(55,  E<lward  N.  Packard,  tutor  since  1803,  was  instruc-  ' 
tor,  and  in  186G  Adjunct  Professor  of  Mathematics.  The  dealli  of 
Professor  Smyth  in  1868,  while  intensely  engaged  upon  the  building  of 
Memorial  Hall,  left  the  Cliair  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy 
vacant,  and  Charles  E.  Kockwood,  a  graduate  of  Yale,  was  chosen  to 
the  place. 

In  1804,  Professor  E.  C.  Smyth  resigned  the  Chair  of  Natural  and 
Kevealed  Religion,  and  was  succeeded  bj'  Professor  Alpheus  S.  Pack- 
ard, who  was  transferred  from  the  Chair  of  Ancient  Languages,  to 
which,  in  1805,  Reverend  Jotham  B.  Sewall,  class  of  1H4H,  tutor  in 
1851,  was  chosen.  In  1871,  Henr^'  L.  Chapman  was  chosen  Adjunct 
Professor  of  Latin,  and  in  1872  a  full  professor. 

In  1805  the  alumni  of  the  college  voted  to  erect  a  building  to  be 
called  Memorial  Hall,  in  honor  of  the  graduates  aud  students  of  the 
college  who  had  died  in  the  civil  war.  A  subscription  was  at  once 
started  to  cany  the  plan  into  execution,  and  a  committee  was  raised 
for  the  puri>08e.  A  sulHcient  amount  of  funds  was  raised  to  warrant 
the  prosecution  of  the  work,  and  the  corner-stone  was  accordingly 
laid  in  1800.  The  outside  of  the  building  has  since  been  completed, 
but  enough  funds  have  not  3'et  been  secured  to  enable  it  to  be  Ihiished 
inside.  Wlien  more  prosperous  times  return,  there  is  scarcely  a  doubt 
but  tiiat  the  original  intention  will  be  earned  out. 

President  Woods  resigning  in  1800,  Reverend  Samuel  Harris, 
S.  T.  I).,  a  graduate  of  1833,  was  elected  to  his  place  in  1807. 
He  took  u}x>n  himself,  also,  the  duties  of  the  Professor  of  Moral 
Philosophy  and  Metaphysics,  Professor  Upham  being  that  year 
honored  with  the  Emeritus  title. 

In  1871  the  eminent  scholar,  civilian,  and  general,  Ex-Governor 
Chamberlain,  was  chosen  to  succeed  President  Harris,  and  at  this  time 
quite  a  reorganization  of  the  college  occurred.  A  scientific  depart- 
ment was  established  and  several  new  chairs  of  instruction  were 
founded.  George  L.  Vose,  C.  E.,  was  elected  Professor  of  Civil  En- 
gineering; Edward  S.  Morse,  Ph.  1).,  of  Salem,  Professor  of  Compar- 
ative Anatomy  and  Zoolog}' ;  Mr.  James  B.  Taylor,  Provisional  Pro- 
fessor of  Elocution  and  Orator}' ;  the  Chair  of  Latin  was  separated 
from  that  of  Greek ;  and  United  States  odicers  were  brought  here  by 


516      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

orders  of  the  government,  —  Brevet  Major  J.  P.  Sanger,  Fourth 
United  States  Artillery,  as  Professor  of  Military  Science,  and  John  N. 
McClintock,  class  of  18C7,  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  as 
instriiotor  in  Topographical  Engineering. 

In  1872,  Professor  Brackett  was  made  Professor  of  Chemistry  and 
Physics,  and  Robert  L.  Packard,  class  of  18G8,  Assistant  Professor  of 
Applied  Chemistry,  for  one  year.  In  1873,  however,  Professors 
Brackett  and  Goodale  resigned,  and  Henry  Carmichael,  a  graduate  of 
Amherst  and  of  Gottingen,  Germany,  was  elcct<?d  Professor  of  Chem- 
istry and  Ph3'8ics,  and  Doctor  Charles  A.  White,  of  Iowa,  Josiah  Lit- 
tle Professor  of  Natural  Science.  In  the  winter  of  the  same  3*ear, 
Professor  Rockwood  resigned,  and  Charles  II.  Smith,  a  graduate  of 
Yale,  was  Professor  of  Mathematics.  Doctor  White  resigned  in 
1875,  and  the  instruction  has  since  been  given  by  different  i)er8ons. 
Professor  A.  S.  Packard,  Jr.,  class  of  IHGl,  giving  an  annual  course 
of  lectures  on  entomology;  !Mr.  George  L.  Chandler,  class  of  18C8, 
giving  instruction  in  natural  history  in  1875-0;  and  Mr.  Leslie  A. 
Lee,  a  graduate  of  St.  Lawrence  University  (Canton,  N.  Y.),  class  of 
1872,  in  1876-7. 

In  connection  with  the  new  plan,  arrangements  were  also  made  for 
other  instruction  in  various  branches,  should  such  be  needed.  Pro- 
fessor Paul  A.  Chadbourne  was  engaged  to  give  the  instniclion  in 
mental  philosophy.  Exercise  in  the  gymnasium  was  made  regular 
and  obligator}',  and  military  science  and  tactics  were  required  to  a 
certain  extent,  of  all  not  specially  excused.  Professor  Chadlvourne 
was  succeeded  in  1873  by  Reverend  E.  C.  Cummings,  and  by  Presi- 
dent Mark  Hopkins  in  1874.  This  year,  however,  the  Edward  Little 
Chair  of  Mental  and  Moral  Philosophy  was  founded,  and  President 
Chamberlain  was  chosen  as  professor. 

In  1875,  Major  Sanger*s  detail  expired,  and  Brevet  Captain  Louis  V. 
Caziarc,  First  United  States  Artillery,  was  appointed  in  his  place  as 
Professor  of  Military  Science  and  Tactics.  Mr.  Charles  H.  Moore 
has  been  instructor  in  Latin  since  Professor  Chapman*s  resignation, 
except  one  3'ear,  when  Professor  A.  11.  Davis  held  the  chair  pro- 
visional I3'. 

Professor  Young,  ha\ing  accepted  the  office  of  treasurer,  relin- 
quished the  duties  of  his  chair,  and  the}'  were  performed  for  one  year 
by  Instructor  Moore,  and  since  then  by  Charles  E.  Springer,  class  of 
1874. 

In  1873  the  old  Commons  Ilall  was  remodelled  into  a  laborator}-  of 
analytical  chemistry,  and  Mr.  F.  C.  Robinson  was  chosen  instructor 


BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.     517 

in  that  department  of  ehemistn'.  The  same  j'ear  the  lower  floor  of 
Memorial  Hall  was  fitted  up  as  a  gymnasium.  Honorable  Peleg  W. 
Chandler,  of  Boston,  also,  this  3'ear,  remodelled  old  Massachusetts 
Hall  into  a  beautiful  room,  called  the  Cleaveland  Cabinet,  in  memory 
of  the  late  Professor  Parker  Cleaveland. 

A  picture  gallery  has  also  been  finished  in  the  chapel,  over  the 
library.  Two  fine  pictures  have  been  added  to  the  panels  of  the 
chapel,  one  given  b}'  Mrs.  William  S.  Perr}',  in  memory  of  her 
husband,  the  subject  being  "The  Transfiguration";  the  other, 
'^  Moses  giving  the  Law,"  which  is  the  beautiful  memento  loft  by  the 
class  of  1877.  The  last  makes  the  seventh  of  the  pictures  whii-h 
have  been,  from  time  to  time,  added  to  the  chapel  panels. 

Since  1872  over  825,000  have  been  given  the  college  as  scholarships 
to  aid  deserving  students,  and  $100,000  towards  a  general  endow- 
ment of  the  college. 

Measures  have  been  taken  to  endow  a  "  Longfellow  Professorship 
of  Modern  Languages,"  and  a  "  Cleaveland  Professorship  of  Cliemis- 
tr}'  and  Mineralogy."  Kftbi-ts  are  also  being  made  to  add  the 
"  Upham  Professorship  of  Mental  Philosophy." 

Many  valuable  gifts  have  been  made  tiie  college  in  the  way  of  books 
and  natural-history  collections.  Especially  notable  are  the  collection 
of  Mrs.  Frederick  Allen,  of  Gardiner,  comprising  more  than  one 
thousand  specimens,  including  many  from  Mount  Jl^tna,  presented  by 
her  daughter,  Mrs.  Elton,  of  Boston  ;  the  Cushman  collection  of  birds 
of  Maine ;  and  the  Blake  herbarium. 

The  whole  number  of  graduates  from  the  college  up  to  187G  is  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  eighty-seven.  The  number  of  students 
at  present  is  about  one  hundred  and  thirtj'-seven,  and  of  olllcxTs  of 
instruction,  fifteen. 

The  number  of  volumes  in  the  college  library  is  17,500;  in  the 
medical  librarv,  4,000  ;  in  the  libraries  of  the  Athena^an  and  Peucin- 
ian  Societies,  13,100;  and  in  the  Historical  Societv's  librarv,  which  is 
placed  in  a  room  of  the  college  chapel,  3,000 :  making  a  total  of  books 
accessible  to  the  student  of  37,600  volumes.  Large  additions  have 
also  been  made  to  the  chemical  and  physical  apparatus. 

The  public  buildings  of  the  college  are  at  present :  — 

JMassacucsetts  Hall,  containing  the  Cleaveland  Cabinet,  lecture- 
room,  and  treasurer's  office. 

AViSTHROP  Hall,  containing,  on  the  lower  floor,  the  engineering- 
rooms  and  recitation-rooms,  the  upper  floors  being  used  as  dr)nnitories. 

Maine  Hall,  having  on  the  lower  floors  the  Atheniean  and  Peu- 


518        UISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

cininn   Societies'   libraries   and  recitation-rooms ;   and  on  the  upper 
floor,  dormitories. 

Appleton  Hall,  containing  dormitories. 

King  Chapel,  containing  tiie  picture  galler}',  librarj'-rooms,  and 
Historical  Society's  rooms. 

Adam3  Hall,  containing  the  lecture-rooms  of  chemistr}'  and  ph3'8- 
ics,  and  the  rooms  of  the  Medical  School. 

Analytical  Laboratory  and  Memorial  Hall,  containing  g^'mna- 
sium.  These  buildings,  with  the  exception  of  Adams  Hall  and  the 
Anah'tical  Laboratory,  will,  when  the  original  plan  is  completed,  form 
a  quadrangle,  the  side  towards  the  public  road  being  open. 

The  present  total  estimated  value  of  the  college  property,  I'eal 
estate  and  permanent  material,  is  $375,000 ;  the  productive  funds  are 
$244,000 ;  the  total  annual  income  is  S30,00P. 

Besides  the  three  literary  societies  of  the  college,  alread}*  men- 
tioned, it  is  proper  to  add  that  there  have  been,  from  time  to  time, 
several  secret  associations  formed,  which  are  presumal)ly  for  literary 
purposes.  The  principal  ones,  if  not  all,  are  designated  as  the  Al})ha 
Delta  riii.  Delta  Kappa  Epsilon,  Chi  Psi,  Psi  Upsilon,  and  Theta 
Delta  Chi.  The  history  of  these  societies  is,  of  course,  known  only 
to  the  initiated. 

THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAIXE. 

In  1820  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  legislature,  establishing  a 
Medical  School,  to  be  coimected  with  Bowdoin  College,  and  also 
making  an  annual  grant  of  81,000,  during  the  pleasure  of  the  legisla- 
ture, for  the  promotion  of  the  objects  designed  in  its  establishment. 
Doctor  Nathan  Smith,  a  member  of  several  societies,  both  in  this 
country  and  in  Europe,  founder  of  the  Medical  School  of  New 
Hampshire,  and  an  eminent  pinsi(;ian  and  surgeon,  was  appointe<l 
Professor  of  the  Theory'  and  Practice  of  Medicine. '  He  also  assumed 
the  duties  of  instructor  in  anatomy  and  surgery.  He  was  assisted  in 
the  latter  branches  b}^  Doctor  John  D.  Wells,  who  had  just  taken  Ids 
medical  degree  at  Cambridge.  At  the  close  of  the  first  course  of  lec- 
tures, Doctor  Wells  was  chosen  to  fill  the  Chair  of  Anatomy,  and 
imniedinti^l}'  sailed  for  Europe,  where  he  sj)ent  nearly  two  j'ears,  pre- 
paring himself  for  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of  his  office.  After  a 
short  but  brilliant  career  as  a  lecturer  at  this  college,  at  the  Berkshire 
Medical  Institution,  and  at  Baltimore,  he  died,  and  was  succeeded  in 
1831  by  Doctor  Reuben  D.  Mussev. 

In  1825  the  Chair  of  Obstetrics  was  founded,  and  Doctor  James 


BOWDOIN  COLLEGE  AND  THE  MEDICAL  SCHOOL  OF  MAINE.     519 

McKeen  was  appointod  professor.  Doctor  McKecn  prepared  him- 
self for  the  duties  of  his  office  by  a  preliminar}'  study  in  the  lying- 
in  hospitals  of  Europe,  and  served  acceptably-  until  1H30,  when  he 
resigned,  and  was  succeeded  b}'  Ebenezer  Wells.  M.  D.,  as  lecturer. 

In  184G  the  Chair  of  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics  was  founded, 
and  Doctor  Charles  A.  Lee  was  chosen  as  lecturer,  and  in  1854  as 
professor.  He  resigned  in  1859,  and  was  succeeded  by  Doctor  Israel 
T.  Dana  as  lecturer  and  afterwards  as  professor  in  full.  Doctor 
Thorndike  resigned  in  18C1,  and  was  succeeded  by  Doctor  William  C. 
Robinson. 

In  1849  the  Chair  of  Medical  Jurispnidence  was  founded,  and  Hon- 
orable John  S.  Tennev  was  chosen  as  lecturer. 

In  1857  the  Chair  of  Anatomj'  was  separated  from  that  of  Surgery 
and  joined  to  that  of  Physiology,  and  Doctor  David  S.  Conant  was 
electe<l,  at  first  as  lecturer,  and  afterwards  as  [)ro feasor.  He  was 
succeeded  in  1863  b}'  Doctor  Corydon  L.  Ford.  Kdnuind  11.  Peaslee, 
M.  D.,  who  had  been  chosen  as  Lecturer  on  Anatomy  and  Surgery-  in 
1843,  and  as  a  professor  in  these  branches  in  1845,  was  in  1857 
appointed  Professor  of  Surgery. 

Prom  1820  until  his  death  in  1858,  Professor  Parker  Cleaveland 
gave  an  annual  course  of  lectures  on  chemistry  to  the  medical 
students. 

Under  the  influence  and  by  the  exertions  of  these  gentlemen  and 
their  successors,  this  Medical  School  has  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of 
prosperity.  At  tirst,  find  for  many  years,  the  lectures  were  given  in 
the  upi)er  room  of  Massachusetts  Hall,  but  in  IHOI  the  Adams  Hall 
was  built  expressly  for  the  accominOvlation  of  this  school. 

The  present  accommodations  are  ample,  and  the  school  has  a  valu- 
able cabinet  and  an  exc;}llent  library  of  choice  works  and  expensive 
plates.  Clinical  instruction  is  given  several  times  a  wc'ek,  :ui(l  students 
can  have  the  privilege  of  occasional  visits  to  the  hospitals  of  Portland 
at  but  slight  expense. 

This  school,  during  the  fifty-seven  years  of  its  exist enc^o,  has  grad- 
uated one  thousand  one  hundred  and  seventy-four  pupils,  of  whom 
seventy  have  be<!^n  alumni  of  Bowdoin  College.  The  last  class  innn- 
bered  ninety  members,  and  the  present  number  of  instructors  is  ten. 
The  following  is  a  list  of  the  professors  and  lecturers  not  ah-eady 
mentioned  :  — 

Of  Chemistr3%  Professors  Paul  A.  Chadbourne,  Cyrus  P.  Brackett, 
and  Henrv  Carmichael ;  of  Theorv  and  Practice,  lleinv  H.  Childs, 
Daniel   Oliver,    Professor  John    De   La   Mater,    Professor  William 


520       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Sweetzer,  AVilliam  Perr}',  James  McKeen,  Israel  T.  Dana,  Pro- 
fessor Alonzo  B.  Palmer,  and  Alfred  Mitchell,  Adjunct  Professor; 
of  Anatomy  and  Surgery,  Jedediah  Cobb,  and  Joseph  Roby ;  of 
Anatomy  and  Phj'siology,  Professors  Thomas  T.  Sabine  and  Thomas 
Dwight ;  of  Anatomy,  Professors  Thomas  Dwight  and  Stephen  H. 
Weeks  ;  of  Phj'siologj',  Professors  Robert  Amory  and  Buit  G.  Wilder ; 
of  Surger}',  Professors  Timothy  Childs,  David  S.  Conant,  and  William 
W.  Green ;  Lecturers,  Alpheus  B.  Crosby  and  Thomas  T.  Sabine ;  of 
Obstetrics,  Benjamin  F.  Barker,  Professor  Amos  Nourse,  'Iheodore 
H.  Jewett,  Professors  William  C.  Robinson,  P^dward  W.  Jenks,  and 
Alfred  Mitchell ;  of  Materia  Medica  and  Therapeutics,  Professors 
Dana,  William  C.  Hobinson,  George  L.  Goodale,  and  Frederic  H. 
Gerrish ;  of  Medical  Jurisprudence,  Cyrus  F.  Brackett,  John  Apple- 
ton,  and  Professor  Charles  AV.  Goddard. 

This  school  has  exerted  a  very  marked  influence  on  the  interests  of 
medical  science,  and  also  upon  the  general  interests  of  education  in 
the  State,  and  has  annually  sent  foi*th  a  coq^s  of  physicians  qualified 
not  onl3'  to  cope  vigorouslj*  with  the  nnseen,  though  certain  foe  of 
the  human  race,  but  who  have  also  shown  themselves,  hitherto,  alive 
to  the  material  welfare  and  best  interests  of  the  State,  and  have  thus 
far  more  than  repaid  the  amount  expended  upon  the  school  by  the 
State. 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  521 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PUBLIC   LANDS,    ROADS,    BRIDGES,    ETC. 
PUBLIC   LANDS. 

In  addition  to  the  ministerial  lot,  lot  for  tlie  first  settled  minister, 
and  the  school  lot  which  were  granted  to  Brunswick  and  Topsham, 
there  was  another  tract  of  land  given  to  the  town  of  Brunswick  to  be 
owned  in  common  by  the  inhabitants,  and  sundrj-  pieces  of  marsh 
land,  which  did  not  come  into  the  lots  as  laid  out  by  tlie  proprietors 
in  the  several  towns,  were  allowed  to  be  used  in  common  by  the  set- 
tlers ujwn  whose  lands  they  bordered. 

BiuNswicK  Town  Commons.  —  The  Town  Commons  of  Brunswick 
originated  in  a  vote  of  the  proprietors,  May  «,  1719,  ''That  one 
Thousand  Acres  of  Land  with  in  the  Township  of  Bninswick  be  Laid 
out;  To  U  in  General  &  perpetual  comonage  to  3*  s**  Town  of 
Brunswick  Forever."^ 

Nothing  further  was  done  until  February  3,  1742,  when  the  pro- 
prietors passed  a  vote  that  ''  the  one  thousand  Acres  as  laid  down  in 
tiie  Plan  of  the  Township  of  Brunswick  wiiich  was  granted  by  the 
Proprietors  of  Brunswick  the  eightii  day  of  May  1719  be  reserved  for 

a  General  and  perpetual  Commonage  to  the  Town  of  Brunswick  for- 
ever." 2 

No  further  action  was  taken  until  June  10,  1771,  when,  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  proprietors,  it  was  voted  that  their  agent  be  authorized  to 
execute  a  deed  of  the  1 ,000  acres  given  for  a  Town  Commons  to  any 
conunittee  appointed  by  the  town  to  receive  it.^ 

The  next  3'ear  tiie  town  at  its  annual  meeting  voted  to  choose  a 
committee  '*  to  la^'  out  that  1,000  acres  of  land  that  was  granted  to 
this  town  by  the  Proprietors  for  a  town  commonage."  It  will  be 
noticed  that  this  committee  was  not  chosen  to  receive  a  deed  of  the 
land. 

In  1773  the  town  voted  to  accept  the  gift  of  the  Commons  and  of 


'^  Bruntwick  Records  in  P^epscot  Collection.       ^Ibid,       ^Pcjepscoi  Records, 


522        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

the  roads,  granted  the  town  b}'  the  proprietors,  witli  the  proviso  that 
the  town  should  not  be  obliged  to  clear  any  roads  which  were  not 
needed. ' 

In  1774  the  selectmen  were  instructed  to  la}-  out  the  1,000  acres 
of  Commons  and  have  it  marked  and  a  plan  made  in  order  that  the 
town  might  get  a  deed  of  it. 

At  a  town  meeting,  held  Ma}-  12,  1778,  it  was  voted  to  have  the 
Commons  laid  out,  but  the  clause  in  the  warrant  relative  to  applying 
to  the  proprietors  for  a  deed  was  laid  on  the  table  till  the  next  meet- 
ing. At  a  meeting,  held  on  the  tenth  of  June,  of  this  year,  it  was 
voted  **  to  Uiy  out  tiie  Commons  agreeable  to  the  minutes  that  were 
read,  viz:  —  Said  Commons  to  be  bounded  on  the  head  of  Middle 
Bay  lots  and  to  extend  northerly'  between  and  adjoyning  \\\yo\\  the  lots 
that  fronts  upon  the  twelve  rod  road  and  tlie  lots  that  fronts  upon 
Mericonege  INIarslios  and  upon  the  lots  that  fronts  upon  New  Mead- 
ows Kiver  until  1000  acres  be  completed."  Captain  Jamen  Thomp- 
son protested  against  this  vote.  Captain  William  Stan  wood,  Jr.,  Mr. 
Andrew  Dunning,  and  Captain  John  Simmons  were  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  superintend  the  laying  out  of  the  Commons,  and  Stephen  Getchell 
was  chosen  as  the  survej'or.  At  a  meeting,  held  December  25,  it 
was  voted  to  accept  the  surve}'  of  the  Commons  as  laid  out  by  the 
above-named  committee.  It  was  also  voted  '*  not  to  accept  of  a 
deed  of  said  Commons  from  Doctor  Xoyes  by  Ksfjuire  Ilinkley's 
survey";  and  Thomas  Skolfield,  l)t?acon  Snnuiel  Stanwood,  and 
Andrew  Dunning  were  chosen  a  committee  to  correspond  with  Doctor 
Belcher  Xoyes,  proprietors'  clerk,  concerning  the  Connnons. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1779  the  selectmen  were  directed  to  pro- 
cure a  deed  of  the  Connnons  as  soon  as  possible*,  and  the  committee 
that  was  chosen  to  lay  out  the  Commons  were  directi'd  to  complete 
their  work  as  soon  as  possible.  The  selectmen  were  also  instructed 
to  take  the  most  effectual  way  to  secure  for  the  benefit  of  the  town  the 
lumber  growth  on  the  Commons.  In  response  to  the  notification  of 
the  selectmen.  Belcher  Xoyes,  the  proprietors*  agent,  executed  the 
following  deed :  — 

**  To  ALL  Persons  to  whom  tukse  Tkesents  shall  come  Belcheii  Xoyes 
OF  Boston'  in  the  coltnty  of  Suffolk  &  Commonwealth  of  the 
Massachusetts  Esq 

*' Sends  Gueetixg. 

"  "Whereas  in  the  first  Settlement  of  the  Town  of  Brunswick  there 
was  allowed  &  granted  by  the  Original  Proprietors  of  said  Township 
One  thousand  Acres  of  Land  within  the  said  Township  to  be  laid  out, 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  523 

to  la}'  in  general  and  perpetual  Commonage :  And  whereas  the  said 
Proprietors  at  their  meeting  duly  warned  according  to  law  held  by 
Adjournment  at  Boston  June  10***  1771  Voted,  That  Belcher  Noyes 
Esq  be  and  hereb}'  is  impowered  to  execute  a  Deed  of  said  one 
thousand  acres  as  laid  down  in  the  plan  of  said  Township  to  the 
Selectmen  of  said  Town  of  Brunswick  in  trust  for  that  purpose. 

"Now  know  yee,  That  I  the  said  Belcher  Xoyes,  in  pursuance  of 
said  vote  impowering  me  hereunto,  and  to  the  intent  that  the  Town  of 
Brunswick  may  hold  &  enjoy  the  Benefitt  of  said  Grant  of  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  Land  for  the  purpose  above  mentioned,  for  &  in  consid- 
eration of  Twenty  shillings  by  me  received  of  Nathaniel  Larrabee, 
Andrew  Duning,  &  William  Standwood,  the  present  Selectmen  of  the 
Town  of  Brunswick  in  the  County  of  Cumberland  &  said  Common- 
wealth Do  by  these  presents  Grant  convey  &  confirm  unto  the  said 
Nathaniel  Larrabee,  Andrew  Duning,  &  AVilliam  Standwood,  the 
Selectmen  of  said  Town  of  Brunswick  in  Tnist  to  and  for  the  use  & 
improvement  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  forever  One  thousand 
acres  of  Land  within  the  said  Town  of  Bninswick  as  described  &  laid 
down  in  the  Plan  of  said  Township  taken  by  James  Scnles  Survo3*or, 
as  follows  viz* : 

*"  Extending  from  the  rear  Line  of  the  Lotts  at  Maquoit  &  Middle 
Bay,  on  a  course  northeast  till  3'ou  come  to  the  County  road,  leading 
to  New  Meadows,  including  all  the  Land  bounding  Northwest  on  the 
rear  of  the  Lotts  on  Maquoit  road  &  Soutlieast  on  the  rear  of  the 
Lotts  at  New  Meadows  up  to  said  county  road,  to  bound  northeast  on 
said  couutv  road  according?  to  the  course  thereof  &  southwest  on  the 
rear  line  of  the  Lotts  at  jMaquoit  &  Middle  Bay.  And  in  (;ase  there 
should  be  more  than  one  thousand  acres  of  Land  contained  in  said 
Bounds  above  described,  the  oveq^lus  be  it  more  or  less  is  hereby 
appropriated  &  granted  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  in  the  said 
Town  of  Bninswick  forever :  that  is  to  say.  To  the  use  &  improve- 
ment of  the  Reverend  Mr.  John  Miller  the  present  Pastor  of  the 
Church  in  said  Town  of  Brunswick  &  his  successors  in  said  office 
forever. 

"  To  Have  and  to  Hold  the  said  one  thousand  acres  of  Land  &  no 
more  as  above  described,  unto  them  the  said  Nathaniel  Larrabee, 
Andrew  Duning,  &  William  Standwood,  the  present  Selectmen  of  the 
Town  of  Brunswick  &  their  Successors  in  said  office  forever  to  and 
for  the  use  and  improvement  of  the  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  of 
Bninswick  forever  and  no  otherwise.  And  the  overplus  (Quantity 
contained  in  said  Bounds  more  than  said  one  thousand  acres  to  be 


524      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  remain  for  the  support  of  the  gospel  ministry  in  said  town  as 
above  mentioned  forever :  And  it  is  the  true  intent  and  moaning  of 
these  presents :  That  the  said  Inhabitants  of  said  Town  of  Brunswick 
shall  hold  the  said  one  thousand  acres  of  Land  above  mentioned  free 
and  clear  of  and  from  any  claim  or  Demand  of  the  said  Proprietors 
of  said  Town  of  Brunswick  their  respective  Heirs  and  assigns  forever 
in  as  full  and  ample  a  manner  as  the  same  is  derived  to  them  by  any 
ways  or  means  whatsoever.  And  in  Testimony  that  this  Deed  shall 
be  held  good  &  valid  by  them  the  said  Proprietors  of  said  Town  of 
Brunswick  at  all  times  hereafter,  I  the  said  Belcher  Novcs  bv  virtue 
of  the  said  vote  impowering  me  hereunto  do  sett  my  hand  &  seal  to 
this  Instrument  as  their  Act  and  Deed  this  fourth  dav  of  Julv,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  eighty  one. 

"Belcher  Xoyes 

and  a  leol 

"  Si^nod  Sealed  &  Delivered 
ill  presence  of  us, 

J.V.MK8   ClIACK 

TuoMAS  Texnell 

*'  Suffolk  ss  Xov  20  17S3 
"Then  the  above  named  Belcher  Xoyes  Esq.   acknowledged  this 
Instrument  Executed  b}'  him  to  be  his  Act  &  Deed 

*'  Before  me, 

"  Joseph  Greexlkaf 

Justine  Pencey 

After  receiving  this  deed,  the  town  appears  to  have  taken  no  further 
measures  in  regai*d  to  the  land  until  1808.  At  the  annual  meeting  of 
that  year,  however,  a  committee  was  appointed  "'  to  apply  to  the  Grant- 
ors of  the  Town  Commons,  Ministr}*  and  School  lots,  and  Marsh,"  for 
permission  to  sell  and  dispose  of  them,  the  interest  arising  from  the 
fund  thus  obtained  to  be  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  schools  or  iu 
such  other  wa}-  as  the  town  might  think  proper.  A  Committee  was 
also  chosen  to  ascertain  the  limits  of  the  Commons,  in  order  to  ascer- 
tain if  there  was  an}'  surplus  land  for  the  First  Parish.  Xo  reply  of 
the  proprietors  to  the  request  for  permission  Xo  sell  the  lands  referred 
to  above  has  been  found,  but  it  is  evident  that  no  permission  was  given 
so  far  as  the  sale  of  the  Town  Connnons  was  concerned. 

In  1811,  Isaac  Gates,  Esquire,  and  Peter  O.  Alden,  Esquire,  were 
chosen  agents  of  the  town  to  petition  the  legislature  for  authority  to 
divide,  set  off,  and  convey  to  the  president  and  trustees  of  Bowdoin 
College  the  two  hundred  acres  of  the  Commons,  which  by  vote  of  the 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  625 

town,  IMay  2,  1791,  afterwanls  confirmed  by  a  vote  of  the  proprietor, 
was  granted  to  the  before -mentioned  officers  of  the  college. 

On  JnU'  4,  1834,  the  committee  chosen  by  the  town  at  the  annual 
meeting  in  Ma}',  to  examine  into  the  bounds  of  the  Town  Commons, 
reported  substantially  as  follows,  after  recapitulating  the  foregoing 
votes  of  the  town  and  of  the  proprietors. 

They  state  that  the  land  was  not  measured  until  Febniary,  1741, 
when  Scales's  plan  of  the  town  was  made,  at  which  time  the  Commons 
were  l()cate<l.  They  say  that  this  plan  had  governed  the  proprietors 
in  making  all  their  deeds  and  grants,  and  that  a  copj'  of  this  plan  was 
the  onlv  one  ever  recognized  bv  the  town.  At  or  soon  after  the  time 
the  town  received  the  deed  of  the  land,  several  surveys  were  made  of 
the  Commons,  one  of  which  was  made  by  Stephen  Getchell  for  the 
town.  The  proprietors  employed  Aaron  Ilinkley  and  John  Merrill  to 
survey  the  Commons.  These  two  surve3''s  were  made  from  the  same 
description,  but  differed  from  each  other  b}'  the  amount  of  four  hun- 
dred and  ninety-nine  acres.  As  the  town  and  pi-oprietors  could  not 
agree  as  to  the  contents  of  what  was  included  within  the  given  boun- 
daries of  the  Commons,  and  as  the  proprietors  were  unwilling,  in  con- 
sequence of  a  disagreement  with  the  town  in  regard  to  the  taxation  of 
their  lands,  to  deed  any  more  than  the  1,000  acres  which  they  had  pre- 
viously granted,  they  agreed,  in  order  to  settle  the  controversy,  upon 
the  boundanesas  settled  in  the  deed,  but  with  the  reservation  that  any 
suri)lus  that  there  might  be  should  "go  to  the  support  of  tlie  gospel  in 
said  town  of  Hrunswick  forever." 

The  ConiTuous  remained  without  any  authorized  surve}'  on  the  part 
of  the  town  until  1811,  when  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts  empow- 
ered Jacob  Abbot  and  John  Perry,  Jr.,  to  set  ofi*  to  Bowdoin  College 
its  two  hundred  acres.  They  performed  their  duty,  and  monuments 
were  i)laced  around  the  two  hundred  acres.  In  1816  a  committee  of 
the  First  I'arish  applied  to  the  town  to  join  them  in  setting  otf  the 
overplus  of  the  Town  Commons.  This  was  done  October  28  of  that 
year.  The  object  of  the  parish  was  effected,  and  they  sold  the  over- 
plus to  ^Ir.  John  Given,  and  their  boundaries  were  still  k<»pt  up, 
though  at  that  time  the  Commons  were  without  permanent  boundaries. 
The  committee  proceed  to  state  that  they  had  followed  the  courses  of 
the  previous  committees,  and  had  measured  their  distances,  but  found 
them  leading  far  from  the  truth,  no  two  reputed  monuments  or  marks 
of  trees  agreeing  with  each  other.  Thej'  decided  not  to  make  a  new 
survey  on  account  of  the  expense  and  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  old 
First  Parish  would  have  reaped  the  benefits  at  the  town's  expense. 


526        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  IIARPSWELL. 

The}'  recoinmcndecl  that  before  having  the  Commons  suiTcyed,  the 
town  should  procure  a  quitcUiim  deed  from  the  First  Parish  of  any 
further  ri^j^iit  than  tlie}'  had  ah-eady  received.  Also,  that  when  a  sur- 
vey was  made,  i)ermanent  monuments  should  be  placed  at  all  the  cor- 
ners, and  a  plan  of  the  survey  be  reported  to  the  town.  This  report 
of  the  committee  was  accepted  b}'  the  town. 

A  committee  was  chosen  bv  the  town  this  vear  to  examine  the  Com- 
mons  in  reofard  to  the  practicability  and  advisabilit}'  of  having  the 
town  farm  there.  This  committee  reported  in  August  of  that  year, 
and  the  town  ordered  the  report  to  be  printed,  and  instructed  the 
selectmen  to  have  the  Commons  suiTe3*ed.  The  selectmen  were  also 
directed  to  petition  the  legislature  for  permission  to  use  the  Conuuons 
for  agricultural  purposes,  or  to  dispose  of  it,  should  the  town  ever  so 
direct.  The  prayer  of  this  petition  was  not  granted.  They  were 
directed,  moreover,  to  '*  procjure  a  release  of  the  Town  Commons,  to 
sell  if  the  town  think  best  at  a  future  time,  from  the  Pejei>siCot  l*ri)i>ri- 
etors."  The  town  also  instructed  the  selectmen  to  demand  a  rout 
from  all  persons  who  had  improved  any  part  of  the  Commons,  and  to 
cause  the  removal  of  all  who  did  not  pay  the  rent. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  1857,  Abner  B.  Thompson, 
John  C.  Humphreys,  William  G.  Barrows,  Sanuiel  R.  Jackson, 
Richard  Greenleaf,  and  John  McKeen  were  appointed  a  committee  to 
investigate  all  mattei*s  relating  to  the  Town  Commons,  ascertain  what 
title  the  town  had  to  the  same,  and  the  boundaries  thereof,  what 
encroachments  had  been  made  thereon,  and  all  other  fiicts  relating  to 
the  sulyect,  and  were  instructed  to  make  a  wport  at  some  future  meet- 
ing of  the  town. 

It  was  also  voted  at  this  meeting  to  petition  the  legislature  to  give 
the  town  a  more  full  and  absolute  control  of  tiie  use  and  disposal  of 
the  Commons,  and  enable  them  to  receive  more  benelitfrom  this  grant 
from  the  proprietors  than  they  could  do  with  the  land  as  it  had  been. 
This  petition  met  with  the  same  fate  as  the  earlier  one  of  similar 
tenor. 

The  committee  to  examine  into  the  condition  of  the  C-ommons 
reported  in  1858.  In  their  report  they  say  that  the  Commons  had 
been  for  more  than  a  hundred  years  a  fruitful  source  of  i)erplexit3', 
trouble,  and  expense  to  the  town.  Though  designed  for  the  benefit 
of  the  whole,  a  few  had  taken  the  lion's  i)art,  stripped  it  of  its  wood 
and  timber,  and  used  it  otherwise  as  would  best  subserve  their  i)ur- 
poses.  The  expenses  of  looking  after  it  had  probably  been  thousands 
of  dollars,  and  all  that  had  been  done  resulted  in  nothing.     Depre- 


PUBLIC  LAyua,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  £27 

dations  had  continued  from  year  to  j'ear,  and  continual  complaints  would 
be  made  until  some  disposition  was  made  which  would  more  effectually 
secure  to  the  town  the  enjoyment  of  it.  Until  this  was  done  it  would 
continue  to  be  a  source  of  expense,  instead  of  income,  to  the  town. 

The  committee  say  that  in  their  preliminary  examination  for  the 
boundaries  of  the  Commons,  it  was  found  ditlicult  to  find  man}'  of  its 
monuments;  many  of  them  had  been  removed,  and  the  puipoi^ted 
boundaries,  as  given  by  those  living  in  the  proximity  of  the  Commons, 
failed  to  give  the  proper  number  by  nearly  or  more  than  one  hundred 
aci'es.  It  was  found  necessary  to  search  for  such  surveys  as  had  been 
formerly  made.  After  much  trouble  and  investigation  they  had 
accepted  the  survey  of  Daniel  Given,  as  settled  and  iigrced  to  In'  the 
First  Parish  and  town,  in  181 G,  and  they  therefore  presented  the  sur- 
ve}'  of  Charles  J.  Noyes,  which  they  had  unanimously  agreed  to  adopt 
as  part  of  their  report,  and  they  recommended  that  the  town  should 
accei)t  the  Given  survey  as  the  correct  survey  of  tlie  Commons. 

The  committee  give  an  account  of  all  the  transactions  of  the  town 
hi  regard  to  the  Commons,  and  in  relation  to  the  deed  tlu;y  remark, 
*' A  conveyance  in  temis  so  ample  would  seem  impossible  to  be  con- 
strued, except  as  giving  the  town  the  fullest  scope  and  authorit}'  in 
determining  the  manner  in  which  the  '  use  and  imi)rovemenls  *  for  the 
common  benefit  should  be  made."  They  state  that  the  surplus  for  the 
'*  support  of  the  gospel  ministry"  amounted  to  about  one  hundred  and 
ninet3'-s9ven  acres.  They  submitted  their  report  without  any  further 
recommendation  than  what  has  been  given.  The  town  accepted  the 
reix)^,  and  voted  also  that  their  agent  be  empowered  and  directed 
to  enter  into  references  with  the  parties  whose  lots  abutted  on  the  Com- 
mons, and  in  case  any  of  these  parties  declined  to  refer  the  matter, 
the  agent  was  instructed  to  institute  legal  proceedings  to  maintain  and 
protect  the  rights  of  the  town.  It  was  also  voted  that  when  the  lines 
were  authoritatively  ascertained,  the  selectmen  shouKl  cause  per  ma- 

• 

ncnt  stone  monuments  to  be  erected,  to  mark  clearly  the  boundaiies 
of  the  Commons.  In  accordance  with  this  vote  a  lew  monuments  were 
erected,  but  the  Commons  remain  now,  as  thej'  alwa^'s  have  been, 
unmarked  by  anj*  clearly  defined  bounds.  "Whether  encroachments 
and  depredations  upon  them  have  been  stayed  is  not  known.  If 
proper  measures  are  taken  to  prevent  further  encroachments  upon  it, 
the  time  is  certain  to  come  when  the  whole  tract  will  be  of  great  value 
and  utility  as  a  public  park.  ^ 

^  PeraoHB  intrrested  in  thi9  matter  of  the  Town  Commons  will  find  the  Surveyor's 
Report  on  pages  39  and  40  of  Volume  5  of  Town  Records, 


528        lUSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


EOADS. 

It  is  diflTiciilt,  if  not  impossible,  to  locate  with  certainty  many  of 
the  roads  which  were  constructed  in  the  last  eentiirv.  With  a  few 
exceptions  the  reconls  are  extremel}'  indefinite  upon  this  point.  The 
line  of  a  road  was  generally  indicated  by  notched  trees,  piles  of  stones, 
sthkes  driven  into  the  ground,  and  similar  landmarks,  which  have 
long  since  passed  away. 

With  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Charles  J.  Noyes,  C.  E.,  —  than  whom 
there  is  no  better  autJiority,  —  we  are  enabled  to  give  the  following 
account  of  tlu*  moi'e  important  roads  and  streets,  and  we  believe  that 
this  account  is  as  correct  as  it  is  possible  at  this  late  day  to  make  it. 

The  first  regular  road  was  constructed  in  1717,  by  order  of  the  pro- 
prietors, who  voted,  June  3,  to  have  a  twelve-rod  road  laid  out  from 
the  "  southerly  bastion  of  Fort  George  in  a  straight  line  to  Maquoit," 
and  to  liave  a  fence  erected  from  the  southerly  bastion  of  the  fort  over 
to  a  small  house  occupied  by  Wymond  Bradbury,  which  stood  where 
the  cottage  now  is,  at  the  top  of  the  liill  leading  to  the  bridge.  This 
was  determined  to  be  the  end  of  the  Twelve-Kod  road,  now  Maine 
Street.  1 

At  the  same  time  a  road  was  laid  out  from  the  Fort  to  the  Landing- 
Place,  and  from  the  Fort  to  the  Indian  Carrying-Place.  This  road 
corresponded  with  what  are  now  Mill,  IMason,  and  Water  Streets. 
TJie  road  was  originally  laid  out  in  a  straight  line,  east  and  west,  and 
crossed  the  cove  opposite  to  the  end  of  Mill  Street,^  but  it  could  not 
have  been  travelled  so  on  account  of  the  steep  declivity  on  the  eastern 
side  of  tlM»  cove,  and  the  travelled  road  was,  doubtless,  from  the  \QTy 
first,  substantially  the  same  as  at  present. 

A  four-rod  road  was  also,  in  1717,  laid  out  to  run  east  and  west  on 
the  south  side  of  the  tenth  lot,  to  extend  the  length  of  the  lot.^  This 
was  what  is  now  known  as  McKeen  Street,  on  the  west  side  of  Maine 
Street,  and  it  then  continued  dire<'tly  across  what  is  now  the  college 
grounds  in  a  straight  line  to  tlie  river.  Traces  of  that  portion  of  the 
road  are  still  to  be  found.  At  some  time,  date  unknown,  the  road 
across  the  college  grounds  was  closed  up,  and  what  is  known  as  Pine 
Street,  from  the  Village  Cemeter}*  to  Varney*s  Cemetery,  was  opened 
in  its  place. 

In  1717  the  proprietors  made  an  agreement  with  Lieutenant  Joseph 


'  Prjopscot  Records,  and  Brnnnvick  Rtcords  in  Ptjepscot  Collection. 
^Map  No,  Id  in  P^cpacot  Collection*  «  Pf^epscot  Records, 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  529 

Heath  for  him  "  to  cut  a  Road  or  Wa}'  through  the  Woods  at  least 
Ten  feet  broad,  clear  it,  bridge  it,  &  make  it  passable  for  Men  &  Cat- 
tle from  Fort  George  the  Upperway  to  Rj'alls  River  being  judged 
about  Twenty  miles  in  Length  [provided  the  Men  at  Ryalls  River  will 
engage  at  their  charge  to  cut  &  clear  a  Road  from  thence  to  Presumj)- 
scot  River]  for  which  when  finished  we  will  allow  s**  Heath  Fourty 
pK)und8."  ^  According  to  McKeen,^  this  road  began  at  the  twelve-rod 
i*oad,  about  where  General  Joshua  L.  Chamberlain  now  resides,  passed 
along  the  high  land,  westerly,  to  avoid  the  swamp,  then  turned  a  little 
towards  the  river  and  followed  nearly  the  line  of  the  present  Freeport 
road,  but  more  circuitously,  passing  over  the  hill  where  is  now  the 
*"  deep  cut"  of  the  railroad,  thence  by  Oak  Hill  to  Freeport. 

Subsequently',  probably  not  far  from  1770,  the  portion  of  the  road 
from  General  Chamberlain's  towards  the  river  was  discontinued,  and 
the  travel  came  in  by  what  is  no^  Mill  Street.  In  Given's  map  of 
Brunswick  (1795),  this  was  the  only  road  to  Yarmouth.  The  route 
was  about  as  follows,  using  present  localities  as  a  guide.  It  went 
along  Mill  Street  to  a  short  distance  above  the  upper  railroad  bridge, 
thence  along  the  shore  and  back  of  Jackson's  burying-ground  (where 
the  road  is  still  to  be  seen),  thence  westerl}',  passing  along  in  front  of 
Samuel  BlaisdelFs  house,  and  so  on  to  the  deep  cut  and  thence  in 
nearly  a  straight  course  to  Walter  Mcrrj'man's,  then  easterl}'  over  the 
hill,  coming  out  by  James  Littlefield's,  and  then  about  as  now  trav- 
elled to  Lewis  Morse's  just  in  front  of  his  house,  and  then  about  as 
now  travelled  to  Freeport. 

In  17;^9,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  town  in  its  corporate  capacit}', 
it  was  '*  voted  that  the  roads  should  lay  as  they  were  laid  out  by  John 
Gatchell,  James  Thompson,  and  Benjamin  Parker."  ^  When  the 
roads  were  laid  out  by  them  is  not  stated,  but  it  could  not  have  been 
many  ^-ears  previously.     The  roads  enumerated  were  :  — 

First.  — A  road  from  New  Meadows  to  the  twelve-rod  road.  This 
road  began  at  what  is  now  known  as  Howard's  Point  (south  of  the 
present  residence  of  Bartlett  Adams),  passed  around  the  head  of 
CluflTs  Bay,  and  then  ran  a  north-northwest  course  to  Cook's  Corner, 
from  whence  it  ran  across  the  plains  in  an  indirect  line  to  the  Twelve- 
Rod  road,  wliich  it  entered  near  the  present  meeting-house  of  the  First 
Parish.^  From  this  road  were  two  branches,  one  leading  to  the  Twelve- 
Rod  road  a  short  distance  south  of  the  colleges,  opposite  the  Samuel 


P^epscot  Records.  2  p^epscot  Papers ;  oho  Map  No.  21,  Pcjepscot  Collection. 

»  Town  Records,  1,  p.  6.     <ifap  No.  24,  P^epacot  Collection. 
84 


530        mbTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Berry  estate,  and  the  other  entering  the  Twelve  Rod  road  near  the  old 
First  Parish  Fleeting-House.  Both  these  branches  are  in  existence, 
but  untravelled. 

Second,  —  A  road  from  Stevens's  Carrying-Place  to  Coombs's  (now 
Howard's)  Point.  This  was  substantially  the  same  as  the  road  which 
now  nuis  from  Bartlett  Adams's,  up  the  river,  passing  Chapin  Wes- 
ton's, and  so  on  to  the  head  of  New  Meadows  Kiver. 

Third.  —  A  road  leading  from  the  Gurnet  northerl}',  in  about  a 
straight  line,  till  it  intercepted  the  road  leading  from  New  Meadows 
to  the  Twelve-Red  road. 

FonHh.  —  A  road  leading  from  the  old  west  meeting-house  to  Mid- 
dle Ba3'.  It  ran  about  the  same  courses  as  the  present  road,  but 
entered  the  Twelve- Rod  road  nearer  the  mc^eting-house. 

Fifth.  — What  is  now  known  as  the  old  Ilarpswell  road,  from  the 
Twelve-Rod  road  below  the  old  west  meeting-house  to  Harps  well  Neck. 

These  roads  were  not  formally  accepted  by  the  town  and  their 
courses  recorded  until  several  years  later. 

The  town  was  occasionally  "presented"  for  bad  roads.  At  the 
Januarj*  session  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  in  1739,  **  Benjamin 
LaiTabee,  Esquire,  one  of  the  selectmen  of  the  town  of  Brunswick, 
appeared  to  answer  the  presentment  exhibited  against  the  said  town 
for  deficiency  in  the  highway  in  said  town,  leading  to  Noilii  Yarmouth, 
and  the  said  selectmen  having  promised  to  see  the  s'^  way  mended ; 
ordered  that  tiie}'  be  acquitted  paying  fees  of  Court,  two  pounds 
eleven  shillings." 

At  the  town  meeting  in  1744,  an  order  having  been  issued  b3-the 
Court  of  General  Sessions,  for  a  highwn}'  between  Brunswick  and 
Georgetown,  Deacon  Samuel  Whitney'  and  Captain  William  Woodside 
were  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  same.  There  is  no  record 
of  the  action  taken  by  this  committee,  but  it  is  probable  that  they 
simply  made  passable  the  road  previously  laid  out,  as  that  was  the 
only  road  to  Georgetown,  now  Bath,  for  many  years  subsequently'. 

Not  far  from  this  time,  though  possibly  a  little  later,  there  was  a 
road  from  the  New  Meadows  River  straight  over  to  the  Androsoc^gin, 
at  a  point  nearl}'  opposite  James  Mustard's  in  Topsham.^  Here  was 
a  ferry.  It  is  probable  that  the  line  struck  the  New  Meadows  River  a 
short  distance  above  Mr.  Bartlett  Adams's  house,  which  was  only  a 
short  distance  above  Brown's  Ferr}',  across  the  New  Meadows  River. 

In  1753  the  inhabitants  of  Mair  Point  consented  to  give  a  free  road. 


*  Jtfiap  No.  11,  P^epscot  Collection. 


PUBUC  LANDS,  BOADS,  BRIDOES,  ETC. 


531 


Roads  w  1764. 


532        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

one  rod  wide,  to  the  lower  end  of  the  Point,  and  to  maintain  suflleient 
gates  on  any  fences  which  crossed  the  road,  and  the  town  voted  to  be 
at  the  charge  of  keeping  the  road  in  repair.  In  17G7  this  road  was 
made  two  rods  wide. 

In  1  liid  the  road  was  laid  out  which  leads  from  Nathan  Woodward's 
by  GatchelFs  Pond  and  Washington  Woodward's  estate  to  the  New 
Meadows  River  road. 

In  1760  the  road  from  Maquoit  Landing  to  Bunganock  was  laid  out 
substantially  as  it  now  is,  but  at  that  time  there  was  a  branch  road 
from  a  short  distance  below  N.  Blake's  over  to  the  Twelve-Rod  road 
near  the  Maquoit  school-house.  This  branch  was  subsequently  dis- 
continued, but  at  what  time  is  not  known.  The  location  of  the  roads 
described  in  the  preceding  pages  can  be  readil3'  undei*stood  by  refer- 
ence to  the  map  of  roads  which  is  given  on  the  preceding  page. 

What  is  now  known  as  the  I^ennell  road,  from  the  old  Harps  well 
road  to  Pennellville,  was  laid  out  in  1770. 

In  the  year  1773,  on  the  petition  of  Jonathan  Bagley  and  of  others 
who  were  interested  in  the  lands  on  the  river,  the  town  voted  to  accept 
the  road  to  Durham,  which  had  been,  constructed  by  the  petitioners. 
This  was  the  river  road  to  Durham,  which  then  ran  close  to  the  river 
on  the  iuterN'ales,  and  was  very  crooked.  Changes  in  the  courses  were 
subsequently  made. 

The  lower  road  to  Freeport,  starting  a  short  distance  above  the  old 
west  meeting-house,  and  passing  by  Albion  V,  Woodside's  and  so  on 
to  Freeport,  was  laid  out  about  the  year  171)4.  Mrs.  J.  1).  Lamb  dis- 
tinctly remembers  walking  through  it  when  it  was  first  laid  out.  She 
was  then  a  child,  nine  or  ten  years  old.  The  road  was  cut  through  a 
dense  forest  for  nearly  its  whole  length.  It  was  not  made  [)assable 
for  carriages  for  a  number  of  3'ears  later.  Mr.  Lewis  Simpson  says 
the  road  was  not  completed  until  1806.  He  remembers  that  the 
laborers  upon  the  road  ceased  work  during  the  great  solar  eclipse 
which  occurred  that  year. 

In  the  year  1789  a  second  county  road  was  laid  out  from  Cook's 
Corner  to  Bath,  but  it  was  not  made  passable  until  1795.^  The  town 
in  1790  oi)posed  the  building  of  this  road.  The  road  is  not  shown  in 
Given's  plan  of  Brunswick,  which  was  made  in  May,  1795,  so  that  it 
was  not  probably  a  travelled  road  until  some  months  subsequently. 
This  road  ran  up  by  Martin  Storer's,  and  then  in  a  verj' circuitous  Hue 


» Maine  lUsinrical  Collection,  Vol,  2,  p.  219.      Lemont's  Historical  Dates  of  Bath, 
p.  41. 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  533 

to  a  short  distance  north  of  Ham's  Hill,  where  it  entered  the  old 
county  road  which  passed  around  the  head  of  New  Meadows  River. 
Portions  of  this  road  are  still  in  existence  and  travelled. 

In  1794  the  road  IVom  Oak  Hill  to  Bunganock  was  laid  out,  and  in 
1796  the  road  from  Bunganock  to  Growstown  was  Iai<l  out. 

In  the  year  1800  the  road  from  L.  D.  Alexander's  to  E.  C.  Ray- 
mond's was  laid  out,  and  in  1802  what  is  called  the  Otis  road  was  laid 
out.  The  "  Friends'  road,"  from  the  Durham  River  road  to  Freeport, 
was  laid  out  in  1805. 

The  turnpike  to  Bath,  sometimes  called  Governor  King's  tunipike, 
was  built  in  1805^  or  1806.  Mr.  Lewis  Simpson  distinctly  recollects 
that  at  the  first  Commencement  at  Bowdoin  College,  in  1806,  two  men 
who  were  engaged  in  building  this  road  came  up  to  spend  tiie  after- 
noon. This  turnpike  was  well  made,  and  the  road-bed  was  hard  and 
smooth.  It  went  through  the  woods  nearly  all  the  way  east  of  Cook's 
Corner.  The  road  now  travelled  from  Brunswick  to  Cook's  Corner 
and  straight  on  to  New  Meadows  River  is  a  part  of  the  old  turnpike 
The  turnpike  bridge  was  a  few  roils  south  of  the  railroad  bridge.  The 
gate  and  toll-house  were  at  the  west  end  of  the  bridge. 

According  to  Lemont,^  a  second  turnpike  was  built  in  1806  from 
Bath  to  Brunswick,  crossing  the  New  Meadows  River  at  Brown's 
Ferry.  It  is  not  probable  that  there  was,  at  that  time,  a  second  turn- 
pike in  Bath,  and  there  is  no  evidence  that  another  turnpike  was  built 
in  Brunswick.  The  bridge  at  Brown's  Ferry  was  built  previous  to 
that  of  Governor  King,  and  only  the  abutments  and  piers  remained  in 
l><08-9.  It  is  more  probable  that  what  Lemont  calls  the  second  turn- 
pike was  a  shunpike^  as  it  is  well  known  that,  to  avoid  paying  toll, 
travellers  from  Brunswick  left  the  turnpike  at  Cook's  Corner  and 
crossed  the  river  at  Brown's  Ferry.  It  was  owing  to  this  fact  that 
General  King  established  a  gate  on  the  turnpike  west  of  Cook's  Cor- 
ner. That  expedient  proved  of  no  avail,  however,  as  travellers  there- 
after drove  across  the  plains  to  Cook's  Corner,  and  then  down  to 
Brown's  Ferrj',  thus  avoiding  both  toll-gates. 

In  1810  an  alteration  was  made  in  the  upper  county  road  to  Bath, 
so  that  it  crossed  the  New  Meadows  River  a  short  distance  above 
Ham's  Hill,  over  a  bridge  calletl  Hayden's  Bridge,  and  in  1831  the 
road  was  straightened  and  laid  out  over  Ham's  Hill,  as  it  is  now. 
The  Bull  Rock  Bridge  road  was  laid  out  in  1836.^ 

In  1837  the  New  Wharf  road  was  laid  out. 

»  Lemont,  Historical  Dates  of  Bath,  p.  41 .  ^Ihid,  » Ibid. 


534        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

In  1843  a  petition  was  granted  hy  the  Court  of  General  Sessions 
for  Lincoln  County,  for  a  road  from  High  Street  in  Bath,  over  the 
Bull  Bndge,  through  Brunswick  to  Freeport. 

At  what  time  guide-boards  were  first  used  is  not  known,  but  in 
1814  the  town  instnicted  the  selectmen  to  repair  and  erect  guide- 
boards  wherever  necessary,  showing  that  some,  at  least,  had  been 
erected  previously  to  that  date. 

TwELVE-Roi)  Road. — Maine  Street,  or  the  Twelve-Rod  road,  owing 
to  its  location  and  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the  measurements  and  esti- 
mates of  distances  arc  based  upon  it,  is  entitled  to  a  more  extended 
consideration  than  the  other  roads  of  the  town.  All  the  lots  at  the 
laying  out  of  the  town  were  connected  with  lot  number  one,  which 
commenced  at  a  point  twenty-seven  rods  south  from  the  flag-staff  upon 
Fort  George.  Therefore  both  the  lots  and  the  roads  take  their  start 
from  one  and  the  same  point,  —  a  bastion  of  the  old  fort.  In  order 
to  a  complete  understanding  of  the  matter,  it  will  be  well  to  enumerate 
the  various  votes  in  regard  to  this  road  that  have  been  passed  by  the 
town,  or  by  the  proprietors,  since  it  was  originally  laid  out  in  1717. 
The  first  public  action  in  regard  to  this  road  was  taken  at  a  legal 
meeting  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  township,  held  May  8,  1719.  At 
this  meeting  it  was  voted  :  — 

"  That  whereas  y*  IVoprietors  have  allowed  a  road  12  Rod  wide 
from  Foil  Geoi^e  to  Maquoit  as  also  sundry  other  private  wajs : 
henceforth  no  incumbrance  shall  be  Krected  or  Continued  in  anv  of 
the  said  Wayes." 

At  the  town  meeting  in  1740  it  was  voted  that  the  main  road  from 
Fort  George  to  Maquoit  should  be  twelve  rods  wide.  This  vot«  was 
evidently  intended  to  be  merely'  confirmatory  of  the  original  action  of 
the  proprietors  in  laying  it  out  of  that  width.  At  a  meeting  of  the 
Pejepscot  proprietors  on  November  14  of  this  year,  it  was  voted  by 
them  that  '*  Whereas  a  Road  of  12  Rods  wide  was  granted  by  the 
Proprietors  June  3,  1717,  from  Fort  George  over  to  Maquoit  and  said 
road  has  not  been  improved  as  was  originally  laid  out  Therefore  voted. 
That  said  Road  nin  from  the  Southerly  Bastion  of  said  P^ort  George 
on  a  Streight  Line  over  to  Maquoit  and  that  the  Surveyour  be  directed 
to  enter  it  upon  the  Piatt  accordingly." 

This  v()ti»  of  the  proprietors  was  not  literally  carried  out.  There  is 
no  evidence  that  the  road  was  actually  laid  out  in  one  straight  line, 
and  it  is  certain  that  it  was  never  so  travelled.  All  of  the  earh'  plans 
locate  the  road  as  starting,  on  its  western  line,  at  the  southwest  bas- 
tion of  Fort  George,  and  running  due  south  across  the  present  i\c\K>t 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BPIDGES,  ETC.  535 

grounds,  to  a  point  a  short  distance  south  of  the  residence  of  Professor 
A.  S.  Packard,  and  from  thence  a  southwest  course  to  Mnquoit.  At 
that  time,  and  until  the  year  1826,  there  was  a  swamp  extending  from 
the  present  eastern  line  of  ihe  mall  to  the  foot  of  Powder-House  Hill, 
and  to  avoid  this  swamp  the  travel  went  out  to  one  side,  and  passed 
along  what  is  now  called  Park  Row,  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  mall, 
and  thus  the  eastern  line  of  this  portion  of  the  road  was  established 
much  farther  east  than  it  was  onginally  laid  out. 

Although  the  road  had  been  laid  out  by  the  propnetors  and  had 
been  built  and  used  by  the  town,  it  was  not  formally  accepted  as  a 
public  highwa}'  until  17(]9.  This  road  being  of  an  unusual  width,  and 
much  wilier  than  was  at  all  necessary  for  mere  puq^ses  of  travel,  the 
town  in  1791  was  induced  to  do  what  would  be  considered  by  manv 
as  a  very  unwise  thing.  It  chose  a  committee  and  instmcted  them  to 
lease  six  rods  in  width  of  this  road,  ''  where  they  think  it  best,  leaving 
the  road  six  rods  wide  at  such  places." 

In  April,  1792,  the  town  appointed  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  road 
again,  from  Fort  George  to  Maquoit,  eight  rods  in  width,  thus  redu- 
cing the  width  four  rods.  This  committee  reported  at  the  subsequent 
meeting  in  May,  and  the  town  voted  to  accept  the  road  as  laid  out  by 
them,  with  an  amendment  to  the  etfect  that  two  rods  should  be  added 
to  the  road  on  the  west  side,  between  Mr.  Stone's  and  Mr.  Lunt*s, 
and  with  some  minor  changes  near  the  Maquoit  shore. 

The  land  between  Mr.  Stone's  and  Mr.  Lunt's  was  that  between 
Mill  Street  and  the  Pejcpscot  National  Bank.  On  the  other  side  of 
the  street,  in  front  of  Day's  Block,  was  a  deep  gully  which  increased 
in  depth  till  it  entereil  the  cove  in  front  of  what  is  now  Maynard's 
oyster  saloon,  opposite  Mill  Street.  Encroachments  had  been  made 
on  the  opposite  side  of  the  street  so  that  the  narrowness  of  the  road 
and  its  sideling  nature  rendered  travelling  dangerous.  It  is  known 
that  accidents  had  at  various  times  occurred  there.  In  180G  the  town 
voted  to  pay  fifty-nine  dollars  and  fifty- three  cents  to  Zephaniah  Spurr, 
of  Boston,  for  damages  to  his  carriage,  it  having  been  driven  olT  the 
bank  and  injured,  owing  to  the  bad  condition  of  the  road.  It  is  prob- 
able that  Mr.  Stone  and  Mr.  Lunt  had  leased  a  portion  of  the  road, 
and  that  the  town  regretted  its  action  and  annulled  the  lease 

In  1793  the  town  voted  to  accept  this  eight-rod  roa<l,  as  laid  out 
with  the  amendments,  and  the  surveyors  of  highways  were  directed  to 
open  the  road  agi-eeably  to  the  plan,  which  was  ••*  eight  rods  wide  from 
end  to  end  except  at  the  landing-place  at  Maquoit  which  is  twi'lve  rods 
wide."     A  committee  was  also  chosen  to  lease  or  quitclaim  the  remain- 


536        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

ing  four  rods  of  the  old  Twelve-Rod  road.  It  is  not  known  how  much 
of  the  road  was  thus  leased  or  quitclaimed.  The  only  deed  which  we 
have  seen  was  one  to  Lemuel  Swift  of*  four  rods  of  the  twelve  ro<l 
road,  lyinj;  in  front  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Stone's  land,  and  situated 
between  the  land  of  John  Carr  and  Captain  Jolm  I)unlap*s  land,  l)eing 
twenty  square  rods  at  seventeen  dollars  per  acre."  *  This  was  the 
front  of  what  is  now  the  Rodnc}'  Forsaith  estate,  between  Dr.  Lincoln's 
and  Benjamin  Green's. 

In  1704,  Benjamin  (  hase,  one  of  the  sun'oyors  of  highways,  was 
directed  to  open  the  Twelve-Iiod  road  the  full  iridth  wherever  people 
had  not  purchased  the  four  rods,  and  where  they  had,  to  open  it  eight 
rods  wide.  It  was  also  voted  that  all  persons  desiring  to  purchase  the 
four  rods  in  wi<lth  that  had  not  been  sold  could  do  so  by  appl3'ing  for 
the  same  within  fourteen  da  vs. 

In  1804  the  west  line  of  Maine  Street,  as  it  now  is,  between  Noble 
and  Pleasant  Streets,  was  accepted  by  the  town. 

In  1810,  to  put  on  record  the  locality  from  whence  the  measure- 
ments of  the  road  and  town  lots  started,  the  following  paper  was 
entered  on  the  town  records  :  — 

"  Whereas  the  Record  of  the  West  line  of  the  twelve  Rod  Road  from 
Brunswick  Falls  to  Maquoit  Bay,  as  laid  out  by  the  Proprietors  of 
Brunswick,  mention  the  Flag  statf  standing  in  the  soutli  West  Bastion 
in  Fort  George  as  tlie  i)oint  at  which  tliey  began  their  survej' ;  and 
whereas  the  bounds  and  Lines  of  many  Lotts  and  parcels  of  Land  nrv 
ascertained  by  admeasurement  from  that  point  before  mentioned ;  and 
whereas  Fort  George  and  the  Flag  staff  are  demolished,  and  it  may  be 
of  Great  importance  to  render  the  precise  point  where  tlie  Flag  staff 
in  said  Fort  George  stood  permanent,  therefore,  be  it  remembered 
that  we  John  Abbot,  John  Periy  Jr.  and  Jacob  Abbot,  all  of  said 
Brunswick  in  the  County  of  Cumberland  and  Commonwealth  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, have  this  da^'  applied  to  John  Dunlap  Ksq  of  said  Bruns- 
wick who  was  a  soldier  in  said  Fort  George,  when  a  young  man,  and 
lives  nigh  tlie  phit  of  Ground  where  said  Fort  stood,  and  hath  been 
frequently  on  the  premises ;  and  to  Cutting  Noyes.  who  lives  nigh  the 
premises  and  assisted  in  removing  the  piece  of  Timber  the  said  flagg 
staff  was  framed  into:  —  and  the  said  John  Dunlap  Ksq  and  Cutting 
Noyes  have  designated,  according  to  the  best  of  their  judgement  and 
they  saj'  they  think  the  spot  where  the  foot  of  said  flagg  staff  stooil, 
and  to  render  it  permanent,  we  the  said  John  Abbot,  John  Perry  Jun' 


Oriijinal  deed  in  the  possession  of  John  L.  Swift ,  Esq. 


I 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  537 

and  Jacob  Abbot  have  drilled  a  hole  in  the  ledge  or  Rock  and  drove 

an  Iron  bolt  of  about  one  Inch  and  one  Quarter  Diameter  and  about 

Eighteen  Inches  in  length,  half  the  length  into  said  Ledge  or  Rock, 

the  other  half  above  the  surface  in  the  Identical  spot  shewn  to  us  as 

the  place  under  which  said  Flagg  Staff  stood. 

"John  Pekry  Jun» 

John  Abbot 

Jacob  Abbot 
**Britxswick  Nov' 23*1810 

**  A  True  Copy 

"Dan'l  Giveen,  Town  Clerk. 

"  Wn.LIAM   DUXING 

John  Givep:n  )■  Selectmen/ 

Joseph  Hacker 

This  bolt  will  be  found  "  opposite  to  the  space  between  two  of  the 
factory  boanling-houses  at  the  north  end  of  Maine  Street  and  distant 
southerlj-  from  the  southwest  corner  of  the  easterly  house  twent3'-eight 
and  one  third  feet,  where  a  line  from  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
westerly  house  vnW  intersect  the  first  line  in  twentj'-six  feet,  thence  to 
the  house  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Bow  Streets,  sixtj'-six  feet ;  or  by 
measuring  easterly  from  and  in  line  of  the  south  face  of  Cabot  Mill 
seventy-six  and  two  tenths  feet,  and  from  one  to  two  feet  beneath  the 
surface  of  the  ground."  ^ 

In  1819,  Abner  Bourne,  Robert  D.  Dunning,  David  Dunlap,  Robert 
Eastman,  and  Samuel  Chase  were  chosen  a  committee  to  ascertain  the 
boundaries  of  the  Twelve-Rod  road  and  to  recommend  measures  for  the 
prevention  of  further  encroachments  on  the  road,  and  were  instructed 
to  report  at  the  next  annual  meeting.  No  record  is  made  of  their 
report. 

In  1822  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  direct  a  survev  of  this 
road  between  Jacob  Abbot's  ^  and  Robert  D.  Dunning's,  and  to 
receive  a  quitclaim  deed,  provided  it  could  be  done  T\'ithout  any 
exi>ense  to  the  town  except  for  the  writing  of  the  deed  and  the 
sur\'e3'. 

In  1845  the  Twelve-Rod  road,  or  that  part  of  it  called  Maine  Street, 
was  again  sun^eyed,  this  time  by  Elijah  P.  Pike,  under  the  direction 
of  the  selectmen,  and  the  survey  was  accepted  by  the  town. 

In  1858  two  rows  of  trees  were  set  out  on  this  street  from  the  Con- 
gregational Church  to  the  end  of  the  college  grounds.  This  was  done 
by  private  subscription. 


» From  Field  Book  of  Charles  J.  Xoyes.  C.  E. 
3  Sovc  the  residence  of  Captain  A.  II,  Merryman, 


538         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

The    foregoing  comprises  all  important  facts    in   relation  to  this 
Twelve-Rod  road  with  the  exception  of  the  origin  of 

THE  MALL. 

In  1802  there  was  a  board  fence  from  the  northeast  corner  of 
Robert  D.  Dunning's  house,  on  the  hill,  to  the  head  of  the  present  Mall. 
It  continued,  much  as  the  fence  now  runs  on  the  easterl}'  side  of  the 
Mall,  to  Schwartkin's  store,  where  the  store  of  George  B.  Tenne}'  now 
is.  The  Mall  was  at  that  time  an  alder-swamp  which  extended  as  far 
west  as  the  foot  of  Powder-House  Hill,  and  nearly  as  far  north  as 
Pleasant  Street.  Cows  often  had  to  be  pried  out  of  the  mud  where 
the  Mall  is.  Mr.  C.  J.  Noj'cs  informs  us  that,  in  1840,  when  survey- 
ing the  line  of  the  railroad  between  Maine  and  Union  Streets,  he  sank 
into  the  nmd  and  water  over  the  tops  of  his  rubber  boots.  It*is  said 
that  in  this  swamp  the  old  settlors  used  to  take  beaver. 

On  the  Fourth  of  July,  1826,  the  citizens  united  in  a  general  assault 
upon  this  deformity'  of  the  village,  and  assembling  at  an  early  hour, 
with  shovels,  hoes,  oxen,  ploughs,  and  carts,  they  worked  diligently 
until  noon.  Then  the  company'  listened  to  a  speech  from  Robert  Oit, 
Esquire,  after  which  they  partook  of  a  lunch  and  dispersed.  A  sec- 
ond gathering  of  the  kind  was  held  on  the  next  Fourth  of  July,  and 
after  half  a  da3''8  hard  work  the  compan}'  marched  to  the  meeting- 
house, stacked  their  arms  (shovels,  hoes,  picks,  etc.)  in  military  stj'le 
before  entering,  and  listened  to  an  oration  from  ^Ir.  Edward  Kent, 
then  a  student  in  the  law-office  of  Honorable  Benjamin  Orr.  The 
work  thus  begun  was  completed  b}-  private  enterprise.  The  project 
of  enclosing  the  open  area  and  of  planting  trees  was  started  at  a 
strawberry  party  in  1838,  and  the  fence  was  erected  and  the  trees  set 
out  in  the  spring  of  1839.^  The  work  was  assigned  to  a  committee  of 
three,  —  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  Joseph  Griffin,  and  John  S.  Cashing. 
It  cost  about  four  hundred  dollars  to  fence  and  grade  it  and  to  plant 
the  trees.  Nearl}-  all  the  trees  then  set  out  are  in  a  flourishing  condi- 
tion now.  Tiie  committee  devoted  their  whole  time  for  three  weeks 
to  superintending  the  work,  and  then  were  ol>liged  to  make  up  a  small 
deficit  in  the  funds.  The  row  of  trees  on  the  western  side  of  the 
Mall  was  set  out  by  Mr.  Gushing.  While  the  work  was  progressing, 
Mr.  Gushing  was  married,  and  Doctor  Adams,  the  otticiating  clergy- 
man, at  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremony,  remarked  that  he  himself 
desired  to  work  for  the  Mall,  and  therefore  presented  his  fee  toward* 
that  object. 

1  Brunswick  Telegraph,  June  25,  f853. 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  539 

Nothing  ftirther  was  done  to  the  Mall  until  1867,  when  the  fence 
around  it  was  rebuilt. 

In  1873  the  selectmen,  in  their  annual  report,  use  the  following  lan- 
guage in  regard  to  the  Mall,  to  which  report  sufTicient  attention  has 
not  l>een  paid.     They  sa^' :  — 

"  The  Mall  ought  to  be  put  under  the  care  of  some  person  of  judg- 
ment and  taste,  and  attention  given  to  its  condition.  If  the  grounds 
were  kept  clean  and  smooth,  the  walks  trimmed,  and  seats  erected  in 
different  parts,  what  is  now  unsightl}'  and  of  no  particular  interest  to 
any  one,  will  be  made  an  ornament  and  become  a  point  to  which  our 
people  will  gravitate  for  rest  and  recreation  during  the  heat  of  summer, 
and  in  which  we  shall  all  feel  a  just  pride." 

STRKETS. 

Some  of  the  streets  in  Brunswick  were  laid  out  as  private  wa3's  at 
an  early  date,  and  although  named  by  the  town  and  repaired  from 
time  to  time  by  the  road  surveyors  of  the  town,  have  never  yet  been 
jhrmalh/  accepted  by  it.  This  fact  will  account  for  the  omission,  in 
some  cases,  of  the  date  of  laying  out  or  of  acceptance  of  some  of  these 
fttreets.  It  has  been  found  im^wssible  to  obtain  the  date  of  construc- 
tion of  these  prix'ate  streets.  As  to  the  legal  liability  of  the  town  in 
regard  to  most  of  them,  we  presume  there  can  now  be  little  doubt. 

For  convenience  the  streets  in  Bnniswick  will  be  treated  in  alpha- 
betical onler. 

Bath  Street  is  a  part  of  Governor  King's  tunipike,  which  was  laid 
out  in  1806.  The  name  is  applied  to  that  [)ortion  of  the  road  betwet»n 
the  First  Parish  Meeting-House  and  Pine  Grove  Cemetery. 

Bant£  Street  was  laid  out  by  the  late  David  Dunlap,  Esquire,  over 
his  own  land.  It  has  never  been  accepted  by  the  town,  and  in  18G7 
the  town  refused  to  accept  it  as  a  highway. 

Bow  Street  was  laid  out  in  1819,  and  accepte<l  by  the  town  under 
its  present  name  in  1821.  Slight  changes  in  the  courses  of  this  street 
were  made  in  1824  and  in  1830. 

BooDY  Street  was  accepted  by  the  town  in  1853.  It  was  named 
in  honor  of  Mr.  Henry  II.  BckkIv,  who  was  then  a  professor  in  Bow- 
doin  College,  and  resided  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  this  new  street. 

Cleaveland  Street  was  laid  out  early  in  this  centurj',  but  pre- 
cisely when  we  cannot  ascertain.  It  was  in  1821  named  Cross  Street. 
Its  present  name  was  given  to  it  in  1869  in  honor  of  Profitssor  Parker 
Cleaveland,  who  lived  on  Federal  Street  opposite  the  erid  of  this 
street. 


540        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HAJfPSWELL. 

Centre  Street  was  laid  out  as  a  private  road  in  1810.  In  1821  it 
was  named  b}'  the  town  Centre  Street,  and  in  183U  it  was  accepted  by 
the  town. 

CusiiiNG  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  by  the  town  in  1847. 
It  was  named  in  honor  of  Mr.  John  S.  Cushing. 

Cedar  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1845. 

College  Street  was  laid  out  in  1831. 

Dun  LAP  Street  was  originall}'  laid  out  by  General  Richard  T. 
Dunlap  as  a  private  way,  and  its  name  was  given  to  it  by  the  town  as 
a  mark  of  respect. 

Dunning  Street  was  laid  out  in  1844.  It  was  named  for  Mr. 
Robert  D.  Dunning. 

Elm  Street  was  laid  out  in  1843. 

Everett  Street,  named  in  honor  of  Ebenezer  Everett,  Esquire, 
was  laid  out  and  accepted  by  the  town  in  1865. 

Elliot  Street  was  laid  out  in  1858.  It  was  named  in  honor  of 
Colonel  Daniel  Elliot. 

Franklin  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1846. 

Federal  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1803.  The  propri- 
etors of  the  land  gave  the  land  and  made  the  road.  The  street 
received  its  name  in  1821.  Referring  to  this  street,  a  writer  in  1820 
says,  '*  I  understand  the  original  proprietors  of  the  land  made  it  a 
condition  in  their  grants  that  all  iiouses  on  this  street  should  be  at 
least  two  stories  high  and  on  a  line  twenty  feet  from  the  road.  With 
this  requisition  there  seems  to  have  been  a  punctilious  compliance. 
About  Iwentj^  houses  are  already  erected  with  gi-eat  exactness  and 
symmetry,  and  the  remaining  lots  of  laud  are  correctly  proportioned." 
Although  no  proof  of  any  agreement  of  the  kind  referred  to  above 
has  been  found,  it  would  seem  not  improbable,  judging  from  the  actual 
appearance  of  the  street,  that  some  agreement  was  made  between  the 
earlier  owners  of  the  lots.  Such  entire  •  uniformitv  could  scarcelv 
result  as  a  matter  of  chance. 

Green  Street  was  laid  out  in  1828.  It  was  named  for  James 
Green,  a  resident  on  the  street. 

GiLMAN  Avenue,  named  in  honor  of  Honorable  Charles  J.  Gilman, 
was  laid  out  as  a  private  way,  but  was  named  by  the  town  as  a  mark 
of  respect  to  the  owner  of  the  land. 

Harpswell  Street  is  a  portion  of  the  old  road  to  Ilarpswell 
Island,  which  was  laid  out  in  the  last  centur}',  but  at  precisely  what 
date  is  not  known. 

High  Street  was  laid  out  in  1850.  It  was  first  called  Grove  Street^ 
and  the  name  was  changed  to  High  in  1872. 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,   BRIDQE8,  ETC,  541 

Island  Street,  from  Bow  Street  to  the  river  opposite  Shad  Island, 
was  accepted  by  the  town  in  1828. 

Lincoln  Street,  named  in  honor  of  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  has 
never  been  accepted  by  the  town. 

Maine  Street  has  been  already  described  under  the  head  of  the 
"  Twelve-Rod  Road."  The  name  Maine  Street  is  applied  to  that 
portion  of  the  road  between  the  bridge  and  Mair  Brook,  as  decided 
by  the  town  in  1821.  The  name  was  given  in  honor  of  the  then 
newly  made  State  of  Maine.     It  is  often  incorrectly  spelled  Main. 

Mill  Street  was  laid  out  in  1717  by  vote  of  the  Pejepscot  propri- 
etors. It  originally  extended  only  to  the  upper  falls,  or  a  short  dis- 
tJince  beyond.  In  1817  it  was  extended  to  Pleasant  Street.  It 
received  its  name  in. 1821. 

Mason  Street  was  also  laid  out  by  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  in  1717. 
In  1821  it  was  called  Water  Street.  The  name  Mason  Street  was 
subsequenth'  applied  to  it. 

McKeen  Street,  named  in  honor  of  Messrs.  Joseph  and  John 
McKeen,  was  laid  out  by  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  in  1717.  In  1«21 
it  was  named  Cumberland  Street.  Its  present  name  was  given  to  it 
about  1840. 

Middle  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1856. 

Noble  Street  was  laid  out  in  1833  as  apart  of  Union  Street.  In 
1849  it  was  called  Noble  Street,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  Mr.  John 
Noble,  who  resided  upon  the  street. 

O'Brien  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1841.  It  was  named 
in  honor  of  Captain  John  O'Bnen. 

Pleasant  Street  is  a  part  of  the  county  road  to  Freeport,  which 
was  laid  out  in  1811.  The  name  applies  to  that  portion  of  the  road 
between  Maine  Street  and  the  gull}',  a  short  distance  west  of  Powder- 
House  Hill. 

Potter  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  184;),  as  far  as  Cap- 
tain William  Potter's,  for  whom  it  was  named.  In  1858  it  was  con- 
tinued to  Union  Street. 

Pearl  Street,  fh)m  Federal  to  Stetson  Street,  was  laid  out  and 
accepted  in  1845,  and  subsequently  extended  to  a  short  distance  east 
of  the  railroad. 

Page  Street,  so  named  in  honor  of  Doctor  Jonathan  Page,  was 
laid  out  as  a  private  road. 

School  Street  was  laid  out  earl}-  in  this  century.  It  received  its 
name  in  1828.  The  name  was  given  to  it  because  of  the  school  which 
was  for  many  years  kept  in  the  '*  old  red  school-house  "  on  this  street. 


542      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

In  1850,  School  Street  was  widened,  by  adding  to  the  northern  Bide 
thirteen  feet  and  nine  inches  on  Federal  Street,  and  six  feet  on  Maine 
Street. 

Spring  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1850,  as  far  as  the 
railroad. 

Stetson  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1850. 

Thompson  Street  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1850.  It  was 
named  for  General  A.  B.  Thompson. 

Union  Street,  from  O'Brien  to  Pleasant  Streets,  was  laid  out  in 
1828.  In  1833  it  was  laid  out  from  Mill  Street  as  far  as  what  is  now 
Noble  Street,  the  latter  street  then  being  a  portion  of  Union  Street. 
In  1849  the  location  of  Union  Street,  between  Pleasant  and  Noble 
Streets,  was  slightly  altered.  In  1858  it  was  continued  south  to  Page 
Street,  and  subsequently  to  McKeen  Street. 

Water  Street  is  the  easterly  portion  of  the  Four-Rod  road,  laid  out 
in  1717,  from  the  fort  to  the  landing.  In  1828  the  name  was  applied 
to  the  whole  street,  from  Maine  Street  to  the  landing.  Subsequently 
that  portion  of  the  street  between  Maine  and  Federal  Streets  was 
named  Ma^on  Street, 

ROADS    IN  TOPSHAM. 

Although  the  number  of  roads  which  have  been  laid  out  in  Topsham 
is  not  so  large  as  that  of  Brunswick  it  has  been  found  nearly  as  diffi- 
cult to  locate  man}-  of  the  early  roads  in  the  former  place  as  it  was  in 
the  latter.  As  an  illustration  of  the  indefinite  maimer  in  which  many 
of  the  roads  are  recorded,  the  following  is  copied  :  "  The  Road  l>egin- 
iug  at  Issabella's  Barn  Running  to  William  Alexander's  house  was 
laid  out  by  the  Selectmen  in  October  1774."  It  is,  perhaps,  needless 
to  say  that  we  have  found  no  allusions  to  Isabella's  bam  elsewhere. 

The  first  road  laid  out  in  Topsham  was  unquestionably  ojie  which 
was  laid  out  by  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  from  the  Narrows  to  the 
Cathaiice  River.  There  is  no  record  in  the  IVjcpscot  company's 
books  of  the  laying  out  of  this  road,  but  the  Topsham  town  records 
allude  to  it  in  1764  as  having  been  previously  granted  by  the  propri- 
etors, and  it  is  shown  on  the  plan  of  the  town,  which  was  made  for 
the  proprietors  in  17C8,  b}'  John  Merrill.  This  road  started  from  the 
Androscoggin  River,  a  few  rods  below  the  present  residence  of  Mr. 
James  Mustard,  crossed  the  '*  Foreside"  road,  following  the  line  of 
the  Mustard  and  Hunter  lots  to  the  Cathance  River.  It  was  origi- 
nally laid  out  four  rods  wide,  but  in  1764  the  town  voted  to  reduce  it 
to  two  rods  in  width  and  to  sell  the  remaining  two  rods.     This  road  is 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  643 

Still  in  existence.  The  poilion  l)etween  the  "  Foreside  "  road  and  the 
count}'  road  to  Bowdoinham  is  still  travelled,  and  is  known  as  "  I-,over*8 
Lane."  From  the  county  road  to  the  Cathance  and  from  the  "  Fore- 
side  "  road  to  the  river  the  road  is  unused,  but  is  fenced  on  each  side, 
and  is  plainly  distinguishable  from  the  adjoining  lots. 

The  second  road  was  the  county  road  to  Bowdoinham,  which  was 
laid  out  l>efore  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  about  17C1  or  1762.^ 
From  allusions  to  this  road  in  the  town  records,  it  appears  to  have 
begun  a  short  distance  east  of  the  village  cemeter}*,  where  there  was  a 
ferry  across  the  river  to  the  landing  on  the  Brunswick  side.^  From 
this  point  the  road  ran  substantially  as  it  now  nms.  passing  the  tan- 
yard  and  straight  on  to  the  old  graveyard,  thence  turning  to  the  left, 
passing  the  estate  of  the  late  George  A.  Kogers  to  the  Cathance 
River,  wliere  there  was  a  ferr}',  and  from  thence  in  about  its  present 
course  to  Bowdoinham. 

These  two  roads  were  all  the  public  roads  that  were  in  existence  at 
the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  There  were  doubtless  a 
number  of  hay  and  wood  roads  in  existence,  but  their  location  is  not 
liow  known. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  town  in  its  corporate  capacity,  Thomas 
AVilson.  Adam  Hunter,  John  Reed,  John  P^ilton,  and  John  MeiTill 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  lay  out  the  highways  and  roads  through 
the  town. 

The  first  road  mentioned  in  the  records  is  what  is  now  known  as  the 
'*  Foreside"  road,  beginning  at  Mudd}'  River  and  following  along  the 
ba}',  and  up  the  river  to  the  county  road  at  the  top  of  the  hill  near 
the  residence  of  Mr.  C^'rus  Purington.  The  count}'  roml,  as  previ- 
ously stated,  ende<l  a  short  distance  east  of  the  village  burying-ground. 
At  this  point  a  town  highway  began,  which  ran  westerly,  as  Kim  Street 
now  runs,  up  by  the  Free-Will  Bapti<*t  Meeting  House,  and  so  on  "  to 
the  first  brook  be3'ond  John  Whitten's  house,"  which  was  a  short  dis- 
tance l>eyond  the  Merrill  homestead.  In  1767  the  road  was  continued 
to  Little  River.  Various  slight  changes  in  the  courses  of  this  road 
were  subsequently  made. 

The  next  road  which  was  laid  out  by  the  town  in  17G4  was  "  from 
the  county  roa<l  near  the  meeting-house  to  the  house  of  Gowen  Ful- 
ton." This  was  what  is  now  called  the  "  lower  road  to  Bowdoinliam," 
in  distinction  from  that  which  passes  over  the  Cathance  River.     At 


*  Records  of  Court  of  General  Sessions  Jbr  Lincoln  County. 

*  Ths  ferry  from  "  Ferry  Point "  to  the  landing  was  of  a  later  date. 


544        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL, 

the  same  time  a  road  was  laid  out  from  the  meeting-house  to  the 
'*  Foreside"  road,  wliich  was  substantial!}'  the  same  as  that  which  is 
now  travelled  from  the  Bowdoinham  road  to  Ba}'  Bridge. 

In  1781,  Samuel  Tliompson,  Jolm  Merrill,  Nathan  Thwing,  James 
Hunter,  and  David  Reed  were  appointed  b}'^  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions,  for  Lincoln  County,  to  la}'  out  a  road  from  the  county  road 
at  Gideon  Walker's,  to  the  Bowdoin  Line.  It  was  doubtless  soon 
afterwards  laid  out. 

In  1700  what  is  now  Main  Street  was  laid  out  from  the  Grann^'-Hole 
Mill-right  to  the  count}*  road  at  Gideon  Walker's  Corner.  This  road 
was  accepted  in  1792  as  a  public  highway. 

In  1791  a  road  was  accepted  leading  from  the  Bowdoin  line  over  to 
the  county  road  to  Bowdoinham,  which  it  entered  "  not  far  from  Mr. 
Joseph  Graves's  house." 

In  1792  a  road  was  laid  out  from  Main  Street,  at  a  point  about 
op])osite  Summer  Street,  running  across  the  grounds  of  the  estate  of 
the  late  Charles  Thompson,  to  the  river. 

The  road  leading  from  tlie  Little  River  road  at  "  Whitehouse's 
Corner"  to  the  county  road  U>  Bowdoin,  near  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Thompson,  was  laid  out  in  1792. 

In  179r>  the  road  across  the  island  to  the  toll-bridge  was  laid  out, 
two  rods  wide. 

In  1797  a  road  was  laid  out  from  what  is  now  Elm  Street,  between 
the  Walker  homestead  and  the  Baptist  Church,  or  ver}'  near  there, 
ninning  down  the  hill  across  the  grounds  of  the  late  Doctor  James 
McKeen  to  the  town  landing.  Mr.  James  Wilson  remembers  this 
road,  and  sAys  it  was  fenced  on  either  side  for  it^  whole  length.  Mr. 
Wilson's  father  owned  the  land,  and  as  the  town  would  not  vote  to 
pay  him  for  it,  he  closed  it  up. 

The  next  year,  1798,  a  road  corresponding  to  what  is  now  Thomp- 
son Street  was  laid  out  from  Main  Street  to  the  landing.  The  same 
year  two  county  roads  were  laid  out.  One  was  from  Littleborough, 
through  Green,  Lewiston,  Bowdoin,  Little  River,  and  Topsham,  to 
the  Androscoggin  Bndge.  The  other  was  from  the  same  bridge  to 
the  south  line  of  Litchfield.  The  course  of  both  these  roads  through 
Topsham  was  over  the  town  roads  previously  established. 

In  1799  what  is  known  as  the  Meadow  road  was  laid  out.  What 
is  now  known  as  Green  Street,  from  the  Congregational  Church  to 
the  Granny-IIole  Bridge,  was  accepted  by  the  town  in  1799.  A 
portion  of  this  road  from  the  church  to  Thompson  Street  had  been 
made  previously  by  Mr.  James  Wilson,  Senior,  as  a  private  road,  for 


PUBUC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  545 

« 

his  own  use,  he  making  a  log-bridge  or  causewaj  across  what  was 
then  a  gully,  and  which  has  since  been  filled  up,  the  depression 
between  the  church  and  the  Bowman  House. 

In  1 803  the  town  was  indicted  by  Jihe  grand  jur}'  for  having  bad 
roads.  What  is  now  known  as  Sununer  Street  was  laid  out  in  1826, 
and  accepted  b}'  the  town  the  following  year.  Pleasant  Street,  as  far 
as  Union  Street,  was  laid  out  and  accepted  in  1828. 

In  1801  the  selectmen,  by  order  of  the  town,  assigned  names  to 
the  streets  and  caused  signs  to  be  put  up  at  the  comers. 

Orr  Street  was  laid  out  in  1856. 

At  a  meeting  held  in  September,  1859,  a  committee  was  chosen  to 
meet  tlie  county  commissioners  of  the  county  of  Cumberland,  in 
Brunswick,  for  the  purpose  of  opposing  the  laying  out  of  a  road  from 
Cushiug  Street  in  Brunswick,  so  as  to  cross  the  Androscoggin  River 
over  Goose  Rock,  so  called,  and  to  continue  through  Topsham  to  the 
Lisbon  road. 

In  1862  the  town  voted  to  accept  the  road  as  laid  out  b}'  the 
count}'  commissioners  from  near  Rufus  Rogers's  mill  to  the  Andros- 
coggin railroad  bridge. 

On  October  10,  1863,  a  road  or  street  was  accepted  leading  from 
Main  Street,  on  the  Island,  across  the  sand-bed  to  Water  Street, 
opposite  the  residence  of  Mr.  £ben  Colby. 

At  a  meeting,  held  September  12, 1864,  the  town  voted  to  build  the 
bridge  across  the  drain  and  to  discontinue  the  rest  of  the  street^  which 
was  laid  out  in  October,  1863,  from  Main  Street  (on  the  Island)  to 
Water  Street. 

ROADS  IN  HARPS  WELL. 

It  is  not  known  precisely  when  the  main  roads  on  Ilarpswoll  Neck 
and  on  the  Island  were  laid  out.  The  earliest  mention  of  them  that 
we  have  found  is  in  the  records  of  the  town  for  1 760,  when  it  was 
voted  "  that  the  road  through  the  Neck  should  stand  as  last  laid  out 
by  Mr.  Jonathan  Flint,  surve3'or."  The  courses  of  the  road,  as  laid 
out,  were  very  nearly  the  same  as  those  of  the  present  one,  but  the 
road  did  not  then  go  the  end  of  Potts's  Point. ^ 

In  1761  it  was  voted  that  *'  the  road  on  the  Island  laid  out  bv  the 
Proprietors  should  be  a  Town  Road."  No  description  of  it  is  given 
at  this  date,  but  in  1786  Stephen  Gatchell  made  a  survey  of  **the 
main  road  "  and  other  roads  on  the  Island.     It  appears  that  this  sur- 

1  See  mapf  page  531. 
35 


546      msTOBY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  earpswell, 

vey  was  simply  to  put  on  record  the  courses  of  the  roads  as  formerly 
laid  out. 

The  road  from  the  ferry  around  the  head  of  Long  Reach  was  laid 
out  in  1764.  , 

In  1821  the  road  on  On**s  Island  was  accepted  as  a  town  road,  and 
a  road  on  Great  Island,  from  the  Orr's  Island  bridge  to  the  main  road, 
was  also  accepted. 

Various  jnivate  roads  and  public  roads  of  minor  importance  have 
also  been  laid  out,  from  time  to  time,  as  the  convenience  of  the  inhab- 
itants required. 

FERRIES  AND   BlilDGES. 

Before  bridges  were  built,  all  the  streams  in  this  vicinity  that  were 
not  sufRcientlv  shoal  to  be  safely  foixlable  were  crossed  by  means  of 
ferries. 

The  earliest  ferry  of  which  there  is  an}*  record  was  across  the  New 
Meadows  Kiver  at  the  point  of  land  a  sliort  distance  ))elow  the  pres- 
ent residence  of  Mr.  Bartlett  Adams.  This  was  '"  Brown's  Ferry." 
Precisely  when  it  was  established  is  not  known.  The  earliest  mention 
of  it  in  the  Brunswick  town  records  is  in  176.>,  and  it  is  probable  that 
it  was  establislied  a  short  time  previously  to  tiiat  date,  by  Benjamin 
Brown,  who  lived  on  the  Georgetown  (now  Bath)  side  of  the  river. 
Brown  kept  tliis  ferry  until  1792. 

At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  of  Brunswick  in  1792,  the  town 
exijressed  its  desire  "  that  John  Peterson,  Escjuire,  would  keep  a  ferrj* 
across  New  Meadows  River  where  Benjamin  Brown  has  kept  for  some 
years  past."  Peterson  complied  with  this  request,  and  maintaine<l  a 
ferry  at  this  point  until  a  bridge  was  built,  which  was  somewhere 
about  the  year  179G,  the  precise  date  not  being  known. 

A  feny  across  the  Androscoggin,  from  Mr.  James  MustanVs  in 
Topsham  to  a  point  a  short  distance  below  the  j^reseut  residence  of 
Mr.  Martin  Storer  in  Brunswick,  was  established  as  early,  probably,  as 
17CH,  at  which  time  there  was  a  road  from  the  Cathance  to  the 
Androscoggin  at  Mustard's,  and  from  the  New  Meadows  Biver  to  a 
point  nearly  opposite  Mustard's.  It  is  known  that  there  was  for 
many  3'ears  a  ferry  at  this  point  called  "*  Mustard's  Ferry,"  but  the 
date  of  its  establishment  is  not  known.  James  Mustard,  ot*  Topsham, 
was  licensed  by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  Lincoln  County, 
to  keep  this  ferry  in  1784,  but  there  must  have  been  one  kept  at  this 
spot  long  before.     The  ferry  landing  is  still  plainly  discernible. 

In  1781,  Ezra  Kandall,  of  Topsham,  was  licensed  to  keep  a  ferry 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  547 

from  his  landing  to  that  of  Stephen  Andrews.     This  ferry  was  a  short 
distance  below  the  present  Bay  bridge. 

There  was  also  a  feny,  at  an  earl}'  period  in  the  last  century,  from 
the  landing  in  Brunswick  to  the  Topsham  shore.  On  September  8, 
1761,  Samuel  Wilson  was  licensed  to  keep  a  ferry  over  the  Andros- 
coggin River,  about  one  hundred  rods  below  the  falls,  and  gave  bonds 
in  the  sum  of  £20  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  trust.  He  was  per-^ 
niitted  to  demand  and  receive  of  ever}'  passenger  three  "  coppers," 
and  three  "coppers"  for  each  horse  ferried  across.  The  Topsham 
landing-place  was  at  first,  probably,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  present 
village  burying-ground.  Later,  about  17H3  to  1796,  it  was  near  the 
point  at  the  end  of  the  iron  railroad  bridge,  which  then  went  by  the 
name  of  Ferry  Point.  During  this  later  period,  the  ferry  was  kept  by 
Brigadier  Samuel  Thompson. 

It  is  stated  in  North's  *'  History  of  Augusta"  ^  that  in  1790,  Henr}' 
Sewall  and  General  Dearborn,  who  had  been  appointed  marshal  of 
tlie  District,  in  going  to  Portland  on  horseback,  to  attend  the  District 
Court,  went  by  the  wa}'  of  *'  Cobbosee  "  and  Fort  Richmond,  and 
''  swam  the  river  at  Abagadussett,  and  crossed  Cathance  and  Brims- 
wick  Rivers  in  ferry-boats.**  Where  the  ferry  across  the  Cathance  was 
situated,  we  do  not  know,  but  it  was  probably  at  Bowdoinham  village, 
as  a  bridge  had  been  constructed  long  previously  at  the  Cathance  mill- 
right  in  Topsham,  where  the  county  road  crossed  that  river.  The  ferry 
across  the  Androscoggin  was  doubtless  that  kept  by  Brigadier 
Thompson. 

The  first  feny  in  Ilarpswell  of  which  we  have  any  knowledge  was 
established  in  1764,  as  shown  by  the  following  extract  from  the  town 
records : — 

'"  Voted,  to  have  a  ferry  started  near  the  Narrows,  a  good  ferry  boat 
built  and  a  convenient  road  for  man  and  horse  cleared  to  the  head  of 
Long  Reach  and  over  the  head  of  Long  Reach  so  called,  at  or  before 
the  first  day  of  October  next,  and  a  ferr^'  man  to  tend  s'*  ferry  on 
Sabbath  days  till  half  after  nine  of  the  clock  in  the  morning  and  after 
meeting  to  ferry  the  people  back  again  and  to  tend  on  Town  Meetin 
days."  Paul  Raymond,  Benjamin  Jaques,  and  Nathaniel  Purinto 
were  chosen  a  committee  to  carry  the  vote  into  effect. 

In  1772  one  was  established  from  Indian  Point  on  Sebascodigan 
Island  to  Trotter's  Point  in  Georgetown,  by  order  of  the  Court  of 
General  Sessions.     The  fare  was  fixed  at  three  ''  coppers  "  for  a  man, 


*  Opus  ciL,  p.  222. 


548         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

8ix  for  a  horse,  eight  for  an  ox,  twelve  for  a  yoke  of  oxen,  five  for  a 
cow,  and  one  each  for  swino  or  sheep.* 

In  1795,  Daniel  Blaysdell,  Jr.,  was  licensed  by  the  Court  of  General 
Sessions  for  Lincoln  Countv  to  keep  a  feiTV  over  New  Meadows 
River  from  the  landing  near  his  house  in  Georgetown  to  the  opposite 
landing  in  Ilarpswell,  and  gave  bonds  in  the  sum  of  one  hundred  and 
forty  dollars  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duly.  lie  was  al- 
lowed to  charge  twent3'-live  cents  as  the  fare  for  a  man  and  horse. 
Temporary  ferries  also  have  been  established  across  the  Androscoggin 
at  various  times  during  the  present  century,  when  the  toll-bridge  was, 
for  any  cause,  impassable.  Of  this  character,  probably,  was  the  fern* 
in  existence  between  Topsham  and  Brunswick  in  1827,  tliough  it  is 
possible  the  old  ferry  ma}'  have  been  continued  to  this  date.  From 
the  records  of  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for  Lincoln  County,  it 
appears  that  at  this  time  James  Wilson  was  discharged  as  a  ferry-man, 
and  Nathaniel  Quint  was  appointed  in  his  place.  At  the  same  time  the 
ferriage  toll  was  increased  as  follows  :  For  a  horse  and  chaise,  twenty- 
five  cents ;  for  a  horse  and  coach,  fifty  cents ;  for  a  horse  and  rider, 
twelve  and  a  half  cents  ;  for  a  horse  and  wagon,  sixteen  cents  ;  for  cart, 
oxen,  and  driver,  thirty  cents ;  for  neat  cattle,  per  head,  six  cents  ;  for 
sheep  and  swine,  per  head,  four  cents  ;  for  foot  passengers,  three  cents. 

The  first  bridge  over  any  considerable  stream  whidi  was  built  in 
this  vicinity  was  one  over  the  Cathance  River  in  Topsham,  at  the 
*Muill-right,"  which  was  built  in  17G8.  It  cost  forty  dollars,  or  at 
least  that  was  the  amount  appropriated  by  the  town  for  the  purjKJse. 

The  next  bridge  in  point  of  date  was  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Gurnet  Bridge,  connecting  Brunswick  and  Great  Island,  Ilarpswell, 
which  was  built  in  1789.     It  was  rebuilt  in  1839. 

In  1795  an  attempt  was  made  to  have  a  bridge  built  across  the 
Androscoggin  River  by  the  towns  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  and 
the  town  of  Brunswick  "  voted  very  generally  to  build  the  one  half  of 
a  bridge  across  Androscoggin  River,  to  be^in  near  Doctor  Nye*s 
3Iill."  A  committee  was  chosen  to  '^  see  the  matter  carried  on,"  and 
the  town  also  voted  to  raise  £300  for  building  the  bridge,  but  not  to 
assess  the  money  until  leave  to  build  it  had  been  granted  by  the  General 
Court.  Nothing  came  of  this  attempt  to  construct  a  free  bridge,  but 
the  next  year  certain  persons  were  empowered  b\*  the  legislature  to 
build  atoll-bridge  from  Nye's  mill,  in  Brunswick,  to  the  Middle  Rock, 
and  from  thence  to  the  rock  below  the  '*  Great  Mill  "  in  Topsham. 


'  JhroviU  of  Court  of  General  Sessions  in  County  Commissioners'  Office j  Portland,  1772. 


rVBLta  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDQSB,  STO. 


549 


The  Act  incorporating  "  The  Proprietors  of  AndroBcoggin  Bridge  " 
was  passed  and- approved  Febmarj-  26,  1796.  The  incorporators 
were  William  King,  Benj.  Jones  Porter,  John  Dunlap,  Wm,  Stan- 
wood,  3d,  Cutting  Xoyes,  Amos  Lunl,  James  Stone,  John  Merritt, 
Jr.,  James  Wilson,  Daniel  Clark,  Joseph  Langrton,  Ebenezer  Kmer- 
son,  Isaac  Johnson,  John  Itlancliai'd,  John  Merrill,  PeLatiah  Haley. 
Actor  Fatten,  Benj.  Hasey,  Wm.  Owen,  and  Tbeo.  Symmes.  A 
sehedule  of  rates  of  toll  was  prescribed  by  tlie  Aet,  which  should  be  in 
foi-ce  for  thirty  years  ;  after  that,  subject  to  legislation. 

In  March  an  additional  Act  was  passed,  fixing  the  number  of  shares 
at  five  hnndreti,  at  eight  dollars  each,  and  providing  that  no  one  i>er- 
BOii  nhould  purchase  more  than  six  shares  within  six  days  fram  the 
opening  of  the  books,  thus  eniibiing  persons  of  limited  means  to 
lieeorae  shareholders  and  preventing  the  control  of  the  biidge  being 
monopolized  by  a  few  individuals.  The  bridge  was  built  during  the 
summer  of  1791),  and  a  toll-house  was  built  in  the  fall.  In  tlic  spring 
of  1811  the  bridge  was  carried  away  bj-  a  fVeshet,  and  was  rebuilt  llie 
same  year  at  a  cost  of  $.'>,. ^91. 42. 

Jime  22,  1814,  the  toll-house  and  greater  part  of  the  bridge  were 
carried  away  by  a  freshet.  They  were  at  once  rebuilt  at  an  expense  of 
S3, 500.  In  the  spring  of  1827  the  bridge  was  again  caiTied  away, 
and  the  directors  voted  to  rebuild  and  to  make  the  abutments  of 
stone.  I'levioiisly  they  liad  l)een  made  of  wood.  The  expense,  in- 
cluding a  toll-house,  was  about  $6,000.  Since  1827  the  bridge  has  ' 
not  been  disturbed  bv  freslieta. 


A^DBOSCOGOI 


550        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

In  1842  the  bridge  was  destroyed  by  fire  and  rebuilt  the  same  year. 
For  some  years  previous  to  1842  the  bridge  was  a  covered  one. 
After  that  it  was  open.  This  bridge  was  repaired  and  made  free 
April  10,  1871.  The  value  set  by  the  appraisers  was  $2,575.  It  is 
now  owned  b}'  the  towns  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham. 

In  1795  the  first  bridge  across  the  "  Granny-Hole  Stream,"  in 
Topsham,  was  erected,  connecting  the  Island  with  the  main  land. 

In  1796,  according  to  Lemont,  a  bridge  was  built  across  the  head 
of  New  Meadows  River. ^  This  statement  is  probably  erroneous,  and 
the  bridge  built  at  that  time  was  doubtless  at  Brown's  Ferry,  where  in 
1808  were  the  ruins  of  an  old  bridge. ^ 

Jn  1805  the  first  turnpike  bridge  was  built  across  New  Meadows 
River.3 

In  1806  a  second  bridge  was  built  across  the  New  Meadows  River."* 
This  was  probably  the  one  at  the  head  of  the  river  alluded  to  by 
I^mont  as  having  been  built  in  1796.  This  is  the  more  probable,  as 
in  1810  the  town  voted  to  build  a  road  to  Haj'den's  Bridge,  and  a  Mr. 
Ha^'den  lived  near  the  head  of  the  river  at  that  time. 

In  1829  a  bridge  was  built  from  the  Brunswick  shore  to  Shad 
Island.  "  Father"  Stetson  wrote  in  his  diary,  under  date  of  Novem- 
ber 26,  1829,  that  he  "  walked  to  the  new  bridge  to  the  Island  amidst 
the  falls."  Previous  to  this  time  access  to  the  Island  was  only  had  by 
means  of  boats. 

The  bridge  connecting  Great  Island  and  Orr's  Island  was  built  at 
some  time  between  1833  and  1845,  b}'  Samuel  Orr,  Ralph  Johnson, 
Jr.,  David  Wyer,  Thomas  S.  Jack,  Michael  Sinnett,  John  Conley, 
William  Orr,  Charles  Black,  Richard  Orr,  Jr.,  and  William  D.  Orr, 
inhabitants  of  Orr's  Island.  In  1852  they  gave  the  bridge  to  the 
town,  and  the  town  voted  to  accept  it  and  to  keep  it  in  repair.  The 
bridge  was  wantonly  destroyed  in  1857,  and  the  town  soon  after 
rebuilt  it. 

Bull  Rock  Bridge  was  built  in  1835.  One  half  of  it  was  paid  for 
and  owned  b}'  the  town  of  Brunswick. 

Bay  Bridge  was  completed  in  Jul}',  1836.  It  was  built  by  the  town 
of  Bath  at  an  expense  of  $12,000.^  Lemont®  states  the  cost  to  have 
l)ecn  820,000.     It  was  and  is  a  toZ/-bridge. 

In  1849  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  New  Meadows  River  was 


*  Historical  Dates  of  Dath^  etc.^  p.  39.  *  Lemont ^  Historical  Dates  of  Bath, 

2  Reminiscences  of  several  aged  citizens.       *  The  Regulator^  July  23,  18,'W. 
^Massachusetts  Special  Acts,  ^Historical  Dates  of  Bathj  etc.^  p.  39. 


PUBLIC  LANDS,  ROADS,  BRIDGES,  ETC.  551 

built,  and  in  1850  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Androscoggin,  below 
the  falls,  was  built. 

In  1850  colisidcrable  interest  was  excited  in  regard  to  a  fVee  bridge 
between  Brunswick  and  Topsham.  Public  meetings  were  occasionally 
held  for  several  years  to  consider  the  subject. 

In  18€l0  the  town  of  Brunswick  voted  to  unite  with  the  Andros- 
coggin Uailroad  Compan}'  in  building  a  biidge  across  the  river,  pro- 
vided the  cost  to  the  town  did  not  exceed  $2,500,  and  provided  the 
company  would  agi'ee  to  keep  the  bridge  in  repair,  except  the  floor- 
ing of  the  public  travelled  way. 

Topsham  opposed  the  building  of  a  bridge  at  Goose  Rock,  but 
favored  building  one  at  Shad  Island.  The  bridge  was,  however,  built 
and  opened  to  the  public  on  March  27,  1861. 

Besides  those  which  have  been  enumerated,  there  were  many  small 
bridges  across  brooks  and  gullies  which  were  not  of  suflicient  impor- 
tance to  merit  any  extended  notice  in  these  pages.  The  following 
bridges  of  this  description  are  mentioned  simply  to  show  the  changes 
which  have  been  made  in  the  roads  and  streets  at  the  places  where 
they  were  formerly  located. 

In  Topsham  there  was,  in  1764  and  later,  a  bridge  across  '*  Gravel 
Island  Gully,"  near  the  tan-^-ard  of  Mr.  Cyrus  Purriugton.  There 
was  also  one  at  the  same  time  over  the  brook  and  gull}'  near  the 
village  burying-ground.  In  1X02,  and  probably  earlier,  there  was  a 
bridge  across  the  deep  gully  on  what  is  now  Winter  Street,  just  back 
of  Goud*s  store.  The  bridge  was  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  above  the 
brook  which  flowed  under  it.  About  this  time  a  horse  l>elonging  to 
Thomas  Wilson  fell  off  the  bridge  and  was  killed  by  tlie  fall,  and  the 
chaise  to  which  the  animal  was  attached  was  considerabl}*  injured. 
There  was  no  railing  to  the  bridge,  and  the  town  was  therefore  liable 
for  damages.  In  1804  the  town  voted  Mr.  Wilson  three  hundred 
dollars,  and  thereby  probably  saved  a  lawsuit. 

In  Biiinswick  there  was  a  bridge  across  the  ravine  on  Bow  Street. 
It  was  first  built  by  private  parties,  but  in  1833  the  selectmen  were 
instructed  to  rebuild  it.  It  was  a  trestle-work  bridge,  about  ten  feet 
high. 

There  was  a  similar  bridge  at  Stone's  Brook,  on  Pleasant  Street, 
west  of  Powder-IIouse  Ilill. 

In  1825  there  was  a  small  bridge  on  Federal  Street,  at  the  foot  of 
the  hill. 


552      msTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

COMMERCIAL   HISTORr   OF   BRUNSWICK. 

Ix  the  succeeding  chapters  upon  the  commercial  history  of  the  towns 
of  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Harpswell,  it  is  intended  to  include  not 
only  matters  pertaining  to  the  business  of  these  towns,  but  also  the 
cost,  at  different  periods,  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  and  matters  con- 
nected with  municipal  taxation.  All  fact«,  however,  concerning  the 
rise  and  progress  of  navigation  and  the  construction  of  railroad  and 
tel^raph  lines  have  been  placed,  for  convenience,  in  another  chapter. 

The  earliest  business  carried  on  here,  in  addition  to  farming  and 
trading  in  furs,  was  salmon  and  sturgeon  fishing.  Thomas  Purchase, 
soon  after  his  settlement  here  in  1628,  caught,  cured,  and  packed 
salmon  and  sturgeon  for  a  foreign  market,  and  it  is  stated  that  there 
were  at  one  time,  "  saved  in  about  three  weeks,  thirty-nine  barrels  of 
salmon,  besides  what  was  spoiled  for  lack  of  salt,  and  about  ninety 
kegs  and  as  man}-  barrels  of  sturgeon,  and  that  if  the}'  had  been  fitted 
out  with  salt,  and  apt  and  skilful  men,  the}-  might  have  taken  abun- 
dance more."  ^ 

It  is  also  stated  in  Douglas's  History  that  there  was  a  company 
formed  in  London  for  the  purpose  of  importing  cured  or  dried  stur- 
geon, and  that  they  had  an  agent  at  the  foot  of  Pejepscot  Falls,  and  a 
building  erected  there.  This  was  no  doubt,  as  McKeen  observes, 
a  very  considerable  business,  and  was  carrieil  on  upon  quite  a  large 
scale,  from  time  to  time,  until  into  the  last  century,  and  until  the 
commencement  of  King  Philip's  war,  in  107'),  it  was,  doubtless,  a 
great  business  with  Mr.  Purchase.  The  business  has  not  been  carried 
on  to  any  extent  within  the  present  century,  the  salmon  having 
entirely  disappeared  from  the  river,  and  there  being  fewer  sturgeon 
than  formerly  and  a  lessened  demand  for  the  latter.  Present  indica- 
tions betoken,  however,  a  return  of  the  salmon  fishery  before  very 
many  years/ 

1  Reding*  $  Deposition,  Pejepscot  Papers. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  553 


.  DAMS. 

Before  water-power  could  be  made  available  for  propelling  the 
machiuer}'  of  mills,  it  was   necessar}'  that  dams  should  be  erected. 

The  first  one  erected  across  the  Androscoggin  Kiver  was  the  upper 
dam.  It  was  built  about  the  year  1753.  It  was,  without  doubt, 
carried  awa}'  by  IVeshets  in  the  last  century,  and  rebuilt  at  different 
times.  It  is  known  to  have  been  carried  awa}'  in  1814,  and  to  have 
been  rebuilt  soon  after.  In  1839  it  was  carried  awav  and  was  rebuilt 
the  following  year,  at  a  cost  of  86,134.06.  The  owners  at  that 
time  were  Alfred  J.  Stone,  Rufus  Rogers,  David  Dunlap,  Gardner 
Green,  R.  T.  Dunlap,  Thomas  Pennell,  William  Curtis,  Daniel 
Stone's  heirs,  and  Hugh  Patten.  A  portion  of  this  dam  was  carried 
off  in  1859,  and  was  never  rebuilt.  Later  freshets  have  carried  away 
the  remaining  ix)rtions. 

The  long  dam  was  probably  built  about  the  year  1756.  In  1828, 
John  Dunning,  of  Brunswick,  ninety  years  of  age^  testified  that  "  the 
long  dam,  so  called,  was  built  by  some  person  or  persons  to  me 
unknown,  when  I  was  about  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  of  age.  It 
extended  from  the  Topsham  shore,  near  where  the  great  mills,  so 
called,  were  built,  to  the  island  now  called  the  Shad  Island.  A  year 
or  two  after  the  long  dam  was  built,  the  same  ])roprietors  or  persons 
that  built  the  long  dam,  built  the  gulf  dam  from  the  south  side  of 
said  island  to  the  Bnniswick  shore.  I  recollect  that  Hii<?h  Wilson 
and  Samuel  Wilson,  of  Topsham,  with  one  Douglass,  were  concerned 
in  the  aforesaid  dam  and  mills  at  the  time,  or  soon  after,  the  same 
were  erected,  as  I  have  before  stated.  I  think  that  soon  after  this 
dam  and  mills  were  built,  Brigadier  Thompson,  of  Topsham,  became 
a  proprietor  of  the  same,  with  others.  My  father,  David  Dunning, 
and  Jeremiah  Moulton  were  the  owners  of  the  Fort  right,  so  called, 
and  conceiving  that  the  persons  who  built  the  long  dam,  so  called,  had 
committed  a  trespass,  b}'  building  the  same,  sued  the  trespassers, 
and  recovered  damages."  Mr.  Dunning  also  testified  that  tlic  main 
channel  oJ"  the  river,  before  the  dams  were  erected,  was  between  Shad 
Island  and  the  Brunswick  shore.  It  is  not  altogether  imi)robable  that 
the  long  dam  was  built  to  divert  the  water  into  the  drain  which  led  to 
the  Ilodge  Mill  in  Topsham.  Indeed,  as  there  were  no  other  mills  on 
the  Topsham  side  at  that  time,  and  as  this  dam  of  itself  would  be  of 
no  use  to  any  mill  on  the  Brunswick  side,  it  is  difllcult  to  conceive  for 
what  other  purpose  it  could  have  been  built. 

The  gulf  dam,  according  to  the  statement  given  above,  was  first 


554        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHaM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

built  about  1 760.  If  this  were  so  it  was  probably  carried  away  by  a 
freshet,  as  there  was  one  built  there  about  1772  by  Joshua  Nye  and 
the.  Dunuings.  This  dam  was  built  straight  across  from  Shad  Island 
to  the  mainland,  and  the  water  was  brought  to  the  mills  below 
through  a  flume.  This  dam  was  canned  oflf  hy  nearly  every  fVeshet, 
and,  finally,  about  1815,  it  was  built  in  its  present  shape  b}'  William 
E.  Weld,  who  obtained  one  half  the  privilege  as  his  compensation. 
A  small  i>ortion  of  this  dam  has  been  carried  away  b}'  a  freshet,  and  a 
portion  was  rebuilt  in  1874,  but  the  lai-ger  part  of  it  is  the  original 
dam. 

The  middle,  or  factorv,  dam  was  built  about  the  vear  1772.  It 
was  carried  away  by  a  freshet  in  1785.  It  was  rebuilt,  and  a  portion 
of  it  was  again  earned  awa}'  in  August,  18/J3. 

In  1835,  Colonel  Loammi  Baldwin,  of  Boston,  made  a  survey  of 
the  water-power  of  the  Androscoggin  Kiver,  at  Bmnswick.  In  his 
report,  dated  November  12,  of  that  year,  he  states  it  as  a  demonstra- 
ble fact  that  this  river  discharges  more  water  than  auv  other  river  in 
the  State,  being  equal,  at  the  lowest  stage  of  the  water,  to  more  than 
4,000  cubic  feet  in  a  second.  According  to  this  report  the  whole  fall 
of  water  is  40.83  feet,  divided  at  that  time  by  three  dams.  At  the 
upper  dam  there  was  a  fall  of  11.30  feet ;  at  the  middle  dam,  of  14.04 
feet;  and  at  the  lower  dam.  of  15.49  feet.  From  the  upper  to  the 
middle  dam,  on  the  Brunswick  side,  the  distance  was  1 ,280  feet. 
From  the  middle  to  the  lower  falls  the  distance  is  seven  hundred 
feet. 

''  The  la}'  of  land  about  these  falls,"  says  the  author  of  the  "  Water- 
Power  of  Maine,"  '*  is  favorable  to  the  growth  of  a  great  manufactur- 
ing city.  On  the  Brunswick  side,  below  the  village,  the  ground  lies  in 
three  extensive  levels  of  such  height  and  form  as  to  admit  of  improve- 
ment without  grading.  A  natural  '  nin  *  leads  from  the  required  site 
of  the  up[)er  dam  to  those  levels,  and  could  be  converted  into  a  grand 
canal  at  a  very  small  expense.  The  fall  couid  be  increased  to  fifty- 
five  feet  by  raising  the  upper  dam,  and  the  damage  for  flowage  would 
be  inconsiderable,  the  land  on  both  sides  of  the  river  to  Lisbon  Falls, 
eight  miles  above,  being  mostly  high."  There  is  now  no  dam  at  this 
fall,  and  but  a  small  portion  of  the  water-power  of  this  river  is  now 
made  available  here.  There  are  a  few  other  powers  in  town  at  present 
unimproved.  One,  about  three  miles  above  the  falls,  is  known  as  the 
"'  Quaker  Mill  Pond."  Jt  is  capable  of  furnishing  power  for  a  num- 
ber of  saws.  The  Bunganock  and  New  Meadows  Rivers  can  also  be 
made  available  for  manufacturing  purposes. 


COMMEBCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  555 


CANALS. 

In  1707  or  1798  *  a  corporation  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  con- 
structing a  canal  to  unite  the  waters  of  Merrymeeting  Bn}-  with  those 
of  New  Meadows  River.  It  was  intended  for  the  transportation  of 
hiinber,  and  not  as  a  passage  for  vessels.  John  Peterson  was  one 
of  the  proprietors  and  was  the  leading  spirit  of  the  enterprise.  The 
canal  was  built,  but  probably  it  did  not  answer  the  purpose  for  which 
it  was  intended,  on  account  of  there  not  being  a  sufficient  difference  of 
level  between  the  two  ends,  and  the  experiment  was  soon  abandoned. 
Traces  of  this  canal  are  still  to  be  seen. 

In  1S07  a  petition  was  sent  to  the  General  Court  for  authority  to 
establish  a  canal  for  a  similar  purpose,  from  the  Androscoggin  River, 
above  the  falls,  to  Maquoit.  A  survey  was  made  in  December  of  the 
same  year  by  Benjamin  Franklin  Baldwin. 

The  following  is  a  sj'nopsis  of  the  surve}' :  — 

General  course,  south- southwest  and  irregularly  south.  Com- 
mences about  half  a  mile  al)ove  the  falls.  It  crossed  Mair  Brook, 
Widow  Hunt's  swamp,  bridge  at  the  count}'  road  a  short  distance  east 
of  Starbird's  tanner}',  through  Captain  Skolfield's  land,  and  by  the 
head  of  Maquoit  Marsh.  The  distance  was  about  three  miles  and 
eighty  rods. 

Greatest  elevation  of  land         .         .         .         46  ft.  5  in.  7 


''         depression    " 
Average  elevation       " 
"         depression     " 
"         elevation  of  whole 
We  have  been  unable  to  ascertain  if  any  company  was   formed, 
but  the  canal  was  never  built  and  probably  never  begun. 


.H7  n.  H  in.  0 

29  ft.  8  in.  9 

24  ft.  1  in.  0 

5  ft.  7  in.  9 


MILLS. 

Grist-Mills.  —  Providing  for  the  sustenance  of  the  body  is  the  first 
thing  to  occui)y  attention  in  a  newly  settled  region,  and  though  proba- 
bly the  ver}'  earliest  settlers  pounded  their  maize,  after  tlie  mode  of 
the  Indians,  in  mortars  of  stone  or  iron,  3'et  without  doubt  the  first 
mills  erected  were  grist-mills. 

ITiere  is  no  evidence  of  the  existence  of  any  mill  hereabouts  until 
after  the  formation  of  the  IVjepscot  Company,  and  from  tlie  small  num- 
ber of  settlers  antecedent  to  that  time,  it  is  almost  certain  that  there 


LetnonVs  IlUtlorival  Date*  of  Bath,  pp.  8  and  70. 


556      msTOET  OF  Brunswick,  topseam,  and  habpswell, 

were  none.  The  earliest  reference  to  an}'  project  of  the  kind  is  con- 
tained in  the  records  of  that  company.  At  a  meeting  of  the  proprie- 
tors, held  September  14,  1715,  one  of  their  number,  Mr.  Watts,  was 
desired  to  take  the  advice  of  a  millwright  in  regard  to  the  best  place 
for  a  mill  and  the  estimated  cost,  and  he  was  requested  to  make  a 
report  on  his  return,  '^  in  order  to  our  agreeing  for  a  Mill  against  the 
Spring."  His  report  is  not  in  the  records,  but  on  Septeml)er  5,  1716, 
the  proprietors  voted  "  that  the  Small  Stream  in  a  Gulley  l\*ing  about 
Twent}'  Rodds  W.  N.  W.  from  Fort  George  at  Bnmswick  be  granted 
to  Captain  John  Gyles  and  Mr.  W"  Goodwin  and  their  Associates, 
provided  they  erect  a  Saw  Mill  or  a  Grist  Mill  thereon  within  a  twelve 
month,  &  keep  it  going."  * 

It  ai)i)ears  from  the  record  of  a  subsequent  meeting  of  the  proprie- 
tors, held  on  Febniar}'  3,  1741,  that  this  proposed  mill  was  never 
erected,  and  as  Gyles  and  Gooilwin  failed  to  fulfil  the  conditions  of 
the  grant,  the  right  to  the  stream  reverteil  to  the  proprietors.  Inas- 
much, however,  as  a  grist-mill  in  this  new  township  would  l>e,  in  tlie 
opinion  of  the  proprietors,  "  of  great  advantage  for  the  Inhabitants  to 
grind  their  Corn  and  tend  to  promote  good  Husbandry,"  the}*  at  this 
meeting  passed  a  vote  that  the  stream  and  gully  already*  mentioned, 
together  with  about  an  acre  of  land,  exclusive  of  rocks,  and  the  exclu- 
sive privilege  of  building  mills  upon  it,  should  be  granted  to  their  i>art- 
nor,  Mr.  Henry  Gib])s  and  his  heirs  and  assigns,  with  the  proviso  that 

he  or  thov  should  "  build  a  Grist  Mill  thereon,  within  two  vears  from 

»■  » 

the  first  dav  of  Mav,  1742,  if  no  war  with  the  Indians  and  French" ; 
and  in  case  of  the  occurrence  of  war  within  that  time,  two  vears  was  to 
be  allowed  after  the  termination  of  it,  and  with  the  further  proviso  that 
the  mill  should  be  kept  in  good  repair  as  a  grist-mill  for  five  years, 
or  in  default  thereof  the  jmvilege  was  to  revert  to  the  proprietors. 

This  privilege  was  bounded  as  follows :  — 

'*  Beginning  at  the  west  bastion  of  Fort  George,  thence  west  two 
Rods  across  the  two  Rod  Road  thence  west  and  bv  north  twcntv-four 
Rods  to  Androscoggin  River,  thence  down  said  River  to  a  Stake 
standing  b>'  said  River,  thence  South  to  the  Northerly  Corner  of  Fort 
George,  thence  by  Fort  George  to  the  Westernmost  Corner  of  the  Bas- 
tion first-mentioned  according  to  a  Plan  of  the  same  under  the  hand 
of  James  Scales,  Surveyor,  bearing  date  Nov.  16,  1741."  This  was 
the  origin  of  what  was  subsequently  known  as  the  *'  Fort  Right." 


1  PejepKOt  Hec^rtlA.     This  8tr*>am  floiced  across  what  is  now  Boic  .SZ/ref,  where  the 
Cabot  Compaiif/s  cotton  house  is,  and  entered  the  river. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  557 

On  June  14,  ITol,  James  Ihompson  and  Anthony  Coombs  of 
Brunswick  conveyed  '•  to  Aaron  Ilinkley,  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  Gentle- 
men of  Brunswick,  Humphrey'  Purinton,  Cordwainer,  Georgetown, 
and  Isaac  Snow  and  Cornelius  Thompson,  of  Bninswick,  yeomen, 
six  eighth  parts  of  a  Cove  at  New  Meadows,  between  the  land  of 
Anthony  Coombs  and  James  Thompson,  for  the  privilege  of  erecting 
a  mill  or  mills. "^ 

In  1 753  a  grist-mill  was  erected  at  New  Meadows,  doubtless  on  this 
cove,  and  another  at  Maquoit.^ 

In  17Ct)  there  was  a  grist-mill  on  Mair  Brook,^  where  Getchell's  mill 
now  stands.  There  has  been  a  mill  at  that  place  nearly  all  the  time 
since,  though  of  late  years  it  has  been  Tiot  a  grist,  but  a  carding  milL 

In  171)4  John  Peterson  had  a  mill  at  New  Meadows.  In  171)5  there 
was,  acconiing  to  a  plan  of  Brunswick  made  at  that  time  by  John 
Given,  a  corn-mill  on  the  upper  dam  on  the  Brunswick  side.  Refer- 
ence is  also  made  in  the  margin  of  this  plan  to  two  other  corn-mills, 
but  the  map  is  so  defaced  that  it  is  impossible  to  determine  their  local- 
ity, though  there  is  little  doubt  that  one  of  them  was  the  one  at  New 
Meadows  and  the  other  upon  the  lower  dam.  The  first  grist-mill  with 
apparatus  for  )x>1ting  the  meal  was  erected  in  the  latter  part  of  the 
last  century  by  Mr.  Benjamin  Stone.* 

In  1811)  a  Mr.  Quinb}'  had  a  grist-mill  on  the  bank  of  the  river 
west  of  the  cotton  factor}'  which  was  run  by  a  windmill.  In  1820 
there  was  a  grist-mill  in  operation  at  the  upper  dam,  under  the  man- 
agement of  Henry  Putnam,  Esquire,  which  was  spoken  of  at  the 
time  as  being  "  remarkable  for  its  perfect  and  ingenious  s^'stem  of 
machinery.**  At  the  same  time  there  was  a  grist-mill  at  the  end  of 
the  britlge  where  the  pulp-mill  now  stands.  In  1830  there  were  two 
corn  and  flour  mills  within  the  limits  of  the  village,  one  of  which  was 
on  the  '^  Nye''  privilege  near  the  bridge,  and  the  other  was  probably 
at  the  upper  dam  and  managed  by  Charles  B.  Mitchell.  In  1839,  Mr. 
Samuel  S.  Wing  bought  a  part  of  the  Nye  grist-mill.  This  mill 
was  a  two-stor}'  building  with  two  runs  of  stones,  one  for  wheat  and 
one  for  corn.  \\\  1842  the  mill,  witii  all  the  adjoining  property, 
including  the  Androscoggin  Bridge,  was  burned.  It  was  rebuilt  the 
next  year,  and  one  run  of  stones  added  for  grinding  barley.  In  1850 
the  mill  was  again  destroyed  by  fire.     It  was  rebuilt  the  same  3'ear, 


»  Yurk  County  Records,  Vol.  30, 7>.  147. 

2  BruiiKicick  Records  in  Prjcpsvot  Collection,    Memorandum  on  cover. 

8  Town  records. 

*  Jarne^  Curtis* s  JoumcU,  in  the  library  of  tfie  Mai)i€  Historical  Society. 


558        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

with  three  runs  of  stones,  and  in  1871  it  was  again  burned,  since 
when  there  has  been  no  grist-mill  on  that  privilege. 

In  1859,  D.  and  C.  E.  Scribner  bought  the  privilege,  now  occupied 
by  them  at  the  Brunswick  end  of  the  old  toll-bridge,  and  put  in 
machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  Hour,  wheat  meal,  crushed  wheat, 
corn-meal,  etc.  The  capacity  of  the  mill  is  about  two  barrels  of  flour 
per  hour  and  about  fifteen  bushels  of  meal  per  hour.  The  mill  is  kept 
running  almost  constantly  on  flour,  but  corn  and  grist  work  is  insuf- 
ficient to  keep  that  department  running  all  the  time.  The  Messrs. 
Scribner  were  the  first  in  tiiese  towns  to  make  flour  from  wheat  brought 
firom  the  West. 

'  Saw-Mills.  —  At  a  meeting,"held  September  5,  1 71G,  the  proprietors 
voted  to  employ  persons  to  look  out  a  i)roper  place  for  erecting  one 
or  two  saw-mills  within  the  limits  of  their  purchase,  and  "  that  the 
running  Gear  therefor  be  provided  Seasonably."  Also  that  the  small 
stream  in  the  gully  west  of  Fort  Georges  hould  be  granted  to  Gyles 
and  Goo<lwin,  as  has  already  been  mentioned,  provided  a  saw-mill  or 
grist-mill  should  be  built  thereon  within  one  year.^ 

At  another  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  in  the  following  October, 
it  was  proposed,  unless  more  convenient  places  could  be  found,  that 
two  saw-mills  should  be  built  at  '*  Bungamunganock"  Falls.  On  No- 
vember 28,  Mr.  Samuel  Came,  of  York,  offered  to  build  the  running 
gear  for  a  mill  with  two  saws  for  £27  and  the  mill  itself  for  £30.  His 
offer  was  accepted,  and  he  was  desired  to  prepare  running  gear  for 
two  mills,  and  to  set  one  up,  early  in  the  spring,  at  "Bungamunga- 
nock "  Falls,  and  the  other  at  the  most  convenient  place  he  could  find 
for  timber,  stream,  etc.,  and  to  suit  the  settlements.  To  this  Mr. 
Came  agreed. 

On  October  14,  1717,  it  was  agreed  that  Captain  Gyles  should  be 
^Titten  to  *•  to  \>\\i  our  saw. mill  at  Bungamunganock  under  Improve- 
ment till  we  shall  take  further  order  about  it."  '-^  Yroni  this  it  would 
appear  probable  that  one  mill  had  already  been  erected,  and  it  is  not 
at  all  unlikely  that  the  other  was  built  soon  afterwartls,  though  prob- 
ably on  the  Cathance,  for  on  April  28,  1718,  it  was  voted  that  those 
of  the  proprietors  who  were  going  to  Pejepscot  should  as  soon  as 
posible  get  the  '*  two  mills  put  into  good  oider  and  under  good 
improvement."  ^ 

From  a  memorandum  made  upon  the  cover  of  the  Brunswick 
Records,  in  the  Pejepscot  Collection,  it  seems  that  in  1753  there  were 

1  P^epscot  Records,  a  Ihid,  » Ihid. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  559 

no  less  than  six  saw-mills  in  Brunswick.  Three  of  these  were  at  New 
Meadows,  one  was  at  Maquoit,  one  at  Bunganock,  and  one  at  the 
Brunswick  Falls.  This  latter  was  the  first  mill  ever  built  on  the 
Andro8C(^gin  River,  and  according  to  McKeen,^  was  on  the  upper 
dam.  It  was  probably  built  b}'  Jeremiah  Moulton,  of  York,  and 
David  Dunning,  though  the  date  of  erection  ma}'  have  been  as  late  as 
1761.2  The  author! t}' for  McKeen's  statement  we  have  been  unable 
to  find,  but  presume  it  was  a  traditional  account. 

On  November  14,  1761,  Belcher  Noyes,  the  proprietors*  agent, 
deeded  to  David  Dunning  and  Jeremiah  Moulton  the  mill  privilege 
that  has  since  been  known  as  the  Fort  Bight.  Its  bounds,  as 
described  in  the  original  deed,  were  as  follows :  — 

*'  South  on  a  road  laid  out  to  the  Indian  Carrnnoj  Place  above  the 
Falls,  on  said  Androscoggin  River,  which  is  on  the  west  side  of  said 
road  to  Maquoit,  adjoining  to  lot  number  one,  Northerl}'  on  the  road 
lai^l  out  on  the  east  side  of  said  roail  to  Maquoit  to  the  landing  Place 
on  said  Androscoggin  River  (exclusively  of  what  land  belongs  to  lot 
number  one) ,  and  on  said  Androsco^in  River  according  to  the  Course 
thereof  above  the  Falls,  so  as  to  comprehend  the  land  included  within 
the  said  limits,  exclusive  of  what  land  belongs  to  lot  number  one 
(together  with  one  moiety  or  half  part  of  an}^  Rocks  or  Islets  adjacent 
thereto)  and  one  half  of  privilege  of  Stream."  This  included  all  the 
land  north  of  Mill  and  Mason  Streets,  between  the  town  landing 
and  the  upper  dam. 

By  a  vote  of  the  proprietors,  October  22,  1762,  the  right  and  privi- 
lege granted  hy  this  deed  was  extended  so  as  to  embrace  the  Topsham 
side  of  the  river.  This  "right"  afterwards  became  divided  among 
the  heirs  and  those  to  whom  a  portion  of  it  had  previously  been  sold, 
and  the  larger  part  of  it  is  now  owned  bj'  the  Cabot  Manufacturing 
Company,  although  Scribner's  liourmill  and  the  mills  in  the  Cove 
are  located  upon  it. 

In  1767,  Esquire  Woodside  was  the  owner  of  a  saw-mill,^  which  was 
probably  at  Bunganock. 

Al)out  the  3'ear  1772  two  saw- mills  were  erected  about  where  the 
pulp-mill  now  is,  by  Joshua  Nj'c  and  Andrew  Dunning.  In  1792, 
Samuel  Stan  wood  had  a  mill  at  Maquoit. 

In  171)5  there  were,  according  to  Given's  plan  of  Brunswick,  two 
saw-mills  on  the  upper  falls  and  one  on  the  lower,  besides  four  other 


*  Manuscript  lecture, 

2  Record  of  Court  of  General  Sessions  in  County  Commissioners'  Office^  Portland, 

•  Town  Records  of  Brunswick^  1,  p.  68. 


560        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABF8WELL, 

saw-mills,  the  exact  location  of  which  cannot  be  determined  in  conse- 
quence of  tlie  defaced  state  of  the  map.  One  of  them  was  probably 
the  so-called  ''  Folly  "  mill,  which  stood  about  where  the  Factoiy  Gas- 
Iloiise  now  stands.  This  mill  received  its  name  in  consequence  of 
what  was  deemed,  at  the  time,  an  act  of  folly.  The  brook  which  was 
to  supply  the  water  came  from  the  swamp,  which  then  existed  where 
the  depot  now  is,  and  ran  down  what  is  now  Union  Street  and  under 
Mill  Street.  On  or  near  the  mouth  of  this  stream,  Mr.  Samuel  Page 
built  a  mill,  which  of  course  faileil  to  be  of  much  practical  benefit  on 
account  of  the  small  and  intermittent  supply  of  water. 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century*  Captain  John  Peterson  had  a 
saw-mill  at  New  Meadows. 

On  July  8,  1H08,  Johnson  Wilson  received  a  deed  of  Shad  Island, 
then  called  Fishing  Rock  Island,  and  not  long  afterwards  he  erected 
a  double  mill  upon  it. 

On  June  10,  1816,  Ephraim  Jones  entered  into  an  agreement  with 
William  Frost  and  Nathaniel  Greene,  of  Topsham,  and  perhaps  with 
others,  to  build  a  saw-mill  on  this  island,  sixty-five  by  forty  feet  in 
size,  and  to  have  it  finished  by  August  10.    The  mill  was  built  that  year. 

There  were  at  the  falls,  in  1820,  including  those  in  Topsham,  twenty- 
five  saws.  It  has  not  been  found  practicable  to  obtain  reliable  infw- 
mation  as  to  the  exact  date  of  erection  of  manv  of  these  mills.  Their 
number  at  this  time  shows  conclusively  the  importance  of  the  lumber 
business  then  carried  on,  and  consequentlj'  the  thriving  condition  of 
these  places.  It  was  estimated  at  this  time  that  not  less  than  500,000 
feet  of  boards  were  cut  annually  by  each  saw.  This  would  amount  to 
1 2,500,000  feet  in  a  year,  which,  at  seven  dollars  per  thousand,  would 
amount  to  8l75,OO0.  The  greater  part  of  this  lumber  was  shipped  b}* 
the  wav  of  Bath,  and  the  rivers  and  bavs  on  the  south  of  the  town. 
The  revenue  to  the  government  from  the  duties  assessed  on  the  lum 
ber  in  the  two  tt)wns  is  said  to  have  Ix'cn  not  less  than  875,000.  A 
force  of  about  three  hundred  men  was  employed  in  and  about  the  saw- 
mills.^ 

There  was  also  at  this  time  a  clapboaitl  manufactory,  the  machinery 
for  which  was  invented  b}'  Mr.  Robert  Kastman,  of  Brunswick.  The 
machinery,  though  simple,  was  so  constructed  that  it  would  cut  two 
clapboards  in  u  minute,  regulate  itseif,  and  cut  one  hundred  and 
twenty  clapboards  in  an  hour,  from  a  block  two  feet  in  diameter. 
About  000,000  could  be  cut  in  a  season.'^ 


^Putnam.  ^Ibid. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTOBT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  561 

In  1825  a  number  of  these  mills  were  destroyed  by  what  is  known 
as  the  ''  Great  Fire." 

A  double  saw-mill,  which  was  erected  by  Jonathan  Page  near  the 
ruins  of  the  Great  Fire,  probably  this  year,  was  carried  away  by  a 
freshet  in  1827. 

In  1831,  Mr.  Samuel  S.  Wing,  who  had  for  a  year  and  a  half  pre- 
viously manufactured  sugar-box  shooks  for  a  Boston  firm,  in  a  mill 
owned  by  Benjamin  Weld,  Esquire,  where  the  pulp-mill  now  stands, 
bought  out  their  interest,  and  commenced  the  business  on  his  own 
account.  He  continued  in  the  business  for  twent3*-five  years,  a  part 
of  the  time  having  three  box-machines  in  operation  at  the  same  time. 
One  of  these  machines  was  on  the  lower  falls,  one  on  Shad  Island,  and 
the  other  on  the  upper  falls.  These  *  three  machines  manufactured 
annually  upwards  of  3,000,000  feet  of  pine  boards. 

In  1836  there  were  twenty  saws  in  Bmnswick  Village,  besides  mills 
of  other  kinds.  The  same  year  Eliphalet  P.  Pike  «Sc  Co.  built  a  large 
saw-mill  containing  four  saws,  and  a  clapboard-mill,  on  Goat  Island. 
The  water  was  brought  from  the  upper  dam  by  means  of  a  flume,  and 
a  bridge  connected  the  island  with  the  Brunswick  shore.  'I'here  was 
additional  space  sufficient  for  four  to  six  more  saws.  This  mill  was 
carried  off  in  1839.  A  saw-mill  was  also  erected  in  1836  near  the 
toll-bridge. 

In  1848,  J.  C.  Humphreys  &  Co.  erected  two  steam-mills  on  a 
point  extending  into  the  river  about  two  miles  below  the  village. 
The  machinery  of  these  mills  was  propelled  by  two  seventeen-inch 
cylinder  engines,  which  drove  one  gang-saw,  two  upright  single 
saws,  two  shingle,  one  clapboard,  and  one  lath  machine,  one  machine 
for  making  heads  for  molasses  hogsheads,  and  two  machines  for 
making  shooks,  besides  edging,  cutting  off,  and  other  saws.  About 
500,000  feet  of  lumber  was  manufactured  at  that  time.  This  com- 
pany had  a  ship-yard  adjoining  their  mills.  One  of  these  mills  was 
burned  in  1864. 

In  1857  what  was  known  as  the  Bourne  Mill,  in  the  Cove,  was 
burned.  It  was  built  by  Abner  Bourne  early  in  the  present  centur3\ 
In  1856  this  mill  belonged  to  R.  T.  Dunlap,  C.  J.  Oilman,  A.  B. 
Thompson,  and  Ward  Coburn. 

In  1845,  Mr.  Abizer  Jordan  had  in  operation  a  machine  for  planing 
boards.  It  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  one  in  operation  vrt 
Brunswick. 

In  1859,  Messrs.  Samson  and  Eben  Colby,  of  Topsham,  bought  the 
Samuel  S.  Wing  Property  in  Brunswick,  at  the  end  of  the  bridge, 
86 


5l>2        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

known  as  the  Perry  Privilege,  where  they  carrieil  on  the  manufacture 
of  sashes,  doors,  blinds,  shingles,  clapboards,  and  lathes,  until  1871, 
when  the  mill  was  destroyed  bv  fire.  Mr.  Eben  Colbv  then  built  the 
mill  on  the  same  privilege,  now  the  pulp-mill,  and  with  J.  F.  Chaney 
continued  the  business  under  the  style  of  Colbv  &  Chancy  for  a  year 
and  a  half,  when  they  sold  the  mill  to  the  Androscoggin  Pulp  Com- 
pany, and  then  built  a  large  two-story  mill  in  the  Cove.  In  this 
building  Colby,  Chaney  &  Smith  manufactured  long  and  short  lum- 
ber, sashes,  doors,  and  blinds  until  1875,  when  the  mill  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Charles  II.  Colby,  who  occupies  the  lower  story,  and  the 
second  storj'  was  leased  to  the  Bangs  Brothers. 

The  most  flourishing  time  in  this  vicinity,  so  far  as  relates  to  the 
lumbering  business,  was  undoubtedly  between  183.3  and  184;').  In 
\Siyj  there  were  thirty  saws  in  Brunswick  alone.  It  has  been  found 
impracticable  to  give  all  the  changes  of  ownership  in  mill  property 
which  have  taken  place  within  this  century.  Among  those  who  have 
been  prominently  connected  with  the  lumber  business  in  Brunswick, 
who  have  not  already  been  named,  may  be  mentioned  Paul  Hall  and 
Colonel  William  Stanwood,  who  owned  the  Nye  mill  in  IMOO  and  sub- 
sequently ;  Captain  John  Dunlap,  who  was  part  owner  in  a  mill  on 
the  upper  dam  in  1800,  as  well  as  before  and  after  that  date :  A.  B. 
Thompson  and  J.  C.  Humphreys,  who  formed  a  copartnership  and 
carried  on  the  lumber  business  in  a  mill  at  the  Cove,  about  1825,  and 
did  an  extensive  business  until  they  dissolved,  in  18.30. 

Al>out  1820,  Abner  Bourne,  Kichard  and  David  Dunlap,  William 
E.  Weld,  and  Charles  Weld  were  engaged  in  this  business.  Davi<i 
Dunlap  was,  doubtless,  the  largest  mill-owner  for  many  years,  lu 
182U  he  owned  one  saw  and  a  half  on  the  upper  dam  and  two  saws  in 
the  Cove.  In  1H31  he  sold  one  half  his  whole  interest  to  Rodney 
Forsaith,  and  they  continued  in  partnership  until  183r»,  when  Forsaith 
bought  his  remaining  interest  and  kept  it  until  184;3,  when  the  co- 
partnership of  Lemont  (Adam),  Forsaith  (Rodney),  &  Hall  (Wil- 
liam II.)  was  made,  and  continued  until  about  18.38.  From  about 
1830  to  18»30,  Alfred  J.  Stone  and  William  II.  Morse  carried  on  an 
extensive  business.  From  1837  to  1^.3(3,  Joseph  Lunt,  2d,  was  engaged 
in  this  business;  Burt  Townsend,  from  about  1818  to  about  1838: 
Phineas  Tavlor,  alx>ut  1820  ;  and  Ward  Coburn  and  Artemas  Coburu, 
somewhat  later,  were  engaged  also  in  this  business. 

There  are  now  but  two  saw-mills  in  operation  in  Brunswick.  They 
are  in  the  Cove  and  are  owned,  one  by  C.  II.  Colb^*  and  the  other  by 
Hiram  Toothaker  and  Trueworthv  Brown. 


•  COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  563 

BOOMS. 

I  he  stringing  together  of  logs  across  the  river,  in  order  to  catch  the 
1<x  se  logs  that  might  escape  from  rafts,  or  be  floated  from  the  shores, 
WPS  donbtiess  done  in  the  very  earliest  period  of  the  lumber  business, 
but  the  erection  of  regular  booms  and  the  incorporation  of  a  company 
for  the  express  purpose  of  collecting  stray  logs  did  not  occur  until 
towards  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century.  These  booms  were  made 
of  wooden  piers  filled  with  stone  and  connected  by  timbers  fastened 
with  irons.  Some  of  the  "  King's  Masts "  were  put  into  a  boom 
below  the  bridge,  b}'  Brigadier  Thompson.  The}'  were  afterwards 
taken  out  and  put  into  a  boom  above  the  bridge,  and  were  some  of 
them  still  in  use  as  late  as  March  22,  1856,  having  stood  this  service 
for  about  seventv  years. 

The  first  boom  known  to  have  been  erected  on  the  river  was  the 
Androscoggin  Boom,  which  extended  from  Ferry  Point  to  Mason's 
Rock.  The  proprietors  were  Samuel  Thompson,  Esquire,  Kzekiel 
Tlwmpson,  Benjamin  Thompson,  Stephen  Purrington,  Thomas  Thomp- 
son, James  Purrington,  James  Wilson,  Humphrey  Thompson,  and 
James  Thompson.     They  were  incorporated  Fcbruar}'  14,  1789.1 

Another  company  was  formed  March  15,  1805,  at  which  time  the 
General  Court  of  Massachusetts  enacted  "that  Thomas  Thompson, 
William  Stanwood,  Elijah  Hall,  Paul  Hall,  Humphrey  Purinton,  Cor- 
nelius Thompson,  Trueworthv  Kilgore,  Francis  Tucker,  and  Johnson 
Wilson,  and  their  associates,  successors,  and  assigns  l>e,  and  they  are 
hei-eby  constituted  a  corporation  for  making,  la>'ing,  and  maintaining 
side-booms  in  suitable  and  convenient  places  in  Androscoggin  Kiver, 
from  Androscoggin  Bridge  to  the  Narrows  of  said  river,  in  Brunswick 
and  Topsham,  so  long  as  they  shall  continue  proprietors  of  the  fund 
raised,  or  which  may  be  hereafter  raised  for  that  purpose,  jmd  shall 
be  a  body  politic  by  the  name  of  The  Proprietors  of  Side-Booms  in 
Akdkosooc.gin  River,  and  bv  that  name  mav  sue,"  etc. 

The  company  was  entitled  to  receive  compensation  of  the  owners  of 
logs  and  other  lumber  by  them  rafted  and  properly  secure<l  for  the 
owner,  the  fees  l)eing  regulated  by  the  charter. 

On  February  29,  1812,  an  additional  Act  authorized  the  proprietors 
of  side-booms  in  the  Androscoggin  Kiver  to  extend  sidc-boums  above 
the  lower  falls. 

In  1820  there  were  six  booms  above  and  five  below  the  falls. 


1  Massachusetts  Special  Laws,  1,  p.  230. 


564        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

On  Febraary  27,  1829,  it  was  provided  b}'  the  legislature  that  the 
selectmen  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham  should  annually  apiK>int  two 
surveyors  of  Ic^s  at  the  several  side-booms  in  the  river  at  Topsham 
and  Brunswick,  in  order  that  the  logs  caught  in  the  booms  should  be 
fairly  surveyed  and  disputes  be  prevented  between  the  proprietors  and 
the  owners  of  logs. 

In  October,  1855,  three  of  these  booms,  said  to  have  cost  about 
$40,000,  were  caiTie<l  away  by  a  freshet.  There  are  now  no  traces  of 
these  booms  to  be  seen  below  the  falls.  Above  the  falls  can  be  seen, 
at  low  water,  the  ruins  of  several  stone  piers  to  which  the  boom-sticks 
were  formerly  attached. 

COTTON  AND  WOOLLEN  FACTORIES. 

Coming  under  the  general  term  of  mills  are  several  which  are 
usually  designated  as  factories.  Of  these  some  were  for  the  manu- 
facture of  cotton  and  some  of  woollen  goods.  In  earl}'  times  the 
manufacture  of  clothing  was  quite  laborious,  as  there  were  then  no 
carding-machines.  After  the  sheep  were  shorn  in  the  spring  the 
neighbors  used  to  collect  for  "  wool-breaking,"  as  the  preparing  the 
wool  for  the  spinning-wheel  was  called,  and  after  the  labor  was  over 
the  time  was  spent  in  amusement  and  social  intercourse.' 

The  first  factor}*  was  established  by  the  Bkunswick  Cotton  Manu- 
FACTOKY  Company,  which  was  incorporated  March  4,  1809.  Ezra 
Smith,  William  King,  and  Doctor  Porter  were  among  the  propri- 
etors. The  company  was  formed  for  the  manufacture  of  cotton  yam, 
which  was  slii[)ped  to  other  mills  to  be  made  into  cloth.  The  mill  did 
not  prove  a  success,  and  it  is  said  that  the  stockholders  lost  all  their 
capital.  So  cloth  was  made  in  this  mill.^  The  mill  was  a  three-story, 
gambre I- roofed,  wooden  building,  and  stood  close  to  the  river,  on  the 
left-hand  side  of  the  hine  which  passes  the  east  en<l  of  the  present 
mill. 3  The  machinery  was  put  in  by  Robert  Kastman  and  James 
Jones. 

The  second  mill  was  that  of  the  Maine  Cotton  and  Woollen  Fac- 
tory Company,  which  was  incorporated  in  October,  1812.  This  corn- 
pan}'  erected  a  wooden  mill  about  where  the  ])lacksmith  shop  of  the 
Cabot  Company  now  stands.  They  also  bought  the  building  of  the 
Brunswick  Company,  which  the}'  used  for  a  storehouse.  Deacon  John 
Perry  was  the  first  agent. 

1  Jatni'8  Curtis's  Journal,  in  library  of  Maine  Historical  Socielf/, 

*  Reminisct-nccs  of  Dean  iiicift. 

•  Jieminisctnces  of  Dean  Hici/t  and  Miss  Narcissa  Stone. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  565 

In  1820  there  were  1.248  cotton  spindles  in  full  operation,  and  two 
hundred  and  fort}'  woollen  spindles ;  nine  woollen  looms,  and  carding 
and  fulling  machines  in  proportion.  100,000  yards  of  cotton  cloth 
were  turned  ©ff  in  a  season,  ''and  the  broadcloths,  from  full-blooded 
merinos,  do  not  follow  haud  passibus  cequfs^  those  of  Manchester." 
About  one  hundred  operatives  were  emplo3'ed  at  that  time.' 

Both  these  mills  were  destro^'ed  in  the  fire  of  1825,  the  old  building 
being  used  at  the  time  as  a  storehouse.  Soon  after  the  fire,  a  mill 
for  carding  wool  and  dressing  cloth  was  established  by  John  Dyer. 
It  was  called  the  Eagle  Factory.  It  stood  on  the  west  side  of  the 
Shad  Island  road,  near  the  end  of  the  present  mill.  It  was  removed 
in  1834  across  the  road,  and  is  now  occupied  as  a  tenement. 

The  Brunswick  Company  was  incorporated  in  1834.  The  corpora- 
tors were  Isaac  Lincoln,  Joseph  McKeen,  Richard  T.  Dunlap,  Abner 
B.  Thompson,  Ebenezer  Everett,  Nathaniel  Davis,  John  C.  Hum- 
phreys, Da\id  Dunlap,  Noah  Hinkley,  Elijah  P.  Pike,  Narcissa  Stone, 
Robert  P.  Dunlap,  Thomas  Pennell,  John  Dunning,  and  James 
McKeen.  They  were  empowered  to  manufacture  cotton,  wool,  iron, 
and  steel,  and  other  raw  material  necessarily^  connected  therewith ; 
and  to  erect  mills,  dams,  works,  machines,  and  buildings  on  their  own 
land.  They  were  afterwards,  by  an  additional  Act,  authorized  to 
carr}'  on  the  manufacturing  business  in  the  town  of  Topsham,  as 
well  as  in  Brunswick. 

According  to  the  by-laws,  the  stock  of  the  company  was  divided  into 
shares  of  one  hundred  dollars  each. 

The  following  was  the  proi)erty  belonging  to  the  company-  in  1836  :  — 

"1.  A  new  mill  of  undressed  granite,  five  stories  high,  146  feet 
long,  45  wide,  capable  of  containing  5,120  spindles  of  cotton  spinning. 

''2.  Four  additional  mill-sites  of  equal  extent  with  the  last,  two 
dwelling-houses  three  stories  high,  one  store,  a  counting-room,  stone 
picker-house,  cotton  store,  and  forging-shop.  all  completely  finished, 
with  convenient  land  for  their  use,  all  situated  in  Brunswick,  and 
four  mill-sites  in  Topsham. 

"3.  The  whole  breadth  of  the  river  with  the  islands  and  dams, 
thirteen  and  a  half  acres  of  land  in  Brunswick  and  Topsham,  and 
water-power  sufllcient  to  cany  as  many  saws  and  spindles  of  cotton 
machinery  as  there  is  space  to  erect  the  mills." 

At  a  meeting  of  this  company,  August  10,  1836,  the  following 
oflScers  were  chosen  :  — 

1  Henry  Putnam^  Kh(2h ire.  printed  UWrs 


561)        lUSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

William  AVillis,  R.  T.  Dunlap,  II.  Gocldarcl,  M.  Greenwood,  and 
X.  F.  Decring,  dii^ectors ;  N.  r.  Deering,  treasurer;  Thomas  L. 
Willis,  clerk ;  I.  A.  Beard,  agent. ^ 

The  Brunswick  Company  ran  this  factory  until  1840,  when  they 
leased  it  to  ]Mr.  Alien  Colby,  who  managed  it  until  3Iarch,  1843, 
when  it  was  sold  at  auction  in  Boston,  to  Whitwell,  Seaver,  c&  Co., 
for  S34,400.  The  original  cost  was  about  8100,000.  This  latter 
company  intnisted  the  management  of  it  to  Messrs.  A.  P.  Kimball 
and  John  Dunning  Coburn,  of  Boston,  who  soon  afterwards  pur^ 
chased  it.- 

This  firm,  after  carrying  on  the  business  for  a  few  years,  failed,  and 
the  mill  went  into  other  hands. 

On  Julv  3,  1847,  the  Warumbo  MANUFAcmtiNo  Company  was 
iucoq>orated.  The  stock  of  this  company  "  consisted  of  mortgages 
and  other  claims  on  the  late  finn  of  Kimball  &  Coburn,  which  fell  into 
their  hands  for  debts  against  the  said  firm,  of  which  they  expected 
to  realize  nothing  except  through  the  earnings  of  the  factory,  and  of 
other  mortgaged  property  in  Bnmswick,  subject  to  an  amount  of  prior 
encumbrances  exceeding  840.000." 

The  company  was  organized  in  the  summer  of  1^48.  Who  were 
the  directors  at  that  time  is  !iot  known,  but  in  1849  thev  were  Abner 
B.  Thompson,  John  Coburn,  Nathaniel  Davis,  James  K.  Mills, 
Thomas  Gray,  Ilollis  Thayer,  and  William  Perkins.  This  company 
carried  on  business  but  a  few  years  before  it  also  faileil,  probably  on 
account  of  tlic  encumbrances  ui)on  its  i)roperty  and  the  heavy  liabili- 
ties it  had  to  meet.  The  regulations  of  this  company  in  reganl  to  its 
oi)eratives  were  quite  strict.  Amongst  others  was  one  refusing  to 
employ  any  one  *'  who  is  hai)itually  absent  from  public  worship  on  the 
Sabbath,  or  who  uses  profane  or  indecent  language  in  the  mill  or  else- 
where, or  who  uses  ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage." 

The  Warumbo  Company  was  succeeded  by  the  Cabot  Company. 
This  company  bought  the  factory  in  1.S53,  but  on  ac/ount  of  debt  and 
a  number  of  the  stockholders  failing  to  pay  their  jissosments,  it  was 
sold  at  auction  in  18r)7.  A  number  of  the  former  nionib(»rs  bouglit  up 
the  stock,  and  organized  a  company  under  tlie  name  of  The  Cabot 
Manufactikixo  Company,  with  a  capital  of  8H)0,000.  In  18,')?  the 
company  had  two  hundred  and  thirty-five  looms  in  operation  ami  had 
ex|)ended  810.000.  There  were  U.OOO  spindles  at  work  ;  the  mill  gave 
employment   to   one   hundred    and   seventy-five   i>ersons,    at   a  total 


Fmm  the  Regulator,  2  Reminiscences  of  Allen  Colby. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  567 

inonthl}'  pay  of  $3,000,  and  it  turned  out  50,000  ^-ards  of  plain  and 
drill  cotton  \>eT  week.  In  1865  or  1806  an  addition  of  seventy  feet 
was  made  on  the  east  side  and  one  of  fifty  feet  on  the  west  side,  with 
two  wings  on  the  ends.  In  1867  the  mill  had  26,000  spindles.  The 
company  owned  thirty  acres  of  land  on  the  two  sides  of  the  river  and 
8event>'-five  tenements,  and  made  its  own  gas,  which  it  also  suppliwl 
to  the  town.  At  the  present  time  (1877)  the  officers  of  this  com- 
pany are  as  follows :  president,  C.  AV.  Freeland :  treasurer,  Francis 
Cabot;  agent  and  clerk,  Benjamin  Greene;  directors,  C.  W.  Free- 
land,  B.  W.  Gleason,  Peter  Butler,  William  Amory,  Q.  A.  Shaw,  B. 
II.  Silsbee,  John  T.  Anderson.  The  capital  stock  is  8600,000 ;  the 
number  of  spindles,  35,000 ;  the  number  of  oi)erative8  empUmnl  is 
five  hundred  and  fifty.  The  buildings  of  the  company  are  a  factory, 
ofTice,  storehouse,  store,  and  one  hundred  tenements. 

The  Brunswick  Woollex  Factory  was  established  by  W  bitten  dc 
Meder  in  1841.  It  was  situated  a  short  distance  l>elow  the  upper 
dam,  and  the  water  was  brought  to  it  through  a  flume.  This  mill  was 
not  only  a  fulling  and  canling  mill,  but  cloth  was  manufactured  in  it. 
The  business  was  carried  on  by  this  firm  until  the  mill  was  burne<l  in 
1849.  Since  then  it  has  been  carried  on  in  various  localities  bv  the 
lat€  iVIr.  William  Whitten  alone,  whose  business,  however,  was  con- 
fined exclusively  to  wool  carding. 

A  Warp  Yarn  Manufactory  was  carried  on  bv  Mr.  Allen  Colbv, 
from  1844  to  the  latter  part  of  1846,  on  the  spot  where  Scriluier's 
flour-mill  now  stands. 

A  partially  successful  attempt  has  been  made  to  utilize  the  water- 
power  of  the  Androscoggin  awa}'  from  the  vicinity  of  the  river  by 
using  it  for  the  purpose  of  compressing  •  air  wliich  could  be  sent 
through  pipes  to  the  places  where  needed.  For  this  i)uriK)se  the 
Com  PRESSED- Air  Company  was  formed,  and  in  1872  pipes  were  laid 
and  the  air-power  was  used  in  Dennison*s  box  factory,  at  l\nrent  & 
Dufrend's  blacksmith  shop,  at  the  dei>ot,  in  the  college  laboratory, 
and  at  the  printing-office  of  the  Brunsirick  Telpfjraph.  After  a  trial 
of  one  or  two  years  the  project  was  abandoned,  owing  principally  to 
the  action  of  the  railroad  company,  which  decided  to  use  steam  in 
preference  to  the  air-power.  This  deprived  the  Compressed-Air  Com- 
pany of  its  principal  source  of  revenue,  and  it  was  obliged  to  suspend 
operations. 


568      msTORT  OF  bbunswick,  topsham,  and  habpswell. 

OTHER  MANUFACTORIES 

Bandbox  Manufactory.  —  From  1850  to  18G0,  Mr.  B.  G.  Denions 
carried  on  the  manufacture  of  bandboxes  quite  extensively,  employ- 
ing eiglit  or  ten  persons.  The  boxes  were  made  in  eight  sizes  and  pot 
up  in  "  nests."  Three  of  these  nests  were  put  up  in  one  bundle. 
The}'  were  sold  in  Boston  to  wholesale  dealers  in  millinery  goods. 
At  that  time  the  bandbox  was  an  indispensable  article  with  the 
ladies,  and  the  manufacture  of  them  was  a  profitable  business.  After 
the  modem  improvements  in  trunks  came  into  vogue,  they  were  less 
used  in  travelling,  and  ai*e  now  almost  unkuown. 

Brick- Yards.  —  At  what  time,  and  where,  the  earliest  brick-3'ards 
were,  has  not  been  ascertained.  There  have  probably  been  one  or 
more  in  operation  from  an  earl}-  period  of  the  settlement  of  the  town. 
The  earliest  yard  which  has  come  to  our  notice  was  one  near  Gatch- 
ell's  Mills,  owned  by  Unite  Mariner  and  Barstow  Gatchell.  This  3'ard 
was  established  about  the  3*ear  1800,  and  if  tradition  is  correct,  it  fur- 
nished the  brick  for  the  first  college  building,  Massachusetts  Hall. 

In  1817,  and  previously,  John  A.  Dunning  had  a  brick-yard  at  the 
upper  carrjing-place.  In  1830  there  was  a  brick -^ard  at  Mair  Point. 
In  1840,  and  previously',  Forsaith  &  Williston  had  a  yard  on  Noble 
Street,  nei^r  Union  Street.  In  1855,  and  subsequently,  Owen  & 
McManus  carried  on  the  business  near  the  end  of  the  lower  railroad 
bridge.  In  1857,  J.  W.  Owen  and  John  A.  Cleaveland  had  a  yard  at 
Oak  Hill,  and  Theodore  S.  McLellan  had  one  on  the  new  Harpswell 
road,  about  half  a  mile  below  the  colleges.  The  latter  yard  was  kept 
in  operation  until  1870,  when  Mr.  McLellan  established  his  present 
yard  on  Federal  Street.  iThe  business  appears  to  have  been  the  most 
extensivel}'  carried  on  in  1857,  at  which  time  there  were  three  yards 
in  operation.  The  three  together  turned  out  in  that  year  about 
700,000  bricks. 

Carpet-Making.  —  In  1829,  Mr.  Robert  Pender, '' formerly  fi-om 
one  of  the  first  factories  in  Scotland,  but  recentlv  from  the  Somers- 
worth  Factor}',"  commenced  the  manufacture  of  ingrain  carpeting,  on 
Bow  Street,  '•  from  the  most  fashionable  patterns  iinport^il." 

The  advertisement  from  which  the  above  is  taken  goes  on  to  state 
that  "  his  machiner}'  is  on  the  most  approved  model,  and  figures  of 
anv  kind  can  be  woven  to  suit  the  fancv  of  his  eniplovers.  Persons 
wishing  to  have  carpeting  woven,  by  sending  to  the  factory  the  3*arn 
well  scoured  and  colored  can  have  the  same  weight  of  carpeting 
returned." 


COMMERCIAL  EI8T0BT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  569 

It  is  said  by  those  who  remember  this  carpet  factory  that  it  proved 
unsuccessful,  and  that  probably  not  more  than  one  or  two  carpets  were 
made  here,  and  the  experiment  was  soon  abandoned. 

Clock,  Watch,  and  Jevtelrt  Establishments. — The  first  manu- 
facturer of  clocks  and  watches  and  dealer  in  jewelr}-  in  this  vicinity 
was  a  Mr.  Bisbee,  who  carried  on  this  business  about  1798,  and  for 
quite  a  number  of  years  later.  He  was  a  ver}-  cunning  artificer.  His 
shop  was  on  Mill  Street,  a  short  distance  west  of  Bow  Street.  His 
sign  was  a  car\'ed  figure  of  a  horse  with  a  black  boy  upon  it,  with  a 
whip  in  his  hands.  When  the  hour  was  to  be  announced,  the  boy  would 
strike  the  horse  and  the  latter  would  kick  the  bell  with  his  heels.  It 
was  a  curious  piece  of  mechanism.  Subsequent  to  1802  his  shop 
stood  where  Andrew  Campbell's  store  now  stands,  on  the  corner  of 
Maine  and  Lincoln  Streets. 

About  l^<05,  Kobert  Eastman  established  himself  in  the  clock-making 
business,  with  James  Cary,  Junior,  as  an  apprentice.  In  180C,  Mr. 
Eastman  took  Mr.  Cary  into  tlie  business  as  partner,  under  the  style 
of  Eastman  &  Cary. 

Mrs.  J.  D.  Lamb  has  in  her  possession  a  large  standing  clock  which 
was  made  by  this  fiim  in  1806,  the  cost  of  which  was  eighty  dollars. 
It  has  never  had  any  repairs  made  to  it  excepting  new  cords  for  the 
weights  twice,  and  it  is  now,  as  it  ever  has  been,  an  excellent  fime- 
keeper. 

About  1809,  Mr.  Eastman  sold  out  to  Mr.  Carj',  who  carried  on  the 
business  in  all  its  branches  for  manv  years.  He  was  an  honest,  con- 
scientious  workman  and  trader,  and  was  highly  esteemed. 

In  this  connection  it  will  not  be  improper  to  speak  of  one  of  the 
most  important  improvements  ever  made  in  the  manufacture  of  watches, 
and  to  give  a  brief  sketch  of  the  inventor. 

Aauon  L.  Dennison,  the  inventor  of  machine-made  tvatche.^^  was 
born  in  Frceport  in  1812.  His  father,  Andrew  Dennison,  moved  to 
Topsham  in  1818,  and  to  Bninswick  in  1824.  Aaron,  when  quite 
young,  dispkved  a  mechanical  turn  of  mind  and  much  ingenuity  in 
the  use  of  his  jack-knife.  At  an  early  age  he  would  leave  his  youth- 
ful playmates  and  steal  away  to  the  shop  of  James  Cary  and  ask  per- 
mission to  be  allowed  to  help  repair  clocks  and  watches.  In  \H:\0  he 
was  received  into  Mr.  Cary's  shop  as  an  apprentice.  After  he  had 
served  his  time  he  went  to  Boston,  where  he  soon  become  conspicuous 
among  the  finislied  mechanicians  of  that  metropolis. 

It  was  during  the  years  of  his  laborious  life  in  Boston  that  Aaron 
Dennison  evolved  a  plan  for  making  the  works  of  watches  by  machin- 


570        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

ery,  and  with  such  accuracy  and  uniformity  that  any  given  part  of  one 
"watch  should  be  identical  with  the  same  part  of  eveiy  other,  or  what 
he  called  the  interchangeable  plan.  As  early  as  1^40,  Mr.  Deunison 
had  so  fully  matured  his  plan,  and  was  so  c»onfident  of  its  practica- 
bility, that  he  predicted  to  a  friend  *'  that  within  twenty  years  the 
manufacture  of  watches  would  be  reduced  to  as  perfect  a  system 
as  the  manufacture  of  fire-arms  at  the  Springfield  Armory."  In  1849, 
Mr.  Deunison,  in  conjunction  with  Messrs.  Howard  &  Davis  and 
Samuel  C-urtis  of  Boston,  e8tablishe<:l  the  first  watch  factory,  "  The 
Boston  Watch  Compan}-,"  at  East  Roxbury,  Massachusetts.  In  1854 
the  works  were  moved  to  Waltham.  The  Waltham  Watch  Facton'  is 
too  well  known  to  need  any  description  here,  which  would  indeed  be 
out  of  place.  The  foregoing  account,  however,  of  its  founder,  is  due 
to  the  master  workman  of  whom  he  learned  his  trade  and  to  the  town 
in  which  his  parents  and  connections  have  so  long  lived. 

Foundries.  —  For  four  or  five  years,  about  1812,  Peter  O.  Alden, 
Esquire,  had  an  iron  foundry  in  the  rear  of  the  lot  now  (>ccupie<i  by 
the  new  meeting-house  of  the  Free- Will  Bai)tist  society,  on  O'Brien 
Street.  The  United  States  government  sent  disabled  cannon  to  this 
foundr}',  and  the}'  were  cast  into  shot,  most  of  which  were  sent  to  Port- 
land for  use  in  the  war  of  1812-14. 

In  1827  there  was  a  copper  and  brass  foundry  carried  on  by  Paul 
Powers  near  the  present  cotton-mill  of  the  Cabot  Company.  In  1834, 
Mr.  Powers  moved  his  business  to  the  head  of  the  cove,  where  he 
continued  for  some  years. 

In  1836,  Ct.  &  n.  Earle  had  an  iron  foundn'.  which  was  situated  on 
the  bank  of  the  river,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  Shad  Island  bridge. 
They  were  succeeded  by  Charles  J.  Noyes.  The  river- wall  of  the 
foundation  is  still  to  be  seen. 

In  1844,  J.  Colbath  had  a  foundry  in  the  rear  of  the  vacant  space 
between  Scribner*s  flour-mill  and  Purington's  machine-shop. 

Gas  Manufacture. — The  Brunswick  (ins-Light  Company  was 
incoriK)rated  April  4,  1854.  The  cori)orators  were  Adam  I^mont, 
J.  D.  Simmons,  Rodney  Forsaith,  Nathaniel  T.  Palmer,  A.  J.  Stone. 
A.  B.  Thomi)son,  William  II.  Ilall,  and  J.  W.  Forsaith.  The  first 
meeting  was  held  October  4,  1856 ,  at  the  Tontine  Hotel,  and  ad- 
journed from  time  to  time  without  transacting  any  business,  until  the 
year  1859.  At  that  time  the  Cabot  Manufacturing  Company  were 
building  gas-works  for  their  own  use,  and  the  Brunswick  Gas-Light 
Company  made  a  contract  with  them  to  furnish  the  amount  of  gas 
needed.     They  have  continued  to  furnish  it  up  to  the  present  time. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  571 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1859,  Ik'njamin  Greene,  Benjamin  Furbish, 
John  D.  Lineoln,  Charles  J.  Oilman,  and  Sanniel  R.  Jackson  were 
chosen  directors.  Benjamin  Greene  was  chosen  president,  and  B.  (r. 
Dennison,  secretary,  treasurer,  and  sui>erintendent.  In  the  fall  of 
1859,  pii)es  were  laid  from  the  factory  up  Maine  Stn'ct  as  far  as 
Pleasant  Street.  In  the  summer  of  18G8  thev  were  extended  to  the 
colleges,  passing  the  east  side  of  the  Mall.  The  citizens  began  using 
gas  Januar\'  1,  1860,  and  the  first  street-lamp  was  lighted  alx)ut  18(54. 

Lime  (iuAiiiiY. — Robert  Jordan  built  the  first  lime-kiln  at  New 
Meadows  about  18u0.  It  is  the  same  one  now  in  use.  Its  capacity 
is  about  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  casks.  In  1820  there  were 
1,500  hogsheads  of  lime  manufactured  there.  The  last  burnt  was 
used  in  the  constniction  of  Lemont  Hall  in  1870  or  1871.  This  kiln 
has  sometimes  been  run  the  whole  season,  from  April  to  December, 
by  Mr.  Isaiah  Jordan,  the  present  owner  of  the  quarry. 

Machine-Shops.  —  In  1827,  and  for  some   years  previous,  Robert 

Eastman  and Jaquith  had  a  machine-shop  next  to  tiie  bridge, 

where  the  i)ulp-mill  is  now  situated.  About  the  same  time  Nalium 
Houghton  establishe<l  a  shop  where  Scribner's  flour-mill  now  is,  and 
continued  the  business  there  for  some  years,  as  late  certainl}*  as  1836. 
Turington's  machine-shop  was  established  in  1872. 

Match-Factoky.  —  In  aliout  the  j'ear  1849  the  manufacture  of 
matches  and  match-boxes  was  begun  in  a  mill  on  Shad  Island,  b}'  B. 
E.  Parkhurst,  who  continued  the  business  until  1854,  when  the  mill 
was  destro^'ed  by  fire.  The  matches  were  sawed  at  this  mill,  and 
were  then  sent  to  Boston,  where  they  were  dipped  and  i)repared  for 
market. 

Mustard-jMill.— Aboutthe  year  1830,  J.  C.  Humphreys  established 
what  was  known  as  the  Maine  Mustaud-Mill,  using  for  the  purpose 
the  upper  part  of  his  saw-mill  in  the  Cove.  For  ten  or  twi»lve  years 
he  did  an  extensive  business  in  this  branch  of  industrv,  and  the  mud- 
tard  from  his  mill  enjoyed  an  almost  national  fame.  The  mill  was 
burned  in  1>S42,  and  General  Ilumphrej's  then  abandoned  the  business. 

Oil-Mill.  —  In  1820  a  mill  was  erc»cted  near  the  factory  for  express- 
ing linseed  oil.  It  probably  existed  but  for  a  short  time,  as  some  of 
the  older  citizens  of  the  town  have  no  remembranc*e  of  it. 

Pail  Manufactouy.  —  In  1825,  and  for  three  or  four  vears  subse- 
quently,  Nahum  Houghton  and  William  Chase  manufactured  water- 
pails  at  the  (?nd  of  the  toll-bridge,  where  Seribner\s  Hour-mill  now 
stands.  J.  C.  Humphreys  carried  on  the  same  business  for  a  year  or 
two  from  1835. 


572     msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

Paper-Box  Manufactories.  — The  manufacture  of  jewelry  boxes 
originated  in  this  town  by  the  Dennison  family.  The  originator  of 
the  enterprise  was  Aaron  L.  Dennison,  of  Boston,  and  formerly  of 
Brunswick.  In  1843  he  kept  a  jewelry  store  on  Washington  Street, 
Boston.  At  that  time  a  few  paper  lK)xe8  were  used  to  pack  nice  jew- 
elry in,  but  no  suppl}*  could  be  had,  and  the  few  used  were  made  to 
order.  The  idea  of  manufacturing  these  boxes  in  considerable  quan- 
tities occurred  to  Mr.  Dennison,  and  was  soon  put  in  practice.  The 
only  method  then  known  of  making  such  boxes  was  by  scoring  the 
pasteboard  half  through  with  a  sharp-pointed  knife  and  a  pair  of  com- 
mon shears.  To  profitabl}'  make  such  work  in  large  quantities  a  more 
expeditious  method  was  needed,  and  Mr.  Dennison  therefore  impro- 
vised two  machines  to  take  the  place  of  the  ordinary  knife  and  shears. 
He  afterwards  invented  a  machine  that  would  do  all  the  work  at  one 
time.  This  machine  was  patented,  and  is  the  standard  one  in  use  for  all 
such  work  at  the  present  time.  The  business  commenced  in  1843  by 
Mr.  Dennison  sending  some  rude  machinery  and  a  small  stock  of  paper, 
with  the  necessary  instructions,  to  his  father.  Colonel  Andrew  Denni- 
son, of  Bnmswick.  The  business  at  first  employed  from  three  to  five 
persons,  but  ten  years  later  as  many  as  twent3'-five  persons.  In  1855, 
Colonel  Dennison  sold  out  to  his  j'oungest  son,  E.  W.  Dennison,  then 
in  the  jewelry  business  in  Boston,  and  the  manufacture  was  then  moved 
to  Newton,  Massachusetts.  In  the  year  18G3  a  part  of  the  work  was 
returned  to  Brunswick  and  placed  under  the  superintendence  of  Mrs. 
M.  D.  Swift,  a  sister  of  E.  \Y.  Dennison.  In  18G7,  Mr.  Dennison 
deemed  it  expedient  to  make  a  finer  grade  of  gooils  than  was  ever 
before  made,  and  Brunswick  was  selected  as  the  best  place  in  which  to 
cam'  on  the  work.  His  nephew,  B.  L.  Dennison,  was  appointed 
suijerintendcnt,  and  the  business  was  commenced  and  carried  on  sepa- 
rate from  any  other.  Man}'  imi)rovements  were  made  by  the  new 
siiperintendent,  the  most  important  of  which  was  the  invention  of  a 
machine  to  make  cushions  for  ring-boxes.  This  tine  work  depart- 
ment employed,  at  first,  about  ten  hands,  and  in  five  years  twenty-five 
hands.  In  1872  the  Dunlap  Block  was  purchased  and  enlarged  to  a 
sufficient  capacity  to  accommodate  one  hundred  workmen,  and  the 
Newton  factorv  was  moved  to  it. 

In  1875,  B.  L.  Dennison  commenced  the  manufacture  of  boxes, 
taking  with  him,  in  the  business,  Mr.  C.  J.  Perkins,  of  Portland. 
This  firm  of  Dennison  &  Perkins  gives  employment  to  twenty-five  or 
thirty  persons.  The  amount  paid  for  labor  alone,  in  this  industry',  in 
Brunswick,  may  be  safely  estimated  as  high  as  $25,000  per  year. 


COMMERCIAL  mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK.  573 

The  annual  number  of  boxes  manufactured  is  said  to  average  over  one 
hundred  gross  per  day  for  three  hundred  days  in  the  year,  or,  in  round 
numbers,  4,500,000  boxes  per  year. 

Paper  Staining  Manufactory. — About  the  3'ear  1820,  and  for 
several  years  subsequently,  Mr.  William  Snowdon  earned  on  the  busi- 
ness of  staining,  or  printing,  wall  papers,  in  a  building  which  stood  a 
short  distance  south  of  the  college  grounds. 

Plough  Manufactory.  —  In  1850,  Silas  Goddard  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  steel  and  iron  ploughs,  cultivators,  etc.,  at  the  God- 
dard homestead,  at  the  extreme  western  part  of  Brunswick.  The 
manufacture  has  been  continued  to  the  present  time,  and  some  excel- 
lent work  has  been  turned  out. 

Pulp  Manufactory.  —  The  Androscoggin  Pulp  Company  was  in- 
coq^orated  in  September,  1870,  for  the  manufacture  of  wood  pulp, 
box  boards,  and  card  middles.  The  stockholders  then  were :  Sam- 
uel li.  Jackson,  of  Brunswick;  S.  A.  Perkins,  F.  A.  Ilussey,  of 
Topsham;  K.  B.  Dennison,  and  C.  D.  Brown,  then  of  Yarmouth. 
The  capital  stock  was  $0,000.  The  ofllcers  were  S.  K.  Jackson, 
president,  and  E.  B.  Dennison,  secretary  and  trc»asurer.  Tliey  com- 
menced the  manutacture  of  wood  pulp  in  the  fall  of  1871,  in  Tops- 
ham,  but  removed  to  the  Brunswick  side  of  the  river  in  the  fall  of 
1872.  The  present  capital  of  the  company  is  $00,000.  William 
A.  liussell,  of  Lawi*ence,  Massachusetts,  is  president,  and  K.  B. 
Dennison,  of  Portland,  is  the  secretar}'  and  treasurer.  From  forty  to 
fift}'  workmen  are  employed  in  the  manufacture  of  wood  pulp  and  wootl- 
pulp  boards,  both  of  whicii  are  shipped  all  over  the  country.  Tiiore 
are  several  mills  in  different  parts  of  the  State,  which  are  operated 
under  a  license  from  this  company'. 

Salt  Works.  —  During  the  war  of  the  Kevolution,  and  down  to 
tiie  close  of  the  war  of  1812,  salt  was  manufactured  at  the  New  Mead- 
ows Kiver.  lienjamin  Shaw,^  of  Uoxbury,  Massachusetts,  and  John 
Bakeman,^  of  Castine,  were  engaged  in  the  business  at  New  Meadows 
during  the  Revolution. 

Soap  Factory.  —  In  1820  there  was  a  manufactory  of  soap  in  the 
Cove,  carrie<l  on  b}'  Dean  Swift,  at  which  12,000  pounds  of  iianl  soap 
was  annually  made,  and  shipped  to  the  West  Indies.  In  1H74,  and 
for  a  few  years  previously'.  Levi  F.  Andrews  had  a  similar  factory  in 
East  Brunswick,  and  L.  II.  Bryant  now  carries  on  the  business  a  short 
distance  from  the  village,  on  the  road  to  Bath. 


^History  of  Gardiner y  p.  137.  ^History  of  Castinc,  etc.,  p.  IIK). 


574        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSEAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

SuspENDKR  Factory.  —  In  Septem]>er,  1867,  Edwin  H.  Thompson 
and  WilliHin  II.  Stanwood  commenced  the  manufacture  of  suspenders 
with  uiotallic  springs.  Tlie  business  did  not  prove  sufficiently  remu- 
nerative to  l>e  long  continued. 

Tool  Manufactohies.  —  For  five  or  six  vears,  about  1844,  Mr.  E. 
Ilazen  carried  on  the  business  of  manufacturing  hammers,  and  pro- 
duce<l  some  excellent  articles.  In  1^54,  J.  P.  Storer  manufactured 
ship-joiners'  and  spar-makers*  tools,  and  in  1856  he  added  to  it  the 
manufacture  of  planes. 

Other  lNi>!>'TRiE5i.  —  It  is  not  at  all  probable  that  all  the  varions 
branches  of  industry  that  have  from  time  to  time  been  ciirried  on  in 
this  town  have  been  specified,  or  that  all  the  parties  have  l)cen  named 
who  have  been  engaged  in  those  pursuits  which  have  been  mentioned. 
Enough  has  l)een  given,  however,  to  show  that  the  town  will  compare 
favorably,  in  respect  to  its  trade  and  manufactures,  with  other  towns  of 
its  siz(»  in  this  State*.  It  will,  moreover,  be  seen  that,  though  the  loca- 
tion of  Howdoin  College  in  Brunswick  has  been,  in  various  wavs,  a  great 
and  undoubted  benefit  to  the  town,  yet  the  statement  so  often  made, 
that  the  college  supi)orts  the  town,  is  untrue. 

In  antc-revolutiouar>'  times  the  principal  business  here,  besides 
farming  and  fishing,  was  the  shipping  of  wood  to  Boston.  A  great 
deal  of  it  went  from  Bunganock  Bay.  At  one  time  during  that  i>eriod, 
a  vessel  took  over  ninety  cords.  The  price  here  was  from  Ss.  {)d.  to 
4s.  i)fl.  per  cord,  and  it  brought  in  Boston  from  two  dollars  to 
two  dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  cord.  At  that  time  bark  was  worth 
here  O.s..  and  at  Boston  three  dollars. 

During  old  colonial  times,  especially  ])etween  1766  and  1776,  when 
the  Province  of  Maine  was  under  the  control  of  the  crown  olHcers  of 
Mussaduisetts,  all  trees  suitable  for  masts  for  the  roval  navy  wej*e,  bv 
royal  decree,  held  to  be  the  pro])erty  of  the  crown,  and  commissioners 
were  apj>ointed  by  the  king  to  look  after  their  preservation.  This 
interfered  seriously  with  the  profits  of  the  settlers,  as  it  was  the  cus- 
tom of  the  commissioners  to  put  the  royal  mark  on  all  the  good  timber, 
leaving  only  the  poorer  stutf  for  those  who  in  realit\*,  perhaps,  had  the 
most  eciuitable  right  to  the  l>est.  As  a  natural  consequence  the  set- 
tlers paid  comparatively  little  attention  to  the  royal  decree,  and  cut 
the  wo(kI  as  tliev  pleased.  This  brought  alx)ut  frequent  collisions 
between  them  and  the  officers  of  the  crown.  Such  was  the  state  of 
affairs  in  the  Provhice  of  Maine  generally,  and  it  is  fairly  presuma- 
ble that  the  citizens  of  this  town  and  vicinity  shared  in  these  troubles, 
thougii  no  mention  of  such  fact  has  been  found. 


COMMEBCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  575 


BANKS  AND  INSURANCE  COMPANIES. 

In  Januarj-,  1822,  Abner  Bourne  and  others  i)etitioned  the  legisla- 
ture for  incorporation  as  a  bank.  The  Act  incorporating  them  was 
passed,  and  in  1825  the  Uxion  Bank,  of  Bninswiclj,  went  into  opera- 
tion. David  Dunlap  was  the  first  i)resident,  and  Elienezer  Everett 
tlie  cashier.  The  latter  sers'ed  in  the  same  capacity,  with  great  accept- 
ance, for  fourteen  years,  and  was  then  succeeded  b}'  Joseph  McKeen, 
who  served  until  the  affairs  of  the  bank  were  wound  up.  Mr.  Dunlap 
resigned  some  time  before  his  decease,  in  1843,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Major  William  Frost,  of  Topsham. 

The  Brunswick  Bank  went  into  operation  August  15,  183G,  and 
the  bank  building  was  erected  that  jear.  Richard  T.  Dunlap  was  the 
first  president,  and  Closes  E.  Woodman  tlie  cashier.  The  directors 
were  liichard  T.  Dunlap,  George  V.  Richardson,  Alfred  J.  Stone, 
John  C  Humphreys,  and  Gardiner  Green.  Mr.  Woodman  held  the 
office  of  cashier  until  1839,  when  he  resigned  in  consequence  of  ill 
health.  lie  was  succeedetl  by  Thineas  Barnes,  who  resigned  in  1841, 
and  was  succeeded  b}*  Augustus  C.  Robbins.  The  latter  served  from 
November  1,  1841,  until  December  31,  18r)(),  and  was  then  succeeded 
by  John  Rogers,  who  remained  until  the  closing  up  of  the  bank  in 
18/>7.  The  capital  stock  of  this  bank  was  87'), 000,  fifty  per  cent 
being  paid  at  the  outset. 

The  Second  Union  Bank  received  its  charter  in  July,  1850,  and 
commenced  operations  January  1,  1851.  Joseph  McKeen,  Esq.,  was 
its  prt^sident  to  Octo])er  14,  18G3,  and  was  succeeded  by  Adam 
Lemont,  who  served  until  the  closing  of  the  bank  in  18(>5.  Augustus 
C.  Rob]»ins  was  cashier  from  the  opening  of  the  bank  to  September 
9,  1857.  lie  was  succeeded  by  Bartlett  Adams,  who  served  until 
July  1,  1865,  at  which  time  the  bank  was  changed  to  a  national  bank. 
The  capital  stock  was,  up  to  May  1,  1858,  8100,000.  After  the  latter 
date  it  was  $50,000. 

The  Maine  Bank  was  incorporated  April  22,  1857,  and  went  into 
operation  on  the  eighteenth  of  June.  Its  capital  stock  was  $50,000. 
Samuel  R.  Jackson  served  as  president  from  June  18,  1857,  to  Decem- 
ber 9,  1862,  and  again  from  Octol)er  19,  1863,  to  December  17,  1«63. 
Nathaniel  T.  Palmer  was  president  from  December  9,  l^<62,  to  October 
19,  1863.  Augustus  C.  Robbins  was  cashier  from  June  18,  1857,  to 
November  1,  1859;  and  Ai  Brooks,  Jr.  from  November  1,  1H59,  to 
December  17,  1863,  at  which  time  the  bank  ceased  to  exist  as  a  State 
hank. 


576     msiORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

The  PE.iEPaCOT  Bank  went  into  ojieration  October  2,  1>^'>7,  with  a 
capital  stock  of  875,000,  of  which  one  half  was  paid  in.  The  officers 
of  tliis  bank  were  Joseph  Badger,  president ;  John  Rogers,  cashier ; 
Joseph  Badger,  William  Barron,  Alfred  Skolfield,  T.  S.  McLellan, 
and  H.  C.  Martin^ directors. 

In  June,  1865,  this  bank  was  changed  into  a  national  bank.  The 
capital  stock  was  850,000.  William  Barron  was  the  first  president  of 
the  national  bank.  lie  was  succeeded  in  January,  186G,  by  William 
S.  Skolfield,  who  served  until  1875,  when  H.  C.  Martin  was  elected 
to  that  ofKce. 

John  Rogers,  who  was  cashier  of  the  Pejepscot  Bank,  continued  as 
cashier  of  the  Pejepscot  National  Bank  until  August,  1871,  when  he 
was  found  to  be  a  defaulter  to  the  bank,  and  was  arrested  and  sent  to 
the  State  prison  for  the  crime.  In  November  of  the  same  year  Mr. 
L.  H.  Stover  was  elected  cashier,  which  office  he  still  holds. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  Bninswick  (formerly  the  Maine)  was 
oi^anized  December  17,  1803,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000,  which 
was  increased  in  18G4  to  875,000.  and  in  18()5  to  8100,000.  Samuel 
R.  Jackson  was  president  from  Decemlxsr  17,  18G3,  to  Januan-  10, 
1871,  and  was  then  succeeded  bv  Nathaniel  T.  Palmer,  who  still 
retains  the  office.  Ai  Brooks,  Jr.,  was  cashier  to  July  1,  1808,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  John  P.  Winchell.  tlie  present  incumbent. 

The  Tnion  National  Bank  (formerly  the  Second  Union  Bank)  was 
organized  in  July,  1><05,  with  a  capital  stock  of  8100.000.  Adam 
Lemont  served  as  president  till  May  2'!^  1872,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  William  Decker,  who  is  tlie  present  president  of  the  bank.  Bart- 
lett  Adams  served  as  cashier  from  Julv,  1805,  to  Mav,  1808,  when  he 
was  succeeded  by  H.  A.  Randall,  the  present  incuml)ent  of  that  office. 

The  Brunswick  Saving^*  Institition  was  incorporated  March  20, 
1858.     The  following  is  a  list  of  its  presidents  since  then  :  — 

Amherst  Whit  more,  elected  Ma}'  11,  1H58;  Robert  Bowker,  elected 
November  1,  l«5y  ;  John  W.  Perry,  elected  May  0,  1802;  John  L. 
Swift,  elected  May  5,  1803  ;  Benjamin  Greene,  elected  May  7,  1807; 
C.  C.  Humphreys,  elected  May  21,  1808;  John  L.  Swift,  elected 
March  4,  1875. 

The  present  Board  of  Trustees  are :  Henr}'  Carvill,  president : 
Henry  Carvill,  Benjamin  Greene,  A.  II.  Merryman,  Alonzo  Day.  and 
John  Bishop,  trustees ;  J.  M.  Winchell,  treasurer. 

The  deposits  of  the  institution  in  May,  1877,  amounted  to  some 
over  $313,000. 

The  ToPSiiAM  AND  BuuNswiCK  Twenty-Five  Cents  Savings  Baxk 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  577 

was  organized  March  22,  1875.  Wildes  P.  Walker  was  the  first  presi- 
dent, and  L.  H.  Stover,  cashier,  and  both  have  been  continued  in 
office  until  the  present  time. 

The  trustees  of  the  bank  in  1875  were  Robert  Skolfickl,  O.  B. 
3Ierrill,  Daniel  H.  Stone,  J.  F.  Whitney,  Geoi^ge  Barron,  E.  D. 
Toothaker,  and  Wildes  P.  Walker.  The  bank  is  in  a  prosperous 
condition. 

Toe  Brunswick  Mutual  Marine  Insurance  Company  was  formed 
in  1856.  It  had  a  guaranteed  fund  of  $260,000.  The  officers  were  : 
Robert  McManus,  Abner  B.  Thompson,  Geoi^ge  F.  Mustard,  John  C. 
Humphreys,  Rodney  Forsaith,  Samuel  Dunning,  Robert  Bowker, 
Adam  Lemont,  Clement  Skolfield,  Francis  T.  l^irinton,  Xehemiah 
Larrabee,  Robert  Spear,  William  S.  Skolfield,  James  Ross,  William 
Decker,  directors;  Adam  Lemont,  president;  J.  W.  Forsaith,  secre- 
tary. 

This  company  was  not  successful  and  was  obliged  to  make  three 
assessments  upon  its  stockholders,  one  of  five  per  cent,  one  of  ten  per 
cent,  and  one  of  nine  per  cent. 

In  1865  the  afiiiirs  of  the  company  were  placed  in  the  hands  of 
trustees,  Nathan  Webb  of  Portland  and  C.  C.  Humphreys  of  Bnins- 
wick,  by  whose  order  the  last  assessment  was  made  and  the  business 
of  the  company  was  then  wound  up. 

TRADES. 

Some  account  will  now  be  given  of  the  regular  occupations  of  the 
citizens  of  Brunswick,  and  of  those  who  were  engaged  in  tnide  at  an 
early  period  or  who  have  been  particularly  prominent  in  their  several 
avocations.  It  was  intended  to  give  as  complete  a  list  of  all  in  each 
trade  as  could  be  obtained,  but  the  size  which  this  work  has  already 
attained  renders  it  imperativel}'  necessary  to  omit  the  names  of  all 
now  in  business  and  to  speak  only  of  the  earlier  ones. 

Auctioneers.  —  The  first  of  whom  there  is  any  account  was  John 
Lee,  who  was  in  this  business  in  1821.  After  him,  in  1829,  was  John 
Cobum.  Charles  Weld  was  soon  after  this  engaged  in  the  business  for 
a  few  3'ears.  Longer  in  the  business  than  any  one  else  was  J.  W.  For- 
saith, who  followed  it  fh>m  about  1837  until  1876. 

Bakkrs.  —  The  first  baker  in  town  is  believed  to  have  been  Frederick 
Trench,  who  came  here  from  Boston  about  the  year  17J2.  At  first  he 
lived  at  Maquoit,  but  afterwards  he  occupied  a  small  house  near  the 
colleges,  where  he  baked  gingerbread  and  brewed  spruce  beer,  which 
he  sold  to  the  students  and  allowed  them  to  keep  the  accounts.     He 

37 


\ 


578         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


is  said  to  have  been  a  most  excellent  baker,  but  his  qualifications  for 
other  business  were  limited.  In  some  of  the  earlier  lithographs  of  the 
college,  Trench  is  shown  with  his  wheelbarrow. 

In  1802,  and  for  a  few  years  subsequently.  Colonel  Thomas  Ksta- 
brook  carried  on  the  business  in  a  building  which  stood  on  what  is 
now  the  road  between  the  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  and  the 
college  grounds. 

About  the  year  1812,  Ezra  Drew  had  a  bakery  near  the  top  of  the 
lull  which  leads  to  the  Androscoggin  Bridge.  He  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness there  and  elsewhere  for  ten  or  a  dozen  years,  the  latter  portion 
of  the  time  being  in  the  gambrel-roofed  building,  still  standing  on 
Centre  Street. 

Francis  Canl  had  a  bakery  in  1819,  and  carried  on  the  business 
until  1827,  when  he  sold  out  to  William  Harmon,  who  continued  the 
business  until  about  1845. 

Barbers.  —  '•  Billv  "  Morrison  was,  according?  to  tradition,  the  first 
barber  and  hair- cutter  in  Bnmswick.  He  carried  on  the  business  earlv 
in  this  century,  but  precisely  when  is  not  known.  Nicholas  Juitt  was 
in  the  business  as  earlv  as  1827.  Amonjj  his  successors  were  J.  II. 
Rogers  in  18305 ;  John  Hill,  1836 ;  Farrow  &  Cha^TOus,  1845  ;  Henry 
Robinson,  1848  ;  and  J.  II.  Tebbetts,  1849,  and  to  tiie  present  time. 

Blacksmiths.  —  Mr.  Andrew  Dunning,  who  settleil  at  Maquoit  in 
1717.  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  undoubtedly  pursued  that  avoca- 
tion for  nianv  vears. 

The  next  person  engaged  in  tliis  business  of  >Vhom  we  have  any 
account  was  Colonel  William  8tanwood.  whose  shop  stcxKl  on  what  is 
now  the  nortliwesterlv  corner  of  Centre  Street,  about  on  the  site  of 
the  building  now  (1877)  occupied  by  Larkin  Snow,  grocer,  and  J,  II. 
Brackelt,  tailor.  Colonel  Stanwood  carried  on  the  business  for  some 
years  previous  to  1790.  James  McFariand,  who  learned  his  trade  of 
Colonel  Stanwood,  took  the  shop  about  1790  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  1797,  when  he  moved  away  and  the  shop  was  torn  down. 
About  the  same  time  that  McFarland  carried  on  the  business  Calvin 
Barstow  had  a  shop,  and  in  1 795  Theodore  Stone  workeil  at  this 
trade.  Since  then  the  business  has  )>een  carried  on  by  a  lai^e  number 
of  persons,  among  whom  may  )k*  mentioned  Nathan  Woodard,  about 
1809;  James  Jones,  about  1810:  Jones  &  Hunt,  in  1825;  Daniel 
Coombs,  on  Mason  Street,  for  many  ^ears  previous  to  1825  ;  Joseph 
Dustin,  about  1820;  Barker  &  Stinclifield  on  Elaine  Street,  al>oiit 
1825,  said  to  have  been  superior  workmen  ;  John  Noble,  Mill  Street, 
1825  to  1838;  Benjamin  French,  18;38  and  subsequently;  Knowlton 


COMMETtCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  579 

&  Menyman,  1845 ;  Gross  &  Owen,  1845  ;  William  Gross,  for  many 
3'ears  previous  to  1872. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  there  was,  early  in  the  present  century, 
though  the  exact  date  is  not  known,  a  blacksmith  shop  on  the  corner 
of  Federal  and  Water  Streets,  where  the  Nehemiah  Larrabee  house 
now  stands.  True  worthy  Murra}''  occupied  it  at  one  time,  and  before 
him  was  William  Hunt. 

Boat-Builders.  —  The  only  person  in  Brunswick  who  is  known  to 
have  made  tlie  building  of  boats  a  regular  occupation  was  Wyman 
Bradbury.     lie  was  engaged  in  this  business  about  the  year  1740. 

Bookbinders.  —  The  earliest  bookbinder  in  Brunswick  of  whom 
there  is  an}'  rtrcord  was  Benjamin  B.  Hazeltine,  who  carried  on  the 
business  in  1820.  He  was  also  a  manufacturer  of  pocket-books,  mili- 
tary belts,  and  blank  books.  He  was  succeeded  by  Ilenr}'  K.  Adams, 
who  carried  on  the  business  until  1828,  when  he  was  followed  \>y 
PMward  Town,  who  worked  at  the  trade  for  about  one  year.  Ben- 
jamin  G.  Dennison  had  a  bookbindery  from  about  1833  until  1855, 
when  he  sold  out  to  II.  J.  L.  Stanwood. 

Boot  axd  Shoe  Makers.  —  Anthony^  and  William ^  Vincent,  one 
or  l)Oth,  are  said  to  have  been  engaged  in  this  business  prior  to  1760. 
The  former  is  said  to  have  been  engaged  in  it  about  1735.  No  date 
is  given  in  regard  to  the  business  of  the  latter,  but  he  is  said  to  have 
pursued  it  at  the  fort.  Tobias  Ham,  according  to  a  family  tradition, 
was  a  shoemaker,  as  well  as  tanner,  and  carried  on  the  business,  with 
his  farming  and  tanning,  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century. 
Joseph  Jack  worked  at  the  trade  about  1802,  and  Jesse  P.  Mitchell 
some  years  later  than  that.  Ebenezer  Nichols  had  a  shop  about  the 
3'ear  1800.  The  number  of  shoemakers  since  that  time  is  too  gi-eat 
to  admit  of  enumeration. 

Butchers.  — There  were,  probably,  persons  engaged  in  this  occupa- 
tion very  earl}'  in  the  settlement  of  the  place,  b!it  the  first  person 
known  to  have  made  it  an  exclusive  business  was  Sanniel  Beal,  who 
carried  on  quite  an  extensive  business  a  few  years  subsequent  to  1802. 
Somewhere  about  1820,  Jonathan  Pollartl  carried  on  the  business. 
Ebenezer  Swett,  who  in  his  advertisements  8t3'led  himself  '"  Knight  of 
the  Cleaver  and  Professor  of  Grease,"  was  engaged  in  the  business  in 
1840,  and  for  man}'  years  subsequently. 

Cabixet-Makers.  —  The  only  persons  known  to  have  been  engaged 
in  this  business  were  Shimuel  and  William  Owen,  in  1802  ;  John  Owen, 


i  McKeen,  MS.  Lecture*  *  P^epscot  Papers. 


580        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

1804;  Henry  G.  H.  Swanton,  1828;  J.  Nelson,  1830;  and  Philip 
Owen,  J.  F.  Titcomb,  and  J.  F.  Tappan. 

Cuair-Makers.  —  In  1825,  Andrew  Dewey  carried  on  the  manufac- 
ture of  chairs  in  a  building  a  few  rods  south  of  Elm  Street,  about 
where  the  Brunswick  House  now  stands.  In  1845  the  same  busi- 
ness was  carrieil  on  by  Samuel  Owen  and  son,  on  Maine  Street,  a  few 
rods  north  of  P^lm  Street. 

Carriage-Makers  and  Wheelwrights.  —  In  1802  and  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  previously  and  subsequently,  Timothj'  Weymouth  carried 
on  the  business  of  making  cart-wheels  in  a  building  which  stoo<l  on  the 
site  of  the  present  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish.  He  is  believed 
to  have  been  the  first  in  the  business  here. 

Si>ollett  &  Johnson  were  the  first  in  Brunswick  to  make  wagons 
and  carriages,  commencing  the  business  about  1820  and  continuing 
for  some  years  together.  In  1830,  James  Spollett  had  a  shop  alone, 
and  was  engaged  in  the  busiuess  for  some  years,  and  was  succeeded  by 
his  son,  Augustus  F.  Si>ollett.  Others  have  worked  at  this  trade  at 
different  times,  but  none  so  continuously  as  the  Spolletts. 

Carpenters  and  Joiners.  —  There  must  have  been  those  among  the 
very  early  settlers  who  understood  this  trade  and  worked  at  it  as  oc- 
casion required.  The  earliest  reference  which  has  been  found  to  any 
one  who  worked  exclusively  at  the  trade  is  to  Robert  Pearse,  who 
worked  on  the  first  meeting-house  in  1735.  Thomas  "Seal  worked  at 
his  trade  about  the  same  time,  and  Robert  Smart  in  1752.  It  would 
be  impossible  to  enumerate  all  who  have  worked  at  this  trade  since 
then,  but  there  are  two  persons,  who  were  particularly  prominent  in 
the  business  in  the  early  part  of  this  century,  to  whom  allusion  should 
be  made.  Samuel  Melcher,  3d,  was  a  superior  workman,  and  built 
many  of  the  better  class  of  buildings  during  tliat  period,  among  which 
ma}'  be  mentioned  the  second  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish, 
which  was  erected  in  180G  on  the  site  of  the  present  edifice ;  Massa- 
chusetts Hall,  the  old  college  chaj^el,  Winthrop  Hall  and  Appleton 
Hall,  the  houses  of  Professor  Cleaveland,  Professor  Upham,  Professor 
Newman,  and  that  now  occupied  by  Professor  Packard.  His  last 
work  was  the  present  college  chapel,  which  he  superintended  in  the 
eightieth  year  of  his  age,  doing  the  nicer  work  himself.  He  also  built, 
in  Topshain.  the  Baptist  and  Congregationalist  meeting-houses,  the 
Doctor  Porter  house,  now  Mrs.  Susan  T.  l*urinton's,  and  the  Veazie 
house,  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  Woodbur}'  B.  Purinton. 

3Ir.  Anthony  C.  Ravmond  was  engaged  in  tliis  business  between 
the  3'ears  181 C  and  1839,  during  which  time  he  built  a  large  number 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  581 

of  public  and  private  buildings,  among  which  were  tlio  Tontine  Hotel, 
the  Town  House,  the  main  building  of  the  Cotton  Factory,  Maine 
Hall,  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  four  churches,  namely,  the  old  Univer- 
salist  Meeting-House  on  Federal  Street,  the  meeting-house  on  Federal 
Street  now  occupied  by  the  Catholics,  the  Union  Meeting-llouse  at 
Growstown,  and  the  Free- Will  Baptist  Church  in  Topsham. 

CoRDWAiNERS.  —  The  only  pei'son  engaged  in  this  business  whose 
name  has  l)een  met  with  was  Joseph  Morse.  He  carried  on  his  busi- 
ness either  just  before  or  during  the  Revolution. 

Daguerreak  Artists  and  Photographers. — The  first  dagueri-ean 
artist  is  believed  to  have  been  Charles  E.  Blake,  in  1845.  He  was 
succeeded  by  a  Mr.  Upton,  who  carried  on  the  business  for  several 
years  about  1852.  Others  in  the  daguerreotyi^e  or  photographic  busi- 
ness were  H.  S.  Cook,  about  1854  ;  J.  O.  Durgin,  1854  ;  G.  8.  Smiley, 
1854;  Mansfield  &  Hall,  1856;  and  William  Pierce,  from  1853  to 
1875. 

Dentists. — The  first  professional  dentist  to  make  his  appearance  in 
town  is  thought  to  have  been  D.  S.  Grandin,  in  1844.  Of  course  the 
mere  extracting  of  teeth  liad  been  done  before  that  time  by  individuals 
who,  from  sufficient  exi)erience,  had  acquired  knowledge  and  skill 
enough  to  warrant  them  in  making  it  somewhat  a  specialty.  Since 
then  there  have  been,  J.  Matthews,  about  1845,  J.  W.  Cook,  about 
1854,  and  others  since. 

Gunsmiths.  — James  Cary,  Senior,  was  the  first  to  work  at  this  trade, 
which  he  did  for  some  years  previous  to  1800,  and  for  a  short  time 
subsequently.  His  shop  was  on  the  site  of  Day's  Block,  about  where 
E.  ¥.  Brown's  jewelrj'  store  is  now.  P.  Powers,  a])out  the  year  1825, 
worked  at  this  business. 

Hat  and  Cap  Makers. — This  business  was  first  established  here 
in  1791,  hy  Lemuel  Swift.  His  shop  was  in  a  small  building,  just 
north  of  the  Rodue\'  Forsaith  house,  on  Maine  Street.  Major  Swift 
continued  the  business  until  about  1820,  when  he  died,  and  Joshua 
Lufkin,  who  had  learned  the  trade  of  him,  returned  from  Bath,  and 
carried  on  the  business  for  his  widow  for  a  time.  He  afterwards 
carried  it  on  for  himself  in  the  same  building.  He  next  occupied  the 
wooden  building  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  brick  store  now  occu- 
pied by  Barton  Joixlan.  Here  he  manufactured  and  sold  hats,  caps, 
furs  for  ladies,  sleigh-robes,  and  skins  of  various  animals.  INIany  of 
the  older  inhabitants  can  remember  the  stand  of  hats,  T\Tapped  in 
tissue  paper  of  dilferent  colors,  which  stood  at  the  side  of  the  door  to 
attract  the  notice  of  passers-b}-.     Mr.  Lufkin  made  sovt'ral  different 


582      msTORT  OF  brvnswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

styles  of  hats  for  men  and  boys,  and  sometimes  for  latiies'  wear, 
military  hats  for  trainers,  fancj*  caps  for  students,  and  tarpaulins  for 
sailors.  William  P.  Fowler  was  in  partnersliip  with  Mr.  Lufkin. 
about  1844,  for  a  short  time;  and  with  David  Dexter  and  Richard 
Holland  at  other  times.  Mr.  Lufkin  continued  in  the  business  until 
about  184«.  Mr.  Richard  Holland  also  carried  on  the  hat-making 
business  from  about  1833  to  about  1840. 

Masons. — The  first  mason  to  have  a  i)ennaneut  residence  in  Bnms- 
wick  is  sai<l  to  have  lH»en  Thomas  Pool,  who  came  here  from  Portland 
in  1802  to  build  the  first  college  building  (Massachusetts  Hall).  He 
remained  in  town  and  worked  at  his  trade  for  many  vears  thereafter. 
A  short  time  aflor  Pool  came  here  another  mason,  named  Chase  Wig- 
gin,  established  himself  in  the  business.  The  number  of  those  who 
have  worked  at  the  trade  since  then  is  quite  large. 

Marble  Workkks.  —  In  1844,  Richard  Adams  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness of  making  gravestones  and  doing  other  work  in  marble.  He 
was  succeeded  bv  his  son  Francis,  now  a  well-known  lawyer  in  Bath. 
Edward  Melcher,  now  of  Bath,  and  others  have  workeil  at  this  trade 
since  then . 

Nail-Maker.  —  About  the  year  1795  a  man  named  Richanlson  had 
a  shop  on  the  site  of  the  store  now  occupied  by  Barton  Jortlan,  a  few 
doors  soutli  of  Centre  Street,  where  he  made  sliingle  and  clapboard 
nails  from  iron  hoops  taken  from  rum-barrels  ;  and  as  rum-barrels  were 
then  very  plenty,  he  had  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  hoops  suilicient  for 
his  puri)ose.  lie  continued  the  business  for  about  a  year,  when  he 
was  obliged  to  abandon  it  in  consequence  of  the  bursting  of  a  cannon. 
wUich  he  fired  at  a  muster  in  170G,  by  which  he  lost  an  ann.  It  is 
worthy  of  note  that  the  gun  which  exploded  was  one  which  had  for- 
merly been  used  in  Fort  George.^ 

Painters.  —  Until  after  the  Revolution  there  were  no  painted  houses 
in  Brunswick,  and  consequently  there  were  none  who  made  painting 
an  occupation  until  after  that  time.  Jack  Robertson,  an  Englishman, 
establishe*!  himself  here  about  the  year  1«0(L  and  is  said  to  have  been 
the  first  painter  in  town.  The  number  of  those  in  the  business  since 
then  is  quite  large. 

Mr.  Dean  Swift  was  undoubtedly  in  the  business  for  a  longer  period 
than  any  one  else,  having  begun  in  1818.  Sign-painting  was  his 
siKJcialt}'.  and  in  that  branch  of  the  business  he  excelled.  He  painted 
for  Jackson  &  Ma}-,  in  1818,  the  first  gilt  sign  ever  painted  in  Bnms- 


1  Reminisce IICC8  of  Dean  Sicifl. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  583 

wick ;  the  lettering  was  done  in  German  text.     Mr.  Swift  did  his  last 
job  of  sign-painting  in  1872.^ 

Potters. — J.  Barker,  2d,  is  the  only  person  known  to  have  had  a 
pottery  in  Brunswick.  He  was  in  the  business  about  1823  and  sub- 
sequently. 

Saddlers  and  Harness-Makers.  —  The  first  person  known  to  have 
carried  on  this  business  in  Brunswick  was  a  Mr.  Brooks,  who  came 
here  from  Vermont,  and  who  was  engaged  in  it  in  1802,  and  probably 
for  some  years  previous  and  subsequent  to  that  time.  After  him 
were  Stephen  Lee,  about  1808,  and  John  Lee,  his  son,  who  succeeded 
his  father;  Edward  Ryonson,  1827  to  1858;  Prince  Dinsmore,  in 
1829  ;  and  others. 

Stable -Keepers.  —  From  a  very  early  date  innkeepers  were  accus- 
tomed to  putting  up  the  horses  of  their  guests,  but  no  one  is  known 
to  have  made  it  a  business  to  keep  horses  to  let  until  about  the  3*ear 
1808,  when  a  man,  whose  name  is  forgotten  bj'  our  informant,  opened 
a  livery  stable  on  Maine  Street,  a  few  rods  south  of  JMill  Street. 
After  a  few  years  Stephen  Lee  bought  the  stable  and  continued  the 
business  for  some  time.  In  1820,  John  Beals  opened  a  liver}'  stable 
on  the  hill  opposite  the  tavern.  After  him  were  Nathaniel  Springer 
in  1824,  and  subsequently ;  Wyatt  <fe  Mitchell  in  1836  ;  Robert  Bowker 
and  others  at  a  later  date. 

Tailors. — The  onl}'  tailors  living  here  in  the  last  century,  whose 
names  have  come  down  to  us,  were  Mr.  John  Miller,  who  worked  at 
the  houses  of  his  customers  about  1705,  a  Mr.  Robinson,  and  a  Mr. 
Hammond.  AThere  the  shops  of  the  latter  were  and  when  they  were 
in  business  has  not  been  ascertained.  From  about  1792  to  about 
1800  a  man  named  Manning  worked  at  this  trade  in  a  building  on 
Mason  Street.  Mr.  Caleb  Gushing  was  engaged  in  this  business  from 
about  179G  to  1830,  at  which  time  he  sold  out  his  tailoring  business  to 
his  son,  Louis  T.  Gushing,  who  had  for  live  years  previous  been  in 
partnership  with  his  father,  and  who  continued  it  until  his  death  in 
1838.  In  1825,  and  for  some  years  after,  Lawrence  Joyce  carried  on 
the  business.  Benjamin  INIason  had  a  tailoring  establishment  here 
from  ))efore  1820  to  1830  or  later.  John  L.  Swift,  John  W  Perry, 
Joseph  Hinkle}',  J.  H.  Nichols,  and  others  were  in  the  business  at  a 
later  period. 

Tanners.  —  The  earliest  tanner  of  whom  we  have  any  account  was 
Tobias  Ham,  who  had  a  tan-yard  at  New  Meadows,  near  "  Ham's, 
Hill,"  in  1747  and  subsequently.     His  tan-pits  were  in  the  low  lands 

* ■  1 

1  Ui»  death  occurred  while  this  chapter  was  passiny  throuyh  the  press. 

% 


584        BISTORT  OF  BBVNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HABPSWELL. 

of  the  field  east  of  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Cyrus  Peterson. 
Jeremiah  Moulton  had  a  tannery  in  1802,  and  at  the  same  time  a  Mr. 
Heath  had  one  in  what  is  now  the  garden  of  Mr.  Robert  Bowker. 
About  1810  the  late  Adam  Lemont  carried  on  the  tannery  at  the  latter 
place.  He  was  succeeded  by  James  Green,  who  was  in  turn  succeeded 
by  Samuel  Moulton.  In  1820.  Charles  Pollard  bought  Moulton  out, 
and  continued  the  business  for  some  years. 

Tobacco  Maxufactort.  —  About  the  year  1800,  Doctor  Charles 
Coffin  carried  on  the  business  of  making  tobacco  into  ^^figs"  and 
*'  pigtails,"  in  a  building  which  stood  on  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the 
residence  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Greene,  on  the  comer  of  O'Brien  Street. 
He  carried  on  the  business  for  a1>out  three  years.  He  did  not  him- 
self work  at  the  business,  but  employed  men  to  woric  for  him.^ 

Weighers  op  Hay,  etc.  —  Previous  to  the  year  1816,  hay  had  not 
been  weighed  in  Brunswick.  It  was  the  custom  to  guess  at  the  weight 
bv  the  size  of  the  load,  and  when  the  seller  and  the  buyer  could  not 
agree  uiK>n  the  quantity,  they  called  upon  their  neighbors  to  act  as 
referees. 

In  181 G,  Russell  Stoddard  erected  the  first  scales  in  Bninswick  at  a 
point  about  opposite  Green  Street,  in  what  is  now  the  Mall.  These 
scales  were  similar  in  construction  and  apj^earance  to  those  described 
further  on  as  in  use  at  Topshara.  Of  late  3'ears  there  have  been  quite 
a  number  of  scales  in  different  parts  of  the  village. 

Store-Keepers.  —  In  the  following  accouut  of  the  traders  of  Bruns- 
wick, mention  is  made  of  those  onlv  who  were  in  business  at  an  earlv 
period,  or  who  were  particularly  prominent  as  traders  at  a  later  date. 

All  of  the  early  stores  were  what  were  tenned  variety  stores,  con- 
taining a  general  assortment  of  dry  and  fancy  goods,  boots  and  shoes, 
groceries,  liquors,  china,  glass,  earthen,  and  hard  ware,  stationery, 
etc. 

In  1715  there  was  a  storehouse  connected  with  Fort  George,  for 
depositing  goods,  and  it  is  probable  that  the  settlers  were  supplied 
from  it  with  such  articles  as  their  immediate  necessities  required. 

Mr.  AVoodside  likewise  had  a  building,  a  few  years  later,  at  Maquoit 
in  which  he  traded.^ 

Samuel  Standwood  and  Samuel  Moody  were  licensed  retailers  prior 
to  1758.  Those  early  stores  were  not  kept  open  constantly,  but  were 
only  opened  when  customers  came  to  purchase  anything. 

As  early  as  1 780  old  Esquire  John  Dunlap  sold  West  India  goods 


1  Reminiscences  of  Dean  Stc\f\.  '  McKcen,  J/6'.  Lecture. 


COMMEBCIAL  BISTORT  OF  BRUKSWICK.  585 

in  a  building  which  stood  in  what  is  now  the  yard  in  front  of  the  office 
of  the'  late  Dr.  Lincoln.  It  is  related  that  there  was  an  unfinished 
attic  over  the  store,  into  which  a  small  scuttle-hole  opened  from  the 
store  below.  Esquire  Dunlap  haii  no  money-drawer,  and  was  accus- 
tomed to  throw  pieces  of  coin  received  from  customers  up  through  the 
hole  into  the  attic.     That  was  all  the  safe  the  times  demanded. 

Previous  to  1800,  Benjamin  Stone  kept  store  in  a  building  near  the 
northerlv  corner  of  Maine  and  Mill  Streets. 

In  1798,  Veazie  &  Stone  kept  store  on  what  is  now  the  northerly 
corner  of  Maine  and  Dunlap  Streets,  in  a  building  which  was  owned 
by  Captain  John  Dunlap.  The  building  was  burned  that  year,  but 
was  soon  rebuilt  and  is  now  standing.  The  chimnoj'  is  the  original 
chimney.  In  1802,  Robert  I).  Duiniing  and  Josiah  No^'es  traded 
in  the  same  store  after  it  was  rebuilt. 

John  Schwartkins,  a  native  of  Holland,  kept  a  store  in  an  old 
building  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  McLellan  Block, 
between  the  3'ears  179G  and  1822.  John  Peterson  kept  a  store  at 
New  ^leadows  previous  to  the  year  1800.  The  building  is  still 
staudin<^,  but  in  a  dilapitated  condition.  Doctor  Charles  Coffin  had 
a  store  on  Maine  Street  in  1800,  and  for  some  seven  or  eight  years 
later.  It  was  on  the  corner  of  O'Brien  Street,  on  the  site  of  the  resi- 
dence of  Benjamin  Greene.  He  was  a  physician,  but  did  not  practise, 
but  kept  a  small  stock  of  medicines. 

In  1802,  Colonel  William  Stanwoo<l,  Richard  Tappan,  John  Perry, 
Charles  R3'an,  and  a  few  others  had  stores.  Mr.  Perrv  continued  in 
trade  until  about  1830.  Daniel  and  Jotliam  Stone  each  had  a  store  as 
earl}'  as  1802.  Daniel's  first  store  was  in  a  building  which  stood 
about  where  the  foot  of  the  Mall  is  now.  Subsequent!}*  he  erected  the 
building  still  standing  ou  Maine  Street,  on  the  edge  of  the  cove,  about 
o[)posite  the  factory  store,  and  which  is  now  ])aintcd  green.  There  he 
traded  for  manv  vears.  Jotham  Stone's  store  was  on  Maine  Street, 
on  the  southerly  corner  of  Mill  Street.  Here  he  kept  until  1820,  or 
later,  doing  a  large  amount  of  business.  His  store  was  considered 
the  best  in  town. 

In  1803,  Henry  and  Frederick  Quimb}'  erected  a  large  building 
where  the  Tontine  now  stands,  and  they  kept  a  store  there  until  about 
the  year  1818. 

Nathaniel  Poor  began  trading  here  about  1808,  and  continued  for 
man}'  years,  a  part  of  the  time  being  in  i)artnership  with  John  Coburn. 
David  Dunlap,  on  tlie  comer  of  Maine  and  Dunlap  Streets,  and 
his  brother,  Richard  l*.  Dunlap,  on*  the  corner  of  Bank  Street,  where 


586        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Smith's  billiard-room  now  is,  were  prominent  traders  for  many  years 
subsequent  to  1812. 

Joseph  and  John  McKeen  l)egan  about  the  same  time,  and  were  in 
trade  for  a  long  series  of  years.  Joseph  was  on  the  corner  of  Maine 
and  Cleaveland  Streets,  wliere  is  now  the  store  of  Charles  Towusend ; 
and  John  was  on  the  corner  of  Elaine  and  Noble  Streets,  where  is  now 
the  residence  of  Doctor  Asher  Ellis. 

Nathaniel  Badji:er  was  in  trade  in  1813,  and  for  manv  vears  snbse- 
quently.  At  first  his  store  was  in  a  building  which  sto<xl  on  the  site 
of  the  pi-esent  store  of  Mr.  Barton  Jordan  ;  later  he  occupied  a  build- 
ing on  the  southern  corner  of  Centre  Street,  where  the  stoi-e  of  Mr. 
A.  G.  Poland  now  is,  aud  at  one  time  in  a  building  on  Pleasant 
Street,  about  where  the  Methodist  Church  is.     He  had  a  good  trade. 

From  181<;  to  1820,  and  perhaps  a  little  later,  L.  T.  Jackson  and 
Charles  May,  under  the  style  of  Jackson  &  May,  kept  a  store  in  the 
building  on  Elaine  Street  which  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr.  B.  G. 
Dennison.  About  1818,  Ezra  Drew  kept  a  store  on  Maine  Street,  in 
a  building  on  the  side  of  the  coye,  a  few  rwls  south  of  the  Daniel 
Stone  store.  He  remained  iu  trade  only  a  few  years.  In  1818,  Eph- 
raim  Brown  and  J.  C.  Humphn^ys  formed  a  copartnei*ship.  and  kept 
a  store  for  a  number  of  years  on  the  southern  comer  of  Mill  and 
Maine  Streets. 

In  1820  there  were  at  least  thirteen  stores.  Among  those  in  trade  that 
year,  who  haye  not  already  been  named,  were  Watcrhouse  &  West,  who 
were  iu  trade  together  aud  singly  until  about  1828.  Jere  O'Brien  kept 
store  in  1820,  and  for  a  few  years  subsequent  1}'.  Stone  &  Morse  did  a 
good  business  between  1820  and  1836.  James  H.  Mills  had  a  store 
in  the  old  Stan  wood  Building  on  the  north  corner  of  Maine  and  Centre 
Streets,  from  1820  to  1830.  Roger  Merrill  was  in  trnde  in  1820  and 
for  a  few  years  subsequently  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  ^lill  Streets. 
Abner  Bourne,  in  1820  and  subsequently,  kept  where  is  now  the  store 
of  Barton  Jonian.  A.  B.  Thompson  and  A.  B.  Thompson  &  C*o.  in 
1820,  and  for  six  or  eight  years,  was  on  the  east  side  of  Maine  Street 
on  the  side  of  the  coye.  Joseph  Demeritt  in  1^20,  and  subsequently 
Demeritt  &  Stone,  until  about  1830.  Ethan  Earle,  on  the  north  cor- 
ner of  Mill  Street,  in  1820  to  1836,  did  a  large  business.  Noah 
Hinkley  from  1820  to  1829,  on  the  northern  corner  of  Maine  and 
Mason  Streets,  where  Day's  Block  now  stands,  had  a  large  stock  and 
did  a  good  business.  Jacob  Johnson,  from  1820  to  1S36,  or  a  few 
years  later,  was  on  the  northern  comer  of  Centre  Street. 

In  1824,  John  Coburn  kept  store  in  Hinkley 's  Block.     In  1 825,  Jesse 


COMMERCIAL  mSTORT  OF  BHUN8WICK.  587 

Pierce,  and  Dunning  &  Parshley  (Nathaniel  Dunning  and  Ebenezer 
Parshley)  were  in  trade.  At  a  later  date  these  two  last-named  traders 
were  alone  or  with  other  partners.     They  both  traded  for  some  years. 

In  1828,  Caleb  Gushing  and  his  son,  Francis  D.  Gushing,  opened  a 
variet}'  store  in  a  building  on  the  comer  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets, 
where  Lemont  Block  now  stands.  The  building  had  been  er(»oted  b}- 
Mr.  Caleb  Gushing  about  four  years  previously.  The  firm  of  Guslnng 
&  Co.  contmued  the  business  until  1835,  when  Francis  died,  and  Mr. 
Caleb  Gushing  thereafter  conducted  the  business  alone  until  his  death 
in  1888,  when  the  store  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  youngest  son, 
John  S.  Gushing,  who  occupied  it  until  it  was  destroyed  b}'  fire  in  1849. 
Vox  nine  ^ears  previous  to  taking  his  father's  store,  the  latter  had 
been  in  trade  at  the  lower  part  of  the  town.  For  many  years  previous 
to  the  estal>lishment  of  this  store,  Mr.  Caleb  Gushing  had  carried  on 
the  tailoring  business  in  a  building  a  few  doors  north  of  Pleasant 
Street,  about  where  is  now  the  store  of  G.  B.  Tenney.  Thus  for  more 
than  fifty  years  did  he  or  his  sons  do  business  at  or  n(?ar  the  corner, 
and,  until  within  a  few  years,  the  localitj'  was  known  as  Cushing's 
Corner.  ., 

Among  those  in  trade  subsequent  to  1830  should  be  mentioned 
George  Earle,  1830  to  about  1844 ;  WiUiara  S.  Murray,  1H3G  and  sub- 
sequently ;  Isaac  Center,  1845  to  1859  ;  Samuel  Webb,  1840  to  1870. 

The  foregoing  list  embraces  only  a  small  portion  of  those  who  were 
in  general  trade  dunng  the  first  half  of  this  century.  In  addition  to 
the  foregoing,  mention  should  be  made  of  those  who  have  been  engaged 
in  special  branches  of  trade. 

The  fii-st  Apothecarv  in  Brunswick  was  George  W.  Ilolden,  1820 
to  1832.  After  him  was  IlenrvM.  Prescott,  1832  to  1840  ;  and  others. 
Of  all  who  have  been  in  this  business  in  Brunswick,  Doctor  William 
Baker  was  engaged  in  it  the  longest,  from  1836  to  his  death  in  1867, 
a  period  of  thirt3*-one  years. 

The  first  Bookstore  in  Brunswick  was  established  b^*  the  late 
Joseph  Griffin  in  1822,  and  he  continued  in  the  busin(?ss  until  his  death 
in  1874  Among  others  in  the  business  were  Nathaniel  Davis,  from 
1825  to  18CG,  and  William  Johnson,  from  1845  to  about  1860. 

The  first  person  to  deal  exclusively  in  Boots  and  Shoes  in  Bruns- 
wick was  a  Mr.  Nichols,  who  kept  a  shoe  store  on  Mill  Street  in  1823, 
and  for  a  few  years  later.  Of  his  successors  ^Ir.  Lorenzo  Day  was 
doubtless  engaged  in  the  business  longer  than  any  other. 

The  first  person  to  deal  exchmvelif  in  Dry  Goods  was  Mr.  Daniel 
ElUot,  who  has  been  in  the  business  from  1838  to  the  present  time. 


588        mSTORY  OF  BRVNSWICK,  TOPSnAM,  AND  HABPSWELL. 

The  late  Alexander  F.  Boardman  was  in  the  business  from  1840  until 
his  death  in  1876.  Prominent  among  others  in  the  business  since 
1840,  and  who  are  not  now  in  trade,  were  Gould  Jewell  &  Co.,  Ilenrj' 
Carville.  and  James  G.  Collins. 

The  first  Fitrnitcre  Store  was  established  about  1845  by  Robert 
L.  Dodge,  who  subsequently  sold  out  to  Harvey  Stetson. 

The  first  person  who  engaged  in  the  Millinery  business  in  Bruns- 
wick is  thought  to  have  been  a  Mrs  Moody,  who  had  a  shop  as  early 
as  1820,  and  perhaps  earlier.  In  1820,  Mrs.  L.  T.  Jackson  advertised 
that  she  can*ied  on  the  straw  manufacturing  business  in  all  its  varie- 
ties, and  that  old  bonnets  could  be  made  over.  After  her  was  Miss 
Mary  Ilmnphroys  and  a  Mrs.  Whitmore.  From  1821  to  about  1827, 
Miss  Eliza  Nichols  had  a  milliner}'  establishment,  and  Miss  M.  Nichols 
in  1833  or  thereabouts. 

About  the  year  1825,  Miss  Dorothy  Giddings  and  her  sister,  Mrs. 
Boardman,  came  to  Bninswick,  and  opened  a  millinery  store  in  a 
wooden  building  which  stood  on  the  north  corner  of  Maine  and  Green 
Streets.  Here  the}'  remained  for  at  least  five  years,  and  then  removed 
to  a  building  which  stoo<l  where  the  Mason  Street  Church  now  stands. 
Subse^iuently  Mrs.  Boardman  moved  into  Dunlaj)  Block,  in  the  store 
now  occupied  by  B.  G.  Dennison,  where  she  continued  for  many  years 
in  the  millinery  and  dress-making  business,  adding  to  her  stock  a  large 
variety  of  dry  goods.  At  the  same  time  Miss  Giddings,  '*  Dolly"  Gid- 
dings as  she  was  called,  traded  in  an  old  building  whicli  stood  on  the 
corner  of  Maine  and  O'Brien  Streets,  where  is  now  the  residence  of 
Mr.  Benjamin  Greene.  Here  she  traded  until  her  death  in  1870.  Her 
stock  was  always  large  and  of  superior  quality,  and  comprised  not 
only  millinery  goods,  but  almost  every  conceivable  article  of  feminine 
appart>l.  Her  counters  and  shelves  were  piled  promiscuousl}'  with  all 
sorts  of  articles  and  apparent!}'  in  the  greatest  disorder,  yet  she  could 
always  quickly  find  any  desired  article,  no  matter  how  deeply  it  might 
be  covered  with  other  things.  Aft^r  her  death  the  goods  were  sold  at 
auction,  and  many  were  the  articles  of  ancient  costume  which  were 
brought  to  light  and  sold  for  a  small  sum,  which  once  would  have  cost 
much  and  could  have  been  purchased  only  by  the  more  wealthy  citi- 
zens. Of  those  at  a  later  date  Miss  Harriet  N.  Houghton,  about 
1854,  and  Mrs.  B.  G.  Dennison,  1838  to  18GG,  should  be  specially 
mentioned. 

The  first  Tix  Shop  of  which  there  is  any  record  was  that  kept  by 
G.  W.  Coffin,  opposite  the  colleges,  in  1821.  After  him  were  William 
Prescott,  H.  M.  Prescott,  Horace  P.  Hubbard,  and  others.     Of  all 


COMMERCIAL  mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  589 

who  have  been  in  tliis  Imsiness  in  Brunswick,  Mr.  Benjamin  Furbish 
is  justly  entitled  to  the  first  rank,  he  having  been  engaged  iu  it  from 
1835  to  18(>r>,  a  period  of  thirty-one  ^-ears.  His  business  was,  at 
first,  that  of  the  manufacture  of  tinware,  to  which  was  afterward 
added  the  sale  of  stoves,  hardware,  agricultural  implements,  crocker}', 
and  glassware.  He  was  the  inventor  and  manufacturer  of  one  of  the 
first  cooking-stoves  made  in  the  country.  He  was  the  first  person  in 
Brunswick  to  keep  a  general  assortment  of  hardware. 

PRICES. 

An  account  of  the  various  trades  and  occupations  of  the  settlere 
having  been  given,  it  will  be  appropriate  here  to  mention  the  prices 
which  have  prevailed,  from  time  to  time,  of  the  necessaries  of  life  and 
the  wages  paid  for  lal)or. 

The  earliest  mention  of  the  price  of  live  stock  is  in  1635.  At  this 
time  the  current  pric»e  for  good  oxen,  in  New  England,  was  £25  each, 
for  the  best.  It  is  not  probable  that  an}'  were  owned  here  at  that 
time. 

The  following  inventor}'  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors*  stock  at 
Brunswick,  their  list  of  goods  for  sale,  and  the  cost  of  the  provision 
made  for  their  cattle  in  1715,  will  ser\'e  to  show  not  only  the  cost,  but 
the  character  of  the  articles  in  town  at  that  date.  Where  more  than 
one  article  of  the  same  kind  is  given,  the  reader  can  make  his  own 
calculation  as  to  the  price  of  each. 

The  lime  which  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  was  sold  in  Iiogsheads 
containing  one  hundred  pounds,  and  the  price  was  twent^'-ono  shillings 
per  hogshead,  probably  exclusive  of  the  barrel. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  the  Stock  at  Brunswick  :  —  ^ 

40  \i\\^  of  Stone  Lime £50      4      4 

2  Yoke  of  Oxcii 2'.»      0      0 

1  Cart  hofMC 7      5      0 

Cart,  Collars  &,  tackling 8120 

2  Cows  with  Calf i)      0      0 

4  Swine 700 

1  Canoe  &  2  boat  oars 2      5     10 

James  Irish  our  Serv't  man 9      1      i> 

Books  of  Accts  &  Records 12      6 

1  Plow  20/  Timber  chain  28/ 2      8      0 

Silvauns  Davis'  Laud  of  Nelson 40      0      0 

15  Axes 416 

2  Iron  Crows 160 

1  Ptjepscot  Records, 


590        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

6  hoes  25/  G  Hatchets  21/ £2      6      0 

3  Spades  2i>/6 :  3  Shovels  12/ 114      6 

4  mauls  10/  1  fork  &c  10/ 10      0 

1  Grindstone  0/  Rope  30 1     16      0 

2  Conipasses 080 

1  peck  &  h  peck 030 

£178     13       2 

Cargo  for  sale  b}'  proprietors  at  Brunswick,  1715  :  —  ^ 

Smiths  tools,  as  per  bill £9     13       6 

Carpenters  tools 866 

1  Tierce  Rum 10     12      0 

1  bbl  Molasses 3     16       7 

1  Tierce  Sugar 10      6      4 

4  Jackets  &  Hreeches 4      0      0 

1  Watchcoat 160 

1  bb :  of  roU'd  Tobacco 8     18      9 

2,  1,  12  of  Iron  at  40/ 4     14     10 

10  cheeses  .        .        .         .        • 2    18      6 

2  bbs  of  salt 1     16      6 

1  doz  yarn  hose 160 

6  miird  caps 110 

2  gro.  short  pipes 080 

100  hard  soap 068 

£04     10    2 

Provision  for  Cattle  &  Keeping  this  winter  (1715-16)  :  — ^ 

8  Bundles  screwed  hay £20      6      0 

4  load  of  salt  hay 400 

20  bushells  oats 234 

Keeping  hogs  in  Town 0    10      0 

1  hlW  Indian  Corn 383 

1  hhd  of  Oats 189 

2  bush.  Corn  &  Bag 0110 

Getting  Cattle  on  board 0      6      0 

Water  hhd« 030 

£14     16      4 

On  the  cover  of  the  Records  from  which  the  above  is  taken  is  the 
following,  "4  Q^  F.  C.  12/  ,"  which  probably  means  ''  four  quires  of 
foolscap,  price  12/  ."  This  entry  was  probably  made  at  the  time  of 
the  purchase  of  the  book,  and  sliows  the  value  of  paper  at  that  time. 

In  1 730  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  paid  for  lumber  as  follows :  — 

1  P^epscot  RecorcU*  *  Ibid, 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  591 

To  700  boards £2      2    0 

To  600  feet  Merb»»  &  600  ft  reftise  boards 2     110* 

During  Revolutionary  times  it  cost  one  man  the  labor  of  lialf  a 
month  in  haying-time  to  bu}*  a  pair  of  shirts.  Men  made  it  a  condi- 
tion in  tiieir  contracts,  at  that  time,  that,  if  they  hired  near  the  falls, 
they  should  not  have  salmon  to  eat  oftener  than  live  da3's  in  a  week, 
or  if  they  hired  near  the  salt-water  bays,  that  they  sliould  not  have 
wild  fowl,  clams,  or  fish  more  than  three  fourths  of  the  time.^ 

A  similar  statement  is  often  made  in  relation  to  other  towns,  and  it 
is  not  at  all  improbable  that  such  provisions  were  often,  in  olden  times, 
inserted  into  the  contracts  between  laborers  and  their  emploj^ers  quite 
generally  throughout  New  England. 

In  1777  a  list  of  prices  for  labor,  provisions,  etc.,  was  fixed  by  a 
committee  chosen  b}'  the  town  in  accordance  with  an  Act  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court  of  Massachusetts,  entitled  ''  An  Act  to  prevent  Monopoly 
and  Oi»pression."  In  onler  that  the  present  generation  ma}'  know 
somewhat  of  the  expenses  and  moile  of  life  of  their  forefathers,  this 
list  is  inserted  in  this  connection,  just  as  it  appears  upon  the  records :  — 

''  Common  Liibour  from  y^  first  of  April  to  the  last  of  Nov  3/  pr 
day  and  found  as  usual,  and  at  other  seasons  of  the  year  in  proportion. 

"  Muirhig  and  lienpitKj  3/8  pr  day  and  found  as  usual. 

*'  Caqy^nters  &  Joyners  4/  p'  day  &  found  as  usual. 

"  Men  taylers  3/  pr  da}'  &  found. 

"  Oxen  2/8  pr  day. 

''  Good  Marchantable  mieet  7/G  i>er  B^ 

*'  Good  liye  5/  pr  B". 

''  Gates  3/  pr  B*. 
Good  Indian  Corn  or  Meal  4/4  pr  B'. 
Good  Sheeps  wool  2/  pr  ikI  . 

*»  English  Hay  3/  pr  II**. 

''  Salt  Hay  2/  pr  11^ 

"  Good  fresh  pork  well  fatted  G**  pr  pd. 

''Salt  Pork  7^*  pr  pd. 

"  Good  Beef  3^  pr  pound  and  2?e«/of  aninferiour  kind  in  proportion. 
Jiaw  Hides  3^  pr  ini. 
Calve  Skins  6*^  pr  pound. 

*'  Sole  Leather  1/3  [)r  pound  and  upper  leather  in  pi-oportion. 

"  Good  Marchantable  Salt  10/  pr  Bll. 

'*  Salt  made  from  sea  water  in  the  State  12/. 

*  P^cpacot  Papers.  *  McKeen,  MS.  Lecture. 


hi 


692      msTOBT  OF  Brunswick,  topsftam,  and  harpswell. 

"  Good  West  India  Bum  e/S  by  the  I!**  including  the  Cask  &  6/10 
by  the  Barrell  exclusive  of  the  Barrell.  7/8  by  the  single  gall  and  2/ 
by  the  Quart  &  so  in  proportion  for  a  smaller  quantity. 

"  Neiv  England  Rum  8/10  by  the  H**  or  BU  exclusive  of  13/4  for  ' 
the  H'*  &  4/  for  the  Bll,  4/6  by  the  Gall  with  a  reasonable  allowance 
for  transporting  it  from   where  it  is  Distil*    &   smaller  quantity  in 
proportion. 

''  West  India  toddy  1/  pr  mug. 

"  New  E,  Do  9**  pr  mug. 

"  Oates  3**  pr  quart. 

"  Horse  Keeping  1/10  pr  night. 

"  Good  Flax  1/  pr  pound. 

"  Spanish  Potatoes  1/2  in  the  fall  1/6  in  the  Spring  or  Sum'. 

''  Other  Potatoes  1/6  in  the  fall  &  2/  in  the  Spring  or  Summer. 

'*  Gease  7/. 

'*  Beans  6/  pr  B". 

*'  Butter  lO'*  p'  single  p**  &  O-*  by  the  firkin. 

"  Good  Cheese  manufactured  in  this  State  6**  pr  pound. 

.^Good  Broirn  Sugar  Z^  pr  Hundred  &  8**  pr  the  single  p**. 

^'Molasses  3/4  by  the  Hog**  inclusive  of  the  H**  &  3/8  by  the 
B"  exclusive  of  the  B"  and  4/  by  the  gallon. 

"  Good  Yam  Stockeiis  6/8  pr  pair. 

"  Meiis  Shoes  made  of  goo<l  neat  Leather  of  the  Best  Common  Sort 
8/  pr  pair  and  for  others  in  like  proportion  according  to  their  size  and 
quality. 

'*  Good  Salt  Beef:^'^  pr  pound. 

''  Cotton  Wool  3/*s  pr  pound. 

"  Good  Coff  1/1/4  pr  pound. 

*'  Good  yard  icide  Cotton  &  Linen  4/  pr  y**  and  other  widths  in 
proportion. 

'*  Good  Mutton^  Lamb  &  Veal  4**  pr  pd. 

"  Good  ^V^lite  Pine  Boards  36/  pr  thousand. 

"  Good  Jfarchantable  White  Pine  Shingles  8/  pr  thousand." 

Men  were  allowed  for  work  on  the  highways  thirty  dollars  each  [>er 
day.  The  use  of  a  plough  was  five  dollars  per  day.  The  price  of  a 
pair  of  army  shoes  was  set  b}'  that  of  seven  pecks  of  corn,  and  the 
price  of  a  blanket  In'  that  of  four  bushels  of  corn. 

In  1778  provisions  were  still  dearer,  and  one  man  said  that  he  had 
to  pay  three  silver  dollars  for  one  bushel  of  corn.^     This  excessive 

^  McKeen^  Manuscript  Lecture. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


593 


price  was  not,  it  will  be  seen,  due  to  the  depreciation  of  the  currency. 
It  was  owing  to  the  fear  of  a  famine,  and  was  not  lasting.  Yet  there 
was  a  very  great  and  rapid  depreciation  in  the  value  of  the  currency 
between  1777  and  1781,  which  caused  much  financial  distress.  On 
Januar}'  1,  1777,  one  hundred  dollars  in  silver  was  worth  but  one 
hundred  and  five  dollars  In  currency.  In  1778  the  worth  of  the  same 
silver  had  increased  to  $328  in  currency;  in  1779,  to  $742 ;  in  1780, 
to  $2,934 ;  and^  in  February,  1781,  it  was  worth  $7,500. 

The  following  bill  for  repairs,  made  upon  the  east  meeting-house 
in  1785,  is  inserted  in  this  place  to  show  the  cost  of  labor  and  the 
prices  of  carpenters'  materials,  etc.,  immediately  after  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Peterson,  who  made,  or  superintended,  the 
repairs,  probabl}'  prepared  the  boards  and  other  lumber  used  at  his 
mill  at  New  Meadows  River.  The  amount  charged  for  grog  is  quite 
reasonable,  considering  that  the  labor  lasted  for  four  if  not  live  days, 
and  that  the  customs  of  the  time  allowed  an  almost  unlimited  use  of 
tliis  beverage. 

**  May  ye  25.  1785  the  town  of  Brunswick  Dr  to  John  Peterson  for 

James  Wookflelds  Bill 

to  4  m  of  shingles  at  12/  to  h  m  of  Claboard  Nails  3/ 

to  i  m  Diiblc  tens  7/  600  board  most  Clear  30/ 

timber  for  the  porch  &  scaffold  6/i  Day  work  with  team 

2  m  shingle  nails  at  4/  300  feet  Boards  12/      . 
paid  for  one  &  half  Days  work  10/  Grog  for  Carpenters 
350  feet  boards  for  staging  15/  40  feet  pine  timber  . 
hailing  tlml)er  &  boards  3/  2  m  shingle  nails  S/ 

1  m  Claboard  nails   6/  8|  pound  of  shingle  nails  10/ 

41  m  of  shingles  at  12/ 

8i  pound  Dubble  tens  7/7  pound  Shingle  nails  8/  . 

12  pound  more  of  Shingle  nails  3  &  i  m     . 

5  gll  flsh  oyl  at  2/8 

3  Day  work  of  ray  self  &  Weston  at  3/     . 
li  Day  work  more  my  self 

2  mugs  Grog  for  Carpenters  1/6  1^  mugs  more  1/2 

36      2     11 

"  A  true  Coppy  from  my  book  Drawn  off  this  5  Day  of  April  1700,  by  me 

**Joi£N  Pktersox." 

From  a  day-book  of  Mr.  Jotham  Stone,  kept  in  1806  and  1807, 
the  following  interesting  facts  are  obtained :  — 

A  common  laborer,  in  those  days,  received  seventy-five  cents  for  a 


1/6 


20 

17 

5 

2 

11 

C 

1 

17 

0 

0 

12 

0 

1 

0 

0 

0 

11 

6 

1 

I 

0 

0 

11 

0 

0 

16 

0 

2 

17 

0 

0 

15 

0 

0 

14 

0 

0 

13 

4 

0 

18 

0 

0 

6 

0 

0 

2 

8 

'  History  of  Con/nor d^  JfoM.,  p.  123. 


88 


( 


594        HISTORY  OF  BRUySWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

daj*8  work,  —  from  sunrise  to  sunset.  Female  help  received  foar 
shillings  a  week.  A  seamstress  or  dress-maker  received  twenty-five 
cents  a  day  ;  a  tailoress,  two  shillings.  These  avocations,  with  spin- 
ning and  weaving,  constituted  the  whole  range  of  female  labor. 

Very  few  dress  goods  were  sold ;  people  wore  those  of  their  own 
manufacture,  of  cotton  and  wool.  A  calico  or  a  cambric  were  the  go- 
to-meeting  dresses  for  the  masses.  It  was  only  the  rich  who  sported 
silks,  and  those  were  heirlooms. 

The  largest  quantity  of  calico  sold  by  Mr.  Stone  to  one  person «  dur- 
ing the  year,  was  to  Mr.  Samuel  Melcher,  twenty -three  3*ard8,  at  a 
cost  of  ten  dollars  and  fifty  cents.  This  made  four  dresses.  —  lar^e 
patterns^  too! 

The  only  ready-made  clothing  for  men  was  dye-pot  bine  woollen 
pants  (they  were  called  trousers  then) ,  just  as  the  cloth  came  from 
the  loom,  at  one  dollar  and  seventy-five  cents  per  pair. 

Among  the  gooils  sold  by  Mr.  Stone  were  bonnets  at  from  one  dollar 
and  twenty-five  cents  to  five  dollars  and  fifty  cents,  mufl's  and  tippets, 
laces  and  ribbons,  silks,  shawls,  silk  hose,  books,  hardware,  provisions, 
groceries,  and  what  was  then  considered  an  indispensable  necessary 
of    life    and   a   test   of    hospitality  in   every   house,    rum,    brandy, 

gin,  and  wine.     Nearly  ever\'  customer,  from  the  Rev.  Mr. 

to  the  tenant  of  the  gutter,  had  it  chai-ged  to  him.  Liquors  were 
then  cheap.  Good  old  Santa  Croix  was  only  one  dollar  and  seven- 
teen cents,  and  brandy  and  gin  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  gallon. 

Next  to  liquors  it  is  surprising  to  note  the  quantity  of  cheese  sold 
at  eighteen  to  twenty  cents  per  pound. 

Sugar,  tea,  cotlee,  and  tobacco  were  the  next  most  prominent 
articles. 

Tliere  was  a  kind  of  tobacco  done  up  in  a  cord  and  wound  into 
balls,  like  wicking,  which  was  called  ladies'  twist,  and  a  coarser  kind 
called  pigtail,  In^tli  of  which  were  sold  by  tlie  yard. 

Of  flour  very  little  was  sold.  The  [>eople  lived  on  home-grown 
grain.  During  the  year  there  were  but  two  whole  barrels  charged. 
One  of  these  was  to  Reverend  B.  Titcomb,  ten  dollars  and  fift  v  cents ; 
and  the  other  was  to  Reverend  J.  McKeen.  'I'wo  half  barrels  were 
sold  to  two  individuals ;  two  others  bought  each  one  dollar's  worth, 
being  fourteen  pounds.  Doubtless  some  flour  was  i>aid  for  on  deliv- 
ery, but  probably  very  little,  as  nearly  everybody  had  an  account  in 
those  da  vs. 

From  the  same  day-book  the  following  list  of  prices  in  1806—7  is 
made  up,   which  is  compared   with  another  list,  obtained  from   the 


COMMERCIAL' BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK. 


595 


Brunswick  Telegraph  in  1858.    The  reader  can  mako  his  own  com- 
parison with  the  prices  of  the  present  da}'. 


Articles. 

Butter,  per  pound  .  .  . 
Com  brooms  .  .  .  . 
Broadcloth,  per  yard  .  . 
Bar  soap,  per  lb.     .     .     . 

Heef,  per  cwt 

Pork,  round  hogs,  lb.  .  . 
Pork,  clear  lb.*  .  .  .  . 
Brown  sugar,  cwt.  .     .     . 

Ix>af  sugar,  lb 

H3'8on  tea,  lb 

Souchong,  lb.     .•    .     .     . 

Bohea,  lb 

Cheese,  lb 

Tobacco,  lb 

White  lead,  lb 

Linseed  oil,  gall.  .  .  . 
Spirits  turt>entine  ,  .  . 
Wrought  nails,  per  100  . 
4p.  and  6p.  nails  per  lb.  . 
lOp.  nails  per  lb.  .  .  . 
Cuba  coffee,  lb.  .  .  , 
India  cotton,  yd.  .  .  . 
British  cotton,  3'd.  .     .     . 

Eggs,  doz 

Glass,  per  100  ft.  .  .  . 
Glass,  8  by  10,  per  light  . 
Lamb  and  mutton,  lb. 

Veal,  lb 

Chickens,  lb 

Geese,  lb 

Turkey,  lb 

Salmon,  lb 

Molasses,  gall.   .     .     .     . 

Vinegar,  gall 

Cotton  wool,  lb.  .  .  , 
Cask  raisins,  lb.      .     .     . 


PRICE  CURRENT. 

1806-7. 

.     .     .     .  .20-25 

.     .     .     ,  .50 

.     .     .     .  $4-8. 

17 

.     .     .     .         4.50 

10-12 

20 

.     .     .     .       14. 

28-30 

.     .     .     .         1.50 
.     .     .     .         I. 

50 

17-20 

25 

25 

1.50-1.75 
.     .     .     .         1.50 
.     .     .     .         1.00 

17 

10 

40 

80 

58 

15-. 7 

.     .     .     .       15.00 
...  .10 

.     .     .  .06-07 

.     .     .  .08-10 

.     .     .  .OG-OS 

...  .07 

...  .08 

...  .08 

...  .58 

...  .33 

.     .     .  .35 

...  .17 


1853. 

.20-25 
.20-25 
$2-4. 

.06-08 
5-7. 

.07-08 

.12 
6-7.50 
.09-10 
.67 

.33-40 
.25 

.10-12 
.25 

.08-09 
.80 

.75-80 
.25 
.05 
.05 
.10 
.05 
.13 

.10-20 
4.50' 
.03 

.06-07 
.06-08 
.08-12 
.08 

.10-12 
,20-25 
.25 

. 1 7-20 
.07-08 
.12 


596      HISTORY  or  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  sarpswell. 


Articles. 
Box  raisins,  lb.       ... 

Figs,  lb 

Cranberries,  qt,       ... 

Com,  bush 

Hay,  100  lbs 

Table-salt,  bush.     .     .     . 

Saleratus,  lb 

Nutmegs,  per  oz.    .     .     . 

Lemons,  doz 

Rice,  lb 

Starch,  lb 

Lard,  lb 

Oats,  bush 

Dry  co<l-fish,  lb.      ... 

Crackers,  doz 

Potatoes,  bush 

Barn  shovels       .... 

Hoe 

Axe 

Hammer 

Calico 

Black  and  white  cambric  . 
Tallow  candles  .... 
Flour,  bbl 


1806-7. 

.25 

.20 

.12^ 
$1.00 
2.00 
3.00 

.25 

.67 

.75 

.08 

.50 

.18 

.79 

.OG 

.17 

.50 
1.00 

.75 
2.00 

mm  <m 

1-1.50 

.25 

10.50 


The  following  was  the  price  current  in  September 


Apples  (per  bushel) 

Butter  . 

Barley  . 

Beef     . 

Corn     . 

Cheese 

Kggs    • 
Oats     . 

Pork,  fresh 

Poultry 

Potatoes 

Lamb    . 

Wootl,  per  cord 

Lumber,  merchantable 


14 
16 

4 
70 

6 
10 
37 

5 

6 
28 

4 


1853. 

.17-20 

.17 

.10 

$1.00 

.07 
.08 
.37 
.05 
.17 
.16 
.50 
.05 
.08 
.50 

.50-92 
.50 
1.00 

.10 

.17-50 

.17 

6-8.50 


1820:  — 


25  to  37  cents. 


'  16 

'  70 
'  6 
'  80 
'  10 

'  42 

^  8 
*  10 
'  33 


82.00 
87.00  to  8.00 


comnsnciAL  msronr  of  Brunswick. 


597 


AccoTtling  to  tradition,  the  Indians  used  to  come  from  the  head- 
waters of  the  Kennebec,  and  even  ft-om  Canada,  to  gather  the  blue- 
berries upon  our  plains.  This  crop  has  always  been  a  source  not  only 
of  pleasure  to  the  housewives  of  this  vicinity,  but  of  real  profit  to  the 
town.  How  much  the  sale  of  this  berrj'  has  aggregated  during  the 
past  half-centur}'  it  is  impossible  even  to  approximately  judge,  but 
the  statement  of  the  Bntnswick  Telegraph  in  1872,  that  Mr.  C.  E. 
Townsend  alone  had  bought  of  one  family,  during  the  previous  sum- 
mer, berries  to  the  amount  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars, 
will  show  that  the  value  of  the  crop  is  b}'  no  means  to  be  under- 
valued. 

In  the  earlier  days  of  all  our  New  England  settlements  the  !ise  of 
ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage  was  a  common  habit  with  all  classes,  and 
the  town  now  under  consideration  offered  no  exception  to  the  rule. 
On  the  contrary,  the  sale  of  liquors  in  this  town  was,  as  the  following 
statement  shows,  immense. 

AMOUNT  OF  LIQUORS  SOLD  AT  BRUNSWICK  FROM  APRIL,  1812,  TO 

APHIL,  1813.* 


Johu  Swartkin  sold  in  one  year ;  — 

Oallf. 

Amount- 
ing tu 

W.  I.  Rum 

557 

N.  E.    "       

344 

Brandy 

126 

Glu 

80 

Wine 

176 

D.  &  R.  Dunlap  sold  in  one  year :  — 

1,283  = 

$2,292  00 

W.  I.  Rum 

1,692 

Gin 

60 

Brandy 

Sold  by  N.  Poor  in  six  months :  — 

30 
1,782  = 

2,382  00 

W.  I.  Rum 

125 

N.  E.     " 

120 

Brandy 

38 

Gin 

30 

Wine 

15 

Capt.  Tappan  sold  in  one  year :  — 

328  = 

528  00 

W.  I.  Rum 

215 

N.  E.     " 

105 

Gin 

96 

Wine 

64 

480  = 

651  50 

1  TTiis  list  is  compiled  from  statements  made  by  each  of  the  dealers  named.     The 
papers  were  found  among  those  of  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln, 


598       HISTORY  OF  BBUSSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HASPSWELL. 

Galls.  iog  to 

Amount9  brought  foncard^  3,878        ^,858  50 

Sold  by  Xath.  Badger  in  one  year :  — 

W.  1.  Rum 440 

N.  E.     ** 600 

Brandy 90 

Gin 90 

Wine 50 

Cordials 60 

1,230=      1,599  00 

Sold  bv  J.  Stone  in  one  year :  —  .        .        •  432 

432  =:         530  00 

Sold  by  D.  Stone  &  Co  in  one  year :  — 

W.  I.  Rum 819 

X.  E.     " 585 

Brandy GO 

Wine* 60 

Gin 120 

1,644  =      2,292  00 

Sold  by  J.  ^f  cKeen  in  one  year :  — 

W  I.  Rum 505* 

X.  E.     ** 592 

Gin 52 

Wine 92 

Brandy 73 

1,314  =      1,664  60 

Thos.  S.  Estabrook  sold  ta  one  year :  —     .  100 

100  =  400  00 

Total 8,593  ==  $il2,339  10 

In  the  opinion  of  the  dealers,  one  tbinl  of  the  liquor  sold  was  carried 
out  of  town.  The  foregoing  statement  was  i)robablv  prepare<l  at  the 
instance  of  the  Brunswick,  Topshani,  and  Harpswell  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Intemperance. 

In  181t»  there  were  ten  stores  in  the  town,  at  all  of  which  ardent 
spirits  were  kept  for  sale.  It  is  said  that  '*  even  respectable  women 
claimoil  their  right  to  take  a  social  glass  around  the  hogshead,  turned 
ui)  for  a  table,  in  tlie  retailer's  store."  It  must  be  remembered  that 
this  custom  of  public  drinking  prevailed  at  that  time  throughout  the 
whole  country.  A  few  years  later,  the  respectable  traders,  with  but 
one  exception,  quit  the  business.  Captain  Daniel  Stone  was  the  first 
one  who  refused  to  sell  liquor  by  the  glass.  The  first  store  where 
no  liquor  was  sold  was  kept  in  about  1825  by  Jesse  Pierce,  from 
Monmouth. 

The  traders  in  Brunswick    at  this  time  were  the  moneyed  men. 


COMMERCIAL  HI8T0RY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  699 

Nearly  all  the  money  of  the  place  was  in  their  hands,  and  consequently 
many  30iing  men,  who  came  here  between  1820  and  1830  to  enter 
upon  business,  failed  in  consequence  of  giving  their  debtors  too  much 
scope.  ^ 

POPUIxA.TION. 

Since  the  amount  of  business  transacted  in  an}-  town  bears  some 
relation  to  the  population  of  the  place,  the  number  of  citizens  in  Bruns- 
wick at  different  periods  is  here  given,  in  order  that  the  reader  may  be 
able  to  form  a  correct  judgment  as  to  the  comparative  prosperity  of 
the  town  at  different  times. 

Two  3'ears  before  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  there  wore  between 
thirty  and  forty  persons  in  town.*  Assuming  the  rate  of  increase  to 
have  been  uniform  between  1735  and  1790,  the  population  of  the  town 
in  1740  may  be  set  down  at  one  hundred  and  sixty.  The  following 
is  the  census  of  the  town  for  every  year  since  1740  that  we  have  been 
able  to  obtain  it,  down  to  1810.  From  the  latter  date  to  the  present, 
the  census  is  given  for  each  ten  years. 

In  1765  there  were  173  families,  139  males  under  sixteen  years  of 
age,  149  above  sixteen,  114  fjsmales  under,  and  98  over  sixteen,  and 
four  negroes.     The  total,  exclusive  of  Indians,  was  50G. 

In  1771  there  were  two  slaves ;  the  number  of  whites  is  not  given. 

In  1776  the  population  was,  white,  867. 

In  1778  there  were  males  above  sixteen,  198;  Revolutionarj' sol- 
diers (who  enlisted  for  three  years),  33.^ 

In  1790  the  population  was  1,387  ;  1810,  2,682  ;  1820,  2,931  ;  1830, 
3,547 ;  1840,  4,259  ;  1850,  4,976 ;  1860,  4,723  ;  1870,  4,727. 

VALUATION  OF  REAL  ESTATE  AND  PERSONAL  PROPERTY. 

Under  this  heading  is  given  the  valuation  of  the  town  at  such 
I>eriods  as  we  have  been  able  to  ascertain  it. 

In  1758  the  valuation  of  the  east  end  of  the  town  was  :  Polls,  44  ; 
real  estate,  £521  12s.  M,\  personal  property,  £452  Is.  Total,  £973 
13s.  M. 

The  richest  man  in  that  portion  of  the  town  was  Aaron  Hinkley, 
whose  property  was  assessed  at  £91  4s. 

The  valuation  of  the  west  end  of  the  town  was:  Polls,  48;  real 
estate,  £820  3s.  Ad.\  personal  property,  £652  4s.  Total,  £1,472 
7s.  4d. 


1  Griffin's  Presf  of  Maine,  p.  72,  note, 

2  WUUainJton,  History  of  Maine,  2,  p.  101,  n')te. 

'  The  ah.ive  is  from  Massachusetts  Archives,  Dook  185,  p.  31U. 


600        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

The  lichest  man  in  that  section  of  the  town,  and  in  the  town,  was 
Samuel  Stanwood,  whose  property  was  assessed  at  £151.  Next  to 
him  in  wealth  was  John  Minot,  whose  property  was  assessed  at  £146 
10s.  Captain  James  Thompson,  Cornelius  Tliompson,  Nathaniel 
Larrabee,  and  Isaac  Snow,  at  the  east  end,  and  Jolm  Smart,  John 
Orr,  the  Widow  Simpson,  Samuel  Clark,  Thomas  Skolfield,  the  Widow 
Dunning,  Captain  William  Woodside,  Robert  Spear,  and  David  Dun- 
ning, at  the  west  end,  were  each  possessed  of  property  valued  at  over 
£50.1 

The  total  valuation  of  the  whole  town  at  this  time  was  £2,560  6«. 
6rf. 

The  following  is  an  inventor}*  of  the  taxable  property  in  1762  :  —  ^ 

East  End.  West  End. 

Polls 71 71 

Cows 60 152 

Oxen 36 62 

Horses 17 31 

Sheep 47 263 

Swine     .     .     .     .     .  41 109 

Marsh  hay  (?).     .     .         102 89 

l^Iills       ....     .  4 2 

The  valuation  of  the  town  in  1765  was  :  Polls,  149  ;  east  end,  £1 ,477 
Us. ;  west  end,  £2,292  5s.  Total,  £3,769  19.s.  As  certified  to  by 
the  assessors,  it  was  £3,732  2s.  ;  but  this  ditlerencc  is  probably-  due 
to  an  error  on  their  part  in  summing  up  their  totals. 

Thomas  ]Minot  was  the  richest  man  in  town  at  that  time,  his  prop- 
erty being  valued  at  £123  Gs.^ 

The  number  of  houses  that  year  was  sevent^'-three. 

In  1771  the  valuation  of  the  town  was  :  Polls,  172  ;  real  estate,  £422 
2s. ;  amount  of  money  at  interest  more  than  the  parties  paid  interest 
for,  £33  13s.  4fZ. ;  the  value  of  personal  property  not  given. 

The  valuation  of  the  town  in  1776  was :  Kast  end,  £7,990  7s. ;  west 
end,  £11,966  13s. 

Benjamin  Stone  was  the  richest  man  in  town  at  that  time,  his  i)rop- 
crty  being  valued  at  £712;  John  Dunlap's  at  £700;  William  Stan- 
wood's  at  £605;  Vincent  Woodside's  and  Aaron  llinklev's,  each  at 
£548 ;  David  and  Andrew  Dunning*s,  Samuel  Stanwood's,  Thomas 
Skoltiekrs,  Cornelius  and  James  Thompson's,  (ieorge  Coombs's,  and 
Nathaniel  Larrabee's,  each  at  fVom  £300  to  £100. 

1  Pejfpfrvt  Papers,  ^  McKten^  MS  Lecture.  ^  Pcjcpscot  Papers, 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK, 


601 


In  1791  the  valuation  forthe  east  end  was :  Polls,  321  ;  real  and  per- 
sonal estate,  £6,984  16^. 

The  richest  person  at  that  time  in  that  part  of  the  town  was  Captain 
John  Peterson,  whose  property  was  estimated  at  £830  \s,  M, 

The  valuation  for  that  vear  of  the  west  end  has  not  boon  found, 
but  the  following  is  an  inventory  of  the  taxable  property  of  that  sec- 
tion of  the  town  that  year :  Polls,  87  ;  houses,  44  ;  shops,  3  ;  barns, 
43  ;  mills  (taxed  here),  1  -(-  5  acres  of  tillage,  166 J ;  of  English  mow- 
ing, 381 ;  of  fresh  meadow,  5 ;  of  salt  marsh,  53 ;  of  pasture,  306 ; 
of  unimproved  land,  4,279 ;  tons  of  vessels,  400 ;  horses,  48 ;  oxen, 
1 12  ;  neat  cattle,  237  ;  cows,  four  j'oars  old,  191  ;  swine,  77. 

Of  the  improved  land  Thomas  Skolfield,  Senior,  Thomas  Pennell, 
and  Daniel  Given  each  owned  twenty  acres.  Captain  Thomas  Skol- 
field owned  more  unimproved  land  and  pasture  than  any  one  else,  his 
quantity  being  two  hundred  and  seventeen  acres.  Of  the  horses, 
Doctor  Goss,  Thomas  Pennell,  Thomas  Skolfield,  and  Benjamin  Chase 
each  owned  two.  Of  oxen,  Robert  Spear,  Thomas  Pennell,  Samuel 
Hewey,  John  Crips,  Benjamin  Chase,  Lewis  Simpson,  Joseph  Melcher, 
and  Vincent  Woodside,  Senior,  each  owned  four.  Robert  S[>ear  also 
owned  fourteen  neat  cattle,  eight  cows,  and  five  swine.  Thomas  Pen- 
nell also  owned  eight  cows. 

The  subsequent  valuations  of  the  town  were  as  follows :  — 

Year.  Valuation.                                 Tolls  taxed. 

1810  ....  $325,280 480 

1820  ....  403,793 510 

1841  ....  815,178 730 

1850  ....  1,107,822 

1860  ....  1,421,091 766 

1870  ....  1,834,039 916 

The  most  prosperous  period  in  the  historj'  of  the  town,  unless  the 
present  ma}'  be  called  so,  was  undoubtedly  between  1820  and  1850. 

In  1820  there  were  more  than  twenty  stores,  well  filled  with  goods, 
and  numerous  mechanic  shops  of  different  kinds.  There  were  one 
hundred  and  twent3'-five  houses  in  the  village,  besides  five  hotels  and 
five  places  of  public  worship. ^ 

The  eastern  part  of  the  town.  New  Meadows,  was  at  that  time 
gaining  rapidly  in  commerce  and  fisheries.  For  the  three  years 
between  1820  and  1824,  the  number  of  buildings  erected  in  the  village 
was  sixty-four.     Probably  this  was  as  large  a  number,  in  [)roj>ortion 


1  Putnam,  op.  cit. 


602        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

to  the  population,  as  has  ever  been  erected  here  within  that  space  of 
time.  Of  tliis  number,  twentj-three  were  handsome  dwellings  and 
seven  were  stores.     The  remainder  were  mechanic  shops,  etc. 

In  1S36,  Brunswick  Village  contained  the  colleges,  the  cotton  and 
woollen  factories,  nearly  four  hundred  dwellings,  forty  stores,  three 
printing-offices,  two  banks,  two  hotels,  one  iron  foundry,  two  machine- 
shops,  two  flour-mills,  and  twenty  saw-mills.  Seven  stages  arrived 
and  departed  dailj',  and  often  three  or  four  extra  ones.  Union  Street 
contained  about  a  dozen  houses ;  O'Brien  Street,  three  or  four ;  and 
Pleasant  Street  was  filled  nearly  to  Powder-IIouse  Ilill.^ 


»  Pioneer  and  Key,  183U. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSHAM.  608 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

COMMERCIAL   HISTORY   OF  TOPSHAM. 

An  account  of  the  dams  built  across  the  river  between  Brunswick 
and  Topsham  has  been  given  in  the  preceding  chapter,  but  to  that 
account  it  may  be  added  that  there  is  good  reason  for  believing  that 
what  is  called  the  long,  or  lower  dam  extended  originall}'  from  Shad 
Island  to  the  small  island  just  west  of  where  it  now  ends,  at  the  head 
of  ''  the  drain  "  on  the  Topsham  side.  The  mills  were  built  ftom  the 
small  island  mentioned  to  the  main  island  in  Topsham,  and  the  water 
came  around  the  island,  passing  through  the  gate  and  under  the  mill. 

In  1807  a  wooden  sluice  from  the  mill  on  the  upper  dam,  across  the 
island  to  the  river,  below  the  Granny-Hole  Mill,  was  constructed  by 
Mr  James  Rogers,  of  Phipsburg  (father  of  the  late  Rufus  Rogers) , 
and  Ezra  Smith  (father  of  St.  John  Smith,  of  Portland).  At  the 
'I'opsham  end  of  what  is  now  the  factory  dam,  the  ledge  was  blasted 
to  a  depth  of  about  ten  feet,  through  which  the  sluice  passed  ;  thence 
it  went  along  on  the  ledge  just  south  of  the  Rogers  house ;  thence 
across  the  little  cove  at  the  foot  of  Rogers's  hill ;  thence  across  Jesse 
Wilson's  garden  and  the  sand-bed,  to  the  island,  where  it  passed  under 
the  road  about  midway  between  the  short  bridge  and  where  the  black- 
smith's shop  now  stands,  and  thence  to  the  river  below.  Ezra  Smith, 
Cornelius  Thompson,  and  others  were  incori)orated  on  June  20  of 
this  year,  with  all  the  necessary  powers  for  constructing  and  using 
this  sluice,  under  the  name  of  ''  The  Proprietors  of  the  Topsham 
Sluiceway."^  This  sluice  was  destroyed  bj'  a  freshet  in  1814,  but 
though  it  did  not  long  serve  for  its  intended  purpose,  the  building  of 
it  proved  of  great  value  as  the  means  of  inciting  to  the  stud}'  of  an- 
other science  the  author  of  the  first  American  work  on  mineralog}-.^ 

In  1871  a  substantial  stone  fishway  was  made  at  the  factor}-  dam. 
To  construct  it  the  ledge  on  the  northwest  end  of  the  dam  was  cut 
through.     The   fishway  is   on  the  Topsham  side  of  the  dam,  at  the 


*  }fcuttachuttetts  Special  Acts.  1K07. 

2  Vide  Maine  IIi4toriail  Collection,  Vol.  7,  Wood's  Kulor/y  on  Cleaveland. 


604        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  BARP8WELL. 

lower  side  of  the  point.  The  height  of  the  fall  at  this  place  is  eigh- 
teen feet.  A  year  or  two  later  a  wooden  fishwa}'  was  put  in  on  the 
lower  dam  next  to  Shad  Island.  These  were  not,  however,  the  earliest 
fish  ways,  for  as  early  as  1789  the  fish-wardens  were  instructed  by  the 
town  of  Topsham  to  see  that  the  dams  were  opened  so  that  fish 
could  pass.i 

SAW-MILLS. 

From  an  entry  made  in  the  records  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  it 
would  appear  that  the  first  mill  in  Topsham  was  erect^Ml  as  early  as 
the  year  171G.  On  September  10  of  that  year  the  proprietors  desired 
Captain  Peter  Nowell  to  build  a  small  house  near  their  mill  at  Cat- 
hance  FaHs^  to  clear  sufficient  ground  for  depositing  logs  and  boards, 
to  get  logs  cut,  and  to  put  the  mill  in  the  best  condition.  He  was 
also  desired  to  look  out  the  two  most  advantageous  places  for  building 
saw-mills,  and  to  prepare  '••  running  Gear  for  one  Mill  with  two  Saws 
against  the  Spring."  On  November  28,  Mr.  Samuel  Came  offered  to 
build  the  running  gear  for  a  mill  for  two  saws  for  £27,  the  mill  itself  for 
£80,  and  the  dam,  *'  at  such  a  Fall  as  Cathance  is  described  to  Ije," 
for  £30  ;  and  his  oflEer  was,  in  part  at  least,  accepted. 

On  October  14,  1717,  the  proprietors  agreed  to  let  the  Cathance 
Mill  to  Lieutenant  Heath  for  three  years.  He  was  to  run  it  and  keep 
it  in  repair,  and  thej-  were  to  have  one-fourth  part  of  the  boai*ds,  plank, 
joists,  and  other  lumber  cut  at  the  mill.  It  was  also  a  pait  of  the 
contract  that  no  boards  should  be  sold  to  persons  outside  of  the  pro- 
prietoi*s'  territory  until  all  the  settlers  in  it  were  supplied.^  It  would 
seem,  however,  that  Lieutenant  Heath  either  declined  the  contract  or 
forfeited  his  right,  for  on  November  11,  1710,  this  mill  was  sold  to 
Messrs.  Minot  &  Winthrop,  in  equal  halves,  for  £90.  The  [)roprie- 
tors  also  voted  at  this  time  '*  that  the  two  branches ^  of  the  western 
stream  of  Cathance  River  be  assigned  to  Messrs.  Wentworth  &  Nuyes, 
they  proposing  to  build  thereon,"  and  that  1,000  acres  of  land  should 
be  laid  out  to  each  raill.^ 

Nothing  further  is  found  in  regard  to  the  mills  upon  the  Cathance 
until  1750.  This  year  Samuel  Winchell  settled  upon  that  river,  and 
erected  saw-mills.  He  acquired,  with  Jacob  Katon,  a  joint  title  to 
this  property,  by  virtue  of  a  deed  from  Isaac  Royall,  dated  November 
ir>,  1750.  This  deeil  conveyed  five  hundred  acres,  an<l  all  of  RovalFs 
right  in  the  stream.  Winchell  seems  to  have  become  one  fourth  i>ro- 
prictor  of  the  Cathance  Mill  right,  embracing  1,100  acres.'* 

*  Toicn  Records,  1789.  '^Pejepscot  Records.  *7h  Hmrdoinhanu 

*  Pitjepscot  Records.  *  Winchell  Uenealoffy. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  T0P8HAM,  605 

On  December  28,  1757,  Samuel  Winehell  8old  to  Adam  Hunter  one 
hundred  and  twenty-five  acres  of  land,  one  eighth  of  a  double  saw- 
mill, and  a  stream  caUed  the  western  branch  of  Cathance  Kiver.^ 

James  Hunter  is  a  grantee  in  a  deed  from  Stephen  Gatchell,  of 
Topsham,  dated  July  27,  1759,  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  acres 
of  upland  in  the  mill-right  on  the  Cathance,  and  one  fourth  of  the 
uppermost  saw-milL 

On  June  15,  1761,  Adam  Hunter,  Samuel  Winehell,  James  Hunter, 
Samuel  Staples,  Joseph  Graves,  Samuel  Graves,  John  Fulton,  and 
John  Fatten  purchased  the  Cathance  mill-right,  containing  1,100 
acres,  and  the  stream  called  the  western  branch  of  the  Cathance,  and 
a  double  saw-mill.  Of  this  mill  and  stream  Adam  Hunter  had  one 
eighth ;  Samuel  Winehell,  one  fourth ;  James  Hunter,  one  eighth ; 
Samuel  Staples,  one  eighth ;  Joseph  Graves,  one  eighth ;  Samuel 
Graves,  one  eighth ;  John  Fulton,  one  sixteenth ;  and  John  Patten, 
one  sixteenth  '^ 

On  January  24,  1764,  Samuel  Winehell  gave  a  deed  to  William 
Thorne  and  Robert  Clark  of  one  fourth  of  a  saw-mill  and  stream, 
'*  being  the  uppermost  mills  on  Cathance,"  and  also  one  fourth  of  a 
mill-right  of  thirt}'  acres. 

On  February  13,  1765,  Winehell  sold  to  James  and  Robert  Fulton 
'*  one  sixteenth  of  y*  double  saw  and  stream  on  y*  lower  falls  at 
Cathance."  3  Qf  these  two  mills  one  was  on  the  lower  falls,  where 
the  mill  is  now,  and  the  other  upon  the  upper  falls. 

The  first  mills  in  Topsham  upon  the  Androscoggin  River  were 
erected  prior  to  1772.  Merriirs  map  of  Brunswick,  of  the  above  date, 
includes  the  river  and  shows  one  mill  at  the  Topsham  end  of  both  the 
upper  and  middle  dam,  and  one  on  the  Granny-Hole  Stream.  The 
latter  was  the  first  one  erected.  It  was  built  some  time  between  175'J'* 
and  1 70r>.^  It  was  built  by  a  Mr.  Hodge,  and  the  privilege  is  called 
the  •••  H<Klge  Mill  privilege"  to  this  daj'.  The  stream  is  that  which 
flowed  through  the  natural  drain  already  mentioned  This  mill  stoo<l 
until  it  rotted  down.  It  was  rebuilt  about  1789,  but  was  burned  in 
1796  and  rebuilt  the  next  year.  In  1807  it  was  carried  off  by  a 
freshet.  A  new  one  was  built  in  the  same  place  the  next  year,  but 
was  carried  awaj*  in  like  manner  in  1814. 

The  next  mill  was  built  on  the  middle  dam  about  1770.  It  was 
called  the  "  Patten  Mill,"  and  was  owned  b\*  Captain  Actor  Patten, 

• 

1  Winehell  Genealogy.  *  Lincoln  County  Register  of  Deeih^  1,  p.  90. 

*  Winehell  Oeneaiogy,  *  F^epacot  Papers^  Merrill's  Statement, 

iJbid.,  Haley's  Statement 


606        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Pelatiah  and  John  Hale^*,  and  at  one  time,  in  part,  by  Nathaniel 
Quint.  It  filled  up  the  space  between  the  mainland  where  the  stone 
fish  way  now  is  and  the  island  or  rock  opposite,  and  the  head  gate 
was  where  the  present  dam  is.  The  mill  was  carried  away  in  1814  by 
a  freshet,  but  was  rebuilt  about  1818,  and  was  in  existence  as  late  as 
1829. 

The  Rogers  Mill  on  the  upper  dam  was  built  about  1 770  and  had  at 
first  only  a  wing  dam.^  This  mill  was  carried  away  b}'  a  freshet  in 
1843,  unless  it  had  been  previoush'  carried  away  and  rebuilt,  but  was 
rebuilt  immediately.     The  new  mill  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1850. 

The  mills  near  the  toll-house  were  first  built  in  the  summer  of 
1784,^  bA'  Brigadier  Thompson  and  others.  They  wore  finished  with 
four  saws  under  one  roof.  They  were  carried  away  by  a  freshet  the 
same  year,  but  were  rebuilt  the  next  year  under  two  roofs,  from  which 
they  acquired  the  name  of  ''The  Double"  or  "Great"  Mills,  which 
name  the}'  alwa3's  retained. 

The  changes  that  have  occurred  in  mill  property  have  been  too 
numerous  to  be  given  in  full,  and  therefore  onl}^  such  will  be  men- 
tioned as  have  happened  to  come  to  hand. 

In  1798,  Samuel  Thompson  sold  to  Benjamin  Jones  Porter  and 
William  King  his  share,  or  one-fourth  part,  of  the  Great  Saw-Mill  for 
$00(5.66.3 

About  1800,  P^lijah  Hall  and  Cornelius  Hall,  of  Bninswick,  owned 
or  else  leased  the  Great  Mill. 

In  1804,  Jairus  Fuller  sold  to  Gideon  and  Nathaniel  Walker,  for 
three  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  one-fourth  part  of  one  saw  in   the 
Great  Mills.     The  owners  of  the  rest  of  the  saw  privilege  were  William 
King  and  Thomas  Thompsou.** 
*  'Ihompson  sold  his  part  to  Roger  Merrill  in  1808. 

Besides  the  mills  alread}'  mentioned  there  was,  at  a  later  date,  on 
the  Granny-Hole  Stream,  about  on  the  site  of  the  present  flour- 
mill,  one  called  the  new  Hodge  Mill.  Next  south  of  where  the  flour- 
mill  stands  was  one  called  the  Granny-Hole  Mill,  and  next  below 
that  was  the  "  Embargo  "  Mill,  so  called  from  its  being  built  while  the 
Embargo  laws  were  in  force. 

In  1791,  Humphrey  Purinton  came  to  town,  and  engaged  almost 
exclusively  in  the  lumber  business,  which  he  pursued  until  a  few  years 
before  his  death,  in  1840. 

In  1817,  the  Great  Mills  were  owned  or  occupied  by  Haskell  & 

*  P^epacot  Papers,  Haley* e  Statement,  2  Pejepscot  Papers.       « Ibid,        *  Ibid, 


C03(MERCIAL  HI8T0RT  OF  TOPSHAM,  607 

Bowman,  Samuel,  Enoch,  Jabez,  and  Nahum  Perkins,  and  John  and 
William  Barron.  Most  of  these  gentlemen  continued  in  the  business 
for  many  years.  This  same  year  Hugh  Wilson  and  Major  WMlliam 
Frost  owned  the  Grannj'-Hole  Mill,  and  James  Rogers  owned  the 
Rogers  Mill,  on  the  upper  dam.  In  the  fall  of  this  same  year, 
David  Scribner  engaged  in  the  business  and  continued  in  it,  in 
Topsham,  until  1838.  James  Haley  and  John  Wentworth  were  also 
engaged  in  the  business  in  1817. 

About  1837,  Nathaniel  Green  and  others  built  and  occupied  a  small 
saw-mill  on  tlie  Grannv-Hole  Stream,  near  his  residence. 

About  1845,  Charles  P2.  White  sawed  shingles  and  did  a  large  busi- 
ness in  the  mill  previously  occupied  by  William  Whittcn  as  a  carding- 
mill. 

Others  who  were  prominent  in  the  business  at  different  periods 
within  this  century  were  Henry  and  Stephen  Jewell,  Gardiner  and 
Nathaniel  Green,  Alfred  and  Sanford  Perkins,  Alfred  White,  and 
Rufus  Rogers. 

The  only  saw-mill  now  in  operation  is  that  of  W.  B.  Purinton  and 

D.  A.  Ilall. 

Valentine  G.  and  Eben  Colb}'  commenced  business  near  the 
Androscoggin  Bridge,  in  Topsham,  in  Januar}',  1849,  for  the  manu- 
facture of  sash,  doora,  and  blinds,  under  the  firm  name  of  V.  G.  & 

E.  Colb}*.  'ihis  firm  continued  in  business  until  18r)(),  when  the 
senior  partner  sold  out  to  Sampson  Colb}',  and  the  business  was  con- 
tinued by  S.  &  E.  Colby  until  Ma3'27,  1859,  at  which  time  tliey  moved 
to  Brunswick.  The  building  in  which  their  business  was  carried  on 
was  afterwards  moved  across  the  street,  and  is  now  used  as  the  machine 
and  repair  shop  of  tlie  paper-mill. 

GRIST  AND  FLOUR  MILLS. 

According  to  traditionary  accounts,  there  was  a  grist-mill  on  the 
Topsham  end  of  the  lower  dam,  previous  to  the  erection  of  the  Great 
MiUs. 

There  was  one  on  the  Granny-Hole  Stream  between  1802*  and 
1808,2  the  machinery'  of  which  was  in  the  Grann\'-IIole  Mill.  It  was 
owned  by  Colonel  Abel  Merrill,  Pelatiah  lialc}',  and  Joseph  Haley. 
This  portion  of  the  mill  was  used  as  a  grist-mill  until  about  1854. 
Mr.  Daniel  Hall  was  the  miller  both  before  and  for  many  j'ears  subse- 
quent to  1844. 

1  Reminiscences  of  James  M'ilson  and  of  Mrs.  Xathanit'l  Greene. 

2  PtQcpscot  Papers, 


608        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABPSWELU 

111  I806,  Francis  T.  Purinton  built  tlie  Topsham  iloiu'-mill.  It  was 
afterward  owned  by  Woodbur}'  B.  Purinton  and  Isaac  P.  Tebbetts, 
and  then  by  Woodbury  B.  Purinton  alone.  Mr.  Jason  Ripley,  of 
Brunswick,  was  the  contractor  for  the  work,  which  cost  over  $10,000. 
This  mill  is  thirty-eight  by  fort3'-five  feet,  and  is  equal  to  three  stories 
in  heights,  with  an  attic  and  basement.  In  1874  this  mill  passed  into 
the  hands  of  Purinton,  Beaumont,  &  Co.  Its  capacit}'  is  sufficient  for 
the  manufacture  of  from  5,000  to  6,000  barrels  of  flour  and  15,000 
bushels  of  corn  jxjr  3'ear.  It  is  well  equipped  with  the  necessary 
niachiner}',  of  the  bestqualit}',  for  both  merchant  and  custom  grinding. 

WOOLLEN-MILLS. 

In  1802,  and  probably*  earlier,  Joseph  Haley  had  a  fulling-mill  in 
the  basement  of  the  Granny-Hole  Mill.  After  a  while  he  removed 
to  the  Patten  Mill,  on  the  middle  dam,  and  the  Granny-Hole  Fulling- 
Mill  was  then  occupied  for  some  years  b}'  John  and  Isaac  Brown. 
Mr.  Hale}'  continued  in  the  business  at  the  Patten  Mill  until  1818, 
when  he  was  succeeded  b}'  his  son  Abner,  who  carried  it  on  until  1825 
or  1826.  Mr.  William  Whitten  established,  in  1828,  a  wool-iraniing 
mill  on  the  Granny-Hole  Stream,  near  its  outlet,  and  ver}'  near  the 
residence  of  the  late  Nathaniel  Greene,  Esquire.  Here  he  continued 
until  1841,  when  he  removed  his  business  to  Brunswick. 

TOPSHAM  PAPER-MILL. 

■ 

This  mill  was  enacted  in  the  latter  part  of  1868,  on  the  proi)erty 
and  under  the  superintendence  of  Saiiford  A.  Perkins,  for  the  Tops- 
ham  Paper  Company,  a  corix>ration  of  which  Samuel  R.  Jackson  was 
the  president.  This  mill  is  from  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  to  two 
hundred  and  lifty  feet  long,  and  sixty-five  feet  wide.  The  main  build- 
ing is  three  stories  high,  with  an  extension  two  stories  high. 

This  company  faileil,  and  the  property  was  purchased  at  auction  by 
W.  H.  iS:  A.  \V.  Parsons,  September  16,  1874,  for  the  sum  of  $80,000. 

An  Act  was  passed  by  the  legislature  of  Maine,  Februarj'  4,  1875, 
incorporating  the  Bowdoin  Pai)er  Manufacturing  Company,  with  a 
capital  not  to  exceed  8150,000.  This  company  was  oi'ganized  on  the 
nineteenth  of  tiie  same  month,  and  on  the  tenth  of  March  the  perma- 
nent otHcei's  were  chosen.  These  were  Adna  T.  Denison,  treasurer, 
and  F.  C.  Whitehouse,  clerk. 

The  mill  contained  at  that  time  one  Fourdrinier  machine,  four  roll 
enghies.  one  patent  Jordan  (?ngine,  one  rotaiT,  and  two  tub  bleachers, 
and  other  nuichinerv  necessary  for  a  i)roduction  of  two  and  one  half 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORT  OF  T0P8HAM.  609 

tons  of  paper  per  day.  There  has  been  added  since  another  fUll  set 
of  machinery,  so  that  the  mill  now  contains  two  Fourdrinier  machines 
(eighty-eight  and  seventy-four  respectively),  nine  roll  engines,  two 
patent  engines,  —  one  Jordan  and  one  Kingsland,  — two  rotary  and  two 
tub  bleachers,  with  other  machinery  necessary  for  a  production  of  five 
tons  of  paper  daily,  which  the  mill  is  now  producing.  Also  the  pres- 
ent company  have  fitted  a  machine-shop,  put  in  wood  and  iron  working 
machinery  necessar}'  for  the  mill  repairs,  and  for  the  manufacture  of 
an}-  new  machinery  needed  in  the  business.  The  company  at  present 
employs  fortj-five  males  and  thirty  females.  They  manufacture  book 
and  wood  newspaper.  The  stock  of  the  company  is  owned  by  parties 
in  New  York  City  and  Mechanic  Falls,  Maine. 

OTHER  MANUFACTORIES. 

In  addition  to  the  foregoing  mills  there  have  been  from  time  to  time, 
or  now  are,  manufactories  of  various  kinds,  which  cannot  well  be  clas- 
sified and  will,  therefore,  be  mentioned  alphabeticall}*,  as  in  the  pre- 
ceding chapter. 

Brick-Yards. — The  manufacture  of  bricks  was  carried  on  from 
about  the  year  1798,  by  Mr.  David  Flagg,  on  Summer  Street,  near 
Main  Street,  until  1847,  when  he  was  succeeded  b}'  his  son  C^'rus, 
who  still  continues  the  business  at  the  same  place.  In  some  years 
400,000  bricks  have  been  made  at  this  yard.  About  18G5,  Thomp- 
son &  BlondcU  started  a  yard  for  brick  and  tile  at  tlie  northern  end  of 
Pleasant  Street.  The  business  soon  gave  out,  however,  owing  to 
deficiency  and  bad  quality  of  the  clay. 

Derrick  Manufactory. — In  1872  the  Ilowland  Brothers  estab- 
lished a  shop  for  the  manufacture  of  the  Rowland  Patent  Car  Derrick, 
which  has  met  with  good  success. 

Feldspar  Mill. — In  18G9  The  Trenton  Flint  and  Spar  Company, 
of  Trenton,  New  Jersey',  purchased  the  property  where  their  mill  now 
stands,  and  at  the  same  time  leased  their  quarries,  then  unopened. 
Work  was  soon  after  commenced  and  the  quarries  were  operated.  In 
1872  a  mill  was  built  for  grinding  the  feldspar.  The  ground  feldspar 
is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  crockery-  by  the  various  potteries  at 
Trenton,  New  Jersey,  to  which  place  it  is  shipped.  About  a  dozen 
men  are  employed  in  operating  the  quarries  and  grinding  the  spar. 
Mr.  George  D.  Willes,  of  Bath,  has  been  the  superintendent  from  the 
commencement  of  operations  until  the  present  time. 

Marble  Works.  —  For  many  years,  up  to  as  late  a  period  as  1844, 
this  business  was  conducted  by  Mr.  Richard  Adams.     In  1845  he  was 

89 


610        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

succeeded  by  his  son,  Francis,  who  carried  it  on  for  a  number  of 
years.  The  greater  part  of  their  business  was  the  manufacture  of 
gravestones. 

Match  Manufactory.  —  Isaac  Brown,  about  1825,  made  matches 
and  shipped  them  to  other  parties  to  be  dipped. 

Nail  Factory.  —  About  1815  or  1816  there  was  a  nail  factory  on 
the  upper  side  of  Winter  Street,  owned  b}-  Ganlner  Green.  The 
brook  furnished  the  water-power.  The  nails  wore  cut  b}^  a  machine, 
but  the  heads  were  made  by  hand.  Two  men  were  employed  to  do 
the  work.  Their  names  were  Ives  and  Leach.  They  are  thought  to 
have  come  from  New  Hampshire.  This  manufactory'  was  run  for  a 
short  time  only.     It  was  very  noisy  in  its  oi>eration.^ 

Pitchfork  Manufactory.  —  In  1845,  James  I).  Simmons  made  and 
sold  pitchforks  in  the  building  formerly  occupied  by  AVilUam  Whitten's 
fdlling-machines.  These  pitchforks  were  considered  exc*ellent  at 
that  time,  though  the}'  would  not  compare  well  with  those  of  the 
present  day. 

Pottery.  — As  early  as  179G,  Eli  Cox  had  a  pottery,  and  David  Flagg 
worked  at  the  business  with  him.  It  was  situated  at  the  foot  of  the 
hill  on  the  south  side  of  Winter  Street.  The  stone  for  grinding  the 
clay  was  at  the  brook  near  the  road.  A  bridge  crossed  the  brook  at 
that  place.  In  1835  or  thereabouts,  a  Mr.  Barker  had  a  pottery 
where  Mallett's  slaughter-house  was  at  a  later  date. 

Shingle  Manufactory. — About  1809  a  Mr.  Kelsey  invented  a 
machine  for  cutting  or  shaving  (not  saivhiy)  shingl(»s.  His  machine 
was  in  the  building  at  the  end  of  the  Graiiny-Hole  Stream,  which 
was  at  a  later  period  occupied  by  William  W bitten  and  Aaron  Hink- 
ley.  No  description  of  this  machine  has  been  obtained,  but  it  is 
remembered  that  a  block  of  wood  put  into  it  was  quickly  cut  into 
shingles.  The  machine  was  patented,  and  the  mill  bore  the  sign 
"  Kelsey's  Patent  Shingle  Machine."  It  is  said,  however,  that  Kelsey 
failed  and  the  machine  was  run  only  a  short  time.  There  have  been 
numerous  shingle-machines  in  operation  at  a  later  date,  but  they 
hardly'  require  particular  notice  in  these  pages. 

Tanneries.  —  About  the  year  1800,  perhaps  earlier,  James  Puriog- 
ton  had  a  tau-^'ard  and  a  grist-mill  on  the  brook  that  crosses  the  road 
just  below  the  lower  railroad  bridge.  In  18-2()  it  was  carried  on  by 
his  son  James,  and  the  same  spot  is  now  occupied  as  a  tannery  by 
his  grandson,  Cyrus  Purington. 

*  Reminiscences  of  Mr.  James  Wilson, 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  T0F8HAM.  611 

From  about  1825  till  1830,  or  later,  Nahum  Perkins  kept  a  tannery 
and  had  a  mill  for  grinding  bark  for  tanners'  use,  at  the  gully  on  Win- 
ter Street.  He  sold  out  to  Daniel  Dennett.  It  is  possible  that  some 
one  preceded  Mr.  Perkins  at  that  place. 

Tobacco  Maxufactort.  —  l^vious  to  1815,  Samuel  Veazie  owned 
a  tobacco  manufactory  on  the  north  side  of  Winter  Street,  at  the  foot 
of  the  hill.     How  long  the  business  was  carried  on  is  not  known. 

TRADES. 

In  giving  an  account  of  the  various  trades  that  have  from  time  to 
time  been  carried  on  in  Topsham  and  Ilarpswell,  the  same  arrange- 
ment is  used  as  in  the  last  chapter.  So  far  as  practicable,  the  list  is 
given  in  an  alphabetical  order,  and  first  upon  the  list  come 

Bakers.  — The  only  bakerj'  known  to  have  been  kept  in  this  town 
was  b}'  Card  &  Gould,  about  1800,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Winter 
Streets,  where  Goud's  store  is  now  situated. 

Blacksmiths. — With  the  exception  of  farming,  lumbering,  and  trad- 
ing, blacksmithing  was  the  earliest  business  carried  on  in  the  town. 
Mr.  John  Patten,  who  came  here  about  1750,  was  a  farmer,  but  had 
the  trade  of  a  blacksmith,  and  had  a  shop  on  his  farm,  where  he 
employed  a  portion  of  his  time,  and  i)erformed  the  blacksmith  work  of 
the  vicinity.  In  1802  there  was  a  smith's  shop  about  where  Mr.  Lar- 
rabee's  house  now  stands  ;  also  one  kept  by  Francis  Tucker,  just  south 
of  what  is  now  known  as  the  CofBn  house. 

Sometime  before  1812,  Ezekiel  Hinkley  began  working  at  this  trade 
in  Topsham,  and  continued  in  it  until  about  1817,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded b^'  his  brother,  Aaron  Hinkley,  who  carried  it  on  till  after  1840. 
In  1828  and  subsequently  he  occupied  a  portion  of  William  Whitten's 
fulling-mill  at  the  outlet  of  the  Granny-Hole  Stream,  and  had  a  trip- 
hammer^  the  only  one,  it  is  thought,  ever  used  in  this  vicinity. 

William  Ellis  carried  on  the  blacksmithing  business  from  1822  to 
1836,  in  a  building  which  stood  on  the  east  side  of  the  road  on  the 
island,  not  far  south  of  the  Granny-Hole  Bridge. 

in  1836,  Messrs.  James  Maxwell  and  Samuel  Jameson  commence<l 
the  business  and  carried  it  on  until  1873,  when  they  dissolved  i>artner- 
ship,  and  the  business  has  since  been  conducted  by  Mr.  Jameson 
alone. 

Butchers. — The  earliest  persons  known  to  have  made  it  their 
special  business  to  supply  the  citizens  of  this  town  with  meat  were 
Swett  &  Jaquis,  in  1826.  In  1849,  Humphrey  P.  and  William  Mal- 
lett  engaged  in  this  business,  and  continued  in  it  until  1862.     Mr. 


612        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

John  Crowley  has  also  been  engaged  in  the  business  for  a  long  time. 
Since  1862,  Topsham  has  depended  almost  exclnsivel}'  upon  the  mar- 
kets of  Brunswick. 

Cabinet-Makers. — Mr.  Hugh  Wilson,  in  1766,  is  the  earliest  cabi- 
net-maker mentioned.^  In  1802  there  was  a  cabinet-maker's  shop 
where  the  Major  Perkins  house  stands.  It  was  kept  by  Luther  Kim- 
ball. About  1825,  Charles  White  and  Isaac  L.  Cook  went  into  the 
business.     How  long  they  pursued  this  occupation  is  not  known. 

Carkiage-Makers.  —  B.  T.  Bicknell,  about  1837,  commenced  the 
manufacture  of  carriages.     He  continued  in  it  here  only  a  few  3'ear8. 

Hatters.  —  The  manufacture  and  sale  of  hats  and  caps  was  carried 
on  in  this  town  by  John  Coombs,  from  about  1812  to  1820.  He  was 
quite  celebrated  in  his  business.  He  lived  in  the  old  red  house  in  the 
Walker  lot,  and  had  his  shop  just  below.  At  the  time  of  the  rush  of 
emigrants  to  Ohio,  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Cincinnati,  where  he 
became  a  rich  and  influential  citizen.  Subsequently  Jesse  Richards 
was  engaged  in  this  business.  The  exact  time  Richards  was  here  is 
not  known,  but  it  was  probably  between  1820  and  1830.  He  carried 
on  business  in  the  same  place  that  Coombs  did.  Larrabee  &  Emery 
also  had,  at  one  time,  a  hatters  store  where  Robert  P.  Whitne}^  now 
keeps. 

Harness-Makers  and  Saddlers.  —  In  1850,  C.  A.  Berry  had  a  har- 
ness-maker's and  saddler's  shop  in  Topsham. 

Joiners.  —  In  1802,  Samuel  Towns  had  a  joiner's  shop  in  the  j'ard 
now  owned  bj'  Captain  William  S.  Skolfield.  Noah  Tobc}'  also  had  a 
shop  in  town  at  this  time.  Since  tlien  the  number  of  caqwnters  and 
joiners  has  been  too  large  to  admit  of  their  enumeration  here. 

Shoemakers.  —  In  1802,  there  was  a  shoemaker's  shop  a  few  feet 
nortli  of  the  residence  of  Mr  Ephraim  Griffin,  and  another  about 
where  the  office  of  Mr.  W.  B.  Vurinton  is  now.  The  names  of  the 
proprietors  are  not  known. 

About  1820,  Andrew  Dennison,  who  had  made  boots  and  shoes  for 
some  years  previously,  was  succeedeil  by  Samuel  Knight,  who  con- 
tinued in  the  business  until  about  1838.  At  a  later  date  Parker  Nash 
carried  on  this  business. 

Tailors.  —  The  first  tailor  in  Topsham  to  whom  an}*  reference  has 
been  found  was  Thomas  Wilson,  in  1775  and  previoush'.  In  1802  a 
tailor  by  the  name  of  Carr  occupied  a  small  house  which  stood  just  in 
front  of  where  Deacon  David  Soribner  now  resides.     Other  tailors 


Pejepscot  Papers. 


COMMERCIAL  BISTORT  OF  TOPanAM. 


613 


known  to  have  carried  on  business  id  this  town  were  John  Chambers, 
1828;  John  Brown,  1840;  Warren  Hathora,  1844;  William  Heath, 
1845  ;  Frank  T.  Litlledeld,  1850. 

Tin  Ssopa  akd  Stove  Masdfactories.  — Mr.  H.  M.  Prcscott  had  a 
tin  shop  here  as  early  ns  1828,  in  a  store  which  stood  about  where  Mr. 
W.  B.  Purlnton's  office  is  now.  In  !83C,  William  H.  Winslow  had  a 
tin  shop  and  manufactured  air-tight  stoves  for  his  customers.  In  1844, 
H.  P.  Hubbard  Jb  Co.  carried  on  the  same  busincBs  for  several  years. 

Weioeiers  op  Hat,  etc.  —  Nathaniel  Walker  is  supposed  to  have 
owned  the  first  hay-acnies  in  town.  They  were  of  iieculinr,  though 
simple  constniction,  aa  the  accompanying  engraving  shows. 


The  first  patent  scales  (Fairbanks)  were  bought  about  1839  by 
Gardner  Greene,  and  were  placed  on  the  lot  whore  the  engine-houtie 
now  stands.  Isaac  F.  Tebbetts  purchased  the  next  scales,  which 
were  on  Winter  Street. 


TRADERS. 

There  have  never  been  in  Topsham  any  stores  devoted  to  a  special 
branch  of  trade,  unless  the  two  first. mentioned  should  bo  deemed 
such,  but  they  have  all  been  of  the  variety  order,  keeping  a  general 
assortment  of  goods. 

At  the  May  term  in  1761,  William  Wilson  and  Philip  Iliggins,  both 
of  Topsham,  were  licensed  by  the  Court  of  General  Sessions  for 


614        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Lincoln  Count}'  to  sell  tea  and  coffee.     In  1764,  William  Reed,  of 
Topsham,  was  licensed  by  the  same  court  to  sell  tea 

Brigadier  Thompson  kept  store  near  the  site  of  the  present  depot, 
as  early  as  1790.  It  is  probable  that  there  were  no  regular  stores  in 
Topsham  earlier  than  that  date,  but  that  the  settlers  relied  on  Bruns- 
wick for  their  supplies. 

In  1792,  Joseph  Ilalej'  was  licensed  as  a  retailer.  Benjamin  J. 
Porter  and  AVilliam  King,  under  the  name  of  Porter  &  King,  kept 
near  the  southwest  corner  of  Winter  and  Main  Streets,  from  1792 
until  1802,  or  a  few  years  later. 

Between  1794  and  1799,  P^zra  Smith,  father  of  St.  John  Smith,  of 
Portland,  was  in  business  here  as  a  store-keeper,  but  not  meeting  with 
much  success,  moved  away  about  1801.  Isaac  Johnson  was  also 
licensed  as  a  retailer  in  1792. 

About  1798,  Robert  Labish  and  John  Blanchard  were  engaged  in 
trade  here.  Blanchard*s  store  was  on  Green  Street,  about  opposite 
Thompson  Street.  According  to  tlie  statements  of  some  of  the  aged 
l>eople  now  living,  these  two  were  the  first  stores  in  town. 

In  1801,  P^zekiel  Winan,  David  Ilolden,  Ezra  Smith,  James  Cush- 
man,  James  Stone,  John  Morse,  and  Porter  &  King  were  all  licensed 
as  retailers. 

In  1802,  James  Stone,  father  of  tlie  late  Colonel  Alfred  J.  Stone,  of 
Brunswick,  kept  store  in  a  low,  one-story  building,  on  the  spot  where 
Mrs.  Joshua  Haskell  now  lives,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Elm 
Streets.  At  that  time  there  were  woods  back  of  it  Henry  Wilson 
kept  a  store  where  Charles  E.  White  now  does.  James  Cushman 
kept  a  store  next  south  of  White's,  and  Thomas  G.  &  Nathaniel  Sand- 
ford  kept  one  where  Mountford's  shop  now  is,  Thomas  G.  continuing 
in  tra<le  as  late  as  1829. 

Prior  to  1815,  Nathaniel  Quint  was  in  trade.  His  store  was  de- 
stroyed b}'  fire  about  the  date  given  above. 

In  1819,  Bowman  &  Haskell  commenced  to  trade  in  the  small  hou^e 
now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Berry,  opposite  the  blacksmith's  shop  on  the 
Island,  and  continued  for  ten  vears  or  more. 

Between  1819  and  1829,  and  perhaps  both  earlier  and  later,  George 
F.  Richardson  had  a  store  in  town. 

About  1820,  Samuel  and  Nahnm  Perkins  opened  a  general  retail 
store.  After  a  time  Samuel  sold  out  his  interest  to  Nahum,  who  con- 
tinued it  until  182G,  when  his  store  and  stock  were  consumed  by  fire. 
lie  subsequently  went  into  business  again  (Ireen  &  Ilallett  kept 
store  in  1820  in  a  wooden  building  where  the  bank  is  now. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORl  OF  TOPSHAM.  '    615 

From  1820  to  1834,  Jonathan  Baker  kept  store  in  a  Imilding  whicli 
use<i  to  stand  directly  opposite  the  bank.  The  celhir  of  it  still 
remains. 

From  1822  to  1825,  perhaps  longer,  William  Frost  kept  store  in  a 
building  which  stood  about  half-way  between  where  W.  B.  Purin ton's 
office  now  is  and  Summer  Street. 

In  the  spring  of  1825,  John  Tebbetts  moved  to  Topsham,  from 
Lisbon,  and  engaged  in  general  trade,  and  also  in  the  boot  and  shoe 
business.  At  first  he  was  in  partnership  with  Jeremiah  Clougli,  under 
the  title  of  Teblietts  &  Clough,  but  the  partnership  was  dissolved 
November  24,  1828,  and  the  business  was  afU?rward3  continued  by 
Mr.  Tebbetts  alone.  His  stock  of  goods  is  said  to  have  been  large 
and  choice,  and  he  carried  on  a  very  extensive  business  for  the  place 
for  manv  vears  thereafter. 

In  addition  to  those  already  mentioned,  the  following  individuals  and 
firms  were  prominent  in  general  trade  at  or  about  the  dates  given :  — 

In  1822,  Gardner  Greene,  to  1829  or  later;  Nathaniel  Greene,  to 
1840 ;  Ilallett  &  Brown,  Charles  Thompson,  Samuel  Veazie,  to  1829 
or  latter. 

1824.  Samuel  and  George  Dennett,  Frost,  Swett  &  Co. 

1825.  George  and  William  Dennett. 

182G.  Calvin  B.  Robbins  &  Co  ,  William  Dennett,  the  latter  con- 
tinuing in  trade  for  many  years. 

1828.  Jairus  Fuller,  Jr.,  Samuel  R.  Jackson  &  Co.,  Abel  Merrill, 
Jr. 

1829.  Alfred  White,  and  either  alone  or  with  others  to  1857. 

1830.  Green  and  Barron. 
1833.     J.  &  B.  Barron. 

1836.  Obed  Frost,  to  1849  ;  Sandford  A.  Perkins. 

1844.  Frost  &  Whitney,  Isaac  P.  Tebbetts  ;  Tebbetts,  Ilowland,  & 
Co. 

1845.  Clough  &;  Thompson. 

1850.     A.  G.  Poland,  George  S.  Holt. 

1853.     Lewis  P.  Work. 

1855.     Alexander  Ridlej'. 

Some  of  the  above-named  traders  were  doubtless  in  business  some 
years  before  the  dates  given,  and  many  of  them,  after  retiring  for 
a  while  from  active  trade,  recommenced  either  in  partnership  with 
others  or  singly.  At  the  present  time,  however,  the  grenter  number 
are  residents  of  other  towns  or  are  no  longer  amongst  the  living. 


616        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

PRICES. 

The  proximity  to  each  other  of  the  villages  of  Topsham  and 
BiTiDSwick  affords  of  itself  an  assurance  that  the  prices  of  standard 
articles  of  trade  did  not  vary  much  in  the  two  towns. 

The  earl}'  settlers  in  Topshau),  and  perhaps  in  Brunswick  too,  use<} 
to  trade  somewhat  at  Richmond  Fort.  From  an  account-book  of 
Judge  Minot,  of  Brunswick,  who  was  stationed  at  that  fort  in  1 732 
and  subsequently,  the  following  statements  are  taken :  — 

In  1732,  William  Reed,  of  Topsham,  was  chai-ged  with  30  lbs.  pork 
@  la.  Sd. ;  bread,  25. ;  rum,  5«. ;  "phlip,"  1«.  2tL 

From  173G  to  1739  the  following  articles  were  charged  to  Jacob 
Clark,  of  Topsham  :  — 

1736,  Maj'  20,  7^  j'ds.  *'  Ozmb,"  48. ;  rum  to  James,  Is,  Sd. ;  rum, 
la,  Sd.  Jul}'  30,  6  3'ds.  swan  skin,  7s.  Gd. ;  1^  yds.  linen,  Ss.  Apnl 
15,  4  lbs.  shot,  Is.  3d. ;  bread,  4^. ;  thread,  4.9.  August  15,  tobacco, 
la.  Sd. ;  3  galls,  molasses  @  Is.  1739,  4  3'ds.  linen,  7s. ;  a  pr.  bose, 
12a.  6(7. ;  2  prs.  yarn  hose  @  Qs. ;  1  cap,  65.  Gd. ;  indigo.  Is. ;  1  pint 
of  rum.  Is.  id. ;  5  3'ds.  swan  skin  @  lis.  6c2. 

Thomas  Thome,  of  Topsham,  also  had  a  ver3'  similar  account  about 
the  same  time. 

In  1777  the  selectmen,  in  accordance  with  an  Act  of  the  legislature 
of  the  Commonwealth,  "  To  prevent  Monopoly  and  Oppression,"  fixed 
the  price  of  labor  and  of  all  articles  in  general  use. 

The  prices  named  were  so  nearly  like  those  adopted  b3'  the  town  of 
Brunswick  that  their  insertion  here  would  be  8ubstantiall3'  a  repetition 
of  that  list,  and  they  are  therefore  omitted. 

BANK. 

The  onl3'^  bank  ever  in  operation  in  Topsham  was  the  Androscoggin 
Baxk.  It  was  chartere<l  in  1834.  Charles  Thompson  was  the  presi- 
dent and  John  Coburn  the  cashier  for  the  whole  term  of  its  existence. 
Its  charter  expired  in  1854  and  was  not  renewed  The  capital  stock 
of  this  bank  was  $50,000. 

TOWN  VALUATION. 

The  earliest  valuation  of  the  town  of  which  an3'  record  is  to  be 
found  was  made  in  1 752.     It  was  at  this  time  as  follows  :  — 
Polls,  28 ;  property,  £180  7s. 
The  wealthiest  man  in  town  then  was  Lieutenant  Adam  Hunter, 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  TOPSUAM.  617 

whose  real  estate  was  estimated  at  £1  15«.,  and  personal  property  at 
£18  4«.i 

The  total  valuation  for  1758  was,  polls  47;  property-,  £1,052  12«. 
Adam  Ilanter,  then  a  captain,  was  still  the  richest  man,  his  whole 
estate  being  estimated  at  £115.^ 

A  new  State  valuation  was  completed  in  1761,  and  "  Topsham  pre- 
cinct "  was  assessed  but  seventeen  shillings. ^ 

The  following  is  the  valuation  of  the  town  in  the  j'ears  named.  We 
have  been  unable  to  find  the  valuation  for  any  3'ear  between  1771  and 
1841.  In  1771  the  number  of  polls  was  one  hundred  and  six;  per- 
sonal property,  £21  11a.  8d. ;  estates,  £204  lis.  M.  In  1H41 ,  the  val- 
uation of  the  town  was  $428,931.  In  1850  it  was  8581,232.  In 
1860  there  were  three  hundred  and  fortj'-five  polls,  and  the  valuation 
was  8810,623.  In  1870  the  number  of  polls  was  three  hundred  and 
sixty-five,  and  the  valuation  was  8879,051. 

The  assessment  of  the  town  for  county  expenses  was,  in  1764, 

£6  10s. ;  in  1787,  ^18  12«.  6d. ;  in  1807  it  was  8440.89  ;  and  in  1813, 

8245.58. 

POPULATION. 

The  first  regular  census  of  the  town,  known  certainly  to  have  been 
taken  was  in  1765.  At  this  time  there  were  in  Topsham  fiftj'-four 
houses,  fift3'-two  families,  seventj'-eight  males  under  sixteen  years  of 
age,  eighty-five  males  over  that  age,  eighty-five  females  under  and 
seventy-eight  over  sixteen,  and  one  negro,  —  a  total  population  of  three 
hundred  and  twentj'-seven,  exclusive  of  Indians.  The  population 
subsequently  to  the  above  date  has  been  as  follows :  — 

1776 657 

1810 1,271 

1820 1,429 

1830 1,564 

1840  . 1,883 

1850 2,010 

1860 1,605 

1870 1,501 

*  P^epscot  Papers,  ^ Ibid*  •  North* a  History  of  Augustay  p.  71. 


618         UISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

COMMERCIAL   HISTORY   OF   HARPS  WELL. 

The  principal  occupation  of  the  first  settlers  of  Harjjswell  is  said  to 
have  been  cutting  cord-wood  and  shipping  it  to  ]ioston,  Salem,  and 
other  ports,  although  fanning  and  fishing  were  doubtless  carried  on  to 
some  extent.  Baile^-'s  Island,  which  is  now  nearly  barren  of  trees, 
was  at  that  time  densel}'  covered  with  wood.  After  a  while  the  set- 
tlers devoted  themselves  almost  exclusively  to  farming  and  fishing. 

FISnERIES. 

We  have  been  una])le  to  obtain  any  statistics  of  this  business  at  an 
early  date.  At  the  present  time  there  are  caught,  dried,  and  cured 
in  Ilarpswell  about  20,000  quintals  of  fish  annually,  consisting  of 
cod,  hake,  haddock,  pollock,  and  cusk.  Smaller  fish,  such  as  mack- 
erel, porgies,  and  herring,  are  also  caught  in  abundance.  In  the 
month  of  Sei)teruber  the  herring  come  in  very  plenty,  and  it  is  not 
uncommon  to  see,  in  Mackerel  Cove  and  Jaquis'  Harbor,  from 
seventy-five  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  sail  of  vessels.  Large  quantities  . 
of  the  fish  are  taken  to  Portland,  where  they  are  packed  and  shipped 
to  various  parts  of  the  countr}' as  "Portland  Herring."  During  the 
months  of  March,  April,  and  May,  most  of  the  fishermen  are  engaged 
in  the  lobster  fishery.  The  fishing  smacks  are  so  arranged  that  the 
lobsters  are  kept  alive,  and  large  numbers  are  shipped  to  Portland, 
Boston,  and  New  York. 

In  former  years  the  clam  business  was  quite  an  important  branch 
of  the  fisheries,  but  it  is  not  so  now.  About  the  vear  18G3  there  were 
put  up,  and  sold  at  prices  ranging  from  $8.00  to  $14.00  per  barrel, 
not  less  than  2,f)00  barrels.  The  principal  dealers  in  fish  are  S. 
Watson,  A.  T.  Trufant,  and  John  Power,  of  East  Ilarpswell ;  Smul- 
len  &  Prince  and  J.  M.  Johnson,  of  Orr*s  Island;  E.  C.  Simpson 
&  Co.  and  J.  B.  I^nkham,  of  West  Ilarpswell. 

MILLS. 
Owing  to  the  fact  that  Ilarpswell  possesses  no  streams  large  enough 
to  afford  sufficient  water-power,  but  little  attention  has  been  given  to 
manufactures  in  this  town. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  619 

Previous  to  1758  there  was  a  wiDcl-mill  in  the  town  and  a  tide-mill 
oalle<I  Jones's  Mill.^  The  location  of  the  wind-mill  is  not  known.  The 
tide -mill  was  situated  near  the  farm  of  Arthur  Orr,  and  was  at  one 
time  owned  by  him.  It  was  originall}'  built  by  a  family  of  Quakers, 
by  the  name  of  Jones.  Captain  James  Sinnett,  of  Baile^'^s  Island, 
remembers  a  very  old  mill  at  Widgeon  Cove,  which  was  standing  as 
late  as  the  3'ear  1804.  It  was  then  owned,  in  part,  b}'  Silas  Allen  and 
Deacon  James  Wilson. 

About  the  year  1800  there  was  a  wind-mill  near  Charles  Merrj-- 
man'8.  It  was  built  and  owned  by  Major  Paul  Randall.  The  groat 
shaft  for  the  mill  he  hauled  from  Brunswick,  and  it  was  so  heavy  he 
nearly  broke  the  backs  of  his  oxen  drawing  it  over  some  of  the  hills. 
The  mill  did  not  do  much  business  It  was  situated  down  near  the 
shore,  instead  of  upon  the  ridge,  which  would  have  furnished  more 
wind-i)ower.  The  present  saw  and  grist  mill  was  erected  about  the 
year  1850.     It  is  owned  in  shares,  about  twenty  in  number. 

In  185r>,  or  tlieroabouts,  there  were  two  grist-mills  on  Great  Island, 
one  owned  b}-  Stephen  Purinton,  Esquire,  and  the  other  by  a  Mr. 
Ridley. 

SALT-WORKS. 

During  the  Revolution  salt  was  very  scarce.  An  Irishman  on 
Great  Ishmd,  who  understood  how  to  make  salt  from  sea-wat^r,  sug- 
gested the  building  of  salt-works  on  that  island.  A  company  was 
formed,  a  building  erecteil,  and  kettles  and  other  appliances  were  pur- 
cliased.  The  Irishman,  whose  name  was  Millay,  had  charge  of  the 
kettles.  A  yoke  of  oxen  was  employed  to  draw  woo<l  for  the  ovens. 
Sixty  bushels  of  salt  per  week  were  manufactured,  and  it  was  sold  in 
Boston  for  two  dollars  per  bushel. 

TRADES. 

The  population  of  Ilarpswell  is  so  scattered  that  it  has  been  found 
no  eas}'  tiling  to  obtain  an  account  of  the  various  trades  pursued  in 
former  times  or  at  present.  The  following  is  all  that  we  have 
obtained  any  information  about. 

Bakeils.  —  Earl}'  in  the  present  or  late  in  the  last  centur}'  a  Mr. 
Ryan  had  a  bakery  on  Great  Island.  He  moved  to  Brunswick  in  1804 
or  180.0. 

Blacksmiths.  —  Nehemiah  Curtis,  whose  shop  was  one  mile  above 
the  Congrt^gational  Church  on  the  Neck,  was  the  iii'st  blacksmith  in 


*  Memoranda  of  Reverend  Samuel  Eaton,  in  Pfjpjtscot  Papers. 


620         mSTORT  OF  BBUK8WICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

town  of  whom  we  have  any  account.  He  was  succeeded  in  the  busi- 
ness  by  his  son  and  gi^andson,  of  the  same  name.  The  grandson 
kept  the  shop  until  1820.  Somewhat  later  in  the  business  were  Ben- 
jamin Curtis,  whose  shop  was  half  a  mile  northwest  of  the  church, 
and  Barstow  Curtis,  whose  shop  was  where  Abijah  Stover  now  lives. 

Boat-Builders. — David  Doughty  was  the  first  boat-builder  on 
Great  Island.  He  was  engaged  in  this  business  as  late  as  1847.  He 
was  succeeded  in  the  business  by  William  Dought}*.  Since  then  the 
business  has  been  carried  on  by  quite  a  lai^e  number  of  persons. 

Boot  and  Shof.  Makers.  —  James  Merryman,  on  the  Neck,  near 
the  Baptist  Church,  and  William  Orr,  on  Orr's  Island,  were  engaged 
in  the  boot  and  shoe  business  for  some  3'ears.  They  moved  away 
about  1847. 

Brick- Yards. — In  1805  there  was  a  brick-yard  owned  bj'  a  Mr. 
Douglass,  situated  on  the  Neck,  about  three  miles  above  the  Congre- 
gational Church.  It  was  in  operation  only  a  short  time.  There  was 
another  one  carried  on  by  a  Mr.  Reed  in  1812  to  1815,  on  Orr's 
Island. 

Carpenters  and  Joiners. — John  Curtis,  in  1802  to  1804,  and 
Waitstill  Webber,  an  apprentice  of  Curtis's,  in  1804,  worked  at  this 
trade.  Their  shop  was  on  the  Neck,  about  two  miles  above  the  Con- 
gregational Church.     In  1806,  John  Bibber  pursued  this  occupation. 

Gunsmiths.  —  A  man  bj'  the  name  of  Xason  lived  on  Baile}''s 
Island  about  1856,  and  carried  on  the  business  of  a  gunsmith.  His 
shop  was  where  Prince  &  Smullen's  store  is  now. 

Harness  and  Saddle  ^Makers.  —  A  man  hy  the  name  of  Barstow 
carried  on  the  above  business  for  one  3'ear  in  1816  or  1817. 

Masons.  —  The  only  mason  that  we  have  received  anj'  account  of 
was  a  man  by  the  name  of  Ewing.  He  lived  on  Great  Island,  but  at 
what  date  is  not  known  to  us. 

Surveyors.  —  The  onl}'  surve3'ors  of  land  of  whom  we  have  any  ac- 
count were  Paul  and  Benjamin  Randall,  who  lived  about  two  miles 
and  a  half  above  the  Congregational  Church.  Paul  died  about  1874; 
Benjamin,  about  1847. 

Tailors.  —  From  1800  to  1806,  D.  Merritt  carried  on  the  tailoring 
business  in  town.     He  moved  to  Durham. 

Tanners.  —  In  the  early  part  of  the  centur}-,  Thomas  Farr  had  a 
tanner}'  in  Stover's  Cove,  on  the  Neck,  and  Benjamin  Dunning  had 
one  about  three  miles  above  the  Congregational  Church.  In  the  east- 
ern part  of  the  town,  Stephen  Purinton  had  one. 


COMMERCIAL  HISTORY  OF  HARPSWELL.  621 


TRADERS. 

Mr.  James  Booker  kept  store  as  early  as  1752  and  as  late  as  1762. 
About  the  latter  date  Andrew  Dunning  and  Alexander  Wilson  were 
also  in  trade  ;  that  is,  they  were  licensed  retailers,  and  had  a  stock  of 
goods  which  they  disposed  of  to  the  settlers  when  called  upon,  but 
they  probably  did  not  confine  themselves  exclusively  to  that  business. 

Joseph  Cono}'^  came  from  Boston  in  1795  and  opened  a  store,  which 
was  opposite  the  lower  end  of  Orr's  Island.  It  was  aft€rwai*ds  occu- 
pied by  Bnic«  &  Everett,  Silas  II.  Dodge,  and  Jacob  Merr}Tnan. 
Joseph  Eaton  kept  store  near  the  Congregational  Church  until  his 
death,  about  1846.  A  Mr.  Pinkham  once  kept  store  at  the  end  of 
Potts's  Pohit,  but  the  date  is  unknown.  In  1847,  Washington  Gar- 
celon,  post-master,  had  one  near  Paul  Randall's. 

Bailey's  Island.  —  The  old  store  which  once  stood  at  the  head  of  the 
cove,  on  the  outer  end  of  Bailey's  Island,  has  been  occupied  by  the 
following  men  in  succession :  Perry  &  Howard,  of  Brunswick, 
about  1800;  Joseph  Coney,  Major  John  Rowe,  Zachariah  Lambert, 
and  Captain  DaWd  Johnson.  The  store  now  occupied  by  Lubee 
was  formerly  owned  by  Ralph  Sinnett. 

A  ]Mr.  Dana  and  a  Mr.  Twombly  both  kept  store  on  this  island  for 
a  long  time.  The  former  was  at  the  lower  end.  The  date  of  their 
doing  business  is  not  known. 

On-'s  Island.  —  In  the  early  part  of  this  centuiy  Edward  Ingraham 
kept  a  store  on  the  southwest  end  of  the  island,  where  Prince  & 
Smullen's  store  is  now.  He  had  a  brother  in  business  with  him,  wha 
was  probably  Nathaniel.  S.  F.  Merrill  at  one  time  had  a  store  at 
Lowell's  Cove. 

Great  Island.  —  In  the  latter  part  of  the  last,  or  in  the  first  of  the 
present  centurj',  a  Mr.  Ryan  had  a  store  at  Condy's  Harbor. 

Esquire  Snow  kept  a  store  for  man}-  years  at  his  wharf  on  New 
Meadows  River. 

INSURANCE   COMPANY. 

On  February  14,  1855,  Paul  R.  Curtis,  Shubal  Menyman,  Isaac  A. 
Johnson,  Thomas  A.  Estes,  Thomas  U.  Eaton,  Abram  J.  Allen, 
Simeon  Curtis,  L.  II.  Stover,  Pennell  Alexander,  Thomas  Alexander, 
and  Abel  Thompson  were  incorporated  as  the  Harpsw^ell  Mutual 
Fire  Insurance  Company.  The  first  oflBcers  were  Thomas  Alexander, 
president ;  Thomas  U.  Eaton,  secretary ;  Abel  Thompson,  treasurer. 
The  first  Board  of  Directors  were  Stei)hen  Purinton,  James  Orr,  David 


622      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topseam,  and  harpswell. 

Webber,  Aleot  S.  Merryman,  Thomas  U.  Eaton,  Thomas  Alexander, 
and  Henry  Barnes. 

The  losses  of  this  company  have  been  so  little  that  there  has  never 
been  a  necessity'  for  making  any  assessments  upon  the  members.  The 
present  officers  are  Thomas  Alexander,  president ;  William  C.  Eaton, 
secretarj' ;  Shubael  Merrj-man,  treasurer.  The  present  directors  are 
Thomas  Alexander,  PenncU  Alexander,  William  C.  Eaton,  Shubael 
Menyman,  S^-lvester  Stover,  Stephen  Purinton,  and  Samuel  E. 
SmuUen. 

PRICES. 

The  following  charges  and  credits  are  taken  from  various  accounts 
in  James  Booker's  account-book,  and  are  copied  verbatim  : — 

1750  Lawfbl  money 

to  two  pare  of  buckels  5/4  &  one  pare  of  buttons  1/10      .        .  1     10      0 

one  pare  of  Shoes  C/8  &  one  pare  of  Stockens  3/9         .        .  0     lo      6 

two  yards  of  striped  humspun  Cloath  &  a  half        .        .        .  0      6      8 

eight  yards  of  Checkt  hnmspun  Cloath 114 

two  pare  of  mittens  2/8  &  thre  pare  of  buttons  4/10     .        .  0      7      6 

one  Raizcr 014 

one  pare  mens  shoes 060 

one  gallon  Rum 028 

one  Centle  of  flsh 093 

a  Quarter  of  a  thousand  of  pins 0      0      7 

half  a  pound  of  powder    .* 010 

one  Jarr  of  Oyl 094 

one  pare  of  pomps 068 

•    one  pare  plush  Briches 14      0 

six  pound  of  Cotton  Wool 10      8 

thirty  one  Cord  of  wood  (d  forty  shillings       ....  8      5      4 

one  comb Oil 

two  quarts  molases 014 

one  peck  lUe  meal 0      0     11 

one  pound  of  Cofly 014 

one  bushel  Corn 024 

one  hundred  of  nales 0      18 

one  Sithe 0     40      0 

two  pound  of  Chocolat 0160 

three  pound  of  Shugar 0      2      0 

one  load  of  hay 1     17      4 

five  bunches  Shingles 0     10      8 

half  a  dozen  puter  plates 0     13      4 

one  pare  of  silver  buttons 0      3      2 

half  a  bushel  of  beans       .        . 022 

eleven  yards  of  bed  ticking 1     18      2 

half  a  pound  of  peper 0      14 


COMMERCIAL  lUSTORY  OF  HARP8WELL,  623 

1 750  LawAil  money 

one  barril  of  flower 1     11     11 

two  pare  of  woman's  Shoes 0      9      4 

six  pound  &  a  half  of  tobacco 0      2      7 

one  pair  of  bed  blankets 14      0 

four  ounces  of  homspon  thred 0      2      1 

eight  pound  of  Shoot 0      2      8 

Quarter  of  a  yard  of  Cambrick 0      2      4 

Broad  Cloath  &  trimen  for  a  Jacket 1     19      1 

Ten  bizcake  [biscuit?]- 0      0     10 

one  cap 024 

one  thousand  shingles 0    10      8 

one  wheelbarer 094 

TOWN  VALUATION. 

Our  account  of  the  valuation  of  Harpswell  is  very  meagre,  and  down 
to  1840  we  have  no  record  of  anything  except  the  number  of  polls. 
The  following  is  all  we  have  been  enabled  to  obtain :  — 

1773  .... 

1780  .... 

1790  .... 

1800  .... 

1830  .... 

1840  .... 

18r)0  .... 

18C0  .... 

1870  .... 

POPULATION.  • 

In  17Co  there  were  in  Harpswell  fifty- five  houses,  one  hundred  and 
eleven  families,  two  hundred  and  twenty- four  males  under,  and  one 
hundred  and  eighty -eight  a})ove  sixteen  years  of  age,  two  hundred  and 
twenty-four  females  under,  and  one  hundred  and  eightj'-six  females 
above  sixteen,  and  fourteen  negroes.  The  total  population,  exclusive 
of  Indians,  was  eight  hundre<l  and  thirty-six.  Brunsidck  at  this  time 
had  a  population  of  but^t*6  hundred  ai.d  six. 

In  1776,  Harpswell  had  nine  hundred  and  seventy-seven  white 
inhabitants,  while  Brunswick  had  but  eight  hundred  and  8ixt\'-seven.' 

In  1778,  Harpswell  had  twenty-seven  Revolutionary  soldiers,  and 
one  hundred  and  sevent^'-eight  males  over  the  age  of  sixteen.*'' 

1  Ctnaus  of  Massachusetts,  1766  to  1776.      ^Massachusetts  Archives,  Book  185,  p.  301. 


polls  203 

''     175 

'*      214 

'*      262 

*'      247 

*'      289     .     . 

.     .     estates  8250,335 

*'      328     .     . 

.     .         *'          345,544 

''     367     .     . 

.     .         *'          410,506 

"      404     .     . 

.     .         *'          420,968 

624       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

The  following  is  the  population  for  the  yesLTS  in  which  we  have  been 
able  to  find  a  census  of  it :  — 

1810 1,190 

1820 1,253 

1830 1,352 

1840 1,448 

1850 1,535 

18G0 1,603 

1870 1,749 

It  will  be  noticed  from  the  census  of  the  three  towns,  that  while 
Bnmswick  and  Topsham  have  lo>t  in  population  since  1850,  Haq)s- 
well  has  made  a  steady  gain  from  the  very  first,  and  in  no  decade  has 
she  lost  in  population. 


FORTS,  GARRISONS,  CHURCHES,  ETC,  IN  BRUNSWICK.        625 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

FORTS,    GARRISONS,    CHURCHES,    AND     OTHER    BUILDINGS    IN    BRUNSWICK. 

FORTS. 

Fort  ANi)Rf)8s.  — The  first  fort  ever  erected  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Androscoggin,  by  Englishmen,  was  undoubtedly  that  built  by  Gov- 
ernor Anrlross  in  1CS8,  which  has  since  been  called  bv  his  name.  After 
King  Philip's  war,  Andross,  desirous  of  promoting  the  eastern  settle- 
ments, came  to  Pejepscot  in  midwinter,  with  an  arm}'  of  1,000  men, 
and  on  the  now  vacant  lot  adjoining  the  present  store  of  J.  T.  Adams 
&  Co.,  a  few  rods  south  of  Bow  Street,  he  erected  a  stone  fort.*  It 
was  large  and  in  form  verj'  zigzag.  In  1(>H9  it  was  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieutenant  Colonel  McCiregory  and  Major  Thomas  Savage. 
It  was  demolished  about  101)4.'-' 

Fort  Gp:or(;e.  —From  about  IG04  to  171')  tlie  fort  previously  men- 
tioned hiy  dismantled  and  entirely  unfit  for  purposes  of  protection  to 
tlie  settlers.  Accordingly,  on  July  28,  ITIT),  the  following  pro^wsal 
was  i)reseuted  to  the  House  of  Keprcsentiitives  by  the  sub8cril)ers :  — 

*•  Woe  the  subscribers  Proprietors  of  the  Lands  in  Brunswick  and 
Topsham,  &c.  beini?  desirous  to  make  such  a  settlement  as  may  be 
abU*  t<^  sustain  a  war  with  the  Indians.  Do  acknowledge  the  Favour  of 
the  Oenernl  Court  in  their  rea<liness  to  encourage  and  protect  the 
intc'ndcd  setllements  and  particularly  in  the  Rei)air  of  the  Fort  there ; 
Yet  perreiviug  the  House  inelinable  to  a  Wuurli?n  Fort  on  account  of 
the  cheapness  of  it :  \Ve  being  ^>ensible  that  as  this  F<n't  is  set  so,  as 
to  be  a  Bridle  to  the  Indians ;  So  if  a  War  should  nrise,  it  may  be 
expected,  thev  will  leave  no  means  untrved  to  become  Masters  of  it; 
towards  wliich  the  Remoteness  from  Succour  will  give  them  great 
advantage;  and  considering  how  much  the  Lives  and  Kstates  there 
will  depend  upon  the  strength  and  security  of  that  Fort :  We  have 
been  imluced  to  make  the  following  Proposall. 

'•  That  whereas  the  Wooden  Fort  at  Winter  Harbour  cost,  as  we  are 
informed  Four  hundred  Pounds,   when   Provisions  and  Labour  were 


1  I*iJep8i:ot  Paiici's,         ^  Mimsachnmetls  Historical  CvlltctioHf  '6d  iftriett,  ;>.  S5. 
40 


G26        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAMy  AND  HARPSWELL. 

much  cheaper,  tlian  at  this  time ;  we  can't  suppose  such  an  one  now 
would  cost  much  less  than  five  hundred  Pounds ;  and  a  Stone  Fort 
supposed  to  be  much  more  chargable:  yet  rather  than  the  s**  Fort 
should  be  of  Wood^  and  so  liable  to  be  consumed  by  Fire,  in  case  it 
should  be  assaulted  by  French  as  well  as  Indians. 

'•Wee  offer,  That  if  the  Gencrall  Court  will  please  to  allow  Five 
nuNi)KP:D  Pounds,  and  let  us  now  have  tlie  Fifteen  men,  which  are 
designed  for  that  Garrison,  we  will  enter  into  Engagements  to  rejiafr 
and  finish  the  aforesaid  Stone  Fort:  To  be  Filty  Foot  Square,  as 
proposed,  with  Four  IJiistions,  Two  of  which  of  wood  on  the  Top  of 
the  Angle,  at  our  own  charge,  although  it  should  amount  to  more  than 
that  sum.  And  we  shall  set  about  it  in  a  weeks  time,  if  possible, 
and  hope  to  finish  it  before  winter,  if  not  obstnicted  by  the  Indians. 
We  desire  to  have  Three  hundred  Pounds  of  the  said  sum,  as  occasion 
shall  reciuire,  to  provide  Materialls  &c.  and  the  remainder  when  the 
work  is  finished. 

"  Signed 

'*  Thomas  IIutchinson. 

Adam  Wintiirop. 

Oliver  Xoyes. 

In  hcha[f  of  thcw selves  cO  partners. 

"Memorandum.  It  is  agreed  that  the  foundation  of  the  said  Fort 
shall  be  Three  Foot  under  Ground.  That  the  Wall  shall  be  Three  Foot 
thick  at  Bottom,  and  at  k^ist  Tenn  Foot  High  above  the  Ground,  and 
laid  in  Lime  Mortar,  with  Harracks  for  Fifteen  men,  to  be  built  on  or 
near  the  Spot  where  the  Fort  now  stands."  ^ 

Th(»  General  Gouit  accepted  this  proi)Osal  of  the  proprietors,  and 
ordered  the  sums  of  monev  asked  for  to  be  paid  out  of  the  treasurw 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  held  August  2,  1715. 
it  was  voted  :  '*  That  Gapt.  ,lohn  Wentworth  be  writ  to  to  despatch  a 
Sloo[)  from  Tiseatequa  forthwith,  with  Four  Thousand  of  Pine  Plank 
and  to  fill  up  with  good  Boards  to  be  landed  at  Pejq)seot  Falls. 

'"  That  C'apt.  Noyes  be  desired  to  despatch  a  Shxjp  from  Xewluiry 
with  Seventy  or  Eighty  hogsh*^*  of  good  Stone  Lime,  the  price  here 
*2is  p.  hhd.  100  gallons. 

*'That  a  Sloop  be  sent  from  hence  with  Bricks,  Shingles,  Clap- 
boards, Nails,  Provisions,  a  horse  Team,  Six  Wheelbarrows,  Arms, 
Crows,  l*ickaxes.  Mauls,  Shovels,  Blankets,  Kettles,  Pails,  Dishes, 
Horse  Cai-t,  Ox  Cart,  and  a  pair  of  Trucks."- 


Pejepscot  Records.  2  JUd, 


FORTS,  GARRIB0N8,  CBURCBEB,  ETC.,  IN  BRUNSWICK.         627 

The  erection  of  this  fort  was  commenciKl  by  Captain  John  Gyles  in 
the  month  of  Anguat,  1715,  on  the  ledge  of  roclis  at  the  northern  ond 
of  Maine  ytreet,  about  where  two  of  the  factorj-  boarding-houses  now 
stand.    It  was  completed  in  the  December  following. 


Tlie  walls  of  this  fort  were  very  thick  and  the  slonefi  were  laid  in 
mortar.  It  was  flnislicd  with  two  bastions  and  two  half  bastions,  with 
Hanks  on  tlin  top  sufficient  for  cannon.  TlicTO  was  a  lai^e  two-story 
ilweljing-bonse  erected  in  the  fort,  tlie  roof  apjjcaring  above  tlie  wail. 
The  flng-slnff  was  in  the  southwest  corner  of  tho  sonthweat  bastion. 

This  fort  effectually  resisted  the  agfrressions  of  the  Indiiuis.  and 
protected  all  the  dwellings  witiiin  reach  of  its  cannon.  In  times  of 
alarm,  however,  the  inhabitants  usually  congregated  inside  ils  walla. 
To  give  an  idea  of  tlie  size  and  importance  of  ttiis  fort  to  tlie  infant 
Bcttleiiicnt.  an  illustration  of  it  has  l)eon  given,  drawn  originally  from 
memory  by  Daniel  Stone  (the  father  of  Xarcisaa  and  Daniel)  ;  and  an 
ncfonnt  of  the  cost  of  the  work,  taken  from  the  I'ejepseot  Reoonls,  is 
also  ins(^rtc<l. 

•■.\^  ACCrj   OP  THK  COJT  Of  lfi)r!T  UK  )ltOE 

B.-nj  Swain  SH  (laics  nt.i/ 1  iil«lit  l/r. ^l'  1      « 

I'eti-r  Herod  4/              I".  1" 

Iliiiinlwi'll  &.  Xegro  7/6 27  H        fi 

Dutcli  i/ 1.1  IS 

Clurk  4/ 1:-.  U 


Bi>nj  Il!ik-.vSmn(i7/fi 
Ktmliall  i/n. 
WhiL'ler  4/   . 


628        HISTORY  OF  BRVN8WICK,  TOPSHAM,  AUD  HARPSWELL. 


NIGHTS  WORK  OF  TUADRSMEN 


OS  p  acc*^ 


THE  80ULDIKR8  AS  LABOURERS 

Nights,  Days  &  Boatage 

Mr.  Watts'  Boy  cooking  the  Pott  at  1/6    . 


MATERIA  LLS 


Shell  lime  500  bush"-  at  U** 
40  hW"  Stone  lime 
Boards  10821  feet . 
Pine  Plank  4  M    . 
Oak  Plank     . 
Shingles  10  M  at  16/ 
Clapboards  12  at  7/ 
Bricks  11  M 
Nails  Spikes  &c    . 
Glass  Casments    . 
Great  Hinges  &  Rivets 
Small  Hinges 
Smiths  Work 
T^rge  Lock  for  Gate 


8 


177 


S 


68 

4 

4 

6 

7 

6 

64 

11 

10 

29 

3 

50 

4 

4 

23 

16 

3 

17 

1 

7 

3 

19 

10 

8 

4 

4 

12 

7 

6 

20 

2 

3 

8 

4 

2 

6 

1 

10 
12 
14 

9 


PROVISION   ACC**  IN  TIIK  SEVKRALL  BIIXS. 

Mr  Watts  Bill 2      8 

Mr  Wlnthrops  Bill 1765 

MrNoyes'BlU 45      6      7 

Mr  Rucks  Bill 13      6 

MrMinotsBlll 1233 

90      8      3 

SLOOP  HIRE  &  PILOTING. 

Lowles  Sloop 17     18 

Stephens  Sl<)oi> 9 

Board  Sloop 9     10 

Mr  Watts  Sloop 40 

LowdPUotlng • 1 

More  Piloting  &c 2    10 

Butler  Boating  Lime 2    6      10 

Do  Piloting 

82      3     10 

SMALL  EXPENSES. 

Glv'n  Gyles  for  dispatch 1 

Gett :  great  Boat  from  Mill  pond 9 

PortJ&Cart^ 12      9 

Reckonings  &  Small  Charges 3      6      9 


6 


FORTS,  GARRISONS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IN  BRUNSWICK.         629 

Allowed  Mr  Watts  his  Trouble ao 

Due  to  Mr  Jno  Miiiot  to  5^^  Nov 18      8 

Charj^e  enlisting  men 5 

1  horse  lost 9     15 

James  Irish's  work 4 

Use  of  our  Teams 80 

Loss  &  Wear  of  Tools 2 

91)       3 
Total £688    9    4i 

In  the  latter  part  of  1736,  or  early  in  1737,  the  General  Court  of 
Massachusetts  decided  to  dismantle  this  fort.  This  decision  filled 
the  settlers  with  dismay,  and  in  consequence  the  following  petition 
was  sent  to  the  legislature  :  — 

**  To  iiis  ExcELL**  Jonathan  Beix;iiek  Esq*  Capt*  Genkrall  and  Gov- 
ERNOUR  IN  Chief  in  and  Over  the  Mashecusets  bay. 

**  To  the  Honorable  Council  and  house  of  Kepresentatives  Mett  in 
Generall  Court. 

**THE  HUMBLE  PETITION  OF  BRUNSWICK  &  TOPSUM,  WITH  ALL 
THE  SCATTKED  SETTLERS  UNDER  THE  COVERT  AND  PROTEC- 
TION OF  FORT  GEORGE. 

"  HrMBi.Y  SnEWKTn. 
"  That  we  your  Excell'**  &  Honours  Humble  Petitioners,  filled  with 
Inexpressible  fears  &  discH)urageinents  upon  a  vote  (as  we  are  In- 
formed) i)ass'd  both  Honourable  houses,  of  dismantling  Fort  George, 
beg  leave  in  the  most  humble  maner  to  lay  our  present  Condition  and 
circumstances  before  y'  Excell'*  &  Honours,  which  we  claim  not  oul}' 
as  a  right,  but  also  glorys  in,  as  our  precious  mercy  and  priviledge,  to 
have  access  to  your  Excell'*  at  the  head  of  so  many  Honourable 
Patriots  and  fathere  of  our  Contrey,  whose  great  care  &  pnidence  in 
securing  the  rights  and  priviledges  of  the  Subject  in  most  Criticall 
Junctures,  gives  us  hope  that  the  revew  of  our  case  &  C-ondition  by 
the  Golden  Rule  of  righteousness  will  yet  move  y'  Excell'*  &  Hon"  to 
prevent  our  fears  bj'  Continuing  ^itli  us  the  visible  mark  of  protection 
absolutely  necessary  for  the  Incouragment  &  saft}'  of  these  Infant 
Settlements,  with  which  vew  we  conceive  this  fort  was  erected  and 
since  continued,  8upix)rted  &  defended ;  and  if  }''  Inducing  reasons 
then  were  good.  Just,  and  becoming  the  Wisdom  of  our  Senators, 
they  continue  yet  in  unrepealed  force  &  virtue  and  concludes  now  with 
more  strength  for  the  Continuance  of  it ;  as  tliere  are  man}-  more  lives 
and  much  more  expensive  labours  and  Industry'  under  the  covert  & 

^P^epscot  Records, 


630        mSlORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHASf,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

defense  of  it  alone,  its  udvantagioiis  Scituation,  being  no  less  a  terror 
&  restraint  to  Enemyes,  than  an  Incoiiragmcnt  and  Safe  Retreat  to 
yonr  jietitioners,  there  being  no  other  fort  or  Garisson  from  which 
any  aid,  Succour,  or  Relief  can  be  expected  in  case  of  necessity,  for 
as  for  Richmond,  we  only  observe  what  your  Excell'*  and  Several 
members  of  both  Honourable  houses  are  well  acquainted  with.  It 
lies  upon  a  direct  line  through  a  vast  and  almost  impassible  wilder- 
ness at  or  about  20  miles  by  a  modest  compulation  from  us,  and  fur- 
ther by  water,  which  passage  is  attended  with  unavoidable  danger  in 
case  of  extremity  as  many  last  war  can  witness  from  experience.  So 
that  there  is  more  probability  of  our  being  relived  by  Castle  William, 
than  from  thence,  and  further  we  beg  leave  to  observe  to  y'  ExeelP  & 
Hon"  that  Brunswick,  time  without  mind,  has  been  tlie  place  of  the 
annual  Randevouze  of  all  the  tribes,  which  always  has  been  licentious, 
vile,  and  Riotous,  but  now  in  a  great  measure  broak  b\'  the  prudent 
care  and  circumspection  of  the  present  Comander,  in  his  civil  &  mili- 
tary Capacity,  the  former  useless  were  it  not  JoynM  and  Suport^»tl  b^* 
the  latter :  what  can  y""  Petitioners  expect,  upon  the  dismantling  the 
fort,  but  to  be  the  Melancoly  Spectators,  or  rather  the  helpless  miser- 
able Suflerei*s  under  the  returns  of  their  wild  extravigances,  to  the 
great  danger  of  our  lives  &  libertyes.  liut  should  it  be  Suggested 
that  our  lives  and  libertyes  are  Secured  by  the  peace,  and  So  the  Con- 
tinuance of  the  fort  is  an  unneccsar}'  Charge  to  the  province,  in 
answer  to  which  we  be*;  leave  to  Observe  to  v'  Excell'*"  «&  Hon"  That 
this  peace  cost  the  province  muchl»lood&  treasure;  &  therefore  the 
dearer  bouglit,  the  greater  care  and  caution  is  necessary  to  tlie  preser- 
vation of  it ;  wliich  is  always  a  posture  of  defence,  &  readiness  to 
resent  the  violations  of  it,  according  to  the  generall  maxims  of  policy, 
practised  by  all  States,  Kingdoms,  &  Comonwealths  in  the  time  of 
best  concerted  peace,  always  Jealous  of  tlicir  rights  and  Securing 
their  fronteers,  witliout  which  the  pul>lick  faith  in  many  Instances,  has 
given  way  and  yielded  to  the  rapid  Stream  of  Interest  and  ambition. 

"  further,  all  the  advantages  our  Infant  Settlements  in  the  east- 
ward have  Received  by  the  peace,  are,  under  God,  Owing  to  j' 
Excell'^"*  &  Hon"  great  Wisdom,  Care,  &  Vigilance,  and  neither  to  the 
love  nor  faith  of  Indians,  the}'  being  by  the  Victorious  arms  of  the 
province  forc'd  into  peace,  &  what  Ilow*s  not  from  Clioyce  but  neces- 
sity, can  only  be  suposed  binding  till  oportunit}*  otier. 

''That  tlieir  love  cant  be  depended  upon  is  ol)vious  to  us,  conversant 
among  tlieni,  who  look  upon  us,  as  unjust  usurpers  &  intruders  upon 
their  riglits  and  priviledges,  and  spoilers  of  their  idle  way  of  living. 


F0RT8,  GARRISONS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IN  BRUNSWICK.         631 

''  They  claim  not  only  the  wild  beasts  of  the  forest,  and  fowls  of  the 
air,  but  also  fishes  of  Sea  &  rivers,  and  so  with  an  ill  eye  looks  upon 
our  Salmon  fishery,  and  no  doubt  would  disturb  our  fishers  were  it  not 
under  the  Imediate  protection  of  the  fort,  as  Severall  can  witness  who 
have  fished  in  undefended  places  ;  besides  they  Cant  hide  their  si)leen 
&  Resentment  against  tliose  of  our  Setlers,  who  in  the  late  war  acted 
in  the  province  Servise  (a  gootl  many  such  we  have)  ihe  peace  has 
not  secured  some  such  from  violent  assaults,  houses  rifled,  &  pence 
purchased  by  gratifications  pleasing  to  them,  but  with  those  vile 
abuses,  &  gross  \'iolations  of  peace  we  bore  without  giving  y'  Kx- 
cell^*  &  lion"  trouble  by  complaints,  while  we  Injo3''d  the  benefit  of 
the  fort,  which  cannot  be  expected  when  left  as  Catalans  to  the  unbri- 
dled rage  of  such  Enemyes,  who  Embalm's  the  memory  of  the  vilest 
murtherers,  transmits  them  to  posterity,  who  are  ambitious  enough  to 
Copy  these  heroick  virtues  in  their  ancesters ;  their  faith  besides 
being  the  effect  of  force  is  under  the  Influence  of  that  popish  prin- 
ciple, of  no  faith  to  be  kept  with  hereticks  and  the  Sacraficing  such 
has  always  been  accounted  meritorious,  what  can  be  more  agreeable 
to  them,  than  purchase  Heaven  hereafter,  by  raising  their  fame  &  rep- 
utations as  Heroes  here. 

"If  such  principles  &  practices  promisses  a  longer  lifed  peace  than 
opertunity  offers,  and  whether  the  dismantling  fort  George  gives  not 
such  an  opertunity,  b}*  having  So  man}'  lives  at  their  discretion, 
whose  circumstances  scarce  alow  two  to  be  mutual  aiding  to  one 
&  other,  we  beg  leave  to  Submitt  to  v'  KxcolP'  &  Hon"  Serious 
thoughts,  wisdom  &  Judgment.  If  we  have  forfeited  our  Claim  and 
right  to  protection,  we  beg  to  be  punnished  according  to  the  known 
equitable  laws  of  the  province,  but  we  praj'  y'  Exceirf  and  Honours 
ma}'  not  give  us  up  to  the  rage  of  Enemves,  tho'  under  the  mask  and 
varnish  of  peace,  a  punishment  never  yet  Inflicted  upon  Brittish  Sub- 
jects ;  In  which  Circumstances  what  shall  we  do?  tamely  to  Submitt  to 
Salvage  rage  is  baneath  the  spirits  of  fre3  born  Subjects,  to  venture 
our  lives  in  defence  of  our  long  toil  &  labour,  tho*  we  shall  be  the  first 
sulferers,  it  is  eas\'  to  see  the  consequences  will  reach  much  further, 
if  we  fly  for  Safety,  we  must  leave  our  estates  behind,  which  are  the 
purchase  of  Industry  in  Subduing  a  wilderness,  and  then  we  become 
a  burthensouK?  Charge  to  Charitable  and  well  disposed  Christians. 

"  But  we  hope  better  things  and  such  as  are  worthy  3'our  ExcelP* 
at  the  head  of  So  man}*  wise  Senators,  to  w^hose  wisdom  we  submitt 
our  Condition  and  circumstances.  Earnestly  begging  in  the  most  hum- 
ble and  dutiful  maner,  that  your  Exceir*  according  to  the  great  trust 


632        HISTORY  OF  BItUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

reposed  in  you,  and  Royal  power  wherewith  you  are  Cloalhe<l,  with 
tlie  advice  &  concurrence  of  both  Honourable  houses,  may  prevent 
our  foal's  and  give  us  a  Reviving  under  the  Continuance  of  the  fort 
as  the  sensible  pledge  of  your  Excell'"  protection  and  Instauce  of 
their  Hon"  wisdom,  care,  &  Goodness,  in  Securing  the  rights  and 
lives  of  many  subjects,  and  as  in  Duty  bound 

'•  Your  Humble  Pctioners  Shall  ever  pray 


"We  by  npoiiitmcnt  In 
behalf  of  ourselves  &  I>0 
families  in  Brunswick, 
Suhscribes  our  names  at 
Brunswick  meetinj^-liouse 
this  25th  of  April  1737 


JrA^I^*-^ 


,Ar^9nj 


••  we  nyapointment  ni  Deiiaii  y^  ^ 

of  oursHves  and  24  families  /y^  ^  /^^/^  Jii> 

In     Topsum.     sul)s<rrH»e   our  J^^ULC^X^  f    X^'"'^^ 

names  at  Brunswick  meet iuj^C-     ^^^  /^  V* 

house  this  2."i"'  of  Aprill  MZl  J^  ^^-'-^'"^'^  '^ 


(^v^.Z  unln^^ 


**  I  by  apointment  in  Ix-half  of 
15  (Mrcumjac<'nt  nimllles  tlo  sub- 
scribe my  name  at  Brunswick  ^j 
meetln^-liouse  tliis  2.'i'i'  of  April  ^  A  "^^ 
1737» 


A 


^^L 


Notwithstanding  the  foregoing  petition  the  fort  was  soon  afterwanls 


Pejcpscot  Papers. 


FORTS,  GARRISONS,  CnURCHES,  ETC.,  IN  BRUNSWICK.  633 

dismantled,  and  the  property  reverted  to  the  proprietors,  who,  Decem- 
ber 19,  17.'>8,  leased  it,  together  witli  all  the  buildings  and  land  con- 
nected with  it,  to  ;Mr.  George  Harwool.  lie  occupied  the  premises 
until  November  1,  1761.' 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  held  October  8,  17G1, 
Belcher  Noves  was  Instructed  to  execute  a  deed  of  the  old  fort,  with 
the  buildings  and  land  belonging  to  it,  and  the  privilege  of  the  stream 
at  the  falls,  ''  the  one  half  to  Jeremiah  Moulton,  Esquire,  the  other 
half  to  Captain  David  Dunning,  they  paying  unto  the  said  Belcher 
Noyes  the  sum  of  one  hundred  thirty  three  pounds  six  shillings  and 
eight  pence,  lawful  money,  for  which  sum  he  is  to  account  with  the 
Proprietors."  2  This  sum  amounted  to  about  £1,000  old  tenor.^  On 
November  19,  1761,  Belcher  Noj'cs  gave  Ilarwood  a  written  order  to 
surrender  the  fort  and  buildings  to  either  Moulton  or  Dunning.^ 

The  ruins  of  this  fort,  with  some  portions  of  the  wall  yet  standing, 
were  plaiuh'  to  be  seen  as  late  as  1802,  and  Mr.  Dean  Swift  distinctly 
remembers  playing  upon  these  ruins  when  a  l)oy.  That  gentleman  is 
authoritv  for  saving  the  materials  of  the  old  fort  were  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  foundations  of  some  of  the  dwelling-houses  now 
standing,  and  that  some  of  the  stones  of  which  it  was  built  form  parts 
of  the  cellar-walls  of  the  house  owned  and  occupied  by  the  late  Doctor 
John  D.  Lincoln,  of  the  Dunning  house  on  the  brow  of  the  hill  near 
the  P^irst  Parish  Meeting-IIouse,  of  the  Tontine  Hotel,  and  other  old 
buildings. 

BLOCK-HOUSES  AXD  GARRISONS. 

The  first  fortified  places  in  this  vicinity,  other  than  the  fort,  were 
probably  erected  by  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  in  1716,  unless  there 
is  reason  to  suppose  that  Purchase,  Stevens,  and  others  of  the  very 
earliest  settlers  had  garrisoned  houses.  In  the  record  of  a  meeting  of 
the  proprietors,  which  was  held  October  9, 1 71 6,  the  following  occurs  :  — 

"  Agreed  with  Mr.  Benjamin  Swain  to  build  the  Chimneys  in  our 
House  at  Maquoit,  and  in  our  House  at  Small  Point :  the  stack  in  each 
house  to  have  four  Fires  at  Fourty  Shillings  pr  Fire,  Each  Brick  Arch 
under  the  four  Chimneys  to  be  at  Fouity  Shillings  pr  Arch :  The 
Stonework  to  be  Four  Shillings  &  M  pr  Perch,  the  Stuff  to  be  at  the 
Place,  s**  Swain  to  allow  Boston  Price  for  what  Labour  he  has  done  by 
our  Hands." 

There  is  no  positive  endence  that  the  above  were  fortified  buildings, 
but  it  is  safe  to  presume  so,  since  it  is  known  that  there  were,  in  1724 


Pejepscot  Recorda.  ^Ibid.  ^  Pejepscot  Papers.  *i6*d. 


634        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

and  subsequently,  a   block-house  and   a  well-fortified  storehouse  at 
Maquoit. 

The  Dunning  G^vrrison. — A  short  distance  southwest  of  where 
the  post-olRce  now  stands,  in  what  was  known  as  the  Schwartkin 
garden,  or  in  the  rear  of  the  McLcllan  building,  where  a  white  cottage 
now  is,  David  Dunning  erected  a  strong  timber  garrison  or  block- 
house. It  was  two  stories  high,  forty  feet  long,  and  twenty-two  feet 
wide.  The  second  story  projected  about  three  or  four  feet  over  the 
first,  and  the  walls  had  loop-holes  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  the 
inmates  to  fire  upon  the  Indians  when  necessity  required.  There  was 
a  tower  on  the  top,  from  which  the  teams  could  be  watched  on  their 
wa3'  to  and  from  the  Merriconeag  Marshes. 

The  above-mentioned  garrison  was  probably  the  largest  one,  but 
there  are  known  to  have  been  many  others  in  diftercnt  parts  of  the 
town,  and  there  were  i)robably  some  of  which  no  account  has  been 
preserved.     The  location  of  all  that  were  known  will  be  given. 

The  G  I  VEEN  Garrison.  —  On  the  elevation  between  New  Wharf 
and  Penneirs  Wharf  there  was  a  garrison  erected  at  an  earh*  date  hy 
David  Givecn. 

The  lIiNKLEY  Garrison. — There  was  a  garrison  in  1747  at  New 
Meadows,  which  was  l)uilt  bv  Deacon  Samuel  Ilinklev  and  two  of  his 
sons-in-law,  named  Thompson.  It  stood  on  the  elevation  in  the  rear 
of  the  barn  now  owned  by  Mr.  Bartlett  Adams,  and  the  outline  of  the 
garrison  is  still  easily  traced. 

IIam*s  Garkison.  —  There  was  a  garrison  on  IIam*s  Hill,  near  the 
head  of  New  Meadows  River,  on  the  road  to  Bath.  It  was  situated  a 
few  rods  south  of  the  road,  on  the  top  of  the  hill,  on  a  ledge  of  rocks 
just  back  of  the  barn  of  Mr.  Peterson,  the  present  owner  of  the  lot. 
It  was  near  this  garrison  that  Seth  Ilinklev  was  killed,  in  Mav,  1747. 
It  was  probably  built  or  occupied  b}'  Josei)h  Smith,  a  tanner.  No 
remains  of  this  gaiTison  are  to  l)e  seen  at  the  i)resent  <l«y,  though 
many  of  the  large,  square  timbers  of  which  it  was  composed  remained 
on  the  site  within  the  memor}'  of  i)ersons  now  living.  It  was  much 
exposed  to  attacks  from  the  Indians  on  their  rouU*  from  New  Mead- 
ows to  IVjepscot.^ 

McFarlani>'s  Garrison.  — About  1730,  James  !McFarland  ])uilt  a 
two-storv  block-house  on  what  is  now  the  corner  of  ]Maine  and  Mason 
Streets,  where  Day's  Block  now  is.  In  this  garrison  Keverend  Robert 
Dunlap  lived  for  some  3'ears  after  he  came  to  town.- 


J  McKccn,  MS,  Lecture.  ^Pijvjtscvt  Papers, 


FORTS,  GARBLSONS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IN  BRUNSWICK.  635 

This  garrison  was  of  hewn  timber,  forty  feet  long  by  twenty  feet 
wide.  It  was  taken  down  a  short  time  before  the  close  of  the  Indian 
war. 

Minot's  Gakrison. — John  Minot  had  a  garrison  and  a  storehouse 
about  five  rods  west  of  where  the  late  Henry  Minot's  house  stood 
at  Mair  Point.     The  date  of  its  erection  is  not  known. 

The  Skolfield  Gakkisok.  —  This  garrison  was  situated  near  where 
Mr.  Peter  Woodward  now  lives.  It  was  built  and  owned  by  Thomas 
Skolfield.     The  date  of  its  erection  is  not  known. 

The  Guknet  Point  Garrison  is  said  to  have  been  built  and  owned 
by  Captain  John  Gatchell.^ 

TuE  Spear  Garrison. — Nearly  opposite  the  old  meeting-house 
which  stood  on  the  Maquoit  road,  about  a  mile  from  the  colleges,  was 
once  a  garrison  built  by  William  and  Robert  S|)ear,  and  occupied  by 
the  latter.  The  wall  was  sixty  or  seventy  feet  in  circumference,  and 
ten  feet  high.  Inside  there  was  a  one-story,  gambrel-roofed  house, 
which  faced  the  east,  and  the  back  of  which  formed  a  part  of  the  tim- 
ber wall.  This  garrison  was  once  attacked  bj'  the  Indians.  Mr. 
Spear  had  placed  some  loose  boards  across  one  corner  of  the  wall. 
An  Indian  climbed  up  on  this  corner  in  order  to  get  inside  and  unbar 
the  gates,  but  the  boards  extending  outside  of  the  wall,  his  weight 
caused  them  to  tip  up,  and  he  fell  back  into  an  old  sleigh,  the  noise, 
of  course,  arousing  Mr.  Spear.* 

According  to  another  account,  the  Indian  fell  back  into  a  liog-pen, 
and  it  was  the  unusual  grunting  of  its  disturbed  porcine  occupant  that 
awoke  Mr.  Spear. 

Besides  the  garrisons  which  have  been  mentioned  were  dwellings 
which  the  occupants  made  proof  against  bullets  by  lining  them  with 
studs  four  inches  thick.  These  houses  had  also  apertures  in  ditferent 
rooms,  so  that  their  owners  might  defend  their  own  castle.  Guns  were 
kept  in  readiness  for  use  in  the  house,  and  were  carried  by  the  settlers 
wherever  thev  went. 

The  Gun-IIol-se.  —  The  old  gim-house,  which  stood  on  Centre 
Street,  on  the  lot  adjoining  that  of  the  present  school-house,  was  built 
in  1808,  and  was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1809.  It  was  at  once  rel)uilt, 
and  was  occupied  as  a  gun-house  for  the  Brunswick  artillery  for  many 
years.  It  is  now  a  dwelling  on  the  southern  side  of  Franklin  Street, 
near  its  eastern  end. 

•The    PowDER-HorsE.  —  The  original  powder-house  was   built  in 

1  J/cJTcen,  M^i.  Lecture.  ^F^epscot  Papers. 


036      niSTOJiT  OF  nnuxswicK,  topsham.  and  harfswell. 

lfilM-5  by  Snimiot  Molt-her,  wlio  agrooil  to  erpct  ii  for  twenty  dollars. 
In  1805  it  was  uxninincd  by  u  committee,  and  dcclareil  by  thom  to  be 
TCorth  only  four  dollni-fl  and  fifty  (.■cuts.  Tliis  ainoiiiit  the  tuwn  paid, 
but  would  not  act'opt  the  buildinj;.  In  ixifi  the  town  nuthomod  the 
selectmen  to  build  a  new  [Wwder-housf  at  an  expense  of  one  liundred 
and  lift}-  dolliirn  lliis  bnildiny;  stood  on  the  toji  of  tlie  liill  on  Pleas- 
ant Street,  which  gave  to  the  hill  the  minio  of  Powder- House  Hill. 

TowN'-HousE.  —  For  .ilniost  one  luindred  years  after  its  iucr^rpora- 
tion  the  town  of  Rninswiek  had  no  liiiilding  of  it^  own  in  which  to 
hold  its  meetings,  except  the  First  I'ariwli  Mecting-IIoTise. 

The  first  movement  towards  a  town-houae  was  in  IH35.  At  a 
meetinj;  of  the  town,  held  April  27,  of  this  year,  it  was  voted  to  bnild 
a  town-honse  without  nnnecessarj'  delay.  In  1R;J(1  seven  hundred 
dollara  was  n]»pro|)riate<l,  and  a  building  eoniinittee  was  clioson,  who 
were  authorized  to  lK>rrow  three  bundii'il  ilollai-s  additional.  The 
house  was  built  tliis  year  on  land  given  by  lU-verciid  >Villiani  Allen 
and  David  Dunlap,  Emiuire. 


*^^^fs^^.. 


It  was  built  of  brick,  one  atorj'  high,  with  fifteen-foot  [wsts.  The 
ground  dimensions  were  sixty  by  forty-two  feet.  Richaiil  T.  Dui]la[i, 
Jacob  I'cnnell,  and  .Tosepli  McKcen  were  the  Iniilding  committee. 
Tlie  town  voted  to  pnrehase  a  lot,  at  a  price  not  <'xcee<iing  lifly  dol- 
lars, on  tlie  »oulhe:i-it  corner  of  the  lot  on  which  President  Allen's 
academy  stood.  The  lot  was  to  l>e  four  rmls  in  fVont  and  to  run  back 
ten  ro<l3.  The  building  committee  were  iuilhorized  to  obtain  any 
other  lot,  if  deenie<l  more  desirable.  Tln'y  seleited  the  one  already 
mGntioncd.  anil  the  liou.te  was  bnilt  on  Maine  .Sheet,  about  ojtpositc 
the  southern  end  of  the  college  grounds.  lletwcen  March  ItJ  and 
the  June  following,  in  the  year  lUiii,  this  l)uilding  wa.i  burnt,  and  the 
town,  .it  its  next  meeting,  authorized  the  seleetnien  to  dispose  of  the 
mins  and  lot.  Since  Ihnt  time  the  town  has  liecn  without  a  town  hall, 
and  its  UK.'ctings  have  been  lield  iu  halls  leaned  for  tlie  purpose. 


FOBTS,  QARSISONS,  CBUSCUES,  ETC.,  IX  BUVNSWICK. 


MEETING-HOUSES. 

The  first  mectiog-Iiouse  of  the  Firet  Parisli  wns  situHtcd  a1>out  a 
inile  soiitli  of  tho  present  etliliec  of  tbnt  [>arisU.  It  iras  located  in  the 
road  in  front  uf  the  graveyard.  Jt  faced  south,  and  the  trarellcd  part 
of  the  road  passed  by  the  west  end  of  the  building. 

The  parsonage  was  a  small,  one-story  house,  situated  just  south  of 
the  graveyard,  and  faced  the  road. 

In  frout  of  the  mccting-housc  stood  the  stocks,  and  in  the  rear  was 
the  whippiiig-iwst. 

>'orth  of  the  graveyard  was  a  jxtund,  with  a  substantial  fence, 
gate,  lock,  and  key. 

The  bonrds  for  this  meeting-house  arc  said  to  bavo  been  brought 
from  Riclmiond  Fort.  The  interior  was  neicr  linishcd  ;  the  walls 
were  left  bare,  and  as  there  wns  no  ceiling,  the  roof-tiiubci-s  were 
exposed  to  view.  The  pews  were  large  and  square,  with  seats  on 
three  sides.  Over  the  piili)it  was  a  sounding-board,  which  was  snp- 
porti-d  by  two  iron  rods  running  obliquely  from  the  posts  to  tho  ftont 
of  the  sonriding-ltoard.  During  the  Revolution  the  cast  cnit  of  the 
house,  next  to  the  roof,  was  i)artitioned  off  and  nscti  as  a  powder 
magazine.  Tlie  building  was  never  warmed  by  a  stove  or  Ihcplace. 
In  severe  weallicr  many  persons  canied  foot-stoves  to  meeting  with 
them. 


The  municipal  doings  of  the  town  regarding  this  building  are  of 
interest  and  are  therefore  inserted  here.  The  first  movement  looking 
to  the  erection  of  the  building  was  made  in  1719,  as  will  be  seen  fi-om 


638      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  axd  harpswell, 

the  following  extract  ^  from  the  Records  of  the  Township  of  Bruns- 
wick :  — 

"•  Att  a  Leagiial  Town  meeting  in  Bninswick  Jan^  0  :  1719  Voted, 
That  the  Timber  for  a  Meeting  House  Be  Prepared  Raised  &  under- 
pin** as  soon  as  may  bee,  Tliat  wliereas  To  methodize  oversee  &  finish 
the  work  Capt  Gyles,  P]lder  Gochron,  John  Cochron,  James  Starrat  & 
Joseph  Heath  are  Chosen,  This  is  Their  aiitliority  for  their  proceed- 
ings in  the  S'^  work.  And  the  Towns  obligation  to  Discharge  y^  Delit 
Contracted  by  S**  Committee  for  y*  Compleating  y*^  above  S**  work 

Voted,  Tiiat  whereas  it  ma}*  be  an  ease  to  Sum  if  the}*  may  Dis- 

cliarge  part  of  tlieir  Dues  toward  y*  work  b}'  their  own  Labour  therein 

as  aceatioii  may  Serve,  The  master  workman  observing  Kacii  mans 

abiliity  *&  Labour  Shall  state  their  wages  in  proportion  there  unto  y*  So 

no  injustice  be  Done 

"Joseph  IIkatii  Town  C'*" 

It  would  appear  that  little  or  nothing  was  done  at  that  time,  how- 
ever, as  in  1721  it  was  voted :  — 

''  That  the  former  Projections  of  raising  a  meeting  house  be  revived. 
That  thirt}'  pounds  money  be  raised  by  rate  to  carry  on  }-•  S**  work 
with  a  proviso  that  Kach  Inhabitant  may  be  imploy**  in  the  work  8<» 
far  as  his  ability  &  proportion  of  y®  S**  Rate  will  alow  Y*  value  of 
Each  mans  Dailv  labour  to  be  Stated  bv  the  master  workman  & 
return*^  to  y*  Connnittee  for  over  Seeing  S*^  work.  Su(!h  part  of  the 
S**  rate  only  to  be  Collected  in  money  as  shall  be  soficient  to  pay  the 
said  master  Workman  his  wages,  and  also  the  arrearages  which  Capt 
Gyles  cV:  Heath  Stand  obliged  to  pay  on  y^'  Towns  Account.  The 
work  fornu'ily  Done  in  preparing  Timber  For  y*  S**  House  to  be  re- 
duised  out  of  the  rate  of  those  who  Did  it.  And  Capt  (iyles,  Mr 
Wharton,  John  Cochron,  James  Smith,  &  Josej)!!  Heath  to  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  methodize  y*  work."  - 

The  meeting-house  was  erected  chiefly  at  the  expense  of  the  Pejep- 
scot  proprietors,  the  agreement  being  that  the  inhabitants  should 
erect  the  frame  of  the  building  and  that  it  should  be  completed  b}-  the 
proprietors.  Sashes,  glass,  doors,  etc.,  were  i)robably  procured  in 
Boston.  The  following  account  shows  a  part  of  the  cost  of  the 
building :  — 


Jiruntwivk  Records  in  Pcjipstvt  Collet  tion.  '^Ibid. 


F0RT8,  OABBiaONS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IK  BRUNSWICK,         639 


The  Gkntlkmen  Proprietors  of  Brunswick 

To  B.  Larkabke 

July  28 

1735       The  account  of  staiT&c  for  the  meeting  house 
To  1070  ft  Joyce  J*lank  &  Bounl  @  GO/  p  M 

1438  n  Clear  Boards  at  80/  . 
To  fctchiiio:  stuff  ftrom  y«  mill  3  men  2  days  at  0/ 
To  Guudolow  hire  2  day>  at  4/ 
To  4  clays  haling  Boards  Joyce  &  Shingles  @  15/ 
To  haling  posts  for  scaffolds 
To  2CHiO  Clapboards  @  IK)/ 
To  bnii;rlii«  them  fY^m  Topshara  3  men  1  day 
To  5  thick  Boards  for  the  Pulpltt 
To  0000  of  shin;;h's  at  20/ 
To  21  MO  feet  of  Joyce  .... 

To  H57  feet  of  2-im:h  plank 
To  .'lOo  Merchantiiblc  Boards 
T«)  lo.'iO  feet  of  Clear  Boards 
Septr 

To  hilling  boards  3  days  2  men  4  oxen  @  24/ 
To  Boating  Boards,  Joyce  &c   from   Nor:h   Yarm    2  men  4 

days  at  G/     .        .        .        .        . 
Jan'y 

To  half  a  thousand  of  Board  Nails    .... 
To  U  thousand  of  Clapboard  Nails   .... 

To  treating  the  workmen 

To  Ginuhdow  hire  1.5/  1  man  2  days  @  G/ 

To  3  pair  of  rals*d  Aches  at  4/6  .... 

To  2<H»  board  Nails 

To  300  Clapboartl  nails 

To  Speaks,  bnids,  hangings  for  the  Canopy 

To  paid  Capt  Woodslde  for  assisting  In  haling  tlie  Stuff 

To  Banisters  for  ye  Pews  &  Pulpltt  stairs 

To  pai<l  M'  Pcarse  for  work  done  on  the  meeting  house 

To  pai<l  said  Pearse 


])■ 


£3 

4 

0 

5 

14 

19 

I 

IG 

G 

0 

8 

0 

3 

10 

U 

15 
13 

G 

8 

« 

.»> 

2 

1 

10 

G 

4 

3     12 


IG 

1 

10 

C 

6 

1 

7 

12 

G 

G 

G 

5 

t) 

3 

15 
15 

4 

1 

17 

G 

123 

2 

5 

£i«.n) 


'> 


In  17.">r>  the  town  voted  to  '*  repair  the  windows,  long  seats,  and  the 
un(leri)inning  of  the  ineetitig  house." 

[17r»3.]  In  the  year  170*3  the  town  voted  to  set  off  and  sell  thir- 
teen i)ews  on  the  floor  and  sixteen  pews  in  the  gallery  of  the  west 
ineeting-lionse,  ^'  I  he  oldest  inhabitants  that  have  no  pews  to  have 
the  preference  in  ])nying  said  pews."  The  proceeds  were  to  he  used 
to  defray  the  expense  of  repairing  and  finishing  tlie  meeting-house. 

[I7i>7.]  Some  difllculty  appears  to  have  arisen  in  171)7  in  regard 
to  the  jurisdiction  over  and  responsibility  for  the  meeting-house,  as  in 


640        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHJM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

March  the  town  passed  several  rather  contradictory  votes  in  regard  to 
the  matter.  In  the  first  place  it  was  voted  that  the  town  had  wo  right 
to  repair  the  west  meeting-house,  and  that  it  ought  to  be  repaired  by 
the  owners  of  pews.*  Then  it  was  decided  by  vote  that  the  xchclt 
town  should  have  all  the  privileges  in  the  meeting-house  that  had  been 
heretofore  enjoye<l.  Third,  that  if  there  was  any  vacant  space  for 
l>ews.  the  proprietors  had  a  right  to  sell  it,  and  to  use  the  proceeds  for 
repairing  the  meeting  house.  F'inally,  it  was  voted  that  the  owners  of 
l>ews  were  not  the  sole  owners  of  the  meeting-house. 

The  meeting-house  was  that  year  cut  in  two  in  the  middle,  one  half 
was  moved  a  few  feet,  and  an  addition  inserted,  the  width  of  two 
pews.^  It  is  not  probable  that  any  repairs  were  made  to  this  building 
after  this  date,  as  in  1800  the  First  Parish  erected  a  new  building  on 
the  site  of  their  present  edifice. 

The  old  building  was  unoccupied  for  man}'  years,  excepting  for 
occasional  services.  At  one  time,  probably  about  1828,  it  was  oecu- 
pieil  for  a  short  time  by  tlie  liaptists.  It  was  destroyed  by  fire  in 
18.*U,  the  fire  being  the  work  of  an  incendiary. 

Tlie  second  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  was  erected  at  New 
Meadows  about  the  vear  17«'>G.  Previous  to  that  time  services  had 
been  held  in  a  barn  situated  near  the  present  residence  of  Bartlett 
Adams.  In  175;*)  a  proposition  was  made  that  the  town  should  build 
a  meeting-house  at  the  east  end  of  the  town,  but  it  was  defeated.  A 
committee  was  however  chosen  by  the  town  to  solicit  subscriptions  for 
this  purpose,  and  the  l)iiiMlng  was  erected  not  long  afterwartis  ujwn 
lii(»  ground  now  (1^77)  occupied  by  the  barn  of  Mr.  Ki>hraim  Wilcox. 
Although  the  building  was  erected  by  subscrii)tion,  yet  inasmuch  as 
those  worshipi^ing  in  it  were  members  of  the  First  Parish,  and  as  the 
minister  of  the  First  Parish  was  instructed  bv  vote  of  the  town  to 
preach  at  New  Meadows  a  certain  iiortiou  of  the  time,  this  meeting- 
house may  pro^jcrly  be  called  the  second  meeting-house  of  the  First 
Parish. 

This  building  stood  unoccupied  for  many  years,  and  was  finally  car- 
ried ort'  [)iecemeal,  from  time  to  time,  by  those  living  in  the  vicinity, 
for  fences,  out-buil<lings,  etc.  The  last  remnant  was  carried  away 
about  the  vear  1834. 

The  third  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  was  begun  in  180G,  and 
was  completed  the  next  year.     It  was  built  by  indivi<luals  who  sold 


'  Tlic  Baptists  had  icUhdrnicn. 

^  Mr».  Lamby  Dean  Sv:{ft,  and  other  aged  citizens. 


FORTS,  GABRISOltS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IS  BRUIfSWICK. 


641 


the  pows,  and  then  the  building  was  made  over  to  the  parish.  The 
land  was  bought  of  Robert  D.  Dunning  and  William  Stanwood,  and 
not,  as  is  believed  by  many,  of  the  college.  The  college,  however, 
contributed  something  towards  the  erection  of  the  building,  for  the 
privilege  of  holding  Commencement  and  other  exercises  in  it,  but  has 
never  had  any  other  ownership  in  it  than  the  right  to  the  pews  in 
the  south  gallery. 


This  meeting-houec  was  built  under  Iho  dirottion  of  3Ir.  Samuel 
Molcliur.  who  was  a  snporior  workmnn.  It  is  said  that  the  underpin- 
ning for  this  mceting-housc  was  brought  here  from  Yarmouth,  being 
haul»l  over  Crip's  Ledge, 

Keverend  Samuel  Katon,  of  Ilarpswell,  in  his  seventy- fourth  year, 
and  who  had  but  just  recovered  from  a  fniotured  leg,  made  a  prayer  on 
tlie  frame  before  it  was  raised.  The  outside  wnt  nearly  liuished  befor\' 
September  2,  180(i,  and  the  inside  was  fitted,   toiuporarily,  for  the 


642        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AXD  HARPSWELL, 

exercises  of  the  first  Commencement  at  Bowdoin  College.  The  first 
bell  ever  rung  in  town  was  placed  on  this  meeting-house.  It  was 
bought  by  subscription,  but  precisely  when  it  was  bought  is  not  known. 
This  meeting-house  was  also  the  first  to  be  warmed  by  a  stove.  In 
1807  the  building  was  dedicatei:!.  President  Appleton  preached  the 
sermon  from  the  text,  '^  He  hath  loved  our  nation,  and  hath  built  us  a 
synagogue." 

In  1833  this  building  was  remodelled  and  made  more  pleasant  and 
commodious.  In  1845  it  was  taken  down,  and  the  present  edifice  was 
erected  upon  its  site.  The  spire  of  the  present  edifice  was  blown  off 
in  18GG. 

The  Conference  Room  of  the  First  Parish^  on  Centre  Street,  was 
erected  in  1823. 

In  1841  it  was  sold  with  the  land,  and  the  building  on  School 
Street,  which  was  erected  by  the  Second  Baptist  Society,  and  which 
had  been  occupied  by  them  as  their  place  of  worship,  was  pur- 
chased and  refitted  for  the  Congregational  vestrj',  and  is  still  used  as 
such. 

Baptist  Meetino-IIouses.  —  The  first  meeting-house  erected  by  the 
Baptists  was  built  at  Maquoit  in  1798  or  1799.  It  stootl  about  a  mile 
below  the  old  First  Parish  Meeting-House,  on  the  right-hand  side  of 
the  road  where  the  old  Maquoit  burying-ground  is.  It  was  somewhat 
similar  in  appearance  to  the  old  First  Parish  Meeting-House,  having 
no  steeple,  and  being  roughl}'  finished.  In  1853  it  was  sold  to  Samuel 
Dunning  and  moved  to  his  ship-yard  for  a  boarding-house. 

The  next  building  erected  by  the  Baptists  was  at  New  Meadows,  in 
the  3'ear  1800.  In  1848  it  was  taken  down,  and  the  present  edifice 
erected  on  its  site. 

The  third  Baptist  meeting-house  was  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Congregational  Vestry.     It  was  erected  in  182G  by  the  ''  Second  Bap 
tist  Society,*'  and  occupied  ])y  them  for  about  ten  years.     In  1841  it 
was  sold  to  the  First  Parish. 

The  fourth  building  erected  by  the  Baptists  was  the  one  now  occu- 
pied by  the  Catholics,  on  Federal  Street.  It  was  erected  in  1829  by 
the  Federal  Street  Baptist  Society.  It  cost  about  eight  hundre<l  dol- 
lars. It  was  sold  to  the  Metho<lists  in  183G,  and  was  occupied  by 
them  until  the  erection  of  their  present  house  in  186G.  Subsequently 
it  was  sold  to  the  Catholics. 

The  Maine  Street  Baptist  Church  was  erected  in  1840.  In  1867  it 
was  remodelled  and  greatly  improved,  at  a  cost  of  82,000.  The  pul- 
pit and  platform  were  remo<lelled  and  finished  in  black-walnut  and 


FORTS,  GARRISONS,  CHURCHES.  ETC.,  IX  BRUNSWICK.         643 

chestnut,  to  corresponcl  with  the  newly  arranged  pews,  which  were  also 
made  of  chestnut  and  without  doors.  The  aisles  were  carpeted,  the 
ceiling  was  frescoed,  and  gas  fixtures  were  put  in. 

Free-Will  Baptist  Meetino-IIouses.  — The  first  Free-Will  Baptist 
Meeting-1  louse  was  erected  in  1810.  It  was  a  small,  one-story  build- 
ing, and  stood  quite  near  the  Frceport  line.  What  became  of  this 
buihling  is  not  known.  The  society  worshipping  in  it  afterwards,  in 
1827,  united  with  the  Universalists  and  Congrcgationalists  in  building 
the  Union  Meeting- 1  louse  at  Growstown. 

The  Village  Church  of  the  Free-Will  Baptists,  on  O'Brien  Street,  was 
erected  in  1876,  the  society  having  previously  worshipped  in  Lcmont 
Hall. 

The  Uniok  Meetino-IIouse  at  Growstown  was  erected  in  1827. 
This  house  was  built  jointly  b}'  the  Free-Will  Baptists,  the  Congrcga- 
tionalists, and  the  Universalists.  Reverend  Sylvanus  Cobb,  a  Univer- 
salist,  preached  the  first  sermon  in  it.  It  is  still  used  by  the  Free-Will 
Baptists,  and  although  it  was  built  for  a  Union  meeting-honse,  they 
have  from  the  first  had  control  of  it  for  the  greater  part  of  the 
time. 

Untveksalist  Meeting-Houses  — The  first  church  edifice  erected  bv 
the  Universalists  was  situated  on  Federal  Street,  opposite  the  i)resent 
High-School  building,  on  the  lot  now  owned  by  the  Unitarians.  It  was 
built  in  1828,  and  cost  about  seven  hundred  dollars,  which  in  those 
(lays  was  quite  a  sum  of  money.  Mr.  Anthony  C.  Raj'inond  built 
the  house,  chiefl}'  at  his  own  expense.  When  completed  he  sold  pews 
to  fiftceu  persons,  and  subsequently  a  few  more  pews  were  disposed 
of,  but  he  was  alwa3's  the  principal  owner.  The  house  was  de<licated 
November  24,  1829.  In  1847  or  1848  the  building  was  sold  to  the 
Maquoit  Baptist  Societ}',  and  it  was  removed  to  the  junction  of  the 
old  Ilarpswell  and  Mair  Point  roads,  where  it  received  the  name  of 
the  Forest  Church.  In  1875  it  was  sold  to  the  Grangers,  moved  back 
to  the  village,  and  placed  at  the  corner  of  Union  Street  and  Gilman 
Avenue,  where  it  is  used  as  a  hall. 

The  second  church  building  erected  by  the  Universalists  was  what 
is  now  known  as  the  Mason  Street  Ciiukcii.  It  was  built  in  1840, 
the  ]>asement  of  the  building  and  the  land  being  the  exclusive  property 
of  Mr.  John  L.  Swift.  The  dedicator}'  sermon  was  preached  by  Rev- 
erend E.  G.  Brooks,  of  Bath  (now  Reverend  Doctor  Brooks  of  the 
Church  of  the  Messiah,  Philadelphia).  The  prayer  of  con.?(  oration 
was  offered  b}'  Reverend  George  Bates,  of  Turner,  recentlv  deceased. 
Other  parts  of  the  services  were  performed  by  Reverend  Giles  Bailey, 


G44        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

the  pastor,  by  Reverend  Seth  Stetson,  and  by  Reverend  W.  C.  George. 
The  town  clock  and  bell  on  this  building  were  purchased  chiefl3'  by 
subscnption,  by  citizens  of  Bninswick  and  Topsham,  in  1847,  the 
town  of  Brunswick  appropriating,  however,  the  sum  of  two  hundred 
dollars  toward  the  purchase  of  the  clock.  Colonel  Andrew  Dennison 
was  the  most  prominently  connected  with  the  movement,  and  the  sub- 
ject was  started  by  him.  He  transacted  the  business,  and  the  bills 
were  made  in  his  name  as  agent  for  the  town,  A  bell  weigiiing  1,700 
pounds  was  purchased  of  llenr}'  N.  Hooper  &  Co.,  of  Boston,  but  it 
was  unsatisfactorj'  in  tone  and  was  returned  Anotiier  bell  was  then 
purchased  of  George  H.  Holbrook,  East  Med  way,  Massachusetts, 
weighing  1,794  pounds,  and  costhig  $479.57.  The  same  bell  is  now 
in  use.  The  clock  was  purchased  of  Howard  &  Davis,  Boston.  It 
cost,  including  dial,  hands,  etc.,  and  expenses  of  freight  and  putting 
up,  $340.30. 

Methodist  Ciiukcii.  — The  Methodist  Church  on  Pleasant  Street  is 
the  only  one  ever  erected  by  that  denomiiuition  in  Brunswick.  It  was 
built  in  18(>6.  The  society  had  previously  worshipped  in  the  building 
on  Federal  Street  which  they  bought  of  the  l^ai)tists. 

The  new  edifice  on  Pleasant  Street  was  begiui  in  the  spring  of  18r»6 
and  was  completed  in  December  of  the  same  year.  It  cost  with  the 
lot  $9, 0(H) ;  nearly  the  whole  amount  was  raised  by  voluntary  subscri))- 
tion  and  by  the  sale  of  pews.  There  was,  however,  a  (k»bt  of  al>out 
SI, 000,  whi<*h  was  finally  paid  in  the  year  1H72. 

On  December  r>,  1800,  the  chapel  was  dedicated  with  the  following 
services :  — 

Invocation,  l>y  Reverend  E.  A.  Ilelmershauson  ;  address,  by  Rever- 
end J.  Colby;  hynui  (9(Mth),  l>y  Reverend  L.  1).  Wardwell ;  prayer, 
])y  Reverend  D.  B.  Handall ;  reading  of  8crii»tures,  by  Reverend  C.  C. 
Cone;  hymn  (9G8th),  by  Reverend  Mark  Trafton  ;  sermon,  by  the 
same,  f<.)llowed  by  an  ollertory.  psalm  of  consecration,  presentation, 
declaration,  prayer  of  consecration,  anthem,  doxology.  and  benediction. 

In  1«7.')  the  diurch  was  thoroughly  repaired,  some  nnirked  improve- 
ments made,  and  the  lot  inclosed  with  a  handsome  and  durable  fence. 
The  cost  of  these  repairs  and  improvements  was  about  six  hundred 
and  fifty  dollars,  which  was  promptly  i)aid. 

St.  Paul's  Church,  Episcopal.  —  This  church  was  erected  in  1844 
and  1845,  from  plans  furnished  by  Richard  Upjohn,  architect,  of  New 
York.  The  cost  of  the  building  and  land  was  about  84.000,  most  of 
which  was  contributed  ])v  friends  in  Rhotle  Island,  New  York,  and 
Philadelphia.     It  was  consecrated  according  to  the  use  and  liturgy  of 


FORTS,  0ARRI80XS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IK  BRUNSWICK         645 

the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  United   States,  on  Friday, 
July  11,  1845. 

The  deed  of  donation  was  read  bj'  Reverend  Thomas  F.  Fales, 
rector  of  the  parish,  and  the  sentence  of  consecration,  by  Reverend 
Robert  B.  Ilall,  of  ths  Diocese  of  Rhode  Island.  Morning  prayer 
was  conducted  by  Reverend  Messrs.  James  Pratt,  of  Portland,  and 
Alexander  Bnrgess,  of  Augusta.  The  rector  read  the  ante-commun- 
ion service,  assisted  by  Reverend  R.  B.  Hall,  who  read  the  epistle, 
and  Reverend  Francis  Peck,  of  the  Diocese  of  Maryland,  who  read 
the  gospel.  The  consecration  sermon  was  preached  by  Bishop  Ilen- 
shaw,  of  Rhode  Island. 

Various  changes  have  been  made  in  the  church.  In  1858  the 
present  arched  ceiiing  was  put  in,  under  the  open- timbered  roof,  to 
improve  the  acoustic  properties  of  the  building.  Changes  were  made 
in  the  chancel  furniture,  but  the  most  noticeable  improvements  were 
made  by  Reverend  Mr.  Ta3'lor,  in  August,  1873,  which  have  made 
the  church  so  beautiful.  The  m3morial  window  to  Bishop  Burgess 
was  placed  in  the  chancel  in  18G8,  and  that  to  Reverend  Doctor  Bal- 
lard in  November,  1871. 

OTHER  BUILDINGS. 

A  description  of  the  dwellings  occupied  by  Thomas  Rirchnse,  Stev- 
ens, and  others,  among  the  very  early  settlers,  would  Ix^  interesting, 
but  there  is  no  record  or  tradition  concerning  them.  The  following 
account  of  J.  Frontier  Home^  copied  from  Sewall's  "•  Ancient  Domin- 
ions of  Maine,"  will  probably  give  as  good  an  idea  of  those  ancient 
habitations  as  can  now  be  obtained  from  any  source :  — 

*'  A  simple  structure  of  logs  was  reare<l  from  the  buts  of  the  an- 
cient trees,  fallen  by  the  pioneer  axe  on  the  spot  where  the}-  were  cut 
down  for  a* clearing.  The  walls  of  a  rectangular  structure  thus  built 
were  covered  with  bark  or  thatch.  The  enclosed  earth  was  excavated 
for  a  cellar,  which  was  unwalled.  The  excavation  was  then  planked 
over  with  riven  logs  of  pine,  and  a  trap-door  in  the  centre  of  the  floor- 
ing let  you  into  the  bowels  of  the  primitive  structure,  consisting  of  a 
single  room  below  and  a  garret  above,  to  which  a  ladder  led  the  ascent. 
In  one  corner  of  the  log-walled  room,  a  large  fireplace  opened  its  cav- 
ernous depths.  The  back  and  one  side  was  built  of  stone,  while  a 
wooden  post  set  the  opposite  jamb,  supporting  a  horizontal  beam  for 
a  mantel-piece.  Through  the  bark,  thatch,  or  slab  roof,  or  outside 
and  up  the  back  wall  of  the  building,  was  reared  a  bob- work  of  cleft 
wood,  whose  interstices  were  filled  with  mortar-claj',  which,  in  place  of 


646      nisTonr  of  anvyswics,  topsuam,  ako  barpsweli.. 

briclt  nnd  mortar,  was  culled  '  fat  and  clay.'  On  the  hearth,  usually 
a  flat  stone,  an  ample  etore  of  wood  was  hca[}o<1,  which  was  fellett  at 
the  door,  while  the  capacious  flrepkce,  glowing  with  light  and  Iieat 
from  the  blazing  beartli-pile.  not  only  illumined  tlie  wliole  interior,  but 
afforded  a  anug  corner  for  the  indiscriminate  stowage  of  a  bevy  of 
little  ones." 

Allusions  tu  other  buildings  which  are  not  now  in  cxii^tonce,  but  the 
location  of  which  is  a  matter  of  interest,  will  lie  found  in  other  con- 
nections. What  follows  I'elates  only  to  such  buildings  as  are  known 
to  have  been  built  in  the  lost  century  or  in  tiie  early  part  of  this 
century,  ami  which  are  ntUl  in  existence,  either  in  whole  or  in  [lart. 

Probably  the  oldest  house  now  standing  in  town  is  what  is  known 
aa  the  itouEKT  TiionrsoN  House.  It  is  on  the  south  aide  of  the  road 
to  Harding's  Stntion,  and  is  the  lirst  house  to  the  east  after  passing 
Cooks  f'orner.  It  was  erected  by  Cornelius Thompsun.  ami  bus  lieen 
Dwncil  in  the  Thompson  family  until  IHFii).  Cornelius  Tliumpson 
owne^l  the  tot  m  1738-9,  and  hib  first  child  was  hotn  in  1741  If.  as 
is  pnilinlile  the  house  was  erected  preMoush  to  tin  birfh  of  this  child, 
the  house  i«  not  li  sa  than  om  hundred  and  third  sit  leTrs  >U\ 


The  chimney  to  this  housi  is  about  foni  fiit  square  at  the  top. 
The  bricks  are  laid  in  c?«y.    ITie  flooring  boards  arc  sixteen  to  eigh- 


FOHTS,  GARRISONS,  CBURCUES,  ETC,  IN  BRUNSWICK.  647 

teen  inches  wide,  and  are  treenailed  instead  of  nailed.  The  west 
room,  or  parlor,  is  panelled  on  the  sides  and  ends  up  to  the  windows, 
and  is  plastered  above.  The  sides  of  the  building  on  the  north  and 
e&st  are  bricked  between  the  studs  as  high  as  the  ceiling  of  the  lower 
storj^  This  was  done  for  warmth.  In  the  comer  of  the  parlor  is  a 
buffet  with  shelves,  etc.,  elaboratel}'  moulded  by  hand.  The  frame  of 
the  house  is  of  massive  timber.  The  door-hinges  are  of  wrought-iron, 
large,  clumsy,  and  of  curious  construction. 

The  house  faces  the  south.  The  present  road  north  of  the  house 
was  not  in  existence  when  the  house  was  built.  The  occupants  had  a 
private  road  from  the  house  leading  southeasterly  to  the  New  Mead- 
ows River  road,  which  was  only  a  short  distance  off. 

The  next  oldest  house  in  town  is  the  Hinkley  House,  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  Chapin  Weston.  It  is  just  north  of  the  railroad, 
near  Harding's  Station.  It  was  occupied  by  Doctor  Dunken  as  early 
as  1775,  and  probably  about  1770,  as  this  latter  was  the  date  of  his 
marriage.  It  was  occupied,  before  Dunken  had  it,  by  Gideon  Hink- 
ley. Hinkley's  first  child  was  bom  in  1758,  and  his  last  one  in  1770. 
If  the  house  was  built  by  Hinkley,  it  was  probably  erected  about  1756 
or  1757,  and  on  that  supposition  would  now  be  one  hundred  and 
twent}'  years  old.  It  may,  however,  have  been  built  before  Hinkley's 
time,  as  Thomas  Westbrook  owned  the  lot  in  1737  ;  and  if  the  house 
was  built  by  the  latter,  it  would  be  nearly  one  hundred  and  forty 
vcars  old,  which  would  make  it  an  older  house  than  the  Robert 
Thompson  house  just  described. 

Jacob  Weston,  grandfather  of  Chapin,  bought  this  house  in  1783 
or  1784,  and  it  has  remained  in  the  Weston  family  ever  since.  It  is 
similar  in  appearance  and  in  constniction  to  the  Thompson  house, 
and  it  does  not  therefore  require  a  more  particular  description. 

The  house  now  occupied  by  Deacon  James  Smith,  at  New  Meadows, 
was  built  by  Samuel  Melcher  prior  to  1768. 

The  house  once  owned  and  occupied  by  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  and 
which  was  built  somewhere  about  the  time  of  the  Revolution,  is  still 
in  existence,  and  is  owned  by  Grows  &  Bowker  and  used  as  a  store- 
house.    It  is  at  New  Meadows. 

The  dwelling-house  now  occupied  by  the  family  of  the  late  Doctor 
John  D.  Lincoln  is  the  oldest  in  the  village.  It  was  built  in  1772  by 
Captain  John  Dunlap,  who  lived  in  it  until  the  year  1800.  During  its 
occupation  by  Captain  Dunlap  it  was  a  public  house,  and  at  one  time 
Talleyrand  was  a  guest  in  it.  Between  1800  and  1806  it  was  occupied 
by  Captain  Richard  Tappan.     From  1806  to  1820,  Henry  Putnam, 


648        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Esquire,  lived  in  it.  At  the  latter  date  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln  (whose  wife  was  a  daughter  of  Captain  Dunlap) , 
and  from  him  it  descended  to  his  son,  its  late  owner.  There  was  a 
store  in  the  yard  south  of  the  house,  wliich  was  afterwards  moved 
across  the  street,,  and  is  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Griffin  as  a  milliner}' 
store. 

What  is  now  the  town  Pooriiouse  was  built  about  1 775  by  Thomas 
Thompson,  a  cousin  of  the  brigadier,  so  that  it  is  now  over  one  hun- 
dred 3'ears  old.^ 

The  residence  of  Mrs.  Joseph  McKeen,  on  McKeen  Street,  was 
built  in  1776,  or  soon  afler,  by  Samuel  Stanwood,  who  occupied  it 
until  1804,  when  he  sold  it  to  President  McKeen.  It  was  occupied 
by  the  latter  from  1807  until  his  death,  and  has  been  occupied  by  the 
family  of  the  late  Joseph  McKeen,  Esquire,  since  that  time. 

The  building  now  occupied  as  an  office  by  the  Eastern  Express  Com- 
pany was  built  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century  and  was  oiico 
used  as  a  tobacco  manufactory  b}''  Co/Hn  <&  Thurston.  It  then  stood 
near  the  corner  of  O'Brien  Street,  where  is  now  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Benjamin  Greene.  It  was  afterwards  removed  by  Daniel  Stone  and 
used  as  a  store.  The  date  of  its  erection  and  by  whom  it  was  built 
are  not  known. 

The  building  now  standing  on  the  northwest  comer  of  Centre  Street, 
occupied  in  the  lower  part  by  John  H.  Brackett,  tailor,  and  by 
Larkin  Snow,  grocer,  and  the  upper  storj-  of  which  is  used  as  a  tene- 
ment, was  built  with  one  story  in  1797  b^'  Colonel  William  Stanwood. 
In  1804  he  added  another  story  to  it  and  fitted  it  up  as  a  law  office  for 
his  son,  David  Stanwood,  Esquire.  The  lower  part  was  used  for  a 
store.  This  building  stands  within  a  few  feet  of  the  six>t  where 
McFarland's  blacksmith  shop  once  stood.  The  latter  was  torn  down 
in  1797  and  Stanwood's  shop  erected  in  its  place. 

The  house  now  occupied  by  Mr.  K.  T.  1).  Melcher,  on  Maine 
Street,  was  built  in  1798  by  Mr.  Shimuel  Owen,  and  afterwards  was 
sold  to  Mrs.  Greenleaf,  and  was  subsequently  sold  to  the  present 
occupant. 

The  next  house  north  of  the  above,  which  formerly  stood  very  near 
to  it,  was  built  by  Shimuel  Owen,  and  was  occupied  by  him  until  he 
built  the  Melcher  house.  Colonel  Estabrook  lived  in  this  house  in 
1802.  Mr.  Owen  at  length  sold  it  to  a  Mr.  Read,  a  brother-in-law  of 
his  wife.     It  was  afterwards  sold  to  Captain  Samuel  Dunlap.     His 


» Dean  Swift. 


FORTS,  GARRISONS,  CHURCHES,  ETC.,  IN  BRUNSWICK.  649 

widow  married  Reverend  George  Lamb,  whom  she  8ur\'ived.     She  still 
owns  and  occnpies  the  property. 

The  house  of  Caleb  Gushing,  now  owned  and  occupied  by  James 
Alexander,  on  Maine  Street,  was  built  in  1799. 

A  portion  of  the  residence  of  Mr.  William  Pierce,  on  Lincoln 
Street,  is  quite  old.  It  belonged  to  a  house  which  was  originall}' 
hauled  from  Fish-House  Hill  by  a  tailor  named  Robinson.  In  1801 
Rol>ert  Orr,  Esquire,  had  an  office  in  it.  It  was  afterwards  owned 
and  occupied  by  Doctor  Charles  Coffin,  who  sold  it  to  Captain  Thomas 
Growse,  and  he,  in  1810,  sold  it  to  Mr.  Ebeuezer  Nichols.  "Nichols 
kept  it  as  a  public  house  for  a  few  j-ears,  and  his  widow  afterwards 
occupied  it.  After  she  left  it  the  building  was  occupied  as  a  piivate 
dwelling  until  1838,  when  it  was  purchased  b\'  Mr.  L.  T.  Jackson, 
was  taken  down,  and  rebuilt  as  a  part  of  Mr.  Pierce's  house. 

The  white  cottage  between  Doctor  Palmer's  and  Mr.  Benjamin 
Dennison's,  on  Maine  Street,  was  built  and  occupied  previous  to  1802 
by  Mr.  Aaron  Melcher.  It  was  afterwards  owned  by  Isaac  Gates,  a 
lawyer,  and  was  sold  by  him  to  Major  Rowe,  a  Revolutionar}'  soldier, 
who  still  later  sold  it  to  Mr.  L.  T.  Jackson,  b}'  whose  heirs  it  is  still 
owned. 

The  present  residence  of  the  Honorable  Charles  J.  Gilmnn  was 
built  by  Captain  John  Dunlap  in  1800,  and  it  was  for  man}'  years  one 
of  the  finest  residences  in  town.  It  is  still  a  handsome  aboile.  The 
small  dwelling-house  in  Mr.  Gilman's  3'ard  was  built  previous  to  1800, 
and  was  occupied  for  some  ^-ears  by  a  watch-maker  named  Bisbee, 
whose  shop  stood  nearh'  opposite. 

The  house  erected  by  John  Dunning,  a  few  years  later,  is  the  one 
still  standing  on  the  comer  of  Union  and  Pleasant  Streets,  and  is  now 
known  as  the  Samuel  Jackson  house. 

What  is  now  the  back  portion  of  Mr.  S.  S.  Wing's  house,  on 
O'Brien  Street,  once  belonged  to  old  Timothy  Weymouth,  a  wheel- 
wright, and  a  very  eccentnc  man,  who  lived  in  it  about  1802.  In 
1 80G  this  house  was  moved  into  the  woods  to  make  way  for  the  then 
new  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish.  It  was  afterwards  removed 
below  Mr.  Daniel  Stone's  house,  and  still  later  was  moved  to  its  pres- 
ent location. 

The  present  residence  of  Doctor  Nathaniel  T.  Palmer  was  oiiginall^' 
a  one-story  building,  erected  by  Ebeuezer  Nichols.  He  afterwards 
added  another  story  and  lived  in  it,  following  the  trade  of  a  shoe- 
maker. It  was  afterwards  purchased  by  Secomb  Jordan,  a  deputy 
sheriff,  who  fitted  it  up  and  improved  its  appearance,  and  sold  it  to 


650        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

David  Stanwootl,  who  continued  to  live  in  it  until  it  was  sold  to  Abner 
Bourne.  From  the  latter  it  passed  to  Doctor  Solomon  Cushman,  and 
from  him  to  Doctor  Palmer. 

The  gambrel-roofed  house  on  Centre  Street,  near  Federal,  now 
occupied  by  Mrs.  Pierce,  was  originally  connected  with  the  residence 
of  Doctor  Goss,  at  Maquoit.  It  was  hauled  to  the  village  early  in  this 
centur}',  b}'  Doctor  Page,  and  was  used  by  him  as  an  oflioe,  and  was 
then  situated  in  his  yard,  just  south  of  his  house.  It  was  afterwards 
removed  to  its  present  location. 

The  house  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  Rodney'  Forsailh,  on  Maine 
Street,  was  built,  in  1794,  by  Major  Swift,  father  of  Dean  and  John 
L.  Swift. 

The  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Captain  L.  J.  Joyce,  on 
Noble  Street,  was  originally  the  old  tavern  which  stood  in  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  college  3'ard,  and  was  afterwards  t^iken  down,  and 
rebuilt  in  its  present  location.     It  was  originall}'  built  iu  1803. 

The  old  house  just  north  of  the  residence  of  Theodore  S.  McLellan, 
on  Maine  Street,  was  moved  there  from  Maquoit,  pre>ious  to  1802, 
b}'  a  tanner  by  the  name  of  Heath.  This  old  house  has  had  many 
occupants.  It  is  now  owned  b}'  Mr.  McLcllan,  and  leased  by  him  as 
a  tenement. 

The  Page  house,  next  south  of  the  IMason  Street  Church,  which  is 
now  occupied  as  a  boarding-house,  with  stores  below,  was  built  in 
1804  for  a  store,  and  was  occupied  by  Jacob  Abb<5t  and  Gustavus 
Goss.  It  was  subsequently  owned  and  occupied  b^-  Doctor  Jonathan 
Page. 

The  Cleaveland  house,  on  Federal  Street,  now  the  summer  residence 
of  Honorable  Peleg  W.  Chandler,  of  Boston,  was  built  in  1806  by  the 
late  l^rofessor  Parker  Cleaveland,  then  a  tutor  in  Bowdoin  College. 

There  are  doubtless  other  houses  than  those  that  have  been  enu- 
merated, which  might  be  entitled  to  mention  on  account  of  their  age 
or  because  in  some  way  noted,  but  the  foregoing  are  all  iu  regard  to 
which  any  thing  definite  has  been  asceitained. 


FOHTS,  GARRISONS,  ETC,  IN  TOPSHAM  AND  HAHPSWELL.     651 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

FORTS,    GARRISONS,  CHURCHES,    AND  OTHER  BUILDINGS   IN   TOPSHAM   AND 

HARPS  WELL. 

FORTS    AND  GARRISONS. 

There  is  a  statement  in  the  Pcjepscot  Papers  to  the  effect  that  the 
first  fort  erected  in  this  vicinity-  was  on  the  Topsham  side  of  the  river, 
and  tradition  speaks  of  an  Indian  fort  on  the  ledge  at  the  end  of  the 
bridge  near  wliere  the  old  toll-house  now  stands.  In  1(>H4  Wharton 
ratified  liis  treaty  with  the  Indians  at  Pejepscot  Fort.*  This  could 
not  have  been  Fort  Andross,  which  was  not  erected  until  H>H8,  nor 
Fort  George,  which  was  built  still  later.  It  is  therefore  not  improba- 
ble that  the  Indians  had  a  fortification  at  or  near  the  spot  upon  which 
tradition  says  there  was  one,  and  that  it  was  there  that  Wharton  rati- 
fied his  treat}'.  There  is  no  evidence  that  there  was  an  En(fUsh  fort 
here  at  that  time,  and  there  is  nothing  to  warrant  such  a  belief.  The 
tradition  in  regard  to  an  Indian  fort  on  the  Topsham  Island  is  not 
onl}'  mentioned  by  Williamson  and  other  early  writers,  but  is  also  con- 
tained in  a  statement  made  by  John  Merrill,  Esquire,  which  is  pre- 
served in  the  collection  of  Pejepscot  Papers.  His  statement  was  as 
follows :  — 

"■  In  answer  to  the  Several  Questions  asked  can  only  answer  at 
present : 

'*  I  came  to  Topsham  first  in  April  A.  D.  17C0.  The  fort  taken  by 
Capt"  Church,  as  I  was  informed  b}'  Mr.  Samuel  Wilson,  was  some- 
where near  where  the  Bridge  now  is  and  he  said  he  had  seen  some  of 
the  remains  of  said  fort  and  /  saw  an  old  cellar  on  the  Island  near 
where  the  bridge  is,  supposed  to  be  an  Indian  Cellar.  There  were 
marks  of  a  settlement  where  Merrill  point  so  called,  now  is,  —  I  don't 
know  what  built  of —  where  was  part  of  a  gun  or  guns  and  a  number 
of  Indian  knives  of  stone,  —  near  a  dozen  I  think,  —  made  very  curi- 
ousl}',  one  of  which  I  gave  to  Bowdoin  College." 

*  See  Tart  1,  Chapter  2. 


652        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL, 

The  statement  that  the  fort  taken  by  Church  was  at  Pejepsoot 
is  proved  by  Church's  own  journaH  to  be  an  error.  Williamson, 
McKeen,  and  others  have  made  the  same  mistake. 

There  were  Ibrmerl}-  quite  a  number  of  garrisons  in  this  town, 
though  not  so  man}'  as  in  Brunswick.  Near  the  spot  where  Mr. 
James  Wilson's  house  now  stands,  there  was  at  one  time  a  block-house 
which  had  a  tower,  in  which  the  women  used  to  sit  and  spin  while 
the  men  were  at  work  in  the  fields.  If  Indians  were  seen  approach- 
ing, the  women  would  blow  a  conch  shell  to  warn  the  men.  Shot, 
weighing  three  or  four  pounds  each,  have  been  ploughed  up  at  different 
times  in  the  surrounding  field. 

There  were  several  garrisons  on  the  '*  Foreside,"  near  MerrjTnect- 
ing  Bay,  the  precise  location  and  date  of  erection  of  which  are  not 
positivel}''  known.  One  of  these  was  erected  in  1756  and  was  under 
the  charge  of  Captain  Lithgow. 

A  garrison-house  was  built  b}'  a  Mr.  Gore  about  where  Mr.  Collins 
Purington  now  lives,  near  the  railroad  station. 

There  was  another  garrison  on  the  vacant  lot  east  of  the  village 
burying-ground,  in  front  of  the  residence  of  Mrs.  F.  T.  Purinton, 
and  one  on  the  hill  above  the  Free-Will  Baptist  Meeting- House.  The 
late  Mr.  Rufus  Rogers  dug  up  numerous  Indian  arrow-heads  and  other 
implements  of  war  near  his  residence. 

Gux-IIousE. — The  gun-house  of  the  artillery  compaii}',  which  was 
built  about  1808,  perhaps  earlier,  was,  after  the  disbandment  of  that 
compan\',  sold  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Topsham  Academy,  and  was 
used  for  a  wood-shed  until  the  destniction  of  the  Academy  bv  fire, 
in  1857,  after  which  it  was  purchased  b^^  the  late  Reverend  Doctor 
Wheeler,  and  was  converted  into  the  carriage-house  connected  with 
his  residence,  where  it  still  remains. 

CHURCHES. 

In  1759  the  frame  of  the  first  meeting-house  in  Topsham  was 
erected  by  the  settlers.  The  agreement  between  the  proprietors  and 
the  settlers  was  that  the  latter  should  erect  the  frame  of  the  building 
and  that  the  proprietors  should  complete  it.^  It  was  the  wish  of  the 
proprietors  to  pay  for  the  work  of 'finishing  the  meeting  house  b}'  the 
sale  of  lots,  and  owing  to  the  difl3culty  in  obtaining  pay  for  their  lots, 
the  work  ujwn  the  meeting-house  was  delayed,  and  in  October,  17GI, 
it  had  not  been  boarded  over.      At  that  time  Dr.  Noyes  wrote  Mr. 


1  Dexter,  Church's  •*  Philip* a  War,** pp.  50  to  56  2  Pejepst-ot  Records, 


FORTS,  0AHR1S0N8,  ETC,  IK  TOPSHAM  AND  IIABPSWELL.      653 

Freeman,  "  I  expect  the  meeting-house  will  be  covered  before  winter. 
John  Patten  sent  to  me  for  li>M  shingle  nails  which  are  sent  pr  Stan- 
wood.  Nothing  further,  at  present,  is  intended  than  to  secure  the 
frame.  "^  In  April,  1 763,  Dr.  Noyes  writes,  '*  1  have  the  sashes  for  the 
meeting-house  in  my  custod}',  but  until  I  receive  money  due  from  the 
settlers  1  cannot  get  them  done."  In  June,  of  the  same  year,  he 
writes,  "  By  rei)eated  complaints  of  the  people  I  do  not  find  that  John 
Patten  takes  anj'  care  about  the  meeting-house,  that  the  window- 
frames  have  lain  exposed  to  the  weather,  the  shingle  nails  rusted,  and 
I  can't  persuade  him  to  act  in  this  service  as  1  expected  from  him. 
The  men  tliat  undertook  to  shingle  the  roof  have  not  yet  completed 
it."  '-^  Precisely  when  the  meeting-house  was  finished  is  not  known, 
but  it  was  probably  shingled  and  clapboarded  and  partially  finishecl 
inside  during  the  summer  of  1764.  This  building  8too<l  about  two  and 
one  half  miles  east  of  the  village,  on  the  road  to  Bowdoinham,  where 
the  old  burying-ground  is.  It  was  similar  in  construction  to  the  meet- 
ing-houses of  Brniiswick  and  Harpswell.  After  the  erection  of  the 
second  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  this  building  was  allowed  to 
go  to  ruin,  and  was  carried  off  piecemeal  by  different  persons  for 
fences  and  other  purposes. 

The  second  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  was  built  in  1821. 
It  stood  on  what  is  now  the  High-School  lot.  It  was  about  on  a  line 
with  the  present  residence  of  Deacon  David  Scribnor  and  the  Frank- 
lin Familv  School  buildins:.  It  was  built  niainlv  bv  in(livi<luals  resid- 
ing  in  the  village,  and  was  presented  by  thoni,  conditionally,  to  the 
First  Parish.  This  meeting-house  was.  both  externally  and  internally-, 
very  ditlerent  from  the  old  one.  It  was  nuicli  lar*rer,  and  had  a  tall 
steeple  upon  which  was  a  handsome  vane.  The  windows  were  larjije 
and  long,  so  that  they  lighted  both  the  body  of  the  house  and  the 
galleries.  The  galleries  extended  the  length  of  the  building  on  both 
si(L>s  and  across  the  north  end.  They  were  sui)ported  by  jjillars. 
The  north  gallery  was  for  the  choir,  and  here,  snbse<iuently,  was 
placed  a  really  fine  organ,  which  was  presented  to  the  society  by  Major 
William  Frost.  It  was  the  first  organ  used  in  Topshani.  The  pulpit 
was  quite  high,  biMug  almost  on  a  level  with  the  galleries.  A  flight  of 
stairs  on  each  side  led  to  it,  and  beneath,  just  in  front,  between  the 
stairs,  stooil  the  communion-table  and  chairs.  Behind  the  pulpit  was 
a  large  window,  hung  with  heavy  drapery,  which  oi)ened  into  the  ves- 
try.    The  vestry  was  a  room  over  the  entry,  and  was  reached  by  the 


'  P^epscot  Papers*  '^  Ibid. 


654        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  IIARPSWKLL. 

stairway  on  either  side  that  led  to  the  galleries.  The  pulpit  was  of 
mahogany,  and  was  considered  a  nice  piece  of  workmanship.  I'here 
were  two  longitudinal  aisles  and  one  broad,  transverse  one  in  fi-ont  of 
the  pulpit.  There  were  sixtj'  pews  in  the  bod}'  of  the  building,  and 
about  forty-two  in  the  galleiies.  Those  in  the  body  of  the  building  were 
oblong  box-pews,  and  the  doors  were  fastened  with  brass  buttons.  There 
was  one  pew  in  the  gallery,  occupied  b}'  Mrs.  Fields,  that  was  higher 
than  the  rest  and  had  windows  in  front,  over  which  curtains  could  be 
drawn.  The  gallery  pews  were  nearly  square.  The  aisles  were  nicely 
eaq^eted,  and  the  house  was  warmed  by  two  large  box-stoves.  In  the 
centre  of  the  ceiling  was  a  large  dome,  which  was  always  a  source  of 
wonder  to  the  children.  There  were  two  doors  to  the  meeting-house 
on  the  outside,  and  two  to  correspond  to  these  on  the  inside.  Ai-ound 
the  front  of  the  gallery*  extended  an  iron  rod,  upon  which  were  slid- 
ing curtains,  which  could  be  closed  or  opened  by  tlie  occupants  of  the 
lower  tier  of  pews.  The  belfry  never  contained  a  bell,  that  in  the 
Court  House  near  by  being  used  on  Sundays  to  assemble  the  congre- 
gation. The  Court  House  bell  was  the  first  bell  ever  placed  upon 
any  building  in  town,  and  was  purchased  by  subscription.  There  was^ 
a  lightning-rod  upon  the  meeting-house,  which  rod  for  many  years 
the  daring  youth  of  that  period,  regardless  of  danger  to  life  or  limb, 
were  wont  to  ascend.  Some  of  the  companions  of  his  youth  still  live, 
who  will  rcmenil)er  many  an  earnest  conversation  wilh  the  writer 
while  he  was  seated  upon  the  gilded  ball  above  the  bell-deck.  Their 
conversation,  it  is  perhaps  needless  to  say,  was  usually  of  a  senous 
turn,  the  lofty  situation  not  being  conducive  to  lovit}'. 

This  meeting-house  was,  about  1855,  taken  down,  and  rebuilt  at 
one  of  the  Brunswick  ship-yards  for  a  boarding-house  for  the  workmen. 
In  1875  this  building  was  taken  down  and  IVom  the  material  a  double 
house  was  erected  on  the  lot  on  the  west  side  of  Union  Street,  at  the 
corner  of  McKeen  Street,  Brunswick. 

The  present  Congkegational  Meeting-House  was  built  in  1830. 
The  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  having  passed  into  the  hands 
of  Unitarians,  the  Orthodox  Congrogationalisls,  who  composed  a 
majority  of  the  church  of  the  First  Parish,  united  in  building  a  new 
meeting-house,  'i'he  following  is  a  copy  of  the  subscnption  paper 
which  was  signed  bv  those  who  contributed  to  the  erection  of  the  new 
building :  — 

**  Whereas  the  First  Parish  in  Topsham,  in  the  County  of  Lincoln 
and  State  of  Maine,  are  destitute  of  a  suitable  and  convenient  house 
of  worship,  and  the  Congregational  Church  therewith  connected  and 


FORTS,   QARRISONS,  ETC.,  IN  TOPSHAM  AND  HARPSWELL,       655 

Others  are  contemplating  purchasing  a  lot  of  land  and  erecting  and 
completing  a  suitable  and  convenient  house  of  public  worship  for  the 
particular  use  and  benefit  of  the  Orthodox  Congregational  Church: 
and  whereas  in  pursuance  and  in  execution  of  an  agreement  hereto- 
fore made  by  us  and  others  for  this  purpose,  a  committee  has  been 
raised  and  appointed,  consisting  of  John  Barron,  Nahum  Perkins, 
John  Tebbetts,  Alfred  White,  Hugh  Patten,  and  Given  Jameson,  who 
have  alrea^ly  purchased  materials  and  made  other  purchases,  contracts, 
and  arrangements  to  carry  into  execution  the  purposes  aforesaid : 

'*  Now  know  all  persons  that  we  whose  names  are  hereto  subscribed 
do  hereb}'  severally,  each  for  himself  and  not  for  the  others,  covenant, 
engage,  and  agree  to  and  with  said  committee  and  the  survivors  of 
them  and  their  legal  representatives  to  take  the  share  or  shares  herein 
by  us  respectively  subscribed  for  in  said  meeting  house,  and  to  pay 
to  said  committee  or  any  one  of  them,  or  other  agent  hy  them  api>ointed, 
our  just  and  respective  proportions  of  the  cost  and  expenses  of  pur- 
chasing a  lot  and  building  a  house  as  aforesaid ;  and  we  hereby  au- 
thorize and  empower  said  committee  to  go  on  with  and  complete  the 
purchase  of  land  and  building  a  house  aforesaid  in  such  way  and  man- 
ner as  they  may  think  best,  hereby  ratifying  and  confirming  whatever 
the}'  may  do  in  the  premises. 


"  \\  itness  our  hands  and  seals  at  Topsham  this  nineteenth  day  of 

Octol)er,  A.  D.  1836. 

"John  Baruox, 

three 

shares. 

Naiium  Perkins, 

>( 

.( 

John  Tebbetts, 

two 

(; 

Alfred  AVhite, 

four 

k( 

Hugh  Patten, 

two 

(( 

Alfred  S.  Perkins, 

(( 

(( 

STOCKBiilDGE   IIOWLAND, 

(( 

(( 

Willis  SPRAOtrE. 

(( 

i» 

Lemuel  TiioMrsoN, 

(( 

(( 

Matiiew  Patten, 

one 

4( 

Joseph  Patten, 

it 

ki 

Joshua  Foy, 

(( 

u 

Isaac  L.  (;ook, 

(( 

u 

John  II.  Alexander, 

(( 

(i 

John  B.  Larrabee, 

two 

(* 

Joseph  Barron, 

(( 

.( 

James  McKken, 

u 

(( 

Given  Jameson, 

t( 

ii 

David  Alexander, 

one 

(k 

James  H.  Sandford, 

two 

t( 

656        IUST0R7  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

*'  A  tnie  copy  of  the  original. 

"Attest: 

"  Isaac  P.  Tebbetts." 

The  bell  on  this  meeting-house  was  the  gift  of  General  Veazie.  It 
cost  about  seven  hundred  dollars.  Subsequently  it  was  cracked  and 
recast. 

The  first  Baptist  or  "  Oi-d  Yellow  Meeting-House"  was  built  in 
1795.  It  was  situated  about  two  miles  west  of  the  village  in  the  lot 
adjoining  the  old  burying-ground.  It  was  forty  feet  long  and  thirty 
feet  wide.  It  was  built  chiefl}'  by  Joseph  Hale}',  Captain  Actor  Pat- 
ten, 1st,  John  Merrill,  Pelatiah  Hale\\  and  James  Purington.  It  was 
unused  for  many  years,  and  was  finally'  taken  down,  and  rebuilt  for  a 
boarding-house  at  one  of  the  ship-yards  in  Brunswick. 

The  Baitist  Vestry  was  built  in  1819.  It  was  situated  opposite 
the  village  burying-ground,  on  the  corner  of  the  grounds  now  occupied 
by  the  Franklin  Family  School,  and  was  built  over  the  brook,  which  is 
still  to  be  seen  there.  It  was  a  long,  low,  one-story  building  without 
a  steeple.  In  1840  it  was  purchased  by  the  town  for  a  town-house, 
and  was  used  as  such  for  many  years. 

The  present  Baptist  Church  was  erected  in  1835.  The  first  meet- 
ing held  in  it  was  in  May  of  that  3'car.  When  first  built  and  until 
1870  there  was  a  gallery  over  the  i)orch ;  the  pews  were  oblong  with 
doors,  and  the  pulpit  was  quite  high.  In  1X70  the  building  was 
greatly  improved  both  internally  and  extonialiy,  and  it  was  enlarged 
b^'  an  addition  of  some  live  or  six  feet  in  front.  The  gallery  and 
pulpit  were  taken  down  and  a  new  pulpit  erected,  the  pews  were 
remodelled,  and  the  building  thoroughly  repaired,  at  a  cost  of  upwards 
of  82,r)00.  The  bell  on  this  church  was  purchased  in  1836  b}- sub- 
scription, the  larger  portion  of  the  cost  )>eing  paid  by  Deacon  David 
Scribner. 

The  Free  Will  Baptist  Meeting-IIouse  was  erected  in  1837.  The 
cost  of  the  building  was  about  ?3,000.  It  has  been  kept  in  good 
repair,  but  it  remains  to-da}'  substantial!}'  as  it  was  first  built,  having 
never  been  remodelled. 

COURT  nOUSE. 

The  Court  House  was  built  in  the  year  1800.  It  was  situated  about 
midway  between  the  residence  of  Deacon  David  Scribner  and  the 
Franklin  Famih' School  building.  The  illustration  shows  the  appear- 
ance of  the  building  previous  to  1835,  at  which  time  it  was  reinodelM. 
In  1848,  Topsham  being  no  longer  a  half-shire  town,  the  building  was 


FORTS,  QABKISONS,   ETC.,  IN  TOPSEAM  AND  HARPSWELL.      657 

sold  to  the  proprietors  of  the  Topshain  Academy.  It  was  again 
remodelled,  and  was  used  as  an  academy  until  a  short  time  before  its 
(lestniction  hy  lire,  which  was  on  December  3,  1857. 


TOWN-HOUSE. 
In  1840  the  town  purchased  of  Joshua  Haskell  the  Baptist  vestry 
and  lot  for  the  sum  of  two  hundred  and  twentj'-five  dollars,  and  paid 
three  hundred  and  seventy-Kve  for  finishing  the  building  inside  and 
outside,  and  also  paid  forty  dollars  for  a  stone  drain,  to  secure  the 
town-house  and  road  from  washing.  Tliis  was  the  first  and  only  lown- 
house  owned  by  the  town,  and  its  total  cost  was  only  six  hundred  and 
forty  dollars.  It  was  finally  torn  down  in  1864,  the  town  having  made 
arrangements  with  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural  Society  for  the  use  of 
th<^ir  hall  for  town- meetings. 

OBSERVATORY. 

An  ohscrvfltorj'  was  built  upon  Mount  Ararat,  at  some  time  between 

1830  and  1840.     The  project  was  started  by  the  late  Doctor  James 

McKeen,  and  the  structure  was  built  byaubseribers.     The  ohservatorj' 

was  about  fifty  feet  high.     It  was  made  of  four  trees,  hewed,  and  set 


658      mSTORJ  or  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  lUBPSWELL. 

up  slanting.  The  troea  were  fastened  together  with  joists  and  were 
boarded  over.  Inside,  a  flight  of  stairs  led  up  to  the  "  lantern"  or 
Standing-place,  which  was  large  enongh  for  three  or  four  persona  to 
oceupy  it  at  one  time.  From  this  ohscrvatory  a  fine  view  of  CascD 
Bay  conld  be  obtained,  and  sometimes  the  White  Mountains  eould  be 
seen  from  it.  This  structure  remained  standing  some  seven  or  eight 
years,  when  the  stairs  ha^'ing  become  somewhat  rotten,  it  was  thought 
unsafe,  and  was  consequently  given  to  a  poor  man,  who  used  a 
portion  of  the  lumber  for  a  ])en  for  animals  and  the  rest  for  firewood. 

OTHER  BUILDINGS. 
The  oldest  house  now  standing  in  Topsham  is  probably  the  "  Old 
Ked  IIdusk,"  about  two  miles  from  the  village  on  the  road  to  Bow- 
djinham.     Precisely  when  this  house  was  built  is  not  known,  but  it 


must  have  boon  previous  to  1770,  as  it  was  at  tliat  time  occupied  by 
.(oim  Hunter  as  a  tavern.  The  same  grooved  claiilxianls,  split  out  by 
liand.  which  were  originally  used  on  it,  are  to  1<o  found  on  it  to-day. 
The  inlerior,  finisheil  in  panel-work,  is  n<ncl  to  those  living  in  modem 

houses. 


FORTS,  GARRISONS,  ETC,,  IN  TOPSHAM  AND  HARPSWELL.      659 

The  Foster  House  on  the  *'Foreside"  road,  near  the  Narrows, 
was  built  in  1775,  or  very  soon  after,  by  Mr.  Joseph  Foster.  The  door 
fastenings  and  hinges  were  picketl  up  by  him  in  Portland,  at  the  time 
that  town  was  burned  in  1775,  and  were  used  in  the  house  that  he  was 
then  building. 

The  present  Merrill  Homestead  was  erected  in  1 785  by  John  Mer- 
rill, and  is  3'et  in  excellent  condition.  Previously  to  building  this 
house,  Merrill  lived  in  a  log- house,  which  was  situated  a  short  distance 
in  the  rear  of  the  present  building.     The  log-house  was  built  in  1760. 

The  house  now  occupied  b}'  Swanzet  Wilson,  situated  on  the 
Bowdoinham  road,  just  be\'ond  Cyrus  Purington's,  was  built  about 
1794,  by  James  Wilson,  for  Doctor  Emerson,  who  occupied  it  for  sev- 
eral jears.     After  him,  Doctor  Parker  lived  in  it  for  a  few  years. 

Another  very  old  residence  is  on  the  bay,  or  '*  Foreside  "  road, 
about  three  miles  from  the  village.  It  is  now  occupied  by  William 
Douglass.  Whether  or  not  it  is  the  original  house  first  built  on  the 
place  is  uneertnin.  The  original  house  was  once  banicaded  for  pro- 
tection from  the  Indians. 

Another  of  the  old  houses  is  the  Rogers  Homestead,  situated  on 
the  Bowdoinham  road,  about  three  miles  from  the  village.  The  main 
house  was  erected  about  the  year  1773,  and  was  for  some  eight  or  ten 
3'ears  used  as  an  inn.  The  huge  chimney  now  standing,  said  to  be  the 
first  brick  one  ever  built  in  town,  was  put  up  by  Mr.  Andrew  White- 
house,  a  mason  of  the  first  order.  His  plastering  upon  the  walls 
excited  the  admiration  of  all  who  came  from  far  and  near  to  sec  it. 
This  house  was  afterwards  made  into  a  double  tenement,  and  occupied 
by  his  son,  the  late  Honorable  George  Rogers,  and  is  now  occupied  by 
the  family  of  the  late  George  A.  Rogers. 

The  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  James  Wilson  was  built 
by  his  fatlier,  James  Wilson,  previous  to  1792. 

The  Coffin  House,  on  Main  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  old  bank, 
was  occupied  by  Francis  Tucker  as  earh'  as  1800,  and  for  many  years 
after.  It  was  originally  a  one-stor}'  building,  and  Tucker  added  the 
second  stor^'  when  he  converted  it  into  a  public  house. 

The  Major  Frost  House,  how  occupied  as  the  Franklin  Famh^y 
ScnooL-HousE,  was  built  in  1806  by  Captain  Daniel  Ilolden,  the 
Freemasons  paying  largely  toward  defraying  the  expense  for  the 
privilege  of  having  a  lodge-room  in  it.  Mr.  ^Nathaniel  Green  kept 
a  tavern  in  it,  between  1831  and  1836,  to  aecommo<late  persons 
attending  court.  Dancing- schools  were  often  kept  in  the  hall  after  it 
was  vacated  by  the  Freemasons.     From  Green*s  hands  it  passed  to 


6G0       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Major  AVilliam  Frost.  It  was  sold  by  the  widow  of  the  latter,  in 
185G,  to  Warren  Johnson,  who  converted  it  into  a  boarding-school 
house. 

The  house  now  occupied  b^'  Daniel  A.  Hall,  on  Elm  Street,  was 
formerh'  the  residence  of  Nathaniel  Melcher,  and  was  probably  built 
previous  to  1800. 

The  Stockijuidge  Rowland  House,  on  Elm  Street,  was  occupied 
by  James  Stone,  father  of  the  late  Colonel  Alfred  J.  Stone,  in  1802. 
At  the  time  of  his  residence  there  was  open  land,  under  cultivation, 
owned  by  Gideon  Walker,  to  the  north  and  east  of  it.     The  date  of 

m 

erection  of  this  house,  and  bv  whom  it  was  built,  is  not  known. 

What  is  known  as  the  Kaciiel  Patten  IIoi.se  was  fonnerly  occu- 
pied b}'  Joseph  Swett,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Captain  Actor 
Tatten.     It  was  built  as  early  as  1800. 

The  house  now  occupied  by  Collins  Purington,  near  the  depot, 
was  built  in  IHIO,  })y  Captain  Ezekiel  Purington.  John  Jameson  was 
the  master  worknuui. 

The  CiiAKLE.s  Thompson  House,  on  Green  Street,  near  its  Junction 
with  Main  Street,  was  built  by  Isaac  Johnson,  not  far  from  the  year 
1800. 

The  Porter  House,  on  Elm  Street,  nearly  opposite  the  graveyard, 
was  built  by  Doctor  Porter  in  1802.  When  he  moved  to  Camden  in 
1829  the  house  passed  into  the  hands  of  Governor  William  King,  who 
was  his  brother-in-law.  While  Governor  King  owned  it,  Mrs.  Field 
occupied  it  for  some  3'ears  for  a  school.  In  1813,  Francis  T.  Purinton 
purchased  it,  and  it  has  ever  since  been  occupied  by  his  familj".  It 
is  on  one  of  the  best  locations  in  town,  and  was,  doubtless,  at  the 
time  it  was  built  and  for  manj'  3'ears  thereafter,  one  of  the  finest 
homesteads  in  the  village. 

The  Walker  Hojiestead,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Kim  Streets, 
was  built,  in  1809,  by  Major  Nathaniel  Walker,  who  was  married  and 
moved  into  it  the  following  year,  and  resided  there  ever  after  until 
his  death,  in  1851.  The  French  roof  was  placed  upon  it  for  a  picture- 
galler}',  in  1867,  by  the  present  proprietor,  (  olonel  Wildes  P.  Walker. 
Other  improvements  were  also  made  upon  the  outside,  and  to  the 
grounds,  which  render  it  now  one  of  the  handsomest  residences  in 
town  and  an  ornament  to  the  village.  The  interior  has  been  pre- 
served substantially  as  it  was  originally  built. 

There  are  probably  other  houses  in  town  as  old  as  those  mentioned, 
but  nothing  delinite  has  been  learned  concerning  them. 


yoRiy,  OAitittsoys,  ktc.,  ly  topsuam  jtsD  irAitPiwELL     661 


662      HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

HARPSWELL. 

Forts  and  Garrisoxs. — The  only  fort  ever  eonstnicted  in  Harps- 
well  was  made  during  the  war  of  1812,  on  the  land  now  owned  b}' 
Woodbiirv  S.  Purinton,  at  the  mouth  of  New  Meadows  River.  It  was 
a  simple  earthwork,  the  foundation  of  which  was  made  of  logs.  A 
mound  of  earth  and  a  few  deca^'ed  logs  mark  its  location 

There  was  a  garrison  or  block-house  for  defence  against  the  Indians, 
on  the  north  end  of  Bailey's  Island.  It  was  at  the  Narrows,  between 
Garrison  Cove  and  the  main  bay,  within  twent}'  feet  of  the  shore.  The 
stone  foundations  have  been  seen  b}-  some  of  the  older  inhabitants ;  but 
when  the  land  was  put  under  cultivation,  all  the  stones  were  rolled  over 
the  bank,  and  there  are  now  no  traces  of  the  garrison  to  bo  seen. 

About  1704,  Joseph  Orr  built  a  large  block-house  on  the  farm  now 
owned  b^'  Bradbury  Wilson.  It  stood  near  the  middle  of  On^'s  Island, 
on  the  northwest  side  of  the  hill,  northwest  of  the  present  house.  This 
block-house  was  standing  within  the  memorj'  of  Captain  James  Sinnett, 
of  Bailey's  Island.     There  is  now  no  trace  of  it  to  be  discovered. 

On  the  Neck,  on  the  point  of  land  now  owned  by  Paul  Stover, 
there  was  a  block-house ;  by  whom  erected,  or  at  what  date,  is  not 
known.  It  was  taken  down  bj'  Daniel  Randall  and  erected  as  a  store- 
house, near  his  dwelling.  In  1822  it  was  again  taken  down,  and  re- 
built as  a  dwelling,  which  is  still  standing. 

It  is  quite  probable  that  there  were  other  block-houses  or  garrisons 

on  the  Neck,  and  also  on  Great  Island,  but  these  are  all  of  which  we 

have  any  account. 

CHURCHES. 

The  old  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish  in  this  town  was  prob- 
ably' commenced  about  the  year  1757  or  1750.  Elisha  Eaton,  son  of 
the  Reverend  Elisha  Eaton,  who  was  a  carpenter  living  in  Boston, 
wrote  in  his  diary,  August  7,  1757  :  — 

"  getting  stuff  for  window  frames  and  Sashes  for  Meeting  bouse 
which  is  for  North  Yarmouth  y*  sec'd  Parish."  . 

*'  Sept.  21.     Gaping  window  frames  for  meeting  house." 

*'  1759  June  13th.  Puting  sashes  on  board  y'  vessel  for  Meeting 
house  at  Ilaq^swell." 

"  Octo.  6th,  saird  for  Harpswell  —  arrived  there  }••  8th  where  I 
tarried  until  Nov.  27th." 

Although  there  is  no  proof,  yet  it  is  quite  likely  that  Mr.  Eaton 
worked  upon  the  meeting-house  during  his  stay  in  Harpswell,  and 
probably  put  in  the  windows  he  had  been  so  long  at  work  upon. 


FORTS,  GARltlSONS,  ETC.,  IN  TOPSHAM  AND  HARPSWELL,       663 

From  an  examination  of  the  town  records  it  appears  that  this  house 
was  a  long  time  in  being  completed.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the 
town,  November  14,  1774,  it  was  voted  that  the  *'  Advance  ground  in 
the  Galleries  and  seats  in  the  same  shall  be  for  the  use  of  the  Parish, 
except  the  Pew  in  the  Front  of  the  Front  Gallery,  they  (the  members 
of  the  Parish)  pajing  the  cost  of  the  Same."  And  it  was  also  voted 
^^  to  put  in  the  glass  wanting  in  the  meeting-house,  mend  the  putty, 
Prime  the  Sashes  and  window  Frames." 

At  another  meeting  held  the  same  year  it  was  voted  to  lay  a  floor  in 
the  porch,  build  the  stairs  and  doors  in  the  porch,  put  up  the  breast- 
work in  the  galleries,  and  put  in  the  seats  there,  and  to  mend  the 
windows.  Nothing  further  seems  to  have  been  done  until  June,  1781, 
when  it  was  voted  to  shingle  the  "four  side"  of  the  meeting-house, 
and  to  hang  the  doors. 

This  completed  the  work  on  the  church  until  January  IG,  1792, 
when  it  was  voted  that  there  should  be  "  four  pews  built  in  the  body 
of  the  meeting-house  on  the  Neck  adjoining  the  pews  now  built,  two 
on  each  side  of  the  fh>nt  allej',"  and  that  the  money  arising  from  the 
sale  of  the  same  should  be  expended  in  repairing  the  meeting-house. 
Also,  that  the  pew  ground  should  be  sold  at  auction. 

In  November,  1797,  the  town  voted  to  sell  ten  feet  two  inches  of 
the  \)ew  space  in  each  side  galler}-,  the  purchaser  to  pay  two  dollars 
down  and  the  balance  in  ninety  da^'s,  or  forfeit  the  whole.  At  the 
sale,  pew  No.  5  was  bid  off  to  William  Dunning,  Jr.,  at  twenty-one 
dollars  ;  No.  4  to  Walter  Merryman,  Jr.,  at  twentj'-five  dollars  ;  No.  3 
to  Joshua  Bishop,  at  twenty -six  dollars  and  fifty  cents ;  and  No.  2 
to  Aleck  Stover  at  the  same  price. 

This  meeting-house  was  occupied  hy  the  First  Parish  until  1844. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  parish  held  May  31,  1841,  it  was  voted,  "to 
take  out  the  insides  of  the  meeting-house,  as  far  as  necessary, 
take  off  the  porch,  turn  the  house  round  end  to  the  road,  and  rebuild 
the  inside  of  the  house,"  and  that  Joseph  Eaton  be  a  committee  to 
consult  an  architect  and  estimate  the  expense.     It  was  also  voted 

■ 

that  the  meeting  house  should  not  in  future  be  used  for  town  purposes, 
and  that  Eaton  should  inform  the  selectmen  of  this  vote.  At  a  meet- 
ing held  Jul}'  5,  the  parish  committee  were  instructed,  in  case  the 
selectmen  thought  the  town  had  a  claim  on  the  meeting-house,  to  refer 
the  matter  to  some  legal  authority,  and  the  committee  were  empowered 
to  sue,  and  to  defend  the  rights  of  the  parish. 

At  a  parish  meeting,  held  March  26,  1842,  it  was  voted  to  petition 
the  District  Court  for  leave  to  sell  the  meeting-house  at  pri\  ate  sale, 


664        inSTORY  OF  BSVSSVeiCS,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HdSPSWELL. 

or  otherwiee,  with  or  without  the  land  on  which  it  stood,  as  might  be 
thought  advisable. 


■ey  n  vcn'  good  idoa  of  tlie  a|))X'ar- 
1  either  aide,  niid  of  the  galler)-  and 


Tlic  nliove  illiiftralion  will  con 
Qucc  of  the  i)iil|)it  mid  the  pews  c 
wuIIm. 

The  last  eulry  in  the  parish  records  is  dated  Septfiulier  27,  1842. 
It  wiia  called  in  the  legal  mnnner,  and  a  legal  return  was  made  upon 
the  warrant,  an<l  was  signed  by  the  person  who  noliflod  the  members 
and  by  tlie  |)arish  clerk.  For  some  reason,  however,  it  waa  not 
decinetl  legal  by  some.     The  enlry  reads  as  follows :  — 

"  At  a  certain  meeting  purporting  to  be  a  meeting  of  the  First 
Parish  in  Harpawell  held  on  the  '27,  of  Sept.  1842,  and  which  waa 
called  by  Washington  Garcelon,  Jiis.  Peace,  issning  his  warrant  to 
Thomas  Alexander,  voted  as  follows  —  I'homas  Alexander,  Modera- 
tor ;  after  which  the  meeting  was  objected  to  by  a  member  of  said 
Parish,  in  behalf  of  the  Parish,  and  they  refused  to  act,  as  being  ille- 
gal on  account  of  its  not  having  been  notilied  by  said  Alexander. 

"  Voted,  that  a  Committee  of  three  be  chosen  to  remonstrate  at 
Court  against  the  Meeting  House  l>eing  sold.  Voted,  Joshua  Stover, 
Rufiia  Dnnning  and  .Simeon  St4>ver  2d,  be  this  committee.  Voted, 
that  this  committee  have  power  to  call  on  pajwra  and  witnesses. 


FOBI^,   GARBLSOirS,  ETC.,  IN  TOPSHAM  AND  HARPSWELL.      665 

Voted,  that  John  Stover  be  an  agent  to  carry  the  remonstrance  to 
Court.  Voted  to  pass  over  the  3d  article  in  the  warrant  [to  see  if  the 
parish  would  repair  the  meeting-house] .  Voted,  that  all  votes  passed 
on  the  26th  of  March  last,  concerning  the  sale  of  the  Meeting  House, 
be  rescinded.  Voted,  that  the  Meeting  House  be  occupied  as  it  has 
been.  Voted,  not  to  assess  an}'  monej'  for  the  support  of  the  Minis- 
Xvy.     Voted  that  this  meeting  be  dissolved. 

"Attest.  "William  C.  Eaton, 

P.  ClerkV 

After  this  date  the  meeting-house  remained,  for  the  most  part, 
unused,  until  1850,  when  it  was  taken  possession  of  ])}'  the  town  as  a 
town-house  and  selectmen's  office. 

This  building,  though  probably  one  hundred  and  twenty  years  old, 
is  still  standing,  and  in  use  as  a  town-house,  and  is  in  a  fair  state  of 
preservation.  The  boards,  an  inch  and  a  half  thick,  and  the  birch 
bark  covering  the  cracks  beneath  the  clapboanls,  are  still  to  be  seen 
in  it,  as  well  as  the  curious  hinges  and  the  original  hand-made  nails. 

The  old  meeting-house  of  the  First  Parish,  on  Great  Island,  was 
built  about  1770,  and  was  taken  down  in  1843.  It  was  similar,  both 
externally  and  internally,  to  the  old  meeting-house  on  the  Neck,  and 
does  not,  therefore,  require  further  description. 

The  Centre  Congregational  MEETiNr.-HousE  on  Harpswell  Neck, 
directly  opposite  the  old  First  Parish  Meeting-House,  was  built  in 
1843.  It  was  built  hy  individuals  who  entered  into  the  following  agree- 
ment :  — 

"  We  the  subscribers  being  desirous  to  have  a  meeting-house  built 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  old  meeting-house  on  Haq^swell  Neck,  to  be 
ever  owned,  managed,  and  conducted  by  the  Congregational  Society 
in  Harpswell,  with  the  privilege  of  its  being  occupied  by  others  hold- 
ing evangelical  sentiments,  at  the  request  of  an}'  pew-holder,  when 
not  occupied  by  the  said  Congregational  Society.  To  contain  about 
fort}'  pews,  with  a  belfry  and  steeple,  and  to  be  of  such  dimensions 
as  the  building  committee  and  some  experienced  joiner  shall  deem 
best. 

"  And  we  hereby  agree  to  take  the  number  of  pews  set  against  our 
names,  and  to  pay  the  assessments  as  agreed  upon  at  any  regular 
meetingof  said  subscribers,  the  first  meeting  to  be  called  by  the  building 
committee  or  any  three  of  the  subscribers,  to  choose  such  officers  and 


666        HISTORY  OF  BRUKSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 


make  such  regulations  as  said  meeting  may  think  proper,  and  to 
determine  the  manner  of  cnliing  futui*e  meetings.  And  the  build- 
ing committee  to  be  Silvester  Stover,  Clement  Martin,  and  James 
Stover.  And  all  who  can  conveniently,  to  pa}'  in  to  the  Building 
Committee. 

•' Silvester  Stover.         .         .  ini^^^^ 

Joseph  Stover    . 
Dominicus  Jordan 
George  S.  Dunning    . 
James  Stover 
Isaac  Dunning  . 
William  Barnes  . 
Joseph  Eaton     . 
Jacob  Merrj'nian 
William  C.  Eaton 
Hugh  Farr 
Elisha  Allen,  Jr. 
Abraham  Allen 
James  Dunning 
Simeon  Orr 
Richard  Orr,  Jr. 
Stephen  Sinnet,  Jr.     . 
IVIichael  Sinnet  . 
Norton  Stover,  2d 
Clement  Martin . 
George  R.  Skolfield    . 
Daniel  Randall . 
George  Skolfield 
Mar}'  Skolfield  . 

At  their  first  meeting  the  foregoing  proprietors  voted  to  purchase 
three  sixteenths  of  an  acre  of  land  of  Elisha  Stover,  for  the  meeting- 
house lot.  At  another  meeting  of  the  same,  held  June  30,  it  was 
voted,  in  explanation  of  one  clause  of  their  agieement, ''  that  when  the 
meeting-house  is  not  supplied  by  Congregational  preaching,  it  shall 
be  opened  on  the  Sabbath  under  the  direction  of  the  committee  or 
agent  having  charge  of  it,  and  at  the  request  of  one  or  more  pew- 
holders,  for  preaching  by  other  authorized  ministers  in  regular  stand- 
ing, holding  the  sentiments  commonly  called  Evangelical,  such  as  the 
atonement,  regeneration,  the  special  iufiuences   of  the   Holy  Spirit, 


•                        t  Vf 

k4 

(» 

•  • 

ifc 

ik 

hi 

•  k 

fcb 

i. 

«• 

»  k 

fck 

.  k 

kfc 

kk 

ii 

ii 

ik 

k  k 

n 

k» 

kfc 

»k 

FORTS,  GARRISONS,  ETC.,  IN  TOPSHAM  AND  HARPSWELL,      667 

and  future  retribution.  But  for  preachers  of  other  sentiments  than 
those  referred  to,  and  for  all  other  public  occasions  and  uses  whatever, 
it  cannot  be  opened  except  in  the  usual  way,  viz.,  b}-  the  committee 
or  agent  acting  under  the  direction  of  the  Congregational  Societ}'." 
It  was  also  voted  at  this  meeting  that  Joseph  Eaton,  George  R.  Skol- 
Held,  and  George  S.  Dunning  be  a  committee  to  take  measures  in 
regard  to  forming  a  new  parish,  whenever  it  should  be  thought  expe- 
dient. At  a  meeting  of  the  proprietors,  held  September  25,  George  R. 
Skolfield,  James  Stover,  and  Daniel  Randall  were  chosen  a  committee 
of  arrangements  for  the  dedication.  It  was  also  voted,  "  That  we, 
the  proprietors  of  the  new  meeting-house  rece/if/// ^e//7f  on  Ilarpswell 
Neck,  do  hereb}'  convey  and  transfer  to  the  Centre  Congregational 
Parish  in  Ilarpswell  when  formed,  all  our  right,  title,  and  interest  in 
and  to  said  meeting-house,  authorizing  said  parish  to  give  deeds  of 
conve^'ance  to  an}'  persons  who  may  purchase  pews  in  said  house, 
and  to  do  such  other  acts  as  may  be  legally  done  by  parishes  in 
respect  to  meeting-houses." 

Tiie  Union  Meeting-IIouse  on  Harpswell  Neck  was  built  in  1841, 
and  was  dedicated  by  the  Universalists  on  the  twenty-first  of  Septem- 
ber of  the  same  year.  It  is  situated  near  the  academy  in  North 
Harpswell. 

The  Methodist  Church  on  Ilarpswell  Neck  was  erected  in  1854-5. 
Work  upon  the  building  was  commenced  in  October,  1854,  when  there 
were  but  seven  members  in  the  society,  which  was  then  under  the 
pastoral  charge  of  Reverend  George  C.  Crawford.  Captains  Norton 
Stover  and  Nathaniel  Pinkham  assumed  the  entire  pecuniar^'  re- 
sponsibility. The  building  was  dedicated  May  17,  1855,  and  on 
that  daj'  the  pews  were  sold.  The  cost  of  the  building  was  about 
84,000. 

The  Our's  Island  Meeting-IIouse,  the  first  and  onlv  one  ever 
built  on  that  island,  was  erected  in  1855,  and  is  occupied  one  quar- 
ter of  the  time  each  hy  the  Methodists,  Free  Baptists,  Calvinist 
Baptists,  and  Congregationalists.  The  original  owners  were  members 
of  the  three  churches  on  Ilarpswell  Neck.  A  Free  Baptist  Church 
was  organized  after  the  building  was  erected,  and  the  above  arrange- 
ment as  to  meetings  was  made. 

OTHER  BUILDINOa 

Probablj'  the  oldest  house  now  standing  on  Harpswell  Neck  is  the 
one  occupied  by  Horatio  Toothaker.     It  is  situated  a  short  distance 


668        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  IIARPSWKhL. 

cast  of  the  acarlomy.   It  is  a  large,  sqii  a  re-roof e<l  house,  and  waa  built 
by  Deacon  Andrew  Dimiiine  in  li-iT. 


TuE  Andbev  DuHaiKa  IloraE. 


The  house  now  owned  It)'  Paul  Randall,  whieh  is  set  in  froni  thi 
road  a  slinrt  distniiee  below  the  Ba|)tist  nieeting-honne.  at  Harpswell 
Centre,  is  of  abont  tlio  same  age  ai  the  preceding,  bnt  the  precise  date 
of  its  erection  caniiol  be  ascertaiiie<]. 

The  i\rst  frnmetl  hou^e  on  Sebascodi^an  Island  was  erected  in  Mar. 
1764,  bj-  Colonel  Nathaniel  Purinton.  It  was  a  large  two-Rtor>-  honse. 
This  house  was  taken  down  in  IfloO  and  another  erectrd  in  its  place, 
but  the  ham,  which  was  bnilt  the  same  year  as  the  old  honse.  is  now 
standing,  and  has  bten  in  constant  use  for  one  hundred  ami  twelve 
years. 

About  1 7(J7,  Reverend  Samuel  Veasey  huilt  a  lai'ge  two-slorj-  house 
on  the  lot  a  few  rods  northwest  of  the  hnrying-groumi  on  lliia  island, 
which  was  afterwards  sold  to  Ca))tain  Isaac  Rich,  and  was  occupied 
by  hia  descendants  until  within  a  few  years.     It  has  recently  been 


taken  down. 

About  1766  a  one-storj'  lionse  w 
IIarI>or,  by  .lames  loastman.  It  i 
by  Mrs.  Adaline  Klliott. 

The  oldest  honse  on  Orr's  Island  and  the  oldent  in  the  town  is  un- 
doubte<Ily  that  bnilt  by  Joskpu  Okr.     It  is  situated  on  a  point  of 


ras  bnilt  on  this  island,  near  Condy's 
8  still  standing,  and  is  now  occupied 


FOSTS,   QARSISOITS,  XTC.,  Ilf  TOPSHAII  AND  BARPSWELL.      669 

lainl  about  one  half  mile  northwest  of  the  middle  of  the  island,  and 

vTftH  probalily  precte<I  nhoiit  175C.     The  sills  are  ten  inches  uiid  tiic 


lid  occll- 


,    SiSSETT. 


l)i>nius  ciglit  iiiehes  in  ilinrnoter.    This  liouat'  is  nov 
pied  h\  Biruibiirj'  and  Klbridge  Wilson, 

Anotlior  old  house  on  this  island  is  that  built  by  Michakl 
It  was  probably  erected  alwut  1777  or  1787. 

It  is  not  ntiliicely  that  there  are  other  very  olil  lionsos  still  standing 
in  Ilarpswell.  A  lack  of  personal  knowledge  of  the  town,  however, 
and  the  great  diffi(.'nlty  there  is  in  determining  the  nge  of  a  bnilding 
concerning  which  there  is  no  documentary  evidence,  ]>rcvciit3  us  from 
mentioning  others. 


670        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

INTERESTING   RELICS   IN   BRUNSWICK,   TOPSIIAM,    AND   HARPSWEI.L. 

IN  BRUNSWICK. 

The  relics  that  will  be  mentioned  in  this  chapter  are  of  articles  that 
originally  belonged  in  this  vicinity  or  that  were  brought  here  by  the 
earlj-  settlers. 

The  christening  basin  of  Robert  Jordan,  son  of  Reverend  Robert 
Jordan  who  came  to  this  country  in  1640,  was  in  the  Jordan  famil}"  in 
this  town  until  185i  or  1855,  when  it  was  sold  to  Honorable  Seth 
Storer  of  Scarborough.  This  basin  was  made  of  finel}'  wrought  brass, 
and  was  probably  i)urchased  about  the  year  1G40  or  1G50. 

A  book  entitled  '•  Burkett's  Comraentarj'  on  the  New  Testament," 
which  is  said  to  have  been  broujjht  over  to  this  countrv  in  10-10  bv 
Reverend  Rolwrt  Jordan,  is  in  the  possession  of  !Mrs.  Narcissa 
Jordan,  of  Bath. 

Honorable  Cliarlcs  J.  flilman  has,  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation,  a 
Bible  once  owned  by  Kc'vcrend  Robert  Dunlap.  It  was  printed  in 
1098.  Ho  i\\<i)  \\w^  a  silver  niiig,  of  about  a  quart  in  size,  which  was 
the  propi-rty  of  Captain  John  Dunlap,  and  is  now  over  a  hundred 
vears  old.  It  is  of  solid  silver  and  verv  heavv.  It  was  used  for 
drinking  flip. 

The  late  Doctor  John  D.  Lincoln  had  the  first  silver  dollar  ever 
owned  by  his  grandfather,  Captain  John  Dilnlap,  who  i«  said  to  have 
been  at  his  death  the  richest  man  in  Maine.  The  doctor  had  also  a 
silver  Hagon  with  the  arms  of  the  Toppan  family  engraved  upon  it, 
which  was  the  property'  of  his  grandmother  Dunlap,  and  is  upwards 
of  one  hundre<l  vears  old.  lie  had  also  a  fire-fender  which  once 
belonged  to  General  Knox,  and  which  is  an  elegant  article.  The  doc- 
tor had  also  a  collection  of  coins  which  is  one  of  the  finest  collections 
in  the  State. 

There  is  in  p(;ssessi(>n  of  the  Woodside  family  a  portrait  of  Rev- 
erend James  Woodside,  who  preached  hi  Brunswick  in  1719.  It 
bears  date  ''  IT'iO,  by  Gibson." 


RELICS  IN  BRUNSWICK,  TOPS ff AM,  AND  HARPSWELL,        671 

The  hat-box  of  William  Woodside  and  a  brass  warming-pan  once 
owned  bj-  him  are  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Woodside  famil}'. 
The  hat-box  is  triangular  in  shape,  each  side  being  eighteen  inches 
long,  and' the  depth  of  the  box  is  six  inches.  The  box  is  covered 
with  a  figured  pai>er,  and  is  lined  with  newspapers  bearing  the  date 
17G1.  It  was  made  to  contain  the  triangular  hat  which  Woodside 
used  to  wear. 

The  church  of  the  First  Parish  in  Brunswick  has  in  its  possession 
nine  pieces  of  sacramental  plate,  which  were  given  to  the  church  in 
1737.  Of  these  are  two  flagons,  upon  one  of  which  is  inscribed, 
^•^  Gift  of  Benjamin  Larrabee  Esquire^  1737";  and  upon  the  other, 
Gift  of  Ctpt,  J'hn  Minot,  Esq.  1737,  To  the  Church  of  Christ  in 
Brunsicick"    The  other  pieces  are  three  plates  and  four  cups. 

Two  pewter  plates,  a  part  of  the  wedding  outfit  of  William  and 
Marj'  Sylvester,  who  were  married  in  1736,  and  who  moved  to  Harps- 
well  soon  after,  are  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  George  E.  Springer, 
of  Brunswick,  who  is  their  great-granddaughter.  Mrs.  Springer  has 
also  a  wooden  candlestick,  made  by  Mr.  Sylvester  with  a  jackknife. 
It  consists  of  a  wooden  shaft  about  four  feet  high,  an  inch  and  a  half 
in  diameter  at  the  bottom  and  for  half  its  length,  the  upper  half  being 
about  three  fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  and  is  cut  like  a  screw. 
Upon  this  staff  a  cross-arm  screws  up  and  down.  At  each  end  of  the 
cross-arm  there  is  a  socket  for  a  candle,  the  screw  allowing  the  can- 
dles to  be  raised  or  lowered  as  desired. 

In  possession  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society  is  the  gun  which  was 
captured  from  an  Indian  in  1725  by  James  Cochran. 

Mr.  Chapiu  Weston  has  a  basket  made  b}'  his  great-grandfather, 
Jacob  Weston,  in  1775.  It  is  what  was  called  a  bottle  btsket^  being 
made  of  the  right  shape  and  size  to  carry  a  large  bottle.  The  dimen- 
sions are  twelve  inches  deep,  and  six  inches  square  across  the  top, 
tapering  slightlj'  towanls  the  bottom.  It  is  made  of  white-oak  strips, 
and  the  handle  is  made  without  a  si)lice.  It  is  a  nico  piece  of  work- 
manship, and  must  have  been  a  convenient  article  in  the  days  when  a 
bntt  e  was  carried  wherever  on 3  went.  It  might  also  have  served  in 
the  place  of  the  modern  canteen.  Mr  Weston  also  has  a  three-dollar 
bill,  Continental  money,  dated  1777,  it  being  a  part  of  what  was  paid 
Jacob  Weston  for  his  services  as  a  private  in  the  Revolution. 

Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  of  Bowdoinham,  has  in  his  possession  a  ])lank 
book  which  was  used  for  arithmetical  problems  by  Sauuiel  Adams, 
who  was  a  private  in  Captain  White's  company,  of  Brunswick,  in 
Washington's  army,  while  encamped  at  Vallej'  Forge.     The  cover  is 


672      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topseam,  and  harpswell. 

made  of  a  piece  of  his  tent  cloth,  and  the  strings  were  torn  from  a 
piece  of  cloth  of  which  his  breeches  were  made. 

Theodore  S.  McLellan,  of  Brunswick,  has  an  axe  which  was  made 
b}^  Thomas  Stone  about  the  3'ear  1795. 

T.  M.  Giveen,  Esquire,  has  a  ver}'  formidable  club,  which,  it  is 
said,  was  years  ago  taken  from  a  "  yagger"^  during  a  conflict  with  the 
students.  It  is  of  hard  wood,  sixteen  inches  in  length  and  about  an 
inch  and  a  half  in  diameter.  At  one  end  is  a  huge  knot,  into  which  a 
hole  was  bored  and  tilled  with  lead.  Nails  were  also  driven  into  this 
end  of  the  club  and  filed  off,  leaving  sharp  points  about  half  an  inch 
in  length.  I'here  arc  four  of  these  iron  points.  At  the  opi>ositc  end 
a  groove  was  cut,  to  wliich  a  cord  was  tied.  In  the  hands  of  a  strong 
man,  this  club  would  l>c  a  deadly  weapon. 

IN  TOPSHAM. 

Mr.  David  Work  has  several  relics.  Among  them  are  two  small, 
leaf-shaped  dishes  which  belonged  to  ''Skipper"  Malcom,  and  are 
now  one  hundred  and  ten  years  old.  They  were  probably  used  to 
hold  the  snuflings  of  the  candles.  He  has  also  a  table-plate  of  the 
"  Skipi>er's."  He  has,  too,  a  cup  and  saucer  which  belonged  to  Mrs. 
William  Kandall,  and  are  now  more  than  one  hundred  and  ten  years 
old.  He  has  also  a  pewter  spoon  and  an  iron  fork  which  he  dug  out 
of  the  cellar  of  the  house  in  which  Doctor  Philip  G.  Hoyt  once 
resided.     The  supposed  age  of  these  latter  relics  is  ninety  years. 

A  candlestick  purchased  in  Boston  in  1770,  b}'  Brigadier  Samuel 
Thompson,  is  now  the  property  of  Mrs.  Robert  Tate.  The  base  is  of 
marble  surmounted  by  two  bronze  statuettes  holding  the  brass  socket 
for  the  candle.  It  was  doubtless  considered,  at  the  time  it  was  pur- 
chased, a  handsome  and  valuable  article. 

Mr.  James  F.  Mustard  has  a  gun  of  French  manufacture,  which  is 
supposed  to  l>e  over  one  hundred  years  old,  and  a  pair  of  saddle-bags 
of  about  the  same  age. 

The  late  Mr.  Rufus  Rogers  had  quite  a  number  of  Indian  relics, 
such  as  tomahawks,  arrow-heads,  stone  tools,  etc.,  which  are  now  in 
the  possession  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society. 

An  Indian  tomahawk  was  dug  up  in  18G3  in  a  field  near  the  house 
of  William  Sprague. 

Several  cannon-balls  —  four-pounders  —  have  been  dug  up  in  Mr. 


1  77tc  name  applied  hy  the  college  students  to  the  rowdies  who  lived  at  the  north  end<if 
the  town,     TJie  word  ispi-obahly  a  corruption  of  Vie  German  Yiiyer^  meaning  a  hunter. 


RELICS  IN  BRUNSWICK,   TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL.        673 

James  Wilson's  field  adjoining  his  house,  where  was  once  a  block- 
house.    Various  Indian  relics  have  also  been  dug  up  there. 

There  is  in  the  possession  of  Mrs.  Samuel  Douglass  a  set  of  silver 
sleeve-buttons  which  were  worn  hy  Captain  John  Rogers  at  his  wed- 
ding, about  the  year  1775. 

Mr.  W.  W.  Patten  has  a  foot-stove  which  was  used  earlv  in  this 
century,  and  perhaps  previously,  for  keeping  the  feet  warm  "  in 
meeting."  Tt  is  made  of  i>erforated  tin,  in  which  were  placed  live 
coals,  the  tin  being  encased  in  a  wooden  frame.  It  is  about  nine  or 
ten  inches  square.  Probabl}'  there  are  quite  a  number  of  other  foot- 
stoves  in  existence  in  this  vicinity,  but  this  is  the  only  one  we  have 
seen. 

The  famil}'  of  Major  Joshua  Haskell  have  in  their  possession  the 

arms  and  equipments  which  he  used  while  in  service  in  the  war  of 

1812. 

IN  HARPSWELL. 

Owing  to  a  lack  of  i>ersonal  acquaintance  with  many  of  the  citizens 
of  Harpswell,  and  to  the  scattered  situation  of  its  inhabitants,  it  has 
not  been  found  practicable  to  obtain  accounts  of  many  of  the  relics 
which  are  doubtless  preserved  in  private  families  as  heirlooms. 

A  sword  once  owned  by  Captain  Johnson  Harmon,  a  hero  of  the 
Indian  wars  in  the  earl\'  part  of  the  last  century,  and  which  was 
probably  worn  bj'  him  in  his  attacks  \\\>o\\  the  Indians,  is  now  the 
property  of  Captain  A.  C.  Stover.  It  is  straight,  single-edged,  with 
a  deer  enirraved  on  each  side  of  the  blade,  about  six  inches  from  the 
hilt.     The  handle  is  of  buck-horn. 

Mr.  DaWd  S.  Dunning,  of  Portland,  formerly  of  Ilarpswoll,  has  a 
little  pocket-compass  wiiich  Captain  Andrew  Dunning  bought  of  a 
French  prisoner,  whom  he  was  conveying  from  Quebec  to  Virginia 
shortly  alter  the  capture  of  (Quebec  in  1759. 

Mr.  Stephen  Purinton,  of  Ilarpswell,  has  a  warming-pan  which  was 
once  the  proi)erty  of  the  wife  of  John  Merrill,  Esquire,  of  Topsham. 
Its  age  is  not  known,  bu^it  is  probably  over  a  hundred  years  old. 

The  sword  of  Nathaniel  Purinton,  of  Harpswell.  an  officer  in  the 
Revolution,  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Charles  K.  Purinton,  of  Bow- 
doinham. 

Mr.  Stephen  Purinton  has  a  stone  gouge  which  he  found  on  a  shell- 
bank  on  his  premises.  It  is  of  hard  sandstone,  and  is  about  five 
inches  long  by  two  and  a  half  broad.  Quite  a  number  of  flint  arrow- 
heads have  been  dug  up  in  this  vicinity. 

There  is  in  the  possession  of  James  E.  Skolfield  a  part  of  a  gun  and 
43 


674        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

a  knife  wliich  were  ploughed  out  where  a  house  is  supposed  to  have 
once  stood,  though  there  is  no  account,  traditional  or  otherwise,  of 
anj'  resident  at  that  place. 

Mr.  Skolfield's  wife  has  also  a  salt-cellar,  in  good  condition,  in  the 
shape  of  an  oak-leaf,  which  is  over  one  hundred  years  old. 

There  is  in  the  family  of  Charles  N.  Leavitt  a  white  eartlien  plate 
which  was  his  great-grandmother*s.  It  is  over  one  hundred  and  fifty 
years  old.  The  picture  on  the  plate  is  a  representation  of  a  party  at 
a  festival  in  the  cabin  of  a  vessel.  Under  it  are  the  wonls,  "  The 
Captiiins  Cabin."     It  is  really  a  fine  thing. 

Thomas  S.  Skolfield  has  a  gun  which  formerl}'  belonged  to  Thomas 
Spear.  It  was  given  to  Skolfield  by  Si)ear  more  than  seventy  j'ears 
ago,  and  is  supposed  to  be  about  two  hundred  j'ears  old. 

The  following  account  of  the  discover}*  in  Harpswell  of  an  old 
Indian  burj'ing-ground,  with  some  curious  ornaments  found  on  or  near 
some  of  the  skeletons,  is  taken  from  some  notes  written  bv  the  late 
Reverend  Edward  Ballard,  D.  D. 

On  May  24,  1861,  seven  skeletons,  evidently'  Indian,  were  thrown 
up  by  the  ploughshare  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Henry  Barnes,  on  the 
eastern  side  of  IMiddle  Bay,  near  the  shore.  The}*  were  about  twelve 
or  fitteeri  inches  below  the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  lay  in  the  direc- 
tion of  northeast  and  southwest.  In  the  ground  near  these  skeletons 
were  found  the  following  ornaments :  — 

1.  Three  copper  tubes,  a  little  less  than  half  an  inch  in  diameter, 
Kiwe  being  over  a  foot  long  One  of  these  was  filled  with  decayed 
twisted  bark,  which  was  probalily  used  as  a  cord.  Four  others  were 
found  that  were  only  two  inches  in  length,  and  a  little  more  than  an 
eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  They  were  attached  in  couples,  as 
l>endants,  to  two  strings  of  prepared  deer-skin,  which  were  curiously 
knotted  at  their  point  of  union. 

2.  Four  other  specimens  were  found,  made  of  the  same  thin  cop- 
per, but  of  a  conical  shape,  nearly  three  inches  in  length,  half  an  inch 
at  the  base,  and  tapering  to  a  quarter  of  ai^inch  at  the  top,  which 
were  unattached  when  found. 

3.  Two  flat  thin  pieces  of  brass,  about  two  and  three  quarter  inches 
long,  triangular,  more  than  an  inch  and  a  half  broad  at  the  base,  and 
diminishing  to  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  at  the  top,  where  thej'  were 
rounded,  and  had  a  hole  showing  them  to  have  been  designed  as 
pendants. 

4.  More  than  sixtv  white  shell  beads,  each  a  fourth  of  an  inch 
long   and  a  little  less  than  an  eighth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  were 


RELICS  IN  BRUNSWICK,   TOPSHAM,  AND  IIARPSWELL.         G7o 

gatliered  from  the  same  spot.  A  spiral  groove  around  the  sides 
showed  that  the}'  were  made  from  the  shell-fish  which  the  Indians 
called  *'  Qiiohock"  (Vemis  mercenaria). 

''  A  shell  furnished  only  one  grooved  bead,  which  was  taken  fi'om 
the  thickest  part  near  the  hinge  and  rubbed  <lown  on  sandstones  to 
the  proper  length  and  thickness,  and  in  order  to  preserve  the  size 
necessaril}*  leaving  the  groove  where  the  ligament  was  attached,  that 
secured  the  shells  at  the  hinges.  Two  of  these  beads  were  slightly 
colored,  and  somewhat  smaller,  plainly  showing,  however,  they  were 
taken  from  the  edge  nearest  the  anterior  portion  of  the  shell. 
Between  each  of  the  beads  were  thin  circular  plates  of  dark  pnri)le 
shell,  perforated,  and  appearing  to  have  been  made  of  tlie  thin  part  of 
the  same  shell.  Thev  were  called  *  Suckanhocks,'  and  were  twice  the 
value  of  the  white.  Both  lyinds  were  used  as  monc}'.  and  also  for  the 
decoration  of  the  necks  of  the  wives  and  chihlren  of  the  Indians.  On 
the -same  skeleton  where  these  various  ornaments  were  discovered,  was 
a  portion  of  hair  well  preserved,  somewhat  long,  and  gathered  in  a 
wrapper  in  the  best  state  of  preservation  about  the  neck,  made  of 
braided  bark,  like  basket-work,  which  soon  fell  to  pieces  when 
l)rought  into  the  air." 

One  of  the  remaining  skeletons  was  that  of  a  chill  about  eight  3'ears 
ohl.  The  other  four  were  those  of  adults,  and  were  buried  at  short 
distances  from  each  other,  with  no  regularity,  except  in  tlie  similarity 
of  the  direction  of  their  graves.  The}'  presented  no  objects  of  interest 
beyon<l  the  fact  of  their  discover}'.  Two  iron  axes  of  European  man- 
ufacture, groimd  for  use,  were  found  on  the  same  day  by  means  of  the 
plough,  at  a  short  distance  from  the  skeleton,  on  the  same  swell. 
Thev  have  no  head  above  the  eye. 

'*  Axes  of  similar  shape,  with  long  handles  for  bush  and  branch 
work,  are  still  in  use  among  the  Micmacs.  These  implements,  however, 
may  have  been  lost  on  the  place  by  the  first  settler,  whose  name  was 
MacXess,  and  who  occupied  the  shore  with  two  dwellings  about  two 
hundred  years  ago,  of  which  the  places  are  indicated  by  the  cellars, 
which  were  deep,  at  the  distance  of  two  or  three  rods  from  the  deposit 
of  the  relics." 


676        HISTORY  OF  BRUXSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

MILITARY    HISTORY   OP   THE   THREE   TOWNS. 

An  account  has  already  been  given,  in  Part  I,  of  the  several  engage- 
ments that  occurred  in  this  vicinitj'  during  the  perioci  of  the  Indian 
wars,  and  of  the  troops  that  were  stationed  here,  and  a  list,  neces- 
sarily incomplete,  of  the  soldiers  from  these  towns  will  be  given  in  the 
Appendix.  This  chapter  goes  no  further  back  than  the  war  of  the 
Revolution  and  the  events  immediately  preceding  it. 

For  some  years  preceding  the  actual  commencement  of  hostilities 
the  danger  of  a  conflict  batween  the  colonies  and  the  mother  countrj* 
had  been  anticipated  in  each  of  the  towns  whose  history  is  being  nar- 
rated, and  Committees  of  Safety  and  of  Correspondence  were  estab- 
lished in  all  three  of  them.  As  to  what  particular  act**  were  done  by 
those  committees  but  little  is  known,  as  no  records  appear  to  have 
been  kept  by  them.  Jt  is  known,  however,  that  the}'  kept  up  a 
correspondence  with  similar  committees  of  other  towns,  more  espe- 
cially with  Boston  and  the  hugor  places,  and  were  thus  made  season- 
ably acquainted  with  the  condition  of  alfairs  over  the  whole  coiiutrj'. 

The  earliest  movement  of  a  military  character,  in  this  immediate 
vicinity,  having  any  bearing  upon  the  subsequent  war,  was  in  1774. 
This  year  the  supply  of  powder  in  each  town  was  increased,  patriotic 
speeches  were  frequently  made  by  public  speakers,  and  nearl}'  all  able- 
bodied  men  were  engaged  in  studying  the  manual  of  arms  and 
practising  the  drill.  Some  time  during  this  year.  Reverend  Jacob 
Bailey,  of  Pownalboro*,  noted  for  his  Tory  proclivities,  was  stopped  at 
Stone's  tavern,  in  Brunswick,  on  his  way  home  from  the  westward. 
He  was  accused  of  being  a  Tory  and  was  uiged  to  sign  ''  the  League." 
On  his  refusal  he  was  allowed  to  depart,  but  was  notified  that  he 
would  be  visited  at  his  home  the  next  week.* 

[1775.]  On  April  19,  1775,  commenced  the  opening  struggle  of 
the  Revolution,  at  Lexington.     It  took  but  a  few  days  for  the  news  to 

1  Norlhf  History  of  Augusta^  p.  119. 


MILITART  mSTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS.  677 

reach  Brunswick  and  arouse  its  inhabitants.  A  town  meeting  was 
called  by  the  selectmen,  who  issued  the  following  warrant  for  its 
assembling :  — 

**  ClTMBKRLAND  8S. 

*To  TUB  Constable  or  Constables  of  the  town  of  Brunswick, 

"Greeting; 

"  You  are  hereby  required  forthwith  to  warn  all  the  inhabitants  of 
the  said  town  of  Brunswick,  qualified  to  bear  arms,  to  meet  at  the 
west  meeting-house  in  said  Brunswick,  on  Thursday,  the  27th  inst.  at 
ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  with  their  guns  and  what  ammunition  they 
have,  in  order  that  it  may  be  known  the  state  of  the  town  for  defence  ; 
and  to  determine  what  measures  shall  be  gone  into  by  the  town  to  fur- 
nish mateiials  for  defence  against  any  enemy  that  may  invade  it,  and 
to  act  and  do  everj'^thing  necessary  for  security  in  this  alarming  situa- 
tion of  affairs. 

'*  Given  under  our  hands  and  seal  this  25th  day  of  April,  A.  D. 

1775. 

"Nathaniel  Laruabee, 

Thomas  Moulton, 

Selectmen  of  Brunswick,'*'* 

This  meeting  "  was  ftilly  attended  and  was  remarkable  for  its  great 
solemnity.  All  seemed  deeply  impressed  with  the  magnitude  of  the 
dangers  which  were  hanging  over  them  and  the  importance  of  pre- 
serving order  and  tranquillit}'.  There  were  some  who  breathed  nothing 
but  war  and  revenge  on  Great  Britain,  but  who,  when  the  crisis  came, 
when  the  burden  of  the  contest  was  falling  heavily  upon  the  citizens, 
when  soldiers,  provisions,  clothing,  and  money  were  wanted  and 
must  be  furnished  b}'  the  town,  moved  with  their  families  from  town 
into  the  woods  —  now  Durham  and  Lisbon  —  and  escaped  the  heat 
and  burden  of  the  war.  It  was  said  that  twent}'  moved  from  Bnms- 
wick  at  this  time  to  be  out  of  harm's  way  and  save  pacing  taxes.  The 
(Quakers  settled  in  Durham  about  this  time  from  a  different  motive. 
Lemuel  Jones,  falling  into  Brunswick,  suffered  his  property  to  be  dis- 
trained in  the  payment  of  war  taxes,  as  did  others  of  the  Quakers.^" 

Upon  the  reception  of  the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Captain 
Lithgow  and  Lieutenant  George  White,  of  Topsham,  at  once  com- 
menced to  collect  a  company-  of  soldiers,  and  were  very  successful. 
This  company  went  to  Portland  and  were,  under  the  orders  of  Colonel 


'  McKeeUt  in  Brunswick  Telegraph,  July  1, 1854. 


678        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSIIAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Mitchell,  put  at  work  erecting  a  fort.^  They  were  discharged  in 
November,  and  many  of  them  re-enlisted  under  White,  who  was  then 
a  captain,  and  who,  the  same  year,  was  made  major  of  the  regiment 
of  which  Samuel  McCol>b,  of  Georgetown,  was  colonel,  and  Dummer 
Sewall,  of  the  same  town,  now  Bath,  was  lieutenant-colonel.  This 
regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  army  under  Washington,  at  Cam- 
bridge'.    In  177G  it  was  ordered  to  Khode  Island. 

In  the  latter  part  of  April,  1775.  Captain  Nathaniel  Larrabee 
and  Lieutenant  Isaac  Snow  went  to  Condy's  Harbor,  at  Harpswell, 
with  a  company  of  men  from  Brunswick  and  Harpswell.  They 
were  emplo3'ed  in  erecting  a  fort  there  and  in  building  barracks. 
The}'  had  two  "  wall-pieces,"  that  were  brought  from  Fort  Halifax, 
and  two  swivels.  A  wall-piece  was  stocked,  like  a  gun,  with  a  lock. 
It  was  ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  with  a  bore  of  two  and  one  half  inches. 
It  would  send  twent>'  musket-balls  across  to  Bear  Island,  over  a  mile 
distant.  This  compan^^  remained  here  until  Christmas,  and  during 
their  stii}'  the  British  appeared  off  the  harbor  several  times  and  fired 
at  them.  The  fire  was  returned  with  these  wall-pieces.  Three  da^'s 
after  the  burning  of  Portland,  which  occurred  October  18,  this  com- 
pany was  ordered  to  Portland,  and  were  employed  for  two  weeks, 
under  Colonel  Finney,  in  building  a  fort  on  Munjoy's  Neck.  They 
then  returned  to  Sebascodigan  Island.  These  men  were  not  regular 
troops,  but  were  ''  minute-men."  ^ 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  Apiil,  the  following  account  of  the  stat^  of 
affairs  in  this  vicinity  was  written  by  Brigadier  Thompson.  The  let- 
ter bears  no  address,  but  was  probably  directed  to  the  governor  of  the 
Massachusetts  Colony :  — 

"  I  this  minute  have  an  opportunity  to  Informe  3'ou  of  the  State  of 
our  affairs  at  the  Eastward  ;  that  we  are  all  Stanch  for  Count3^'s  Ex- 
cept three  men  and  one  of  them  is  Deserted,  the  other  two  is  in  loms  ; 
as  for  the  vessels  which  attempted  to  Convc}'  Stuff  to  our  enemies  are 
stop*  and  I  am  about  to  move  about  two  hundred  of  white  pine  masts 
And  other  Stuff  got  for  our  Enemies  use.  Sir,  havcing  heard  of  the 
Cruill  murders  the}'  have  dun  in  our  Province,  makes  us  more  Reso- 
lute than  ever  and,  finding  that  the  Sword  is  drawn  first  on  their  side, 
that  we  shall  be  annimated  with  that  noble  Spirit  that  wise  men  ought 
to  be,  until  our  Just  Rights  and  Libortys  are  Secured  to  us.  Sir,  my 
heart  is  with  every  tru  Son  of  America,  tho  m}'  Person  can  be  in  but 
one  place  at  once,  tho  very  soon  I  hope  to  be  with  3'ou  on  the  spot. 


*  McKeeUf  3fS.  Lecture.  ^Ptjepscot  Papers. 


MILITARY  mSTORT  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS.  679 

if  any  of  my  Friends  enquires  after  me,  Inform  them  that  I  make  it 
my  whole  business  to  persue  those  measures  Recommended  by  the 
Congresses  ;  we  being  uppon  the  Sea  Coast  and  in  danger  of  being  in- 
vaded by  Piriats  —  as  the  27th  of  inst.  there  was  a  ])oat  or  barge 
came  in  to  our  harbour  anil  River,  and  sounding  as  they  went  up  the 
river.  Sir,  as  powder  and  guns  is  much  wanted  in  this  Eastern 
Parts  and  also  Provisions,  Pray  Sir  have  your  thoughts  something  on 
this  matter  against  I  arrive,  which  will  be  as  soon  as  busnes  will 
admit.  Sir,  I  am,  with  the  greatest  Regard  to  the  Countr}^  at  heart 
your  Ready  friend  and  Humble  Serv*. 

'*  Samuel  Thompson.^ 

"liRUXSWiCK,  April^-*  29th,  1775." 


Some  time  in  June  following.  Captain  Philip  C.  Randall,  of  IIaq)8- 
well,  on  his  way  to  Salem  in  his  vessel,  was  forcibly  taken  therefrom 
b}'  an  armed  vessel  and  carried  to  Boston.'^ 

About  tlie  same  time  Robert  Fulton,  John  and  William  Patten, 
Thomas  Ilarward,  Josei)li  Berry,  and  David  Fowler,  from  Topsliam, 
went  in  a  vessel  to  the  mouth  of  the  Androscoggin  for  hay,  and  were 
taken  by  the  English  and  carried  to  P2ngluud.  Robert  Fulton  and 
William  Patten  died  there ;  the  others  returned. 

At  the  annual  meeting  this  year  the  town  of  Brunswick  passed  the 
following  resolution :  — 

**  VofffiL  "^I'hat  if  a  number  of  men  out  of  this  town  shall  list  as  min- 
ute-men, and  should  they  be  engaged  in  the  defence  of  our  lives,  shall 
receive  from  the  town  eight  dollars  each  as  a  bounty.  If  any  others 
than  such  as  list  shall  be  equally  engaged  shall  receive  an  equal 
bounty  if  they  are  legally  called  and  should  march,  and  Providence 
shouM  order  it  that  there  should  be  an  engagement,  they  are  entitled 
to  the  above  bounty. 

**  Each  man  that  lists  as  minute-man  to  meet  three  times  a  week, 
and  to  spend  three  hours  each  time  to  learn  the  manual  exercise,  and 
in  consideration  for  such  service  shall  be  paid  bj'  the  town  two  shil- 
lings eight  pence  per  week. 

'*  Such  as  do. not  list  as  minute-men  shall  meet  once  a  fortnight  and 
spend  half  a  day  in  learning  the  manual  exercise,  and  shall  be  allowed 
one  shilling  and  four  pence  for  each  time  they  meet." 

After  the  business  of  this  meeting  was  coijc-luded.  Reverend  Samuel 
Eaton,  of  Ilarpswell,  who  was  present  at  the  meeting,  Avas  invited  to 


*  Military  Rt'amU  in  Massarfiusetts  Archives. 
'^  (Jooldf  Burning  of  Falmouth ^  p.  11. 


680        UISTORY  bF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

address  the  people.  He  did  so  and  made  a  stirring  and  eloquent 
appeal  to  their  patriotism.  He  so  aroused  the  spirit  and  tem[)cr  of 
the  people,  that,  carried  away  by  excitement,  several  of  them,  under 
the  lead  of  the  chairman  of  the  mee'ing,  Brigadier  Thompson,  seized 
Mr.  Vincent  Woodside,  one  of  the  most  prominent  and  outspoken 
opposers,  who  held  a  commission  under  the  king,  and  attcmpt^l  to 
force  him  to  renounce  British  rule.  Finding  that  the3'  could  not 
intimidate  him  by  threats,  they  even  proceeded  to  bur}-  him  alive,  and 
had  succeeded  so  far  as  to  cover  all  but  his  head  with  earth,  when  the}' 
were  prevented  by  the  interposition  of  a  few  resolute  and  considerate 
persons  from  carrying  their  murderous  design  into  execution.  After 
Woodside's  escape,  the  mob,  for  such  it  was,  went  to  Mr.  Ross's  house 
and  to  Andrew  Dunuiug*s,  but  found  them  both  absent.  They  s]>oiled 
a  lot  of  the  king's  masts  tliat  were  in  a  lumber-yard  near  tlie  present 
First  National  Bank.  The  king's  agents,  Messrs.  Perry  and  Barnard, 
had,  however,  gone  to  Georgetown.  They  then  went  to  Topsham,  and 
seized  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  whom  they  considered  a  Tory,  though 
strictly  speaking  lie  was  not  one,  handcuffed  him  and  carried  him  over 
to  Benjamin  Stone's.  One  of  his  daughters  followed  him,  got  his 
handcuffs  off  and  threw  them  away.    He  escaped  and  returned  home.' 

At  the  close  of  a  town-meeting  in  Topsham,  called  to  pass  resolu- 
tions in  favor  of  a  separation  of  the  colonies  from  Great  Britain,  Mr. 
Wilson  voted  against  them.  He  did  so,  not  because  he  favored  the 
course  pursued  by  Great  Britain,  but  because  he  bolieved  too  strongly 
in  the  ix)wer  of  that  kingdom  to  subdue  the  rebellious  colonics. 
Brigadier  Samuel  Thompson  was  much  ofTended  at  the  vote  of  Mr. 
Wilson  and  at  the  opinions  expressed  by  him,  denounced  him  as  a 
Tor}',  and  at  one  time  meditated  an  attack  upon  him,  and  even  went 
so  far  as  to  t*ollect  men  together  at  Mr.  Wilson's  gati>.  A  ix>rtion  of 
the  people  went  with  Thompson  to  show  their  dislike,  but  the  steadier 
portion  of  tlie  community  concluded  that  a  taihtr  would  be  too  great 
a  loss  if  he  should  be  driven  awav,  and  therefore  induced  the  others 
to  withdraw. 

The  hostility  thus  engendered  between  the  Wilson  famil}'  and  Mr. 
Thompson  was  very  intense,  and  each  party  had  its  sympathizers  and 
supportei"s.  John  Merrill,  Pelatiah  Haley,  Actor  Patten,  and  Alex- 
ander Rogers  favored  Mr.  Wilson,  while  Mr.  James  Purington  was 
for  the  side  of  the  brigadier.  The  older  citi/.ens  of  Topsham  were  not 
far  from  being  ecpially  divided  in  taking  sides,  though  there  was  prob- 


1  McKcen^  3AV.  Lecture. 


MILITARY  BISTORT  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS,  681 

ably  a  slight  preponderance  of  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  briga- 
dier. The  new-comers,  however,  were  for  the  most  part  in  sympathy 
with  Mr.  Wilson.  Such  men  as  Merrill  and  Haley,  although  they 
thought  the  stnigglc  with  the  mother  country  would  probably  be 
decided  against  them,  yet  energetically  sustained  the  action  of  their 
fellow-countrymen!  Mr.  Wilson  himself  disclaimed  the  existence  of 
any  unpatriotic  sentiments,  aud  above  all  scouted  the  name  of  Tory. 
The  brigadier,  however,  was  of  too  fiery  a  temi^erament  to  be  easily 
appeased,  and  continued  hurling  his  "  gall-bladder  invectives  "  against 
all  who  failed  to  coi^Le  up  to  his  standard  of  patriotism.  Some  lines 
were  written  by  Mr.  Wilson's  wife  shortly  after  the  intended  attack 
u|.)on  him.  They  were  designed  chiefly  as  a  satire  upon  General 
'J'hompson.     They  were  as  follows :  — 

"  There  was  a  man  in  our  town, 
I  *11  tell  you  his  condition, 
He  sold  his  oxen  and  his  corn, 
And  bought  him  a  Commission. 

"A  Commission  thus  he  did  obtain, 
But  soon  he  got  a  coward's  name, 
1  At  Bunker  ne'er  shewed  he  his  face, 

Nor  there  his  country's  fame  disgrace. 

**  He  came  one  day  to  tjie  tailor's  gate, 
And  there  Ills  men  assemble. 
Who  with  his  needles  and  his  shears, 
He  made  them  all  to  tremble. 

**  Some  said  they  were  all  brave  men. 
Some  said  that  they  could  flght,  sir, 
But  all  of  them  were  made  to  run, 
And  that  by  the  tailor's  wife,  slr."i 

In  May,  1775,  occurred  what  is  locall}'  kuown  as  "Thompson's 
War." 

For  some  weeks  pre\iously  Colonel  Samuel  Thompson,  Colonel 
Purinton,  Captain  John  Simmons,  Aaron  Hinkley,  Esquire,  John 
Merrill,  Esquire,  Thomas  Thompson,  and  James  Potter  had  been 
holding  secret  meetings  at  the  house  of  Aaron  Hinkley,  and  had  con- 
cocted a  plan,  first  suggested  by  Colonel  Thompson,  of  seizing  the 
British  war-ship  Canceau^  commanded  by  Captain  Henry  Mowatt. 

Samuel   Thompson    was    chosen   colonel,    and  John   Merrill    and 


^  Diary  o/Jamei  McKeen,  M,  D. 


682         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  lURPSWJCLL. 

Thomas  Thompson  were  chosen  captains.  Captain  John  Simmons 
was  appointed  eommo<lore.  To  prevent  a  premature  disclosure  of 
their  phins,  all  the  roads  leading  to  Portland  were  closely  guardeil  and 
none  allowed  to  pass  unless  sworn  to  secrec}*.  Notwithstanding  this, 
some  intimation  of  their  design  reached  Mo  watt's  ears.  The  original 
plan  was  to  procure  a  vessel  of  suflicient  size  to  carry  a  company  of 
some  sixty  or  seventy'  men  ;  to  disguise  the  vessel  as  a  wood-coaster ; 
to  conceal  the  men  in  the  hold ;  sail  for  Portland  in  the  night,  go 
alongside  of  the  Canceau  and  board  her  immediately.  Tlie  rendez- 
vous was  to  be  Now  Meadows.  The  disclosures  of  the  plan  altered 
their  arrangements  somewhat,  but  did  not  deter  them  from  their 
design.  Thev  sailed  from  New  Meadows  on  the  night  of  Mav  8th, 
and  landed  on  the  morning  of  the  Dth  in  a  grove  of  thick  trees,  at  a 
place  called  Sandy  Point.  There  wore  about  fifty  armed  men,  each 
wearing  in  his  hat  a  small  bough  of  spruce.  Their  standaixl  was  a 
spruce  pole  with  the  green  top  left  on.  Sentinels  were  posted  around 
their  camp,  and  several  persons  who  chanced  to  pass  that  way  were 
seized  an<l  <letained.  Pclatiah  Ilale^'  was  sent  into  town  to  obtain 
whatever  information  he  might  be  able.  About  one  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  Captain  John  Merrill,  with  two  of  the  sentinels,  while 
walking  near  the  shore,  saw  Cai)tain  Mowatt  with  Reverend  Mr. 
"VViswall,  of  St.  Paul's  Church,  and  his  surgeon,  laud  at  Clay  Cove, 
and  walk  up  the  hill.  TiK\y  compi^llcMl  them  to  surrender,  and  inmiecli- 
atel}'  sent  for  General  Thompson  to  receive  Mowatt's  sword.  This  he 
did,  but  returned  it  immediatel}'.  A  number  of  prominent  citizens  of 
Falmouth  visit(»d  the  camp  and  urged  the  release  of  the  prisoners. 
Tlie  '^  Spruce  Company"  were  inflexible,  but  as  night  was  approach- 
ing they  concluded  to  march  their  prisoners  to  Marston's  tavern. 
About  nine  o'clock  the  prisoners  were  released  on  a  promise  to  reiurn 
the  next  morning.  General  Preble  and  Colonel  Freeman  pledging 
themselves  for  them.  The  prisoners,  however,  did  not  keep  good 
their  promise.  The  comj)any  left  on  Friday.  There  were  other  com- 
panies joined  them  while  in  Falmouth,  and  some  misdeeds  were  com- 
mitted by  soldiers,  but  there  is  no  positive  evidence  that  it  was  by 
Thompson's  men.  On  their  return  they  took  back  some  boats  belong- 
ing to  Mowatt.  "When  about  leaving  it  is  said  that  they  were  consid- 
erably alarmed  at  the  approach  of  a  fishing-smack  belonging  in  North 
Yarmouth,  which  they  erroneously  supposed  to  ])e  a  vessel  sent  out 
bv  Mowatt  to  capture  them.' 


1  Qould.    McKterif  from  a  suirivor. 


MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  THk   THREE  TOWNS.  683 

This  attack  of  Thompson  and  his  men  has  been  pretty  harshly  criti- 
cised, but  however  premature  it  may  have  been,  it  was,  in  a  measure, 
successful,  and  had  he  been  properly  secondeil  by  the  citizens  of  Fal- 
mouth no  doubt  the  Canceau  would  have  fallen  into  their  hands.  A 
year  later  and  it  would  have  proved  a  success. 

The  soldiers  under  Thompson's  command  were  mostly  younj? 
adventurers,  who  afterwards  enlisted  under  command  of  Captain 
James  Curtis,  were  employed  for  some  time  at  Condy's  Ilarljor,  wen* 
then  sent  to  Cambridge,  and  were  afterwards  sent  to  Camden,  N.  J. 

Tradition  says  that  at  this  time  the  British  made  the  threat  that  they 
would  breakfast  in  Portland  and  dine  at  llarpswell,  and  that  the  citi- 
zens of  the  latter  place  had  their  oxen  all  yoked,  and  rt»ady,  if  they 
saw  the  British  coming,  to  take  their  goods  and  go  into  the  woods. 

In  September  of  this  3*ear,  lieverend  John  Miller  reliiiquished  £i\0 
of  his  salary-  for  the  ensuing  3*ear,  on  account  of  the  ^'  public  dis- 
tresses." John  Farren,  the  school-master,  in  like  manner  gave  up 
£15  (js,  H(L  of  his  salarj' ;  and  two  of  the  selectmen,  viz.,  Thomas 
Skolfield  and  Nathaniel  Larrabee,  agreed  to  serve  without  compensa- 
tion. About  this  time  Captains  Dunning,  of  Brunswick,  and  Hunter, 
of  Topsham,  with  nineteen  men  from  their  independent  companies, 
carried  stores  from  Merrymeeting  Bay  to  Forts  Western  and  Halifax, 
on  the  Kennebec,  in  gondolas,  serving  twenty-one  days.^ 

In  October  or  November,  a  number  of  ArnoUrs  men  ftom  the 
expedition  to  Canada,  who  were  brought  back  sick,  were  quartered 
by  the  selectmen  in  different  parts  of  the  town,  some  of  them  at  the 
house  of  Mr.  Joseph  Morse,  on  the  Maquoit  road. 

Some  of  the  inhabitants,  unwilling  to  attack  Mr.  Thomas  Wilson,  of 
Topsham,  a  second  time  themselves,  took  aclvantage  of  the  i)resence 
of  these  men  in  town  to  instigate  some  fifteen  or  twenty  of  them  to 
go  over  to  his  house,  and  Airnished  them  with  boats  for  this  purpose. 
On  the  Topsham  shore  they  halted  and  loaded  their  guns.  ^Mr.  Wil- 
son, who  had  been  watching  them,  met  them  pleasantly,  invited  them 
to  his  house  to  rest,  and  asked  them  to  breakfast.  They  spent  an  hour 
relating  their  sutferings  while  on  the  expedition,  and  after  thanking 
Mr.  Wilson  for  his  courtesies,  returned,  assuring  those  who  sent  them 
that  Mr.  Wilson  was  too  worthy  a  man  to  be  so  grossly  insulted. 

Mr.  Wilson's  patriotism  was,  however,  suspected,  and  he  was, 
either  previously  or  soon  after  the  incident  just  related,  attacked  by 
a  mob,  captured,  loaded  with  chains,  and  carried  to  New  Meadows. 

» North,  IliBtory  of  Augusta, 


684        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,   TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

The  mob  kept  him  a  prisoner  but  a  short  time,  but  insulted  him 
grossly,  and  filling  his  wig  with  tar,  placed  it  upon  his  head  and  sent 
him  home.     He  made  no  resistance  and  showed  no  resentment.^ 

In  the  Provincial  Congress  of  this  3'oar,  a  letter  was  read  from  a 
Mr.  Barber,  containing  the  statement  that  one  Mr.  Perrj'  was  in  this 
part  of  the  country  endeavoring  to  obtain  masts,  spars,  and  timber  for 
the  use  of  the  enemy,  and  Colonel  Thompson  was  desired  "immedi- 
ately to  repair  to  Brunswick,  Casco  Bay,  Woolwich,  Georgetown,  and 
other  places,  and  to  take  the  most  effectual  measures  to  acquaint  the 
people"  with  the  fact,  *'and  to  make  use  of  all  j)roper  and  effectual 
measures  to  prevent  their  aiding  him  in  procuring  said  articles."' 
According  to  McKeen,  Parry  was  seized,  and  sent  a  prisoner  to 
Sturbridge. 

About  this  same  time  the  Committees  of  Safety  and  Corresi>ondence 
for  the  towns  of  Brunswick,  Bowdoinham,  and  Topsham  reported  to 
tlie  General  C/Oiirt  of  Massachusetts  that,  learning  that  nine  vessels 
had  arrived  in  the  Kennebec  and  its  tributaries,  and  were  collecting 
firewood,  butter,  and  other  articles,  they  had  considered  it  their  duty 
to  inquire  into  the  legalit}'  of  their  proceedings.  They  found  that 
these  vessels  had  clearances  from  that  i)ait  only  of  the  port  of  Boston 
called  Nantucket,  and  were  acting  without  the  consent  of  an}*  com- 
mittee whatever,  which  was  in  direct  conflict  with  a  Resolve  of  Con- 
gress of  June  0th  of  that  3'ear.  The  committee,  therefore,  finding  by 
the  confession  of  the  one  in  charge  of  these  vessels  that  the}'  had  no 
proper  license,  and  that  all  the  authority  they  liad  was  a  permit  fVom 
Sanmel  (ioodwin  and  Sauuiel  Kmerson,  two  of  the  Committee  of 
Safety  for  the  town  of  Pownalborough,  to  sail  out  of  the  river,  not  con- 
sidering this  permit  legaK  had  ordered  the  vessels  to  be  stopped  and 
hauled  up.  The  House  of  Kcprt»sentatives,  on  receipt  of  the  above 
report,  passed  a  resolve  that  the  commiit4»es  had  done  rightly,  and 
directeil  them  to  allow  the  vessels  mentioned  to  return  to  Nantucket 
with  such  necessaries  as  they  could  procure,  providtKl  that  each  master 
of  a  vessel  bound  himself  in  a  sum  equal  to  the  vahie  of  the  vessel  and 
cargo,  to  sail  directly  for  Nantucket  and  there  land  the  cargo  for  the 
use  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  island  of  Nantucket,  and  not  to  dispose 
of  it  for  any  other  puri^ose.'* 

[177G.]  The  usual  Committee  of  Correspondence,  Inspection,  and 
Safety  was  chosen   by  the  three  towns  in  177G.     A  coimnittee  was 


» McKeen,  MS.  Lecture,         »  y^cc.  of  Provincial  Congress,  1775,  Vol.  31,  p.  125. 
9Rec.  of  General  Court,  Vol.  33,  p.  306. 


MILITARY  nibTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS,  685 

also  chosen  in  Bninswick  to  petition  the  General  Court  for  a  barrel  of 
gunpowder,  as  they  were  ''  ver}*  poorly  provided  with  arms  and  am- 
munition, and  their  coast  was  verj'  much  exposed,"  etc.  The  com- 
missary general  of  the  colony  was  ordered  b3'  the  General  Court  to 
deliver  the  amount  asked  for  to  Mr.  Samuel  Stanwood,  he  to  pay  for 
it  at  the  rate  of  five  shillings  a  pound. ^ 

At  a  meeting  of  the  militia  and  other  inhabitants  of  Harpswell, 
"  Including  the  Laram  List  of  the  first  Company  in  Harpswell,  assem- 
bled According  to  Order  of  Court  Duly  Notified  and  Met  on  the  first 
D&y  of  April,  1776,"  Lieutenant-Colonel  Nathaniel  Purinton  was 
chosen  moderator,  and  Andrew  Dunning,  clerk.  Mr.  Nehcmiah  Cur- 
tis was  then  chosen  captain,  Benjamin  Dunning,  first  lieutenant,  and 
Michael  Curtis,  second  lieutenant  of  the  militia. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  of  Brunswick,  held  Ma}-  31,  it  was  unani- 
mously agreed  to  support  Congress  should  that  body  make  a  Declara- 
tion of  Independence. 

This  year  Robert  Patten  was  chosen  captain  of  the  Topsham  militia. 
Ilis  commission  was  dated  July  1,  just  three  days  before  the  Declara- 
tion of  Independence,  and  was  granted  by  the  "•  King's  Council  of  the 
Colouv  of  Massachusetts  Bay." 

Some  time  this  year  a  picaroon,  commanded  b}-  one  Hammon,  visited 
an  island  in  Harpswell,  which  was  inhabited  by  a  single  family  only, 
and  with  a  crew  of  seven  men  rifled  them  of  their  effects  in  tiie  night, 
intending  to  rest  there  until  day.  Receiving  information  of  this  attack, 
CapUiin  Nehcmiah  Curtis  rallied  a  party,  and  before  morning  captured 
the  boat  and  crew,  and  carrying  the  latter  tc^  Portland,  lo.iged  them  in 
the  count}-  jail.  Hammon  managed,  through  falsehood,  to  got  at 
liberty,  and  immediately  went  to  the  same  island  with  a  larger  vessel 
and  crew.  Here  Curtis  and  his  volunteers  again  met  him,  and  in  the 
skirmish  that  followed,  one  of  the  miscreants  was  wounded  and  the 
others  hurriedly'  withdrew.^ 

[1777.]  Twenty -two  men  went  to  Boston  from  Branswick  in  1777, 
for  ser\'ice  in  tiie  continental  arm  v.  The  town  of  Bninswick  voted 
this  year  to  make  provision  for  the  families  of  those  men  who  were  in 
the  continental  sernce. 

[1778.]  In  April  of  this  year  John  Dunning,  Ephraim  Graffam, 
Michael  Growse,  William  Spear,  Jr.,  and  William  Skolfield,  of  Bruns- 
wick, went  into  the  continental  sen-ice,  and  were  sent  to  Peckskill. 
Harpswell  also  furnished  five  men,  and  Topsham  four,  at  this  time.^ 

»  Kec.  of  GeneraJl  Court,  Vol  36,  p.  71. 

3  Williamton,  2,  p.  429.  ^McKeen,  MS.  Lecture, 


086         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Not  far  from  this  time,  probably,  an  American  sloop  of  war  came  into 
Haipswell  for  recruits.  Quite  a  number  of  young  men  enlisted, 
among  them  Marlboro'  Sylvester,  David  Johnson,  and  Abner  Bishop. 
Sylvester  enlisted  as  a  clerk.     Each  received  a  pension  after  the  war. 

Some  time  this  year  the  privateer  Sea  Floicer^  Captain  Tracy, 
sailed  from  Newburyport  and  was  never  heard  from.  She  had  among 
her  complement  of  men,  John  Skolfield,  Captain  John  Campbell,  Eben 
Stanwood,  William  Stanwood,  David  Stanwooci,  John  Black,  William 
lieed,  William  Hunt,  David  Stanwood,  Jr.,  and  James  Dunning,  all 
from  this  vicinit}'. 

The  privateer  St unhj  Beggar  sailed  about  the  same  time  with  John 
Reed,  Thomas  Wier,  and  perhaps  others  from  this  vicinity,  whose  fate 
was  never  ascertained.^ 

^1779.]  Four  prisoners  —  when  and  where  taken  is  unknown  — 
were  quartered  upon  the  town  some  time  in  1779,  and  Captains  Dun- 
la[)  and  Thompson,  Lieutenant  Berry,  and  Mr  John  Dunning  were 
paid  for  the  care  of  them. 

This  year  the  Penobscot  or  '^Bagaduce*'  expedition  was  begun. 

On  July  3,  1779,  the  following  onler^  was  issued  :  — 

*•  Major  Lakkabek, 

**  Sir :  I  have  orders  to  rase  a  Regement  out  of  my  Brigade  to  go  to 
penobscot  in  order  to  Dislodge  the  Enemy  there,  I  do  therefore 
appoint  you  Second  major  of  Said  Regeracnt  and  expect  you  will  hold 
vourself  lu  Rcadvuess  to  nuirch  at  the  shortest  notice. 


*'To  Ma.iou  Nathl.  Lvurabkk." 

In  addition  to  Larrabee's  company,  Cai)tain  Actor  Patten's  com- 
pany from  Topsham  weiv  in  this  expedition  and  engaged  in  the  first 
fight.  Captain  Nelmmiah  Curtis  also  lieade<l  a  company  of  men  fh)ra 
Bi-unswick  and  Ilarpswell,  and  went  to  Portland  and  were  placed 
inider  the  connnand  of  Colonel  Mitchell.  Some  of  the  men  never 
received  any  pay.^  Captain  IlinkkT  also  had  a  company  in  this 
expedition.  He  was  killed  while  standing  upon  a  large  rock  cheering 
on  his  men,**  and  the  connnand  devolved  upon  James  Potter,  2d. 

[1780.]     The  General  Court  in  1780  called  for  a  supply  of  beef 

*  I*t>jep8cot  Papers.  ^  From  the  orif/inal  order. 

^McKcen,  MiS.  Lecture.  *  llhlory  of  Cantirie,  p.  41,  note. 


MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS,  687 

for  the  needs  of  the  army,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  by  the  town 
of  Brunswick  to  obtain  the  amount  required  tq  be  furnished  l)y  that 
town.  As  there  was  great  difficultj'  in  obtaining  the  requisite  quan- 
tity of  beef  in  this  vicinity,  the  selectmen  were  autliorized  b}-  the  town 
to  give  mone}'  in  lieu  of  what  they  might  be  unable  to  obtain,  provided 
it  was  equally  acceptable  to  the  General  Court.  This  year,  b}'  a 
resolve  passed  Deceml>er  2,  the  General  Court  made  a  requisition  on 
the  town  of  Brunswick  for  its  quota  of  men  for  the  anny. 

[1781.]  On  the  ninth  of  January,  1781,  the  town  of  Brunswick 
elected  a  committee  to  divide  the  town  into  classes  or  divisions  in 
order  to  procure  the  men  called  for  by  a  resolve  of  the  General  Court 
of  December  2,  1780.  At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  three  days 
later,  this  vote  was  reconsidered,  and  a  committee  was  chosen  to 
procure  the  men  called  for  as  best  they  could.  The  action  of  this 
meeting  appears,  however,  not  to  have  been  satisfactory,  for  at  a 
subsequent  meeting,  held  January  15.  the  method  of  classifying  the 
town  was  again  adopted,  and  it  was  voted  *'  to  choose  a  committee  of 
one  man  out  of  each  class  to  join  in  the  whole  as  a  committee,  to  pro- 
cure a  man  for  the  deficient  class  or  classes ;  that  is  to  say,  those  that 
have  not  procured  by  the  19th  inst.  said  deficient  classes,  to  apply  to 
said  committee  by  said  19th  da}',  and  the  cost  of  procuring  the  whole 
number  of  men  to  be  averaged  on  the  whole  town,  as  also  all  defi- 
ciencies or  penalties  accruing  thereon  ;  that  if  any  class  being  tleiicient 
shall  neglect  to  app^'  to  said  committee  by  said  19th  day,  such  class 
shall  l>ear  the  penalty  of  the  law."  The  town  was  divided  into  ten 
classes,  and  one  member  of  the  committee  was  chosen  from  ench  class. 
The  committee  were  directed  to  meet  immediately  and  adopt  such 
measures  as  the}'  should  think  best.  The  selectmen  were  also  directed 
*•  to  consider  such  as  have  done  service  for  the  town  this  present  war 
and  report  at  the  next  March  meeting." 

[17H2.]  About  the  year  1782,  though  probably  somewhat  earlier,^ 
but  still  towards  the  close  of  the  war,  a  daring  and  succesful  exploit 
was  perfonneil  by  the  patriotic  mhabitants  of  Great  Sebuscodigan 
Island.  For  some  years  previously,  several  small  schooners,  acting 
as  '*  tenders"  to  the  English  war  vessels,  had  infested  the  waters  of 
Casco  Bay,  landing  at  defenceless  places  and  robbing  the  farmers  and 
preying  upon  the  fishermen.  The  inhabitants  at  last,  incensed  by 
these  maraudings,  resolved  to  retaliate.  Knowing  that  the  crew  of 
one  of  these  vessels  often  came  to  Condy's  to  trade  and  to  have  a 


*  McKeen  dates  the  occurrence  in  1776.     J/.S.  Lecture;  also  P^epecot  Paj}era, 


688         mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAIi,  AND  BARP8WELL. 

carousal  at  a  store  kept  by  a  Mrs.  Eastman  (a  noted  Toty)^  they 
decided  to  capture  the  vessel  and  crew. 

Accordingly,  not  many  weeks  elapsed  before  one  day,  late  in  the 
evening,  notice  was  passed  around  that  the  Picaroon^  commanded  by 
one  Linnacum,  a  Scotchman,  was  at  Condy's,  and  for  all  who  were 
willing  to  engage  in  the  enterprise  to  meet  at  the  house  of  Colonel 
Nathaniel  Purinton,  at  ten  o'clock,  p.  m.,  to  organize  for  an  attack. 
Thirt}'  men  responded  to  the  notice,  armed  with  such  weapons  as  they 
could  command,  and  made  choice  of  Colonel  Purinton  as  their  com- 
mander. Upon  arriving  at  Condy*8  Harbor,  they  found  the  enemy 
had  departed.  Though  disappointed,  the}'  did  not  give  up,  but  deter- 
mined to  fijllow  in  pursuit. 

A  few  of  the  men  now  left,  but  the  others  at  once  went  on  board  a 
fishing- vessel  called  the  Shavingmill^  owned  bj'  Isaac  Snow,  Esquire. 
It  was  an  open  boat  of  about  eight  tons,  fitted  with  sails  and  oars. 
Esquire  Snow  consented  to  the  use  of  his  boat  and  volunteered  to  go 
with  them.  At  two  oVloek  in  the  morning  they  started  in  pursuit, 
having  a  light  easterly  wind  and  being  obliged  to  use  the  oars.  When 
off  Small  Point  they  exchanged  the  Shatu'tigmifl  for  the  schooner 
America^  of  about  fourteen  tons,  and  partly  decked  over.  They  left 
two  of  the  crew,  who  showed  symptoms  of  cowardice,  to  take  charge 
of  the  small  boat,  and  again  put  to  sea  with  eighteen  men. 

At  sunrise  they  sighted  the  Picaroon  in  the  offing  near  Seg^iiin 
Island,  chasing  a  coaster  laden  with  lime  in  the  hold  and  cordwood  on 
deck,  which  was  bound  from  Thomaston  to  Portland.  The  Picaroon 
captured  and  transferred  her  guns,  two  '' three -pounder "  swivels, 
with  her  other  effects,  to  this  coaster,  and  mounted  the  guns  on  the 
outer  tier  of  wood  and  threw  the  middle  tier  overboard,  thus  leaving 
a  good  breastwork. 

During  the  time  of  these  preparations  the  America  was  fast  coming 
up,  and  when  about  three  miles  distant  the  English  began  to  fire  at 
her  with  their  swivels.  Colonel  Purinton  ordered  his  men  to  keep  out 
of  sight  and  not  to  fire  a  gun  without  onlers.  When  within  pistol- 
shot  he  ordered  them  to  rise  and  fire  by  sections  as  quickly  as  possible. 
He  instructiKl  the  sailing-master  to  strike  the  coaster  on  the  quarter 
and  at  once  make  fast  the  two  vessels. 

These  orders  were  faithfull}'  carried  out,  and  about  three  o'clock  the 
privateers  boarded  the  enemy's  vessel  and  found  only  two  men  on 
deck,  one  of  whom  was  dead  and  the  other  shot  through  the  knee. 
The  others,  seven  in  number,  had  gone  below  and  were  calling  for 
quarter. 


MILITARY  mSTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS,  689 

Shepherd,  the  man  who  was  killed,  a  few  moments  before  he  was 
shot,  was  warned  not  to  expose  himself  to  the  fire  of  the  Yankees,  bnt 
replied,  '*  I  '11  be  damned  if  I  '11  dodge  at  the  flash  of  a  Yankee  gun  !  " 
He  fell,  shot  through  the  heart.  lie  was  at  the  helm  at  the  time.  He 
was  from  Halifax,  and  was  buried  on  a  point  of  land  at  Condy's  Har- 
bor, which  is  now  known  as  Shepherd's  Point. 

Colonel  Purinton  started  for  Condy's  Harbor  with  his  two  prizes, 
eight  prisoners,  two  swivels,  and  some  ammunition,  and  arrived  there 
at  eleven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  having  been  absent  twenty  hours. 

The  prisoners,  who  were  mostly  Tories,  were  sent  to  Portland  under 
guard.  Those  engaged  in  this  expedition  were.  Colonel  Nathaniel 
Purinton,  commander ;  Josiah  Totman,  sailing  master ;  Isaac  Snow, 
second  officer ;  and  Henry  Merritt,  Elisha  Snow,  John  Snow,  Stephen 
Purinton,  Klisha  Hopkins,  Peter  Birthright,  Nathaniel  Hall,  Joseph 
Hall,  Abraham  Toothaker,  a  Mr.  Dolf,  with  four  others,  whose  names 
are  unknown.  Stephen  Purinton  was  then  only  about  nineteen  yeai*s 
of  age.     His  share  of  the  prize  money  was  twenty  dollars. 

Of  the  two  swivels,  one  was  given  to  the  Parsonfield  Academy, 
about  1837,  and  the  other  was  burst  while  firing  a  salute,  July  4, 
1869.1 

[1783.]  During  the  3'ear  1783  a  letter  was  received  in  Brunswick 
from  the  Committee  of  Correspondence  at  Boston,  desiring  to  know 
the  feeling  of  the  town  in  regard  to  allowing  the  return  to  their  homes 
of  refugees  and  conspirators.  The  subject  was  discussed  at  town- 
meeting,  and  it  was  unanimously  voted  *'  That  the}'  ought  never  to.be 
suffered  Xjo  return,  but  to  be  excluded  from  having  lot  or  portion  in 
any  of  the  United  States  of  America."  This  is  the  last  recorded 
action  of  either  of  the  towns  having  immediate  reference  to  the  period 
of  the  Revolution. 

MILITIA  COMPANIES. 

The  exact  time  of  the  formation  of  any  of  the  militia  companies, 
subsequent  to  the  Revolution,  is  not  known.  In  1788  the  First  Regi- 
ment of  the  First  Brigade  and  Fourth  Division  of  the  Massachusetts 
Militia  mustered  for  the  first  time  where  the  Bath  Hotel,  in  Bath,  now 
stands.  John  Lemont,  of  Bath,  was  colonel,  and  John  Reed,  of  Tops- 
ham,  lieutenant-colonel  of  this  regiment. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1794,  the  town  of  Branswick  voted  to 
give  each  man  that  should  enlist  and  equip  himself  as  instructed  by 

1  Thm  foregoing  account  is  that  given  by  Stephen  Purinton^  a  participant  in  the  affair^ 
to  his  eon  Stephen^  and/unUshed  tuby  the  latter. 

44 


690         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

the  commander-in-chief,  '*  so  much  as  will  make  up,  with  what  the 
United  States  give,  ten  dollars  per  month  from  the  time  he  marches 
till  he  shall  be  discharged."  It  was  also  voted  to  pa}'  each  man  that 
passed  muster  four  dollars  as  a  bounty.  This  call  for  troops  was 
occasioned  by  Indian  hostilities  in  the  West. 

TOPSHAM  >ULITIA  COMPANIES. 

The  first  Topsham  militia  company  was  formed,  probabl}',  prior  to 
1753.  The  earliest  date  given  in  the  records  of  the  company  is 
November,  1795,  but  the  traditionary  account  is  that  it  was  organized 
earlier  than  this. 

The  roster  of  its  officers  in  1 795  was  as  follows  :  — 

Captain,  Alexander  Kogers ;  first  lieutenant,  Steele  Foster ;  en- 
sign, David  Patten;  sergeants,  William  Graves,  James  Fulton, 
Thomas  Hunter,  Daniel  Graves ;  corporals,  John  Jameson,  Richard 
Knowles,  John  Ripley,  Robert  Malcolm ;  fifer,  David  Reed ;  drum- 
mer, Joseph  Foster,  2d. 

The  train  band  consisted  of  about  fift}'  members.  The  first  training 
that  is  mentioned  in  the  records  was  had  November  16,  1795.  In 
1805  the  company  numbered  fifty-eight,  rank  and  file. 

In  1808  it  numbered  sixty-one,  rank  and  file. 

Nothing  of  especial  interest  is  recorded  concerning  this  company, 
except  that  on  June  20,  1814,  an  alarm  was  given,  and  the  company 
marched  to  Bath  and  remained  there  two  days. 

Inspections  and  reviews  probably  occurred  each  year,  though  they 
were  not  always  made  matters  of  record.  It  is  said  that  this  compan}' 
was  a  very  large  one,  and  became  disorganized  at  one  time  by  elect- 
ing, in  sport,  unfit  men  for  offic?ers.  At  length  the  commanding  gen- 
eral had  to  api>oint  competent  officers,  and  Captain  John  Wilson, 
being  placed  in  command,  brought  the  compan^^  up  to  a  proper 
standard. 

The  Topsham  Artillery  Company  was  formed  in  May,  1804, 
although  no  records  of  an  earlier  date  than  1818  have  been  found.  A 
muster-roll  of  the  company  has  been  preserved  bearing  date  September 
29,  1814.  At  that  time  it  belonged  to  the  First  Brigade  and  Eleventh 
Division  of  the  Militia  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  called  into  sen-ice 
and  stationed  at  Bath.  The  company  was  commanded  at  the  time  by 
Captain  Nathaniel  Walker,  numbered  thirty-four,  all  told,  and  was 
in  service  from  September  10  to  21),  witli  the  exception  of  three  unfit 
for  duty,  four  not  notified,  and  ten  on  detached  duty  in  forts,  etc. 
According  to  traditionary  accounts,  Daniel  llolden  was  the  first  cap- 


MIUTART  mSTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS,  691 

tain,  Stephen  Bradford  the  lieutenant,  and  John  Holland  the  first 
ensign.  The  by-laws  of  the  company  were  adopted  May,  1818. 
These  by-laws  re'quired  an  annual  meeting  of  the  conipan}'  on  the 
first  Tuesday-  of  May.  The  uniform  was  a  blue  coat,  white  ker- 
seymere vest  and  pantaloons,  black  sword-belt,  half-gaitei*s,  neck- 
cloth faced,  bound,  and  welted  with  red,  Bonaparte  hat,  black  cockade, 
and  red  plume. 

The  orderly  sergeant  was  required  to  have  one  gun  fired  and  the 
colors  hoisted  at  sunrise  on  all  days  of  public  parade,  and  to  marshal 
the  music  at  least  one  hour  pre\'ious  to  the  roll-call,  and  to  march  with 
it  through  the  several  streets  of  the  village  to  the  gun-house. 

On  the  decease  of  an}*  member  the  company-  were  required  to  attend 
the  funeral  under  arms.  To  these  bj'-laws  some  penal  laws  were 
annexed. 

By  a  brigade  order,  not  dated,  but  probabl}'  of  date  1819,  the  uni- 
form of  non-commissioned  oflftcers  and  privates  was  to  be  '*  a  shoit 
blue  coat,  trimmed  with  red  worsted  cord,  gilt  buttons,  short  buttons, 
small  round  hats  or  caps  with  a  front  piece  ornamented  with  a  gilt 
eagle,  black  plumes,  tipped  with  red,  red  waist-belts."  The' hostlers 
were  to  wear  "gray  coats  trimmed  with  red  worsted  cord,  and  while 
vests"  ;  the  rest  of  their  uniform  to  be  the  same  as  that  of  the  privates. 

In  1823  the  company  voted  that  the  alteration  in  their  uniform 
•"  should  consist  of  red  morocco  belts  or  leather  painted  red,  to  go  over 
the  shoulders  and  round  the  waist,  a  new  round  felt  hat  with  small 
rim,  large  new  frontispiece,  and  round  cockade." 

In  1824,  Joseph  ^Swett  was  appointed  adjutant,  and  David  Scribner, 
both  of  Topsham,  quartermaster  of  the  battalion. 

Jn  1831  the  company  voted,  *''ihat  the  oflScers  should  be  ex- 
cused from  furnishing  any  ardent  spirit,  on  an}'  occasion,  for  the 
company,  and  that  the  officers  should  pay  four  dollars  to  the  benefit 
of  said  companj',  annually,  for  being  thus  excused."  The  last  entry 
in  the  reconls  was  made  May  2,  1846,  and  the  disbandment  of  the 
company  occurred  May  19,  1851. 

The  arms  of  the  company  were  two  brass  four-pounders.  Until  the 
gun-house  was  built  they  were  kept  in  Mr.  James  Wilson's  bam. 
After  the  disbandment  of  the  company  they  were  sent  to  the  Portland 
arsenal,  and  the  gun> house  was  sold. 

In  183G  the  selectmen,  in  accordance  with  a  law  passed  a  short 
time  previous!}',  defined  the  limits  of  the  two  companies  of  infantry. 
The  dividing  line  was  Main  Street  and  its  continuance  over  Cnthance 
Hiver  to  Bowdoin.     All  west  of  this  line  was  to  be  the  limits  of  the 


692         HISTORY  OF  BRVNSWICK,  TOPSIUM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

m 

company  commanded  byLientenant  Alvali  Jameson,  and  all  cast  to  be 
the  limits  of  the  companj-  commanded  b}*  Captain  Uolman  Staples. 

BRUNSWICK  MILITIA  COMPANIES. 

The  Brunswick  Light  Infantry  was  organized  in  Ma^',  1804. 
Its  oflicers  were  Tiiomas  S.  Estabrobk,  captain ;  Caleb  Cushing,  first 
lieutenant ;  and  Robert  D.  Dunning,  second  lieutenant.  The  records 
of  the  company  have  not  been  found,  and  consequentl}'  but  little  is 
known  of  their  doings.  In  1825,  Saturday,  June  25,  LaFayette  made 
his  visit  to  Portland,  and  this  compan}',  under  the  command  of  Cap- 
tain John  A.  Dunninjy,  attended  to  assist  in  escort  dntv,  and  were 
received  by  the  Portland  Uifle  Company-.  They  celebrated  their 
thirtj'-eighth  anniversar}'  on  the  seventeenth  of  June,  1842.  Shortl3' 
after  this  time  this  company  became  disorganized,  but  on  Juh*  21, 
1854,  it  was  reorganized  under  the  title  of  *'  D  Compau}*  Light  Iii- 
fantr}',"  and  the  following  otiicers  were  chosen  at  that  time :  John 
A.  Cieaveland,  captain  ;  Andrew  T.  Campbell,  first  lieutenant ;  Charles 
Pettingill,  second  lieutenant;  John  H.  Humphreys,  third,  and  John  P. 
Owen,  fohrth  lieutenant.  This  company  turned  out  June  27, 1855,  for 
target  practice,  and  William  R.  Field,  Jr.,  got  the  prize  for  being  the 
best  marksman.  The  prize  was  a  silver  cup.  The  company  had  its 
first  annual  parade  and  inspection  on  the  thirtieth  of  ^lay  preceding. 
On  September  of  the  next  year,  1850,  the  comi)any  attended  muster 
in  Bath,  and  about  August  7,  1857,  it  disbanded. 

The  Brunswick  and  Toi'SHam  Rifle  Company  was  organized  in 
1821.  No  records  have  been  i>reserved  of  this  company,  and  nothing 
is  known  of  its'  doings.     A.  B.  Thompson  was  the  first  captain. 

In  18()G  and  1807  three  other  infautry  companies  and  an  artillery 
company  were  formed.  One  of  these  infantry  companies  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Joseph  Dusten,  and  had  its  headquarters  at  Ma- 
quoit.  The  villMge  company  was  under  command  of  Captain  Richard 
T.  Dunla)).  The  New  Meadows  company  was  commanded  by  Captain 
Peter  Jordan,  who  died  in  May,  1876,  the  last  surviving  member  of 
the  company.  Early  in  1807,  Sanmcl  Page  and  others  petitioned  the 
proper  autlioritios  for  the  organization  of  an  Artillkry  Company. 
In  compliance  with  the  wish  expressed  in  this  petition,  a  brigade  order 
was  issued,  directing  the  proper  steps  to  be  taken  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  object,  and  Mr.  Lemuel  Swift  was  directed  *'  to  raise  a  com- 
pany' of  artillery  out  of  the  foot  companies  of  the  town  of  Brunswick, 
by  voluntary  enlistm(;nt."  The  company  was  at  once  organized,  and 
I'eter  O.  Alden  wjus  chosen  as  its  first  captain.     He  is  said  to  have  pro- 


MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS.  693 

cured  the  first  bass  drum  ever  brought  to  town.     This  company  had 
two  six- pounder  brass  guns  in  its  gun-house  on  Centre  Street. 

In  addition  to  the  above  companies  there  was  a  cavalry  company,  of 
which  a  few  members  belonged  in  Bnmswick  and  Toi)sham,  and  others 
in  Lisbon  and  Durham.  Captain  Jack,  of  Litclifield,  was  the  com- 
manding officer,  and  a  Mr.  Baker  of  Topsham  was  the  lieutenant. 

HAPwl^SWELL  MILITIA  COMPANIKS. 

There  were,  about  1812,  two  infantry  companies  in  ITarpswell, 
which  were  organized  about  1776.  The  Ilarpswoll  Neck  company 
was  commanded,  in  1812,  by  Captain  David  Johnson,  an<l  Peleg  Cur- 
tis was  the  lieutenant.  The  Uarpswell  Island  company  was  com- 
manded by  Captain  Stephen  Snow,  and  Paul  Snow  was  the  lieutenant. 
In  1832,  Isaiah  S.  Trufant  was  chosen  captain  of  the  island  company, 
in  place  of  John  M.  Purinton,  and  Humphrey  Snow  ensign,  in  place 
of  Eli  Ilodgdon.i 

In  1835  the  selectmen  defined  the  limits  of  the  companies  of  militia 
as  follows :  The  limits  of  Captain  Hudson  Merryman^s  comi)any  were 
all  that  part  of  Great  Island  northwest  of  a  line  drawn  from  Long 
Reach  to  Strawberry  Creek,  together  with  ()rr*s,  Bailey's.  llaskeU's, 
Flag,  Whaleboat,  and  Birch  Islands,  and  the  Xeck.  The  limits  of 
Captain  John  M.  Purinton's  company  were  all  tiiat  part  of  Great 
Island  southeast  of  a  line  drawn  from  Long  Reach  to  Strawberry 
Creek. 

In  183G,  Simeon  Stover,  2d,  commanded  the  first-mentioned,  and 
Isaiah  Trafant  the  last-named  company. 

THE  WAR  OF   1812,   AND  AXTECEDKNT  PIIKVARATIONS. 

As  early  as  1801  a  feeling  of  hostility  against  Great  Britain  was 
engendered  in  this  vicinit}'  b}'  the  impressment  of  sailors,  and  was 
displayed  b}'  the  formation  of  military  companies  and  other  military 
preparations. 

All  of  the  Brunswick  companies  went  to  Bath  during  the  war  of 
1812,  and  served  for  a  short  perio<l.  There  were  one  or  two  British 
vessels  there,  and  the  soldiers  from  them  used  occasionallv  to  land  and 
commit  depredations,  until  General  King  called  out  the  militia. 
There  were  in  all  three  hundred  and  twenty  men  from  Brunswick  on 
dut}'  at  Bath. 

One  of  the  regiments  on  service  in  this  war,  in  the  division  of  Gen- 

i  Uarpswell  Banner,  1832. 


694      msTORT  OF  bhunswick,  topsham,  and  harpsweljl 

eral  King,  was  commanded  by  Colonel  Abel  Merrill,  of  Topsham,  an 
efficient  and  accomplished  officer. 

In  Harpswell,  at  this  time,  a  fort  was  bnilt  commanding  the  entrance 
of  New  Meadows  River.  A  few  soldiers  were  stationed  in  it  to  inter- 
cept the  l)oats  carrying  supplies  to  the  English  vessels  outside.  Orders 
were  given  to  have  ever}'  boat  or  vessel  rci)oi-t  at  the  fort  in  passing 
in  or  out,  and  to  sink  every  boat  neglecting  to  report  aft^r  the  usual 
warning.  Some  of  the  fishermen  thought  these  orders  were  too  strict, 
and  said  they  would  not  report  to  the  guard  if  he  sunk  their  lioats. 
One  of  these  men,  named  Dinglej',  being  bound  out  on  a  short  fishing 
cniisc,  attempted  to  pass  the  guard  when  ordered  to  report,  but  was 
fired  at,  and  his  boat  liit.  It  began  to  fill,  and  he  barely  made  out  to 
reach  the  shore  with  it.  This  put  a  stop  to  the  boats  running  that 
fort.     The  guartVs  name  was  Seth  Wilson. 

On  one  occasion  during  the  war,  James  Sinnett,  of  Bailey's  Island, 
then  a  3'oung  man  twcnt^'-three  3'ears  of  age,  with  two  brothers 
younger  than  himself,  went  out  fishing.  While  engaged  in  this  pur- 
suit they  saw  a  large  vessel  approaching  whicli  they  thought  to  be 
American.  When  she  came  within  hailing  distance,  they  asked  her 
name,  and  were  told  she  was  the  Essex^  an  American  man-of-war. 
Young  Sinnett  and  his  brothers  then  came  alongside,  and,  b}'  invita- 
tion, went  aboard.  When  the}'  reached  the  deck  the}'  were  asked  to 
go  into  the  cabin  and  see  the  captain.  I  hey  did  so,  and  were  informetl 
by  him  that  they  were  aboard  the  English  man-of-war  The  liattler^  and 
that  the}*  were  his  prisoners !  lie  however  assured  them  that  he 
should  do  them  no  harm,  and  should  hold  them  captive  only  for  a  few 
weeks.  He  said  his  object  in  making  them  prisoners  was  to  obtain 
the  use  of  their  fishing  craft  to  reconnoitre  the  coast  without  suspicion. 
Acconlingly  he  put  twenty  of  his  men  aboard  Sinnett's  boat  with 
instructions  to  cruise  about  the  bays  and  rivers  in  the  vicinity,  and  to 
report  to  him  any  discoveries  which  thoy  made.  At  the  end  of  a  week 
they  returned,  and  Sinnett  and  his  brothers  were  discharged.  During 
their  captivity  they  were  kindly  treated  and  well  fed. 

At  the  time  the  British  men-of-war  were  in  the  Kennebec  River,  and 
the  division  of  militia  were  ordered  out  by  (tcneral  King,  Captain 
Johnson,  of  the  Harpswell  company,  notified  his  men  to  prepare 
quickly  to  march  to  Bath.  After  consultation,  however,  with  some 
of  the  residents  of  Bailey's  Island,  Captain  Johnson  decided  to  leave 
on  that  island,  as  a  guard,  all  the  able-bodied  men  of  his  command 
who  resided  there.  This  was  done  on  account  of  this  island  being 
particularly  exposed  to  the  danger  of  attacks  from  the  enemy's  cruis- 


MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  THE  TUREE  TOWNS.  695 

ers,  which  were  hovering  about  the  coast  all  the  time.  Accordingly, 
while  Captain  Johnson  and  the  rest  of  his  company  went  to  Bath,  the 
Bailey's  Island  men,  under  command  of  Captain  James  Sinnett,  kept 
guaixi  night  and  da}*  on  their  own  ground. 

Before  Captain  Johnson's  return,  Captain  Sinnett  noticed  a  small 
coaster  standing  in  by  Small  Point,  closely  pursued  by  a  schooner. 
The  coaster  came  in  between  Pond  and  Ram  Islands,  and  the 
schooner,  not  daring  to  follow,  manned  a  barge  to  continue  the  pur- 
suit. They  both  came  into  Water  Cove,  and  the  crew  of  the  bai*ge 
were  about  to  board  the  coaster,  when  Captain  Sinnett  sent  a  man  — 
John  Ham,  of  Bowdoin,  who  was  stopping  temporarily  on  the  island 
—  to  hail  the  barge.  Ham  did  hail,  and  asked  the  commander  what 
he  wanted.  The  reply  was,  "The  coasting  sloop."  "  You  can't  have 
her,"  answered  Ham,  "  and  we  will  give  you  a  reasonable  time  to 
leave,  or  we  will  sink  your  barge."  Upon  this  the  commander  of  the 
bai'gc  quietly  drew  off.  Mr.  Jonathan  Johnson  was  very  anxious  to  fire 
upon  the  intruders,  but  was  prevented  from  doing  so  by  his  officers.^ 

Nothing  further  has  been  obtained  in  regard  to  the  participation  of 
these  towns  in  this  war,  except  the  list  of  soldiers  engaged  in  it, 
which  will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

After  the  close  of  this  war  the  military  spirit  was  still  kept  alive, 
and  the  companies  did  not  any  of  them  disband  for  several  3'ears. 
The  different  towns  also  took  care  to  see  that  a  stock  of  ammunition 
was  kept  on  hand,  and  the  town  of  Brunswick  in  1810  authorized  the 
selectmen  to  build  a  new  powder-house,  at  an  expense  of  one  hundretl 
and  fifb}'  dollars. 

In  1825,  Captain  John  C.  Humphreys  was  chosen  lieutenant-colonel 
of  the  Second  Regiment,  First  Brigade,  Fourth  Division  of  State 
Militia,  and  Joseph  Demeritt  was  appointed  quartermaster. 

In  1829,  Major  Andrew  Dennison  was  elected  colonel,  and  Captain 
John  A.  Dunning  major,  of  this  same  regiment.  They  were  all 
Brunswick  men. 

The  Mechanic  Volunteers,  of  Brunswick,  was  organized  in  1836. 
Who  the  first  officers  were  is  unknown.  In  1843,  John  A.  Cleaveland 
was  elected  captain,  George  S.  Elliot,  lieutenant,  and  William  K. 
Melchcr,  ensign. 

Musters  for  review  and  parade  were  of  almost  annual  occurrence 
in  these  towns  in  former  times.  The  earliest  one  known  to  have  taken 
place  was  in  Bninswick  in  1809.     It  was  a  brigade  review.     Similar 


*  Narrated  by  Captain  Sinnett  him8e{ff  who  i$  $tUl  living  upon  the  island. 


696      msTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsuam,  and  harpswell. 

inspections  were  held  in  Brunswick  almost  every  3'ear  up  to  1825, 
when  it  was  held  at  Bath.  In  1829  the  Bninswick  Light  Infantrj 
Company  and  the  Rifle  Compaii}'  were  notified  to  appear  for  duty, 
Jul}'  4,  probably  for  escort  duty,  and  a  dinner  was  given  them  at  the 
Tontine  Hotel.  September  21,  183G,  the  Second  Regiment  of  First 
Brigade  and  Fourth  Division  was  inspected  in  Bninswick,  and  on 
September  14,  1842,  the  annual  inspection  and  review  of  all  the  mili- 
tarj'  in  this  vicinity  took  place  there.  The  line  was  formed  on  Maine 
Street  in  the  morning,  and  about  half  past  ten  the  line  of  march  was 
taken  up  for  the  parade  ground,  about  a  mile  from  the  village  on  the 
river  road.  It  was  stated  in  the  papers  at  that  time  that  the  light 
infantr}'  and  volunteers  of  Brunswick  and  the  rifle  companies  of  Tops- 
ham  and  Durham  deserved  especial  notice  *'for  their  neat  uniforms 
and  good  discipline."  In  1844  there  was  a  muster,  on  the  twenty- third 
of  September,  of  the  First  Brigade  of  the  Fourth  Division  and  attached 
independent  companies,  and  this  is  the  last  occurrence  of  the  kind  in 
this  vicinity,  so  far  as  known,  prior  to  1861. 

At  a  muster  which  occurred  on  September  25,  1822,  some  difflculty 
arose  in  regard  to  the  proper  place  in  tiie  line  for  certain  companies. 
The  trouble  cuhninated  in  a  court-martial.^ 

BuuLESQUE  Musters.  —  In  1836  the  law  required  all  persons  tem- 
porarily sojourning  in  a  place,  who  were  liable  to  militar}'  duty,  to  turn 
out  for  a  general  muster  in  May.  That  year  the  students  of  Bowdoin 
College  being  warned  to  appear,  and  not  wishing  to  refuse  to  obey  a 
legal  summons,  but  disliking  the  duty,  appeared  in  fantastic  and  gro- 
tesque costumes.  They  appeared  in  tlie  same  manner  in  1837,  and 
although  the  obnoxious  law  was  soon  repealed,  the  custom  was  kept 
up  b}'  the  students  for  man}'  years,  a  burlesque  "  Ma}'  training"  hav- 
ing occurred  as  late  as  1856. 

BIIUXSWICK  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLIOy. 

When  the  Third  Maine  Regiment  passed  through  Bninswick  in  1861, 
on  its  way  to  the  seat  of  war,  a  salute  was  fired  and  a  collation  pro- 
vided. ']  hat  town  was  zealous  in  its  support  of  the  national  govern- 
ment, and  not  only  voted  this  year  81,500  to  pay  the  expenses  of 
recruiting,  clothing,  and  fitting  out  volunteers  from  the  town,  but  also 
voted  to  pay  each  volunteer  *'  a  sum  sutlicient,  with  what  is  paid  by 
government,  to  equal  twenty  dollars  per  month  during  the  time  they 


'  Owing  to  the  size  this  volume  has  already  attained^  it  is  found  nccessarj/  to  omit  the 
account  of  this  trial. 


mUTART  mSTORT  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS.  697 

may  be  in  the  public  semce,"  and  appropriated  $5,000  for  the  support 
of  the  families  of  those  who  enlisted. 

At  the  annual  meeting  in  1862,  the  town  of  Brunswick  voted  to 
furnish  assistance  to  the  families  of  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  were  in 
the  service  of  their  country,  either  in  the  army  or  navy,  and  to  those 
who  should  thereafter  engage  in  such  serv'ice,  to  such  amount  as  pro- 
vided for  b}'  an  Act  of  the  legislature,  so  long  as  they  should  continue 
in  the  service.  The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  borrow  80,000  for 
the  purpose.  The  town  also  voted  to  guarantee  the  payment  to  each 
and  every  volunteer,  who  enlisted  under  the  last  call  ijpr  troops,  or  who 
should  enlist  b}'  the  fourth  day  of  August,  in  either  of  tiie  regiments 
of  the  State  which  were  then  in  the  field  or  in  either  of  the  new  regi- 
ments to  be  formed,  and  who  should  be  actuallv  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States  as  one  of  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the 
recent  call  for  troops,  one  hundred  dollars  over  and  above  the  boun- 
ties offered  by  the  State  and  the  United  States,  to  be  paid  at  the  time 
of  being  mustered  in.  This  time  was  afterwards  extended.  The  town 
also  voted  to  hire  85,200  for  the  above  purpose,  and  a  rallying  com- 
mittee of  thirt^'-threc  was  chosen  to  induce  enlistments.  Though  the 
large  majoritj'  of  the  citizens  of  Bnmswick  were  intensely  loyal,  there 
were  some  lukewarm  ones  and  a  few  '*  Southern  sympathizers,"  who 
apparently  desired  to  see  the  Southeni  Confederacy*  firmly  estab- 
lished. One  of  these  individuals  was  said  to  have  given  encourage- 
ment to  the  Confederates  by  his'  letters,  and  the  case  was  made 
known  through  the  public  press.  To  show  the  sentiment  of  the 
town,  the  following  resolutions  were  passed  at  this  meeting :  — 

*'  Whereas^  W.  S.  Lindsey,  a  member  of  the  British  Parliament,  is 
reported  to  have  stated  in  his  place  in  that  body  that  he  had  lately 
received  a  letter  from  a  '  citizen  of  strong  Union  feeling  in  Brunswick, 
in  the  State  of  Maine,  expressing  his  hope  for  British  intervention  in 
the  contest  now  going  on,' 

''Therefore,  Resolved^  That  the  citizens  of  this  town  will  spare  no 
pains  to  discover  and  ascertain  whether  this  declaration  thus  made  b}* 
a  member  of  Parliament  is  a  fabrication,  or  whether  we  really  have 
among  us  such  a  blackhearted  hypocrite,  traitor,  and  knave,  as  could 
thus  seek  to  add  the  calamity  of  a  foreign  war  to  our  ])resent  distresses. 

^^Re.solvedy  That  we  need  something  more  than  such  a  naked 
declaration  to  convince  us  that  there  is  in  our  midst  such  a  com- 
pound of  the  villain  and  the  fool ;  but  if  it  should  prove  that  there 
is,  be  it  further 

*"  Resolved^  That  we  will  purge  the  fair  fame  of  our  town  by  con- 


698        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

signing  him  to  the  deserved  punishment  of  all  traitors,  whenever  he 
shall  be  discovered. 

**  Resolved  wnanimoualy ^  That  the  citizens  of  this  town  abhor  the  idea 
of  foreign  interference  in  the  affairs  of  the  Republic.  That  we  will  alwa3'8 
resist,  to  the  utmost  of  our  power,  the  intervention  of  any  monarch  or 
potentate  whatever  against  our  government,  and  that  we  hold  in  utter 
detestation  the  fiend  or  fool  who  would  seek  to  bring  such  a  thing  about. 

"  Resolved  J  That  Brunswick  is  no  home  for  traitors,  and  that  if  any 
lurk  here  pretending  to  be  men  '  of  strong  Union  feelings,*  while 
secretl}'  sympathizing  with  the  rebels  in  arms  against  our  government, 
they  had  better  remove  before  they  are  discovered. 

"  Voted,  Tliat  a  copy  of  the  above  resolves  be  signed  bj-  the  mod- 
erator and  clerk  of  this  meeting  and  be  sent,  one  to  the  Honorable 
Freeman  H.  Morse,  and  one  to  the  Honorable  Charles  F.  Train  at 
London,  and  that  a  cop}^  be  sent  for  publishment  in  the  Portland 
Press,  Boston  Journal,  and  the  Bmnsicick  Telegnph.'* 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  August  23,  the  town  voted  to  guarantee 
to  each  volunteer  who  should  enlist  in  any  of  the  nine  months'  regi- 
ments, between  that  date  and  the  time  fixed  for  a  draft,  the  sum  of. 
twenty  dollars,  to  be  paid  when  such  person  has  been  accei)ted  by  the 
governor  as  a  part  of  the  quota  of  the  town.  It  was  also  voted  to 
hire  nine  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  for  the  above-named  purpose, 
and  a  committee  was  chosen  to  solicit  subscriptions  for  a  volunteer 
fund,  to  make  up  the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  to  each  volunteer. 

At  another  meeting,  held  August  30,  the  town  voted  an  additional 
sum  of  eighty  dollars  for  nine  months'  volunteers,  making  a  total  of 
one  hundred  dollars.    It  was  also  voted  to  hire  $3,680  for  this  puq)ose. 

[1863.]  At  the  March  meeting  in  1863,  the  towns  voted  to  furnish 
aid  to  the  families  of  persons  in  the  service  of  the  national  govern- 
ment, either  in  the  army  or  nav}',  to  the  extent  allowed  bj-  the  law  of 
the  State,  and  to  such  an  amount  as  the  State  had  agreed  or  might 
hereafter  agree  to  refund  to  the  town.  The  treasurer  was  directed  to 
hire  for  this  purpose,  as  a  temporary  loan,  $6,000. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  August  17,  the  selectmen  were  directed 
to  paj'  each  drafted  man  who  was,  in  person  or  by  substitute,  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service,  a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars. 
Payment  was  to  be  made  as  soon  as  practicable  after  such  drafted 
man  or  substitute  had  been  mustered  into  service.  It  was  also  voted 
to  hire  $20,000  for  this  purpose. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  November  21,  the  town  voted  to  pay 
two  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  each  to  volunteers  credited  as  part  of 


MIUTART  mSTORJ  OF  THE  TDREE  TOWNS.  699 

the  quota  of  the  town,  under  the  call  of  the  President,  dated  October  17, 
18G3.  It  was  also  voted  to  hire  814,000  for  this  puqK)se.  On 
December  1,  an  additional  bounty  of  fifty  dollars  was  voted,  which 
brought  the  whole  up  to  three  hundred  dollars.  Voted  to  hire  82,800 
for  the  additional  bouut3\ 

[1861.]  At  the  annual  meeting  of  the  town  in  1864,  it  was 
voted  that  the  debt  of  the  town  incurred  in  raising  nionc}'  for  the  pa}- 
ment  of  bounties,  and  expenses  connected  therewith,  should  be  funded 
as  authorized  by  the  Act  of  Februarj'  20,  1864,  and  tliat  bonds  there- 
for should  be  issued  in  such  sums  as  the  selectmen  and  town  treasurer 
deemed  most  for  the  interest  of  the  town.  I'he  bonds  to  be  payable 
after  tiirce,  and  not  exceeding  twenty  years,  at  tlie  pleasure  of  the 
town,  with  coupons  attached,  bearing  j'early  interest  not  exceeding 
six  per  cent,  payable  semiannually. 

The  selectmen  and  treasurer  were  authorized  to  issue  such  bonds  to 
the  amount  of  835,000.  The  town  also,  at  this  nieetinjr.  voted  aid  to  the 
families  of  soldiers  as  heretofore,  and  to  borrow  87,()()()  for  the  puipose. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  August  8,  the  selectmen  wore  authorized 
to  expend  a  sum  not  exceeding  twenty-five  dollars  per  man,  of  the 
town's  proi>oilion  of  troops  required  b}'  the  call  of  July  18,  1864,  in 
paying  recruiting  agents  and  other  necessar}-  cxikmisos  of  procuring 
enlistments.  It  was  also  voted  to  pa}'  each  recruit  raised  to  fill  the 
quota  of  the  town,  under  the  last- mentioned  call,  such  bounty  as  the 
recruit  might  be  entitled  to  receive  fVom  the  State,  acconling  to  the 
terms  of  General  Order,  No.  27,  issued  from  the  adjutant-generars 
otiice,  July  20,  1864,  said  bounty  to  be  reimbursed  to  the  town  from 
the  State  treasury  agreeably  to  the  provisions  of  Chapter  227,  of  the 
laws  of  1864.  It  was  also  voted  to  hire  8l,o50  for  recruiting  pur- 
])oses  and  812,000  for  paying  bounties. 

At  another  meeting,  held  August  15,  a  bounty  of  five  hundred  dol- 
lars for  three  years'  men,  four  hundred  dollars  for  two  years*  men,  and 
three  hundrerl  dollars  for  one  j-ear's  men,  was  voted  to  enroUod  men  fur- 
nishing  substitutes^  under  the  call  of  Jul}'  18,  1864.  It  was  also  voted 
to  pay  volunteers  enlisting  to  fill  the  quota  under  said  call  the  same 
sums  as  bounties  as  were  paid  to  enrolled  men  Airnishing  substitutes, 
and  to  pay  a  bounty  of  three  hundred  dollars  to  men  who  may  be 
drafted  under  that  call.  Voted  to  borrow  820,000  for  the  above  pur- 
poses, and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  appoint  recruiting  agents 
to  fill  the  quota  of  July  18,  1864. 

[1865.]  At  a  special  meeting,  held  February  11,  1865,  the  town 
voted  to  raise  81 ,300,  to  be  expended  in  paying  the  expenses  of  recruit- 


700        niSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

ing  to  fill  the  town's  quota  of  troops,  under  the  call  of  December  19, 
1864.  It  was  also  voted  to  pay  each  volunteer,  each  enrolled  mau 
Airnisking  a  substitute,  and  each  drafted  man  entering  the  service  of 
the  United  States  in  person  or  by  substitute,  three  hundred  dollars  for 
one  year,  four  hundred  dollars  for  two  years,  and  five  hundred  dollars 
for  three  years.  An  additional  bount}'  of  fifty  dollars  was  also  voted 
to  each  veteran  volunteer  who  had  served  at  least  two  years  and  had 
been  honorably  discharged,  and  twenty-five  dollars  to  each  volunteer 
who  had  served  at  least  nine  months.  The  town  voted  to  raise  $25,000 
for  the  above  bounties.  At  the  annual  town-meeting  this  3'ear,  it  was 
voted  to  aid  the  families  of  soldiers  and  sailors  as  heretofore,  and 
7,000  was  raised  for  the  puri)ose. 


TOPSIIAM  IN  THE  WAU  OF  THE  REBELIJOX. 

The  earliest  reference  to  this  war  found  in  the  town  records  is 
dated  Way  1,  186 1.  At  a  special  meeting  of  the  town  held  at  this 
time,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  make  proper  provision  for  the 
support  of  the  families  of  all  persons  having  a  legal  residence  in  town, 
who  might  enlist  iu  accordance  with  an  Act  of  the  State,  passed  at  the 
extra  session  of  the  legislature,  and  approved  April  25,  1861,  during 
their  absence  from  tlie  State,  and  whose  families  might  stand  in  need 
of  assistance,  and  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  ])orrow  the  mone}* 
necessary  for  the  purpose,  or  to  assess  the  town  therefor.  It  was  also 
at  this  meeting  voted  to  pa}'  all  persons  who  volunteered  their  semces  to 
the  government,  eight  dollars  per  month  while  they  were  away  on  duty. 

[1862.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1862,  the  selectmen  were  author- 
ized to  raise  money  for  the  support  of  the  Innnlies  of  volunteers. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  26  the  town  voterl  to  give  a  bounty  of  one 
hundred  dollars  over  and  above  the  bounties  paid  by  the  State  and 
the  United  States,  for  each  volunteer  who  had  enlisted  *' under  the 
last  call  for  troops,"  or  who  might  enlist  up  to  the  time  of  drafting 
(dating  from  July  26,  1862),  in  either  of  the  regiments  of  the  State 
that  was  alrea<ly  in  the  field,  or  that  should  be  formed,  provided  he 
was  finally  accepted  and  mustered  into  the  per\'ice  of  the  United 
States  as  one  of  the  quota  of  the  town,  under  the  recent  call  for 
troops.  The  selectmen  were  also  authorized  to  hire  81,800  for  the 
purpose,  or  so  much  of  that  sum  as  might  be  necessary. 

There  being  some  questi(>n  as  to  whether  this  action  of  the  town 
would  be  legalized  b}'  the  legislature,  forty-six  citizens  pledged  them- 
selves, to  the  amount  of  fifty  dollars  each,  to  indemnify  the  selectmen 
if  the  doings  of  the  town  were  not  legalized. 


MIUTARY  mSlORT  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS.  701 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town  held  August  29  it  was  voted  to  pay  a 
bount}'  of  one  hundred  dollars  to  each  rolunteer  who  would  enlist  in 
the  service  of  tlie  United  States,  under  a  call  from  the  President  for 
300,000  men  for  nine  months,  and  it  was  also  voted  to  raise  $2,500 
for  the  purpose,  or  so  much  thereof  as  might  be  necessary. 

Sixtj'-five  citizens  pledged  themselves  to  indemnify  tiie  selectmen  in 
the  sum  of  fifty  dollars  each,  should  the  action  of  the  town  not  be 
legalized  b}'  the  legislature. 

At  a  meeting  held  December  6  the  town  voted  to  reimburse  all  those 
citizens  who  had  subscribed  money  for  volunteers.  The  town  also  at 
this  meeting  voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  the  needy  fami- 
lies of  soldiers 

[18G3.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1863  the  town  voted  to  raise 
seven  hundred  dollars  to  be  paid  as  bounties  for  soldiers. 

At  a  meeting  held  July  18  it  was  voted  to  pay  drafted  men,  or  those 
who  provided  substitutes,  three  hundred  dollars  each. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  town,  August  27,  the  selectmen  were  author- 
ized to  pay  drafted  men,  or  those  who  provided  substitutes,  three  hun- 
dred dollars  each,  and  to  procure  a  loan  for  the  purpose,  not  exceed- 
ing 85,000,  for  a  term  of  years,  and  bearing  interest  annually. 

At  a  meeting  held  November  7,  it  was  voted  to  pay  each  volunteer 
one  hundred  dollars,  whether  new  recruit  or  veteran. 

The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  raise  by  loan  sudlcient  money  to 
pay  this  bounty'  for  a  number  not  exceeding  twenty-one  volunteers. 

At  a  meeting  on  Decehiber  2,  it  was  voted  to  pay  two  hundred  dol- 
lars more  in  addition  to  the  one  hundred  dollars  voted  in  November 
for  volunteers.  The  treasurer  was  authorized  to  borrow  a  sum  not 
exceeding  8G,300  for  this  purpose. 

[1864.]  At  a  meeting  held  January  6,  the  selectmen  were  in- 
stnicted  to  raise  a  sum  of  money,  not  to  exceed  81,000,  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  and  paying  volunteers,  and  they  were  also  instructed  to 
take  such  measures  as  in  their  judgment  seemed  best  to  fill  the  quota 
of  the  town. 

In  August  it  was  voted  to  pa}'  a  bounty  of  five  hundred  dollars  to 
enrolled  men  furnishing  substitutes  previous  to  the  draft  under  the 
last  call  (July  18,  1864)  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  for 
500,000  men  for  three  years,  to  pay  a  bounty  of  four  hundred  dollars 
to  those  furnishing  substitutes  for  two  years,  and  to  pay  a  bounty  of 
three  hundred  dollars  to  those  furnishing  substitutes  for  one  3'ear,  to 
be  paid  after  the  substitutes  were  accepted  and  mustered  into  service 
on  the  quota  of  the  town  under  said  call.     The  selectmen  were  also 


702         HISTORY  OF  BIWNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL, 

authorized  and  directed  to  pay  volunteers,  enlisting  to  fill  the  quota 
of  the  town  under  said  call,  the  same  sums  as  bounties,  for  the  same 
periods  as  are  before  stated,  and  to  pay  a  bounty  of  three  hundred 
dollars  to  men  who  might  be  drafted  under  said  call,  to  be  paid  after 
such  volunteers  and  drafted  men  were  accepted  and  mustered  into 
service  on  the  quota  of  the  town  under  said  call.  The  selectmen  were 
also  authorized  and  directed  to  pay  to  men  drafted  under  said  call,  and 
furnishing  substitutes,  the  same  sums  as  bounties,  for  the  same  periods 
as  before  stated,  to  be  paid  alter  su(*h  substitutes  were  accepted  and 
mustered  into  service  on  the  quota  of  the  town.  It  was  voted  to 
raise  by  loan  $15,000  for  this  pur[)ose. 

[18Gj.]  At  a  special  meetiug,  held  January  21,  1865,  to  see  if  the 
town  would  vote  to  accept  the  surplus  men  already  enlisted  and  take 
measures  to  pay  them,  it  was  voted  to  accept  them,  and  that  the 
money  raised  August  17,  1864,  be  appropriated  to  pay  the  men  so  far 
as  was  necessary.  The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  take  such  action 
as  they  deemed  best  to  provide  men  and  means  in  case  of  another 
call,  which  was  theu  anticipated. 

At  the  annual  meeting,  the  town  voted  that  the  selectmen  be  author- 
ized to  raise  $5,000  to  be  expended  in  raising  men  for  the  govern- 
ment. 

[1867.]  At  tlie  annual  meeting  this  year,  the  selectmen  were 
authorized  to  raise  a  sum  not  exceeding  $10,000,  at  not  more  than 
seven  and  three  tenths  per  cent  interest,  to  meet  the  liabilities  of  the 
town.  It  was  also  voted  to  fund  the  town  debt  and  issue  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  the  debt,  payable,  one  fourth  of  the  sum  in  five  years,  one 
fourth  in  ten  years,  one  fourth  in  fifteen  years,  and  one  fourth  in 
twenty  years ;  said  bonds  to  bear  six  per  cent  interest,  payable  semi- 
annually, and  to  be  disposed  of  to  the  best  advantage  by  the  select- 
men as  fast  as  necessary',  to  meet  the  liabilities  of  the  town  for  its 
existing  indebtedness. 

[1868.]  At  the  annual  meeting  in  1868,  the  town  voteil  that  the 
sum  to  be  raised  to  Aind  the  debt  of  the  town,  as  authorized  bj'  the 
town  in  1867,  be  lunited  to  $20,000. 

H.VRPSWELL  IN  THE  WAR  OF  THE  REBELLION. 

[1862.]  The  earliest  action  of  the  town  of  Harpswell  having  refer- 
ence to  the  late  civil  war  was  at  a  special  meeting,  held  July  21,  1862. 
At  this  meeting  the  town  voted  to  raise  money  to  induce  men  to  enlist 
as  volunteers  in  the  army.  The}'  voted  to  raise  $2,000,  and  pay  each 
man  who  might  enlist  or  be  drafted  one  hundred  dollars  when  mus- 


MILITAST  mSTORT  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS,  703 

tered  into  the  service.  A  committee  of  four,  namely,  Albert  T.  Tru- 
fant,  Lemuel  H.  Stover,  Alexander  Ewing,  and  Alcot  S.  Merrjman, 
was  chosen  to  procure  the  quota  of  men  required  from  Harpswell, 
and  to  pay  the  same  their  bounty.  The  selectmen  were  also  author- 
ized to  furnish  aid  to  families  of  volunteers  at  their  discretion. 

There  appears  to  have  been  a  doubt  as  to  the  legality  of  the  above 
action  of  the  town  ;  and  in  order  that  the  votes  might  be  carried  into 
effect,  a  number  of  prominent  citizens  signed  a  paper  agreeing  to 
indemnify  the  s^'lectmen  in  case  the  action  of  the  town  was  not  legal- 
ized by  the  legislature  of  the  State.     The  amount  pledged  was  83,270. 

On  the  fifth  of  September  it  was  also  voted  to  pay  each  man  who 
should  enlist  into  the  United  States  service  one  hundred  dollars  as  a 
bounty  for  him  to  enlist  as  one  of  the  nine-months'  men,  under  the  call 
of  the  President,  of  August,  1862,  and  to  continue  paying  it  until  the 
draft  was  commenced,  unless  their  quota  should  be  full  before.  The 
bountj'  was  also  to  be  extended  to  those  enlisting  in  old  regiments,  if 
reckoned  as  a  part  of  Ilariiswell's  quota.  It  was  also  voted  to  extend 
aid  to  the  families  of  those  who  enlisted,  if  in  the  opinion  of  the  select- 
men any  aid  was  needed.  The  selectmen  were  also  chosen  a  commit- 
tee to  solicit  men  to  enlist  and  to  pa}'  the  bounties. 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  on  September  12,  it  was  voted  to  place 
the  bounty  at  two  hundred  dollars  per  man,  instead  of  one  hundred, 
and  the  town  treasurer  was  authorized  to  hire  money  for  the  purpose 
of  paying  these  bounties. 

[186;}.]  Several  town-meetings  were  held  in  1863.  At  one,  held 
on  June  29,  the  town  voted  to  raise  three  hundred  dollars  for  each 
drafted  man  in  Harpswell  under  the  Conscription  Act,  and  to  place 
the  mone}'  in  the  hands  of  the  selectmen  to  be  used  in  paying  the 
bounty  to  those  who  were  mustered  into  the  United  States  ser\'ice,  or 
in  furnisiiing  substitutes,  or  in  paying  fines  for  those  who  were  liable  to 
be  mustered  under  said  Act.  The  selectmen  were  authorized  to  hire 
the  money  for  this  purpose.  At  a  subsequent  meeting,  held  July  25, 
the  above  action  of  the  town  was  reconsidered,  and  the  article  in  the 
warrant  under  which  the  vote  was  passed  was  laid  on  the  table.  A 
vote  was  then  passed  similar  to  the  foregoing,  except  that  instead  of 
pa^'ing  cash,  the  selectmen  were  authorized  to  give  '*  town  orders"  for 
the  amounts,  the  orders  to  be  on  interest  at  six  ]>er  cent,  and  to  run  for 
ten  years,  or  at  the  discretion  of  the  town  for  a  less  period. 

At  a  meeting  held  October  6,  David  Webber  and  Sylvester 
Stover  were  elected  a  committee  to  hire  money  to  take  up  the  town 
orders.     On  November  7,  Lemuel  H.  Stover  was  delegated  to  go  to 


'704        niSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

Augusta  and  confer  with  the  adjutant-general  and  governor,  concern- 
ing an  enlistment  of  non-residents,  and  also  in  reganl  to  having  the 
enrolment  reduced.  On  November  24  it  was  voted  to  raise  $8,250, 
to  induce  men  to  enlist  to  fill  the  town's  quota  of  volunteers,  under 
the  call  of  the  President,  dated  October  17,  1863.  The  selectmen 
were  instructed  to  hire  the  money,  and  to  pay  each  man  two  hundred 
and  seventy-five  dollars,  or  less,  and  if  the}*^  could  not  fill  the  entire 
quota  to  obtain  as  many  as  they  could. 

[1864.]  On  March  7,  1864,  a  special  meeting  was  called  to  see 
what  method  the  town  would  take  to  answer  the  call  of  the  President, 
of  Februaiy,  1864,  for  more  men,  and  whether  they  would  vote  to 
raise  money  for  bounties,  etc.  This  article  was  *'  dispensed  with," 
and  the  meeting  adjourned.  At  a  special  meeting,  held  August  1, 
Lemuel  II.  Stover  was  chosen  an  agent  to  go  to  Augusta,  and  confer 
with  the  adjutant-general  and  governor  as  to  the  best  method  of  fill- 
ing the  quota  of  Harpswell  under  the  call  of  the  President,  of  July  18, 
for  500,000  volunteers.  The  meeting  was  adjourned  to  August  8,  at 
which  time  it  was  voted  to  instruct  the  selectmen  to  issue  to  each 
enrolled  man  under  the  above  call  a  town  order  of  three  hundred 
dollars  when  mustered  into  the  ser\'ice,  the  order  to  be  on  interest, 
and  to  be  in  addition  to  the  State  and  United  States  bounties.  The 
selectmen  were  also  to  appoint  an  agent  to  procure  recruits,  and  it 
was  voted  to  raise  eight  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  to  pa}'  the 
expenses  of  the  agent.  This  vote  to  issue  town  orders  for  three 
hundred  dollars  was,  however,  rescinded  at  a  meeting  held  August 
25,  and  it  was  then  voted  to  raise  $15,000  bv  issue  of  town  notes  to 
that  amount,  pa^'able  in  five  years  (or  at  the  option  of  the  town  in  a 
less  time) ,  the  money  to  be  disbursed  by  the  agent  as  follows : 
fhree  hundred  dollars  to  each  man  who  should  enlist  or  furnish  a 
substitute  for  one  year,  four  hundred  dollars  for  two  3*ears,  and  five 
hundred  dollars  for  three  years,  under  the  call  of  the  President,  of 
July  18. 

[1865.]  On  January  17,  1865,  the  town  voted  that  each  enrolled 
man  who  enlisted  upon  the  quota  of  Harpswell,  under  the  last  call  of 
the  President,  or  any  future  call,  should  receive  from  the  town  the 
sum  of  three  hundred  dollars  for  one  year,  four  hundred  dollars  for 
two  3'ears,  and  five  hundred  dollars  for  three  j'ears,  either  in  scrip  or 
monc}',  at  the  option  of  the  selectmen  ;  and  each  enrolled  person  who 
might  have,  or  should  furnish,  two  hundred  dollars  for  the  procure- 
ment of  a  substitute  to  represent  him,  in  the  arm}'  or  navy,  upon  the 
quota  of  Harpswell,  under  the   last  call,  or  any  future  call,  should 


MIUTARY  mSTORY  OF  THE  THREE  TOWNS.  705' 

receive  from  the  town  a  sufficient  sum  for  that  purpose,  either  in  scrip 
or  mone}',  provided  it  did  not  exceed  tliree  hundred  dollars  for  a  one- 
year,  four  hundred  dollars  for  a  two-j'cars,  or  five  hundred  dollars  for 
a  three-years  substitute.  L.  H.  Stover  was  chosen  the  agent  to  pro- 
cure substitutes  and  to  expend  the  mono}-.  At  a  meeting  held  Feb- 
ruar}'  20,  the  town  voted  to  receive  recruits  to  fill  their  quota  from 
those  who  were  not  enrolled.  It  was  also  voted  to  raise  85,000  in 
addition  to  the  sura  raised  on  the  twenty-fifth  day  of  August,  1864. 

At  the  annual  March  meeting,  it  was  voted  "  that  the  selectmen 
and  treasurer  of  the  town  of  Harpswell  be  authorized  and  instructed 
to  fund  the  war  debt  of  the  town  of  Harpswell,  which  has  already 
accrued,  and  also  for  what  may  be  necessar}'  to  be  raised  to  fill  the 
remainder  of  the  quota  of  the  town  under  the  last  call  of  the  Presi- 
dent, and  issue  town  bonds  with  coupons  attached,  bearing  six  per 
cent  semiannual  interest.  The  funded  debt  not  to  exceed,  under  any 
circumstances,  thirty  thoiisand  doVars,  said  bond  to  be  given  running 
not  over  twent}'  years,  and  in  such  manner  that  at  least  fifteen  hvn- 
dred  dollars  of  said  bonds  shall  become  due  each  successive  3'ear."  " 

For  a  complete  list  of  the  volunteers,  drafted  men,  and  substitutes 
in  the  arm}'  or  navj',  from  each  town,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the 
Appendix. 


4^ 


PART  III. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  AND  GENEALOGICAL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

In  the  following  pages  will  be  fouiid  brief  biographies  of  some  of  the 
promineut  citizens  of  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  Harpswell,  who  are 
not  now  living. 

It  is  probable  that  the  names  of  some  who  were  deserving  of  special 
notice  have  been  omitted,  and  that  some  of  the  sketches  are  briefer 
than  might  be  deemed  desirable.  If  such  be  the  case,  it  is  because  we 
have  not  found  or  been  furnished  with  the  requisite  information  for 
such  sketches.  There  has  been  no  intentional  injustice  done  or  par- 
tiality shown.  In  writing  these  sketches  we  have  depended  ujM)n  the 
communications  received  from  the  friends  of  the  parties,  and  from 
information  obtained  from  such  printed  sources  as  were  accessible  to 
us.  Much  assistance  has  been  furnished  by  the  files  of  the  Brunsrmck 
Telegraphy  and  in  numerous  cases  we  have  not  hesitated  to  make 
verbatim  extracts  from  its  columns. 

ABBOT,  HONOKABLE  JACOB. 

Honorable  Jacob  Abbot  was  born  in  1746.  In  17G7  he  married 
Lydia  Stevens,  and  moved  to  Wilton,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  made 
a  farm  from  the  forest.  About  1776  he  sold  his  farm  to  his  brother 
Joseph,  and  bought  in  the  middle  of  the  town,  and  traded  in  goods. 
He  built  the  first  mills  on  Souhegan  River,  in  Wilton  ;  was  employed 
in  town  business;  was  the  first  representative  to  the  General  Court, 
and  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  town;  was  Justice  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  and  a  Councillor  of  State.  He  moved  to 
Andover,  and  assisted  Honorable  Samuel  Phillips  in  his  business,  and 
was  a  trustee  of  Phillips  Academy.  In  1797  he  moved  to  Concord, 
New  Ha«npshire,  traded  in  goods,  and  represented  the  town  in  the 
General  Court  for  three  years.  In  1802  he  moved  to  Hallowell,  Maine. 
In  1803  he  removed  to  Topsham,  and  in  1804  or  1805,  to  Brunswick. 
He  was  a  useful  member  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege, and  a  senator  for  the  county  of  Cumberland  in  the  legislature  of 


710        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

Maine.  In  the  several  offices  which  he  sustained  he  was  capable, 
faithfuU  and  useful ;  and  in  the  several  places  in  which  he  lived  he 
was  InflucnTial  in  promoting  peace,  good  order,  and  prosperity. 

llis  mind  was  active,  his  perception  quick,  his  memory  prompt,  his 
judgment  sound,  his  disposition  mild.  Ho  was  facetious,  affable,  and 
benevolent,  and  had  a  fund  of  anecdote.  Early  impressed  with  a  sense 
of  right  and  wrong,  he  was  upright  in  his  dealings,  faithful  in  business, 
a  firm  friend  and  supporter  of  religion  and  religious  institutions,  and 
active  in  the  cause  of  education.  One  son  and  seven  grandsons  have 
had  a  collegiate  education.  He  died  in  Brunswick  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-four years.  ^ 

ABBOTT,  REVEREND  JOHN  S.  C. 

John  Stevens  Cabot  Abbott  was  a  son  of  Honorable  Jacob  Abbot, 
and  was  born  at  Brunswick,  Maine,  September  18,  1805.  He  was* 
graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1825,  and  at  the  Andover  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  1829,  and  was  subsequently  settled  at  Worcester,  Rox- 
bur3',  and  Nantucket,  in  Massachusetts,  and  afterward  at  New  Haven, 
Connecticut.  '•  The  Mother  at  Home  "  was  written  in  1833,  and  was 
his  first  work  of  any  note  ;  and  to  the  sevend  European  languages  into 
which  it  was  translated  are  added  the  (ireek,  Turkish,  and  Tamul 
languages  of  Asia.  He  has  written  sevend  works  of  a  moral  and 
highly  instructive  order,  and  several  biograpliies,  but  his  greatest 
renown,  at  liome  and  in  France  at  least,  is  due  to  the  lii story  of  Napo- 
leon and  other  works  relating  to  the  same  subject,  all  of  which  are 
remarkable  for  a  vigorous  defence  of  that  emperor.  So  effective, 
indeed,  were  his  eflTorts  in  his  l>ehalf,  tliat  Napoleon,  never  too  free 
with  recognition  of  such  seiTice,  acknowledged  the  handsome  tribute 
not  alone  with  formal  courtesy,  but  by  bestowing  upon  the  author  his 
warmest  fiiendship,  and  many  substantial  proofs  thereof.  Mr.  Abbotts 
history  of  the  late  civil  war  and  his  other  American  histories  comprise 
about  twenty-five  volumes.  He  died  at  his  residence,  in  Fairhaven, 
Connecticut,  in  June,  1877. 

ADAMS,  REVEIIEND  GEORGE  E.,  D.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  the  oldest  son  of  Deacon  Eliashib 
Adams,  and  was  born  in  Worthington,  Maasachusctts,  October  27, 
1801.  Two  years  Liter,  his  father  removed  to  Bangor,  IVfaine,  with 
his  family.  The  son  fitted  for  Yale  College,  and  graduated  in  1821. 
He  graduated  also  from  Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1826,  and 


1  From  AbbotV9  Genealogical  Register,  1847,  A,  and  E,  Abbott, 


BIOGRAPmCAL,  711 

was  appointed  the  very  next  year  Professor  of  Sacred  Literature  in 
Bangor  Theological  Seminary.  He  retained  this  position  until  1829, 
when  he  was  called  to  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  First  Parish  Church 
in  Brunswick.  This  charge  he  resigneil  in  June,  1870,  and  assumed 
that  relation  to  the  Trinit}-  Congregational  Church  in  Orange,  New 
Jersey.  Although  his  health  was  failing,  he  continued  to  minister  to 
that  growing  church,  even  after  he  had  swooned  away  in  his  pulpit 
with  the  exertion,  until  he  was  forced  to  yield  to  the  eftects  of  disease 
and  suffering,  and  tendered  his  resignation  in  1875.  The  church  where 
his  late  labors  had  been  so  signally  blessed  clung  to  him  with  singu- 
lar affection.  But  he  desired  to  come  back  to  Brunswick  to  spend  his 
last  days.  •'  This  brief  appearance  among  his  old  people  and  in  his 
old  pul[)it  seemed  like  the  visit  of  an  angel."  Returning  to  Orange  in 
the  autumn,  his  health  failed  rapidly,  and  he  passed  away  December 
25,  1875. 

His  funeral  was  held  in  his  old  church  at  Brunswick,  where  a  large 
concourse  of  citizens  testified  their  respect  and  affection.  A  public 
meeting  was  also  held,  at  which  resolutions  were  passed  expressive  of 
a  deep  appreciation  of  his  character  and  services. 

The  doctor  married  early  in  life  Miss  Ann  Folsom,  of  Portsmouth, 
New  Hampshire.  Having  no  children,  they  adopted  Frances  Caro- 
line Adams,  daughter  of  Asher  Adams,  of  Boston,  and  now  the  wife 
of  General  Chamberlain.  They  afterwards  adopted  Anna  Delamater 
Davis,  who  married  and  died  in  this  town,  leaving  one  daughter, 
Georgie  A.  Atkinson. 

Mrs.  Adams  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  character,  and  will,  long 
be  remembered  in  this  place.     She  died  in  1850. 

Some  years  afterward  Dr.  Adams  married  Miss  Helen  M.  Root,  of 
Chicago.  Their  oldest  child,  George,  died  at  an  early  age.  The 
daughters,  Sarah  R.  and  Mary  L.,  are  with  their  mother  in  Orange, 
New  Jersc}'. 

For  forty  years  Doctor  Adams  filled  the  pulpit,  which  may  well  be 
considered  a  ditiicult  and  trying  one,  with  great  acceptance,  and 
managed  a  parish  composed  of  strong  and  diverse  elements,  with 
consummate  judgment  and  tact.  The  church  grew  under  his  hands 
by  steady,  regular  increase. 

''  Doctor  Adams  was  not  only  a  good  pastor,  he  was  also  a  good 
citizen,  alive  to  the  interests  of  the  people  among  whom  he  lived,  and 
his  eminently  benevolent  nature  prompted  him  to  the  discharge  of 
numerous  trusts  which  did  not  legitimately  belong  to  his  calling. 
Doctor  Adams,  with  great  gen^alit}'  of  temper,  possessed  a  reser\'ed 


712        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL. 

fund  of  humor,  which  rendered  him  a  charming  companion  in  social 
life,  and  which  gave  to  many  of  his  fugitive  addresses  and  writings  a 
point  and  elegance  that  few  could  impart  to  such  efforts.  There  was 
about  the  man  so  much  that  was  genial  and  loving,  so  much  of  con- 
sideration for  the  rights  and  opinions  of  others,  that  even  those  who 
most  differed  with  him  could  not  fail  to  recognize  his  sincerity  of  pur- 
pose and  his  firm  intent  to  do  what  he  honestly  regarded  for  the  best." 

ALDEN,  PETER  O.,  ESQUIRE, 

Was  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  [Hall]  Aldcn,  and  a  descendant 
of  John  Alden,  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower^  in  1620.  He  was 
born  in  Middleboro',  Massachusetts,  August  20,  1772  ;  was  graduated 
at  Brown  University,  in  1792 ;  studied  law  with  Judge  Padelford,  in 
Taunton,  and  came  to  Brunswick  near  the  close  of  1796  or  early  in 
1797.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Cumberland  bar  at  the  March  tenn  in 
1797.  He  married,  in  1801,  Mindwell,  a  daughter  of  Doctor  Lyman, 
of  York,  by  whom  he  received  some  property.  He  was  the  only 
law^^er  in  Brunswick  for  a  number  of  years  after  his  admission  to  the 
bar.  His  business  for  a  time  was  very  good.  He  was  well  read  as  a 
law^'er,  and  had  fair  talents  and  information,  but  he  was  no  advocate. 
He  was  very  irritable  in  his  temper,  and  his  manner  when  he  under- 
took to  argue  his  cases  was  abrupt  and  disagreeable.  Whenever  a 
shrewd  adversar}'  wished  to  gain  an  advantage  over  him,  a  certain 
way  was  to  ruffle  his  temper,  when  Peter  would  be  sure  to  spoil  his 
own  cause.  As  competitors  gathered  around  him,  iu  Brunswick  and 
the  neighboring  towns,  his  business  declined,  and  he  was  left  almost 
briefless.  To  make  good  the  deficiencies  arising  from  these  causes, 
he  engaged  iu  commercial  operations,  which  for  a  time  were  success- 
ful, but  which  were  suddenly  and  sadly  blasted  by  the  restrictions  on 
mercantile  transactions  which  took  place  prior  to  the  war  of  1812. 
The  latter  portion  of  his  life  was  embittered  by  disappointment  and 
povert}',  which  produced  h^'pochondria,  and  left  him  a  wreck.  His 
death  occurred  February  14,  1843.  His  wife  survived  him  a  few 
years,  and  died  among  her  kindred,  in  York. 

Mr.  Alden  was  large  and  bulky,  but  not  well  proportioned.  He 
was,  as  ma}'  be  inferred  from  the  faults  of  this  temperament,  unpopu> 
lar  in  the  community  in  which  his  life  was  spent ;  but  bj'  some  reaction 
in  1826,  perhaps  from  sympath}-,  he  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives, and  re-elected  the  three  following  years,  growing  each  time 
in  favor,  until  his  election  in  1829  was  nearly  unanimous.^ 

^  Willis's  The  Law,  the  Courts,  and  the  Lawyers  of  Maine, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  713 


ALLEN,   REV.  WILLIAM,  D.  D. 

William  Allen,  D.  D.,  an  American  clergyman  and  author,  son  of 
Thomas  Allen,  born  in  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  January  2,  1784,  died 
in  Northampton,  July  16,  1868. 

He  graduated  at  Har\'ard  College  in  1802,  and  studied  theology  with 
the  Rev.  Doctor  Pierce,  of  Brookline. 

After  being  licensed  in  1804  by  the  Berkshire  Association,  he 
preached  for  some  months  in  various  parts  of  Western  New  York. 
Upon  his  return  he  was  appointed  a  regent  of  Harvard  College^  lind 
was  also  assistant  librarian  of  the  college. 

During  this  period  he  prepared  the  first  edition  of  his  "  American 
Biographical  and  Historical  Dictionary  "  (1809),  containing  notices  of 
about  83VCU  hundred  Americans.  This  was  the  first  book  of  general 
biography  issued  in  the  United  States.  In  1807  he  prepared  the  bio- 
graphical sketches  of  Am*crican  ministers  for  the  Reverend  David 
Bogue's  and  Bennett's  "  History  of  Dissenters,"  published  in  London 
in  four  volumes.  The  second  edition  of  his  dictionary  appeared  in 
1832,  and  contained  more  than  1,800  names. 

'i'he  third  edition,  published  in  Boston  in  1857,  contains  biographies 
and  notices  of  nearly  7,000  Americans.  His  connection  with  the  uni- 
versity' ceased  in  1810,  when  he  was  ordained  pastor  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  in  Fittsfield,  as  his  father's  successor. 

'i'he  legislature  of  New  Hampshire  in  1816  altered  the  charter  of 
Dartmouth  College,  and  created  in  its  stead  a  university,  of  which 
Doctor  Allen  was  made  president  in  1817.  Upon  an  appeal  to  the 
Supreme  Court  at  Washington,  the  rights  of  the  college  against  the 
State  were  maintained  in  1819.  In  1820,  Doctor  Allen  was  appointed 
president  of  Bowdoin  College,  Maine,  and  retained  that  position  till 
1839,  when  he  resigned  it,  and  retired  to  Northampton,  Massachu- 
setts, engaging  in  various  literar}'  labors.  Among  these  is  a  collection 
of  more  than  10,000  woixls  not  found  in  dictionaries  of  the  English 
language;  nearly  1,500  being  contributed  to  Worcester's  Dictionary 
(184G),  more  than  4,000  to  Webster's  (1854),  and  about  0,000  to 
the  new  edition  of  Webster.  His  other  chief  writings  are,  ^'Junius 
Unmasked,"  to  prove  that  Lord  Sackville  was  the  real  Junius  ;  "  Ac- 
counts of  Shipwrecks";  ''Psalms  and  Il^'mns,"  with  many  original 
hymns  (1835)  ;  "  Memoirs  of  Doctor  Eleazar  Wheelock  and  of  Doc- 
tor John  Codman"  (1853)  ;  "  Wunnisoo ;  or.  The  Vale  of  Hoosatun- 
nuk,"  apocm  with  learned  notes  (1856)  ;  "Christian  Sonnets"  (186Q) ; 


714        mSTOKT  OF  BnVSSWWK.  TOPSHAM,  AND  HAEPSWELL. 

"  Poenis  of  Nazareth  and  the  Cross"  (186G) ;  and  "Sacred  Songs" 
(1876).' 

APPLETON,  JESSE,  D.  D. 

Kftverend  Jesse  Appleton  was  horu  nt  New  Ipswich,  New  Hamp- 
shire, Novembei-  17,  1772.  Ho  married,  in  18U0,  Miss  Elizabeth 
Means.     He  died  in  Bninswiek,  November  \'2.  IRIO. 

Reverend  Mr.  Appleton  graduated  at  Darlmonlh  College  in  1792, 
and  sii>>seqiieiilly  entered  tlie  niinislry.  He  was  elected  president  of 
Bowdoin  College  in  Scpfeuibcr,  1807,  and  was  inaiignrated  in  Decem- 
ber following.  Ho  took  an  active  pait  in  the  instructions  of  the  col- 
lege, and  was  noted  fur  his  punctuality  in  the  discharge  of  duty.  "  Aside 
fiom  the  common  routine  of  his  college  duties,  as  a  gratuitous  service. 


he  composed,  with  great  care,  a  course  of  more  than  fitly  lectures  on 
the  most  important  subjects  in  lheolo5i;y.  They  were  delivered  once  n 
week,  in  the  chapel,  to  the  whole  college,  and  were  always  listened  to 
with  deep  attention  by  the  students,  A  part  of  them  have  been  pub- 
lished in  a  volume  with  a  few  of  his  sermons,  and  in  connection  with 
his  liacealaureate  addresses,  which  are  before  the  public  in  a  separate 
volume,  ])lacc  him  in  the  highest  rank  of  the  theological  and  ethical  writ- 
era  of  our  country.  During  his  life,  sermons,  which  he  preached  on  sev- 
eral interesting  and  imi^ort ant  occasions,  were  published.  In  truth,  Pres- 


it  CyclopfEttia^  I'd 


,p.  330. 


BIOGRA  PHICAL.  715 

idcnt  Appleton  lived  not  in  vain.  He  was  a  most  diligent  student  and  a 
laborious  man.  His  varied  attainments  in  philology*  and  criticism,  of 
which,  particularly  in  reference  to  our  own  language,  he  was  very  fond  ; 
in  mental  and  moral  philosophy,  to  which  his  habits  of  mind  were  p)e- 
culiarly  adapted ;  and  in  theologj',  which  was  his  favorite  stud}',  all 
combined  with  a  fine  taste,  admirably  qualified  him  to  preside  over  a  lit- 
erary institution.  When  we  add  to  these  qualifications  his  uncommon 
dignity  and  courtesy  of  demeanor,  and  those  traits  of  character  which 
have  alread}'  been  mentioned,  we  cannot  but  regard  him  as  one  of  the 
most  able  and  most  valuable  among  the  presidents  of  our  colleges."  * 

BADGER,  CAPTAIN  NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel  Badger  was  a  son  of  Joseph  Badger,  and  was  born  in 
Gilmantown,  New  Hampshire,  in  March,  1789.  He  moved,  with  his 
father,  to  Franklin  County,  and  afterward  came  to  Brunswick.  He 
married  Jane,  daughter  of  Philip  Owen,  of  Brunswick.  In  early  life 
he  followed  the  sea,  but  afterwards  for  many  years  was  a  trader  in 
Brunswick. 

'*  For  twenty-three  ^xars  Captain  Badger  was  annually  elected  town 
clerk  (1837-1859  inclusive),  the  duties  of  which  office  he  discharged 
with  great  fidelity,  his  record  being  ever  clearly  and  intelligently 
made.  He  was  also  a  conveyancer,  and  was  remarkable  for  the  accu- 
racy with  which  he  performed  his  work,  for  the  urbanit}'  and  courtesy 
which  marked  his  conduct  when  transacting  this  class  of  business  ;  he 
was  no  less  remarkable  for  the  stern  integrity  of  his  character,  for  his 
rigid  adhesion  to  all  the  required  forms  of  business.  For  some  time 
he  was  postmaster  of  Brunswick,  and  he  filled  this  post  to  the  full 
acceptance  of  his  fellow-citizens.  Genial  in  his  temper,  appreciative 
of  the  humor  which  warms  but  never  stings,  he  was  a  most  cheerful 
companion,  his  rich,  merry  laugh  over  a  good  story  or  witty  saying 
being  in  the  highest  degree  sympathetic  and  encouraging.  A  man  of 
rare  good  sense,  his  judgment  upon  public  matters  was  greatl}'  to  be 
relied  upon." 

He  died  September  13,  1866. 

BADGER,  CAPTAIN  JOSEPH. 

Joseph  Badger,  a  brother  to  Nathaniel,  was  bom  in  1791.  He  was 
married  to  Eunice  Noyes.  In  early  manhood  he  was  a  sea-captain, 
afterwards  had  a  large  interest  in  navigation,  and  at  the  time  of  his 


'  HUtory  of  Bowdoin  College,  Quarterly  Heguter,  1S35.    Packard. 


716       mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

death  was  president  of  the  Pejepscot  Bank.  ^^  A  methodical  man,  he 
conducted  his  business  with  great  exactness,  was  kind,  charitable  in 
his  feelings,  gave  freely,  and  in  many  instances  with  unusual  liber- 
ality, and  ever  manifested  the  liveliest  interest  in  the  comforts  and 
pleasures  of  the  young,  doing  his  best  to  contribute  to  them."  He 
died  in  Brunswick,  March  27,  1863. 

BAKER.  WILLIAM. 

Mr.  William  Baker  was  born  in  1811.  He  was  an  apothecary  for 
many  years  in  Brunswick.  He  was  a  man  of  a  genial  temper,  of 
stern  integrity  of  character,  and  of  whole-hearted  generosit3\ 

He  was  a  kind  and  generous  husband  and  father  and  a  good  citi- 
zen. He  was  a  Freemason,  and  acted  as  secretary  of  the  Brunswick 
Lodge  for  about  twelve  years. 

For  many  years  he  was  u  member  of  the  First  Parisli  Church,  and 
in  his  relations  of  life  observed  a  consistent  Christian  character.  He 
died  December  22,  1867. 

BALLARD,  REVEREND  EDWARD,  D.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  atHopkinton,  New  Hampshire, 
November  11,  1804. 

He  died  at  Brunswick,  November  14,  1870.  He  graduated  at  the 
General  Theological  Seminary,  New  York,  in  1829,  and  was  ordained 
a  deacon  of  the  Episcopal  Church  on  July  5  of  that  year.  He  was 
ordained  as  priest  September  16,  1830.  From  1829  to  1832  he  was  a 
missionary  and  rector  in  St.  Luke's  Church,  North  Charlestown,  and 
in  St.  Peter's  Church,  Drewsville,  New  Hampshire.  He  was  rector  of 
St.  Stephen's  Church,  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  from  1848  to  1852. 
From  1852  to  1858  he  was  principal  of  the  Episcopal  Academy  of 
Connecticut.  He  was  received  into  the  Diocese  of  Maine,  June  22, 
1858,  and  was  made  missionary  and  rector  of  St.  Paul's  Church, 
Brunswick,  in  1858.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Maine  Dioceso  from 
1860  to  1869,  of  which  he  was,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  the  Senior 
Presbyter  and  President  of  the  Standing  Committee.  He  was  repre- 
sentative of  this  Diocese  to  the  General  Convention  of  Episcopalians, 
to  the  General  Board  of  Missions,  and  to  the  General  Theological  Sem- 
inary. Doctor  Ballard  received  the  degree  of  Master  of  Arts  at  Dart- 
mouth in  1830,  at  Trinity  in  1845,  and  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1858. 
He  received  the  degree  of  S.  T.  D.  at  Trinity  in  1865.  Doctor  Bal- 
lard was  much  interested  in  educational  matters,  and  especially  in  what 
is  called  the  common-school  system  of  the  State.     He  was  appointed 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  717 

State  Superintendent  of  Common  Schools,  and  filled  that  office  from 
1865  to  1868.  He  was  also  interested  in  historical  matters,  as  is  seen 
from  his  contributions  to  the  publications  of  the  Maine  Historical  Soci- 
ety, of  which  he  was  a  member,  and  of  which  he  served  as  secretary 
from  1861  until  his  decease. 

Reverend  Doctor  Ballard  was  a  self-educated  man,  his  earl}'  advan- 
tages of  education  being  slight.  He  was  a  tall,  stout,  and  muscular 
man,  but  3'et  not  very  robust.  He  was  esteemed  as  a  faithfhl  and  lov- 
ing pastor,  and  was  especially  fond  of  children.  '^Humility,  equanim- 
ity-, gentleness,  and  fidelity  were  perhaps  the  most  conspicuous  virtues 
in  his  character.  But  firmness  in  his  convictions  and  unwavering  loy- 
alty to  the  church,  under  whose  orders  he  served,  were  no  less  remark- 
able in  his  teachings  and  public  action.  His  wisdom  and  moderation 
made  him  nn  excellent  counsellor,  his  kindness,  unselfishness,  and  ami- 
abilit}'  the  most  desirable  of  friends,  and  I  know  not  in  what  Chiistian 
attainment  he  was  not  a  worthy  exemplar. 

"  His  manliness  was  apparent,  while  there  was  a  touch  of  womanl}' 
tenderness  in  his  character.  Whatever  responsibility  was  laid  upon 
him  was  faithfull}'  discharged.  He  was  a  large-hearted  man,  a  gener- 
ous man,  far  beyond  his  means  a  ftiend  of  the  poor." 

BARRON.  HONORABLE  JOHN. 

Mr.  Barron  was  bom  in  Dracut,  Massachusetts,  in  1792.  He  went 
with  his  father  to  Danville,  Maine,  about  1796,  where  he  lived  until 
he  removed  to  Topsham,  about  1813.  He  did  not,  however,  establish 
himself  there  permanently  until  1820.  In  1817  he  married  Martha 
Crockett,  of  Dan>nlle.  He  died  in  1860.  During  his  forty  j'ears' res- 
idence in  Topsham  he  was  known  as  an  active  and  influential  citizen, 
and  often  filled  ofiSces  of  trust.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  Sen- 
ate in  1850. 

The  following  is  from  an  obituar}-  notice  by  Reverend  Doctor 
Adams :  — 

"  For  a  long  course  of  years  Mr.  Barron  was  extensively  and  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  the  lumbering  business,  and  was  one  of  the  most 
industrious  and  enterprising  of  the  many  energetic  and  laborious  men 
who  in  this  occupation  have  contributed  so  much  to  the  growth  and 
prosperity  of  our  State. 

"  Being  vigorously  honest  and  of  an  excellent  judgment,  he  pos- 
sessed the  confidence  of  all  who  knew  him,  there  being  no  man  whose 
opinion  in  relation  to  the  lumbering  business  was  more  sought  after 
than  his.     And  though  unobtrusive  and  retiring,  and  not  inclined  to 


718         mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

volunteer  unasked  advice,  he  was  ever  ready  to  give  good  counsel 
where  he  thought  it  would  be  well  received.  He  was  a  man  of  quick 
feelings  and  generous  impulses,  and  many  are  the  deeds  of  his  kind- 
ness, done  quietly  and  unpretendingly,  by  which,  we  trust,  he  laid  up 
treasures  in  heaven  ;  a  kind  husband,  an  indulgent  father,  often  speak- 
ing to  friends,  when  absent  from  home,  of  his  family,  and  declaring  it 
to  be  his  chief  object  and  desire  to  see  his  children  started  happily  in 
life.  His  last  illness,  caused  by  an  internal  cancer,  as  supposed,  was 
very  distressing,  continuing  more  than  two  years.  In  politics  Mr. 
Barron  was  a  Whig.  In  his  religious  views  he  was  a  Trinitarian  Con- 
gregationalist,  uniting  with  the  church  of  that  denomination  in  Tops- 
ham,  about  1840." 

BARRON,   WILLIAM. 

William  Barron  was  born  April,  1797,  and  move<l  to  Topsham  about 
1816.  "  For  many  3'ears,  in  company  with  his  brother  John,  he  carried 
on  lumbering,  and  the  firm,  through  its  business  energy  and  enter- 
prise, secured  a  handsome  fortune  to  each  of  the  brothers.  William 
Barron,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  president  of  the  Pejepscot 
National  Bank,  in  Brunswick,  a  position  that  he  filled  with  marked 
ability  and  acceptance.  He  ever  sustained  the  character  of  an  upright 
man,  a  good  citizen,  and  a  benevolent,  Christian  gentleman.  He  was 
one  of  the  deacons  in  the  Baptist  Church,  in  Topsham."  He  died  in 
Topsham,  January  18,  1806. 

BOAUDMAX,   ALEXANDER  F. 

Alexander  F.  Boardman  was  born  at  Aux  Cayes,  Ha3'ti,  in  1819. 
lie  was  educated  principally  at  llildreth  Academy,  at  Derry,  New 
Hampshire,  but  finished  his  studies  at  North  Yarmouth.  He  entereti 
Bowdoin  College  in  the  fall  of  1834,  but  was  compelled  to  leave  in  his 
Sophomore  3*ear,  on  account  of  weak  eyes.  He  afterwards  engagetl  in 
the  dry -goods  business  in  Brunswick,  and  continued  in  trade  until  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  was  among  the  first  persons  in  Brunswick  who 
dealt  in  dry -goods  onh*,  and  he  carried  on  a  large  business.  He  was 
a  kind  father,  husband,  friend,  and  neighbor,  known  and  esteemed  by 
all.     He  died  November  29,  1876. 

CLEAVELAND,   PROFESSOR  PARKER. 

The  following  sketch  of  this  distinguished  man  is  abridged  from  the 
eulogy  of  Reverend  Leonard  Woods,  D.  D.,  it  being  impossible  for 
words  of  ours  to  add  anything  of  interest  or  value  thereto. 


BIOOHAPBICAL.  719 

Tbose  who  desire  to  read  the  full  account  of  the  life  and  character 
of  this  renllj"  remarkable  man  will  find  it  in  the  eulogy  referred  to, 
which  is  published  in  the  Collections  of  the  Maine  Historical  Society, 
Vol.  VI,  pp.  381  to  432. 

Parker  Cleaveland,  M.  D.,  of  Byfield,  Massachusetts,  the  secontl 
son  of  Hevercnd  John  Cleaveland,  was  the  father  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch.  Doctor  Cleaveland  niarrioil.  in  X'lA,  Elizabeth  Jackman. 
Their  ouly  child,  Parkek,  was  bom  in  Bylield,  January'  1;'),  1780. 
He  was  married  in  Boston,  September  9,  IROli,  by  Reverend  John 
Elliot,  S.  T.  D.,  to  Martha  Bush,  who  was  lK>rn  in  Boylston.  Massachu- 
setts, on  August  19,  1787.  They  hail  five  sous  and  thi-ee  daughters. 
Professor  Cleaveland  died  August  15.  IS.^R. 


Professor  Parker  Cleaveland  inherited  the  powerful  intellect  and 
the  active  and  cheerful  temperament  of  his  father,  and  also  somewhat 
of  the  physical  and  psychological  inflrtuities  of  hia  mother,  especi.illy 
the  electrical  excitability  of  the  latter,  whom  he  is  said  to  have 
resembled  in  the  general  cast  of  his  fcatui'es. 

During  bis  childhood  he  gave  many  indications  of  that  cleurncss 
and  vigor  of  mind  for  which  he  was  afterwards  digtinguished.  On 
one  occasion,  when  ouly  four  years  old,  having  answered  a  question 
which  ha<l  l>cen  put  to  him  with  a  wisdom  aliovc  his  yearH,  and  1)eing 
Rtiked  who  told  him  that,  he  replied,  /  told  viyKplf.  He  was  remark- 
able, even  at  that  age,  for  a  certain  constitutional  timidity  and  for 


720        niSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

great  reserve  in  the  expression  of  his  feelings.  Though  he  was 
known  to  have  strong  affections,  he  never  showed  Ihera  in  the  ordi- 
nar}*  way.  On  account  of  his  studious  tastes  and  peculiar  temper- 
ament, his  father  decided  to  give  him  an  education,  and  therefore 
sent  him  to  prepare  for  college  to  the  famous  Dummer  Academy, 
which  was  situated  in  his  native  parish,  on  the  NewLurj*  side,  about 
two  and  one  half  miles  from  his  home.  The  preceptor  of  the  academy 
at  this  time  was  Reverend  Isaac  Smith.  He  entered  Har\'ard  College 
in  1795,  before  he  was  sixteen  3'ears  old,  and  became  at  once  a  gen- 
eral favorite.  Though  he  was  led  b}-  his  high  spirits  and  social  nature 
to  mingle  freely  in  scenes  of  pleasure,  there  is  ample  evidence  that 
he  was  never  seduced  into  an}*  neglect  of  his  college  duties,  into  any 
conflict  with  the  college  authonties,  or  uny  abandonment  of  the  moral 
and  religious  principles  in  which  he  had  been  educated.  If  during  the 
day  and  evening  he  indulged  himself  in  the  society  of  liis  boon  com- 
panions, he  would  retire  at  night  to  his  chamber,  darken  his  window, 
and  while  supposed  to  be  asleep,  would  push  his  studies  far  into  the 
morning. 

The  natural  sciences  had  so  little  place  at  this  time  in  the  college 
course  that  he  did  not  then  lay  the  foundation  of  his  future  success  in 
this  department.     He  was,  however,  a  proficient  in  Greek. 

He  was  graduated  in  due  course  in  1799,  enjoying  the  reputation 
among  his  fellow-students  of  being  the  best  general  scholar  and  the 
man  of  most  talent  and  promise,  though  not  bearing  off  Die  highest 
honors  of  his  class.  In  his  Junior  year  he  had  taught  school  in 
vacation,  in  Boxford,  and  in  his  Senior  year  in  Wilmington.  After 
he  left  college,  he  taught  for  a  few  months  in  Haverhill.  From 
thence,  in  March,  1800,  he  went  to  York  in  this  State,  where  he 
taught  the  central  town  school  for  three  years.  As  a  school-master, 
he  exhibited  the  same  skill  in  teaching,  the  same  strictness  of  disci- 
pline, the  same  power  to  attach  his  pupils  to  himself  and  to  awaken 
their  enthusiasm,  which  he  displayed  afterwards  in  the  higher  spheres 
to  which  he  was  called.  Notwithstanding  his  eminent  success  as  a 
teacher,  he  did  not  at  this  time  think  of  taking  teaching  as  a  vocation. 

On  his  leaving  college,  it  was  his  purpose  to  study  law  ;  and  accord- 
ingly, when  he  went  to  Haverhill  to  teach,  he  at  the  same  time  entered 
his  name  in  the  law  office  of  Ichabod  Tucker,  Esquire.  When  he 
moved  to  York,  he  engaged  himself  as  assistant  to  Daniel  Sewall, 
Esquire,  who  was  at  that  time  Clerk  of  the  Courts  and  Register  of 
Probate,  and  also  village  postmaster ;  and  during  his  vacations  and 
at  the  intervals  of  his  school  hours,  gave  his  aid  in  those  several 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  721 

offices.  As  Mr.  Scwall's  assistant,  he  sometimes  attended  the  courts, 
and  was  also  occasionally'  engaged  in  justice  business.  Although 
thus  engaged  while  at  York,  his  intention  of  devoting  himself  to  the 
profession  of  law  was  shaken  by  his  own  distaste  for  the  business, 
though  not  of  the  study  itself,  and  still  more  by  the  earnest  desire  of 
his  parents  that  he  should  stud}-  divinity.  For  several  3-ears  his  mind 
was  agitated  about  the  matter,  but  he  finall}'  detennined  in  favor  of 
the  ministry,  and  placing  himself  under  the  direction  of  his  uncle, 
Reverend  John  Cleaveland,  of  North  Wrentham,  he  pursued  his 
studies  at  his  home  in  Byfield. 

While  he  was  thus  engaged,  he  received,  near  the  close  of  October, 
1803,  information  tluough  President  Willard  that  "he  was  chosen 
tutor  of  Harvard  College,  to  succeed  Mr.  P^merson,  in  the  department 
of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy."  lie  promptly  accopteil  the 
appointment,  and  commenced,  November  23,  with  the  instruction  of 
the  Senior  class  in  Enfield. 

About  1804  he  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  in  the  church  in 
which  he  had  been  baptized.  In  1805  he  determined  to  discontinue 
his  tutorship  and  to  enter  upon  a  professional  life.  Although  his 
religious  views  had  not  changed,  he  found  the  question  of  his  future 
profession  again  unsettled,  owing  to  his  conscientious  scruples  nbout 
entering  upon  one  to  which  he  felt  that  he  had  no  certain  and  unmis- 
takable call.  He  therefore  again  determined  to  enter  the  profession 
of  law,  and  had  some  thought  of  settling  in  the  then  new  town  of 
Bangor. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Phi  Beta  Kappa  Society,  August  30,  180 1,  he 
was  appointed,  with  Dr.  Kirklan:!  and  others,  to  superintend  the  i)iib- 
lication  of  the  "  Literary'  Miscellany."  To  this  he  contributed  two  arti- 
cles from  his  own  pen,  viz.,  a  review  of  Morso's  "  Gazetteer,"  and  of 
Darwin's  "  Temple  of  Nature."  The  '*  Miscellany"  did  not  continue 
its  existence  long  after  his  connection  with  it  ceased. 

May  ir>,  1805,  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  both  boards,  he  was  chosen 
l*rofessor  of  Mathematics  and  Natural  Philosophy,  in  Bowdoin  Col- 
lege. He  at  first  declined  it  on  the  ground  ''  that  it  would  involve  the 
sacriGce  of  the  profession  which  he  had  chosen,  and  the  time  which  he 
had  spent  in  preparing  for  it.'*  He  was,  however,  prevailed  upon  to 
accept  the  appointment,  though  he  took  out  certificates  of  qualification 
as  far  as  he  had  proceeded  in  the  law,  and  kept  them  for  future  use 
should  occasion  require. 

He  was  inducted  into  office  October  23,  1805,  being  scarcely  twentj'- 
five  years  of  age.     He  entered  at  once  upon  the  duties  of  his  profes- 
46 


722        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HASPSWELL. 

sorsbip,  which  he  continued  to  discharge  without  intermission  to  the 
da}'  of  his  death,  a  period  of  fifty-three  3'ears. 

During  the  early  period  of  his  professorship  he  paid  some  attention 
to  the  ancient  classics,  read  the  standard  authors  in  English  and  French 
literature,  and  even  indulged  his  poetic  faculty.  He  is  reported,  on 
good  authority,  to  have  written,  soon  after  coming  to  Bninswick,  an 
ode  on  some  public  occasion,  which  was  set  to  music  and  sung. 

There  being  no  instruction  at  that  time  in  Bowdoin  College  in  any 
of  the  branches  of  natural  science  except  those  'of  mathematics  and 
natural  philosophy,  Professor  Cleaveland  set  to  work  to  prepare  himself 
to  suppl}'  the  deficiency,  and  in  1808  gave  his  first  course  of  lectures 
on  chemistry  and  mincralog}'.  For  this  voluntary  ser\'ice  he  was  after- 
wards paid  by  the  Boards  two  hundred  dollars,  and  this  sum  was  con- 
tinued to  him  thereafter.  From  that  time  he  bore,  in  addition,  the  title 
of  Lecturer  in  Chemistry  and  Mineralog}*  until  1828,  when  it  was 
changed  to  Professor  in  these  branches.  During  this  early  period  he 
wrote  several  papers  recording  certain  meteorological,  geological,  and 
astronomical  observations  made  by  him,  which  were  published  in  the 
third  and  fourth  volumes  of  the  ^Memoirs  of  the  American  Academy. 

The  finding  by  the  workmen  in  the  Topsham  sluiceway  excavation, 
in  1807,  of  substances  entirely  new  to  them,  attracted  his  attention 
and  led  him  to  the  study  of  mineralogy',  which  he  pursued  so  assidu- 
ousU'  that  in  1816  he  published  his  '^Elemcntar}' Treatise  on  Mineral- 
ogy and  Geolog}'."  This  work,  making  its  ap|)earanee  at  just  the  time 
when  such  a  treatise  was  imperatively  demanded,  was  a  perfect  suc- 
cess, and  placed  the  author  at  once  in  the  front  rank  of  living  miner- 
alogists. The  work,  the  first  of  its  kind  in  America,  was  immediately 
noticed  in  terms  of  high  commendation  ]»y  the  leading  literary  and  sci- 
entific journals  at  home  and  abroad,  among  others  by  Silliman's  "  Jour- 
nal of  Science  and  Arts"  and  bv  the  "  I^orth  American  "  and  "  Edin- 
burgh  Review."  It  was  used  as  a  text-book  in  Cambridge  University 
^England) .  In  1822  a  second  and  enlarged  edition  was  issued.  In  rec- 
ognition of  Professor  Cleaveland's  s(»rvices,  his  name  was  given  to  a 
species  of  feldspar  before  known  as  albite,  and  to  a  compartment  in 
the  ^Mammoth  Cave  in  Kentucky,  lie  was  noticed  by  the  most  emi- 
nent savans  of  Europe,  including  (ioethe.  lie  received  letters  of 
respect  and  congratulation  from  Sir  David  Brewster,  Sir  Humphrey 
Davy,  and  Dr.  McCulloch,  in  England;  from  Berzclius  of  Stockholm, 
Germar  of  Halle,  lirouguiert,  Baron  Cuvier,  and  the  Abbe  Hnug,  of 
I'aris.  He  received  visits  of  regard  from  Colonel  Gibbs,  Godon, 
Maclure,  and  man}'  others  devoted  to  this  department  of  science.    He 


BIOGRAPBWAU  723 

received  diplomas  of  membership  fVom  sixteen  or  more  literary  and 
scientific  societies,  including  those  established  in  the  principal  capitals 
of  Europe.  He  received  offers  of  professorships  —  some  of  them  with 
offers  of  salary  double  his  own  —  from  Harvard  College  in  Massachu- 
setts, from  Dartmouth  College  in  New  Hampshire,  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  William  and  Mary  in  Virginia,  from  Princeton  College  in  New 
Jerse}*,  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in  New  York, 
and  from  the  University'  of  I'ennsylvania.  He  was  later  appointed 
one  of  the  commissioners  for  the  survey  of  the  New  England  bound- 
ary 1)3'  President  Van  Buren,  and  Regent  of  the  Smithsonian  Institute 
by  President  Pierc<5. 

His  reputation  as  a  lecturer  on  chemistry  extended  far  beyond  the 
college  walls:  He  was  often  urged  to  deliver  his  course  of  chemical 
lectures  in  several  of  the  principal  towns  in  Maine  and  the  adjoining 
States.  In  the  winter  vacations  of  1818,  1819,  and  1820,  he  did 
deliver  the  courses  in  Hallowell,  Portland,  and  Portsmouth,  but  always 
after  refused  to  deliver  them  away  from  his  own  laboratory.  Upon 
the  establishment  of  the  Maine  Medical  School  in  1820,  he  was  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Materia  Medica,  and  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  Medical  Faculty'  he  was  appointed  secretary. 

From  this  time  forward  his  first  thoughts  and  best  endeavors  were 
given  to  his  chemical  lectures.  There  was  no  confusion  in  his  thoughts, 
and  none  in  his  discourse,  ^y  his  calm  and  simple  style,  and  its  easy 
and  iminterrupted  flow,  by  his  lucid  order,  by  the  earnestness  of  his 
manner,  by  the  interest  with  which  he  seemed  to  regard  the  smallest 
and  most  common  things  pertaining  to  his  theme,  by  his  happj'  illus- 
trations and  never-failing  experiments,  and  b}'  his  occasional  sallies  of 
wit  and  good-humor,  he  carried  along  the  delighted  attention  of  his 
hearers  without  weariness  to  the  end  of  his  hour,  making  plain  to 
them  what  had  been  obscure,  investing  even  trivial  things,  by  a  sal- 
utary illusion,  with  an  air  of  importance,  and  in  short,  accomplishing, 
in  a  manner  which  has  never  been  surpassed,  the  great  object  of  con- 
veying to  the  mind  of  the  learner  definite  notions  and  useful  knowl- 
edge on  the  subject  under  consideration. 

Such  w«s  Professor  Cleaveland  as  a  lecturer  on  chemistry.  It  is  in 
this  capacity,  more  perhaps  than  in  any  other,  that  ho  has  been  thought 
to  have  distanced  all  competition.  It  is  in  this  capacity,  certainly, 
that  all  his  peculiar  excellences  appeared  to  the  best  advantage  ;  and 
it  is,  accordingly,  as  a  lecturer  on  chemistry  that  he  has  bcjen  for  many 
years  principally*  distinguished,  and  that  he  will  be  most  distinctl}'  and 
gratefully  remembered  by  his  thousand  admiring  pupils. 


724        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  IIABPSWELL. 

In  his  external  appearance  and  to  a  casual  ohser\*er,  Professor 
Cleaveland  was  stern  and  austere,  and  on  a  sudden  provocation  or  any 
obtrusive  impertinence  was  sometimes  passionate  nnd  violent.  But 
underlying  these  rugged  austerities  on  the  surface  of  his  character  and 
constant!}'  cropping  out  from  beneath  them,  to  use  a  term  of  his  own, 
there  was  a  large-hearted  nature,  an  exhaustless  vein  of  kindly  and 
generous  feelings.  This  essential  goodness  of  heart  was  often  repressed 
and  concealed  by  his  constitutional  reserve  of  manner,  but  not  seldom 
did  it  break  through  the  outward  crust,  and  diffuse  over  his  features  a 
l)enignant  expression,  and  give  to  the  tones  of  his  voice  and  to  his 
manners  a  winning  gentleness.  It  was  manifested  in  his  domestic 
relations,  especially  in  the  gentle  courtesy  with  which  he  alwa3-8  bore 
himself  toward  the  worthy  partner  of  his  life.  It  was  manifested  to 
his  classes,  in  his  friendly  interest  for  them,  in  his  earnest  desire  for 
their  improvement,  and  in  his  frank  and  familiar  intercoui'se  with  them 
out  of  the  lecture- room. 

Though  retired  in  his  habits,  he  felt  a  lively  interest  in  the  general 
welfare,  and,  until  overburdened  with  official  engagements,  took  an 
active  part  in  all  measures  for  promoting  the  public  good.  In  1«14  he 
delivered  an  address  before  The  Brunswick,  Topsham,  and  IIaq)swell 
Society  for  the  Suppression  of  Intemperance,  which  was  published  by 
their  request.  In  1825,  after  the  occurrence  of  the  fire  in  which  Ihe 
factory  and  a  large  i)art  of  the  adjoining  district  were  consuni(»d,  he 
interc^sted  himself  in  organizing  a  fire  conipan}',  and  was  chosen  its 
first  commander.  Though  he  was  then  in  the  zenith  of  his  fame,  and 
had  <leclined  the  most  distinguished  offices  to  which  he  was  called  from 
abroad,  he  gladly  accepted  this  village  appointment,  and  held  it,  to 
universal  acceptance,  for  twent}'  years.  It  is  hardly  necessary'  to  say 
that  whenever  a  fire  broke  out,  by  night  or  by  day,  he  was  always  first 
on  the  ground,  always  managed  the  hose-pipe,  and  always  stood,  when 
duty  required,  in  the  place  of  the  greatest  exposure. 

His  general  and  excessive  timiditj'  cannot  be  passed  over  in  silence. 
The  stories  which  have  been  current  for  the  last  fifty  years  in  regard 
to  his  fear  of  lightning,  however  api)arently  incredible,  are  3'et  sub- 
stantially correct.  It  is  related  by  persons  who  were  inmates  of  his 
house  in  the  early  penod  of  his  residence  in  Brunswick  that  during  a 
thunder-storm  it  was  his  wont  to  lie  on  a  feather-bed,  taking  care  that 
the  bedstead  should  be  removed  to  a  good  distance  from  the  wall ;  and 
that  a  rising  cloud,  which  gave  signs  of  being  chai-ged  with  electricity, 
had,  in  some  cases,  kept  him  from  his  reciUition-room,  in  others,  driven 
him  home  from  college  or  from  church  in  the  midst  of  the  services,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  725 

that  it  was  not  until  his  house  was  well  protected  by  two  lightning- 
rods  that  he  was  able,  on  such  occasions,  to  maintain  any  tolerable 
tranquillity.  But  it  was  not  in  regard  to  lightning  only  that  he  was  a 
timid  man.  It  was  this  extremity  of  caution  which  prevented  him 
from  travelling,  and  finally  circumscribed  his  motions  within  a  few 
miles  from  his  own  door.  Long  before  the  stage-coach  was  supplanted 
by  the  railway  car.  it  had  become  too  dangerous  a  vehicle  for  him. 
His  last  journey  to  Boston,  now  some  twentv  years  back,  was  made 
in  a  one-horse  chaise.  It  is  no  wonder  that  he  never  repeated  the 
experiment,  obliged  as  he  was,  on  that  occasion,  to  make  a  tedious 
<letonr  through  the  upper  counties,  to  avoid  the  long  and  dangerous 
bridges  on  the. lower  route.  This  infirmity  was  undoubtpdly  inherited 
from  his  mother,  and  had  its  seat  in  his  ])hysical  rather  than  in  his 
moral  nature.  He  could  be  brave  enough  when  lie  thought  his  dut}' 
required  iiim  to  be. 

Another  marked  characteristic  of  Professor  Cleaveland,  whicii  de- 
serves a  passing  notice,  was  his  aversion  to  change,  his  attachment 
to  a  settled  routine,  his  tenacit}-  of  the  ways  to  which  he  had  become 
wonted,  in  short,  his  intense  conservatism  of  chara(!ter.  Each  duty 
of  the  da}',  from  his  rising  up  in  the  morning  to  his  lying  down  at 
night,  had  its  allotted  time  and  place. 

But  no  proper  estimate  can  be  formed  of  Professor  Cleaveland*8 
character  without  taking  into  view  its  moral  and  religious  elements. 
There  are  few  men  in  whom  the  sense  of  duty  has  been  higher  or 
more  active,  or  whose  lives  have  been  more  striotlv  jjoverned  bv  it. 
It  was  his  great  endeavor  in  ever}'  condition  of  life,  and  especially  in 
his  official  relations,  to  be  found  faithful.  His  habitual  and  cheerful 
self-denial,  his  constant  sacrifice  of  personal  ease  and  comfort,  his 
careful  husbandry  of  time  in  which  even  the  fragments  were  gathered 
up,  his  stern  disallowance  of  all  light  reading  and  unnecessary  recre- 
ation, his  midnight  toils,  his  careful  preparation  for  his  recitations  and 
lectures,  his  punctual  and  never-failing  attendance  upon  them,  and 
the  earnestness  which  he  carried  into  them,  were  all  inspired  and 
ennobled  by  his  sense  of  official  duty.  This,  i)erhaps,  more  than  any 
other  principle,  was  the  deepest  spring  and  the  crowning  excellence 
of  his  character. 

COBURN,  JOHN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  one  of  a  family  of  eleven  children. 
His  parents.  Captain  Peter  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Coburn,  resided  in 
the  town  of  Dracut,  Massachusetts,  where  John  was  born,  June  1, 
1785.     He  was  married  in  1815  to  Rachel,  daughter  of  John  Dunning, 


726        BISTORT  OF  BBUySWlCK,  lOPSHAM,  AUD  HARPSWELL. 

of  Brunswick.  She  died  March  30,  181 C,  aged  twent3--eight  years, 
leaving  an  infant,  John  Dunning  Coburn.  Mr.  Coburn  married  for 
his  second  wife  Rebecca  Dunning,  a  sister  of  Rachel,  March  11,  1^2.3. 
She  died  in  Topsham,  January  3,  1850,  aged  nearly  seventy  3'ears. 
He  died  in  Topsham,  December  1,  18G5. 

The  first  fifteen  3'ears  of  Mr.  Coburn's  life  were  passed  with  his 
parents,  assisting  liis  father  in  the  labors  of  the  farm.  But  having  a 
delicate  constitution,  and  not  being  thought  to  possess  sufficient  bodiU' 
vigor  to  prosecute  with  success  the  business  of  agriculture,  he  then 
left  home  in  order  to  qualif3'  himself  for  mercantile  pursuits.  For 
some  time  he  was  a  student  in  Phillips  Academv,  Andover.  Leaving 
Andover,  he  spent  some  time  in  teaching,  after  whicb  he  went  into 
the  store  of  Mr.  Philemon  Chandler,  in  Dover,  New  Hampshire, 
where  he  remained  until  he  was  twenl3'-one.  The  next  year  he  was 
in  Mr.  Joshua  Bradle3''s  store  in  Dracut,  Massachusetts,  and  the  next 
(1808)  we  find  him  at  Brunswick. 

On  his  first  coming  to  Brunswick  he  was  concerned  in  business 
with  his  uncle,  Nathaniel  Poor.  After  that  he  went  into  business  by 
himself.  Then,  for  a  time,  lie  was  connected  with  Hon.  David  Dun- 
lap,  and  still  later  with  his  brother.  General  Richard  T.  Dunlap,  the 
term  of  his  agreement  with  the  latter  expiring  June  2,  1832. 

In  the  year  1834,  on  the  organization  of  the  Androscoggin  Bank  in 
Topsham,  he  was  appointed  cashier,  and  removed  his  residence  to 
that  side  of  the  river.  He  continued  to  hold  the  same  office  in  the 
bank  until  the  expiration  of  its  chailer,  in  1854. 

Mr.  Coburn  was  always  read3'  to  do  his  full  share  in  promoting  the 
welfare  of  the  conmumity  in  which  he  lived,  and  enjoyed  the  entire 
confidence  of  his  fellow-citizens.  While  a  resident  of  Brunswick,  ho 
interested  himself  in  schools,  in  societies  for  mutual  improvement,  and 
was  for  man3'  years  an  active  member  of  the  Washington  Fire  Club. 
For  some  ten  3'ears  ho  was  town  treasurer,  and  for  several  3'ear8 
assisted  the  late  John  Abbott  as  treasurer  of  Bowdoin  College  He 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  count3'  of  Lincoln,  and 
of  uotary-i"ublic,  was  often  arbitrator  in  the  settlement  of  vexed, 
questions,  and  executor  and  administrator  of  estates,  in  whom  the 
widow  and  orphan  found  a  wise  counsellor  and  a  kind  fiiend.  Once 
during  the  illness  of  the  State  treasurer,  he  performed  the  duties  of 
his  office.  Indeed,  that  oflice  was  tendered  to  him  1)3'  prominent 
members  of  the  part3'  in  power,  on  condition  that  he  would  go  over  to 
tlieir  side,  but  he  declined  the  oflTer,  though  he  was  at  the  time  out  of 
business. 


BlOQnAPHICAL.  727 

^^Mr.  Cobiirn  was  a  man  of  an  amiable  disposition,  strong  in  his 
attachments,  thongbtful  of  others,  fond  of  children,  firm  in  his  adher- 
ence to  what  he  deemed  to  be  right  and  strict  in  the  observance  of  the 
Sabbath.  He  had  a  sound  judgment  and  a  benevolent  heart.  He 
was  an  honest  man  and  one  who  would  rather  overpay-  than  underpay 
one  in  his  employ.  A  few  days  before  his  death  he  said  what  many 
men  of  colossal  fortunes  cannot  sa}',  and  what  others  of  equal  integ- 
rit}*  with  himself  have  been  prevented  by  misfortune  from  saying,  '  I 
believe  no  man  ever  lost  a  dollar  bv  me.* " 

In  his  religious  views  Mr.  Coburn  was  a  Unitarian.  "When  the 
church  of  that  denomination  was  formed  in  Topsham,  he  was  tiie  first 
to  record  his  name,  and  when  the  societ}'  in  Brunswick  was  consti- 
tuted he  enrolled  his  name  there.  He  alwa^'s  contributed  according 
to  his  ability  for  the  support  of  public  worship,  and  for  fifteen  years 
he  was  never  absent  from  a  single  communion  service. 

CURTIS,  CAPTAIN  NEHEMIAH. 
Captain  Curtis  was  born  in  Hanover,  Massachusetts,  in  1733,  and 
died  December  2G,  1816.  He  was  a  selectman,  a  member  of  the 
Committee  of  Safety,  etc.,  and  commanded  the  militia  before  and 
during  the  Revolutionar}'  war.  He  was  an  active  patriot  during  that 
war,  and  did  good  ser\ice  in  defending  the  town  of  Harpswell  from 
marauding  bands  of  Tories  wlio  were  not  British  soldiers.  It  is  said 
that  he  killed  and  captured  some  of  the  leaders.  His  force  consisted 
of  volunteers  from  the  citizens  of  the  town.  Captain  Curtis  led  a 
company  in  the  unfortunate  "•  Bagaduce  Expedition."  He  discharged 
with  honor  and  fidelity  the  several  offices  he  held. 

CUSHING,  CALEB. 

Caleb  Cushing  was  born  in  Cohasset,  Massachusetts,  April  2,  1777. 
When  quite  young  he  went  to  Boston  and  8er\'ed  apprenticeship  in 
the  tailoring  establishment  of  Samuel  Beals.  He  afterwards  worked 
at  his  trade  in  Portland,  then  in  Georgetown  (now  Phipsburg),  and 
in  September,  1797,  he  came  to  Brunswick,  where  he  located  himself 
permanently.  About  1800  he  built  a  two-stor^*  frame  shop  on  the 
west  side  of  Maine  Street,  and  a  two-story  frame  dwolling-houso  on 
the  opiX)site  side  of  the  street,  next  north  of  the  Tontine  Hotel, 
which  he  occupied  till  his  death.  About  1825  he  built  a  largo  frame 
building  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Pleasant  Streets,  where  Lcinont 
Block  now  stands,  which  was  occupied  by  himself  and  sons  in  trade 
for  many  j'ears,  and  until  within  a  few  years  the  locality  was  known 
as   '^Cushings'   Corner."      He    married,   in   1801,   Mar}-  Dunning, 


728        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

daughter  of  the  late  John  Dunning.  She  died  November  13,  1808, 
aged  thirty-one  years.  He  married  again  December  5,  1814,  Dolly 
Owen,  daughter  of  the  late  Philip  Owen.  She  died  in  Augusta,  April 
29,  1865,  aged  seventy-eight  years.  Mr.  Gushing  was  in  1817  elected 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  of  Bninswick,  and  served  for 
seven  successive  years.  He  was  a  genial  man,  possessing  the  confi- 
dence and  respect  of  the  communit}',  maintaining  the  strictest  honor 
and  honesty  in  his  intercourse  and  dealings  with  all.  He  died  quite 
suddenly  April  14,  1838. 

DENNISON,  COLONEL  ANDREW. 

Andrew  Dennison  was  born  in  Freoport,  in  178G,  came  to  Topsham 
in  181H,  and  to  Brunswick  in  1824. 

In  his  early  days  he  wjis  an  active  and  energetic  politician,  but  always 
fair  and  abqve-board.  He  possessed  a  most  curious  and  inquiring  mind, 
and  was  an  ingenious  mechnnic.  For  some  time  he  acted  as  deputy 
sheriff  of  the  county.  During  the  war  of  1812  he  was  orderly  sergeant 
of  a  company  in  garrison  at  Fort  Preble.  Such  was  the  strength  of 
his  memory,  as  he  informed  his  sons,  he  could  call  ever}'  man  upon  that 
roll  without  once  referring  to  his  manuscript.  He  was  afterwards  a 
colonel  of  militia.  He  was  mainly  instrumental  in  procuring  the  town 
clock  and  bell  on  the  Mason  Street  Church,  and  he  was  greatly  inter- 
ested in  having  accurate  time  kept  in  the  village,  frequentl}*  visiting 
the  college  sundial  for  that  i)urpose,  so  long  as  it  remained  in  order. 

Mr.  Dennison  was  a  man  devoted  to  all  matters  of  public  concern 
and  to  the  causes  of  temperance  and  antislavery.  He  was  alwa^'s 
courteous  and  gentlemanly,  was  a  man  of  Christian  character,  of  strict 
integrity,  and  was  held  in  high  esteem  b}-  all.  He  died  in  Brunswick, 
July  3,  18G9. 

DUNCAN,   DOCTOR  SAMUEL. 

Doctor  Duncan,  or  Dunkan.  as  he  himself  spelled  the  word,  was  set- 
tled for  a  short  time  as  a  physician  in  Bath,  on  High  Street.  He  next 
lived  in  Topsham  for  a  little  while,  and  moved  to  Brunswick  in  1770, 
and  practised  his  profession  there  until  his  death.  He  lived  in  the  old 
Gideon  Hinkley  house,  now  owned  by  Chajnn  Weston,  near  Hanling's 
Station.  The  north  room  of  this  house  he  used  as  his  office,  in  one 
corner  of  which  stood  a  skeleton  which  was  the  terror  of  all  the  chil- 
dren of  the  neighborhocxl  as  well  as  of  many  of  the  older  persons.  He 
was  said  to  be  very  skilful  in  his  profession,  and  had  quite  an  extensive 
practice  in  West  Bath  and  in  Har[»swell  as  well  as  in  Brunswick.  He 
received  i>ay  in  1770  from  the  town  of  Ilarpswell  for  attendance  on 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  729 

some  of  the  poor  of  that  town.  He  was  a  representative  to  the  Gen- 
eral Court  in  1781.  He  died  in  1784,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and  was 
buried  in  the  old  bur^'ing-ground  in  West  Bath. 

DUNLAP,    REVEREND  ROBERT. 

The  Reverend  Robert  Dunlap  was  a  zealous  divine  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian order.  He  was  born  in  the  North  of  Ireland,  in  the  province  of 
Ulster,  county  of  Antrim,  and  parish  of  Barilla,  within  nine  miles  of 
Scotland,  in  the  month  of  August,  171;').  His  father's  name  was  .Tohn 
Dunlap  and  his  mother's  Jane  Dunlap.  They  had  but  two  childnMi.  — 
a  son  and  daughter.  Robert  was  the  son  ;  the  daughter,  whose  Chris- 
tian name  is  not  known,  was  married  to  William  Livingston,  of  Ireland. 

As  he  liJid  a  peculiar  relish  for  scientific  pursuits,  having  passed 
through  the  elementary  part  of  education,  he  entered  as  a  student  of 
the  rniversity  of  Edinburgh,  Scotland,  at  an  early  age.  During  his 
connection  with  this  institution  he  sustained  an  excellent  reputation, 
and  made  rapid  progress  in  the  natural  sciences. 

Having  completed  his  collegiate  course,  he  commenced  the  sturly  of 
divinity.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  was  admitted  to  the  degree  of 
Master  of  Arts,  and  was  immediately  aflei'ward  licensed  to  prea(;h  the 
gospel,  having  been  occupied  for  a  considerable  time  in  the  study  of 
theology.  In  the  spring  of  the  year  1736,  with  a  number  of  his  coun- 
trvmen,  he  embarked  for  America,  and  arrived  in  this  countrv  on  the 
nineteenth  <lay  of  June  following.  During  the  voyage  they  were 
overtaken  by  a  violent  storm,  and  were  shipwrecked  on  the  Tsle 
of  Sable,  an  island  in  the  North  Atlantic  Ocean,  ninety  miles 
southeast  of  Cape  Breton.  There  were  on  board  about  two  hundred 
souls,  ninet^'-six  of  whom,  in  the  very  bloom  of  life,  i)erishcd  in  the 
waters.  From  some  flax  and  candles  that  were  wasiied  on  shore  from 
the  wreck  the  survivors  were  enabled  to  repair  the  long  boat,  in  which 
they  went  to  the  Isle  of  Canso,  twenty-seven  leagues  distant,  and 
about  fort}'  leagues  east  b}'  north  of  llalil:ix.  By  the  direction  of 
Governor  Shelby  the}'  were  taken  in  a  small  fishing- vessel,  then  at  that 
])lace,  and  carried  to  CajHi  Ann  in  New  England. 

Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap  went  immediately  to  Boston,  where  he  became 
acquainted  with  the  Reverend  Mr.  Moorehead  and  the  Reveren<l  ^Ir. 
McGregor,  two  eminent  divines  of  that  day,  and  joined  the  Presbytery 
of  which  they  were  members.  He  soon  left  Boston,  and  was  for  a 
time  at  Dracut,  Massachusetts;  from  there  he  removed  to  Noblebor- 
ough,  Maine.  After  this  he  resided  for  a  time  at  Boothljay,  then  at 
Sheepscot  Bridge  in  Newcastle,  from  which  place  he  removed  to  Bruns- 


730        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAii,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

wick.  After  some  time  spent  on  probation,  the  town  agreed,  in  Decem- 
ber, 174G,  to  settle  him  as  their  minister,  offering  him  an  annual  salary 
of  two  hunrlrcd  pounds,  old  tenor,  and  to  hire  him  a  house  during  the 
war.  It  wns  agreed  between  Mr.  Dunlap  and  the  pcof)le  that  he  should 
be  ordained  in  Boston,  and  Deacon  Samuel  Ilinkle}'  and  Mr.  Ebenezer 
Stanwood  were  api)ointed  as  commissioners  to  repair  to  Boston  on 
behalf  of  the  town,  and  receive  Mr.  Dunlap  as  their  minister.  Accord- 
ingl3-,  during  the  summer  of  1747,  Mr.  Dunlap  was  ordained  in  Boston 
in  the  meeting-house  of  Reverend  Andrew  LeMeroier,  a  small  brick 
church  on  School  Street,  by  a  Presbytery  composed  of  Reverend  Mr. 
LeMercier,  of  Boston,  Reverend  Mr.  Morton,  of  C'oleraine,  Reverend 
Mr.  Davidson,  of  Londonderry,  Reverend  Mr.  Wilson,  and  Reverend 
Mr.  McLothlin.  He  was  the  first  regularl}'  settled  minister  in  the 
town,  though  there  iuul  been  other  preachers  there  before  him.  He 
dwelt  at  first  iu  the  garrison-house  of  McFarland,  where  Da^-'s  Block 
now  is,  and  afterwards  on  the  lot  granted  to  the  first  settled  minister, 
near  the  old  meeting-house. 

Mr.  Dunlap  continued  the  minister  of  Bnuiswick  about  thirteen 
years.  Some  difliculties  having  arisen  between  him  and  the  people 
respecting  tlie  payment  of  his  salary,  a  council  was  proposed  to  advise 
in  the  case.  Reverend  ^lessrs.  Smith,  of  Falmouth,  Morrill,  of  Bidde- 
fonl,  and  Lorniin  were  invited. 

The  result  of  this  council  is  not  now  known,  but  it  led  to  his  dismis- 
sion, which  took  place  in  October,  1700.  Reverend  Mr.  Dunlap  was 
never  again  settled  in  the  ministry.  lie  is  said  to  have  been  vehement 
and  persuasive  in  his  st^'le  of  preaching,  and  to  have  taken  somewhat  as 
a  model  the  celebrated  George  Whitefield,  whom  he  became  acquainte<l 
with  soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  countr}'.  He  resided  in  Brunswick 
until  his  death,  which  took  place  June  26,  177G. 

DUNLAP,   CAPTAIN   JOHN. 

Captain  John  Dunlap  was  a  son  of  the  Reverend  Robert  Dunlap, 
and  was  born  June  19,  173H.  His  parents  were  poor,  and  when  quite 
young  he  resolved  that  if  energy  and  i>erseveranco  would  accomplish 
it  he  would  become  rich.  With  this  object  in  view  he  enlisted  as  a 
soldier  in  Fort  Geoi^e,  but  the  remuneration  was  too  small  to  satisfy 
his  ambition,  and  he  aoc<  rdingl}-  abandoned  that  calling  and  adopted 
that  of  a  hunter.  In  this  he  was  quite  successful.  He  made  long 
Journeys  into  the  wilderness,  and  brought  back  huge  packs  of  furs, 
which  yielded  him  a  handsome  remun(?ration  for  his  labor,  and  gave 
him  a  fair  start  in  the  world.     During  one  of  these  excursions  he 


BIOQRAPmCAI^  781 

became  acquainted  with  the  famous  Indian  chief  Sabattis,  who  piloted 
Arnold  and  bis  aimy  to  Canada.  Sabatiis  in  his  latter  days  made 
frequent  visits  to  Brunswick  for  the  purpose  of  seeing  Captain  Dunlap. 
Later  in  life  Captain  Dunlap  was  a  trader,  and  still  later  he  was  largely 
interested  in  the  lumber  business  and  in  navigation,  accumulating 
wealth,  and  fulfilling  the  ambition  of  his  youth.  In  1803  he  had 
become  the  richest  man  in  the  then  District  of  Maine.  His  personal 
property  was  estimated  at  $200,000.  He  was  an  active,  enterprising 
business  man  and  a  man  of  unquestioned  abilit3\  He  represented  the 
town  of  Branswick  for  six  years  in  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts,  from  1799  to  1805  inclusive.  He  married,  for  his  llrst  wife, 
Jenette  Dunning,  by  whom  he  had  live  children,  Robert,  John.  David. 
Samuel,  and  Mar}'.  His  second  wife  was  Mary  Tappan,  whom  lie 
married  in  1788,  and  b}'  whom  he  had  four  children,  Richard  T.,  Rob- 
ert, Robert  P.,  and  Marcia  Scott,  who  became  the  wife  of  the  late 
Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln.     Captain  Dunlap  died  July  30,  1824. 

DUNLAP,   DAVID. 

David  Dunlap  was  the  third  son  of  Captain  John  Dunlap,  and  was 
born  in  Bmnswick,  January  21,  1778.  He  married,  in  1821,  Nancy 
McKeen,  daughter  of  Reverend  Joseph  McKeen,  the  first  presi<lent  of 
Bowdoin  College.  Mr.  Dunlap  represented  the  town  of  Bmnswick  in 
the  General  Court  of  Massachusetts  five  years,  between  1810  and 
1817,  and  in  the  legislaturc  of  Maine  in  1820  and  subsequently.  He 
was  also  called  to  fill  various  other  public  ofllces.  He  was  for  a  long 
time  a  member  of  the  Boanl  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  a 
member  of  the  American  Boanl  of  Commissioners  for  Foreign  Mis- 
sions. He  was  a  highly  rqspected  citizen,  and  was  noted  for  his  char- 
ities to  benevolent  objects.     He  died  February  T),  1843. 

DUNLAP,   GENERAL  RICHARD  T. 

General  Richard  T.  Dunlap,  son  of  Captain  John  Dunlap,  was  born 
in  Brunswick,  June  28,  1789.  During  the  earlier  part  of  his  life  he 
was  engage<l  in  mercantile  business,  and  later  in  shipping  and  bank- 
ing. He  was  president  of  the  old  Bmnswick  Bank  for  a  number  of 
3'ears.  He  was  a  remarkabty  clear-headed  man,  was  well  posted  in 
the  news  of  the  day,  well  read  in  histor}',  and  familiar  wi'h  the  antiq- 
uities of  Brunswick  and  vicinity.  He  was  exact  and  methodical  in 
business.  In  politics  he  was  an  old-line  Democrat,  but  a  firm  and 
unyielding  Union  man.     He  never,  however,  took  an  active  part  in 


732        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  IIaRPSWELL. 

political  life.     He  died  in  Brunswick,  October  2G,  1863,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-four. 

DUNLAP,   HONORABLE  ROBERT  PINCKNEY. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Brunswick,  August  17,  1794, 
in  the.  house  now  owned  and  occupied  by  the  family  of  the  late  Doctor 
Lincoln,  in  which  he  lived  until  1800,  when  his  parents  moved  into  a 
new  house,  now  the  residence  of  Honorable  C.  J.  Oilman.  He  fitted 
for  college  under  the  direction  of  Esquire  llasey,  of  Topsham.  He 
graduated  from  Bowdoin  in  1815.  He  then  studied  law  in  Brunswick, 
with  Honorable  Benjamin  Orr,  and  in  Newbur^^wrt,  Massachusetts, 
under  Ebenezer  Morely,  Esquire,  and  was  aduiitted  to  the  bar  in  1818. 
He  continued  in  the  practice  of  his  i)rofession  for  many  years,  but  his 
preference  was  for  political  life.  He  was  an  old-school  Democrat.  He 
8er\'ed  in  both  branches  of  our  legislature,  was  a  member  of  the  exec- 
utive council,  and  in  1834  was  elected  governor  of  Maine.  He  served 
four  terms  in  the  latter  capacity.  He  served  also  for  two  terms  — 
184.T  to  1847  —  as  a  representative  to  Congress.  He  was  warmly 
interested  in  the  welfare  of  his  Ahna  Mnter.  and  filled  for  niaiiv  vears 
the  office  of  president  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College. 

He  had  a  strong  regard  and  affection  for  the  Order  of  Freemasonry, 
of  which  he  was  a  distinguished  member  and  in  which  he  attained  emi- 
nence. He  clung  to  Masonry  even  during  its  darkest  days.  He  was 
several  times  Master  of  United  Lodge,  of  Brunswick,  was  (irand  Mas- 
ter of  the  (irand  Lodge  of  Maine,  and  was  for  nine  years  the  General 
Grand  High  Priest  of  the  General  (irand  Boyal  Arch  Chai>ter  of  the 
United  States.  On  retiring  from  the  last-named  office  he  was  pre- 
sented by  the  Masons  of  ('harleston.  South  (.-arolina,  with  an  elegant 
pitcrher  and  salver.  He  was  also  a  Knight  Templar,  and  it  is  said  that 
he  attained  the  highest  degree  under  the  Scottish  rite  that  had,  at  that 
time,  ever  been  conferred  in  America. 

"  As  a  presiding  officer,  whether  in  tlie  Senate,  the  Board  of  Over- 
seers, the  town  meeting,  or  in  political  or  philanthropic  conventions, 
Mr.  Dunhip  was  hardh'  suri)assed,  conducting  business  with  great 
accurac}',  promptness,  and  despatch,  and  at  the  same  time  with  a  dig- 
nified impartialit}'.'* 

Governor  Dunhi])  was  generous-hearted  and  liberal  in  his  disposi- 
tion, kiiidl}'  in  his  feelings  to  all,  honest  in  his  opinions,  upright  in  his 
intentions,  and  manly  and  just  in  his  conduct.  For  twentj'-five  ^'ears 
he  was  a  consistent  member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  was 
always  friendly  to  the  cause  of  temperance.     He  married,  iu  1825, 


moanAPHWAL.  733 

Lydia  Chapman,  who  died  Janaary  29,  18G8.  At  the  time  of  his 
death.  October  20,  1859,  he  was  the  oldest  surviving  member  of 
the  American  Bible  Society. 

His  imrial  was  accompanied  with  more  ceremony  and  was  more  fully 
attended  than  that  of  an}*  other  w^ich  has  ever  occurred  in  town.  He 
was  buried  with  Masonic  ceremonies,  and  there  were  present  two  com- 
manderies  of  Knights  Templars,*  with  Chandler's  Band,  Montgomery 
Ro3*al  Arch  Chapter,  representatives  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  ten  sub- 
ordinate Loilges,'^  with  delegations  from  two  others.^ 

DUNNIXO,  ANDKEW. 

Andrew  Dunning  came  IVoni  Ashburton,  county  of  Devonshire,  Eng- 
land, lie  maiTicNl  Susan  Bond.  In  1717  he  arrived  at  Georgetown, 
Maine.  an<l  came  to  Brunswick  the  same  year  and  settled  at  Matpioit 
on  the  lot  formerly  occupied  by  Master  Samuel  Dunning  and  now 
owned  by  Patrick  McManus.  He  was  a  ri*esbyterian  in  his  religious 
belief,  and  was  much  respected  for  his  integrity  and  uprightness  of 
character.  His  children  were  all  boru  before  he  emigrated  to  this 
country.  He  is  said  to  have  been  a  blacksmith.  He  was  bnrie<l  in 
the  old  graveyard,  and  his  gravestones  are  the  oldest  in  the  yard.  (See 
epitaphs.)  The}'  were  wrought  and  engraved  by  his  son  .lames.  A 
few  years  before  his  death,  his  house  was  bunuMl,  and  his  wile,  in 
endeavoring  to  save  some  money  she  had  laid  aside,  fell  through  the 
tloor  into  the  cellar  and  was  burned  to  death.  A  negro  slave,  who  was 
asleep  in  an  arch  in  the  cellar,  was  with  dilllculty  rescued  by  being 
dragged  through  the  cellar  window. 

DUNNING,   ANDREW. 

Andrew  Dunning,  of  Harpswell,  was  the  son  of  William  Dunning  of 
York,  and  was  born  in  1727.  In  early  life  he  followed  the  sea  and  was 
master  of  a  vessel.  He  afterwards  abandoned  this  calling,  and  set- 
tled in  Harpswell  about  17r>H.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  Harps- 
well,  and  was  town  clerk  for  twentv-five  vears,  l758-«2,  and  select- 
man  in  1758,  1759,  17G0,  and  17C4.  June  17,  17r»7,  he  was  chosen 
deacon  of  the  church  in  IIaq)swell,  and  held  the  otlice  until  his  death, 
which  to<jk  place  March  27,  1H08.  The  following  incident  illustrates 
the  energ}'  and  determination  of  his  character :  — 


>  Maine  Conimandery,  No.  1,  and  Portland  Commandcry,  \o.  2. 

*  Portland  Lodfje^  No.  1  ;  Ktnnebec^  No.  5  ;  balar^  No.  14  ;  Fncport^  No.  23  ;  Tern- 
pie.  No.  25  ;  Villaf/e,  No.  26  ;  Ilermon,  No.  32  ;  Casco,  No.  3(5  ;  LaJ'ayette,  No.  48  ; 
Richmond,  No.  G3  ;  besides  United,  No.  8,  to  tchich  he  belonged. 

•  Tranquil,  No.  29  ;  Cumberland,  No.  12. 


734        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

He  oDce  went  to  Halifax  with  a  cargo  of  provisions,  etc.,  and  was 
to  take  a  cargo  of  coal  from  thence  to  Virginia.  A  wharf  was  to  be 
erected,  and  the  coal  was  to  be  on  the  wharf  upon  his  arrival.  The 
wharf  was  not,  however,  completed,  in  fact,  it  was  but  just  begun  when 
he  arrived.  Not  wishing  to  wait  the  slow  movements  of  the  wharf- 
builders,  he  took  a  part  of  his  crew,  went  into  the  woods  and  cut  and 
hauled  out  logs  and  assisted  in  building  the  wharf,  which  was  the  JirM 
ever  built  in  Halifax. 

DUNNING,  BENJAMIN. 

Benjamin  Dunning,  of  Harpswell,  was  town  clerk  in  1791  and  1792, 
Justice  of  the  peace,  representative  to  the  General  Court  in  1781 ,  1 782, 
1785,  1791,  1793,  1797,  1800,  1801,  1803,  and  180G,  and  lieutenant 
in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  an  overseer  of  Bowdoin  College,  the 
location  of  which  at  Brunswick  he  was  instrumental  in  securing.  lie 
was  a  man  who  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  and  a 
strong  interest  in  education. 

DUNNING,   DAVID. 

David  Dunning  was  the  son  of  Andrew  Dunning,  who  came  over 
from  England.  1  le  married  first  a  daughter  of  John  Farren,*  and  after- 
wards Mrs.  Adam  [Lithgow]  Hunter,  when  she  was  over  eighty 
3'cars  old. 

He  owned  a  large  part  of  the  land  wiicre  the  village  of  Brunswick 
now  is,  and  erected  a  block-house  where  the  post-ollioe  now  stands. 
He  received  the  command  of  a  company  of  soldiers  about  1740,  and 
scoured  tlie  wilderness  up  and  down  the  Androscoggin  in  pursuit  of 
the  Indians.  He  was  one  of  the  most  active,  enterprising,  and  respect- 
able men  of  his  day.     He  died  in  1799. 

EATON,  RKVEREND  ELISIIA. 

Reverend  Mr.  Eaton  was  ordained  over  the  Third  Parish  in  Brain- 
tree,  now  Randolph,  Massachusetts,  June  2,  1731,  and  was  settled 
there  until  1750.  Of  his  previous  life  but  little  is  known,  or  in  regard 
to  his  pastorate  in  Randolph.  P'rom  the  length  of  his  settlement 
there,  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  he  gave  good  satisfaction.  He  came 
to  Merriconeag  by  recommendation  of  Mr.  Alden,  the  first  minister  of 
Cape  Elizabeth,  and  was  installed  in  1754  over  the  First  Parish  of 
Harpswell,  which  was  then  the  Second  Parish  of  North  Yarmouth. 
His  salary  was  £450  old  tenor,  or  £00  lawful  money .^ 


*  Mc  Keen .  *  P^epscot  Papers, 


BIOQnAPEICAL.  735 

Of  Mr.  Eaton*s  abilities  as  a  preacher,  or  of  his  characteristics  as  a 
man,  scarcely  an3'thiDg  is  known.  That  he  zealously  followed  his 
chosen  career  is  not  to  be  doubted,  but  from  the  specimen  of  his  Muse 
which  was  found  in  a  book  of  records  of  baptisms  performed  by  him, 
and  which  is  the  onl}'  literary  specimen  of  his  that  we  have  seen,  his 
theology  would  appear  to  have  been  of  a  very  gloomy  cast,  unless  the 
sentiment  conveyed  was  that  of  an  anatomist  or  ailist,  rather  than  of 
a  theologian.  We  insert  this  poetical  production  as  a  fitting  conclusion 
to  this  sketch. 

FINIS  LAVATIONIS. 

REV.   E.    EATON. 

NAM  UORTE  CORUKPrTTR. 

Ah !  lovely  Appearance  of  Death, 

No  Sight  upon  Earth  is  so  fair ; 
Not  all  the  gay  Pageants  that  breathe, 

Can  with  a  dead  Body  compare. 

With  solemn  Delight  I  survey 

The  Corpse  when  the  Spirit  is  fled; 
In  Love  with  the  beautlAil  Clay. 

And  longing  to  lie  in  its  stead. 

EATON,  REVEREND  SAMUEL. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  son  of  Reverend  Elisha  Eaton,  was 
horn  in  Randolph  in  1736.  He  was  fitted  for  college  at  York,  by 
Master  Mood}',  and  entered  Harvard.  One  of  his  Latin  exercises 
Mhile  there  was  dated  "Cambridge  Collegge,  10  of  November  17G2, 
"Widnesday  eleven  o'clock  at  night."  lie  was  graduated  iu  ITOJJ,  and 
for  the  next  year  he  taught  school  in  Scarboro*,  boarding  during  the 
time  at  Mr.  King's,  the  father  of  Honorable  Rufus  King.*  Rnfus 
attended  his  school. 

"While  at  Cambridge,  Samuel  Eaton  not  only  attended  the  theologi- 
cal course  of  study,  but  also  attended  medical  lectures,  and  obtained 
a  knowledge  of  the  healing  art  that  his  excellent  ju<lgment  afterwards 
enabled  him  to  put  in  practice  for  the  benefit  of  his  people. 

He  was  ordained  in  1764,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  at  Mr. 
Elwyn's  meeting-house  in  Scarboro'.  He  aiterwnrds  preaciied  at 
Harpswell  and  New  Gloucester,  and  had  a  call  to  settle  at  both  places. 
He  accepted  that  from  Harpswell,  and  was  ordained  October  21,  1764, 
with  a  salar}'  of  £66  13s.  4rf.  besides  a  settlement. 

Reverend  Samuel  Eaton  was,  prior  to  1820,  the  only  resident  of 

1  United  States  Senator  in  1821. 


736     msioRY  OF  brukswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

Harpswcll  who  had  ever  received  a  collegiate  education.  lie  was 
never  married,  but  iu  his  later  years  he  lived  with  a  nephew  whom  he 
had  brought  up  and  educated  at  Fryeburg  Academ}*.  He  was  a  man 
of  reniarkiible  energ}',  and  when  eighty-six  ^'ears  of  age  he  not  only 
attended  to  his  ministerial  duties,  but  also  attended  to  the  care  of  a 
barn  containing  eleven  head  of  cattle,  which  he  always  fed  before  sun- 
rise in  the  morning. 

Samuel  P^aton  was  a  ripe  scholar  and  a  man  of  thought.  His 
knowledge  of  religious  doctrines  was  both  thorough  and  discriminat- 
ing. He  possessed  great  eloquence,  and  people  flocked  from  all  quar- 
ters to  meeting  to  hear  him,  uotwithstiinding  his  sermons  were  written 
with  all  the  old  scholastic  divisions  and  repetitions.  '*  He  never  sepa- 
rated religion  from  morality  in  his  catechisings,  which  all  the  children 
attended  in  the  different  school-houses.  He  impressed  upon  them 
not  merely  the  doctrines  of  religion,  but  the  practical  duties  of  it. 
He  was  of  most  commanding  presence,  and  possessed  a  natural  dig- 
nit}'  which  was  not  diminished  by  the  old  dress  and  wigs  that  he  never 
laid  aside.  For  this  reason  and  on  account  of  a  rare  executive  talent 
that  he  possessed,  he  was  generally  chosen  to  preside  in  all  delilier- 
ative  assemblies  where  he  was  present.  His  own  people  were  justl}* 
proud  of  his  abilities  juid  fame.  He  was  possessed  of  a  keen  wit  and 
was  never  iit  a  loss  for  a  reply."  He  was  also  peculiarly  fearless  in 
the  expression  of  his  opinions.  What  he  thought  he  never  was  afraid 
to  abide  l>y.  In  the  war  of  the  Kevolution  he  was  an  ardent  patriot, 
and  exerted  all  his  abilities  in  the  cause  of  his  countrv.  In  that 
struggle  he  had  the  sentiment  of  the  i)eople  with  him.  but  in  the  war 
of  1?S12,  he  was  in  the  miiiorily,  and  oi)posed  the  war  and  its  abettors 
with  all  liis  might. 

During  the  J^evolutionary  war  a  recruiting  ofHcer  came  to  Harps- 
well,  but  i'ailed  to  obtain  any  men.  On  Sunday  morning  he  called  at 
the  parsonage  and  said,  '*!Mr.  Katon,  cannot  you  do  something  for 
me  and  the  cause?  '*  ]Mr.  Katon  replied,  "  It  is  my  communion  Sab- 
bath, sir.  I  can  have  nothing  to  do  with  secular  subjects,  but  if  you 
will  remain  till  night  1  will  call  the  peoi)le  together  on  tlie  Common, 
and  I  will  speak  to  them  from  the  horse-block." 

In  1812,  when  he  was  being  looked  upon  with  some  suspicion  as 
regarded  his  patriotism,  he  referred  to  this  meeting  on  the  Common,  in 
conversation  with  Reverend  Elijah  Kellogg,  of  Portland,  and  said, 
*'  When  the  services  of  the  day  were  over  1  went  to  ni}*  house,  opened 
the  Bible,  and  my  eye  fell  upon  the  words,  *  Cursed  be  he  that  hold- 
eth  back  his  sword  from  blood.*     I  spake  an  hour  from  those  words, 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  737 

and  there  were  thirty  men  ready  to  march  the  next  morning,  and  yet 
nmc  they  call  me  a  Tory.'*  Though  like  the  rest  of  his  party  patriotic 
at  heart,  he  was  a  Federalist  in  his  political  belief,  and  bitterly  op- 
posed the  embargo  and  the  war  of  1812.  Preaching  about  that  time 
at  Freeport,  he  began  his  pra3*er  thus,  '*  Lord,  thou  hast  commanded 
us  to  pra\'  for  our  enemies,  and  we  will  commence  with  Tom  Jeffer- 
son, if  he  is  not  beyond  the  reach  of  mercy."  He  proceeded  in  like 
manner  to  pra\'  for  each  member  of  the  Cabinet.  According  to  the 
traditionary  accx>unt  of  this  service,  the  Secretary*  of  State  was  pres- 
ent, being  accidentally  detained  there  over  the  Sabbath,  while  on  a 
jonrne}'. 

In  old  times  it  was  customarj'  for  judges  of  court  to  ride  together 
over  the  circuit.  Upon  one  occasion  they  reached  Bnmswick  on  Sat- 
urda}'  evening,  and  concluded  to  remain  until  Sunday  afternoon,  and 
then  proceed  to  "NViscasset,  where  the  court  was  to  be  held.  The 
First  Parish  in  Brunswick  was  at  that  time  without  a  pastor,  and 
Parson  Eaton  was  therefore  sent  for  to  preach  in  the  forenoon.  He 
did  so,  preaching  a  powerful  sermon,  and  at  the  close  of  his  remarks, 
knowing  the  intention  of  the  judges  was  to  proceed  on  their  wa\'  in 
the  afternoon,  he  alluded  to  their  presence  in  his  prayer,  and  thanked 
the  Lord  ''  that  the  magistrates  of  the  Common wealtli  cherished  such 
respect  for  the  laws  and  the  Sabbath,  that  they  would  not  violate 
either  by  travelling  on  the  Lord's  day." 

The  judges  were  so  much  interested  by  the  sermon  they  had  hoard, 
and  were  so  amused  by  the  palpable  hit  given  them  by  the  pastor  in 
his  prayer,  that  they  resolved  to  remain  and  attend  service  in  the 
afternoon.  During  the  intermission  they  sought  an  introduction  to 
Mr.  Eaton,  and  were  much  pleased  with  liis  conversation.  On  their 
way  to  Wiscasset  thej'  made  a  contribution,  and  sent  to  Boston  and 
purchased  the  wig,  a  very  fine  one,  of  Judge  Lothrop,  who  had  recenth' 
died,  and  sent  it  to  Mr.  P2aton,  as  a  testimonial  of  their  esteem.  The 
parson  was  buried  with  this  wig  on  his  head. 

As  has  been  said,  Mr.  Eaton  was  a  man  of  ver}'  commanding  pres- 
ence, especially  with  this  wig  upon  his  head.  He  was  once  taken  for 
an  English  judge,  by  an  Irishman  in  the  employ  of  President  McKoen. 
This  man,  seeing  him  approaching  with  his  cane,  wig,  and  cocked  hat, 
and  fearing  an  arrest,  dropped  an  axe  which  he  held,  and  ran,  and 
was  never  again  seen  in  Brunswick. 

The  following  anecdote  will  serve  to  display  his  ready  wit.     Upon 
one   occasion  he  was   cho53n  mOvleratv)r  of   a  public  moeting.      He 
declined,  and  nominated  "  Father"  Scott,  who  was  a  man  of  small 
47 


738        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Stature,  feeble  voice,  and  verj*  retiring  manner,  in  his  place.  Mr. 
Scott  declined,  saving,  *'Mr.  Eaton,  there  is  more  dignity  in  30ur 
wig  than  in  my  whole  bod}'."  ''Take  the  wig  then,"  replied  Mr. 
Eaton,  catching  it  off  his  own  head  and  placing  it  upon  Father  Scott's.* 

ELLIS,  REVEREND  JONATHAN. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  in  Franklin,  Connecticut,  April 
11,  1762.  His  father  was  Reverend  John  Ellis,  a  graduate  of  Har- 
vard, class  of  1 750,  and  a  chaplain  in  the  llevolutionarj'  army. 

Jonathan  fitted  for  college  at  New  London,  and  graduated  at  Yale 
in  1786.  In  his  Senior  year  he  received  a  prize  for  excellence  in 
writing.  He  came  to  Topsham  on  probation  in  Jul}',  1788;  was 
ordained  over  the  church  and  society  of  the  First  Parish,  September 
16,  1789,  and  was  the  first  settled  minister  in  Topsham.  He  remained 
over  this  society  ten  years,  being  obliged  a  portion  of  the  time  to 
teach  school  in  addition  to  his  parochial  duties,  in  consequence  of 
the  inadequacy  of  his  salarj-.  He  was  informally  dismissed  in  Sep- 
tember, 1799.  He  remained  in  town,  however,  teaching  school  and 
occasionally  preaching,  until  August,  1811,  when  he  left  his  home 
and  went  to  New  York  State,  and  afterwards  to  Delaware  to  teach. 

During  his  residence  in  Topsham,  Mr.  Ellis  took  a  warm  interest 
in  educational  matters  and  in  town  matters  generall}'.  lie  fitted 
quite  a  number  of  young  men  for  college,  among  them  John  McKecn, 
Lithgow  Hunter,  Dean  Swift,  John  Patten,  of  Bowdoinham,  Joseph 
Sprague,  Benjamin  Randall,  and  others.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
original  Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College,  the  first  secretary 
of  this  board,  and  a  member  of  the  examining  committee  until  he 
resigned  these  offices  in  1811. 

Very  little  is  known  of  him  as  a  preacher,  but  he  must  have  been, 
on  the  whole,  pleasing  to  the  majorit}'  of  his  people,  or  he  could  hanlly 
have  maintained  his  position  for  the  length  of  time  he  did,  over  a 
society  made  up  of  somewhat  discordant  elements.  In  his  theological 
views  he  was  an  Orthodox  Congregationalist.  Some  of  his  leading 
parishioners  were  Presbyterians,  and  it  was  doubtless  chiefly  due  to 
this  fact  that  liis  connection  with  the  parish  as  its  pastor  was  sev- 
ered. 

His  reputation  as  a  writer  and  a  scholar  was  excellent.  He  was  a 
superior  Latin  scholar.  He  was  also  considerabh'  interested  in  his- 
torical researches,  and  wrote  an  historical  sketch  of  Topsham  which 

1  P^epscot  Papers  uJid  KtUogt/'s  MS.  Lecture  on  JlarpsweU* 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  739 

was  printed  in  the  Collections  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Soci- 
ety. In  February,  1800,  he  delivered  an  elog}'  on  Washington  at 
the  old  First  Parish  Cliurch  in  Topsham.  The  manuscript  of  tliat 
elogy  is  now  in  the  possession  of  his  son,  Doctor  Asher  Ellis,  of 
Brunswick,  and  it  shows  that  its  author  had  a  poetical  talent  of  more 
than  ordinary  merit.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Gen- 
eral  Court  in  1806,  and  that  year  he  delivered  an  oration  on  the 
Fourth  of  July,  at  the  Court  House  in  Topsham,  "  before  the  Federal 
Republicans  of  Brunswick  and  Topsham."  The  audience  passed  a 
vote  of  thanks,  and  the  oration  was  afterwards  published  at  the  office 
of  the  Portland  Gazette. 

The  following  extract  from  his  diary  is  inserted  as  an  evidence  both 
of  the  ability  of  the  man  as  a  writer  and  of  his  Christian  char- 
acter :  — 

"  December  31,  1800.  This  day  we  close  the  3'ear  1800  and  the 
eigthoenth  centiir}'.  Great  and  important  scenes  have  been  disclosed 
on  the  theatre  of  human  action  in  the  past  century,  more  especially 
in  the  latter  part  of  it.  The  new  empire  formed  by  the  Union  and 
Independence  of  the  American  Colonies  in  this  western  world  excited 
the  attention  of  the  European  nations,  which  had  scarcely  subsided 
when  the  scene  began  to  disclose  in  France  which  has  greatly  injured 
all  and  destroyed  some  of  the  nations  of  Europe  and  astonished  man- 
kind. Where  or  when  this  scene  of  revolution  and  devastation  will 
end  God  only  knows.  To  the  wise  and  good  this  reflection  that  He 
governs  the  world,  restraining  the  wrath  of  man  and  causing  it  to 
praise  him,  affords  support  and  consolation.  May  I  be  ever  under 
his  fear,  constantly  devoted  to  his  service,  and  be  enabled  to  say  with 
full  consent  of  mind,  Thy  will,  O  God,  be  done.     Amen." 

EMERSOX,  DOCTOR  EBENEZER. 

Doctor  Ebenezer  Emerson  came  to  Maine  frofn  Heading,  !Massa 
chusetts.  The  date  and  place  of  his  birth  arc  both  unknown.  lie 
moved  to  Topsham,  and  occupied  the  house  now  occupied  by  Swan- 
zc}'  AVilson.  He  married  Sally  Stinson,  a  sister  of  Captain  John 
Stinson,  of  Woolwich,  and  afterward  married  Beckey,  daughter  of 
Keverend  John  Miller,  of  Brunswick.  His  intention  of  marriage  to 
her  was  recorded  December  20,  17*J2.  His  second  wife  survived  him 
and  married  again. 

Doctor  Emerson  was  a  tall,  raw-boned  man.  He  was  liberallv  edu- 
cated,  but  was  an  odd  character.  He  kept  a  span  of  mules  with  which 
he  drove  about  to  visit  his  patients.     He  died  prior  to  1798. 


740        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

ESTABROOK.  COLONEL  THOMAS  S. 

Colonel  Thomas  S.  Estabrook  was  born  in  Lunenburg,  Massachu- 
setts, August  24,  1777.  He  served  his  time  as  a  baker  at  New 
Ipswich,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  married  Judith  Nichols.  He 
removed  to  Hopkinton,  New  Hampshire,  where  he  lived  two  years. 
In  1801  he  came  to  Brunswick,  where  he  ever  after  lived,  with  the 
exception  of  one  year,  1817.  when  he  lived  at  Norfolk,  Virginia  At 
first  he  kept  a  bakery,  but  aflerwards  engaged  in  trade.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  mail-carriers  between  Brunswick  and  Augusta,  and  ran 
the  first  passenger  coach  between  these  towns.  He  was  a  Free- 
mason. He  started  the,  first  light  infantry  companj'  and  was  its 
commander.  In  1812  he  was  a  major  of  militia.  He  was  also  a 
prominent  fireman.  For  thirty  years  he  was  college  marshal.  He 
was  an  honorable,  upright,  and  genial  man,  fond  of  joke  and  story, 
and  an  excellent  citizen. 

EVERETT,  EBENEZER,  ESQUIRE. 

Mr.  Everett  was  the  son  of  the  Reverend  Moses  Everett,  of  Dor- 
chester, Massachusetts,  and  was  born  iu  that  place  in  1788.  He  was 
of  the  sixth  generation  from  Richard  P>erett,  the  first  American 
ancestor,  who  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Dedham  in  163G.  His 
father,  and  the  Reverend  Oliver  P^verett,  father  of  those  distinguished 
men,  Alexander  H.  and  Edward  Everett,  were  brothers,  and  sons  of 
Ebenezor  Everett.  His  mother  was  Hannah  Clap  Gardner,  the  third 
wife  of  his  father. 

Entering  Harvard  College  in  1802,  he  became  the  companion  and 
room-mate  of  his  cousin,  Alexander  H.  Everett,  and  pursued  bis 
studies  with  diligence  and  success,  graduating  with  honor  in  1806. 
After  his  admission  to  the  bar  he  established  himself  in  Beverl}',  where 
he  remained  until  1817,  and  where  he  formed  an  acquaintance  with 
the  excellent  lady.  Miss  Prince,  who  in  1819  became  his  wife.  In  1817 
he  removed  to  Brunswick,  whore  the  remainder  of  his  life  was  spent. 
He  had  several  children,  three  of  whom  survived  their  childhood,  Moses 
Everett,  a  young  man  of  much  promise,  who  died  in  1840  ;  Sarah  Ellen 
Everett,  a  most  estimable  young  lady,  who  died  in  1847  ;  and  Charles 
Carroll  Everett,  now  a  professor  in  Harvard  Univei'sit}'.  Of  Mr.  Ever- 
ett's abilities  as  a  lawver,  the  late  Honorable  AVilliam  AVillis  said  :  ''As 
an  advocate,  Mr.  Everett  made  no  pretension,  but  as  a  wise  counsel- 
lor and  an  upright  and  conscientious  lawyer  he  had  few  superiors. 
He  was  often  employed  as  a  master  in  chancery  and  a  referee,  and  by 


J^—' 


^V-t-w--^^ — 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  74 1 

his  strict  integrity  and  ability  he  secured  the  confidence  of  the  commu- 
nit}'  and  acquired  a  large  and  profitable  practice.  In  my  acquaintance 
with  him  of  half  a  century,  in  most  of  which  time  we  practised  at  the 
same  bar,  1  never  knew  liim  guilty  of  an  unworthy  or  dishonorable 
action ;  his  conduct  was  without  fear  and  without  reproach  ;  it  was  not 
strained  or  put  on  for  the  occasion,  but  was  inbred  and  natural.  His 
countenance  exhibited  both  firmness  and  benevolence,  and  his  life  did 
not  betray  this  revelation." 

Mr.  Everett's  sen-ices  were  not  confined  to  his  profession,  but  were 
required  in  other  departments.  On  the  establishment  of  the  Union 
Bank,  in  Brunswick,  in  1825,  he  was  appointed  its  first  cashier,  with 
David  Dunlap,  president.  The  duties  of  this  office  he  discharged  with 
great  fidelity  and  promptness  for  fourteen  years,  at  the  same  time  con- 
tinuing the  practice  of  his  profession. 

In  1828  he  was  elected  one  of  the  trustees  of  Bowdoiu  College,  and 
held  the  office  thirty-six  years,  until  compelled  b}'  the  infirmities  of  age 
to  resign. 

In  1838  he  was  appointed  a  commissioner,  with  Chief  Justice  Mellen 
and  Judge  Samuel  E.  Smith,  to  review  and  codify  the  public  stjitutes 
of  the  State.  This  imix^itant  work  constituted  the  first  published  vol- 
ume of  the  Revised  Statutes,  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  i)rofession 
and  the  people. 

In  1840  he  was  chosen  to  represent  Brunswick  in  the  legislature,  but 
politics  and  public  life  had  no  charms  for  him  ;  he  preferred  the  quiet 
pursuits  of  private  life  to  the  noi3\'  and  unsatisfactory  contests  of  the 
political  arena.  In  politics  he  was  an  unwavering  disciple  of  the  Fed- 
eral school  and  of  its  successors,  and  was  uniformly  loyal  to  the  true 
Republican  principles  on  which  our  government  was  founded.  During 
the  civil  war  he  gave  substantial  aid  toward  sustaining  the  cause  of 
freedom  and  equal  rights.  In  his  religious  ^'iews  he  was  a  Unitarian, 
conservative  without  dogmatism,  liberal  without  radicalism.  lie  was 
a  public-spirited  citizen,  taking  a  lively  interest  in  whatever  aftbcted 
the  welfare  of  the  town.  He  died  at  his  home  in  Brunswick,  February 
C,  18Gy. 

FIELDS,   MRS.   ELIZABETH. 

Mrs.  Fields  was  the  widow  of  Robert  Fields,  Esquire,  barrister,  in 
England,  a  lawyer  of  ability,  who  came  to  America  and  lived  for  many 
years  in  Boston,  where  he  died  in  1812.  In  1831,  Mrs.  Fields  came 
to  Topsham,  and  opened  a  school  for  j'oung  ladies  in  the  house  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Susan  T.  Puriuton.  Of  her  early  life, 
before  coming  to  this  country,  nothing  is  known.     Although  a  woman 


742        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0PSnA3f,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

of  marked  ability  and  refinement,  and  fitted  to  adorn  any  station  in 
life,  her  reputation  in  this  vicinity  was  mainly  due  to  her  pre-eminent 
qualities  as  an  instructress.  Although  she  was  apparent!}'  lax  in  dis- 
cipline, yet  she  allowed  no  shirking  of  duty  or  abuse  of  privileges. 
She  always  managed  to  know  what  was  going  on  around  her,  and  it 
was  a  common  saying  of  her  pupils,  "  Mrs.  Fields  can  hear  us  think." 
She  i)ossessed  a  wonder  Ail  power  of  drawing  out  whatever  latent  power 
her  pupils  possessed.  She  was  also  very  mindAil  of  their  physical 
needs.  She  followed  the  English  customs  in  man\'  respects,  especially 
in  requiring  her  household  to  tarr}-  at  their  meals.  Though  herself 
adhering  to  the  social  etiquette  of  the  English,  she  did  not  require  it 
of  her  pupils,  acknowledging  its  absurdity  here.  Although  French  was 
made  a  specialty  in  the  school,  she  insisted  upon  the  necessit}'  of  a 
thorough  preliminary  knowledge  of  English,  and  even  went  so  far  as 
to  insist  upon  a  knowledge  of  American  history'  before  commencing 
that  of  England.  She  was  extremel}-  intolerant  of  shams.  She  was  a 
good  story-teller,  and  was  wont  to  take  pleasure  in  rehearsing  tales 
of  the  exiled  French  nobility,  many  of  whom  she  personally  knew. 
Though  not  opposed  to  what  she  deemed  real  improvement,  she  was 
by  nature  conservative,  and  had  a  profound  veneration  for  the  great 
minds  and  thinkers  of  the  past.  She  not  onlj-  told  anecdotes  of  exiled 
noblemen,  but  would  occasionally'  tell  tales  of  her  own  youth,  espe- 
cially' of  her  presentation  at  Court,  and  give  her  recollections  of  Mrs. 
Siddons  and  of  the  plots  of  foreign  plays.  She  was  stately  in  figure, 
and  possessed  a  pleasant  but  dignified  demeanor  that  was  a  comfort  to 
her  friends,  but  a  terror  to  the  evil  disposed.  She  was  vor^-  charitable 
in  her  disposition,  and  always  had  two  or  three  pupils  at  a  time  to 
whom  she  gave  board,  tuition,  or  both. 

FROST,   MAJOR  WILLIAM. 

William  Frost  was  born  December  11,  1781.  He  was  a  trader  in 
Topsham  for  many  years,  and  was  also  engaged  in  the  lumbering  and 
shipping  business.  He  was  the  second  president  of  the  First  Union 
Bank  of  Brunswick. 

He  was  chosen  major  of  the  militia,  and  was  also  a  representative 
to  the  legislature  in  1823,  1824,  1828,  and  1830.  He  was  esteemed 
as  a  charitable,  liberal,  hospitable,  and  honest  citizen.  His  religious 
views  were  Unitarian.     He  died  January'  17,  1857. 

FURBISH,  BENJAMIN. 

Mr.  Furbish  was  born  in  Wells,  Maine,  May  2,  1807.  He  learned 
the  trade  of  a  tin-plate  and  sheet-iron  worker,  and  worked  a  year  or 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  743 

two  in  St.  Andrews,  New  Brunswick.  In  1831  be  went  to  Exeter, 
New  Hampshire,  and  in  1884  married  Marj-  B.  Lane  of  Exeter.  He 
moved  to  Brunswick  in  1836  and  continued  in  trade  in  Brunswick  until 
January,  1866. 

His  health  was  broken  down  early  in  life,  but  a  strong  constitution 
enabled  him  to  battle  with  disease  through  many  years.  He  was  one 
of  the  earliest  and  most  earnest  supporters  of  the  graded  school  S3's- 
tem  in  Brunswick,  and  a  member  of  the  first  board  of  agents,  in  which 
position  he  served  for  a  number  of  years.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
building  committee  for  the  erection  of  both  the  grammar  schools  and 
Union  Street  primary  school-houses.  He  was  a  Freemason.  He  was  a 
representative  in  1854  and  in  1861,  selectman  in  1851,  and  also  town 
treasurer,  and  in  the  discharge  of  his  public  duties  secured  the  full 
approbation  of  his  fellow-citizens. 

''  Mr.  Furbish  was  a  man  who  exhibited  marked  characteristics,  a  per- 
son of  strong  individualit}',  great  frankness  of  expression,  but  toler- 
ant of  the  faith  and  opinions  of  others.  He  was  reserved,  uncommu- 
nicative at  times,  but  still,  beneath  all  this  reserve,  there  flowed  a  vein 
of  humor  which  rendered  him  a  most  desirable  companion  in  social 
life,  and  which  was  the  charm  of  home.  He  was  keen  in  his  criticisms, 
but  no  ill  nature  marked  them.  A  man  with  a  clear  judgment,  enlarged 
and  liberal  views  of  men  and  things,  reading  much,  he  proved  an  excel- 
lent citizen,  ready  to  promote  an}-  good  object,  with  labor  or  purse  ; 
and  his  fellow-citizens  marked  their  appreciation  of  the  merits  of  the 
man  bj-  repeatedly  electing  him  to  fill  offices  of  honor  and  trust  in  this 
his  home  for  man}'  years.  Of  incorruptible  integrity,  dishonesty  and 
low  dealing  he  held  in  scorn,  and  all  his  transactions  were  marked  by 
honestj',  and  a  desire  to  do  justice  as  between  man  and  man.  A  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  for  many  years,  he  maintained  a 
Cliristian  character,  to  the  sincerity  of  which  others  have  borne  testi- 
mon}'."     He  died  in  Brunswick,  Februar}-  27,  1873. 

GETCHELL,  CAPTAIN  JOHN. 

Captain  John  Getchell  came  to  Brunswick  from  Spurwink,  about 
the  time  of  the  incorporation  of  the  town,  and  settled  on  Gurnet  Point. 
He  was  said  to  be  "a  large,  portly,  venerable  looking  old  gentleman, 
especially  when  he  made  his  appearance  on  the  Sabbath,  dressed  in  his 
white  wig  and  triangular  hat."  Captain  Getchell  was  a  member  of 
the  board  of  selectmen  in  1739  and  in  1749.  He  was  also  the  first 
captain  of  the  militia,  and  served  in  that  capacity  for  many  years.  His 
first  wife's  name  was  Elizabeth.  It  is  not  known  with  certainty  whether 
he  was  married  a  second  time. 


744        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

GIDDINGS,  DOROTHY. 

Miss  Dorothy  Giddings  was  born  in  Exeter,  New  Hampshire,  Janu- 
ary', 1785.  She  came  to  Brunswick  in  1812,  and  was  welcomed  to  the 
hospitality  of  Captain  Kichard  Toppan,  a  relative  by  maiiiage.  She 
was  soon  persuaded  to  undei-take  a  private  school  for  children,  kept  a 
part  of  the  time  in  a  back  chamber  of  Captain  Toppan's  house,  and 
then  in  a  room  in  the  house  of  Robert  D.  Dunning,  Esquire.  Her 
influence  as  a  teacher  was  greatly  valued.  She  joined  Reverend  Mr. 
Rowland's  church  in  Exeter,  and  her  life  for  more  than  sixty  years  tes- 
tified to  the  sincerit}'  of  the  consecration  she  then  made. 

She  remained  in  Brunswick  about  three  years,  and  for  a  time  she 
was  a  respected  and  beloved  inmate  of  the  famil}'  of  President  Apple- 
ton.  In  1815  she  left  Brunswick,  spending  two  or  three  years  with  a 
sister  in  Xewburyport,  where  she  was  highly  esteemed  as  a  teacher. 

In  1818,  Miss  Giddings,  with  a  heart  ready  for  any  good  work,  was 
induced  to  undertake  a  mission  in  the  neighborhood  of  Foxcroft  and 
Brownfield.  Her  object  was  to  open  a  school  for  children  and  3-outh 
to  fit  them  to  become  teachers,  to  open  a  Sabbath  school,  and  to  insti- 
tute other  means  of  moral  and  religious  instruction  as  she  could. 

She  lived  and  kept  her  school  for  some  time  in  a  log-dwelling,  with- 
out a  door  to  the  rude  abode,  and  she  was  charged  with  extravagance 
for  having  a  cheap  caipet  on  the  floor. 

On  the  Sabbath  she  had  her  Sabbath  school,  which  the  parents  of 
the  children  often  attended,  and  if  no  minister  or  brother  to  conduct 
the  service  was  present,  she  would,  after  the  school  exercises,  read  a 
tract  or  sermon,  adding  such  words  of  instruction  as  she  could. 
Besides  her  school  work.  Miss  Giddings  was  a  nurse  for  the  sick, 
where  she  exerted  her  skill  in  the  knowledge  of  disease.  At  one  time 
she  became  so  much  oppressed  with  the  ix)verty  of  the  people,  that  she 
formed  a  scheme  to  travel  on  horseback  from  her  wilderness  home  to 
Exeter  and  Newburyport,  to  beg  assistance  from  friends. 

She  finally  made  that  journey  of  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  miles 
on  horseback,  with  saddle-bags.  She  returned  to  her  people  laden  with 
gifts,  disposed  in  the  saddle-bags  and  on  or  a)x)ut  the  horse. 

In  l^<24,  Miss  Giddings  left  her  mission  to  minister  to  a  dying  sister 
in  Newburyport,  and  then  came  to  Brunswick,  her  abode  for  forty- six 
years.  She  opened  a  store,  a  well-known  resort,  in  a  building  which 
stood  where  the  house  occupied  b}'  Doctor  3Iitchell  and  Captain  J.  D. 
Pennell  now  stands.  After  some  ^'ears  she  removed  to  a  building 
which  stood  on  the  corner  of  Maine  and  O'Brien  Streets,  ou  the  site 
of  the  present  residence  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Greene. 


BIOGBAPinCAL,  745 

Here  the  poor  knew  where  to  find  help,  the  pastor  or  Christian 
brother  or  sister  some  aid  in  their  Master's  work,  the  inquirer  a  word 
in  season.  She  was  a  woman  of  no  common  mould.  Energy,  decis- 
ion, determination,  a  deep  fountain  of  benevolence,  strong  individual- 
ity of  character,  were  unmistakably  revealing  themselves  in  her  daily 
life  under  the  power  of  a  thorough,  overmastering  faith. 

GOSS,  DOCTOR  EBENEZER  H. 

Doctor  Goss  came  to  Brunswick  soon  after  the  Revolution.  He 
married  a  sister-in-law  of  Sir  Benjamin  Thompson,  Count  Rumford. 
He  lived  at  Maquoit  until  1804,  when  he  moved  up  to  the  village,  and 
soon  after  moved  to  Paris,  Maine,  where  he  died.  He  is  said  to  have 
had  an  extensive  practice,  but  was  a  very  eccentric  man.  He  some- 
times indulged  too  frequently  in  alcoholic  potations,  and  it  is  narrated 
concerning  him  that  on  one  occasion  when  he  was  inebriated  some 
young  rogue  got  him  and  his  horse  into  a  cow-3'ard,  and  put  up  the 
bars.  The  doctor  started  for  his  home  at  Maquoit,  riding,  of  course, 
around  the  3'ard  several  times,  and  exclaiming  with  oaths  that  some 
one  had  fenced  the  road. 

1 

GRAVES,  JOHNSOX. 

Johnson  Graves  was  born  Februar}',  between  8  and  19,  1732.  Ho 
married,  first,  in  Falmouth,  Sarah,  a  sister  of  Stephen  and  Samuel 
Staples.  He  married,  second,  June  23,  1803,  Mrs.  Susanna  (Ilobbs) 
Staples,  formerly  of  Falmouth.  He  was  grantee  in  a  deed  of  March 
4,  1763,  from  Samuel  Staples,  John  Patten,  and  John  Fulton,  of  lot 
No.  3,  of  fifty  acres  in  the  Cathance  mill  right.  He  was  in  the  disas- 
trous expedition  to  Bagaduce  (Castine)  in  the  summer  of  1779.  He 
was  a  private  in  the  company  under  the  command  of  Captain  Actor 
Patten.  After  the  defeat  of  the  expedition,  he  travelled  through  the 
wilderness  from  the  Penobscot,  until  he  struck  the  Sebasticook,  where 
he  was  met  by  his  brothers  Samuel  and  John,  who,  on  hearing  that 
the  remnants  of  the  ill-fated  troops  were  endeavoring  to  wend  their 
way  homewards,  had  started  on  to  meet  and  relieve  their  suffering 
brother  and  his  fellow-patriots.  He  was  found  by  his  brothers  much 
fatigued  and  in  want,  but  sorrowing  jnost  of  all  for  the  ill  success  of 
the  expedition.  He  was  among  the  troops  who  first  engaged  in  battle 
in  the  attempt  to  land  at  Bagaduce.  Of  his  private  character  nothing 
is  known. 

GREEN,  HONORABLE  NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel  Green  came  to  Topsham  with  his  brother,  Peter  H. 
Green,  in  1804.  They  were  engaged  in  lumbering  and  trade  for  a 
number  of  years,  but  after  a  time  dissolved  partnership. 


746        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Nathaniel  Green  was  a  member  of  the  convention  that  formed  the 
Constitution  of  this  State  in  1820,  was  a  member  of  the  Senate  from 
Lincoln  County  five  j'ears,  and  a  member  of  the  House  of  Represent- 
atives from  th'3  town  of  Topsham  five  or  six  years.  He  was  sheriff 
of  Lincoln  County  one  year,  register  of  deeds  several  years,  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners  of 
Lincoln  County.  As  a  politician,  he  was  upright  and  honorable  :  as  a 
citizen,  respected  and  loved  by  all  classes  for  his  moral  worth  and 
public  and  private  virtues ;  and  as  a  man  and  a  Christian,  the  friend 
and  counsellor  of  the  poor  and  unfortunate.  He  died  in  Topsham  at 
the  age  of  sixty-six  years. 

GREENLEAF,   RICHARD. 

Richard  Greenleaf  was  born  in  1787.  He  was  a  man  of  acute  men- 
tal powers,  and  was  often  consulted  and  employed  in  matters  relating 
to  the  settlement  of  estates.  He  was  a  selectman  for  twelve  succes- 
sive jears  (1842-64)  and  also  in  1859,  and  held  other  public  trusts. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  He  died  in  Brunswick, 
April  29,  18G2. 

GRIFFIN,  JOSEPH. 

Mr.  Grifldn  was  bom  in  1708,  nnd  came  to  Brunswick  in  1819,  and 
set  up  a  printing-oflftce.  His  first  work  was  the  publication  of  the 
Baccalaureate  address  by  President  Appleton.  He  subsequently 
printed  the  works  of  Professors  Upham,  Newman,  Smyth,  and  Long- 
fellow, the  publications  of  the  college  for  a  long  series  of  years,  and 
much  other  matter.  He  was  a  printer  of  judgment,  taste,  industry, 
and  fidelity,  and  enjoyed  the  reputation  of  being  the  best  printer  in 
the  State.  In  restricted  quarters,  and  with  few  of  the  modern  appli- 
ances and  conveniences,  Mr.  Grififin  accomplished  an  immense  amount 
of  work. 

His  last  elaborate  work,  "  The  Press  of  Maine,"  testifies  to  his 
untiring  activity  and  his  interest  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  craft.  It 
is  due  to  his  earnest  labors  that  so  much  that  relates  to  printing  in 
this  State  is  j)resented  in  so  enduring  a  form.  The  last  publication 
which  came  from  his  hands  was  a  catalogue  for  the  Maine  Historical 
Society.  He  opened  the  first  bookstore  in  Brunswick  about  1822, 
and  continued  the  business  until  his  death.  He  was  interested  in  all 
matters  pertaining  to  beautif3'ing  the  town,  and  took  an  active  part  in 
the  work  upon  the  ^lall.  ]Mr.  Griffin  was  earnest  and  devoted  in  the 
cause  of  religion,  which  to  him,  in  his  later  years,  was  rather  the  out- 


CVuy^  ^^ 


4/:.; 


BIOGRAPHICAL,  747 

growth  of  Christian  love  than  of  dogmatic  belief.  He  was  a  man  of 
strict  integrity,  and  thoroughly  straightforward  in  all  his  dealings. 
He  died  November  18,  1874. 

GYLES,   JAMEai 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Topsham, 
was  undoubtedl}'  a  relative  and  is  presumed  to  be  a  brother  of  Thomas 
Gyles,  who  died  at  Pemaquid.  According  to  his  own  account,  which 
has  been  preseiTcd,  he  left  the  Downs,  Kngland,  September  5,  1G68, 
probably  with  his  family,  and  arrived  at  Boston  November  9.  On 
November  30  they  went  to  Braintree,  Massachusetts,  where  they 
"  hired  a  house  until  spring,"  during  which  time  he  took  a  voyage 
eastward  to  look  out  for  a  place  to  settle.  On  Ma\'  10,  1669,  the}* 
left  Boston,  and  May  17  he  says,  "  We  amved  at  Merrimathing  in 
Kennebec  Kiver,  and  not  liking  that  house,  the  fourteenth  of  October 
we  removed  from  thence  to  Whidby,^  a  house  on  the  same  river,  and 
liaving  lived  there  two  years  1  bought  a  tract  of  land  of  the  Indians, 
and  having  bought  a  house  uiwn  the  same,  October  31,  1671,  we 
removed  from  Whidb}'  to  go  into  our  own  house ;  but  Muddy  River 
being  frozen  over,  we  were  fain  to  go  into  James  Thomas's  house. 
April  16,  1672,  we  removed  from  thence  into  our  own  house  at 
Muddy  River,  and  having  lived  there  three  3'ears  and  four  months," 
on  account  of  the  Indian  outbreak  thev  left  their  house  and  went  to 
Samuel  York's  as  a  garrison,  where  they  staged  a  month,  but  the 
Indians  molesting  their  cattle  and  plundering  their  houses,  and  having 
killed  several  in  Casco  Bay,  some  of  their  men  became  timid  and  left, 
so  that  they  had  but  nine  men  in  garrison.  They  accordingly  left 
about  the  middle  of  September,  and  went  to  Arrowsic.  They  remained 
there  until  the  last  of  November,  when  on  account  of  the  number  of 
people  in  the  house,  they,  with  five  other  families,  went  to  Sylvan  us 
Davis's  house,  *'  on  the  west  side  of  the  river"  (probably  in  what  is 
now  the  town  of  Phipsburg) ,  where  they  sta^-ed  all  winter.  After  the 
peace  of  April,  1676,  he  went  to  a  Mr.  WeaswelFs  house  (which  was 
empt\'),  and  planted  some  corn,  intending  to  go  up  to  Muddy  River 
again;  but  on  account  of  the  attack  on  Arrowsic,  August  9,  1676, 
thev  were  forced  to  flee  for  their  lives  in  a  canoe,  and  went  to  Dam- 
ariscove,  where  they  stayed  a  week,  and  then,  August  16,  sailed  for 
Boston,  where  they  arrived  August  18.  October  11,  1676,  they  sailed 
from  Boston,  and  on  the  twenty-sixth  arrived  at  Southold,  N.  Y. 

*  From  Gyles  MetnoriaL        *  Whidby  or  miisgeag^  near  Stevens* 8  Carrying-Place. 


748      msTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell. 

They  stayed  there  at  the  house  of  Richard  Brown  for  one  year,  during 
which  time  he  bought  some  land  about  fourteen  miles  west  fh)m  there, 
and  October  26,  1677,  they  removed  lo  Mattelock,  a  house  about  two 
miles  from  his  lot,  where  they  8ta3ed  about  a  3'ear.  The  land  being 
poor,  and  he  dissatisfied,  April  7,  1680,  they  sailed  for  [New]  York 
[City],  where  they  arrived  on  the  seventeenth.  May  22,  they  went 
to  Governor  Andros's  house  on  Staten  Island,  where  they  remained 
four  mouths.  On  Septeml>er  7  they  went  to  Mr.  Witt's  house,  ^'  to 
look  after  his  land,  until  Sir  Edmund  could  get  a  lot  of  land  laid  out 
for  me,"  but  he  being  recalled  to  England,  Gyles  did  not  get  as  good 
a  lot  as  he  expected,  and  accordingU'  he  sold  it  and  bought  a  lot  in 
New  Jersey. 

October  14,  1681,  he  continues,  "  TVe  removed  from  Staten  Island 
to  Benj.  Hull's  house  in  Piscataway,  where  we  stayed  all  the  winter, 
until  our  own  house  was  read}'.  April  6,  1682,  we  removed  into  our 
own  house  at  the  Bound  Brook,  upon  liariton  River,  in  Piscataway, 
in  the  East  Province  of  New  Jersey." 

The  reasons  for  supposing  him  to  be  a  brother  of  Thomas  are :  — 

1.  They  both  came  from  England, — James  from  Kent,  and  it  is 
not  certainly  known  what  part  Thomas  came  from,  but  probably  from 
the  same  count}'. 

2.  James  left  Boston  for  Merry  meeting,  May  10,  1669.  Thomas 
Watkins's  deed  to  Thomas  Gyles  was  dated  only  two  days  before, 
viz.,  Mav  8. 

3.  The}'  lived  near  each  other  while  in  Maine. 

4.  They  both  went  to  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  1676. 

5.  They  both  had  interest  with  Governor  Andros. 

6.  Thomas  Gyles  named  his  first  son  for  himself,  his  third  son  for 
his  brother  John  (probably),  and  his  second  son  was  named  James. 

7.  Tradition. 

The  negative  testimony  is  that  Thomas  and  John  have  left  nothing 
in  regard  to  him,  and  that  there  are  no  affidavits  of  the  settlers  as  in 
the  case  of  Thomas. 

GYLES,   CAPTAIN  JOHN.* 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  sou  of  Thomas  who  was  killed  at 
Pemaquid,  was  taken  prisoner  by  tha  Indians  at  the  time  of  his 
father's  death,  August  2,  1689,  and  was  carried  to  the  St.  John's 
River.  lie  was  with  the  Indians  six  vears,  and  was  then  sold  to  a 
French  gentleman  in  New  Brunswick.     lie  remained  with  the  latter 

^From  Gyles  Mimprial 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  749 

until  June  13,  1698,  when  he  was  given  his  freedom  and  sailed  for 
Boston,  where  he  arrived  on  the  nineteenth  of  June.  He  was  in  cap- 
tivit}'  eight  years  ten  months  and  eleven  da3'8.  After  reaching 
Boston  he  was  employed  the  greater  part  of  the  time,  by  private 
parties  and  by  the  government,  as  an  inteqireter  with  the  Indians, 
from  June  28,  1698,  to  April,  1706.  This  latter  year  he  received  a 
commission  as  captain,  having  previously  served  as  lieutenant.  In 
1707  he  went  to  Port  Royal  under  Colonel  Salstonstall.  In  1708, 
and  again  in  1709,  he  was  sent  to  Port  Royal  with  a  flag  of  truce  to 
exchange  prisoners.  Between  1709  and  1715  he  resided  in  Salisbury, 
Massachusetts,  and  was  an  innholdcr  there. 

In  August,  1715,  he  received  orders  from  Governor  Dudlej'  to 
build  a  fort  at  Pejepscot.  It  was  finished  November  25,  1715.  His 
pa}'  was  thirt}'  shillings  per  week,  and  the  proprietors  gave  him  £5, 
which  he  was  not  altogether  satisfied  with.  He  was  dismissed  from 
Fort  George,  December  12,  1 725,  and  the  next  da^*  was  commissioned 
for  the  garrison  at  St.  George's  River.  November  28,  1728,  he  was 
commissioned  a  justice  of  the  peace.  In  1737  he  retired  from  the 
militnrv  service  and  removed  to  Roxburv,  where  he  died. 

"•  He  was  a  man  of  stern,  unbending  virtue,  a  true  patriot,  and  a 
sincere  Christian,  upright  in  the  discharge  of  dut^*,  botli  to  God  and 
man.  He  served  his  country  faithfully  on  a  dangerous  frontier,  and 
was  jnst  and  kind,  yet  ever  vigilant,  in  his  transactions  with  the  alx)- 
rigines.  He  was  a  man  of  energy*  and  activity,  and  became  possessed 
of  considerable  property',  as  appears  from  his  will  and  from  man}' 
deeds  on  recoi-d."  Many  of  his  letters  to  the  governor  and  his  muster- 
rolls  are  in  the  Massachusetts  State  archives.  We  append  a  fac- 
simile of  his  autograph.  . 


GYLES,  THOMAS.* 

Thomas  Gyles  resided  in  Topsham  until  late  in  the  autumn  of  1674, 
when,  on  account  of  the  death  of  his  father,  and  not  bocnuse  he  was 
driven  away  by  the  Indians,  he  went  to  England  with  his  family. 
Having  obtained  possession  of  his  father's  property,  he  returned  to 
New  England,  probably  in  the  autumn  of  1G75  or  spring  of  1670. 

From  Gyles  Memorial, 


750        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL 

He  intended  returning  to  Pleasant  Point,  Topsham,  but  was  prevented 
by  the  Indian  war  then  going  on.  In  the  summer  of  1677  he  returned 
there,  but  finding  the  place  deserted,  he  went  to  Pemaquid. 

*^He  was  a  man  of  wealth.  .  .  .  He  was  also  a  gentleman  of  great 
personal  worth,  of  high  religious  character,  a  strict,  unbending  Puri- 
tan, a  careful  observer  of  the  Sabbath,  faithful  and  fearless  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  his  duties.  As  a  magistrate  '  and  ruler,  who  must  be  a 
terror  to  evil-doers,  as  well  as  a  rewai*der  of  those  who  do  well,  he  met 
with  much  difficulty  in  enforcing  the  laws  among  a  people  who  had 
long  been  accustomed  to  live  without  restraint." 

GYLES,  TH0MAS.2 

Thomas  Gjies,  the  son  of  the  subject  of  the  preceding  sketch,  was, 
without  doubt,  bom  in  Topsham,  as  Lydia  Felt,  aged  sixty-one,  de- 
posed July  22, 1718,  that  she  lived  in  his  father's  family  and  was  there 
when  Thomas  was  born.  He  was,  so  far  as  can  now  be  determined, 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Topsham.  He  escaped  from  the  Indians 
at  the  time  of  his  father's  death  at  Pemaquid,  and  went  to  Boston, 
where  he  probably  lived  the  remainder  of  his  days.  At  any  rate  he 
was  a  ferry-man  there  in  1727,  and  kept  a  retail  store  in  1730. 

On  August  15,  1727,  Thomas  Gyles,  ferr}'-man,  John  Gyles,  gent., 
Mar}'  Brewer,  widow,  and  Jonas  Webber,  law3'er  (or  sawyer),  and 
Margaret  his  wife,  all  of  Boston  (*' Thomas  and  John  are  sons,  and 
Mary  and  Mai-garet  the  daughters  of  Thomas  Gjies,  late  of  Pemequid, 
deceased  ") ,  in  consideration  of  sixt}*  acres  where  their  father's  house 
stooil  in  Topsham,  and  five  hundred  and  fifteen  acres  on  Cathance 
Point,  relinquished  to  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  their  father's  right  in 
the  neck  of  land  on  Muddy  River  Point,  and  all  otlier  lands  of  their 
father  in  Topsham. 

HALEY,  PELATIAH. 

Pelatiah  U&ley  was  bom  in  Kittery,  Maine,  October  8,  1740.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Lewis,  who  was  born  April  9,  1743,  and  died  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1836.  He  was  called  Captain  in  consequence  of  having,  for 
a  time,  commanded  a  company  of  militia.  His  sister  Susannah  mar- 
ried John  Merrill,  Esquire,  of  Topsham.  Captain  Haley  moved  to 
Topsham  in  May,  1769,  coming  by  water. 

Captain  Haley  was  in  the  Indian  campaign  of  1759  or  1760  ;  in  the 
French  war,  at  Lake  Champlain  and  Montreal,  under  Captain  John 

»  At  Pemaquid.  « From  Gi/lca  Memorial. 


BtOORAPHICAL.  751 

Wentworth,  of  Kittery.  The  ne3ct  year  after  the  capture  of  Quebec 
(17<)0),  he  was  engage<l  in  battle  at  the  taking  of  the  Isle  of  Aux.^ 
lie  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safet}'  during  the  Revolutiouarj'  war, 
for  three  years.  He  was  also  one  of  the  party  at  the  capture  of  Cap- 
tain Mowatt,  at  Falmouth,  in  Ma}',  1775.  lie  was  an  orderly  corpo- 
ral in  Captain  Actor  Patten's  compan}'  in  the  Bagaduce  Expedition  in 
1779,  and  was  in  the  attack  at  the  landing  of  the  troops.  After  the 
defeat  of  the  Americans  he,  guided  b}-  a  compass,  penetrated  the  wil- 
derness and  reached  the  Sebasticook,  where  he  hired  a  canoe  and  thus 
reached  home.     He  died  in  Topsham,  October  29,  1819. 

HALL,  PAUL. 

Paul  Hall  was  the  son  of  Hate-evil  Hall,  of  Falmouth,  now  Port- 
land, and  came  to  Brunswick  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century. 
He  tirst  lived  for  a  while  on  a  farm  at  Rock}'  Hill,  and  in  1798  moved 
to  a  house  in  the  village  that  stood  where  the  IVjepscot  Bank  is  now. 
He  afterwanl  lived  on  Mason  Street.  He  was  at  one  time  largely 
engaged  in  the  lumbering  business,  and  lost  heavily  in  the  great  freshet 
of  1808.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  he  was  a  surveyor  of  lumber.  He 
was  a  Quaker,  an  upright,  honest  man,  who  expected  otlicre  to  be  as 
honest  as  he  was  himself,  a  good  husband,  father,  and  Christian  citizen. 

He  died  in  April,  1841. 

nASEY,   BENJAMIN,  ESQUIRE. 

Benjamin  Ilasey  was  a  native  of  Lebanon,  Maine.  His  father, 
Isaac  Hasey,  the  first  minister  of  that  town,  was  born  in  Canibri<lge, 
Massachusetts,  and  graduated  at  Han-ard  in  the  class  of  17G2.  He 
was  settled  in  Lebanon  in  17G5,  where  his  son  Benjamin  was  born, 
July  5,  1771,  and  was  named  from  an  uncle  who  took  his  degree  from 
Cambridge  in  that  year.  His  mother  was  a  daughter  of  William  Owen, 
of  Boston.  Mr.  Hasey,  like  his  father  and  uncle,  was  a  graduate  of 
Ilarvanl,  class  of  1790.  Mr.  Hasey  received  his  preliuiiiiary  educa- 
tion at  Dummer  Academy,  under  the  tuition  of  the  celebrated  ^Master 
Moody,  and  entered  college  in  1786. 

Soon  after  leaving  college,  he  entered  the  office  of  Judge  Thacher, 
in  Biddeford,  as  a  student,  and  was  admitted  to  practice  in  April, 
1794.     In  June  of  the  same  year  he  established  himself  at  Topsham, 


I  So  Woodman  says  in  his  3fSS,    We  can  find  no  such  island.    The  Isle  of  Atx^  France, 
was  the  seat  of  a  navai  battU  in  1747|  but  this  date  is  too  early. 


752        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

where  he  continued  to  reside  until  his  death,  March  24, 1851,  a  period 
of  fifty-seven  years,  a  single  as  well  as  a  singular  man. 

Mr.  llascy  represented  his  town  in  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts 
several  years  before  the  separation ;  but  he  had  no  taste  for  politics, 
and  he  withdrew  from  all  public  emplo3-ment.  He  was,  for  fifteen 
years,  one  of  the  trustees  of  Bowdoin  College. 

Reserved  and  retired  in  his  habits,  he  became  more  so  as  he  left  the 
common  highway'  so  much  frequented  b}*  lawyers  and  politicians.  It 
was  not  unnatural  that  a  man  of  his  sensitive  nature  should  have  shnmk 
from  scenes  which  are  often  contaminated  by  low  intrigues  and  self- 
seeking  arts.  Of  the  most  rigid  integrity,  regular  and  quiet  in  all  his 
modes  of  thought  and  action,  nothing  disturbed  him  more  than  the 
cant  of  demagogues.  As  may  be  suppose<l,  he  was  strongly  consen-a- 
tive ;  change  was  distasteful  to  him.  This  ma}'  be  a  reason  wh\'  he 
never  married.  For  more  than  thirty-eight  3'ears  he  boanled  in  the 
same  family,  and  for  many  years  occupied  the  same  ofllce,  to  which  he 
dailv  resorted  until  within  a  few  davs  of  his  death,  in  the  same  manner 
as  when  he  was  in  practice.  Hut  with  all  his  peculiarities,  he  was  ever 
to  be  relied  upon  ;  his  word  was  sacred,  his  act  just,  his  deportment 
blameless.  As  a  counsellor,  his  opinions  were  sound  and  much  val- 
ued, and  for  many  years  he  had  an  extensive  practice  in  the  counties 
of  Lincoln  and  Cumberland.  He  rarely  appeared  as  an  advocate,  his 
natural  ditlidonce  and  reserve  disqualifying  him  for  any  disj^lay.  Many 
years  before  his  death  he  left  the  active  duties  of  his  profession  ;  the 
innovations  which  were  taking  place  in  the  manners  and  course  of  prac- 
tice at  the  bar  were  ill  suited  to  his  delicate  and  conservative  feelings. 
The  want  of  ancient  decorum  and  respect,  the  absence  of  forensic 
courtesy,  fretted  upon  his  nerves.  The  abolishing  of  special  plea<ling 
annoyed  him,  and  the  revision  and  codification  of  the  statutes  thor- 
oughly  confused  his  habitual  notions  of  practice,  displaced  his  accus- 
tomed authorities,  and  cast  him  afloat,  in  his  old  age,  on  what  seemed 
a  new  profession.  He  lived  in  the  past  and  believed  in  it,  and  strove, 
as  much  as  mortal  could,  to  keep  himself  from  the  degeneracy  of  mod- 
ern ideas.  Mr.  Hasev,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was  the  oldest  sur- 
viving  lawyer  in  the  State ;  when  lie  commenced  practice  the  whole 
number  was  Init  seventeen,  all  of  whom  he*  sun'ived  except  Judge 
Wilde,  who  had  removed  from  the  State.* 

The  Honorable  P'rederic  Allen,  his  contemporarv  in  Lincoln  County, 
has  furnished  the  following  well-considered  estimate  of  Mr.  Hasey's 


*  William  Willises  The  Laic,  Courtf^  and  Lawyers  of  Maine, 


DIOORAPmCAL.  Ib^ 

character  and  standing:  "  He  was  well  versed  in  the  principles  of  the 
common  law.  His  reading  was  extensive,  both  legal  and  miscellane- 
ous. His  memory  was  tenacious,  his  habits  studious.  In  his  person, 
though  ver}'  small  in  stature,  he  was  of  the  most  perfect  formation,  and 
always  most  neath''  attired.  He  had  much  good  sense,  and  was  a  strict 
adherent  to  the  old  Federal  party,  from  whose  leading  opinions,  so  long 
as  the  party  had  a  distinctive  existence,  he  never  wavered,  and  had 
little  charity  for  those  who  did.  He  was  not  much  employed  as  an 
advocate  ;  he  generally  argued  not  over  one  case  a  year,  and  that  was 
done  very  well.  His  address  to  the  jury  was  brief,  free  from  all  rep- 
etition or  copious  illustration.  He  left  the  world  in  the  same  appar- 
ent quietude  in  which  he  had  lived,  leaving  a  name  much  honored  and 
a  character  highly  respected."  In  his  religious  views  he  was  a  Unita- 
rian. 

HASKELL,   DEACON   JOSHUA. 

Deacon  Haskell  moved  to  Topsham,  August  2,  1818.  He  had  been 
l)reviousl3'  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business  on  the  Androscoggin 
Kiver,  and  still  continued  at  that  occupation.  When  he  first  came  to 
town,  he  resided  in  the  house  recontl}'  occupied  by  Sandford  A.Perkins. 
In  about  six  months  afterwards  he  moved  on  to  "the  Island,"  and 
took  up  his  abode  in  the  Nathaniel  Green  house,  recently'  occupied  by 
Captain  Henry  W.  Green.  At  the  time  of  his  entering  this  residence, 
Mr.  Henry  Bowman,  f#om  Litchfield,  moved  in  and  occupied  one  half 
of  the  house.  P^ariv  in  1819,  Messrs.  Haskell  and  Bowman  formed  a 
partnership  in  business  and  commenced  manufacturing  lumber,  buy- 
ing logs  at  the  head  of  the  Androscoggin,  which  they  drove  down, 
in  the  spring  of  the  year,  into  booms.  They  rafted  and  sawed  boards, 
shingles,  clapboards,  and  laths  for  many  years  with  good  success.  They 
finally  dissolved  partnership,  and  Mr.  Bowman  moved  to  Gardiner, 
where  he  died.  Deacon  Haskell  was  also  engaged  in  trade.  The 
small  residence  now  occupied  by  Mrs.  Berry,  opposite  the  blacksmith 
shop  of  Samuel  Jameson,  was  for  some  years  a  store,  bearing  the  sign 
of  Bowman  &  Haskell. 

In  1826  he  built  the  house  now  occupied  by  Ebenezer  Colby,  and 
moved  into  it  in  November  of  the  same  year.  He  afterwards  removed 
to  the  house  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  VAm  Streets,  where  his  fam- 
ily still  resides. 

He  was  made  deacon  of  the  Free- Will  Baptist  Church  at  its  first 
organization. 

lie  was  a  captain  of  the  Artiller}*  Company  for  some  years,  and 
48 


754        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

was  afterwards  chosen  major.     He  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  having 
enlisted  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 

•Joshua  Haskell  was  a  man  of  enlarged  views  and  a  liberal  disposi- 
tion. He  was  kind-hearted,  unselfish,  and  benevolent.  He  was  a  man 
of  the  highest  integrity  of  character  and  was  a  sincere  Christian.  He 
possessed  a  rare  humor  and  was  always  good-tempered.  He  invaria- 
bly looked  upon  the  bright  side,  and  his  cheerfulness  was  undiminished 
by  loss  of  property  or  other  dispensations  of  Providence. 

HINKLEY,  JUDGE  AARON. 

Aaron  Hinkley  was  one  of  the  noted  men  of  Brunswick  in  his  daj'. 
Of  his  i>ersonal  appearance  and  manner  nothing  is  now  known,  but  he 
is  said  to  have  had  but  one  eye.  The  tradition. which  accounts  for  the 
loss  of  the  other  e3'e  is,  that  a  "  tame  "  Indian  in  the  employ  of  Aaron's 
father  was  one  day  holding  him  in  his  lap,  and  accidentally  dropped  a 
live  coal  from  his  i)ipe  into  the  boy's  eye,  totally  destroying  the  sight. 

He  was  a  man  of  good  judgment,  and  was  often  engaged  in  the  ser- 
vice of  the  town,  either  on  committees  or  as  a  selectman.  He  served 
in  the  latter  capacity  five  several  3'ears,  1745, 1750, 1755,  1759,  1760. 
In  1775  he  was  one  of  the  judges  of  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  Lincoln 
County.  When  Topsham  was  incorporated,  in  1764,  Judge  Hinkley 
was  directed  to  issue  his  waiTant  for  calling  the  first  town  meeting. 

In  his  religious  views  he  was  a  Congregationalist,  and  was  very 
severe  in  his  opposition  to  Presbyterianism.  Hp  lived  where  Ephraim 
Larrabee  resided  in  1854. 

HINKLEY,  DEACON  SAMUEL. 

Samuel  Hinkley  was  born  in  Harwich,  February  7, 1711.  He  moved 
to  this  State,  and  in  1729-30  is  named  as  one  of  several  persons  asso- 
ciated together  for  the  purpose  of  forming  the  First  Church  of  Bidde- 
ford.  On  August  29,  1735,  he  purchased  of  James  Kent,  for  one  hun- 
dred and  fifteen  pounds,  thirty-five  acres  of  land  in  Biddeford.  He 
was  chosen  a  deacon  of  the  church  there.  He  soon  after,  however, 
moved  to  Brunswick,  and  settled  at  New  Meadows.  His  wife's  name 
has  not  been  ascertained.  He  was  selectman  in  1739,  1740,  1741, 
1742,  and  1743,  and  a  representative  in  1747. 

HUMPHREYS,  GEN'ERAL  JOHN   C. 

John  Campbell  Humphreys,  the  son  of  Lawrence  and  Frances 
(Campbell)  Humphreys,  was  born  in  Georgetown  (now  Phipsburg), 
February  22,  1798. 


A^m^  e^  ^  f 


A^m/^  t^  <&  f 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  755 

« 

His  father  afterwards  removed  to  Topsham,  and  at  the  age  of  four- 
teen John  C.  entered  the  store  of  Jotham  Stone,  of  Brunswick. 
Active,  intelligent,  upright,  and  energetic,  he  soon  won  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  his  employer,  and  before  he  had  attained  his  majorit}', 
Mr.  Stone  sold  his  stock  to  him  and  Ephraim  Brown,  and  thej,  as 
Bro\«n  &  Humphreys,  continued  the  same  business  for  several  years.  He 
aftei-wards  formed  a  partnership  with  A.  B.  Thompson,  and  for  many 
years  the  firm  of  Thompson  &  Humphreys  were  largely  engaged  in 
lumbering  in  the  woods,  and  in  manufacturing  at  their  mill  in  the  Cove 
in  Brunswick.     This  connection  continued  until  1850. 

In  1848,  General  Humphreys,  as  he  was  then  universally  called, 
bought  the  Dunning  farm,  at  the  Narrows,  and  transferred  his  business 
to  that  location,  building  a  steam  saw-mill  and  a  ship-yard.  Here,  in 
connection  with  his  sons  John  H.  and  Charles  C,  he  carrie<l  on  the 
manufacture  of  lumber,  and  from  the  ship-3-ard  were  launched,  in  suc- 
cessive years,  the  ships  Ophir^  J,  C.  Humphreys^  Sing^pore^  Mareng^^f 
and  the  bark  Annie  Kimball, 

In  politics  General  HumphrcN's  was  a  Democrat,  and  he  held  many 
ounces  of  importance.  He  was  a  senator  in  the  State  legislature, 
high  sheriff  of  Cumberland  County  for  several  years,  and  collector  of 
the  port  of  Bath  under  President  Polk. 

As  a  citizen  he  interested  himself  in  all  that  related  to  public  and 
town  affairs.  He  took  an  active  part  in  military  matters,  and  rose  to 
the  rank  of  major  general  of  militia.  He  was  chief  warden  of  the  fire 
department  of  Brunswick  for  many  3'ears. 

It  was,  however,  as  a  Mason  that  he  was  probably  most  widely 
known  throughout  the  State.  He  early  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
subject  of  Freemasonry,  and  was  honored  with  the  highest  positions 
of  the  order  in  the  State.  In  all  his  relations  as  a  citizen,  politician, 
Mason,  and  man,  to  use  the  words  of  a  contemporary-,  '^  he  sustained  a 
character  above  reproach." 

He  married  Angeline  Whitmore,  daughter  of  John  Whitmore,  of 
Bath,  December  31,  1823,  b}-  whom  he  had  a  large  famil}'  of  children, 
^\Q  of  whom  sun'ived  him. 

His  health,  which  had  alwaj's  been  remarkably  robust,  failed  him  in 
1864,  and  he  died  June  18,  1865,  at  the  age  of  sixt^'-seven.  He  was 
buried  with  Masonic  ceremonies,  and  his  funeral  was  attended  by  a 
large  representation  of  the  Masonic  order  from  difl*erent  parts  of  the 
State.  His  wife  survived  him  but  a  short  time,  and  died  October  14, 
1866,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four. 


756        HISTORY  OF  BRUySWICK,  TOPSHdM,  AKD  HARPSWELL, 

HUNTER,  AD>M. 

Adam  Hunter,  a  grandson  of  Captain  Adam,  and  son  of  James, 
was  named  for  his  grandfather.  He  enlisted  in  the  arm^'  in  the  Rev- 
olutionar}'  war,  under  Captain,  afterwards  Colonel,  John  Reed.  He 
was  but  sixteen  3'ears  of  age  at  the  time.  He  is  said  to  have  been 
under  General  John  Sullivan  when  the  latter  laid  waste  the  country' 
of  the  Six  Nations,  about  1778  or  1779.  The  following  traditional 
account  of  his  capture  at  that  time,  and  his  subsequent  escape,  is 
given :  — 

"  Having  been  sent  out  on  a  scouting  party,  he  was  taken  captive 
by  the  Indians.  B}'  them  he  was  stripped  of  all  he  had,  and  was  left 
with  barely  a  blanket,  or  some  such  slight  clothing.  In  his  captivity 
he  was  associated  with  a  Dutchman  who  lived  among  the  Indians  and 
was  acquainted  with  their  language.  The  pappooses,  or  young  Indians, 
were  in  the  habit  of  applying  pointed  splinters  of  pitch- wood,  prick- 
ing him  and  tormenting  him,  and  then  laughing  to  see  him  dodge 
their  mock  assaults.  The  Dutchman,  having  been  flogged  by  one  of 
the  squaws,  resolved  to  attempt  his  escaj^e,  and  communicating  bis 
purpose  to  Hunter,  they  contrived  to  quit  them.  Hunter  canying  his 
hat  full  of  corn,  which  they  had  contrived  to  secrete  for  this  purpose, 
and  the  Dutchman  canning  a  hatchet.  With  these  slender  means  of 
sustenance  and  defence,  after  Hunter  had  been  among  them  about 
three  weeks,  they  made  their  escape.  Their  only  food  for  eight  days 
was  the  dry  corn,  a])Out  two  quarts  in  quantity,  which  they  took  with 
them.  At  one  time  in  their  wanderings  they  lost  their  way,  and 
heard  the  barking  of  the  Indians'  dogs.  The  Dutchman  was  for  sur- 
rendering himself  again  to  the  Indians ;  but  Hunter,  contriving  by 
some  excuse  to  get  possession  of  the  hatchet,  threatened  to  split  his 
brains  if  he  attempted  to  give  himself  up ;  and  at  length  they  suc- 
ceeded in  reaching  the  settlements  at  Harpersfield,  New  York,  where 
Hunter  was  supplied  with  clothes,  etc.,  and  again  joined  the  army. 
At  the  time  of  their  escape  it  was  in  the  month  of  October,  and 
Ilniiter  said  there  was  occasionallv  to  be  found  some  snow  in  the  low 
lands.     Hunter  served  three  vears  and  then  returned  home." 

After  his  return  Adam  went  to  school  at  liath.  While  here,  after 
much  persuasion,  he  went  on  board  a  privateer.  Some  prizes  were 
taken  and  carried  into  Salem  or  Boston,  but  at  length  he  was  cap- 
tured and  carried  into  Halifax.  His  father  and  uncle  went  to  Halifax 
to  obtain  his  exchange,  but  before  his  arrival  Adam,  with  about  five 
hundred  other  American  prisoners,  had  been  put  on  board  a  vessel 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  757 

called  the  ComwaUis^  to  be  convej'ed  to  Boston.  The  vessel  was  lost, 
and  Adam  was  never  heard  of  afterwards. .  This  was  in  the  autumn 
of  1781.1 

HUNTER,  JAMES. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  son  of  Captain  Adam  Hunter,  was 
one  of  the  selectmen  of  Topsham  in  1767,  1768,  1773,  and  1779.  He 
was  chosen  to  this  otfice  again  in  1780,  but  declined  service.  He  was 
on  the  committee  raised  in  February,  1781,  to  see  to  the  procuring  of 
scA'en  men  for  the  Continental  arm}'.  He  is  st}ied  Major  in  the 
town  records.  His  son  John,  called  "Bald-headed  John,"  stated, 
about  1833,  that  his  father  had  been  a  major  in  the  Revolutionary 
war,  and  that  he  was  made  a  colonel  about  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
that  his  commission  was  signed  by  Hancock.  Bald-headed  John  also 
sairl  that  his  father  was  under  Colonel  North  (whom  he  called  Judge 
North)  of  Augusta.  He  said  that  he  had  heard  his  father  and  the 
old  soldiers  speak  of  Judge  North  as  colonel,  in  ridicule ;  that  they 
used  to  have  a  good  deal  of  flin  about  Colonel  North,  and  that  the 
latter  was  nicknamed  *'  Jo  Bunker." 

When  his  son  Adam  (see  preceding  sketch)  was  carried  to  Halifax, 
James  Hunter^  with  his  brother  Robert^  procured  two  prisoners  and 
went  to  Halifax  to  obtain  an  exchange.  He  was  there  detained  and 
imprisoned  about  a  fortnight,  it  l)eing  charged  against  him  that  he 
was  a  spy.  He  was  liberated,  however,  and  sent  home  in  a  vschooner, 
one  Captain  Powell,  master,  who  landed  him  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Kennebec  River.     He  reached  home  about  Christmas,  1781. 

The  father  of  James  Hunter's  viif^  was  Thomas  Williams,  who  came 
from  England,  February  18,  1717,  "  when  gooseberries  were  in  blow," 
and  reached  Boston,  April  17,  1717,  "  when  the  snow  was  very  deep." 
He  was  employed  in  teaching  Latin  in  Boston,  and  subsequently 
removed  to  the  part  of  Georgetown  that  is  now  Bath.  It  is  said  that 
he  was  a  physician,  and  that  he  often  expressed  his  regi-ets  at  having 
ever  left  England. 

Colonel  Hunter  died  about  1809,  at  the  age  of  seventj'-four,  leaving 
a  family  whose  posterity  are  still  numerous  in  town. 

KENDALL,  ELDER  HENRY. 

Polder  Henry  Kendall  was  born  in  Sandford,  Julj'  3',  1774.  He 
had  ten  brothers  and  sisters.  When  he  was  ten  years  old  he  went  lo 
Wells  and  lived  with  Captain  S.  Hatch.     When  lie  was  about  thirteen 

1  From  Woodman* 9  MS.  Notes. 


758      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  tofsuam,  and  harpswell. 

years  old  his  father  deserted  the  family,  and  Henry  went  to  Centre 
Harbor  and  was  apprenticed  to  Mr.  Marston  to  learn  the  tanner's  and 
shoemaker's  trade.     He  received  only  three  months'  schooling. 

In  October,  1801,  he  began  to  preach.  In  1802  he  visited  Mt. 
Vernon,  Palermo,  Belfast,  Hallowell,  Litchfield,  Bowdoinham,  Au- 
gusta, Bowdoin,  Sidney,  Bloomfield,  and  Mercer,  preaching  in  each 
place,  and  returned  to  Litchfield,  where  he  settled.  In  1812  he  was 
representative  to  the  legislature  from  that  town.  March  18,  1818,  he 
moved  to  Topsham  and  bought  a  farm.  He  was  settled  over  the 
Baptist  Church  in  Topsham  for  about  ten  3*ears,  and  ever  after  made 
it  his  home,  though  he  preached  as  a  missionary  over  almost  the  entire 
State.  Of  his  style  of  preat;hing  but  little  is  known,  except  that  he 
was  noted  for  the  power  and  compass  of  his  voice.  It  was  once  said 
by  Doctor  Porter,  in  reference  to  Mr.  Kendall  and  one  of  the  other 
ministers,  that  he  could  ^^  stay  at  home  and  hear  £lder  Kendall,  or  go 
to  the  Orthodox  Church  and  hear  them  both."  The  Baptist  vestry 
was  then  opposite  the  present  cemetery,  and  Doctor  Porter  lived  in 
the  Purinton  house  near. 

KING,  HONORABLE  WILLIAM. 

William  King,  the  first  governor  of  the  State  of  Maine,  was  bom  in 
Scarboro',  Febniary  9,  1768,  and  died  in  Bath,  June  17,  1852. 

When  nineteen  3'ears  old  a  division  of  his  father's  property  was 
made,  and  his  share  was  a  yoke  of  two-year-old  steers.  With  these 
steers  he  started  east  in  the  spring  of  the  3'ear  to  seek  his  fortune. 
It  was  cold,  but  having  neither  shoes  nor  stockings,  he  went  barefooted. 
He  stopped  at  many  houses  on  the  way,  offering  to  work  for  his 
board.  He  finally  reached  Topsham  and  found  emplo3'ment  in  a 
saw-mill.  He  was  industrious  and  fhigal,  and  in  a  year  and  a  half 
had  laid  by  enough  to  purchase  one  half  a  saw,  and  it  was  not  long 
before  he  owned  a  whole  saw,  and  finally  a  whole  mill.  After  a  while 
he  formed  a  copartnership  with  his  brother-in-law.  Doctor  Benjamin 
Jones  Porter,  under  the  name  of  Porter  &  King,  and  opened  a  store, 
Mr.  King  devoting  his  attention  chiefly  to  his  lumber  interests,  and 
Doctor  Porter  assuming  control  of  the  store.  This  copartnership 
existed  for  some  years  after  Mr.  King's  removal  to  Bath,  which  took 
place  in  1800. 

Mr.  King  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  toll-bridge,  and  also 
one  of  the  incorporators  of  the  first  cotton-mill  in  Brunswick.  After 
his  removal  to  Bath  he  opened  a  store  there.  He  was  also  extensively 
engaged  in  ship-building  for  many  years.      He  was  at  one  time  a 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  759 

member  of  the  Massachusetts  legislature.      In  1811  he  was  major- 
general  of  militia.     In  1812  he  was  president  of  the  Bath  Bank. 

While  in  the  Massachusetts  legislature  ^'  he  was  distinguished  by 
his  efforts  in  behalf  of  religious  fVeedom,  and  of  securing  to  original 
settlers  upon  wild  lands  the  benefit  of  their  improvements.  He  was 
an  early  and  ardent  advocate  of  the  separation  of  Maine  from  Massa- 
chusetts, and  upon  the  consummation  of  that  act  presided  over  the 
Convention  which  met  in  1819  to  Arame  the  Constitution  of  the  new 
State.  He  was  in  1820  elected  the  first  governor  of  Maine,  and  after 
holding  office  a  little  more  than  a  3'ear,  became  one  of  the  United 
States  commissioners  for  the  adjustment  of  Spanish  claims.  He  also 
held  other  offices  of  importance  under  the  general  and  State  govern- 
ments, including  that  of  collector  of  the  port  of  Bath."^  He  was  the 
first  grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Maine  Freemasons. 

LARRABEE,  CAPTAIN  BENJAMIN. 

Captain  Benjamin  Larrabee  came  fW>m  Portland,  then  Falmouth, 
to  assume  the  command  of  the  fort  in  Brunswick  about  1727.  In 
December  of  that  year  he  petitioned  the  General  Court  of  Massachu- 
setts ^^  for  a  recompense  for  services  in  going  from  Boston  to  Bruns- 
wick, the  journey  having  consumed  one  month."  He  lived  in^  the  fort 
foi:  some  years,  and  his  children  were  born  there.  He  afterwards 
lived  at  New  Meadows,  where  the  house  of  Andrew  Thomas  now 
stands.  He  was  the  agent  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors,  and  before 
the  incorporation  of  the  town  he  had  the  principal  management  of 
the  concerns  of  the  township.  In  1735  he  superintended  the  building 
of  the  old  West  Meeting-House,  purchasing  all  the  materials,  attending 
to  the  transportation,  etc.  He  died  in  1748  and  was  buried  in  the 
graveyard  attached  to  the  fort.  There  are  now  no  traces  of  this 
burying-ground. 

Captain  Larrabee  was  a  worthy  man,  much  beloved  by  those  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  him.  He  was  'considered  a  good  business 
man  and  was  much  respected  for  his  integrity  and  faithfulness  to  his 
trust.  His  posterity  are  numerous  and  highly  respectable.  His  son 
Nathaniel  was  town  clerk  for  thirt3'-8even  years,  from  1706  to  1802  ; 
selectman  from  1783  to  1800,  and  was  otherwise  prominent  in  town 
affairs. 


1  New  American  CyclopcRdia,  10,  p.  167.    For  further  particulars  tee  also  Popham 
Memorial  volume,  Maine  Historical  Collection,  pp.  206  to  213. 


760        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


LARRABEE,   CAPTAIN  NEHE^HAH. 

Nchemiah  Larral>ee  was  bom  in  Brunswick  about  1800,  and  lived 
for  many  years  on  Federal  Street.  He  began  life  as  a  sailor  and  soon 
obtained  his  title  of  captain.  "  Possessing  a  naturally  strong  constitu- 
tion, an  active  mind,  an  iron  will,  indomitable  energy,  and  a  persever- 
ance nothing  could  daunt,  he  won  his  way  to  a  handsome  competence. 
As  a  husband  and  father  he  was  most  indulgent ;  as  a  friend,  true  as 
steel,  and  with  a  heart  open  as  a  child  to  all  proper  claims  upon  his  time 
or  means  for  the  i-elief  of  the  sick  or  suffering."  He  died  May  6,  1863. 

LEMONT,   ADAM. 

Mr.  Lemont  was  born  in  1797,  and  moved  from  Bath  to  Brunswick 
about  1835.  He  was  largely  engaged  in  the  lumber  business  and  in 
trade  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Lemont,  Forsaith  &  Hall.  He  was 
afterwards  president  of  the  Brunswick  Maine  Insurauce  Company 
and  of  the  Union  National  Bank.  He  was  a  director  of  the  latter  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  a  selectman  in  1842,  1843,  and  1844, 
and  representative  in  1844  and  1845.  He  was  also  lai-gely  engaged 
in  ship-building.  An  active,  energetic,  and  well-educated  business 
man,  he  managed  his  affairs  with  great  shrewdness  and  accumulated  a 
handsome  property.  He  was  a  most  agreeable  man  in  social  inter- 
course, well  posted  in  public  affairs,  an  esteemed  and  valuable  citizen. 
He  died  February  24,  1874. 

LINCOLN,   ISAAC,   M.  D. 

Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln  was  born  in  Cohasset,  Massachusetts,  in  1780. 
He  fitted  for  college  under  the  tuition  of  Reverend  Josiah  Crocker 
Shaw,  of  Cohasset,  and  of  Reverend  Kilburn  Whitman,  of  Pembroke. 
He  graduated  at  Harvard  in  1800,  and  for  two  years  afterward  taught 
a  grammar  school.    He  studied  medicine  with  Doctor  Thomas  Thaxter. 

In  1804  he  settled  as  a  physician  in  Topsham.  In  1820  he  marrieil 
Maria  S.,  daughter  of  Captain  John  Dunlap,  and  moved  to  Brunswick. 
In  1831  he  received  the  degree  of  M.  D.  from  Bowdoin  College,  it 
being  bestowed  as  a  compliment.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Medical 
Faculty  of  the  Maine  Medical  School  from  1820  to  1867.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  it  is  said 
that  he  never  missed  a  meeting?  of  that  Board  for  over  sixtv  vears. 
He  was  at  one  time  chosen  a  member  of  the  governor's  council,  but 
declined  the  honor. 


760        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABPRWFJ.T. 


I , 
1 


It-., 


...  ■  < 


.•'    !  ■        .     .■ 


I    . 


■  I 


I' 


•   I  • 


■'    :  I 


.  .; ;  t\  I"     .  \  1  .   ■    ^' 

7    "     ■ ' .  ■  ■  T    • ! ,    I ; .  ■  _ 

■I  ,\    I  ?•:;  .       J     I.    ■  ..     •     :■    • 

I        I,  I    •:  ■  I     -V       , 

•    ■■'    «         ■'■■.•       .    ;.;..  :  .     •  ..    . 

■v;-     .  S'-I'  ■  .!.,      .   .li    1     !  J.    '  ■ 

1  -^  i  i    ■  ■    "     >  !^        i  !■■  IV.,-    ;..   I.    ■: 

.'.  ;>   ;i«  ■  .\  ■         t     "i-i'ii-      ■■  :  '    *\  '-i'  .■■!■•■ 

.'  ■  ■  'ii   ■ « :     ::■_.!  « 


.l<         '    ' 


t. 


.■if  \ 


:  1i 


=    l\ 


.,      .       .. ,  • 


■■    ■■:    >.. 


.»!   .1' 


'l. 


^.2,^^ 


BIOORAPhlCAL.      ^  761 

Doctor  Lincoln  was  a  ver}'  public-spirited  man,  and  the  result  of  his 
influence  is  still  to  be  seen  in  Brunswick.  The  prominent  traits  of  his 
character  were  his  individuality  and  his  positiveness.  Though  firm  in 
Ills  opinions,  he  never  objected  to  hearing  and  discussing  the  views  of 
those  wlio  differed  with  him.  As  a  man  he  was  generous-hearted, 
kind,  genial,  and  fond  of  childi'en.  He  was  a  meml)er  of  the  First 
l^irish  Church,  and  was  a  sincere  Christian.  In  business  matters  he 
was  upright,  impulsive  but  honest,  bold  and  independent.  As  a  phy- 
sician he  was  very  popular  and  had  an  extensive  practice.  It  is  said 
he  particularly  excelled  in  the  ditHcult  art  of  diagnosis.  Certain  it  is 
that  few  difficult  cases  of  disease  occurred  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fessional neighbors  without  his  opinion  and  advice  being  invoked. 

lie  died  March  6,  1868. 

LINCOLN,  JOHN  D.,  M.  D. 

'•  Doctor  Lincoln,  more  generally  spoken  of  as  Doctor  John  in  the 
lifetime  of  his  father,  the  late  Doctor  Isaac  Lincoln,  was  born  and  bred 
in  the  house  in  which  he  lived  and  died.  He  entered  Bowdoin  College 
in  1S:31),  graduated  in  1843,  and  graduated  from  the  Maine  Medical 
School  in  184 G,  and  at  once  went  into  practice  with  his  father. 

' '  The  doctor  won  a  large  measure  of  success  in  the  practice  of  his 
profession,  working  early  and  late,  driving  far  .and  near,  to  meet  the 
constant  calls  for  his  professional  services.  Even  after  his  health  had 
become  seriously  impaired,  he  was  found  making  his  daily  calls  upon 
patients,  who  oomprised  every  class  in  the  community,  for  the  doctor 
was  no  respecter  of  i>erson8. 

*•  He  ranked  high  in  the  estimation  of  his  professional  brethren,  and 
for  years  has  often  been  called  by  them  in  consultation  over  diflicult 
cases.  His  intercoui-se  with  them  at  such  times  was  marked  by  cour- 
tesy and  a  gentlemanly  regard  for  the  rights  of  the  profession.  He 
won  success  as  a  practitioner,  and  he  won  it  as  well  b}-  his  loving, 
genial,  mirthful  ways  in  the  sick-room.  In  this  matter  of  kindl}'  atten- 
tion to  the  sick.  Doctor  Lincoln  had  few  if  any  superiors. 

'*  He  was  well  read  in  literature  outside  of  his  profession,  interested 
ill  the  discussion  of  the  political  topics  of  the  day ;  possessing  a  reten- 
tive memory  and  the  keenest  sense  of  humor,  he  was  ever  a  most 
interesting  companion  in  the  so<nal  circle,  enlivening  it  by  his  sallies 
of  wit,  and  by  the  narration  of  anecdotes  of  the  most  vivacious  descrip- 
tion. The  same  characteristics  that  he  manifested  in  public  endeared 
him  to  his  familv  in  the  privacy  of  home.  He  was  greatly  interested 
in  the  development  and  ornamentation  of  the  village,  and  to  his  well- 


762       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELU 

directed  efforts,  preceded  by  those  of  his  father,  are  the  people  largely 
indebted  for  the  present  excellent  condition  of  the  Mall.  He  was 
remarkable  for  the  conservative,  peace-preserving  element  of  his  char- 
acter and  for  his  great  fondness  for  children.  Doctor  Lincoln  was  a 
member  of  the  Sui)erintending  School  Committee  of  Bmnswick,  a  mem- 
ber of  tlie  Board  of  Overseers  of  the  College,  and  a  member  of  the 
FacuUy  of  the  Maine  Medical  School.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Medical 
Facult}',  resolutions  expressive  of  respect  and  sympathy  were  passed." 
To  this  tribute  to  his  memory  it  should  be  added  that  he  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  preparation  of  this  volume,  and  rendered  much  valu- 
able assistance,  which  was  continued  even  after  he  had  taken  his  bed 
in  his  last  sickness.  He  once  said  to  the  writer  that  he  desired  to  live 
long  enough  to  write  his  reminiscences  of  fifty  years*  practice  in  Bruns- 
wick.    He  died  June  3,  1877. 

LUNT,  AMOa. 

Amos  Lunt  came  to  Brunswick  soon  after  the  Revolution,  and  built 
a  grist-mill.  At  first  he  lived  in  the  fort,  but  soon  built  a  two-story 
house  on  the  comer  of  Mill  and  Bow  Streets,  where  he  resided  at  the 
time  of  his  death. 

He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  enlisting  soon  after  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  sen-ed  in  the  army  eight  3'ears,  and  a  part 
of  the  time  was  a  sergeant.  He  was  at  Valley  Forge  in  the  memora- 
ble winter  of  1777.  He  was  also  present  at  Cherry  Valley,  at  the  sur- 
render of  Bui-goync,  and  also  at  that  of  Cornwallis,  and  was  with  Gen- 
eral Sullivan  when  he  went  into  the  Indian  countr}\  Mr.  Lunt  at  first 
received  no  pension,  but  a  few  years  before  his  death,  the  law  regani- 
ing  pensions  having  been  changed,  he  received  one  hundred  and  fifty 
dollars  a  3'ear. 

Mr.  Lunt  was  fond  of  company,  especially  that  of  the  3'onng,  and 
took  delight  in  rehearsing  the  stirring  scenes  of  the  Revolution,  in 
wliich  he  had  taken  part.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and  always  took  a 
strong  interest  in  public  affairs.  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig,  and  never 
voted  any  other  ticket.  When  too  feeble  to  walk  to  the  polls,  he 
insisted  upon  being  carried  there  as  long  as  he  was  able  to  leave  his 
room. 

McKEEN,   REV.  JOSEPH.  D.   D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  graduated  at  Dartmouth  Collie  in 
1774,  and  immediately  opened  a  school  in  his  native  town,  London- 
derry', which  ho  kept  for  several  3'ears.  Fond  of  mathematics  and 
philosophy,  he,  in  the  summer  of  1780,  pursued  a  course  of  studj'  at 


BIOaSJPHICAL.  7(W 

Cambridge,  nnder  ProfeBsor  Williams,  who  then  filled  the  chair  of 
Mathematics  and  Philosophy  in  Hanard  University.  He  then  com- 
menced his  theological  studies  under  Beverend  Mr.  Williams,  of  Wind- 
ham, Is'ew  Hampshire,  the  instnictor  of  his  youth.  Before  completing 
his  preparation  for  the  minislrv,  he  was,  for  a  while,  an  assistant 
instructor  in  the  academy  at  Andover.  While  a  candidate  for  settle- 
ment in  the  ministry,  lie  preached  with  much  acceptance  to  the  society 
in  Boston  eollectedby  Reverend  Mr  Moorhend  and  which  afterwards 
enjo}ed  the  labors  of  the  distmgnished  Doctor  BeUnap  In  lT8d  he 
was  urdamed  pastor  of  the  church  m  Be^crlj  Massachusetts.  For 
seventeen  yesrs  he  dischai^ei  the  duties  of  the  ministerial  office,  ever 
enjo^^ng  the  respect  confidence  and  affection  of  his  people  and  sus- 
taining the  reputation  of  a  soiind  duinc  and  an  impressirc  preacher. 


In  lAOO  he  preache*!  the  sermon  on  the  onniversorj'  of  the  gubernato- 
rial election,  a  performance  which  added  much  to  bis  reputation. 
About  this  time  he  was  elected  a  member  of  tbe  American  Academy 
of  Arts  and  Sciences,  in  whose  transactions  may  be  found  papers  com- 
municated by  him.  In  1804  he  was  complimented  by  bis  Alma  Mater 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  In  1801  he  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  Bowdoin  Colt^e. 

In  the  midst  of  his  labors,  President  McKecn,  whose  strength  of 
constitution  had  given  unusual  promise  of  a  long  life  of  usefulness, 
perceived  the  premonitions  of  a  disease  which  at  length,  after  a  pro- 


764     msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  axd  harpswell. 

tracted  illness  of  nearly  two  3'ears,  proved  fatal.  Just  after  Com- 
mencement, in  the  autumn  of  1806,  he  took  a  short  excursion  to  Bev- 
erly, the  scene  of  his  former  labors,  in  the  hope  of  removing  the 
complaint  which  was  fast  wasting  his  strength ;  but  while  he  was  there 
it  returned  with  aggravated  83'mptoms.  At  first  supposed  to  be  a  dis- 
ease of  the  liver,  it  at  last  assumed  the  form  of  dropsy.  The  most 
affectionate  solicitude  of  friends  and  the  most  enlightened  professional 
skill  could  not  arrest  its  progress.  Having  waited  calml}'  and  patiently 
his  appointed  time,  he  died  suddenly,  as  he  was  sitting  in  his  chair,  at 
the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  The  event  caused  deep  grief  throughout 
the  communit}'. 

In  regard  to  the  qualifications  of  President  McKeen  for  the  able  and 
successful  discharge  of  tlie  duties  pertaining  to  his  exalted  and  resjwn- 
sible  station,  there  was  but  one  sentiment.  His  sound,  discriminating 
judgment,  his  cool  decision,  his  equable  spirit,  his  manners,  conciliat- 
ing and  at  the  same  time  dignified,  his  kind  feelings,  his  moral  excel- 
lence, his  reputation  as  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  and  the  full  possession 
of  public  confidence,  combined  with  his  love  of  science,  fitted  him  in  a 
high  degree  for  the  ofl3ce  he  was  called  to  fill.  ^ 

The  genealogy  of  the  McKeens  may  be  found  in  the  History  of  Lon- 
donderry, New  Hampshire,  pages  284-289. 

McKEEX,  JOSEPH,  ESQUIRE. 

Joseph  McKeen,  a  son  of  Reverend  Joseph  McKeen,  the  first  presi- 
dent of  Bowdoin  College,  was  born  in  Beverley,  Massachusetts,  1787. 
He  was  a  well-known  business  man  in  Bninswick,  and  was  widelv 
known  throughout  the  State.  He  was  a  cashier  of  the  first  Union 
Bank  from  1859  until  it  closed  its  affairs,  and  was  a  president  of  the 
second  Union  Bank  for  mnnv  years. 

For  thirty-six  3'ears  he  was  ti-easurer  of  the  college,  and  his  admin- 
istration of  the  oflice  showed  marked  ability  and  thorough  rectitude.. 
He  was  also  a  director  and  trustee  of  the  Kennebec  and  Portland 
Kailroad  Company,  and  for  several  years  was  its  treasurer.  He  was 
a  thorough  business  man,  and  exact  and  methodical  iji  his  accounts. 
He  was  well  read  in  common  topics  and  in  some  special  departments 
of  literature,  including  Biblical  geography  and  histor}'. 

As  a  compliment  to  his  attainments  he  had  bestowed  upon  him  by 
Bowdoin  College,  in  1843,  the  honorary  title  of  A.  M.  He  was  a 
man  of  strong  atreetions,  indulgent  in  his  famil}',  and  kind  and  benev- 


^From  a  i>k€tch  of  Bowdoin  Colic f/e^  by  Reverend  A,  S.  Packard^  D,  /). 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  765 

olent  to  all.  He  was  a  member  of  the  church  of  the  First  Parish,  a 
teacher  in  its  Sabbath  school,  and  oftentimes  conducted  religious 
services  on  emergencies. 

''  lie  was  a  marked  man,  with  a  clear,  unclouded  intellect,  of  decided 
opinions,  with  an  energy  that  no  difficulties  appalled,  a  detennination 
that  went  straight  to  its  work,  and  of  unquestioned  sincerity  of  pur- 
pose in  whatever  labor  engaged. 

' '  lie  possessed  a  heart  read}'  to  respond  to  the  calls  of  benevolence 

and  friendship,  manifested  in  acts  of  great  liberality  and  thoughtful- 

ness.     The  demands  of  duty  did  not  overbear  the  claims  of  a  common 

manhood." 

McKEEN,  JOHN,  ESQUIRE. 

John  McKeen,  a  brother  of  the  subject  of  the  preceding  sketch, 
was  born  in  Bcverl}',  Massachusetts,  December  21,  1789;  came  to 
Brunswick  when  about  thirteen  years  old,  and  lived  here  for  fifty- 
nine  jears.  He  fitted  for  college  with  Reverend  J.  Ellis  of  Topsham, 
and  graduated  from  Bowdoin  in  1811.  He  was  for  manj*  years  a 
secretary  of  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  the  college.  He  was  engaged 
in  general  trade  for  many  3'ears,  and  was  nuich  interested  in  the  his- 
tory* and  welfare  of  the  town.  For  twentj-three  consecutive  years  he 
served  as  town  clerk,  and  during  this  period  collected  man}'  valuable 
pai>ers.     He  was  by  nature  and  training  an  antiquarian. 

The  evidences  of  his  research  will  be  seen  by  the  frequent  allusions 
to  his  name  in  this  volume. 

''  He  ever  manifested  a  warm  interest  in  whatever  related  to  the 
affairs  of  the  town,  and  his  action  was  guided  by  a  liberal  judgment 
and  a  truly  catholic  spirit.  Though  devoting  himself  with  untiring 
energy,  and  a  perseverance  that  no  obstacles  could  arrest,  to  a  study 
of  whatever  related  to  the  past,  he  did  not  bur\'  himself  in  the  dead 
past,  but  lived  in  the  present,  holding,  however,  as  his  truest  guides 
and  safest  counsellors,  the  memor}'  and  deeds  of  men  who  have  long 
since  mouldered  to  dust.  At  the  same  time  that  he  proved  himself 
the  good  citizen  in  the  broader  sphere  of  life,  he  was  no  less  the  chari- 
table and  kind-hearted  gentleman  in  all  that  concerned  social  inter- 
course. Of  a  hearty,  genial  nature,  his  face,  always  benignant,  occa- 
sionally beamed  with  a  smile  of  peculiar  benevolence,  and  his  address 
was  always  kindly  and  courteous. 

*'  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Maine  Historical  Societ}*, 
and  no  man  has  done  more  to  promote  the  interest  and  efllciency  of 
the  institution.  For  historical  investigations  he  possessed  an  apt- 
ness, a  quickness,  a  penetration,  and  an  entireness  of  appreciation 


766       HISTORY  OF  BRUKSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPS  WELL, 

quite  remarkable.  There  was  no  brilliancy  of  intellect ;  perhaps,  upon 
ordinary  occasions,  his  mind  moved  slowly ;  but  when  investigating 
New  England  history  there  was  no  sluggishness,  no  inaction «  and  no 
failure  to  appreciate  the  subject  in  hand,  however  broadly  extended, 
or  how  intricately  related  to  matters  which  to  the  outside  observer 
might  appear  as'  foreign  altogether.  The  intellect  went  straight  to  its 
work,  and  the  result  reached  never  failed  to  secure  respect  for  the 
man,  if  it  did  not  always  win  the  verdict  of  his  opponents. 

'^  No  man  was  so  well  acquainted  with  the  records  and  doings  of  the 
Pejepscot  proprietors,  and  he  was  regarded  as  standard  authority  in 
all  matters  of  controversj'  arising  under  these  records  and  the  deeds 
of  these  early  proprietors  of  Brunswick. 

''  In  politics  he  was  a  Whig  of  the  strongest  sect,  a  supporter  of  the 
Constitutional  Union  ticket  of  the  last  campaign,  a  supporter  of 
measures  of  peace  and  conciliation  until  the  sword  was  drawn  ;  then  a 
firm  supporter  of  the  government  in  a  vigorous  prosecution  of  the 
war,  but  always  after  constitutional  forms  and  in  strict  accordance 
with  law. 

*'  A  Scotch  Presbj'terian  in  matters  of  faith,  he  adhered  with  won- 
derful tenacity  to  the  doctrines  of  his  church,  but  as  exemplified  in  his 
life  the}^  were  divested  of  all  their  rigor  and  sharpness.  His  spirit 
was  too  catholic,  his  heart  too  true,  his  love  of  his  fellow-men  too 
earnest,  and  his  charitj'  too  broad  to  bind  him,  or  to  lead  him  to  act 
less  nobly  and  eamestl}'  than  a  Christian  gentleman  should  act.'* 

He  died  December  2,  1861. 

McKEEX,  JAMES,   M.  D. 

Doctor  James  McKeen,  a  third  son  of  President  McKeen,  was  grad- 
uated at  Bowdoin  College  in  1817.  He  entered  upon  the  sUidy  of 
medicine  under  Doctor  Matthias  Spaulding,  of  Amherst,  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  finished  his  course  under  Doctor  John  Ware,  of  Boston ;  grad- 
uated at  the  Harvaid  Medical  School  in  1820,  and  at  once  commenced 
the  practice  of  his  profession  in  Topsham.  In  1825  he  was  elected 
Professor  of  Obstetrics  in  the  Medical  School  of  Maine,  and  served  in 
that  oflfice  until  1839.  During  the  two  last  years  of  his  ofiice  he  also 
lectured  on  the  Theory  and  Practice  of  Medicine.  He  kept  up  a  warm 
interest  in  this  school  and  in  the  college  during  his  whole  life,  and  was 
for  many  years  one  of  the  overseers.  *'  During  his  college  days,"  says 
an  intimate  friend  of  his  youth,  '•  the  civilized  world  was  watching 
with  dceiTcst  interest  the  movements  of  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  and  no 
member  of  college,  I  am  sure,  knew  so  much  of  those  stirring  events 


SIOGRAPBWAL.  767 

afi  }'oang  McKeen,  who  followed  the  march  of  the  contending  armies 
with  the  best  ma^  he  could  command  ;  as  then,  so  ever  afler,  distin- 
guished for  his  extensive  and  minute  geographical  knowledge.  He 
took  to  astronomy  when  it  came  in  the  collegiate  course.  Late  one 
starlit  night,  President  Appleton  descried  from  his  window  a  light  on 
the  steps  of  the  old  college  chapel.  Apprehending  some  mischief  at 
work  at  that  late  hour,  he  kfl  his  house  and  repaired  with  cautious 
steps  to  the  spot,  and,  unnoticed  by  the  supix)sed  culprit,  placed  his 
hand  on  the  young  man's  shoulder.  It  was  McKeen,  all  alone,  with  a 
celestial  globe  and  a  light,  observing  the  constellations  in  the  heavens, 
*'  Ah,  McKeen,'  exclaimed  the  astonished  president, '  I  am  glad  to  find 
you  so  well  occupied.'  This  interest  in  the  science  continued  through 
life,  a  comfort  and  amusement  in  man}-  a  long  night  drive.  .  .  . 
He  was  fearless.  Some  thought  him  reckless  when  he  crosse<l  Merry- 
meeting  Bay  in  early  spring,  just  before  the  breaking  up  of  the  ice, 
sitting  up  on  the  back  of  the  sleigh,  watching  for  holes  in  the  ice  and 
thus  directing  his  horse  on  his  perilous  wa}'.     .     .     . 

'^  Doctor  McKeen  was  of  the  strongest,  deepest  affections.  How  he 
loved  his  college  classmates !  We  recall,  with  delightful  remembrance, 
his  gathering  the  surviving  members  of  his  class  to  his  house,  from 
far  and  near,  a  few  years  ago,  on  the  fiftieth  anniversary  day  of  their 
graduation,  and  there  spending  two  daj's,  brightest  in  their  calendar, 
together,  and  his  inviting  friends  to  sympathize  in  their  gladness. 
With  a  most  direct,  downright,  at  times  almost  rough  exterior  of  man- 
ner, few  men  were  so  easil}'  moved  to  tears. 

'^  Doctor  McKeen  was  not  a  mere  professional  man.  No  one  could 
be  conversant  with  him  and  not  be  impressed  with  the  proof  of  his 
tenacious  memor}'  of  men  and  events.  In  modem  political  history-, 
whether  of  our  own  or  other  lands,  few  surpasscil  him  in  gcncnil  state- 
ment or  minute  detail.  He  never  made  public  profession  of  his  relig- 
ious faith.  An  habitual  attendant  on  public  worship  when  his  pro- 
fessional calls  and  his  health  would  permit,  uniformly  contributing  his 
influence  and  support  to  the  claims  of  the  sanctuary,  he  was  reserved 
respecting  his  own  personal  religious  experiences.  He  never,  however, 
swerved  from  the  faith  of  his  fathers.  He  made  the  reveale<l  word  his 
companion,  and  of  late  yeai*s  seemed  to  be  girding  himself  for  the  com- 
ing of  his  Lord,  often  apprehending  the  day  of  His  coming  to  be  near 
at  hand,  and  during  his  last  da3's  and  his  hours  of  consciousness  sup- 
plicating in  repeated  petitions  with  agony  of  spirit  for  mercy  through, 
and  solelv  for,  the  merits  of  a  crucified  Redeemer.'* 

Doctor  McKeen,  though  gentle  and  kind  in  the  sick-room,  possessed 


768        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARP8WELL, 

a  wonderAil  physical  energ}',  and  had  a  rough  bearing  externally.  He 
was  of  a  very  nenous  temperament,  which  showed  itself  in  his  mode 
of  driving  his  horses.  He  has  always  been  called  a  reckless  driver, 
and  so  he  was,  as  far  as  danger  to  pedestrians  was  concerned,  rightly 
judging  that  they  would  give  him  a  wide  berth.  So  far,  however,  as 
pertained  to  the  management  of  his  steeds,  he  had  no  su|>erior. 

He  was  a  man  of  uncommon  strength,  and  a  lover  of  fair  pla}'.  His 
bravery  as  well  as  his  strength  is  shown  in  the  following  anecdote. 
'H'hich  he  himself  told  the  writer :  Once,  soon  after  settling  in  Tops- 
ham,  he  was  summoned  one  dark  night  to  Bath.  He  went  b}'  way  of 
Brunswick.  When  near  New  Meadows,  his  horse  was  suddenlv  seize<l 
by  the  bridle  and  stopped.  At  the  same  moment  a  man  stepped  up  to 
his  carriage,  presented  a  pistol,  and  demanded  his  money.  The  doc- 
tor quietly  reached  out,  took  the  man  by  the  coat-collar,  lifted  him  into 
the  carriage,  disarmed  him,  and  then,  whipping  his  horse,  broke  away 
from  the  man  who  was  holding  the  bridle,  and  carried  the  man  he  had 
taken  to  Bath. 

While  he  was  a  professor  in  college.  Doctor  McKeen  made  the  tour 
of  Europe,  stnd^'ing  in  the  hospitals.  While  he  was  at  Dublin,  it  is 
related  of  him  that,  being  one  day  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  he 
observed  a  very  large  man  fighting  with  a  small  one.  Without  stop- 
ping to  learn  the  nature  or  merits  of  their  quarrel,  he  at  once  ''  pitched 
into'*  the  large  man,  and  was  busily  engaged  in  the  contest  when  he 
was  arrested  by  an  ortlcer,  and  taken  to  Dublin.  lie  escai>ed  contine- 
nicnt  l»v  tlio  assistance  of  the  American  consul. 

As  a  physician.  Doctor  McKecn  possessecl  keen  ix)wers  of  discrimi- 
nation and  good  judgment,  and  was  al\vay§  fertile  in  expedients.  The 
writer  recollects,  on  one  occasion,  while  a  student  in  his  office,  going 
with  him  to  visit  quite  a  numl>er  of  patients  in  the  outskirts  of  Bow- 
doin,  Bowdoinham,  and  Richmond.  The  doctor  left  home  in  haste, 
and  for<r()t  to  take  his  medicine-bag  with  him.  The  patients  were  all 
of  them  far  from  any  druggist,  so  that  to  leave  a  prescription  would 
hardlv  have  been  satisfaetorv  in  anv  of  the  cases.  The  doi'tor  was 
not,  however,  in  the  least  disconcerted  when  he  made  the  discoverv 
that  ho  had  no  medicines  with  him,  but  proceeded  to  give  the  nec*es- 
sary  advice  in  regard  to  diet,  etc.,  and  then  instructed  them  how  to 
obtain  and  prepare  the  medicines  most  appropriate  to  each  case.  The 
suggestions  thus  obtained  have  never  been  forgotten,  and  have  often 
proved  of  service  to  the  writer. 

Sur<::ery  was,  however,  the  branch  in  which  Doctor  McKeen  partic- 
ularly excelled,  and  had  he  lived  in  a  more  thickly  settled  community. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  769 

where  he  wonld  have  had  more  frequent  opportunities  for  practice,  he 
would  probablj'  have  become  eminent  in  this  direction.  As  an  instruc- 
tor of  medical  pupils,  he  had,  in  the  earlier  years  of  his  professional 
life,  an  excellent  reputation.  Later,  however,  he  left  his  students 
prettv  much  to  themselves,  merely  advising  them  what  to  read,  and  in 
the  latter  part  of  their  course  occasional!}'  taking  them  to  see  his 
patients.  The  instruction  that  he  gave  at  the  bedside  was,  however, 
very  thorough. 

Doctor  McKeen  was,  to  the  close  of  his  life,  an  earnest  student. 
He  not  onl}"  kept  up  his  interest  in  medical  matters,  but  also  in  literarj* 
studies,  and  the  last  time  the  writer  saw  him  he  asked  in  regnnl  to  the 
correctness  of  some  classical  quotation  that  he  was  reading. 

Doctor  McKeen  had  a  lively  sense  of  both  personal  and  professional 
honor.  Quacks  and  quackery  he  thoroughly  and  utterly'  detested  and 
despised.  At  the  same  time  he  himself,  especially  when  he  first  com- 
menced, did  not  hesitate  to  put  in  practice  a  little  harmless  deception, 
such  as  being  called  from  church  when  not  needed,  and  especiall)'  a 
habit  he  never  gave  up,  of  driving  furiousl}'  when  first  starting  out. 

Among  the  citizens  of  Topsham,  no  one  will  be  longer  or  more 
dearly  remembered  than  he  of  whom  it  has  been  said  that  "  upon  his 
good  name  no  stain  ever  rested." 

lie  died  in  Topsham,  November  28,  1873. 

McMANUS,   CAPTAIN  RICHARD. 

Captain  Richard  McManus  enlisted  as  a  soldier,  at  the  age  of  eigh- 
teen, in  Colonel  McCobb's  regiment,  in  the  year  1813,  and  passed  his 
time  of  service  in  the  woods  of  Chateaugay  (we  suppose  in  New  York, 
not  far  from  Plattsburg)  until  December,  1814,  when  his  term  of  ser- 
vice expired.  Immediately  after  peace  was  declared,  he  shipped  as  a 
common  sailor  in  Captain  John  Dunlap*s  employ,  and  sailed  with 
a  Captain  Growse.  As  a  seaman  he  made  two  voyages  with  Cai>- 
tain  William  Curtis.  He  then  was  prom  )te(l  to  the.  ollioo  of  ninte, 
and  in  1822  was  again  promoted  to  the  ollicc  of  master,  and  took 
charge  of  the  schooner  Ex''hantje.  F>om  that  time  forward  he  succes- 
sively commandwl  different  vessels,  in  the  employ  of  various  parties, 
in  182H  becoming  interested  as  part  owner  with  Messrs  Washington 
&  Jackson,  of  Philadelphia. 

Cai)tain  McManus  made  his  last  voyage  in  1847,  in  the  ship  J/ow- 
teret/  from  Mobile  to  Liverpool  and  back  to  New  York.  In  18r)4  he 
was  a[)pointed  as  agent  for  Maine  for  tlie  New  York  Board  of  Under- 
writers, —  a  position  of  marked  responsibility,  demanding  skill,  judg- 

49 


770        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

ment,  iudepcndence,  and  honesty  for  a  faithful  discharge  of  dut}' ;  this 
office  he  held  for  ten  years,  and  we  may  say,  we  believe  without  a 
fear  of  contradiction,  that  the  duty  was  rendered  to  the  entire  satis- 
faction of  the  company,  and  to  the  great  ci*edit  of  the  deceased. 

During  his  long  and  busy  life,  —  for  the  captain  was  never  idle  when 
work  was  to  be  done, — he  amassed  a  handsome  property,  which,  how- 
ever, the  reverses  of  later  3'ear8  somewhat  diminished. 

A  gentleman  who  knew  him  well  in  Liverpool  in  his  younger  days, 
declares  that  he  was  one  of,  if  not  the  finest  looking  shii>-ma8ter  that 
ever  sailed  out  of  that  port ;  he  bore  a  close  resemblance  to  E.  K. 
(  oUins  of  New  York,  and  the  mistakes  of  identity  were  cause  of 
merriment  to  both  men.  A  remarkable  thing  for  a  sailor,  Captain 
McManus  never  used  tobacco  in  an}'  form. 

In  his  long  service  on  the  sea,  and  in  his  ten  years'  work  for  the 
Board  of  Underwriters,  Captain  McManus  had  become  more  widely 
known  than  any  other  ship-master  in  New  England,  possibly  than  an}* 
in  the  United  States. 

The  deceased  possessed  a  good  knowledge  of  the  common  affairs  of 
every-day  life,  of  the  current  iwlitics  of  the  day,  and  was  thoroughly  up 
in  his  calling  as  a  ship-master  and  as  a  sui)erintendent  of  the  construc- 
tion of  ships.  Clear-headed,  he  was  methodical  in  his  business,  prompt 
to  meet  his  engagements,  and  honest  in  his  dealings  with  others  ;  pru- 
dence and  forethought  marking  his  management  of  his  business  a  flairs. 

Captain  McManus  possessed  a  fund  of  animal  spirits,  proving  him- 
self a  most  companionable  man.  He  was  free  in  his  manners,  strong 
in  his  attiichments,  and  strong  in  his  dislikes  ;  generous  and  hospitable 
in  an  eminent  degree,  his  house  and  table  were  ever  open  to  friends, 
and  that  hospitality  was  bestowed  with  an  ease  and  cordiality  that 
rendered  it  doubly  acceptable  to  the  recipient. 

lie  died  in  Brunswick,  September  3,  1875.^ 

MARTIN,   CAPTAIN  CLEMENT. 

Clement  Martin  was  born  in  1790.  lie  was  one  of  Brunswick's  most 
successful  ship-masters.  Starting  upon  life  with  none  of  the  advantages 
of  modern  days,  he  won  his  way  to  command  and  competent  fortune 
through  the  exercise  of  an  untiring  energy-,  a  cool  judgment,  and  great 
business  shrewdness  and  sagacity.  Possessing  a  dear  intellect,  he 
observed  closely,  stpriug  up  many  curious  and  interesting  facts  of  men 
and   things,  incidents  of  his  early  life.     He  was  a  man  of  strong 


*  From  the  Brujisicick  Telegraph. 


BIOORAPmCAL.  771 

impulses  but  of  warm  feelings,  making  close  friends  of  those  who  knew 
him  best.     He  died  June  2,  1869. 

MERRILL,  JOHN,  ESQUIRK. 

Mr.  John  Mcnill  was  a  surveyor.  Having  been  employed  by  Sir 
William  Pepi^erell  to  survey  some  of  his  land,  Pcpperell  was  so  well 
pleased  with  him  that  he  advised  him  to  move  to  the  District  of  Maine, 
and  it  was  doubtless  through  his  recommendation  that  Menill  was 
employed  by  Governor  Bowdoin,  of  Massachusetts,  to  survey  his 
extensive  tract  of  land. 

In  1700,  Mr.  Merrill  packed  up  his  clothes  and  tools,  and  with  his 
pack  over  his  shoulder  left  Arundel,  and  started  on  foot  for  the  Andms- 
croggin  River.  At  North  Yarmouth  he  met  a  man  who  had  just  amved 
from  Brunswick.  He  asked  the  man  if  there  would  be  any  trouble  in 
finding  the  way.  "  Oh,  no,"  was  the  reply,  "  the  way  is  pretty  well 
spotted  out."  He  then  asked  him  the  distance,  and  the  answer  was, 
"  The}'  call  it  eighteen  miles,  but  I  will  swear  for  it  you  will  think  it 
twenty -eight  miles  before  you  get  there." 

After  arriving  at  Topsham  he  began  to  look  around  for  a  farm,  and 
finallv  made  a  selection  of  the  old  Merrill  homestead,  where  he  built 
a  log-house  in  the  rear  of  tin  sits  of  the  present  house.  He  was  after- 
wards ralliel  by  an  acquaintanco  upon  what  was  deeaied  his  lack  of 
judgment  in  building  so  far  off  from  the  settlement. 

\Vhile  in  the  employ  of  Ciovernor  Bowdoin  he  was  acirustomed  each 
fall,  after  his  season's  work  was  over,  to  travel  on  foot,  pack  on  back 
and  staff  in  hand,  to  Boston,  to  render  an  account  of  his  doings  to  his 
employer  and  receive  his  pa}'. 

Mr.  Merrill  was  for  many  years  the  principal  surveyor  in  Lincoln 
Count}'.  He  was  very  careful  and  accurate,  and  showed  a  good  degree 
of  skill  for  those  times.  He  was  a  public-spirited  and  patriotic  man. 
He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  Topsham  in  17G4,  at  the  first  organi- 
zation of  the  town  after  it  was  incorporated,  and  he  held  that  ollice 
for  eighteen  years,  at  various  periods  prior  to  1800.  He  was  one  of 
the  Committee  of  Correspondence  and  JSafety  in  177G,  and  was  one  of 
the  principal  actors  in  the  affairs  of  the  town  during  all  the  i)eriotl 
above  named.  At  the  June  term  of  the  Court  of  (General  ^Ses^sions  of 
the  Peace,  held  at  Pownalboro'  in  1777,  he  took  his  placi*  on  the  bench 
as  one  of  the  justices,  and  he  also  officiated  as  such  in  1782  and  178.*^. 
In  177'2  he  was  licensed  by  the  court  as  a  retailer,  and  also  in  1778. 
He  was  licensed  as  an  innholder  in  1 774.  At  the  town  meeting  Decem- 
ber 2,  177G,  he  was  chosen  as  an  officer  to  take  recognizance  of  debts^ 


772         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL 

Mr.  Merrill  was  a  man  of  judgment  and  moral  worth.  He  was  an 
ardent  lover  of  books,  and  collected  a  large  librarj'  at  a  time  when 
books  wore  both  costly  and  difficult  to  obtain.  It  is  said  that  he  lK)ught 
the  first  Cyclop;edia  owned  in  the  District  of  Maine.  He  was  an  indul- 
gent father,  and  it  is  related  that  on  one  occasion,  when  his  daughter 
Susannah  was  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  yielded  to  her  solicita- 
tions and  allowed  her  to  make  a  visit  to  Boston.  She  accomplished 
the  journey,  riding  the  whole  way  on  horseback,  under  the  escort  of 
the  different  mail-carriers  on  the  route.  The  sight  of  a  beautiful  and 
graceful,  as  well  as  daring  young  damsel,  galloping  along  with  her  red 
cloak  fluttering  behind  her,  created  a  sensation  in  all  the  settlements 
and  towns  through  which  she  passed,  and  one  ardent  swain  was  so 
smitten  by  her  attractions  at  that  time  that  he  did  not  rest  until  he 
made  her  nc<iuaintance.  lie  at  once  proposed,  was  accepted,  and  the 
next  spring  they  were  married. 

MERRILL,  COLONEL  ABEL. 

Colonel  Abel  Merrill,  son  of  John  Merrill,  was  emphaticalh*  a  public 
man  in  this  communit}'.     Says  one  who  knew  him  well :  — 

"  Endowed  with  good  judgment  and  a  thorough  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  su^jeradded  to  a  good  education  (self-acquii-ed)  and  a  noble 
mien,  he  slooil  foremost  among  his  townsmen.  During  the  war  of 
1812,  and  until  its  close  in  1814,  he  commanded  a  regiment  an<l  did 
goo<l  service  in  the  division  of  General  King,  who  regarded  him  as  one 
of  his  most  elllcient  and  accomplished  oflleers.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  lie  resigned,  and  was  called  into  civil  service,  representing  his 
town  in  the  House  and  his  countv  in  the  Senate,  besides  holdinor  other 
othces  until  he  declined  them  altogether.  Married  to  an  estimable 
ladv,  and  having  a  familv  of  eleven  sons  and  three  dauorhters,  all  ijrowu 
up,  he,  with  ample  honor  antl  fortune,  withdrew  from  public  life  to 
enjoy,  with  the  wife  of  his  youth,  a  ripe  old  age  in  the  society  of  their 
remaining  chiKlrcn,  near  the  church  of  which  they  had  been  active 
members  lor  over  fortv  vears. 

'•As  a  Chri!*tian,  a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity,  a  politician, 
a  husband  and  lather,  he  had  few  equals,  while  hospitality  has  ever 
been  an  •  heirloom '  at  the  Merrill  homestead.  He  could  sav  of  his 
children,  that  some  of  them  had  visited  ever}'  quarter  of  the  earth, 
and  that  neither  absence  nor  distance  ever  severed  the  ties  which  bound 
them  together." 


BIOORAPmCAU  773 


MERRILL,  CAPTAIN  LEONARD  P. 

Captain  Merrill  was  graduated  at  Bowdoin  College  in  1842.  He 
studied  law,  and  practised  awhile  in  Brunswick.  He  linilly  went  to 
sea,  shipping  "  before  the  mast."  He  rapidly  rose,  however,  in  his 
new  occupation,  until  he  came  into  the  command  of  a  vessel.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  New  Orleans,  November  1, 1871, 
at  the  age  of  fort^'-nine  years,  he  was  master  of  the  ship  Amity ^  of 
Bath. 

Captain  Merrill  was  a  good  ship- master.  He  also  possessed  fine 
talents  and  a  cultivated  taste,  and  was  a  good  musician.  He  was  a 
man  of  thorough  integrity  of  character,  and  of  good  judgmenv  and 
discernment. 

MERRILL,  CAPTAIN  MOSES  EMERY. 

Captain  Merrill  belonged  to  the  Fifth  Begiment,  United  States  Infan- 
try. Ho  was  with  General  Taylor  in  Mexico,  and  participated  in  the 
battles  of  Palo  Alto,  Besaca  de  la  Palma,  and  the  capture  of  Monte- 
rey. He  then  joined  Scott,  and  was  at  the  taking  of  Vera  Cruz,  at 
Contreras,  Cherubusco,  and  at  Molino  del  Bey,  where  he  fell.  His 
remains  were  brought  to  Brunswick  for  interment. 

'*  The  conscientious,  gallant,  and  noble  Merrill  was  detached  with 
the  stonning  party,  and  fell  early  in  the  action,  while  waving  his  sword 
above  his  head,  and  urging  on  his  men  to  the  charge.  He  fell  too  soon 
for  his  country,  but  covered  with  glory  acquired  in  many  battle-fields." 

MILLER,  REVEREND  JOHN. 

Beverend  John  Miller,  of  Milton,  Massachusetts,  received  a  call  to 
settle  in  Brunswick  in  December,  1761,  and  was  installed  over  the 
church  of  the  First  Parish  in  September,  1762.  He  was  settled  over 
this  parish  for  about  twenty-four  3'ear8.  During  the  early  part  of  his 
ministry  he  apparently'  gave  good  satisfaction,  and  the  church  appears 
to  have  flourished.  Towards  the  close  of  his  ministry,  however,  con- 
siderable dissatisfaction  was  felt,  charges  were  made  against  him,  and 
efforts  were  several  times  made  to  dismiss  him.  As  careful  an  exami- 
nation as  can  now  be  made  into  the  merits  of  the  case  appears  to 
show  that  the  differences  between  him  and  a  portion  of  the  parish 
were  originally'  owing  to  a  variance  of  opinion  in  regard  to  matters  of 
church  polity.  This  was  a  subject  upon  which  the  residents  of  the 
east  and  west  ends  of  the  town  did  not  harmonize  ;  the  latter  favorina 
the  Presbj'terian,  and  the  former  the  Congregational  form  of  church 


774        HISTORY  OF  BHUNSWZCK,  TOPBHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

m 

government.  Mr.  Miller  could  not,  of  course,  satisfy  both  sides,  and 
after  a  while  mutual  criminations  and  recriminations  occuiTed  which 
rendered  a  settlement  b}*  an  ecclesiastical  council  necessary.  Before, 
however,  t]|p  matter  was  settled,  Mr.  Miller's  death  occurred.  Several 
letters  of  Mr.  Miller,  and  other  papers  relating  to  the  matter,  are 
preserved  in  the  Pejepscot  Collection.  Concerning  Mr.  Miller's  abili- 
ties as  a  preacher,  and  the  influence  which  he  exerted,  but  little  can 
now  be  said.  Judging  from  his  own  writings,  he  was  a  strict  believer 
in  all  the  doctrines  taught  in  the  Westminster  Catechism,  and  endeav- 
ored conscientiously  to  act  up  to  his  religious  views.  At  the  same 
time  it  is  believed  that  he  was  charitably  disposed  to  those  who  diflTered 
with  him  in  what  he  deemed  minor  matters  of  faith. 

MINOT,  HONORABLE  JOHN. 

At  what  time  Judge  Minot  first  came  to  Bnmswick  is  unknown. 
As  early  as  1715  the  proprietors  voted  that  ''Mr.  Watts'  discourse 
with  ]\Ir.  John  Minot  about  his  staying  there  (Brunswick)  this  winter, 
if  it  be  needful,  to  oversee  our  affairs,  to  keep  our  cattle  emplo3'ed  in 
hailing  Timber,  &c.,  and  to  forward  the  building  of  our  Houses." 
Whether  he  spent  that  winter  here  or  not  is  not  known ;  but  he  did 
not,  in  all  probability,  take  up  his  permanent  residence  in  the  town 
until  after  the  incorporation,  as  his  name  does  not  appear  on  the 
petition  for  the  same,  and  for  some  time  previously  he  h*ad  been  in 
command  of  Richmond  Fort,  and  had  the  control  of  the  truck-house 
there.  He  appears,  however,  to  have  previously  owned  a  farm  on 
Mair  Point. 

Judge  Minot  was  town  clerk  of  Brunswick  in  1744,  and  that  year 
recorded  the  names  and  ages  of  his  children  in  the  town  records,  the 
first  entry  of  the  kind  that  was  made.  He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace, 
and  subsequent!}'  Chief  Justice  of  the  Court  of  Sessions.  He  also 
represented  the  town  at  the  General  Court  for  two  or  three  years.  He 
was  chairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen  for  two  years,  and  was  the 
man  authorized  b}'  the  General  Court  to  call  the  first  town  meeting  in 
Haq^swell. 

Tradition  describes  Judge  Minot  as  being  distinguished  for  the  mild- 
ness of  liis  manners,  the  benevolence  of  his  disposition,  and  for  his 
anxiety  to  promote  the  peace  and  happiness  of  all  around  him.  He 
was  a  useful  citizen,  and  was  alwa3's  active  in  his  support  of  religious 
iustitutions.  In  his  manner  he  was  kind  and  courteous,  and  was  highly 
esteemed  and  beloved  by  all,  even  by  the  Indians.     It  is  related  *  of 


*  McKeetif  MS.  Lecture. 


BIOQRAPBICAL.  775 

him  that,  as  he  was  once  passing  Mair  Brook,  on  his  way  home  fmrn 
Fort  George,  two  Indians,  concealed  behind  a  tree,  were  just  in  the 
act  of  shooting  him,  when  one  of  them  recognized  him,  and  exclaimed, 
'*  Justice  Minot !  me  no  shoot  him  —  he  too  good  man  !  "  The  account 
goes  on  to  state  that  not  long  after,  this  same  Indian  came  to  the  judge, 
and  wanted  some  rum  for  having  saved  his  life  on  that  occasion. 

As  reganls  Minot's  judicial  career  but  very  little  is  known.  He  evi- 
denth'  kept  his  court  records  loosely,  as  some  of  them  are  still  extant, 
entered  in  account  books  and  diaries.  From  what  has  been  said  of 
him  as  a  man,  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  his  decisions  were  generally 
equitable,  whatever  may  have  been  his  knowledge  of  law. 

NEWMAN,  PROFESSOR  SAMUEL  P. 

Samuel  Phillips  Newman  was  born  in  Andover,  Massachusetts,  in 
1797,  was  graduated  at  Harvard  College  in  1810.  and  died  at  Ando- 
ver, February  10,  1842. 

In  1818  he  became  a  tutor  at  Bowdoin  College,  and  the  next  3'ear 
was  chosen  Professor  of  Ancient  Languages.  In  1824  he  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  professorship  of  Rhetoric  and  Oratory.  lie  resigned  his 
office  in  September,  1839,  on  account  of  ill  health,  and  removed  to 
Barre,  Massachusetts,  where  he  took  charge  of  the  Normal  School. 

For  about  three  years  Professor  Newmau  discharged  the  duties  of 
the  president  of  the  college,  during  the  illness  of  Appleton,  the  then 
incufnbent.  As  a  professor,  he  added  greatly  to  the  reputation  of  the 
college,  espociall}'  b}'  the  ptiblication  of  his  *'  Practical  System  of  Rhet- 
oric," which,  in  this  countr\'  and  England,  passed  through  sixty-seven 
editions,  and  of  his  "  Elements  of  Political  Economy." 

*'  The  chapter  on  Taste,  in  his  work  on  Rhetoric,  is  the  result  of 
much  reflection,  as  well  as  extensive  reading,  and,  though  necessarily 
brief,  is  one  of  the  most  satisfactory  treatises  on  this  subject  in  the 
language.  Mr.  Newman  devoted,  during  the  last  years  of  his  office, 
much  attention  to  the  subject  of  elocution.  lie  studiecl  the  principles 
developed  by  Sheridan,  Rush,  and  other  writers,  with  much  care,  and 
conducted  this  difficult  and  heretofore  neglect-ed  branch  with  skill  and 
success. 

''Asa  critic,  he  was  discriminating,  of  pure  taste,  well  versed  in  the 
laws  of  English  composition,  and  apt  in  the  application  of  them.  In 
all  his  relations  to  the  college  he  was  of  a  ready  apprehension,  a 
perspicacious,  able  teacher,  a  wise  counsellor,  and  a  valuable  friend. 

^'  Mr.  Newman  was  never  satisfied  with  superficial  or  indefinite 
views.    He  was  not  of  that  number  who  gather  up  scraps  of  knowledge. 


776         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

Hence  he  was  not  discursive  in  reading.  He  songht  for  principles. 
He  investigated  patiently  and  thoroughly,  and  was  not  contented 
unless  he  had  some  important  subject  on  hand  for  such  investigation. 
He  was  endowed  b}*  nature  in  an  unusual  degi*ee  with  the  elements  of 
a  fine  taste,  a  quick  sensibility  to  beaut}',  great  simplicit}"  of  heart 
and  character,  and  a  strong  aversion  to  whatever  is  show}-  or  affected. 
His  writings  were  characterized  by  simplicity  and  naturalness. 

*'  In  the  relations  of  private  life  Professor  Newman  gained  the  esteem 
and  affection  of  all  who  can  appreciate  worth.  His  e^'e,  ever  ready  to 
kindle  and  to  melt  with  tenderness,  was  a  sure  index  of  the  warm 
affections  within.  How  he  was  regarded  as  a  fellow-citizen  and  a 
man,  may  be  known  from  the  general  interest  ever  expressed  for  his 
welfare  after  his  removal  from  his  home  of  man}'  3'ears,  and  espe- 
cially during  the  progress  of  his  long  and  distressing  disease,  by  those 
of  every  condition  who  had  long  known  him  in  the  various  relations  of 
public  and  private  life. 

*'In  1820,  Mr.  Newman  received  a  license  to  preach  from  the  Cum- 
berland Association,  and  from  time  to  time,  as  his  official  duties  per- 
mitted, he  preached  with  acceptance.  As  a  Christian,  he  was  ever 
advancing  in  the  divine  life.  The  close  of  his  days  afforded  a  striking 
exemplification  of  the  power  of  Christian  faith  to  sustain  the  soul,  and 
to  impart  that  peace  ^hich  passeth  all  understanding. "^ 

O'BRIEN  JOIIX  M.,  ESQUIRE. 

Mr.  O'Brien  was  born  in  Newbury  port,  Massachusetts,  September 
9,  178G.  He  graduated  at  Bowdoin  in  the  first  class  that  ever  left 
that  college,  180G,  and  at  his  death,  in  1865,  he  was  the  last  member. 
After  graduation  he  is  believed  to  have  studied  law  in  the  office  of 
Chief  Justice  Parsons,  of  Newburyport.  He  practised  his  profession 
awhile  in  Boston,  but  about  1845,  perhaps  earlier,  he  removed  to 
Brunswick.  After  coming  here  he  paid  little  attention  to  law,  but 
devoted  himself  to  literature,  science,  and  the  mechanic  arts.  He 
possessed  a  remarkable  inventive  facult}'.  He  had  a  refined  taste, 
was  well  read  in  general  literature,  was  a  finished  writer,  possessed 
good  conversational  powers,  and  was  a  remarkably  good  extemix)ra- 
neous  speaker. 

In  manner  he  was  modest  and  rather  retiring ;  in  disposition  sensi- 
tive, warm-hearted,  and  generous ;  among  his  friends  companionable 


^Portland  AdvertiBer,  March  7,  1842. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  777 

and  faithful.     His  wife  Hannah  was  1)orn  about  1756,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 24,  1826. 

Mr.  O'Brien  died  in  Brunswick,  December  19,  1865. 

?ORR,   BENJAMIN.  ESQUIKE. 

Honorable  Benjamin  Orr,  the  son  of  John  Orr,  of  Bedford,  New 
Hampshire,  was  bom  in  Be<lford,  December  1,  1772.  He  was  for 
many  years  a  resident  of  Topshani,  and  lived  in  the  Ruth  Thomp- 
son house.  He  was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  successful  advo- 
cates in  the  State. 

The  following  sketch  is  abridged  from  one  prepared  by  Honorable 
William  Willis  for  another  work.^ 

When  Benjamin  Orr  arrived  at  years  of  discretion  he  exj^ressed  a 
desire  for  a  liberal  education ;  but  his  father,  having  eight  sons  to 
provide  for,  was  not  able  to  comply  with  his  wishes,  and  apprenticed 
him  to  a  houses  right. 

He  labored  in  this  capacit}'  for  two  or  three  years,  when  he  pur- 
chased a  release  from  his  indentures,  and  worked  on  his  own  at-coiint, 
keeping  steadilj'  in  view  the  prominent  idea  of  his  life,  —  to  qualify  him- 
self for  a  learned  profession.  With  this  intent  his  head  and  hands 
were  constantly  busy,  working  at  his  trade,  pursuing  a  course  of 
stud}',  and  keeping  school.  By  keeping  steadih'  in  view  his  great 
plan  of  life,  his  mind  was  constantl}'  educating  itself  amidst  his  daily 
mechanical  toil,  by  close  attention  and  constant  discipline,  superior 
far  to  the  mere  formula  and  routine  studv  of  schools.  When  in  Port- 
land  and  other  towns  in  which  courts  were  sitting,  he  embraced  the 
opix)rtunity  to  si)end  what  time  he  could  spare  in  listening  to  their 
proceedings,  hearing  the  arguments  of  counsel  and  the  rulings  of  the 
court,  and  thus  increasing  his  stores  for  improving  the  operations  of 
his  own  mind. 

In  his  studies  he  received  much  aid  from  Paul  Lnngdon.  n  gnidunte 
of  Harvard,  and  some  time  preceptor  of  Fryeburg  Academy,  who 
gave  direction  to  his  preparatory  studies.  With  such  assistance,  and 
his  own  unbending  i^erseverance,  he  was  enabled,  in  17*J6,  to  enter 
the  Junior  class  of  Dartmouth  college. 

Wliile  in  college  he  studied  law  under  the  direcrtiou  of  >Villiam 
Woodward,  Esquire,  of  Grafton.  On  taking  his  degree  in  171)8,  he 
entered  the  office  of  Samuel  Dinsmore,  late  governor  of  New  Hamp- 
shire, and  continued  there  something  over  a   3'ear,   when,  thinking 

*  The  Courti  and  Lawyen  of  3/ame. 


778         mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Maine  would  be  the  best  field  for  his  future  labors,  he  proceeded  to 
Hallowell,  and  placed  himself  under  the  tuition  of  the  late  Judge 
Wilde.  In  the  autumn  of  1801  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Lincoln 
County,  and  immediatel.y  opened  an  office  in  Topsham,  where  Mr. 
Hasey  was  then  the  solitary  practitioner.  In  1803  he  was  admitted 
to  practice  in  ths  Supreme  Court,  and  from  the  position  he  at  once 
took  at  the  bar,  his  practice  became  very  extensive  in  his  owu  and  tlie 
aijoining  county  of  Cumberland.  Oil  one  occasion  he  encountered 
the  able  and  distinguished  Jeremiah  Mason,  of  New  Hampshire,  in  a 
bill  of  equity  before  the  Circuit  Court  of  the  United  States.  The  case 
was  of  great  importance,  as  may  be  supposed  by  the  engagement  of 
such  an  advocate  as  Mason.  Ilis  success  was  complete  and  trium- 
phant, and  he  was  higlily  complimented  by  Mr.  Mason  for  the  manner 
and  ability  with  which  he  conducted  the  cause. 

In  Chancer}'  practice  Mr.  Orr  became  quite  eminent,  and  is  said  to 
have  been  witliout  a  rival  in  the  State.  lie  pursued  his  large  and 
successful  practice  without  interruption  by  extraneous  employments, 
except  for  two  years  from  1817,  when  he  represented  the  Lincoln 
district  in  Congress.  During  the  first  session  he  did  not  much  engage 
in  debate.  On  the  thirteenth  of  March  he  made  an  able  speech  in 
opposition  to  a  resolution  which  declared  that  it  was  the  duty  and  in 
the  power  of  Congress  to  authorize  the  making  of  post,  militar}',  and 
other  roads  and  canals  within  the  several  States.  The  resolution  was, 
however,  adopted,  b}'  a  vote  of  ninety  to  seventy-five.  At  the  next 
session  Mr.  Orr  made  a  speech  on  the  Massachusetts  Claim,  and  he 
also  spoke  twice  on  a  bill  relating  to  the  coasting  trade.  His  remarks 
were  characterized  by  sound  sense,  conciseness,  and  entire  pertinency 
to  the  subjects  under  discussion.  Mr.  Orr  was  a  useful  member,  by 
his  clear  perceptions,  his  promptness  and  fidelity  to  the  duties  of  his 
station,  and  the  abilit}'  with  which  he  treated  ever}'  subject  to  which 
he  gave  his  attention. 

This  was  the  last  public  office  which  Mr.  Orr  held.  The  practice  of 
law  suited  him  far  better,  and  was  better  adapted  to  his  powers,  his 
education,  and  his  inclinations.  He  sought  it  in  its  highest  forms  :  it 
gave  full  scope  to  his  clear  and  comprehensive  mind  and  his  severe 
dialectic  talent,  and  he  pursued  it  with  elevated  aspirations  and  lofty 
endeavors  which  would  have  no  fellowship  with  meanness  in  any  shape. 
As  an  advocate  Mr.  Orr  was  concise,  logical,  and  forcible.  He  seized 
upon  the  salient  points  of  a  case,  and  pressed  them  with  a  power  that 
was  invincible.  He  did  not  waste  his  strength  in  efforts  to  sustain  the 
weak  points  of  his  cause,  but  poured  a  concentrated  light  upon  its 


BIOQRAPHWAT^  779 

strong  features.  The  manner  in  which  he  viewed  this  st3'le  of  man- 
aging a  cause  may  be  infciTcd  from  his  repl}*  to  an  anxious  client,  who, 
sitting  by  him  as  he  was  closing  a  splendid  argument,  in  which,  with 
conciseness  and  force  peculiar  to  himself,  he  had  presented  his  case  to 
the  jur^',  suggested  to  him  some  point  which  he  liad  not  touched  u^mn . 
"  I  have  argued  3'our  cause,  sir,  and  cannot  stop  to  pick  up  the  chips." 
As  a  lawyer  his  mind  was  clear,  discriminating,  and  exact.  As  he 
grew  in  experience  and  reputation,  his  business  rapidly*  increased,  and 
his  services  were  called  for  in  all  parts  of  the  State. 

Immediately  after  his  death.  Chief  Justice  Mellen,  in  a  charge  to 
the  grand  jury,  September,  1828,  spoke  of  him  as  one  *\  who  had  long 
stood,  confessedly,  at  the  head  of  the  profession  of  our  State  ;  who  had 
distinguislied  himself  by  the  depth  and  solidity  of  his  understanding, 
by  his  legal  acumen  and  research,  b^'  the  power  of  his  intellect,  the 
commanding  energy  of  his  reasoning,  the  uncompromising  lirmness  of 
his  principles,  and  the  dignity-  and  loft}'  sense  of  honor,  truth,  and  jus- 
tice which  he  uniformly  displayed  in  his  professional  career  and  in  the 
walks  of  private  life." 

ISIr.  OiT  was  appointed  one  of  the  overseers  of  Bowdoin  College, 
and  afterwards,  in  1814,  was  chosen  a  Trustee,  which  ollice  he  held  at 
the  time  of  his  death ;  and  during  this  time,  for  one  or  two  years,  he 
held  the  office  of  treasurer. 

His  wife  formerly  resided  in  N'ewbur3'port,  Massachusetts.  She  was 
a  descendant  from  John  Robinson,  the  Lej'den  pilgrim,  and  venerated 
pastor  of  the  Plymouth  Church  before  its  migration.  By  her  he  had 
eleven  children.  The  death  of  this  excellent  lady,  to  whom  he  was 
most  tenderly  attached,  struck  a  severe  blow  upon  Mr.  Orr,  from  which 
he  never  recovered.  His  letters  to  her,  when  he  was  absent  in  Con- 
gress or  upon  the  circuit,  were  filled  with  exi)ressions  of  anxious 
solicitude  for  her  health,  of  deep  interest  in  her  comfort,  pleasure,  and 
welfare  ;  and  when  she  was  taken  from  him,  he  ceased  to  find  conso- 
lation or  support.  * 

He  died  in  1828. 

His  sons,  John  and  Henr}',  were  educated  at  Bowdoin  College.  Jolin 
graduated  in  1834,  and  entered  the  ministry'.  Henry  graduat<3d  in 
184G,  and  entered  u^jon  the  practice  of  law  in  Brunswick,  where  he  is 
still  settled. 

OWEN,  PHILIP. 

Philip  Owen  was  hovn  in  Bnmswick,  in  February,  1750,  and  died 
May  28,  1849.    .He  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  a 


780        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABPSWELL. 

member  of  the  General  Court  in  1812  and  1813.  The  following 
extract  from  a  letter  written  by  him,  under  date  of  June  14,  1843,  to 
J.  T.  Buckingham,  president  of  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument  Associa- 
tion, in  response  to  an  invitation  to  attend  the  celebration  of  the  anni- 
versary of  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  will  best  show  his  services.  He 
was  then  in  his  eightj'-oighth  year,  and  declined  the  invitotion  on 
account  of  his  infirmities. 

''  In  May,  1 777,  being  then  twenty-one  years  of  age,  I  went  with  the 
army  to  Fort  Ticonderoga,  and  was  there  when  General  Burgoyne  came 
up  the  lake.  Our  arm}',  three  thousand  in  number,  retreated  from  this 
post  to  Hubbardston,  a  distance  of  twenty-four  miles,  when  (general 
Frazer  came  up  in  pursuit.  I  was  in  the  engagement  foj  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  at  close  quarters ;  and  when  our  army  was  obliged  then  to 
retreat,  with  a  loss  of  two  hundred  and  fiftv  men.  Colonel  Francis, 
of  Beverly,  was  shot,  close  behind  me,  after  a  gallant  defence.  I  was 
also  present  at  the  battle  of  Stillwater,  when  General  Frazer  attacked 
Colonel  Morgan.  Tlie  latter  was  reinforced  b}-  our  soldiers,  and  the 
fight  then  became  general,  from  two  o'clock  till  dark.  The  surrender 
of  Burgoj^ne  took  place  three  days  after  this,  on  the  1 7th  of  October. 
I  also  guirded  the  army's  stores  at  Monmouth,  New  Jersey,  in  1778  ; 
and  when  the  British  Colonel  Monkton  was  killed,  his  body  was  left 
in  my  care. 

'*  I  was  also  a  witness  of  the  memorable  execution  of  Major  Andre 
on  the  2d  of  October,  1780.  Our  army,  under  General  Patterson,  was 
then  stationed  at  West  Point.  Having  obtained  leave  of  absence.  I 
fell  in  with  the  guard  who  were  appointed  to  attend  Major  Andre  on 
that  occasion,  and  thus  had  an  excellent  opportunity  for  witnessing 
the  scene.  The  events  of  the  day  are  still  as  fresh  in  my  memory  as 
those  of  yesterday.  I  saw  him  remove  his  stock,  and  prepare  himself 
for  his  final  scene,  with  as  much  composure  as  though  attending  to  his 
usual  employments." 

PAGE,  DOCTOR   JONATHAN. 

Doctor  Page  was  born  in  Conway,  New  Hampshire,  in  October,  1777. 
He  came  to  Brunswick  in  the  year  1795,  and  commenced  the  practice 
of  medicine  in  1800.  His  practice  soon  became  extensive,  and  con- 
tinued increasingly  so  until  the  sickness  which  terminated  in  his  death. 
Among  the  distinguished  men  in  his  profession,  he  held  a  highly 
respectable  rank.  He  was  well  skilled  in  the  principles  and  practice 
of  his  art,  and  was  considered  an  eminently  judicious  and  successful 
practitioner. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  781 

Doctor  Page  was  favorably  and  conspicuously  known  in  public  life. 
He  was  for  several  3'ear8  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  Massachusetts, 
before  the  separation  of  Maine  from  that  State.  When  pro\i8ion  was 
made  for  the  separation  of  Maine,  and  when,  in  connection  with  the 
assum})tion  of  rights  of  self-government,  she  was  required  to  fonn  a 
Constitution  for  herself,  he  was  chosen  a  member  of  the  convention 
to  whom  that  important  duty  was  assigned.  To  such  an  assembly, 
whose  business  it  was  to  establish  the  fundamental  law  which  should 
define  and  secure  the  rights  of  succeeding  generations,  it  was  no  small 
honor  to  belong.  He  was  subsequently  a  member  of  the  Senate  of 
Maine. 

Intelligent  and  active,  and  ever  taking  a  deep  interest  in  what- 
ever came  under  his  examination,  he  could  not  be  for  any  length 
of  time  a  member  of  any  public  bo<ly  without  leaving  the  impress 
of  his  character.  He  was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Maine 
Medical  Society,  and  for  many  3*ears  a  member  of  the  Faculty  of 
the  Maine  Medical  School  connected  with  Bowdoin  College.  He 
was  also  for  more  than  twent}*  ^'ears  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Over- 
seers of  the  college. 

In  his  private  as  well  as  his  public  amL  professional  relations,  he  was 
highly  esteemed  and  beloved,  frank,  sociable,  and  open-hearted  in  his 
intercourse  with  his  family  and  friends,  ready  to  say  and  to  do  what 
he  thought  was  right.  He  died  at  Brunswick  on  Friday,  November 
18,  1842,  in  the  sixty-sixth  year  of  his  age. 

PATTEN,  JOHN. 

John  Patten  came  to  America,  in  company  with  his  father,  in  1 727  ; 
landed  in  Boston,  and  thence  came  to  Saco,  Maine,  where  his  father 
settled.  He  removed  to  Topsham  about  17r)(),  and  settled  on  a  tract 
of  land,  about  two  hundred  acres,  which  was  then  a  wilderness,  but  is 
now  a  fine  farm,  pleasantly'  situated  in  sight  of  Merrymeeting  Bay.  He 
had  the  character  of  an  honest  and  industrious  man,  who  was  upri^^ht 
in  all  the  walks  and  relations  of  life.  Ho  was  a  fanner,  and  had  also 
the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  had  a  shop  on  the  farm,  whore  he  euiploved 
a  portion  of  his  time,  and  performed  the  blacksniilh  work  of  the  vicin- 
ity, lie  was  also  engaged  in  the  luni])er  bnsin(»ss  to  a  certain  extent, 
and  was  a  proprietor  in  the  Cathance  Mill  right,  and  of  one  sixteenth 
of  the  saw-mill  and  stream.  He  was  somewhat  engage* I,  also, 
in  ship-building  and  navigation,  and  he,  with  John  Fulton,  Adam 
Hunter,   and   William   Patten,   built   the   first   vessel  ever  launched 


782        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  BABPSWELL, 

above  tlie  "Chops,"  and  the  second  built  upon  the  Kennebec,  above 
Bath.  I 

By  industry  and  attention  to  business,  he  accumulated  considerable 
property,  and  was  one  of  the  most  influential  and  useful  members  of 
societ}'  in  his  day,  especially  in  town  and  parish  matters.  He  was  a 
man  of  good  appearance,  tall  and  well  proportioned,  of  command- 
ing presence,  active  and  quick  hi  his  movements,  kind  and  affec- 
tionate to  his  famil}',  and  to  all  within  the  circle  of  his  acquaint- 
ance. He  was  religious  from  his  youth,  having  alwa3's  enjoyed  the 
example  and  instruction  of  a  pious  father,  and  at  the  time  of 
his  death  was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  in  Topsham. 
lie  was  astrict  observer  of  the  Sabbath,  and  a  constant  attendant 
upon  the  services  of  the  da}',  though  residing  some  miles  from  the 
place  of  public  worship.  lie  died  April  7,  1795,  aged  sevent3--8even 
years. 

PATTEN,  CAPTAIN  KOBERT. 

Robert  Patten  was  the  eldest  son  of  the  subject  of  the  preceding 
sketch,  and  came  to  Topsham  with  his  father  while  a  bo}*.  When 
about  twent^'^five  years  of  age  he  manied  and  settled  on  a  lot  of  land 
about  a  mile  from  his  father's.  His  farm  and  residence  at  that  time 
was  in  Topsham,  but  by  a  change  of  the  boundary  line  his  farm  after- 
wards came  within  the  limits  of  Bowdoinham. 

Mr.  Patten  was  an  industrious,  hard-working  man,  possessed  of  a 
great  amount  of  perseverance  in  the  accomplishment  of  whatever  he 
undertook.  His  chief  employment  for  some  time  was  fanning.  Besides 
the  management  of  his  farm  he  built,  during  his  hfetime,  a  number  of 
vessels,  and  was  always  more  or  less  engaged  in  navigation.  In  his 
business  concerns,  while  he  met  with  much  success,  he  also  met  with 
many  losses.  He  was  interested  in  six  vessels,  which  were  lost  in  the 
course  of  his  business  Ufe.  Of  one  of  these  he  was  sole  owner ;  of  the 
others,  part  owner  only.  Twice  ho  suffered  the  loss  of  his  dwelling- 
house  by  fire.  Yet  notwithstanding  these  serious  checks  to  his  pros- 
perity, he  succeeded  in  maintaining  himself  through  life  in  good  cir- 
cumstances as  to  propert}',  and  died  possessed  of  a  considerable  estate. 
The  advantages  for  an  education  were  of  course  very  hmitcd  at  that 
period.  A  few  weeks*  schooling  was  all  that  was  enjoyed  by  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch,  when  young;  j'et  b}'  his  own  aji^lication,  with 
what  aid  he  received  from  members  of  the  family,  ho  acquired  a  decent 


'  Sec  Chapter  X,  ;>.  3.'U. 


BJOGRAPinCAL,  783 

education  for  that  day.  When  about  the  age  of  thirty  he  was  chosen 
captain  of  a  militia  company  by  his  fellow-citizens.  This  country 
being  then  under  England,  his  commission  was  from  tlie  king's 
'*  Council  of  the  Colony  of  Massachusetts  Bay,"  and  was  dated  July 
1,  1776,  just  three  da3's  before  the  declaration  of  our  national 
independence.  He  was  a  person  of  remarkable  health.  He  was  never 
confined  a  day  by  sickness  for  nearlj'  or  quite  ninet}'  years,  never 
took  an}'  medicine  during  that  long  ixjriod,  and  retained  all  his  teeth, 
fair  and  soucd,  until  within  a  short  time  of  his  death,  in  his  ninety- 
eighth  year. 

PACKARD,  REVEREND  CHAKLKS. 

Reverend  Charles  Packard,  a  son  of  Reverend  Doctor  Hezeklah 
Packard,  a  graduate  and  tutor  of  Harvanl  College,  was  burn  in 
Chelmsford,  Massachusetts,  April  12,  1801.  The  following  year  his 
father  became  pastor  of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Wiscasset, 
Elaine,  and  there  the  boy  spent  his  earl}'  dn^'s  and  fitted  for  Bowdoin 
College.  He  entered,  at  the  age  of  twelve,  the  class  which  was  gradu- 
ated in  1817,  and  of  which  the  late  Doctor  James  jMcKecn  was  a 
member. 

The  next  few  years  were  spent  in  teaching.  Later  he  was  a  private 
tutor  in  the  family  of  Robert  H.  Gardiner,  F^squire,  of  Gardiner.  In 
the  ofRce  of  Frederick  Allen,  Esquire,  in  that  town,  ^Mr.  Packard 
began  the  stud}'  of  law,  finishing  his  legal  course  witli  the  Honorable 
Benjamin  Orr,  of  Brunswick.  Admitted  to  the  bar,  he  opened  an 
ofldce  in  what  is  now  known  as  Day's  Block,  Maine  Street.  His  prac- 
tice was  a  remunerative  one,  and  a  change  of  profession  later  on 
involved  the  forsaking  of  an  opportunity  for  enjoying  a  very  consider- 
able income.  The  record  of  his  years  as  a  lawyer  shows  that  the  con- 
scientiousness, clearness,  and  strength  of  subsequent  professional 
acts  and  exercises  were  but  the  development  of  his  early  eliaiacteris- 
tics.  As  a  pupil  of  the  eminent  lawyer,  Mr.  Orr,  he  gained  broa<l 
ideas  of  the  study  and  practice  of  the  profession,  and  ho  did  no  dis- 
credit to  his  teacher. 

In  1834  there  was  a  special  interest  in  religion  in  the  town,  and 
together  with  his  intimate  friend,  Robert  P.  Dnnlap,  Mr.  Packard 
turned  his  thought  in  a  new  channel  and  became  a  comnuinicanl  of 
the  church  on  Mie  hill. 

In  the  full  career  of  a  successful  practice,  and  with  a  family  gath- 
ered about  him  in  a  pleasant  home,  it  was  no  small  thing  for  him  to 
decide  to  enter  the  ministry.     Bui  he  lell  that  it  was  his  duty  ;  and  so 


c^^i-^U^^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL,  785 

that  which  testified  to  his  substantial  and  uncompromising  character. 
"  Without  fear  and  without  reproach"  is  no  exaggerated  summary  of 
a  life  which  was  obedient  to  duty,  faithful  to  the  demands  of  public 
and  private  morality  and  charity,  and  which  was  sustained  by  *'  the 
comfort  of  a  reasonable,  religious,  and  holy  hope." 

PERKINS,  MAJOR  NAHUM. 

Nahum  Perkins  was  bom  in  Sandford,  Maine,  April  25,  1787,  and 
was  one  of  a  famil}'  of  ten  children.  He  belonged  to  a  verj'  athletic 
race.i  He  was  brought  up  to  hard  work  and  good  habits.  He  had 
nothing  with  which  to  commence  life  but  good  health  and  his  hands. 

When  a  boy,  he  went  to  live  with  a  farmer,  who,  having  no  children, 
wisiied  to  adopt  him  and  make  him  his  heir;  but  he  preferred,  with  his 
pack  on  his  ])ack  and  a  shilling  in  his  pocket,  to  seek  his  own  fortune. 
He  came  to  Topsham  in  1807.  He  at  first  drove  a  stage  from  Port- 
land to  Augusta,  then  engaged  in  monthly  labor  on  the  land  and  at  the 
mills,  till  he  accumulated  sufficient  means  to  engage  in  trade  and  lum- 
bering. During  the  prostration  of  business  occasioned  by  the  war  of 
1812,  he  returned  to  the  farm  and,  at  considerable  expense,  repaired 
the  buildings  and  put  it  in  order ;  but  upon  the  revival  of  business  he 
returned  to  his  cherished  pursuits  in  Topsham.  Being  of  a  retiring 
disposition,  he  rather  avoided  than  sought  public  position.  He  com- 
manded the  battalion  in  this  vicinity  in  the  latter  part  of  1820,  and 
was  for  some  time  member  of  a  general  court-martial,  convened  on 
the  Penobscot.  He  was  a  member  of  the  State  legislature  in  1825, 
and  for  three  subsequent  terms.  While  there,  his  store,  stock  of  goods, 
and  account  books  were  all  destroj'ed  by  fire,  causing  a  large  loss  of 
property,  and  leaAing  him  considerabl}'  in  debt.  So  strict  was  his 
sense  of  obligation  to  his  creditors  that  he  turned  over  to  them  all  his 
property,  even  to  the  family  Bible.  Such  was  the  regard  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  legislature  for  him  that  they  presented  him  with  fifteen 
hundred  dollars. 

He  at  one  time,  with  other  parties,  contracted  to  build  a  vessel. 
When  the  vessel  was  partly  completed,  she  took  fire  on  the  stocks  and 
was  destroyed.  The  contract  with  the  master  builder,  who  was  a  poor 
man,  was  not  made  in  writing,  and  the  parties  were  not  legally  held  to 
him.  Major  Perkins,  however,  and  one  other  gentleman  concerned, 
considered  themselves  morally  responsible,  and  footed  the  bills. 


» His  father,  Jabez  PerkiJis,  at  the  age  of  ninety -six,  cut,  sharpened,  and  carried  out  of 
the  woods  on  his  back,  a  hundred  fencestakes  in  one  day, 

50 


78(5      msTORY  OF  druxswick,  topsuam,  and  harpswell. 

Major  Perkins  was  a  verj*  industrious  man.  From  sixteen  to  sev- 
enty-nine he  did  a  man's  work,  and  died  of  work.  He  was  a  generous 
man.  No  legitimate  chant}'  appealed  to  him  in  vain.  His  generosity 
was  carried  to  the  point  of  self-denial.  His  life  was  filled  up  with 
neighborl}-  acts  of  charit}'.  His  home  was  the  centre  of  a  large  liber- 
alitv  and  unstinted  benevolence. 

In  1840  he  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  uniting  with  the 
Congregational  Society'  of  Topsham,  of  which  he  continued  an  active 
and  useful  member  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  October,  1865. 

PERRY,  DEACON   JOHN. 

Mr.  Perrj-  was  bom  at  Kehoboth,  county  of  Bristol,  Massachusetts. 
December  3, 1 772.  In  1 798  he  moved  to  Brunswick,  where  he  remained 
until  1833,  when  he  removed  to  Orono.  He  was  married  in  1802  to 
Jane,  daughter  of  Colonel  William  Stanwood,  of  Brunswick,  and  had 
seven  children.  He  was  the  agent  of  the  cotton-mill  established  in 
Brunswick  in  1812,  and  was  engaged  in  general  trade  for  many  years. 
He  was  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  a  selectman  in  1807  and  1808. 
He  was  also,  it  is  claimed,  the  founder  of  the  first  Sabbath  school  in 
Brunswick. 

^'  As  a  husband  and  father  he  was  most  devoted,  afifectionate,  and 
kind.  Possessing  a  warm  heart  and  a  mind  well  stored  by  extensive 
reading  and  close  and  judicious  observation,  he  was  ever  an  agreeable 
and  instructive  companion,  and  his  society  always  welcome.  As  a 
citizen  he  was  active  and  enteqirising,  and  his  example  and  intlueuce 
always  on  the  right  side.  As  a  neighbor,  always  kind  and  obliging, 
and  as  cheerful  to  do  good  offices  as  to  receive  them.  In  the  supjwrt 
and  promotion  of  the  moral  and  benevolent  institutions  of  the  day,  he 
was  consistent,  finn,  and  liberal.  Of  the  cause  of  missions,  in  partic- 
ular, he  was  an  ardent  and  devoted  friend.  He  made  a  public  profes- 
sion of  religion  in  1811,  and  united  with  the^Congregational  Church  in 
Brunswick.  In  1820  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  deacon,  and  held 
it  until  his  removal  to  Orono  in  1833.  He  was  chosen  to  fill  the  same 
office  at  Orono."  * 

He  died  March  18,  184G. 

PERRY,  WILLIAM   S. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  son  of  Deacon  John  Perry,  of 
Brunswick.    He  attended  the  public  schools  until  he  was  sixteen  years 


1  Christian  Mirror. 


B100RAPHICAL,  787 

of  age,  when  he  went  to  work.  When  he  became  twentj-one  years  of 
age  he  engaged  in  the  himber  bnsiness  in  Boston.  While  a  resident 
of  Massachusetts  he  became  a  director  in  the  Mount  Wollaston  Bank, 
in  Qiiincy.  In  1870  he  returned  to  Brunswick  and  bought  the  prop- 
erty of  Professor  Boodv,  on  Maine  Street.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Overseers  of  Bowdoin  College,  and  a  director  of  the  Union 
National  Bank,  of  Bnmswick.  He  died  in  Bninswick,  April  8,  1873, 
aged  a  little  more  than  fifty-six  3'ears. 

Mr.  Perry,  though  not  possessed  of  a  collegiate  education,  was  a 
good  scholar,  and  was  well  versed  in  Latin,  French,  and  mathematics. 
He  was  a  great  reader  and  fond  of  historical  studies.  He  was  genial 
and  loving  in  his  disposition,  upright  in  business,  and  interested  in  the 
welfare  of  the  town. 

PORTER,   BENJAMIN  JONES,   M.  D. 

Doctor  Porter,  the  son  of  Major  Bill}-  Porter,  was  born  in  Beverly, 
Massachusetts,  September  20,  17C3,  and  died  in  Camden,  Maine, 
August  1^^,  1847.  After  completing  his  academical  course  at  l^yfield 
Academy  he  studied  medicine  with  his  uncle.  Doctor  Jones,  a  surgeon 
in  the  Continental  army.  He  was  commissioned  as  surgeon's  mate 
in  Tupper's  (Eleventh)  Regiment,  April  10,  1780,  and  in  H.  Jackson's 
(Fourth)  Regiment  in  1783.  He  afterwards  practised  his  profession 
successivclv  in  Scarboro*,  Westbrook,  and  Portland. 

He  settled  in  Topsham  about  1793,  and  built  the  house,  now 
destro^'ed,  nearly  opposite  Alfred  White's,  and  just  east  of  that  for- 
merly occupied  b\'  John  H.  Thompson,  Esquire.  He  went  into  the 
lumbering  business  with  William  King,  afterwards  governor  of  Maine. 
The  firm  went  by  the  name  of  Porter  &  King.  They  were  also 
engaged  in  trade,  and  their  store  stood  about  where  Cloud's  store  now 
is.  He  engaged  but  very  little  in  practice  after  coming  to  Topsham. 
He  afterwards  built  the  house  now  owned  and  occupied  b\'  ]Mrs.  Susan 
T.  Purinton.  He  took  a  prominent  part  in  politics  ;  was  a  councillor 
and  senator  from  Lincoln  County,  before  the  separation  ;  was  one  of 
the  commissioners  to  divide  the  State  property  of  Maine  and  Massa- 
chusetts in  1820. 

He  accumulated  considerable  property,  but  sustained  severe  losses 
in  consequence  of  the  embargo,  and  also  by  the  freshet  on  the  Andros- 
coggin River,  in  1814.  He  had  the  honorary  dogree  of  A.  M.  con- 
ferred upon  him  by  Bowdoin  College  in  l.'^Oy,  and  was  a  fellow  and 
treasurer  of  the  college  from  180G  to  1815.  He  removed  to  Camden 
in  1829,  where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.     He  is  said  to  have 


788         HISTORY  OF  BRVNhWICK,  T0P3HAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 

l>een  a  man  of  rare  conversational  powers  and  of  great  suavit}*  of 

manners. 

PURCHASE,  THOMAS. 

(PURCfllS  OR  PEUCHES.) 

Thomas  Purchase,  the  first  settler  in  Bnmswick,  was  probably  bom 
in  England,  not  far  from  the  year  1576.  Ilis  widow,  in  her  petition 
to  the  Probate  Court*  in  1678,  states  that  he  was  one  hundred  and 
one  years  old  at  his  death. 

Concerning  his  ancestry  nothing  whatever  is  known,  and  but  very 
little  as  to  his  connections.  There  is  no  known  relationship  between 
him  and  Reverend  Samuel  Purchas,  author  of  the  ''Pilgrimages." 

There  is,  however,  reason  to  suppose  that  there  was  a  i*ehUionship 
of  some  kind  between  Thomas  Purchase  and  Reverend  Robert  Jor- 
dan. In  a  letter  from  John  Wiutcr,  whose  daughter  Jordan  subse- 
quentl}'  married,  dated  Richmond  Island,  the  second  of  August,  1641, 
occurs  the  following  paragraph  :  — 

"  Ileare  is  on  Mr.  Robert  Jorden  a  mvnister  w***  hath  bin  w***  vs 
this  3  moneths  w'^^  is  a  very  honest  religious  man  b\'  anything  as  yett 
I  can  find  in  him,  I  have  not  yett  agreed  w***  him  for  stayinge  heare 
but  did  refer  yt  tyll  I  did  heare  som  word  from  you  we  weare  long 
w*hout  a  mvnister  &  weere  but  in  a  bad  wa}'  &  so  we  shall  be  still  iff 
we  have  not  the  word  of  God  taught  vnto  us  somtymes  the  plantation 
at  p:Mnoqui(l  would  willingly  have  him  or  the[3']  desire  he  might  be 
their  on  halfe  of  the  veare  &,  the  other  half  to  be  heare  w***  vs  1  know 
not  how  we  shall  accord  ui)pon  yt  as  yett  he  hath  bin  hearo  in  the 
country  this  2  j-eares  &  hath  alwaies  lived  w***  Mr.  Purchase  w*^**  is  a 
kinsman  unto  him."^ 

What  this  kinship  was  does  not  appear,  but  it  was  evidently  a  blcwd 
relationship.  This  fact  is  of  interest,  as  it  connects  the  Jordans  of 
Brunswick  and  vicinity  with  the  original  owner  of  the  l*ejepscot  tract. 

Thomas  Purchase  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  the  Marv 
Gove^  whom  Sir  Christopher  Gaixliner  called  his  *' cousin,"  and  in 
regard  to  whose  relations  with  Gardiner  there  had  been  some  scandal. 
The  mnrria<re  occurred  about  1C81.  She  died  in  Boston,  Januan*  7. 
1606.  It  is  not  definitely  known  that  there  were  anv  children  bv  this 
mnrriago.     His  second  marriage  was  U>  Elizabeth  Williams.     The  date 


'  Probate  Records j  Lynn,    A  copy  at  Salem. 

-  This  letter^  found  among  the  Trelawnty  i-apers^  is  note  in  the  possession  of  J.  Win- 
gate  77iornton,  Ksquire. 

«  Third  Series,  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  8,  p.  S'2(i.  —  Letter  of  Thomas  Wiggin,  of  Dover,  to 
Etnanuel  Downing,  brotfcer-in-law  of  WintJirop,  in  Dover, 


BIOGRAPHICAL,  789 

of  this  marriage  cannot  be  ascertained  with  certainty  ;  but  it  was  prob- 
ably ver}'  shortly  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  as  in  1678  his  son, 
in  his  petition  with  his  mother  to  the  Probate  Court,  calls  himself  "  a 
young  man."  If  his  parents  were  married  one  year  after  the  death  of 
the  first  wife,  he  could  only  have  been,  at  the  time  this  petition  was 
presented,  twent^'-one  years  of  age. 

By  this  second  marriage  there  were  five  children.*  Of  these  chil- 
dren only  the  names  of  three  have  been  preserved,  viz.,  Thomas, 
Jane,  and  Elizabeth. 

Traditionar}'  accounts  place  the  date  of  Purchase's  immigration  all 
the  wav  between  1624  and  1635.  The  Wainimbo  deed  makes  it  about 
1624  or  1625.  Mr.  Frederick  Kidder,  in  a  letter  to  the  late  Rev- 
erend Edward  Ballard,  places  the  date  at  1626,  and  refers  to  the 
'*  Narrative  of  the  Plantation  of  Massachusetts  Colon}-,  1694,  pub- 
lished by  an  Old  Planter,"  pages  17  and  18.  In  Savage's  ''  Genealogical 
Dictionary"  the  date  is  given  as  1628,  and  this  date  is  also  given  in 
the  deed  of  John  Blane}'  and  Elizabeth.  The  deed  of  Eleazer  Way, 
however,  gives  the  date  as  1635.  Folsom  makes  it  about  1630.  In 
the  deposition  of  John  Cozzen,  it  is  stated  that  he  came  to  Pejepscot 
in  1628,  and  that  he  came  from  Saco,  where  Folsom  mentions  his  pres^ 
ence,  in  1630. 

He  probably  migrated  to  this  country,  ver}'  likely  coming  first  to 
Saco,  about  the  vear  1626.  There  is  little  doubt  but  that  he  came  to 
Pejepscot  in  1628.  There  is  conclusive  evidence  that  he  was  at  Pejep- 
scot prior  to  the  date  of  the  grant  of  laud  that  was  made  to  him  and 
Wa}'.  Probabl}'  the  four  or  five  years  of  his  early  sta}'  in  that  region 
caused  him  to  become  well  acquainted  with  the  value  of  the  tract  which 
he  afterwards  acquired. 

In  the  proceedings  of  the  Plymouth  Council  in  England,  the  follow- 
ing minute  is  entered  :  — 

*M6  June,  1632.  8  Cat.  I.  The  said  Councill  graunt  certaine, 
called  the  River  Bishopscott,  unto  George  Way  and  Tiiomas  Purchase." 

The  action  of  this  Council  in  relation  to  the  assignment  of  the  terri- 
tory in  question  was  also  dated  June  16,  1632,  and  is  as  follows :  — 

'"  A  Graunt  part  to  George  Way  and  Thomas  Purchase  of  certaine 
Lands  in  New  England,  called  the  River  Bishopscotte,  and  all  that 
Bounds  and  Limitts  of  the  Maine  Land,  adjoining  to  the  said  River  to 
extend  two  mvles :  from  the  said  River  Northwards  four  mvles,  and 

1  In,  1741  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  reserved  seven  hundred  acres  of  land  for  the  /ie/**.« 
of  Thomas  Purchase,  I.  e.,  "Elizabeth  and  Iter  five  children  by  yfr.  Purchase,  and  her 
sotif  Samuel  Pike.** 


7y0        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  BARPSWELL, 

from  the  house  ^  there  to  the  Ocean  sea  with  all  other  Profitts  and  Com- 
modities whatsoever,  paying  to  the  King  one  fifth  part  of  gold  and  sil- 
ver oare,  and  another  fifth  part  to  the  President  and  Council  1,  also 
paying  twelve  pense  to  the  said  President  and  Couucill  for  every  hun- 
dred Acres  of  Ground  in  use,  to  the  rent-gatherer  for  the  time  being, 
as  by  the  same  Grannt  may  appeare."  ^ 

The  location  of  Thomas  Purchase's  residence  at  Pejepscot  is  still  a 
matter  of  doubt,  notwithstanding  that  there  are  in  the  Pejepscot  Pajyers 
over  one  hundred  depositions  in  regard  to  it.  The  probabilities  are 
greatly  in  favor  of  the  supposition  that  he  changed  his  abode  several 
times. 

Botli  the  late  John  McKeen,  Esquire,  and  Reverend  Doctor  Ballard 
were  of  the  opinion  that  his  earliest  residence  was  at  "  Fish- House 
Iliir*  in  the  present  village  of  Brunswick.  Joshua  Fillbrook,  who 
moved  to  Bath  in  1738,  has,  however,  left  on  record  a  statement  to 
the  effect  that  Purchase  livetl  near  the  head  of  Stevens,  or  New  Mead- 
ows Biver.3 

Williamson  ^  and  Scwall  ^  make  similar  statements.  No  attempt 
has  been  made  to  decide  the  question  by  making  a  count  of  the  various 
depositions  preserved  in  the  Pejepscot  Papers,  for  the  reason  that  a 
mere  numerical  preponderance  of  testimony  would  have  no  weight 
unless  those  who  composed  the  majority  of  deponents  could  be  shown 
to  have  more  trustworthv  sources  of  information  than  the  others. 
Moreover,  these  dei)ositions  were  probably  not  given  to  determine  the 
exact  abode  of  Purchase,  but  to  put  beyond  cavil  the  fact  that  he  had 
actually  occupied  the  territory.  They  do,  however,  settle  beyond  a 
reasonable  doubt  the  fact  that  he  did,  at  different  periods  of  his  stay 
at  Pejepscot,  reside  in  two  separate  places. 

It  is  not,  perhaps,  possible,  at  the  present  day,  to  determine  with 
certaintv  whether  his  earliest  residence  was  at  Fish-IIouse  Hill  or  at 
New  Meadows.  We  incline,  however,  to  the  opinion  that  McKeen 
and  Ballard  were  right  in  supposing  it  to  be  at  the  former  locality,  for 
the  reason  that  very  early  after  his  coming  to  the  place,  he  engaged  in 
the  salmon  fusiierv,  which  was  of  course  carried  on  at  the  falls,  and  he 
un»loul)tedlv  had  his  residence  near.  The  evidence  that  he  at  some 
time  resided  at  the  Ten-Mile  or  Lisbon  Falls  is  entirelv  traditional,  but 
is  not  altogether  improbable. 

Considerable  confusion  and  uncertaintvhave  existed  in  rejrard  to  the 

1  Th:  italics  are.  ours.  2  Sainsbury^  Colonial  Papers^  1,  So.  52,  p.  7. 

^Jttifus  Curt  if  8  Journal  in  Historical  Library, 

*  Hist.  o/Maint\  l,p.  33,  note,  and  p.  Gl>.».  ^  Popham  Memorial  Vvlvm€,p.  3t?. 


BIOGRAFHICA  L.  791 

date  of  Purchase's  death,  and  some  have  even  supposed  that  there 
were  more  than  two  of  that  name  at  Pejepscot. 

W.  Nealc  and  several  others  depose  that  he  died  about  1654.  Sav- 
age, referring  to  other  authorities,  gives  the  date  as  1678.  The  will 
on  record  in  Probate  Court  gives  it  at  1677.  A  Thomas  Purchase  is 
mentioned  in  Savage's  ^^  Genealogical  Dictionary"  as  ha>'ing  sailed  on  a 
voj'age  in  1681,  and  never  alter  being  heard  from.  R.  Collicutt  de- 
posed that  he  went  to  England  about  1677. 

The  record  of  the  will  is  evidently  more  authoritative  than  all  else. 
It  is  only  necessary  to  show  that  it  is  the  will  of  Thomas  Purchase  of 
Pejepscot,  and  not  that  of  his  son  or  of  some  other  Thomas.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  s3'nopsis  of  the  statements  in  the  will,  which  is  preser\'ed  at 
Lynn,  and  a  copy  of  which  is  in  the  Probate  Office  at  Salem.  Thomas 
Purchase,  Senior,  died  in  Lynn,  Ma}'  11,  167G-7,  aged  one  hundred  and 
one  years.  Left  a  wife,  Elizabeth,  and  five  children.  Ilis  son  Thomas 
was  appointed  executor  of  his  will.  The  overseers  of  the  will  were  Mr. 
Henry  Josselin,  Cozen,  Mr.  Oliver  Purchase,  of  the  firm  of  Hamersniith 
&  Co.,  and  Mr.  Edwanl  Allen,  of  Boston.  The  widow^  who  was  admin- 
istratrix, made  oath  to  the  foregoing  in  1078.  In  November  of  that 
yeaijs  he  married  John  Blaney.  The  date  of  her  death  is  not  known. 
In  an  account  of  Samuel  Pike  against  the  estate  he  charged  for  board 
of  Mr.  Purchase  for  seven  months,  of  two  children  for  a  year  and  a 
half,  of  onfe  child  for  one  3'ear,  and  of  one  child  for  fifteen  months. 

This  will  was  without  doubt  that  of  Thomas  Purchase,  of  Pejepscot. 
There  is,  however,  in  the  same  probate  oflfioe,  to  be  found  the  follow- 
ing document :  — 

AN  IXVEXTORY  OF  TIIK  GOODS   AND   ESTATE   OF  THOMAS  PL'HCHA?*E,  DKCKASKD, 
TAKEN  THE  TWENTY-SEVENTH   OF  Jl'NE,  1C»5,    AS  FOLLOWS. 

Imp.  to  one  fether  bed  and  all  the  furniture  belonging  to  It    .  £7  18i*.  M. 

To  3  pillow  Cases,  12  napkins,  8  table  Cloths,  G  towel**,  .  1  8j<.  Od. 
To  1  wasswl  (wash  bowl?)  10/  one  c  b  cloth  5/  1  pr.  shelves 

8/  is 0  IS.-*,  (w/. 

In  plate  apprised  at 0  lo  o. 

To  1  pr.  andirons,  flreshovel  and  tongs 0  13  «). 

To  1  Iron  pot,  brass  Skillet  &  Iron  hake  at      .  0  H  <;. 

To  3  pewter  platters,  3  basins,  3  poreuges  &  2  Sases  o  \\\  o. 

To  earthen  ware  at 0  ;i  o. 

To  1  pine  table,  1  jug  nd  stove  &  6  charge  at  .  o  1.")  o. 

To  2  chests,  1  trunk,  and  2  boxes  at 1  0  «'. 

To  1  gun,  1  sword  and  l)elt  at 2  u  (». 

To  one  wanning  pan,  small  one,  at 0  7  0. 

To  1  mare  and  mare  colt,  3  sheep  and  a  lamb  at       .         .        .  3  0  i\ 

To  money  and  goods  of  Mr.  Wharton is  8  o. 

44      8       6. 


792         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  IIARPSWELL. 
To  1000  acres  of  vacant  land  at  eastward. 

[Tbe  value  of  which  It  not  SMigned.] 

Debts  due  out  of  the  Estate  is £2    13».    rw. 

Debts  due  to  the  estate 2    50      0«l. 

Elizabeth  Purchase,  Administratrix,  presented  this  |  Inventory  of  y*  Estate 
of  her  husband,  Thomas  Purchase,  deceased,  Henry  Skexey,  Juu'. 

with  her  oath  |  to  itt  &  if  anymore  come  John  Blaney. 

to  her  knowledge  |  to  give  accountt  of  y«  same  at  Salem  Court  holden  I  June 
80th  1685. 

Attest  John  Appleton,  Hm^«  of  Court  | 

On  tbe  outside  of  the  schedule  was  written,  in  parenthesis, 
"  Purchis  Thomas  to  Elizabeth  Williams,  Thomas  b.  Jan.  29, 1679." 

This  inventory  was,  in  all  probabiHty,  that  of  the  estate  of  Tliomas 
Purchase,  Jr.,  who,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  went  to  England  to  obtain  a 
copy  of  the  patent,  and  was  lost  at  sea.  The  inventor}',  it  will  be 
noticed,  states  the  amount  of  land  at  Pejepscot  at  1000  acres,  which 
would  be  a  reasonable  amount  of  land  for  the  son  to  own,  but  would 
be  only  a  small  part  of  the  tract  belonging  to  tlie  father. 

The  depositions  of  Neale  and  Collicutt  —  the  first  that  he  died  about 
1654,  and  the  second  that  he  went  to  England  in  1677  —  are  easil}'  dis- 
posed of.  Neale*s  testimony  was  only  hearsay,  and  the  mistake  may 
have  occurred  in  consequence  of  the  death  of  Marj-,  the  first  wife, 
which  took  place  in  16f)6.  Collicutt's  testimony  was  to  the  effect  that 
Thomas  Purchase,  Senior,  told  him,  in  1677,  that  he  was  going  to  Eng- 
land to  obtain  a  copy  of  his  patent,  and  that  he  took  him  ''  from  the 
eastward  to  Boston,"  for  that  purpose.  He  says,  moreover,  that  Pur- 
chase **  took  passage  quickly  after."  There  is  nothing  in  this  state- 
ment inconsistent  with  the  supposition  that  Thomas  Purchase,  the  first, 
of  Pejepscot,  died  in  1766,  and  that  his  son  was  the  one  to  whom  Col- 
licutt referred,  and  who  may  have  been  lost  at  sea  on  his  wav  back 
from  England,  in  1681,  or  who  ma}'  have  then  been  on  his  way 
thither. 

The  ground  taken  in  this  sketch  is  further  corroborated  by  a  deed 
from  Thomas  l^irchase,  the  grandson,  to  Samuel  AValdo,  in  which  he 
states  that  he  is  the  only  son  of  the  Thomas  Purchase  who  was  the  t^ld- 
est  son  of  Thomas  Purchase  who  occupied  Pejepscot  from  the  tiiird 
year  of  King  Charles  the  First  until  1675.  This  deed  ^  is  dated  1734,  and 
must  have  been  of  part  of  the  land  set  off  by  the  Pejepscot  proprietors. 

Purchase,  during  his  residence  at  Pejepscot,  was  probably  engaged 


*  York  Co.  Records,  Vol.  16,  p.  162. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  793 

in  different  pursuits  at  different  times.  He  is  mentioned  as  a  hunter, 
and  trader  with  the  Indians,  as  being  engaged  in  the  salmon  fisher}', 
and  as  a  planter.  The  causes  that  led  to  his  emigration  can  never  be 
known ;  but  there  is  ever}'  reason  for  supi)08ing  that  he  came  to  Pejep- 
scot  in  pursuit  of  furs  and  peltr}-,  which  he  acquired  partly  by  his 
own  exertions  in  the  chase  and  parti}*  by  traffic  with  the  natives.  He 
was  also  engaged  for  the  whole  period  of  his  residence  in  obtaining 
salmon  and  sturgeon,  and  packing  them  for  exportation  to  London,* 
and  probably  collected  a  number  of  settlers  near  him. 

He  also  cultivated  the  soil,  and  at  the  time  of  the  attack  upon  his 
house  by  the  Indians,  in  1G7C,  he  was  ix)8sessed  of  stock,  and  proba- 
bly had  what  in  those  days  would  be  considered  a  respectable  farm. 

His  first  house  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  ^'  by  this  disaster  he  lost 
in  the  flames  the  only  copy  of  the  patent  by  which  he  held  his  prop- 
erty. The  original  had  been  left  with  Mr.  Francis  Ashley,  in  Eng- 
land." ^  It  was  very  likely  soon  alter  this  fire  that  he  changed  his 
place  of  abode.  At  all  events,  he  soon  after  erected  ''  a  small  cottnge 
for  a  present  shelter,"  and  it  was  while  here  that  he  was  visited  by  Mr. 
Edward  Rishworth.^  This  stnicture  was  afterwards  superseded  by  ''  a 
fair  stone  house,"  in  which  he  is  supposed  to  have  lived  during  the 
remainder  of  his  residence  at  Pejepscot. 

Thomas  Purchase  must  have  been  a  man  well  known  in  the  colony. 
He  not  only  held  at  different  times  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility, 
but  also  made,  it  would  seem,  a  frequent  api>earance  in  court. 

The  first  account  of  him  after  his  immijrration  to  this  country  is  of 
his  appearance  at  Saco  in  1630. 

On  June  25  of  that  year  he  was  present  with  Isaac  Allcrton,  Cap- 
tain Thomas  Wiggen,  and  othei-s,  and  saw  Richard  Vines  take  legal 
possession  of  the  land  granted  him  and  John  Oldham,  on  the  south- 
west side  of  Saco  River.'* 

In  1631  he  was  at  Pejei>scot,  where  he  was  visited  in  July  l)y  Sir 
Christopher  Gardiner,  who  remained  with  him  about  a  year,'^ 

In  1636  he  was  present  as  one  of  the  commissioners,  on  March  25, 
at  the  house  of  Captain  R.  Boynthon,  in  Saco.  His  associates  were 
Captain  Boynthon,  Captiiin  AV.  Gorges,  Captain  Cammock,  Messrs. 
H.  Jocelyn,  E.  Godfrey  and  T.  Lewis.® 


1  Itoufflass,  UiBtory,  «  Maine  Ilht.  Coll. ,  3,  p.  3,30. 

•  Ppjep^rot  Papers,  *  Folsom,  History  of  Saco,  etc.,  p.  30. 

f'Winthrop,  1,  p.  fiS.    MassachuBitts  Ilistvrit  ul  ColUciion,  Third  Series,  8,  p.  320. 
^Folsom^  Opus  cit.fp.  49. 


794        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

This  was  the  first  organized  court  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
Stiite  of  Maine. ^ 

On  August  22,  1639,  he  made  legal  coiive3*ance  to  John  TVinthrop, 
governor  of  Massachusetts,  of  all  his  land,  and  put  himself  under  the 
power  and  jurisdiction  of  that  colony.  He  reserved,  however,  such  a 
claim  to  the  ownership  of  the  land  as  practically  annulled  that  part  of 
the  contract.^ 

In  1C40,  Purchase  again  appears  in  court  at  Saco,  but  this  time  not 
on  the  bench  but  before  the  bar,  and  also  as  a  juryman.  There  were 
five  indictments  against  him  at  this  court.  On  Jul^'  14  of  this  year  he 
was  summoned  to  appear  at  court  on  the  eighth  of  September  follow- 
ing, and  an  order  was  at  the  same  time  issued  to  Robert  Sankey  of 
Saco,  the  provost  marshal,  to  bring  him  before  the  court  on  Septem- 
ber 8,  to  answer  to  divers  complaints  not  specified,  and  particularly 
that  credible  information  had  been  given  that  he  had  conveyed  the 
greater  part  of  his  goods  and  chattels  out  of  the  province,  in  conse- 
quence of  his  indebtedness  to  divers  persons ;  or  to  take  sufilcient 
security  for  his  appearance  at  the  session  of  the  council  establisiied 
for  the  province.  On  his  refusal  his  property  was  to  be  attached  and 
brought  to  Saco.  The  first  complaint  was  brought  hy  Giles  Elbridge, 
of  Pemaquid,  in  an  action  of  debt.  Purchase  made  his  appearance, 
but  for  some  reason  the  case  was  not  tried. 

The  second  complaint  against  liim  was  by  Richard  Vines  in  a  simi- 
lar action.     This  case  also  was  not  tried. 

The  third  complaint  was  b}-  Richard  Tucker,  of  Casco,  and  was  to 
the  effect  that  nine  years  previously  Sir  Christopher  Gardiner  had 
borrowed  a  warming-pan  of  iiim  in  i^urchase's  name,  which  was  worth 
twelve  sliillingfl  and  sixpence,  and  had  kept  it.  Also  that  six  months 
afterwards  he  had  l)Ought  a  fowling-piece  for  forty  shillings,  and 
would  not  pay  for  the  same,  though  often  requested.  The  damages 
were  placed  at  five  pounds.  Purcliase  denied  that  Gardiner  did  these 
things  in  Iiis  name,  an<l  declared  that  if  he  did  he  was  not  authorized 
to  do  so.  Purchase  further  declared  that  the  above  facts  were  unknown 
to  him,  and  tiiat  he  had  no  recollection  of  any  demand  being  made  as 
alleged.  *'  But  Mr.  George  Cleaves  had  asked  him  causelessly*  for 
these  articles  ;  but  he  being  a  partner  with  the  defendant,  had  acquitted 
him  from  all  causes  of  action  whatever." 

The  issue  was  joined,  the  trial  took  place,  and  the  jury  decided  that 
Purchase  sliould  pay  two  pounds   twelve  shillings  and  sixpence  for 


1  Williamson,  1, ;).  205.  ^Folsom,p.  45.     Williamsoji,  l,p.  2130. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  795 

tlie  articles  claimed,  and  twelve  shillings  and  sixpence  as  costs  of 
court.  Judgment  was  given  and  execution  ordered  b}'  the  whole 
court.  Whatever  became  of  the  warming-pan  is  not  known,  but  it 
will  be  noticed  that  there  was  one  mentioned  among  the  articles 
embraced  in  the  inventorj-  of  1685. 

The  fourth  complaint  was  a  declaration  of  Arthur  Browne,  mer- 
chant, accusing  Purchase  of  falsely  charging  him  with  perjuiy  and 
briber}-.  Purchase  denied  the  whole  thing,  but  the  jury  brought  in  a 
verdict  against  him  and  fined  him  five  pounds  sterling,  and  twelve  shil- 
lings for  costs. 

The  fifth  complaint  is  not  given,  but  it  is  stated  that  he  was  required, 
on  the  third  day  of  August  preceding,  to  enter  into  a  recognizance  with 
Reverend  Robert  Jordan,  and  that  he  appeared  at  court  to  answer  to 
Captain  Thomas  Young,  Messrs.  Abraham  Shurte,  George  Davis, 
Richard  Tucker,  and  others.  At  this  same  court  Purchase  also  served 
as  a  juryman  in  the  case  of  Mary  Piunngton  of  Agamenticus. 

In  1G45  he  signed  a  letter  addressed  to  Governor  Winthrop,  the 
deputy  governor,  and  court  of  assistants  of  Massachusetts  Bay,  and 
was  also  the  one  chosen  to  present  the  same.  This  letter  was  in  regard 
to  trouble  between  the  inhabitants  of  Rugby's  Province  of  Lj'gonia, 
and  Jocelyn  and  others,  and  was  dated  '^  Casco  Bay,  this  18th  fl'el)r ; 
1G45."  William  Ryall,  Richard  Tucker,  and  George  Cleeve  were  the 
other  signers.* 

In  1G53  he  was  sued  bj'  the  colony  government,  *'  as  appears  b^'  a 
record  of  the  General  Court  of  that  year,  and  styled  Of  Pojepscot,*' 
What  this  suit  was  for  we  have  not  ascertained.  At  one  time,  date 
unknown,  his  children  were  required  by  the  council  to  be  brought  for- 
ward for  baptism,  and  on  neglect  of  the  same  he  was  to  ]>e  summoned 
before  the  General  Court. 

In  1654  he  was  chosen  assistant  to  Prince,  the  commissioner  at  the 
first  coui-t  ever  held  upon  the  Kennebec.  There  is  no  evidence,  how- 
ever, tiifit  he  ever  held  an  assistant's  court. 

In  1057  he  was  called  to  answer  before  the  count^^  court  of  York- 
shire, to  an  action  brought  against  him  b}'  the  Widow  Elizabeth  Way 
for  the  purpose  of  detcnnining  whether  Pejepscot  was  under  the  juris- 
diction of  that  court. 

After  the  restoration  of  Charles  II  to  the  throne  of  England  in 
1G60,  probably  in  the  3'ear  1662,  Purchase  was  counnissioned  as  a 
magistrate  under  Gorges,  or,  at  least,  Mr.  J.  Archdale,  agent  of 
Gorges,  oflered  him  such  a  commission .^ 


1  5Iaine  Historical  Collection  1,  pp  549,  650.  «  Williamson,  1,  p.  403. 


796        mSTUBT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  KARPSWELL. 

In  September,  1675,  his  house  was  attacked  by  the  Indians,  an  ac- 
count of  which  was  given  in  Part  I. 

The  foregoing  enumeration  of  the  various  events  in  the  life  of  Pur- 
chase embrace  a  nearly  continuous  connection  fVom  the  time  of  his 
migration  to  his  death.  It  embraces  a  period  of  forty-seven  years. 
During  this  long  time  the  only  intervals  of  an}*  length,  in  which  we 
have  no  accounts  of  him,  are  between  1645  and  1654,  and  1660  and 
1675.     It  is  possible  that  these  gaps  may  even  3'et  be  shortened. 

Whether  Purchase  was  a  man  of  much  propert}'  can  only  be  sur- 
mised. It  would  seem  that  his  opportunities  of  acquiring  wealth 
were  unusually  good.  lie  possessed  a  good  field  for  traflic  with  the 
Indians,  and  had  the  monopoly  of  the  best  salmon  and  sturgeon 
fishery  in  New  England.  Notwithstanding  this,  the  frequent  suits 
brought  against  him  show  not  only  "  the  litigious  temper  of  the  times," 
but  also  that  he  was  deepl}'  in  debt,  and  tliat  his  creditors  were  uneasy. 

Of  his  real  character  nothing  is  known  more  than  may  be  gathered 
ftom  what  has  alreadv  been  stated.  That  he  was  a  man  of  consider- 
able  enterprise  is  evident.  That  he  failed  to  wholly  conciliate  the 
Indians  is  evident  not  onl}'  from  the  fact  that  his  house  was  selected 
as  the  first  one  to  be  visited  by  them,  but  also  that  he  was  deemed 
unfair  in  his  dealings  with  them,  one  of  them  remarking  that  he  had 
paid  a  hundred  pounds  for  water  *'  from  Purchase  his  well."  This 
water  was,  however,  presumably  flavored  with  some  alcoholic  ingre- 
dient. 

Notwithstanding  these  facts,  the  Indians  could  not  have  been 
entirely  at  enmity  with  him,  or  they  would  not  have  let  him  otf  with 
the  mere  robber}'  of  his  house  when  the}'  had  some  of  its  imnates  in 
their  power. 

Thomas  Purchase  must  have  been  a  man  of  considerable  ability,  or 
he  would  not  have  held  the  offices  he  did.  Williamson  says  of  him 
that  "he  was  one  of  those  flexible  patriots  who  could  accommodate 
his  politics  to  the  changes  of  the  times."^  This,  it  appears  to  us,  is 
rather  a  harsh  judgment.  To  which  administration  did  he  owe  alle- 
giance? The  question  may  be  easy  to  answer  now,  but  was  it  so 
easy  for  him  to  answer  it?  It  must  be  remembered  that  it  was  not 
until  the  present  century  that  the  claim  of  the  Plymouth  Colony  on 
the  Kennebec  to  his  tract  of  land  was  finally  settled  adversely. 

That  he  did  hold  oflfice  under  different  and  opposing  governments  is 
not  to  be  denied ;  3'et  Robert  Jordan,  Henry  Joscelyn,  an<i  Edwaid 


1  Vol  1.  p.  690. 


(J^'^C'-'-s.  G-<_o      «  .     J    i-^Ajw^XCcZs^ 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  797 

Rishworth  did  so  likewise,  though  the  author  referred  to  does  not 
speak  of  them  in  any  such  doubtful  tenns.^  Considering  the  unquiet 
times  in  which  he  lived  and  the  little  that  is  known  against  him,  it  is 
fair  to  presume  that  he  was  a  man  whose  character  was  fully  equal  to 
that  of  the  great  majority  of  his  associates  and  neighbors. 

PURINTON,  HUMPHREY. 

"  Humphrey  Purinton,"  saj's  the  writer  of  an  obituary  notice,  *'  was 
one  of  our  most  useful  and  substantial  citizens.  As  a  man  of  business 
bis  conduct  was  always  marked  b}'  the  most  scrupulous  uprightness 
and  integnty.  With  himself  a  verbal  promise  was  as  binding  as  a 
written  obligation,  and  to  others  his  word  was  as  good  as  his  bond. 
Occupied  chiefly  with  his  own  affairs,  and  seeking  his  greatest  happi- 
ness where  he  was  accustomed  ,to  find  it,  —  at  home,  —  he  mingled  but 
little  in  general  society,  and  concerned  himself  but  little  with  political 
and  other  exciting  topics  of  the  day. 

'*  Yet  he  was  b}'  no  means  indifferent  to  the  welfare  of  others.  His 
loss  will  be  ver}'  sensibly  felt  in  the  community,  and  severel}'  felt  in 
the  immediate  circle  of  his  family  connections,  friends,  and  acquaint- 
ance. Correct  in  all  his  habits,  imassuming  in  his  deportment,  benev- 
olent and  kind  in  his  feelings,  sincere  and  conscientious  in  the  discharge 
of  his  duties,  a  constant  attendant  upon  public  worship,  and  a  liberal 
supporter  of  religious  institutions,  his  memor}-  is  one  which  they  will 
all  delight  to  cherish ;  and  his  example  in  all  these  respects  is  one 
which  may  well  be  presented  for  general  imitation."  lie  died  in  Tops- 
ham,  December  31,  1841,  aged  sixty-seven  3'ears. 

PURINTON.   FRANCIS  T. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  native  of  Topsham,  and  a  son  of 
Humphre\'  Purinton.  Though  interested  in  various  business  pursuits, 
he  had  a  particular  fondness  for  agriculture,  and  did  all  he  could  to 
promote  it.  lie  was  chosen  president  of  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural 
and  Horticultural  Society  in  1855,  aiid  the  following  notice  of  him 
appeared  in  the  report  of  that  society  next  succeeding  the  date  of  his 
death,  which  occurred  Mav  21,  1857  :  — 

*'  At  the  time  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  society  he  was  nearly 
forty-two  years  old,  in  the  vigor  and  prime  of  his  life.  He  had  been 
well  educated  for  the  time,  had  in  his  youth  attended  the  academy  at 
Farmington,  and  afterwards  the  seminar^'  at  Gorham.     He  early  com- 

1  W'dliafMon,  1,  pp.  680,  682,  691. 


798      msTORT  OF  brukswick,  topsuam,  and  harpswell. 

menced  an  active  business  life,  however,  and  acquired  the  larger  part 
of  his  education  in  the  discharge  of  its  duties.  He  was  first  a  trader ; 
then  with  his  brotlier,  Woodbury  B.  Purinton,  Esquire^  succeeded  his 
father  in  the  lumber,  ship-building,  and  general  commercial  business, 
lie  built  the  Topsham  flour-mill,  at  the  time  one  of  tlie  best  in  New 
England.  In  1843  he  purchased  of  Governor  King  the  fine  residence 
and  estate  of  the  late  Doctor  Porter,  which  became  his  home  the 
remainder  of  his  days.  In  1853  he  was  president  of  the  Lewiston  and 
Topsham  Railroad  Company-,  which  led  to  the  building  of  the  Andros- 
coggin Koad. 

*'  After  he  was  chosen  president  of  the  Sagadahoc  Agricultural  and 
Horticultural  Society,  he  took  a  deep  and  lasting  interest  in  agricul- 
ture, —  in  the  cultivation  and  improvement  of  his  own  farm,  as  well  as 
of  all  others  within  the  limits  of  the  society.  He  was  a  friend  to  the 
farmer  everywhere,  and  to  improved  farming.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Maine  State 
Agricultural  Socict}'.  His  name,  influence,  and  assistance  were  sought 
in  various  directions,  and  seldom  or  never  did  he  withhold  th?m  from  a 
good  cause  when  he  thought  he  could  perform  any  real  service.  He 
was  called  away  from  this  world  in  the  prime  of  life,  when  he  was  only 
forty-four  years  of  age.  He  left  a  beloved  wife  and  a  large  family  of 
children.  He  was  beloved  and  esteemed  by  all  who  knew  him,  for  his 
indomitable  energy,  his  inflexible  integrity,  and  his  largo-hearted 
benevolence.  He  was  one  of  the  most  public-spirited  men  of  his 
town.  He  was  a  man  of  religious  character,  full  of  good  works,  free 
from  bigotry,  from  envy,  and  self-love.  He  was  a  good  citizen,  and  in 
the  true  souse  an  honest  man.  Frank  and  social  in  his  intercourse 
with  others,  he  was  fond  of  society,  strong  in  his  attachments  to  his 
friends,  a  good  neighbor,  an  affectionate  husband  and  kind  father,  a 
true  and  sincere  man." 

PURINTON,   NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel  Purinton  was  a  son  of  Humphrey  Purinton,  of  Georgetown, 
now  Bath,  and  married  Priscilla  Woodbury,  of  Portland,  about  175G, 
and  about  the  same  time  moved  to  Harpswell  Island.  His  occupation 
was  farmiiig  and  milling.  He  was  a  part  owner  in  the  saw-mills  at  Tops- 
ham. Mo  is  said  to  have  built  the  fii-st  grist-mill  and  saw-mill  in  Harps- 
well,  in  the  cove  of  his  lot,  which  was  the  farm  now  owned  by  Stephen 
Purinton.  lie  was  a  prominent  man  in  town  affairs,  and  was  a  select- 
man from  17G6  to  17G9  inclusive,  in  1778,  in  17H0,  and  from  1783  to 
1787,  inclusive.     He  died  suddenly  at  Topsham,  Februar}*  9,  1788. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  799 

PURINTOX,   STEPHEN. 

Stephen  Piirinton,  a  son  of  Nathaniel  Purinton,  was  born  in  Ilarps- 
well,  May  7,  1764.  He  succeeded  to  his  father's  business  of  fanning 
and  milling,  and  also  erected  a  tannery.  lie  was  also  engaged  in  tlie 
West  India  business.  It  is  said  that  when  twentj'-one  years  of  age,  he 
went  with  the  first  team  that  ever  entered  the  town  of  Bethel,  hauling 
logs  to  the  river  to  see  if  they  would  reach  Brunswick.  Febniarj-  26, 
1 789,  lie  married  Mary,  daugiiter  of  John  Merrill,  Esquire,  of  Topsham. 
In  1816  he  professed  religion,  and  assisted  in  forming  the  first  Free- 
Will  ]3aptist  Church  inHarpswell.  He  was  chosen  deacon  and  church 
clerk,  and  held  both  ofiilces  until  1840.  He  was  a  representative  in 
1810,  1813,  1814,  1816,  1820,  1824.  He  was  a  man  very  generally 
esteemed  in  the  community  in  which  he  lived.  His  wife  died  May  25, 
1836.     He  died  November  10,  1843. 

REED,  JOHN. 

John  Reed  was  bom  in  Ireland  in  1747,  and  was  married  to  Rachel, 
daughter  of  William  Thorne,  in  March,  1701).  lie  came  to  this  coun- 
try with  his  father,  and  settled  in  Topsham.  He  went  into  the  Revo- 
lutionar}'  war  as  an  ensign,  in  a  company  comnuinded  bj'  Captain 
Blaisdell,  of  Portland.  He  went  to  Ticonderoga,  where  Hammond, 
the  lieutenant,  died,  and  was  succeeded  b}'  him.  He  afterwards 
received  a  captain's  commission,  and  served  with  reputation  till 
obliged  to  retire  in  consequence  of  a  wound  received  in  an  action  a 
little  preceding  the  capture  of  General  Burgoyne's  army  (in  1777). 

He  so  far  recovered  his  health  and  activity  that  he  was  elected  to 
and  sustained  the  oflRce  of  lieutenant-colonel  till  his  death.  He  was 
lieutenant-colonel  of  the  First  Regiment,  First  lirigade.  Fourth  Divi- 
sion of  the  Massachusetts  militia  which  mustered  in  Bath  in  1788. 
He  died  October  20,  1797,  and  was  buried  with  military  honors.  The 
Bath  artilleiy'  with  their  guns,  two  companies  of  infantry,  and  a  troo[) 
of  horse  attended  the  flineral. 

BOBBINS,  AUGUSTUS  C,  ESQUIRE. 

Mr.  Robbins  was  born  in  Union,  Maine,  in  181/),  and  was  a  promi- 
nent business  man  of  Brunswick.  He  was  api)ointed  cashier  of  the 
Brunswick  Bank  on  November  1,  1841,  and  served  in  tiiat  capaoit}* 
in  the  different  banks  in  the  town  for  eighteen  years,  with  an  interval 
of  onl^'  thirt3'-four  days  between  his  resignation  in  the  Union  and  his 
taking  charge  of  the  Maine  Bank.     During  all  this  time  he  never  lost 


800        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

a  day  b}'  sickness,  and  was  absent  only  eighty  days  in  the  whole 
time. 

Mr.  Robbins  was  a  prompt,  faithful,  systematic,  and  energetic 
bank  officer,  and  was  well  liked  by  the  communit3\  He  was  a  man  of 
fine  education  (a  graduate  of  Bowdoin  in  1885),  and  possessed  a 
reraarkabl}'  clear  and  logical  mind.  He  was  for  several  years  one  of 
the  Board  of  Overseers  of  the  college,  and  was  always  interested  in  its 
welfare.  Common-sense  was  his  predominating  mental  characteristic. 
Mr.  Robbins  was  deeply  interested  in  all  town  affairs,  and  especially 
in  the  welfare  of  the  public  schools.  His  efforts  for  the  establishment 
of  the  high  school  and  the  grading  of  the  village  schools  entitle  him 
to  the  remembrance  of  the  communit}'. 

He  had  a  fund  of  humor  and  ready  wit,  and  was  fond  of  children. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  for  twenty-eight 
years,  and  was  held  in  general  esteem  for  his  integrity,  industry,  and 
kindliness  of  character.     He  died  December  31,  1868. 

ROGERS,  HONORABLE  GEORGE. 

Mr.  Rogers  was  born  in  Topsham,  November  18,  1785.  He  was  a 
son  of  Alexander,  and  the  father  of  the  late  George  A.  Rogers.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  the  town,  but  made  good  use 
of  such  advantages  as  he  had.  He  was  a  man  of  quick  perception 
and  inquiring  mind,  and  steadily  advanced  with  the  times  in  which  he 
lived.  He  took  a  warm  interest  in  the  public  matters  of  the  town  and 
State.  He  served  on  the  Board  of  Selectmen  of  Topsham  for  four- 
teen years,  between  188G  and  1857.  In  1819  he  was  chosen  to  repre- 
sent his  town  in  the  legislature,  and  in  1837  he  was  elected  to  the  State 
Senate.  In  politics  he  was  a  Democrat,  but  he  was  oftentimes  elected 
to  office  by  the  votes  of  those  who  affiliated  with  the  opposite  party. 
In  his  religious  views  he  was  a  Baptist. 

''Although  a  man  of  rigid  principles  and  soundness  of  judgment, 
his  kind  and  genial  manners  won  for  him  the  respect  of  all  who  knew 
him.  In  earl}'  life  he  was  twice  married,  but  each  of  his  wives  died 
at  an  early  age.  Of  his  familj'  but  one  son  survived  him,  the  late 
George  A.  Rogers. 

*' At  nearly  fourscore  3'ears,  after  a  long  and  serene  evening  to  a  life 
of  usefulness,  devoted  to  the  happiness  of  others,  he  passed  away  qui- 
etly at  the  old  homestead  where  he  had  alwa3'8  resided." 

ROGERS,  GEORGE  A. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  native  of  Topsham.  His  education 
was  obtained  in  the  common  schools  and  at  the  Maine  Wesleyan  Sem- 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  801 

inary  at  Readfield,  Maine.  At  the  age  of  twentj'  he  made  a  sea-voj- 
i^e  to  New  Orleans,  and  thence  to  Europe.  Receiving  so  much  bene- 
fit from  these  voyages,  he  was  tempted  to  become  a  sailor,  and  accord- 
ingly made  one  voyage  "  before  the  mast."  His  father  discouraged 
his  inclination  towards  a  sea  faring  life,  and  induced  him  to  remain  at 
home  and  turn  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 

As  a  practical  farmer,  enlightened,  and  looking  into  the  most  essen- 
tial matters  of  the  business  of  farming,  he  did  much  to  promote  its 
interests,  both  at  home  and  abroad.  He  was  long  identified  with  the 
interests  of  the  town,  serving  for  many  years  as  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Selectmen.  Perhaps  no  more  fitting  tribute  can  be  paid  to 
his  memorv  than  that  found  in  the  recent  *'  Historical  Review  "  of  the 
Sagadahoc  County  Agricultural  Society',  —  he  having  l)een  one  of  its 
earliest  friends,  serving  in  almost  every  capacity  in  which  he  could  ren- 
der valuable  assistance. 

"  He  represented  the  society  as  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Agricul- 
ture for  a  perioil  of  seven  years,  and  was  one  of  the  most  useful  mem- 
bers of  that  Board.  For  three  years  he  was  president  of  the  Sagada- 
hoc Society,  afterwards  he  was  recording  secretary.  To  tlie  close  of 
his  life  on  eartli  he  was  one  of  the  most  valuable  members  of  tlie  soci- 
ety. The  society  as  well  as  the  community  needs  more  such  men, —  men 
who  work  from  sincere  regard  for  the  interests  of  others.  Possessed 
of  a  high  moral,  as  well  as  a  much  religious  character,  Mr.  Rogers  was 
a  true  friend,  a  sincere  and  honest  man.  He  served  faithful  I  v  the  com- 
munity  in  which  he  lived ;  its  interests  were  his  interests,  its  welfare 
ever  had  his  watchful  care.  Well  may  the  society  long  hold  his  name 
in  remembrance  and  honor." 

He  died  June  30,  1874. 

ROSS,  WILLIAM. 

William  Ross  lived,  prior  to  1749,  at  Sheepscot.  He  afterwards 
moved  to  Brunswick,  where  he  built  a  house,  bullet-proof,  near  the 
old  meeting-house.  Prior  to  his  coming  to  Brunswick,  he,  with  his 
two  sons,  John  and  Robert,  was  taken  captive  by  the  Indians  ar.d 
carried  to  Canada.  He  and  Robert  were  soon  liberated  and  returned 
home.  John  was  such  a  favorite  with  the  Indians  that  he  was  retained. 
Mr.  Ross  was  subsequently  captured  again  and  carried  to  Quebec. 
While  there  he  became  interested  in  a  young  man  whom  he  met  at  a 
public  place,  the  resort  of  those  who  desired  to  be  exchanged.  He 
volunteered  to  intercede  for  his  release,  inquired  his  name,  and  found 
him  to  be  his  son.     They  effected  their  release  and  returned  home. 

il 


I 


802        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  UARPSWELL, 

John  was  afterwards  killed,  or  died,  in  war.  Mr.  Ross  was  a  lame 
man.  His  disability  was  caused  in  the  following  manner.  On  one 
occasion,  while  he  was  engaged  in  cutting  wood  west  of  Mair  Brook, 
he  discovered  a  wounded  bear  making  towards  him.  He  at  once  com- 
menced to  retreat  backwards,  defending  himself  with  his  axe,  but  was 
so  unfortunate  as  to  fall  back  over  a  log  and  hurt  himself.  The  bear, 
unable  to  get  over,  reached  under  the  Ic^  and  bit  him  in  the  knee. 
Mr.  Anthonv  Woodside,  who  had  fired  and  wounded  the  bear,  finally 
came  up  and  killed  it. 

RUTHERFORD,  REVEREND  ROBERT, 

Was  a  native  of  Ireland,  and  a  Presbj'terian.  He  came  over  with 
Colonel  Dunbar,  the  celebrated  surve3'or  of  the  king's  woods  in  1729, 
and  preached  at  Pemaquid  for  four  or  five  j'ears.  AVhon  Dunbar  went 
to  Portsmouth  in  1734,  his  house  and  farm  were  left  in  the  care  of  Mr. 
Rutherford.  In  173i3  he  was  employed  b}'  the  First  Parish  of  Bruns- 
wick, and  continued  to  preach  there  till  1742.  After  this  he  was 
engaged  for  a  short  time  at  Georgetown,  and  probabl}-  returned  to 
Pemaquid.  From  thence,  on  the  marriage  of  Dunbar's  widow  with 
Captain  Henderson  of  St.  Georges,  he  removed  to  that  place.  It  does 
not  appear  that  he  had  a  distinct  pastoral  charge,  or  that  an}-  church 
was  gathered  theni  during  his  life.  He  was  a  man  of  respectable  lit- 
erar^^  attainments,  and  bore  the  character  of  a  pious  Orthodox  minis- 
ter. He  died  in  1756,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years,  and  was  burieii 
at  the  fort  at  Saint  George's.  His  wife  sun-ived  him  twenty-three 
years,  and  was  buried  in  the  same  place.  Thej*  left  a  famil}'  of  seven 
daughters,  whose  posterity  are  numerous  in  the  vicinity.^ 

SKOLFIELD,  THOMAS. 

Thomas  Skolfiold  was  a  son  of  Thomas  Skolfield,  of  England,  who 
was  an  officer  in  King  William's  army  in  1690,  when  King  James  was 
driven  from  Ireland.  The  son,  Thomas,  received  a  liberal  education 
at  Dublin  University,  and  shortly  after  graduating  emigrated  to  Amer- 
ica with  the  Orr  family  early  in  the  last  century. 

Thomas  remained  in  Boston  with  the  Orr  family ,and  taught  a  Latin 
school  until  the  Orrs  removed  to  the  District  of  Maine,  about  the 
3'ear  1742,  when  he  and  Susan  came  with  them. 

Thomas  married  Mar}'  Orr,  and  settled  in  Brunswick  near  where 
Peter  Woodard  now  lives  (1876).      He  and  the  Orrs  bought  about 


1  Annals  of  Warren  and  GreenleqCs  FcclesiafticQl  :^ketchc8. 


•^(/^i^a^nt/if'^ 


:•".  '■  :  '  vr'>^ 


•  < 


..,. 


M       »      '. 


>>■ 


1    I 

■';  •■•■. 
.  1.    •♦.  ••  f 


•»l 


»•  •.  I    .  .    . 


••■•;■'!    ■     '  •  J  .        »  •;! 
■  *  f    '  T  '  ■ . "    .,:;■!    .'."■■■ 

,....;  •      .     _ . . 


!»     . 


■»  * 


t<  i>  I ,   ji        ■:■.■: 

I  • ".  • :    »  n  '  J  H    '  ■  I » .       V 

ai:;  I     •  :       ■■■;«'.  •■'    '■  ■    •■ 


{ . 


■i!     •  !*     *"■    :.  Z  i  I  I'lj;*^  '■*.   '  ''    ■  . 

J 


.\ 


I'l 


11-  -i    .^ 


•  I  • 


sM*"  I'll.    \»  'I, '.;.•»  •:     :•   .- 

;  :■. .  f\\  y  rf-       •      ;■    'A  «-■     --.  ;     .  ..,.    ,  \-.  .. 
I'   f)\'   iii-    ..un*ri:.L;  !'"ii'-,-.      Ai    !ii«    mlT* 


■■■    ■       ill    !!1> 
.    i«lh       I.. I        i 


tf-^/Mt  if  '" 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  803 

three  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land,  on  which  Thomas  Skolfteld 
settled.  They  paid  for  the  land  £85  old  tenor.  Mr.  Skolfield 
was  a  very  prominent  man  in  town  affairs.  He  was  chosen,  May 
22,  1777,  as  an  officer  empowered  to  receive  recognizances.  In 
1779  he  was  on  the  committee  to  affix  the  price  of  commodities  sold 
in  the  town.  He  waf^  on  many  committees  to  draw  up  resolutions, 
etc.,  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  town  clerk  from  1752 
to  1761,  and  again  in  1763  and  1765.  He  was  on  the  Board  of  Select- 
men, and  a  great  part  of  the  time  was  chairman,  for  twentj'-three 
years,  — from  1744  to  1749, 1752  to  1754,  1756  to  1762/1765  to  1767, 
1772  to  1775,  and  again  in  1782. 

His  wife  died  August  1,  1771,  aged  fifty-seven  years.  He  died 
January  6,  1796. 

SKOLFIELD,  GEORGE. 

"  Master"  George  Skolfield  was  born  July,  1780,  in  Harpswell,  in 
an  old  house  standing  upon  the  site  of  the  one  now  occupied  by  Mr. 
George  R.  Skolfield,  his  eldest  son. 

He  began  to  build  vessels  when  about  twenty-one  years  old,  and  during 
his  lifetime  built  nearly  if  not  quite  sixty  vessels,  all  first-class,  of  the 
best  qualit}'  of  material  and  workmanship.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  one  of  the  wealthiest  men  in  Brunswick,  and  his  wealth  was  all 
earned  through  his  own  exertions  and  by  his  own  business  abilit}'. 

He  was  kind  in  his  family  and  to  his  friends,  and  of  a  very  hospi- 
table nature. 

'*  It  was  the  delight  of  Master  George  to  have  the  house  full,  and 
he  was  never  in  better  spirits  than  when  his  friends  fairlj*  overran  his 
rooms.  A  man  of  strong  impulses,  of  prejudices,  if  yoxx  will,  he  never 
meant  to  be  unjust.  He  was  decided,  firm  in  his  convictions,  and 
sternly  resolute  in  the  discharge  of  what  he  deemed  bis  dut}'.  That 
dut}'  was  done  with  a  singleness  of  purpose  worth}'  of  all  imitation. 
We  make  no  claim  to  perfection  for  the  deceased  ;  but  we  record  as  the 
crowning  glorj*  of  his  long  and  active  life,  diversified  b}'  an  intercourse 
with  all  classes  and  manner  of  men,  his  passing  away,  with  never  a 
man  to  question  his  Sfirupulous  honesty  in  all  his  dealings  with  his  fel- 
low men." 

He  died  March  13,  1866. 

SMYTH,  WILLIAM,  D.  D. 

ProfeSvSor  Sm}i;h  was  born  in  Pittston,  February  2,  1797,  and  in  his 
childhood  his  parents  removed  to  Wiscasset,  which  was  his  home  until 
about  the  time  of  his  entering  college.     At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 


804        inSTdRT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAH,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

was  l)ercft  of  both  father  and  mother,  and  was  left  with  a  joung 
sister  and  brother,  and  nothing  but  kind  friends  and  himself  to  depend 
upon.  He  was  for  a  time  clerk  for  a  Wiscasset  merchant,  but  his 
ambition  at  that  time  was  to  qualify  himself  to  teach  school,  »nd  all 
his  spare  time  was  spent  in  hard  study.  He  taught  school  for  a  few 
3*ears,  at  the  same  time  fitting  himself  for  Bowdoin  College,  the  Junior 
class  of  which  he  entered  in  1820.  Such  an  example  of  student-life 
as  was  then  exhibited  is  rare  and  worthy  of  record.  He  occupied, 
with  a  townsman  and  classmate,  Boynton,  a  room  in  the  building, 
afterwards  burned  down,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  Mr.  Hcnr}*  C. 
Mailings  residence,  opposite  the  college  halls. 

As  the  result  of  his  former  hard  study,  while  in  college  he  wns  com- 
pelled to  wear  a  green  shade  and  to  study  by  another's  ej'es.  His 
room-mate  read  his  lessons  to  him,  he  occasionally  raising  his  blinder 
to  glance  for  a  moment  at  a  mathematical  formula  or  a  diagram  or  a 
phrase.  After  getting  settled  in  college  life  his  independent,  self- 
denying  spirit  led  him  to  bring  to  his  side  his  3'oung  brother,  and  sus- 
tain both  as  he  might.  This  self-sacrificing  college  student  oflen 
deprived  himself  of  a  dinner  for  the  sake  of  that  brother ;  lived  day 
after  da}'  on  bread  and  water ;  not  unfrequentl}'  did  not  know  one 
day  where  the  next  day's  meals  were  to  come  from ;  and  thus,  study- 
ing with  the  ejes  of  another,  often  at  his  wits'  end  for  support,  with 
thrit  (.'are  of  the  brother  upon  him  part  of  the  time,  he  soon  took  the 
lead  of  an  able  class  and  held  it  to  the  end,  graduating  with  the 
English  valedictor}'  in  1822. 

After  graduating,  Mr.  Smyth  taught  a  school  for  a  short  time  in 
what  used  to  be  called  President  Allen's  Academj',  and  then  spent  a 
year  in  the  Andover  Seminar}'. 

In  1823  he  received  an  appointment  from  his  Alma  Mater  as  proc- 
tor and  instructor  in  Greek ;  then  became  tutor  in  mathematics  and 
natural  philosophy ;  and  in  1828  he  was  made  professor  in  full  of 
mathematics  and  natural  philosophy. 

The  first  edition  of  his  algebra,  from  the  press  of  Mr.  Griffin,  of 
this  town,  appeared  in  1830,  received  warm  commendation  from  Doctor 
Buwditch,  and  was  adopted  as  a  text-book  at  Harvard  and  other  insti- 
tuti(»ns.  It  passed  through  several  editions,  and  then  gave  place  to 
two  separate  works,  the  elementar}*  and  the  larger  algebra.  Then 
fullowed  an  enlarged  edition  of  the  trigonometrj'  and  its  applications 
to  surveying  and  navigation,  and  treatises  on  analytic  geometry,  and 
on  the  calculus,  the  last  being  so  clearl}'  and  satisfactorily  developed, 
and  with  so  much  originality,  as  to  receive  emphatic  approval  in  high 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  805 

quarters,  particularly  from  the  late  ProfoBSor  Bache,  and  constituting, 
as  has  been  said,  quite  an  era  in  the  means  of  instruction  in  this  pro- 
found branch. 

"When  the  project  of  graded  schools  for  the  large  Central  District  of 
Brunswick  was  proposed,  it  engaged  his  earnest  co-operation,  lie 
was  chosen  on  the  Board  of  Agents  successively  for  seventeen  years  ; 
most  of  the  time  was  chairman,  and  exercised  \ngilant  supervision  of 
the  schools.  The  amount  of  L-ibor  he  performed  in  securing  and  |)er- 
fecting  the  system,  in  building  the  large  brick  school-house  for  which 
he  furnishwl  tlie  working  plan,  and  in  general  sui>erintendence,  few 
can  conceive  ;  and  all  with  no  other  remuneration  than  the  conscious- 
ness of  rendering  an  important  public  service.  lie  was  for  many 
3*ears  one  of  the  tnistees  of  the  First  Parish  flind,  and  for  forty 
years  or  more  an  active  member  of  the  Congregational  Church  and 
Societv  in  Bnmswick  and  a  teacher  in  the  Sabbath  school.  AVhen  the 
present  church  wlifice  was  erected  he  was  the  working  member  of  the 
building  committee,  giving  important  counsel  in  its  plan,  even  to 
the  framing  of  the  building,  and  constantly  su|)ervising  the  work. 
He  also  furnished  the  working  plans  for  a  spire  which,  for  grace  and 
beaut}',  was  not  surpassed. 

The  last  public  work  of  his  life  was  the  measures  for  erecting  a 
Memorial  Hall  for  the  college. 

One  even  most  conversant  with  him,  and  who  had  most  free  access 
to  his  thoughts,  purjioses,  and  plans,  can  scarcely  enumerate  the 
extent  of  his  correspondence  on  the  subject ;  his  journeyings  to  and 
fro  from  Bangor  to  New  York  for  subscriptions,  his  long  walks  in 
Brunswick  and  its  neighborhood  to  obtain  contributions,  to  consult 
mechanics  and  contractors,  or  to  engage  hands  for  the  work  ;  his 
visits  to  other  towns  to  examine  public  buildings  or  to  inspect  quar- 
ries of  building  stone ;  or  his  careful  study  of  arcliitectural  designs, 
sketches,  and  plans  in  the  college  library ;  or  his  j)ersonal  labor  in 
meditating  and  drawing  plans  himself,  that  architects  might  readily 
conceive  the  idea  and  object  of  the  proposed  structure.  For  the  last 
two  years  of  his  life  his  mind  and  thoughts  were  intent  on  what  he 
often  said  was  to  be  his  last  labor. 

Every  dollar  of  the  thirty  thousand  on  his  subscription  book  he  soli- 
cited, and  he  collected  nearlv  twentv  thousand  of  the  amount  in  person. 

Professor  Smyth  was  among  the  first  members  of  the  temperance 
society  formed  in  Bnmswick  when  Reverend  Doctor  Justin  P2<l\vards 
promulgated  apd  advocated  with  so  much  effect  the  doctrine  of  total 
abstinence  from  intoxicating  drinks. 


I  i 


806        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

A  debate  in  the  Brunswick  Lyceum  made  of  him  an  anti-sla\:eiy 
man,  or  rather  turned  his  thoughts  to  that  subject,  and  inspired  a 
sentiment  and  opinions  which  he  maintained  his  life  through.  He 
never  swerved,  —  no,  not  for  an  hour,  —  from  his  allegiance  to  the 
cause  of  human  freedom  and  the  rights  of  man. 

Though  exposed  to  reproach  and  annoyances,  to  hard  speeches 
and  harder  looks,  he  was  not  a  man  to  be  deterred  from  his  pur- 
pose or  to  quail  in  whatever  he  regarded  a  matter  of  right,  truth,  and 
duty. 

His  ability  as  a  teacher  was  never  called  in  question.  In  explana- 
tion he  was  precise,  simple,  and  clear.  He  had  great  power  of  inspir- 
ing interest ;  his  own  enthusiasm,  which  often  kindled,  especially  in 
certain  branches  of  his  department,  at  the  black-board,  being  communi- 
cated to  his  class. 

His  mind  was  quick  to  kindle,  and  his  powers  to  arouse  themselves 
to  seize  on  some  engrossing  subject,  and  while  the  occasion  demanded, 
he  was  totus  in  illis.  He  was  a  whole-souled,  large-hearted  man. 
Personal  interests  occupied  with  him  an  inferior  place.  Any  real 
object  of  philanthropy,  of  national  or  of  town  interest,  anything  that 
touched  the  life  of  the  college,  was  sure  to  find  one  mind  and  heart 
rea<ly  to  respond  to  its  demands. 

Of  the  qualities  of  his  mind  no  one  conversant  with  him  could  doubt 
that  his  Creator  endowed  him  with  a  power  of  intense  application,  of 
wide  compass  and  great  clearness  of  thought,  of  strong  grasp  of 
principles,  and  of  exhibiting  truth,  oflen  massive  truth,  with  gi-eat 
precision  and  force.  He  had  a  peculiar  faculty  of  seizing  on  the 
salient  points  and  the  fundamental  elements  of  any  subject  he 
approached. 

One  could  not  but  give  him  the  credit  of  childlike  simplicity.  He 
was  simple  in  his  tastes,  in  his  manners,  and  in  his  desires.  There 
was  no  pretence  or  affectation  in  his  nature.  No  charge  of  insincerity 
or  fnlse-heartedness  was  ever  laid  upon  him. 

The  facts  of  Professor  Smyth's  life  reveal  most  clearly  a  singularly 
self-sacrificing  spirit.  What  reward  or  remuneration,  what  personal 
advantage  could  he  have  expected  from  his  labors  for  schools  or  for 
the  church  or  for  the  Memorial  Hall  ?  What  self-interest  could  have 
prompted  him  to  furnish  working  plans  for  school-house  or  church 
spire.  —  or  to  rise  from  his  bed  and  go  down  to  the  school-house  in  a 
drenching  storm  to  see  that  the  rain  did  not  undermine  the  wall  or  flood 
the  cellar,  —  or  at  midnight,  in  a  driving  southeaster,  to  go  over  to  the 
church,  then  in  building,  to  make  more  fast  an  ill-secured  transept 


BIOQRAPmCAL.  807 

window,  —  or  to  serve  as  a  tender  to  the  mason  who  was  putting  up  a 
chimnc}*  in  the  tower? 

His  nature  was  profoundly  sympathetic,  and  he  was  blessed  with  a 
genial,  buo^-ant  spirit.  He  never  betra3'e<l  a  moody  or  sullen  temper. 
There  was  in  him  a  vein  of  fine  humor.  He  enjoyed  it  in  others,  and 
no  one  could  turn  a  witticism  or  conve}'  a  compliment  with  more  deli- 
cac}'  or  grace.  It  remains  to  bear  testimony  to  Professor  Smyth  as  a 
Christian  man.  In  this  character  he  left  the  record  of  nearl}-  fifty 
years  in  his  daily  life,  in  the  free  intercourse  of  friends,  in  the  social 
meetings  of  the  church,  in  college  halls,  in  his  relations  to  public  phil- 
anthropic movements  of  his  time,  and  in  the  pulpit  of  the  sanctuar}'. 

Early  in  life  he  took  his  stand  as  a  Christian  young  man,  and  became 
connected  with  the  Congregational  Church  in  Gorham.  He  seized  with 
the  strong  grasp  of  his  intellect  and  heart  on  what  are  termed  the 
doctrines  of  grace.  In  1825  he  received  license  from  the  Cumberland 
Association,  and  for  several  years  preached  with  acceptance  in  Bruns- 
wick and  neighboring  towns.  His  discourses  were  marked  by  weighty 
thought,  clear  exhibition  of  truth,  simplicity  and  vigor  of  style,  and 
earnest  and  eloquent  enforcement  of  the  motives  of  the  gospel  and  the 
issues  of  life  and  death.     He  died  April  4,  18G8. 

The  foregoing  sketch  of  this  trul}'  remarkable  man  is  condensed  from 
Professor  Packard's  discourse  commemorative  of  Professor  JSmvth. 

STANWOOD,  DAVID. 

David  Stanwood,  son  of  Ebenezer,  was  in  the  expedition  to  Louis- 
burg.  While  the  army  was  there,  some  twenty  or  thirty  men  were 
desirous  of  taking  boats  and  crossing  to  the  opposite  shore,  where  the}' 
expected  to  plunder  some  of  the  French  settlers.  They  landed  with- 
out molestation,  went  to  one  house  not  far  distant,  entered  it,  and 
brought  the  plunder  to  their  boats.  Not  sulBcientl}*  satisliod  with  what 
they  had  obtained,  they  returned,  without  their  guns,  and  while  strip- 
ping the  house  still  further  they  were  surrounded  and  taken  prisoners 
by  the  Indians,  who  had  been  on  the  watch  for  them.  They  were  at 
once  stripped,  and  severely'  tortured  with  spears.  Mr.  Stanwood 
attempted  to  escape,  but  a  well-directed  spear  hit  him  on  the  shoulder, 
and  so  disabled  him  that  he  surrendered,  and  was  again  submitted  to 
torture.  He  fled  again  and  was  pursued,  fired  at,  and  a  ball  hit  him 
in  the  arm  and  broke  it.  He  succeeded,  however,  in  his  escape,  hid 
himself  until  search  was  over,  and  when  all  was  quiet,  went  to  the 
shore  opposite  the  army,  and  hoisted  a  handkerchief  as  a  signal.  It 
was  seen,  and,  though  fearful  of  a  decoy,  some  of  the  men  were  at 


808        HISTORY  OF  BSVXSWJCK,  TOPSHAM,  AXD  HARPSWELL. 

length  allowed  to  go  over  for  him,  and  he  was  rescued.  Another 
account  ^  states  that  after  he  escaped  the  second  time  he  came  to  a 
river  and  was  shot  while  swimming  across.  His  aim  was  afterwards 
amputated. 

STANWOOD,  COLONEL  ^VILLIAM. 

William  Stanwood  was  the  son  of  David  Stanwood.  of  Brunswick, 
and  was  born  in  1752.  In  his  early  days  he  learned  the  trade  of  a 
blacksmith.  He  entered  the  Revolutionar\'  annv  and  was  in  the  bat- 
ties  of  Monmouth  and  White  Plains.  Alter  the  war  he  was  made  a 
colonel  of  the  militia.  After  leaving  the  army  he  went  to  work  at  his 
trade,  and  afterwards  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business  and  in  ship- 
building in  connection  with  Captain  John  Dunlap.  He  accumulatetl 
wealth,  and  owned  three  large  farms,  besides  otiier  real  estate,  but 
afterwards  met  with  heavy  losses  in  his  shipping  business.  lie  built 
and  lived  in  the  house  now  owned  by  the  heirs  of  the  late  A.  C.  Rob- 
bins,  Esquire,  on  Maine  Street.  He  was  a  prominent  man  in  Bruns- 
wick, and  was  selectman  for  a  number  of  years,  and  a  rei)resentative 
in  1794  and  1795.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Overseers 
of  Bowdoin  College.  He  had  three  wives ;  the  first  was  Mar}-  Orr. 
the  second  Hannah  Thompson,  and  the  third  Ruth  Thompson.  He 
had  eleven  children.     He  died  June,  1829. 

STETSON,    REVEREND  SETH. 

**  Father"  Stetson,  as  he  was  called,  live<l  until  he  was  seventeen 
years  of  age  in  his  native  town  of  Kingston,  Massac'hnsetts.  He  then 
spent  one  summer  in  Bristol,  Maine,  one  in  Boston,  and  two  in 
Charlestown,  Massachusetts.  He  spent  his  winters  during  this  time 
at  home.  He  gives  the  following  account  of  his  life  in  a  letter  to  the 
Gospel  Ban nf'f  in  18(U:  — 

''  Seventy  years  ago  [1794]  I  first  came  to  Bristol  with  my  master 
ship-joiner.  When  free  1  came  again.  I  woundetl  my  ankle-joint, 
which  lni<l  me  up  many  months,  and  gave  me  time  to  read  and  pray. 
Reverend  Mr.  Kiddle  inviteil  me  to  study  for  the  miiiistr}'.  I  kept 
school  in  Alna,  New  Castle,  and  Bristol,  and  studied  with  Reverend 
Jonathan  W'lird.  of  New  Milford.  1  was  approbated  to  preach  in  the 
town  of  AVinthrop,  at  Reverend  Mr.  Bolden's,  by  the  Lincoln  Associ- 
ation of  C'onjzregational  ministers. 

*'  I  preached  two  ^-ears  in  Norridgewock  and  other  towns.     In  1804 


^  P^epscot  Paptrs. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  809 

I  had  a  call,  and  was  ordained  in  Sonth  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  ten 
miles  from  m}'  native  place.  There  I  preached  Hopkinsianism  sixteen 
years.  Then  for  four  years  I  was  a  Worsterian.  Then  I  became  a 
Universalist,  and  preached  in  Charlestown  and  Salem  three  years,  and 
in  Boston  a  few  months.  Then  in  Brunswick,  Bath,  and  Bowdoinham 
two  3'ears,  and  ever  since  all  round  the  State,  and  in  other  States. 
The  last  year  I  have  not  tried  to  preach. 

*'  I  grow  deaf,  and  forgetful  of  names.  My  health  is  good.  M}'  wife 
is  eighty-four  j'ears  old.  We  have  had  twelve  children.  The  three 
youngest  only  are  living  in  this  world." 

Mr.  Stetson  was  born  in  1776,  and  died  in  1867.  Ho  was  at  his 
death,  therefore,  ninety-one  yeare  of  ^e,  lacking  five  days.  He  was 
at  that  time  the  oldest  Universalist  minister  in  Maine.  From  a  diary 
that  he  left,  it  appears  that  he  came  to  Brunswick  in  a  packet  to 
Maquoit  (Captain  Simpson's)  in  1828.  He  brought  with  liim  his 
wife  and  five  children  and  household  goods,  paying  for  passage  and 
freight,  sixteen  dollars  to  Maquoit,  and  four  dollars  from  the  latter 
place  to  his  house. 

Mr.  Stetson  was  well  known  throughout  this  entire  community,  and 
was  much  beloved  by  his  parishioners,  and  esteemed  by  all  for  the 
purity  of  his  life  and  character. 

STONE,  COLONEL  ALFRED  J. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  a  son  of  James  Stone,  and  was  a 
native  of  Topsham.  He  settled  in  Brunswick,  and  lived  and  died  in 
the  dwelling  on  MiU  Street  which  stands  nearly  on  the  site  of  the  old 
Stone  mansion  which  was  erected  by  Benjamin  Stone,  the  ancestor  of 
the  family  in  Brunswick.  It  is  worthy  of  mention  that  the  property' 
on  and  near  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Mill  Streets,  known  as  Stone's 
Comer,  has  been  retained  in  the  family  for  four  generations.  Colonel 
Stone  was  largely  engaged  in  the  lumbering  business,  owning  a  mill 
on  the  upper  dam,  and  for  many  3*ears  did  an  extensive  business.  He 
was  a  colonel  in  the  militia,  and  held  various  public  ofllces,  among 
them  that  of  postmaster.  He  was  a  representative  to  the  legislature 
in  1836.    He  was  an  influential  and  public-spirited  citizen. 

SYLVESTER,   MARLBOROUGH. 

Marlborough  Sylvester,  of  Haqiswell,  was  a  son  of  AVilliam  Sylves- 
ter, and  was  born  in  Hanover,  Massachusetts,  in  17^)3.  He  was  a  man 
prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the  town,  and  held  town  offices  for  many 
years.     He  was  town  clerk  from  1794  to  1709,  inclusive,  and  in  1813, 


!. 

I 


ri 

;    I 
■ 

i 


810        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK.  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


selectman  from  1797  to  1808,  inclusive,  and  in  1815,  and  representa- 
tive in  1809. 

THOMPSON,  GENERAL  ABNEB  B. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  bom  in  Middleboro*,  Massachusetts.  September 
22,  1797,  whence  in  his  jonth  he  moved  to  Boston,  and  from  that 
city,  in  1817,  to  Brunswick,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life,  en- 
gaged for  a  long  series  of  years  in  the  active  pursuits  of  mercantile 
life,  manifesting  an  energy  and  a  directness  of  application  that  con- 
stituted him  a  marked  man  among  his  fellow-men.  General  Thomp- 
son from  his  youth  manifested  a  fondness  for  military  life.  As  early  as 
1831  he  received  an  officer's  commission  and  held  various  i>ositions  in 
the  militia,  from  lieutenant  to  .that  of  major-general.  In  February, 
1847,  he  was  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  Ninth  Regiment, 
I  United  States  Infant^}^ 

From  1834  until  1841,  General  Thompson  held  the  office  of  adjutant 
and  quartermaster-general  of  the  State,  and  was  in  command  of  the 
troops  called  into  service  on  the  eastern  frontier.  For  three  years  he 
was  State  agent  for  the  prosecution  of  the  military  claim  of  Maine 
against  the  Federal  government  for  expenses  incurred  in  protecting 
her  northeastern  frontier,  and  in  prosecution  of  the  business  he 
passed  a  considerable  portion  of  his  time  in  Washington.  He  was  in 
1831  and  1832  State  treasurer,  and  in  1856  a  senator  in  the  l^isla- 
ture. 

As  a  politician,  a  Democrat  of  the  old  school,  he  was  firm  in  the 
maintenance  of  the  principles  of  the  party  in  which  he  believed, 
swerving  neither  to  the  right  nor  the  left,  as  party  fancies  might  dic- 
tate, but  alwa^'s  courteous  and  considerate  to  the  views  of  an  oppo- 
nent. His  wonderful  clearness  of  intellect,  his  ready  power  of  ex{>la- 
nation,  his  thorough  knowledge  of  business  details,  gave  him  command 
over  the  minds  of  others  which  few  men  untrained  to  the  professional 
arena  possess.  He  had  a  wealth  of  determination,  or  power  of  will, 
which  led  him  straight  on  in  the  path  which  he  had  niarked  out  for 
himvSelf.  As  a  citizen,  he  held  lai^e  and  liberal  views  of  pu))lic  atfairs, 
and  his  aid  was  alwaj's  sought  and  granted  in  the  carrying  out  of 
projects  to  promote  the  growth  and  prosperity  of  the  town. 

He  was  a  Freemason  of  high  rank.  He  died  August  4,  1871,  and 
was  buried  with  Masonic  honors. 

XnOMPScfN,   CHARLES. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  a  native  of  Topsham.  When  nine  years  of 
age  he  removed  with  his  parents  to  the  neighboring  town  of  Lisbon. 


T     .-•■•■ 


i  e —  il. 


'l-oJj^M^y 


M^^-^JUi  i/Lvvj^, 


BIOGSAPmCAL,  811 

At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  returned  to  Topsham  and  engaged  him- 
self as  a  clerk  in  a  store.  Economical  and  industrious,  he  soon 
acquired  a  sufficient  sum  of  money  to  enable  him  to  make  an  invest- 
ment in  navigation,  and,  succeeding  in  his  venture,  he  continued  ever 
after  to  invest  his  funds  in  the  same  line  of  business,  and  generally 
with  a  corresponding  degree  of  success.  When  the  Androscoggin 
Bank  was  organized,  in  1834,  Mr.  Thompson,  being  one  of  the  princi- 
pal stockholders,  was  elected  president,  and  was  continued  in  that 
position  until  the  charter,  b}*  its  own  limitation,  expired. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  an  ardent  patriot,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
From  1812  to  1820  he  filled  the  office  of  adjutant  of  the  Thinl  Regi- 
ment, First  Brigade,  Eleventh  Division  of  State  Militia.  He  was  con- 
sidered so  worthy  of  trust  that,  in  1814,  the  Circuit  Court  of  Common 
Pleas,  by  an  order  issued  at  the  August  term,  placed  the  entire  control 
of  the  Court  House  in  his  hands,  with  authority  to  grant  its  use  for 
other  purposes  whenever  he  might  deem  it  advisable.  In  1831  he  was 
elected  as  a  representative  to  the  legislature,  and  could  have  held  the 
position  longer  had  he  so  desired. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  strict  integrity.  lie  was  a  kind  man 
in  his  family,  and  a  lover  of  hospitality.  lie  was  also  a  good  neigh- 
bor and  a  wise  counsellor.  He  was  faithful  to  his  engagements  ;  and 
masters  of  vessels,  and  others  in  his  emplo}',  if  proving  themselves 
worthy,  were  long  retained.  Though  he  never  made  any  religious  pro- 
fessions, be  was  a  decided  friend  to  the  cause  of  religion  and  a  liberal 
supporter  of  its  institutions.  He  was  warmly  interested  in  educa- 
tional matters,  and  was  one  of  the  chief  supporters  of  the  Topsham 
Academy.     He  also  sent  two  of  his  sons  to  Bowdoin  College. 

He  had  a  clear  and  comprehensive  intellect,  was  well  informed  in  all 
ordinary  matters,  possessed  sagacity  and  perseverance,  was  shrewd 
and  calculating,  had  a  large  business  experience,  and  was  thoroughly 
posted  in  commercial  matters.  He  was,  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
undoubtedly  the  wealtliiest  man  in  Topsham.    lie  died  October  4 ,  1 8G6. 

'^  He  was  a  man  of  quick  perceptions  and  a  dear  insight  in  regard 
to  men  and  things,  and  one  who  often  uttered  his  convictions  in  strong 
and  decided  language.  He  adhered  to  them,  also,  with  pertinacity* 
even  though  they  were  sometimes  formed  upon  insufficient  data." 

THOMPSON,  BRIGADIER  SAMUEL. 

Samuel  Thompson  was  born  March  22, 1735.  He  resided  in  Bruns- 
wick until  after  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  served  on 
the  Board  of  Selectmen  of  Brunswick  in  the  years  1768,  1770,  and 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  813 

his  mind  needed  cultivation."  He  was  strictly  a  "  self-made  "  man,  and 
was  particularly  remarkable  for  his  firmness  of  opinion  —  oft^n  amount- 
ing to  obstinacy — and  for  his  ready  wit,  which,  when  he  was  in  the 
House  of  Representatives,  often  excited  the  mirth  of  his  brother 
members. 

In  his  religious  views  Samuel  Thompson  was  a  Universalist,  or 
rather  a  Winchesterian.  He  believed  in  the  Trinity,  in  a  day  of  gen- 
eral judgment  for  all  mankind,  and  in  the  punishment  of  the  wicked 
in  a  literal  hell-fire,  but  he  also  believed  in  the  final  salvation  of  all. 
Tradition  says  that  the  brigadier  died  in  great  agony  of  mind,  expect- 
ing to  suffer  for  his  sins  in  fire  and  brimstone  for  f)0,000  3'ears.  He 
also  evidently  believed  in  the  doctrine  of  foreordination,  as  he  was 
accustomed  whenever  anything  went  wrong  to  console  himself  with 
the  reflection  that  "  it  is  all  right  in  the  great  plan."  It  is  said  that 
on  one  occasion,  as  he  was  going  from  Topsham  to  the  General  Court, 
he  stopped  at  Nichols's  in  Brunswick  for  a  pair  of  new  boots.  Not 
being  so  well  suited  with  them  as  he  desired,  he  complained  to  Nich- 
ols, who  replied,  ''  It  is  all  right  in  the  great  plan."  "  N-n-nichols," 
said  the  brigadier,  stuttering,  '*the  great  plan  has  nothing  to  do 
with  these  boots." 

Samuel  Thompson  was  a  zealous  Whig  or  Anti-P'ederalist.  He 
was  a  delegate  from  Topsham  to  the  convention  that  '^convened  at 
Boston,  January  9,  1788,  and  continued  until  February  7,  following, 
for  the  purpose  of  assenting  to  and  ratifying  the  Constitution  recom- 
mended by  the  Grand  Federal  Convention."  On  the  question  of  rati- 
fication he  voted  na}-.  A  letter  to  Madison,  quote<i  in  a  letter  to 
Washington,  Pebruary  3,  1788,  contains  the  following:  '*  The  leaders 
of  this  party  [Anti-Federalists]  are  Mr.  Widgery,  Mr.  I'liompson^ 
and  Mr.  Nassow,  from  the  province  of  Maine."  As  throwing  some 
light  upon  the  probable  reasons  for  Mr.  Thompson's  negative  vote, 
we  quote  the  following  extract  from  a  letter  of  General  Knox,  bear- 
ing date  New  York,  January  14  [1788?]  :  — 

"  The  second  party  in  the  State  are  in  the  province  of  Maine.  This 
party  are  chiefly  looking  towards  the  erection  of  a  new  State,  and  the 
majority  of  them  will  adopt  or  reject  the  new  Constitution,  as  it  may 
facilitate  or  retard  their  designs,  without  regarding  the  merits  of  the 
great  question." 

On  this  question  of  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution,  ^Mr.  Thompson 
made  several  speeches.  His  longest  one  was  against  the  paragraph 
providing  for  a  standing  army.  His  remarks,  especially  those  begin- 
ning,  "  O  my  country  I  "  called  out  rephes  from  the  opposite  side. 


814       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HJRPSWELL. 

While  discussing  the  fourth  section  in  regard  to  elections,  Greneral 
Thompson  said :  — 

"  Mr.  President,  I  have  frequently  heard  of  the  abilities  and  fame 
of  the  learned  and  reverend  gentleman  [Reverend  Mr.  West]  last  speak- 
ing, and  now  I  am  witness  to  them.  But,  sir,  one  thing  surprises  me : 
it  is  to  hear  the  worth}'  gentleman  insinuate  that  our  federal  rulers 
will  undoubtedl}'  be  good  men,  and  that  therefore  we  have  little  to 
fear  from  their  being  intrusted  with  all  power.  This,  sir,  is  quite  con- 
trary to  the  common  language  of  the  clergy,  who  are  continually  rep- 
resenting mankind  as  reprobate  and  deceitful,  and  that  we  really  grow 
worse  and  worso  da}'  after  day.  I  really  believe  we  do,  sir,  and  I 
make  no  doubt  to  prove  it  before  I  sit  down,  from  the.  Old  Testament." 

On  the  question  of  considering  the  Constitution  as  a  whole  instead 
of  by  paragraphs,  he  remarked  that,  in  his  opinion,  ''  the  Constitution, 
and  the  reasons  which  induced  gentlemen  to  frame  it,  ought  to  have 
been  sent  to  tlie  several  towns,  to  be  considered  b}'  them.  My  town 
considered  it  seven  hours,  and  after  this  there  was  not  one  in  favor  of 
it.  It  is  strange,"  he  continued,  "  that  a  83'8tem  which  its  planners 
say  is  so  plain  that  he  that  runs  may  read  it,  should  want  so  much 
explanation." 

While  the  question  of  slavery  was  discussed,  General  Thompson 
exclaimed,  '*  Mr.  Ih'osident,  shall  it  be  said,  that  afler  we  have  estab- 
lished our  own  independence  and  freedom,  we  make  slaves  of  others? 
O  Washington,  what  a  name  has  he  had  !  How  he  has  immortalized 
himself !  but  he  holds  those  in  slaverj'  who  have  as  good  right  to  be  free 
as  he  has.  He  is  still  for  self,  and  in  my  opinion  his  character  has 
sunk  fiftj'  per  cent." 

When  the  paragraph  in  regard  to  the  writ  of  habeas  corpus  was  read. 
General  Thompson  asked  the  president  to  please  to  proceed.  '*  We 
have,"  said  he,  "  read  the  book  otlen  enough.  It  is  a  consistent  piece 
of  inconsistency." 

These  extracts  from  his  speeches  show  that  though  the  brigadier 
was  a  bitter  opposor  of  the  Constitution,  he  possessed  no  mean  power 
of  debate,  and  could  express  himself  tersely  and  vigorously. 

As  a  public  speaker,  we  cannot  with  fairness  judge  Mr.  Thompson 
b}-  liis  harangues  to  the  populace.  In  these  he  was  impetuous,  noisy, 
and  sometimes  even  furious.  The  late  Doctor  James  McKeen  de- 
scribed his  speeeli  on  one  occasion  in  the  following  words  :  — 

''  The  brigadier  was  of  too  fiery  a  temperament  to  be  either  app>eased 
or  softened,  but  went  on  continually  hurling  his  gall-bladder  invec- 
tives against  all  who  failed  to  come  up  to  his  measure  of  vehement 


.     BIOGRAPHICAL.  815 

demonstrations."     It  is  to  be  presumed  that  his  manner  in  the  House 
of  Representatives  was  calmer  and  his  speech  more  considerate. 

General  Thompson,  though  perhaps  not  haughty  or  overbearing  in 
his  manner,  had  a  good  deal  of  pride  in  his  position  as  a  public  man 
and  an  officer.  It  is  related  that  once,  when  a  member  of  the  Gen- 
eral Court,  he  was  crossing  a  toll-bridge  leading  into  Boston,  when  the 
tollman  demanded  toll.  Toll  not  being  required  from  members  of  the 
legislature  at  that  time,  the  brigadier  replied,  with  great  dignity,  "  I 
belong  to  the  House,  sir."  "  Belong  to  the  House  !  I  should  think  you 
belonged  to  the  6am,"  was  the  reply  of  the  tollman,  evidently  induced 
by  his  rustic  appearance. 

As  regards  his  military  qualifications,  Williamson  describes  the 
brigadier  as  bold  and  courageous,  but  as  not  possessing  sufficient 
coolness,  consistenc}',  foresight,  or  intelligence  to  qualify  him  for  a 
leader.  In  regard  to  his  bravery  there  seem  to  be  conflicting  opinions. 
His  exploit  in  regard  to  the  capture  of  Mo  watt  has  already  been  men- 
tioned, and  some  other  facts  connected  with  his  militar}^  career  would 
seem  to  show  that  he  was  not  deficient  in  courage.  The  following 
anecdote,  however,  if  triie,  would  seem  to  indicate  both  cowardice  and 
stinginess. 

It  is  related  that  on  one  occasion  Captain  John  Ross,  of  Sebasco- 
digan,  the  master  of  a  coasting  vessel,  was  in  Boston  and  ready  to 
sail  for  home  with  only  two  hands  (Robert  Gorden  and  William 
Coombs)  with  him.  Just  before  the  time  for  sailing  the  brigadier 
came  on  board  and  bespoke  a  passage.  He  brought  with  him  a  pil- 
low-case ftill  of  gingerbread  and  some  molasses  for  his  rations.  The}' 
set  sail  and  started  on  their  homeward  voyage.  The  bay  was  full  of 
cruisers.  When  abreast  of  the  Isle  of  Shoals  they  discovered  a  small 
vessel,  apparently  a  fisherman,  inside.  She  soon,  however,  hoisted 
her  canvas  in  pursuit.  Captain  Ross  ordered  the  two  swivels  to  be 
fixed  on  the  windlass  bits,  loaded  with  powder  and  ball.  Coombs  was 
stationed  at  one,  and  Gorden  at  the  other.  The  hostile  vessel  ap- 
proached rapidly,  passed  by  the  bows  of  the  coaster,  saw  the  swivels 
and  the  two  men  swinging  their  lighted  ropes  to  keep  them  alive,  and 
passed  on  her  way  and  left  them.  All  this  time  the  brigadier,  "  ex- 
pecting death  would  be  his  portion,  stood  in  the  companion-wa}',  out 
of  sight,  trembling  with  fear  and  suffering  the  horrors  of  despair." 
When  the  privateer  had  passed  by,  the  brigadier  made  his  appearance 
in  good  spirits,  and  exulted  that  he  had  saved  his  gingerbread. 

Notwithstanding  the  anecdotes  tending  to  throw  ridicule  upon  him, 
and  the  animadversions  of  his  enemies,  it  is  evident  that  General 


816       HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  BARPSWELL, 

Thompson  must  have  beeu  in  some  respects  a  remarkable  man,  or  he 
could  not  for  so  long  a  period  have  possessed  the  confidence  of  a 
majorit}'  of  liis  fellow-citizens  and  have  filled  the  responsible  stations 
which  he  did.  At  all  events,  the  strength  of  his  patriotism  ought  to 
overshadow  many  minor  defects  of  character. 

TITCOMB,  REVEREND  BENJAMIN. 

Benjamin  Titcomb,  fourth  son  of  Deacon  Benjamin  and  Anne  Tit- 
comb,  was  born  in  Portland,  July  26,  1761.  He  was  educated  at 
Dummer  Academy,  Newbury,  Massachusetts,  and  afterward  at  New- 
bur^'port ;  served  an  apprenticeship  in  the  art  of  printing,  establishing 
himself  in  the  pnnting  business  at  Portland.  On  tiie  first  day  of  Janu- 
arj',  1785,  he  ''stmck  oflT"  with  his  own  hands  the  first  sheet  ever 
printed  in  Maine. 

About  1798  he  left  printing,  and  with  no  other  preparation  than  that 
which  the  grace  of  God  gives,  began  to  preach  to  the  small  Baptist 
society  then  recentl}-  gathered  in  Portland,  the  first  meetings  of  which 
were  at  Mr.  Titcomb's  house.  In  1804  he  removed  to  Brunswick,  and 
became  pastor  of  the  Baptist  Church  which  had  been  gathered  here  by 
Elders  Case  and  Williams.  The  meetings  of  this  society  for  several 
3'ears  were  held  at  Maquoit,  in  the  meeting-house  which  was  built  by 
the  society  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last  century. 

In  1829  the  meeting-house  on  Federal  Street,  which  is  now  occupied 
by  the  Catholics,  was  built ;  and  in  this  Elder  Titcomb  finished  his  pub- 
lic labors,  retiring  from  the  pulpit  at  the  age  of  eight^'-three,  after  a 
forty  years*  ministry'  in  Brunswick. 

In  1820,  Elder  Titcomb  was  elected  a  delegate  to  the  convention 
that  formed  the  Constitution  of  Maine ;  and  at  the  request  of  General 
King,  opened  the  convention  with  praj-er.  Not  fond  of  political  pre- 
ferment, he  afterward  declined  ofldce,  which  was  several  times  offered 
him.  lie  was  one  of  the  original  trustees  of  Waterville  College,  now 
Colby  University,  and  took  great  interest  in  that  institution.  He  was 
a  man  of  decision,  '*  strong  in  faith,"  a  ready  speaker,  preaching  with- 
out notes.  He  retained  his  mental  faculties  in  a  good  degree  to  the 
last,  dying  at  his  residence  on  Federal  Street,  September  30,  1848.^ 

UPHAM,  THOMAS  C,  D.  D. 

Professor  Upham  was  born  in  Deerfield,  N.  H.,  January  20,  1799. 
He  graduated  at  Dartmouth  College  in  1818.     He  then  went  through 

1  From  Oriffin'8  Press  qf  Maine,  p.  2/k 


BIOORAPHICAL,  817 

three  years  of  theological  study  at  Andover,  in  which  he  gained  such 
distinction  by  his  indefatigable  study,  his  scholarship  and  attain- 
ments, that,  after  completing  the  course,  he  was  selected  b\^  Profes- 
sor Stuart  to  assist  him  in  the  Greek  and  Hebrew  instruction  of  the 
seminary. 

He  subsequently  became  pastor  over  the  church  of  his  Rochester 
home,  where  he  labored  a  j'ear  with  characteristic  zeal  and  energy, 
and  to  the  great  contentment  of  his  people,  until  1824,  when  he  was 
chosen  to  the  professorship  of  Moral  Philosophy  and  Metaphysics  in 
Bowdoin  College. 

In  1852,  Professor  Upham  spent  a  j'ear  in  European  and  Eastern 
travel,  visiting  England  and  Scotland,  France,  Switzerland,  Germany, 
and  Italy,  Egypt  and  the  Holy  Land,  his  companion  of  travel  being 
Reverend  Mr.  Thompson,  then  of  the  Broadway  Tabernacle,  New 
York.  One  result  of  his  tour  was  a  volume,  in  which  we  have  the 
impressions  made  on  an  obsenung,  contemplative,  highly  cultured,  and 
poetic  mind  of  the  people  and  scenes  he  visited.  This  volume,  of 
which  a  third  edition  has  been  printed,  ranks  high  among  the  most 
thoughtful  and  instructive  works  of  that  class.  He  was  a  voluminous 
writer.  A  collection  of  his  works  would  'make  at  least  twenty  vol- 
umes. Among  the  better  known  of  his  writings  are  his  treatises  on 
mental  philosophy  and  on  the  will.  He  also  published  a  volume  of 
minor  poems,  under  the  title,  "  American  Cottage  Life,"  which  went 
through  six  editions. 

The  variety  and  extent  of  the  literary  labors  of  Doctor  Upham 
afford  proof  of  the  varied  character  of  his  erudition.  He  was  indeed 
a  devourer  of  books.  He  explored  all  the  libraries  of  the  college  and 
visited  those  of  other  institutions.  lie  read  all  works  in  his  own 
department  and  biographies  and  books  of  travel,  from  which  to  draw 
manifold  illustrations.  "  He  was  deeply  read  in  European  history. 
Probably  the  State  could  not  have  produced  a  man  more  conversant 
with  the  politics  of  Europe.  Occasionally  during  the  first  two  or 
three  3'ears  of  his  professorship,  he  occupied  the  pulpit  of  the  Bruns- 
wick church  to  the  great  gratification  of  his  hearers.  He  supplied 
the  pulpit  in  Harpswell  for  a  season  or  two,  and  his  active  interes, 
and  personal  effort  in  encouraging  that  people  and  the  people  of 
Topsham  in  maintaining  the  ordinances  of  God's  house  are  held  in 
grateful  remembrance.  In  person  he  solicited  contributions  among 
the  people  of  Harpswell  toward  their  new  church,  and  with  success 
surprising  to  themselves. 

'^  All  questions  of  public  moment,  whether  regarding  religion  or 

62 


I 

(1 


818        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HaRPSWELL. 

morals  and  manners,  found  him  a  vigilant  observer  and  active  partici- 
pant in  all  good  measures. 

*' Professor  Upham's  whole  life  was  that  of  a  true  philanthropist. 

1;  The  famous  line  of  Terence,  Homo  sum^  huynani  nihil  a  me  olieimm 

putOy  was  illustrated  in  him  as  fully  as  in  any  human  l>eing.  There 
was'a  fountain  of  kindness  and  goodwill  within  him.  ever  full  and 
overflowing.  His  domestic  affections  were  deep  and  abiding  Noth- 
ing could  show  more  strikingly  the  love  that  was  in  him.  seeking  for 
objects  on  which  to  fasten,  than  the  fact  that,  not  being  blessed  with 
children  of  his  own,  he  adopted  children  and  loved  and  did  for  them 

I  as  if  they  were  his  own. 

!  "  The  oppressed  and  down-trodden  found  in  him  a  83*mpathizing, 

active  friend.  lie  was  an  early  and  liberal  patron  of  colonization, 
constituting  himself  a  life  member  of  the  society  by  a  contribution  of 
$1,000.     liis  name  stands  on  the  first  roll  of  signers  to  the  temper- 

,|  ance  pledge  in  Brunswick,  drawn  up  immediately  after  the  visit  of  the 

'('•  eminent  Doctor  Edwards.     He  watched  with  eajjer  eve  even'  move- 

ment  for  the  ends  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  in  Kurope  or  on  this 

,j  continent.     He  lalK)red  earnestly  in  the  cause  of  peace,  and  yet  when 

the  cloud  of  civil  war  hung  over  our  land,  his  heart  was  stirreil 
within  him  for  tlie  salvation  and  integrity  of  his  bleeding  countn*. 
To  crown  all,  he  was  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season,  in  college, 
in  the  street,  and  from  house  to  house,  in  the  cause  of  his  Master. 
No  one  was  more  sensitive  to  anything  which  promised  good  or  threat- 
ened evil  to  the  interests  of  moral  or  of  vital  godliness. 

*' There  was  not  the  shade  of  self-exaltation  in  anything  he  said  or 
did.  He  was  far  as  one  could  be  from  the  appearance  of  being 
puffed  up  by  his  attainments  or  his  wide  reputation.  His  manner 
and  beanng  were  not  even  what  might  have  been  excused  in  one' who 
could  not  but  be  aware  that  he  could  sustain  elegant  and  learned  dis- 
course with  any  of  the  philosophers  or  statesmen  or  men  of  letters  of 
the  world.  On  the  contrary,  he  could  take  the  level  of  the  most 
humble  and  illiterate,  with  no  appearance  of  condescension,  readily 
adaptiuir  himself  to  their  apprehension,  their  prejudices,  or  their 
humors,  thus  in  the  best  sense  becoming  all  things  to  all  men  if  he 
might  thereby  win  them  to  the  right  and  the  true." 
He  died  iu  1872. 

VEAZIE,   GENERAL  SAMUEL. 

General  Veazie  was  born  in  Portland,  Maine,  April  22,  1787,  and 
came  to  To])sham  when  about  twenty-one  years  of  age,  without  c;ipi- 


I 

I 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  819 

tal,  and  established  himself  in  a  smnll  business.  He  afterwards  en- 
gaged in  the  himber  business  on  the  Androscoggin,  and  in  ship-build- 
ing. He  built  a  dozen  or  more  vessels,  equipped  them,  freighted 
them  with  his  own  lumber,  and  carried  on  a  direct  trade  with  the 
West  Indies. 

In  tlie  war  of  1812  he  took  an  active  part.  In  1812  he  was  chosen 
ensign,  and  in  1819  captain  of  a  Topsham  company  in  the  militia. 
He  was  afterwards  promoted  rapidly,  uutil  he  filled  the  office  of 
general.  He  is  said  to  have  been,  though  a  strict  disciplinarian,  an 
efficient  and  beloved  commander. 

''  Identified  with  all  the  social,  religious,  and  political  interests  of 
Topsham,  General  Veazie  became  one  of  its  leading  citizens.  His 
liber* lit^'  towards  the  church  where  he  worshipped,  the  trees  which  he 
planted,  and  the  good  taste  and  improvements  displayed,  will  not  be 
foi"gotten  in  coming  generations. 

"  In  1826  the  inducements  of  a  larger  field  for  operations,  on  the 
Penobscot,  called  his  attention  there,  when  he  made  valuable  pur- 
chases in  Oldtown,  which  became  so  important  that  he  closed  his 
business  at  Topsham,  and  moved  to  Banger,  in  1832. 

"  The  loss  of  such  a  citizen  to  Topsham  was  soon  apparent  in  his 
operations  at  Oldtown  and  Bangor. 

"  His  comprehensive  mind  made  him  master  of  the  situation,  and 
while  he  continued  to  build  ships  and  give  emplo^-ment  to  his  old 
mechanical  friends  who  followed  him,  his  manifold  lumbering  inter- 
ests, at  Oldtown  and  Stillwater,  proved  the  wisdom  of  his  invest- 
ments. Superadded  to  these  he  became  noted  as  a  banker,  founding 
the  Bank  of  Bangor,  which  was  merged  into  the  Veazie  Bank,  both 
institutions  ever  having  the  confidence  of  the  public,  based  upon  his 
capital  and  management. 

"  The  Bangor,  Oldtown,  and  Milford  Railroad  becoming  unprofitable 
to  its  proprietors,  was  Sold  to  him,  when,  as  if  by  magic,  it  recuper- 
ated, and  became  one  of  the  leading  arteries  of  Bangor.  In  l^<o5, 
having  lost  his  wife,  he  moved  to  the  then  village  of  North  Bangor, 
where  he  afterwards  married.  The  citizens  of  that  village  petitioned 
the  legislature  to  be  incorporated  as  a  town  under  the  name  of  Veazie, 
which  was  granted,  and  here,  some  three  miles  from  Bangor,  he  ever 
after  resided. 

"General  Veazie  was  a  Je.TersDnian  Democrat,  a  mm  of  great 
executive  ability-  and  financial  capacity,  had  an  iron  will,  accompa- 
nied by  a  resolute  energy  and  inflexible  intcgrit}'.  He  was  a  good 
husband,  devoted  parent,  and  an  excellent  neighbor.     His  word,  like 


820        HI8T0RT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

the  bills  that  bore  his  name,  was  never  ^  below  par/  and  he  was 
always  the  young  man's  fHend.  Wielding  a  large  influence,  and 
although  often  solicited,  he  would  never  accept  office,  nor  ever  held 
one,  as  the  writer  believes,  except  that  of  councillor  to  the  governor 
of  the  State.  His  life  was  one  of  incessant  acti\ity  and  usefulness  to 
the  day  of  his  death,  March  12,  1868,  when,  in  the  full  possession  of 
his  faculties,  surrounded  by  his  family,  he  bequeathed  to  them  a  good 
name,  and  probably  the  largest  fortune  in  the  State." 

WALKER,  MAJOR  NATHANIEL. 

Nathaniel  Walker  was  born  in  Arundel,  now  Kennebunk,  Septem- 
ber 25,  1781,  and  while  a  boy  came  with  his  father  to  Topsham.  in 
which  town  he  passed  the  greater  part  of  his  life. 

He  was  a  warm-hearted  patriot,  and  served  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  was  captain  of  the  Topsham  artillery  company  in  1814,  when  it 
was  called  out  and  ordered  to  Bath  for  the  defence  of  that  town,  ami 
was  subsequently  promoted  to  the  office  of  major.  He  filled  various 
public  positions.  He  was  town  clerk  for  a  series  of  years  and  post- 
master for  some  length  of  time.  Major  Walker  was  also  a  justice  of 
the  peace  and  an  efficient  member  of  the  Citizens'  Fire  Company,  in 
which  he  always  kept  up  an  interest.  His  chief  occupation  was  that 
of  surve^'or  of  lumber,  and  he  was  also  interested  in  the  luml>er  busi- 
ness. He  was  an,  energetic  and  able  business  man.  He  had  a  strong 
constitution  and  was  very  healthy,  never  having  been  sick  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  built,  in  1809,  the  Walker  homestead,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death,  which  took  place  August  17,  1851. 

WHEELER,  REVEREND  AMOS  DEAN,  D.  D. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  bom  in  Woodstock,  Vermont,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1803,  and  was  the  son  of  Amos  Wheeler,  Jr.,  and  L^dia  [Ran- 
dall] Wheeler.  His  father  d^'ing  when  he  was  three  years  old,  he  was 
adopted  by  James  Udall,  Esquire,  of  Hartland,  Vermont,  with  whom 
he  lived  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  receiving  instruction  in  the  com- 
mon schools  and  at  Thetford  Academy.  In  1820  he  went  to  Leices- 
ter, Massachusetts,  where  his  relatives  resided,  and  attended  Leicester 
Academy  for  a  while,  subsequently  teaching  school  until  he  entereil 
Williams  College,  from  which  he  graduated  in  1827.  He  then  taught 
the  acaden\}'  at  Marlboro*  for  two  years,  at  the  expiration  of  which 

# 

time  he  ij;as  elected  principal  of  the  Latin  Grammar  School  in  Salem. 
He  remained  in  that  position  for  three  3*eara,  8tud3*ing  theology,  mean- 
time, with  the  Revereiiid  Charles  Upham,  D.  D.,  who  was  then  pastor 


biooraphicjl:  821 

of  the  First  Church  in  Salem.  Resigning  his  school  in  1832,  he  spent 
a  year  at  Hanard  Divinity  School,  graduating  therefrom  in  1833. 
From  Cambridge  he  went  to  Meadville,  Pennsylvania,  to  supply  the 
pulpit  of  the  Unitarian  Society,  and  remained  there  seven  or  eight 
months.  While  at  MeadviUe  he  received  a  call  to  settle  over  that  par- 
ish, but  declined  on  account  of  the  distance  from  his  relatives  and 
friends.  In  1834  he  was  invited  to  and  was  settled  over  the  Unitarian 
Society  in  Standish,  Maine.  He  continued  in  that  place  until  1839, 
when  he  received  a  call  to  settle  in  Topsham,  where  he  ever  after  lived. 
For  foui-teen  years  he  preached  in  the  Unitarian  Meeting-House  in 
Topsham.  At  the  end  of  that  time  the  Unitarian  Society  of  Topsham 
and  the  Universalist  Society  of  Brunswick  were  united  under  the  name 
of  *'  The  Mason  Street  Religious  Society,"  of  Brunswick,  and  Mr. 
Wheeler  was  invited  to  become  pastor  of  the  new  organization.  He 
preached  to  this  society  until  18G5,  when  he  resigned  and  was  soon 
after  app>ointed  missionary  for  the  American  Unitarian  Association  to 
the  State  of  Maine,  aind  at  about  the  same  time  he  was  elected  secre- 
tary of  the  Maine  Conference  of  Unitarian  churches.  He  died  June 
28,  1876. 

The  following  obituary  notices  by  life-long  friends  undoubtedly  give 
a  correct  estimate  of  his  character  and  abilities. 

"  Soon  after  Doctor  Wheeler  made  Topsham  his  home  he  became 
known  to  the  college.  Three  of  his  sons  were  graduated  from  it.  He 
was  for  3*ears  uniformly  on  its  committee  of  examination.  I  doubt 
whether  the  late  Professor  Sm}- th  thought  he  could  have  an  examina- 
tion in  the  higher  mathematics  without  him.  But  he  was  at  home  in 
any  department  of  the  course.  The  doors  of  the  college  were  always 
wide  open  to  him,  and  she  bestowed  on  him  her  highest  honors.* 

*'  Interested  in  education,  he  was  for  years  on  the  superintending 
school  committee  of  his  town,  and  I  think  there  was  not  a  child  in  the 
town  who  was  not  glad  to  see  him  enter  the  school-room  on  his  official 
visits  He  was  interested  in  young  men ;  fitted  several  for  the  col- 
lege, received  undergraduates  as  pupils,  and  the}'  respected  and  loved 
him  as  a  father. 

''  He  was  for  man}-  years  on  the  standing  committee  of  the  Maine 
Historical  Society,  and  much  esteemed  and  respected  for  counsel  and 
encouragement.*' 

'^Doctor  Wheeler  was  a  man  of  unquestioned  ability,  of  cultivated 
and  literary  tastes,   an   easy,  graceful  writer,  ready  in   extempore 


1  Tfie  degree  of  JJ.  D,  was  bestowed  upon  him  in  I860. 


822        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSEAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

address,  of  singular  purity  of  life  and  conversation,  possessing  a  heart 
as  tender  and  true  as  that  of  a  child.  Scorning  all  equivocations,  pu^ 
suing  the  right  with  unflinching  purpose,  leading  the  life  of  the  hum- 
ble and  devoted  Christian,  he  won  the  love  of  the  people  of  his  own 
denomination,  and  the  esteem  of  all  others  who  knew  and  appreciated 
his  worth." 

"  Doctor  Wheeler  was  a  man  of  strong  con\ictions,  of  decided  opin- 
ions, of  a  gentle,  genial  spirit,  generous  Impulses  and  sympathies  for 
every  good  object,  of  high-toned  character.  He  was  not  a  man  to 
kindle  unkind  emotions  in  any  breast.  I  do  not  believe  he  left  an  hos- 
tile or  unfriendly  feeling  in  any  one,  and  'we  cannot  help  exclaiming 
with  the  Psalmist,  ^  Help,  Lord,  for  the  faithful  fail  from  among  the 
children  of  men ! ' " 

Sa3's  a  writer  in  the  Christian  R  gister^  "  He  was  a  man  of  larger 
natural  endowment  and  more  varied  attainments  than  was  generally 
known.  Few  of  his  contemporaries  excelled  him  in  mathematical 
scholarship.  He  kept  well  up  with  the  college  curriculum  in  all  its 
departments.  For  man}'  years  he  was  a  regular  contributor  of  able 
articles  to  a  journal  of  mathematical  science.  He  had  a  poetic  taste 
and  faculty  bej'ond  the  average  of  cultivated  men.  Few  surpassed 
him  in  critical  and  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Bible,  and  in  ready  abil- 
ity to  maintain  his  position  by  exact  verbal  quotations  therefrom.  Of 
clear  mental  vision  and  acute  argumentative  powers,  he  was  strong  as 
he  was  also  fair  and  good-natured  in  general  debate. 

"  Calm  habitually,  even  to  sedateness,  self-governed  and  judicious, 
the  man  of  all  around  you  to  whom  you  would  intrust  any  matter 
requiring  sober  and  unbiassed  deliberation,  he  could  yet  make  merr)' 
witli  the  gaj'est  within  the  bounds  of  right  and  reason,  was  as  tender 
in  his  feelings  as  a  child,  and  his  religious  emotions  were  easily 
excited." 

His  children  will  be  pardoned  if,  from  a  filial  regard  to  his  memory, 
they  have  allowed  a  disprop>ortionate  space  to  this  sketch. 

WILSOX,   CAPTAIX  THOMAS. 

Thomas  Wilson  came  from  Ireland  when  he  was  about  fifteen  years 
of  age,  arrived  in  Boston,  afterwards  came  to  Topsham,  and  when  the 
Indian  war  commenced  returned  to  Boston  again.  On  the  return  of 
peace  he  moved  back  to  Topsham,  and  remained  during  the  last  French 
and  Indian  war,  and  until  his  decease.  He  was  buried  in  the  grave- 
yard near  the  old  meeting-house.  He  was  the  onh'  one  of  his  family 
who  came  to  this  country.     He  was  a  Scotch-Irish  Presb^-terian. 


BIOGRAPHICAL,  823 

He  was  a  noted  hunter,  and  was  one  of  the  early  explorers  of  what 
is  now  the  town  of  Farmington.  His  house,  a  block-house,  stood  a  lit- 
tle west  of  where  Mr.  James  Wilson's  house  now  stands.  His  third 
son,  Thomas,  was  in  the  English  navy  in  the  Revolution,  and  died  in 
consequence  of  wounds  received  in  action.  He  may  have  been  im- 
pressed into  the  British  service,  but  the  belief  has  aiwaj's  prevailed  in 
the  family  that  he  entered  it  voluntarily. 

WOODSIDE,   REVEREND  JAMES. 

Reverend  James  Woodside  was  a  clerg^^man  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. According  to  a  statement  in  the  Pejepscot  Papers,  he,  with  his 
son  William,  arrived  in  this  country  prior  to  the  3'ear  1714.  He 
remained  at  Falmouth  with  his  family,  and  his  son  came  to  this  town 
and  took  charge  of  the  block- house  at  Maquoit  in  1714.  If  the  fore- 
going statement  is  correct,  he  must  have  returned  to  Ireland  again,  as 
he  certainly  left  the  latter  country  in  1718,  as  is  shown  b}*  the  follow- 
ing copy  ^  of  a  petition  of  James  Woodside  to  the  king,  25th  June, 
1723.:  — 

"To  THE  Kings  Most  Excellext  Majesty  in  Councel:  — 

"THE  HUMBLE  MEMORIAL  &  PETITION  OF  JAMES  WOODSIDE, 
LATE  MINISTER  OF  THE  GOSPEL  AT  BRUNSWICK  IN  NEW 
ENGLAND 

"  SUEWETH, 

"  That  he  with  40  Famil3's,  consisting  of  above  160  persons  did  in 
the  3'ear  1718  embarque  on  a  ship  at  Derry  Lough,  in  Ireland,  in 
order  to  Erect  a  Colony  at  Casco  Bay,  in  3'our  Maj'tys  Province  of 
Main  in  New  England. 

"  That  being  arrived  they  made  a  settlement  at  a  place  called  by 
the  Indians  Pejipscot,  but  by  them  Brunswick,  within  4  miles  from 
Fort  George,  where  (after  he  had  laid  out  a  considerable  sum  upon  a 
Garrison  House,  fortifj'ed  with  Palisadoes  &  two  large  Bastions,  had 
also  made  great  improvements  &  laid  out  considerabl}'  for  the  benefit 
of  that  Infant  Colony)  the  Inhabitants  were  surprized  b}'  the  Indians 
who  in  the  month  of  Julj'  1722  came  down  in  great  numbers  to  mur- 
der your  Majesty's  good  subjects  there. 

"  That  upon  this  surprise  the  Inhabitants  naked  &  destitute  of  pro- 
visions run  for  shelter  into  3'our  Pet'rs  House  (which  is  still  defended 
by  his  sons)  where  thoy  were  kindly  received,  provided  for  &  pro- 
tected from  the  Rebel  Indians. 

*  Obtained  by  Reverend  Doctor  Woods  from  the  liolls  Office  in  London. 


824        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 

^^That  the  sd.  Indians  being  happily  prevented  from  murdering 
3-our  Maje8t3'*8  good  subjects  (in  revenge  to  your  Pet'r)  presently 
kill'd  all  his  Cattel,  destroying  all  the  moveables  &  provisions  they 
could  come  at,  &  as  3'our  Pet'r  had  a  verj'  considerable  stock  of  Cattel 
he  &  his  family  were  great  suflTerers  thereby,  as  may  appear  by  a  Cer- 
tificate of  the  Govemour  of  that  Province,  a  copy  whereof  is  hereunto 
annexed.  Your  Pet'r  therefore  most  humbly  begs  that,  in  regard  to 
his  great  undertaking,  his  great  losses  &  sutferings,  the  service  done 
to  the  publick  in  saving  the  lives  of  many  of  Your  Maj'tys  subjects, 
the  unshaken  loyalty  &  undaunted  courage  of  his  sons,  who  still 
defend  the  sd.  Gamson,  Your  Majesty*  in  Councel  will  be  ])leased  to 
provide  for  him,  his  Wife  &  Daughter,  here,  or  grant  him  the  post  of 
Mr.  Cummins,  a  searcher  of  ships  in  the  Harbour  of  Boston,  N. 
England,  lateh-  deceas'd,  so  that  his  family  reduc'd  to  very  low  cir- 
cumstances may  be  resettled  &  his  losses  repair'd  where  they  were 
sustain'd. 

'*  &  Your  Pet'r  shall  ever  pray  &c. 

"  I  do  hereby  certifie  that  the  Rev'd  Mr.  Woodside  went  over  fh)m 
Ireland  to  New  England  with  a  considerable  number  of  people,  that 
he  &  thej'  sate  down  to  plant  in  a  place  called  Brunswick  in  the  East- 
ern Parts  of  New  England,  where  he  built  a  Garrison  House,  which 
was  the  means  of  saving  the  lives  of  man}'  of  his  people  in  the  late 
Insurrection  of  the  Indians  in  July  last.  That  his  generosity'  is  taken 
notice  of  b}'  both  Doctors  Mathers  &  that  the  Indians  cutt  off  all  his 
Cattle,  whereby  he  &  his  family  are  great  sufferers. 

"  Copia  vera. 

*'  Samuel  Shute. 
"London,  June  25,  1728." 

In  1719  the  proprietors  united  with  the  inhabitants,  and  in  a  joint 
letter  invited  him  to  preach  six  months  on  probation.  The  proprietors 
also  provided  that  the  house  of  Mr  Baxter  should  be  made  habitable 
for  Mr.  Woodside.  This  house  was  on  lot  number  six,  on  the  south- 
east corner  of  Maine  and  Green  Streets.  During  his  perioil  of 
probation  Mr.  Woodside  did  not  give  perfect  satisfaction,  although  he 
had  some  strong  friends.  At  the  expiration  of  the  six  months,  how- 
ever, the  town  voted  ''  to  continue  him  the  same  length  of  time  again, 
provided  those  who  were  dissatisfied  with  his  conversation  can,  by 
treatinoj  him  as  becomes  Christians,  receive  such  satisfaction  from  him 
as  tlint  they  will  hear  liim  preach."  The  majority  of  the  settlers  were 
opposed  to  him.  however,  and  he  only  preached  three  months  longer. 


BIOGRAPHICAL.  825 

not  being,  it  is  said,  puritanical  enough.  He  returned  to  England 
soon  after  leaving  this  town,  and  it  is  thought  that  his  son  James  fol- 
lowed him.  Soon  after  his  return  he  sent  his  portrait  over  to  his  son 
William.  It  bears  date  ''  1726,  bv  Gibson."  Mr.  Woodside  eorre- 
sponded  with  his  son  William  for  some  3'ears  afterwards,  though  the 
latest  date  is  now  unknown,  as  is  also  (to  the  writer)  the  date  of  his 
death. 

WOODSIDE,  CAPTAIN   WILLIAM. 

Captain  Woodside  obtained  command  of  the  Block  House  at  Maquoit 
in  1714,  according  to  one  account,  but  not  until  1726  according  to 
another  statement.^  He  was  commissioned  as  lieutenant,  but  after- 
wards was  made  a  captain.  He  bought  a  lot  on  what  is  called  Whar- 
ton's Point,  from  its  original  owner,  Thomas  Wharton.  He  afterwards 
purchased  the  first  of  the  regular  lots  laid  out  by  the  proprietors, 
V>wards  the  falls. 

He  was  a  large,  well-built,  though  somewhat  corpulent,  stout,  active, 
and  energetic  man.  The  Indians,  it  is  said,  stood  in  fear  of  him.  He 
was  a  trader  with  the  Indians,  and,  it  is  aUeged,  usually  got  the  best 
of  a  bargain  with  them. 

Esquire  Woodside,  as  he  was  usually  called,  was  with  the  expedi- 
tion to  Louisburg  in  1750.  He  received  a  commission  as  chaplain 
from  Lord  Loudoun.  There  are  many  anecdotes  concerning  him, 
which  are  current  to  this  day.  He  had  a  number  of  encounters  with 
the  Indians,  but  always  managed  to  esca^^e,  and  sometimes  inflicted 
a  severe  punishment  upon  those  who  attempted  to  molest  him.  He 
wore,  as  was  the  fashion  at  that  time,  a  large  three-cornered  hat. 

''  Early  one  Sunday  morning  he  went,  against  the  remonstrance  of 
a  number  in  the  garrison,  to  a  turnip-yard  which  he  had  a  short  dis- 
tance north  from  his  house,  on  the  road.  Tiic  people  in  the  garrison 
were  suspicious  that  there  were  Indians  about,  because  the  dogs  had 
been  barking  all  night.  When  he  got  to  the  turnip-yard  he  put  his 
hand  on  the  fence  and  jumi)ei1  over,  and  there  were  a  number  of  In- 
dians concealed  under  the  fence  upon  the  lookout  for  him.  He  got  back 
over  the  fence  as  quick  as  he  could.  The  Indians  pursued  him,  but  he 
outran  them,  and  when  they  found  the}'  could  not  catch  him  they  fired 
at  him,  but  his  life  was  preserved  while  he  received  two  or  three  balls 
through  his  hat. 

"  Another  time,  when  the  Indians  appeared  friendly,  he  went  into  the 
wood  to  cut  timber.    Darkness  overtook  him  before  his  return.    When 

'  **  Oleaning§"  in  Brunswick  Telegraphy  hjf  McKeen, 


826        mSlORT  OF  BRUNHWICK,  TOPSBAM,  and  HARP8WELL. 

he  arrived  near  home  he  came  upon  some  Indians  by  surprise.  Thej 
professed  to  be  very  glad  to  see  him,  and  tried  to  detain  him  so  ear- 
nestly that  he  was  suspicious  that  there  was  some  mischief  going  on. 
He  went  to  the  garrison  and  found  all  well.  He  then  went  to  his  bam 
and  there  found  an  Indian  setting  fire  to  his  hay-mow.  He  caught 
him,  gave  him  many  severe  blows  on  the  side  of  the  head  with  his  fist, 
and  left  him,  as  he  supposed,  dead.  In  the  morning  he  went  out,  and 
found  that  by  some  means  he  had  been  taken  away."  ^ 

Captain  Woodside  died  in  1764.  His  will  was  written  by  Master 
Greorgc  Harwood,  and  his  son-in-law,  Deacon  Samuel  Stanwood,  was 
the  executor. 

1  P^epacot  PapeTM, 


FAMIL  Y  HmrORIES.  827 


CHAPTER   II. 

FAMILY     HISTORIES. 
EXPLANATORY    NOTE. 

In  the  following  pages  will  be  found  a  brief  account  of  the  origin  and 
settlement  here  of  some  of  the  older  families  of  these  towns. 

Nothing  further  than  this  has  been  attempted.  To  bring  the  gene- 
alogy of  so  many  families  down  to  the  present  generation  would  involve 
a  vast  amount  of  labor,  and  would,  of  itself,  make  a  volume.  P^or  the 
same  reason  it  has  been  found  necessary  to  limit  the  number  of  fami- 
lies mentioned  by  including  those  only  who  settled  somewhere  in  these 
towns  prior  to  the  3'ear  1800,  and  whose  descendants  are  still  living  in 
this  immediate  vicinit}'.  The  list  of  families  mentioned  does  not,  how- 
ever, include  all  who  came  here  previous  to  I8OO,  as  there  are  some 
such  families  concerning  which  sufflcient  information  could  not  be 
obtained  without  the  devotion  of  more  time  and  labor  to  the  work  than 
the  authors  could  atford.  In  some  cases  the  omission  is  due  to  the 
fact  that  members  of  the  family,  to  whom  application  for  information 
was  made,  have  failed  to  make  any  response  to  the  request. 

The  following  abbreviations  are  used  :  — 

abt.  —  about.  dau.  —  daughter. 

b.— born.  m.  — married. 

d.  —  died.  s.  —  single. 

ch.  —  child  or  children.  (Biog. )  —  see  Biographical  sketch. 

bap.  —  baptized.  wf.  —  wife. 

ANDERSON. 

According  to  traditionary  accounls,  Jacob  Anderson  came  from  Dungan- 
non,  the  home  of  the  O'Neils,  in  Ulster  County,  of  Tyrone,  Ireland.  He 
emigrated  to  this  Country  somewhere  about  the  year  1710.  He  settled  tor  a 
short  time  near  Old  Orchard,  but  soon  moved  to  that  portion  of  Freeport 
known  as  Flying  Point.  lie  built  a  block-house  there  and  became  a  farmer, 
and  somewhat  noted  Indian  tighter  during  the  French  war.  The  Cumberland 
Registry  of  Deeds  sliows  the  sale  to  him  of  portions  of  the  Dummer  claim 


828         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARP8WELL, 

in  (then)  North  Yarmouth,  and  the  adjacent  islands'  off  Flying  Point  by  Jere 
Powell,  Epos  Sargent,  Timothy  Prout,  and  Abraham  Pettcngill,  at  variotiB 
dnt«s  from  March,  1769,  to  March,  1764. 

Jacob  Andehscin,  son  of  the  above  Jacob,  was  b.  in  Frecport.  He  left  there 
to  join  Washington's  army  at  Cambridge  the  next  morning  after  the  news  of 
the  battle  of  Lexington  reached  Maine.  After  the  close  of  the  war  of  the 
Revolution,  he  removed  to  Brunswick,  and  cleared  a  Aimi  lying  between  the 
Woodsidc  and  Koss  farms,  on  the  main  road  from  Brunswick  to  Freeport. 
His  son,  Martin  Anderson,  was  bom  on  the  farm  above  mentioned  in  1789. 
Subsequently  to  1812  he  removed  to  Freeport,  and  from  there  to  Bath.  He 
died  at  the  house  of  his  son,  Reverend  M.  B.  Anderson,  D.  D.,  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  Dec,  7,  1875. 

BABBIDGE  ob  BARBIDGE. 

James  Barbidoe,  orBABSiDGE,  a  husbandman  residing  at  North  Yarroonth, 
was  bom  about  1697,  at  l^ffculme,  Devonshire,  England,  and  was  a  son  of 
James  and  Prudence  Babbidge,  whose  other  children  were  a  dau.,  Tampson, 
who  m.  John  Bnimtield,  and  sons  Peter,  Courtney,  and  William.  (From  **Dep- 
ositiou  of  James  Barbidge,  of  North  Yarmouth,  Maine,  1730.)  (N.  E.  H.  k  6. 
Reg.  Vol.  13.) 

The  Harps  well  town  records  contain  the  record  of  the  deatli  of  a  James 
Babbidge,  August  11,  1764,  aged  78.  He  was  therefore  born  1686.  It  is  not 
improbable  that  lie  is  the  James  alluded  to  as  having  been  bom  in  1697,  and 
that  a  mistake  has  been  made  in  one  or  the  other  statement. 

A  Courtney  Babbiikie  m.  Ist,  Sarah,  dau.  of  James  Bibber,  abt.  1754. 
They  had  ch.  Sarah,  b.  No.  Yarmouth,  1766;  TriV/ieim,  b.  llarpswell,  1758; 
Stf^hen,  b.  1760;  Courtney,  b.  1761;  BtUy,  b.  1763;  Susanna,  b.  1766. 

lie  m.  2d,  Abigail,  dau   of  Wm.  Booker;  ch.,  William  b.  1769. 

BAILEY. 

Deacon  Timothy  Bailey,  of  Hanover,  Mass.,  was  a  descendant  in  the  3d 
generation  of  John,  of  Scituate.  He  m.  1st,  Sarah  Buck,  May  27,  1731,  who 
d.  Oct.  9,  1740  He  in.  2d,  Hannah  Curtis,  June  9,  1742,  and  with  his 
wife  was  recommended  to  the  church  in  North  Yarmouth  He  settled  on 
Bailey's  Island,  then  a  part  of  North  Yarmouth.  Cli.  —  Olire,  b.  May,  1785, 
d.  May  26,  1730;  Timnlhy,  b.  June,  1737,  d.  young;  Sarah,  b.  March  13, 
1739;  ch.  by  second  wife  were :  —  Delightyh,  June  12,  1745;  0/ice,  bap.  May 
15,  1748:   Timothy,  bap.  Oct.  13,  1767. 

BARSTOW.a 


"  Barstow,  —  Naburn  Hall,  York,  Ermine  on  aferre  sable,  three  crescents, 
or,  crest,  a  horse's  head,  couped  or." 

This  family  came  ft*om  the  West  Riding  of  Yorkshire,  England.  Four 
brothers  of  tliis  name  came  early  to  this  country  and  settled  at  Cambridge, 
Watertown,  and   Dedham.     Their  names  were  George,  Michael,   John,  and 

*  These  islands  arc  the  Middle  Brother,  Upper  Brother  ^  and  Sovc  and  Pigs, 
^See  History  of  Hanover,  pp,  208  to  227. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  829 

William.  Of  the  male  descendants  bat  one  (James)  is  known  to  have  settled 
in  this  vicinity.  Mary,  dan.  of  Joshua,  b.  in  Hanover,  Mass.,  in  17-13,  m. 
a  Curtis,  and  settled  at  Harpswell  Neck. 

James  Barstow,  son  of  Joshua,  was  b.  in  Hanover,  Mass.,  Oct.  8, 1744,  and 
m.  AgneSy  daughter  of  Wm.  Wyer,  of  Boston,  and  settled  in  Harpswell,  and 
was  the  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  vicinity,  and  d.  Feb.  17,  1827. 

Ch.  were :  — Elizabeth,  b.  1777;  Joshua,  b.  1781;  HWtam,  b.  1784;  Hob  rt, 
b.  1785;  Agnes,  b.  1788. 

BERRY. 

Joseph  Berky  was  b.  at  New  Meadows,  Brunswick,  Sept.  26,  1740.  His 
parents  had  previously  resided  at  ** Berry's  Mills'*  in  Bath,  then  called 
Georgetown.  Nothing  has  been  obtained  as  regards  his  ancestors.  He  m. 
1st,  Feb.  1767,  Jane,  the  second  dau.  of  Capt.  Adam  Hunter,  of  Topsham; 
2d,  Jennett^  a  dau.  of  Deacon  James  Henry,  the  cooper  of  Topsham. 
Ch.  were  by  first  wife, — Adam,  b.  Jan.  25,  1769,  unmarried.  Was  lost 
at  sea,  date  unknown;  Jos'ph,  b.  about  1772,  unmarried,  d.  in  1810.     By  2d 

wife: — Jenny ,  m.  Crispus  (i raves,  date  of  birth  and  death  unknown; 

John,  b. ,  m.  a  Simpson,  d.  in  Demerara,  March  18,  1803;  Hannah,  d.  in 

infancy;  Robert,  b.  April  28,  1786,  single;  was  drowned  at  Cathance,  May  17, 
1835;  Rufus,  b.  May  25,  1789,  —  nothing  else  known;  Josvih,  b.  March  22, 
1792;  single,  drowned  near  Seguin,  Sept.  27,  1817,  as  he  was  coming  ft'om 
Portland  in  a  small  boat;  Harvey,  b.  Sept.  19,  1798,  —  nothing  else  known. 

Joseph  Berry,  either  prior  to  or  after  his  marriage,  settled  in  Topsham. 
During  the  last  Indian  war  he  is  said  to  have  been  captured  by  the  Indians 
and  carried  to  Canada  It  appears  from  an  entry  in  the  office  of  the  Registry 
of  Deeds  that  Dec.  28,  1768,  he  received  of  James  Hunter  one  hundred  acres 
of  the  N.  W.  parts  of  lots  Nos  30  and  31  in  Topsham.  He  was  one  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety  in  1785. 

BISBEE.1 

The  common  ancestor  of  all  of  this  family  in  New  England  was  Thomas 
Besbidge,  as  the  name  was  formerly  called  and  spelled.  He  came  f^om 
England  in  the  spring  of  1634.  He  is  known  to  have  had  three  children,  viz. : 
Elisha  ;  Alice,  who  m.  John  Bourne ;  Mary,  who  m.  William  Brown  of  Sudbury* 

Olivkr  Bisdeb,  of  the  sixth  generation  from  Thomas,  was  b.  in  Duxbury, 
Mass.,  June  10,  1762  He  was  a  ship-carpenter.  He  m.  1st,  Huldah  Simmons, 
of  Duxbury,  and,  prior  to  1790,  he  moved  to  Brunswick  and  settled  at 
New  Meadows.  His  ch.  was,  by  1st  wf. :  —  Huldah,  b.  Oct  4,  1791,  m. 
Edward  Mclutire. 

He  m.  for  2d  wife.  Persis  Simmons,  a  sister  of  his  1st  wf.,  Sept.  22,  1792. 
Ch.  were :  —  Rufus,  b.  Jan.  12, 1792 ;  Studley,  b.  July  10, 1795 ;  Hannah,  b.  April 
18,  1797,  single;  yVillium,  b.  July  4,  1799,  m.  Hannah  Prior;  Aaron,  b.  Oct. 
10,  1802,  m.  Nancy  Couley ;  /Ve^,  b.  Sept.  27, 1804,  m.  Maria  Larrabee ;  tfktrah, 
b.  Aug.  3,  1806,  m.  James  Tebbetts. 

Charles  Bisbee,  Jr.,  of  the  sixth  generation  A:om  Thomas,  was  b.  in  1757, 
and  m.  Desire  Diugley,  of  Marshfleld.     He  was  a  Jeweller  and  watch  repairer, 

'  For  full  genealogy  see  Bisbee  Family  Records. 


830        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

and  worked  some  time  at  his  trade  in  Brunswick.    He  subsequently  moved 
with  his  Aimily  to  Indiana,  where  he  d.  June  11,  1838. 

BOOKER. 

This  family  is  of  English  ori/?in,  the  name  being  quite  common  in  England. 

John  Booker  came  from  England  about  1707  and  settled  at  York.  It  is 
probable  that  he  was  accompanied  by  a  brother  who  settled  fUrther  eiist.  He 
m.  llester,  dau.  of  Thomas  Adams  of  York,  by  whom  he  had  eight  ch.,  in 
York,  between  the  years  1713  and  1728. 

James  Booker,  the  sixth  ch.  of  John  of  York,  was  b.  Dec.  18,  1723.  He 
m.,  in  York,  Mercy  Young,  dau.  of  Benaiah  Young,  Nov.  11,  1747,  and  settled 
on  Harpswell  Neck,  near  the  old  meeting-house,  soon  after  his  marriage.  He 
was  a  deacon  of  the  Congregational  Church  and  was  a  selectnmn  in  17C2.  He 
ran  a  freighting  vessel  from  Harpswell  to  Boston  and  tlie  intermediate  ports, 
carrying  largely  wood  and  bringing  east  general  merchandise.  He  was  the 
progenitor  of  the  Bookers  now  residing  in  Brunswick  and  vicinity.  Ch. 
were:  —  JaitH'S,  b.  Dec.  25,  1748  0.  S. ;  Jotham^  b.  July  3,  1750  O.  S. ;  Ruth 
and  Joseph^  b.  May  27,  1753,  N.  S. ;  Miriam^  b.  June  23,  1755;  Daniel,  b.  Nov. 
14,  175G;  Mercy,  b.  May  C,  1758;  Daniel,  b.  Feb.  25,  17G0;  Isaiah,  b.  Jan.  5, 
1762;   William,  b.  Oct.  0,  17G3;  Ester,  b.  Nov.  21,  1765. 

CHASE. 

The  first  of  this  name  to  whom  reference  has  been  found  was  Jit>aii  Chase, 
who  settled  in  Brunswick  about  1752.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Brunswick 
family  of  that  name.  His  wife's  name  was  Margaret.  He  d.  in  1804.  Ch. 
were:  —  Anne,  h.  Mch.  3,  1753;  James,  b.  Mch.  23,  1755;  Mttry,  b.  Aug.  5,  1757; 
Isaac,  b.  Aug.  27,  1751);  William  Vincent,  b.  Nov.  2,  1761;  Anthony,  b.  Oct.  2, 
1763;  Jmldh,  b.  Nov.  16,  1765;  Margaret,  b.  Nov.  7,  1767;  Nathaniel,  b.  Jan. 

17,  1770;  Jean,  b.  Apr.  18,  1772. 

CLARK. 

Samuel  Clark  and  his  wife  Martha  were  both  bom  in  Ireland,  but  may  have 
been  m.  in  Boston.  He  settled  at  Middle  Bay,  Brunswick,  about  1739.  He 
was  a  deacon  in  the  First  Parish  Church  in  Brunswick. 

Ch.  were:  — ./o/}/j,  b.  Dec.  11,  1730;  Mary,  b.  Nov.  1,  1732;  Robert,  b.  April 

18,  1735;  Samuel,  b.  May  22,  1737;  yathan,h.  July  2, 1730;  Margaret,  b.  Aug. 
1,  1741;  James,  b.  May  10,  1745;  David,  b.  Mch.  20,  1748;  Nathan,  b.  Feb.  5, 
1751;  John,  b.  Oct.  27,  1754. 

COOMBS. 

The  name  of  the  father  of  the  first  of  the  family  who  came  to  this  vicinity 
has  not  been  ascertained;  but  he  was  a  Frenchman,  who  settled  first  in  Plym- 
outli  County,  and  subsequently  lived  in  Newburyport.  He  is  known  to  have 
had  children,  —  PvUr,  Anthony,  and  John, 

rETKU  CooMHs  canic  to  Brunswick  about  1730,  and  settled  first  on  Howard's 
Point,  a  short  distance  ]>elow  the  Bartlett  Adams  place.  He  afterwards  moved 
to  tlie  Freeman  (iross  Place  (near  Harding's  Station),  where  he  remained  to 
his  death.     Ch.  : —  Georye,  Peter,  Samuel,  and  Caleb. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  831 

Concerning  Anthony  Coombs  nothing  is  known,  except  that  he  settled  on 
the  James  Larral)ee  Place. 

John  Coombs  settled  on  Great  Island,  Harps  well,  and  was  the  grandfather 
of  Elisha,  Anthony,  John,  and  Isaac. 

CURTIS.* 

Arms  :  Arg.  a  chev.  sa.  betw.  three  bulls*  heads,  cabossed,  gu. 

Crest  :  A  unicorn  pass  or  betw.  four  trees  ppr. 

The  Curtis  family  are  descended  A*om  an  ancient  English  family  settled  in 
the  counties  of  Kent  and  Sussex.  William  Curtis,  the  ancestor  of  nearly  all 
of  that  name  In  New  England,  came  over  in  the  Linn  In  1G82. 

David  Curtis,  of  the  third  generation  IVom  William,  m.  Bethia  Sprague,  of 
Duxbury,  Dec.  U,  1732.  Moved  toHarpswell  about  1744.  He  was  the  ances- 
tor of  all  the  name  In  this  vicinity.  Ch.  were  (b.  in  Hanover,  Mass.) :  —  Nehe^ 
miah,  b.   1733;  Ez*kiel,  b.   1735;  Paul,  b.  1737;  Michael^  b.   1739;   Dacid,  b. 

1741;  Unth,  b.  1743. 

CUSHING. 

The  ancestor  of  all  of  this  name  in  this  vicinity  was  Matthew,  who,  with 
his  wife  Nazareth,  his  sons  Daniel,  Jeremiah,  Matthew,  and  John,  his  daughter 
Deborah,  and  his  wife's  sister,  Francis  Hicroft,  widow,  sailed  from  Grave- 
send,  April  2G,  1038,  In  the  ship  Diligent,  and  arrived  In  Boston,  Aug.  10. 

Caleb  CrsHiNO  (see  Blog.),  s.  of  Timothy,  was  b.  in  Cohasset,  Mass.,  April 
2,  1777;  came  to  Brunswick  In  Sept.,  17i>7.  He  m.  In  1801,  Mary  Dunning, 
dan.  of  John  Dunning.  She  d.  Nov.  13,  1808.  He  m.  again,  Dec.  5,  1814, 
Dolly  Owen,  dau.  of  Philip  Owen.  She  d.  in  Augusta,  April  20,  18G5,  aged  78 
yrs.  He  d.  April  14, 1838.  Ch.  yyeve  :  —  linfus  Kiiuj,  b.  July  23,  1802;  I^mis 
Tileston,  b.  June  24, 1804 ;  Francis  Dunning,  b.  Jan.  20, 1807 ;  John  Schtcartkin, 
b.  Sept  12,  1808. 

It  is  said  to  be  a  curious  fact  that  through  the  whole  genealoglc  line  of  the 
Cushing  family  a  strict  adherence  to  Scripture  Christian  names  has  been 
observed,  and  that  the  first  middle  name  occurring  since  1038  was  that  of  the 
oldest  son  of  Caleb. 

DOUGLAS. 

**  In  the  year  of  our  Lord  770,  in  the  reign  of  Solvathlous,  king  of  Scotts, 
one  Donald  Bane  of  the  Western  Isles,  having  Invaded  the  Scotch  territories 
and  routed  the  royal  army,  a  man  of  rank  and  figure  came  seasonably  with  his 
friends  and  followers  to  the  king's  assistance;  he  renewed  the  battle,  and 
obtained  a  complete  victory  over  the  Invader.  The  king,  ])eing  desirous  to 
see  the  man  who  had  done  him  so  signal  a  piece,  of  service,  he  was  pointed 
out  to  him,  by  his  color  or  complexion  in  these  words  of  the  old  Gallic  or 
Celtic  language, —  SuoltoDu  Glas,  in  English  **  Behold  that  black  or  swarthy 
colored  man,"  from  which  he  was  named  Sholto  the  Douglas.  The  king 
royally  rewarded  his  great  services,  and  gave  him  a  grant  of  several  lands  and 
large  possessions  In  the  County  of  Lanark,  which  were  called  Douglas ;  and 
ft-om  hence  came  the  surname  of  the  family."  (From  **  Scottish  Peerage.") 

'1  he  first  of  the  name  in  New  England  is  said  to  have  been  John  Douglas, 
who  was  b.  In  Scotland  about  1005.     At  the  age  of  12  he  was  kidnapped  by  the 


'  See  History  of  Hanover,  Mass. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  833 

The  Harpswell  Dnnnings  descended  f^om  William  of  York,  whose  sons 
Andrew  and  Benjamin  moved  to  Harpswell  a  short  time  previous  to  the 
Incorporation  of  the  town. 

Some  members  of  the  Dunning  family  claim  that  Andrew  left  a  son  in 
England  named  John,  who  had  a  son  Jonx,  who  became  a  celebrated  lawyer 
and  was  made  Lord  Ashbuuton.  Others  say  that  there  is  no  evidence  that 
Andrew  left  a  son  in  England.  There  is  some  probability,  however,  that 
Lord  Ashburton  belonged  to  the  same  English  family,  and  it  is  not  at  all 
unlikely  that  he  was  a  grandson  of  a  brother  of  Andrew.  He  left  a  large 
estate,  supposed  to  be  valued  at  ^50,000,000,  which,  it  is  said,  still  awaits  an 
heir  male. 

■4 

EATON. 

This  family  is  of  English  origin,  but  the  connection  with  the  first  settlers  of 
the  name,  in  this  country,  has  not  been  traced. 

Reverkntd  Elisiia  Eatox  (Biog  )  was  b.  in  1702.  He  m.  Mrs.  Catharine 
[Belcher]  Clough,  moved  to  Harpswell,  and  was  settled  as  pastor  of  the  church 
in  that  place  in  1754.  He  d.  in  Harpswell,  April  22,  17(54.  Ch  were:  —  Elishat 
b.  Sept.  12,  1732,  d.  in  Boston;  Samuel  (Blog.)  b.  in  Randolph,  Apr.  3,  1737; 
Ma'-y,  b.  Dec.  1,  1738;  Elizabeth,  b.  May  9,  1740;  Hmnah,  b.  May  30,  1742; 
Thndd'uSj  b.  Apr.  1,  1744,  d.  in  infancy.  The  daughters  lived  and  died  in 
Harpswell.  The  Harpswell  family  of  Batons  is  a  diHtinct  family,  or  at  least 
a  distinct  branch  ft*om  the  Brunswick  family. 

Samuel  Eaton,  the  ancestor  of  the  Brunswick  family  of  this  name,  came  to 
Brunswick  from  Salisbury,  Mass.,  early  in  the  last  century,  and  built  a  house 
on  what  is  now  the  southern  corner  of  Bank  and  Maine  Streets,  where  the 
billiard  saloon  stands.  He  had  two  ch.  and  perhaps  more.  One  of  his  ch., 
Samuel,  was  a  soldier  in  Fort  George  in  1722.  He  was  the  one  sent  to  George- 
town with  a  letter  to  Capts.  Harmon  and  Moody.  The  letter  was  tied  in  his 
hair.  When  it  was  not  safe  by  land  he  took  to  the  water  and  swam.  The 
other  son,  Moses,  was  taken  prisoner  in  June,  1722,  cruelly  mutilated,  and 
carried  to  Pleasant  Point,  where  the  Indians  killed  him. 

ELLTS. 

This  family  is  of  English  origin,  but  we  are  unable  to  trace  its  connection 
with  the  first  settler  of  the  name  in  this  country. 

Caleb  Ellis,  of  Cambridge,  Mass.,  was  the  father  of  John,  who  was  b.  In 
Cambridge  in  1727. 

Rev.  John  Ellis,  son  of  Caleb,  was  graduated  at  Ilarv.  Coll.  in  1750.  He 
was  ordained  at  Norwich  (Franklin),  Conn.,  Sept.  5,  1755.  He  was  a  chap- 
lain in  the  Revolutionary  army  all  through  the  war.  He  was  installed  at 
Rehoboth,  Mass.,  Mch.  30,  1785.  He  was  dismissed  in  1790,  and  returned  to 
Norwich,  where  he  d.  Oct.  19,  1805. 

Kev.  Jonathan  Ellis,  son  of  Rev.  John,  was  b.  In  Franklin,  Conn.,  April 
11,  1762,  settled  in  Topsham  in  1784.  He  in.  in  1790  Mary,  dan.  of  Robert 
Fulton,  of  Topsham.  She  d.  in  Upper  Stillwater,  Maine,  Mch.  11,  18G0,  aged 
91  years  less  one  week.  The  date  and  place  of  his  death  are  both  unknown. 
Ch.   wevei  — Samuel  Deane,   b.    Aug.   17,   1791,  sailed  ftrom   Bath  in   1810, 

53 


834      msTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  harpswell, 

entered  British  navy  and  was  never  heard  from;  Mary^  b.  April  9,  1793, 
m.  Charles  White  in  1839,  d.  Oct.  26,  1856;  Bethiah,  b.  Feb.  24,  1795,  m.  in 
1>21  to  Clias.  White,  d.  Dec.  20,  1830;  ^Tohn.h,  Feb.  10,  1797,  sailed  ftom 
Boston,  Oct.  2,  1815,  and  was  never  heard  from ;  Danl  /,  b.  Feb.  9,  1799,  m. 
in  1826  to  Susan  D.  Hilton,  d.  Sept.  8,  1841 ;  WiUiam,  b.  April  14,  1801,  ra.  hi 
1825  to  Miranda  Potter;  Asher,  b.  June  4,  1803,  m.  in  1836  to  Clarissa  Shep- 
herd, lives  in  Brunswick ;  Almxra,  b.  Oct.  30,  1805,  m.  in  1826,  to  James  Pray, 
d.  in  1855;  Benjamin,  b.  Sept.  21,  1807,  lost  at  sea,  Sept.  2,  1830;  RottH 
FuHon,  b.  Oct.  16,  1809,  m.  in  1839  to  Mary  Child,  d.  July  24,  1854. 

FAUK. 

The  earliest  member  of  this  family  to  whom  we  have  found  any  reference 
was  Thomas  Farr,  who  was  in  Harpswell  before  the  lievolution.  Whether 
his  ancestors  resided  there  before  him  or  not,  we  have  no  knowledge.  He  m. 
a  dau.  of  John  Bray  and  had  ch.  -.  —  Michael,  b.  1760;  John,  b.  1762;  Thomas, 
b.  1764;  Elizabeth,  b.  1766;  Isaac,  b.  1770;  Jenny,  b.  1772;  Noah,  b.  1774; 
Henry,  b.  1776;  Loraney,  b.  1780;  Mary,  b.  1784. 

FARRIN  OB  FERRIN. 

The  father  of  the  first  settler  of  this  name  in  Brunswick  was  bom  in  Ire- 
land.    He  came  to  this  country  from  Dublin,  and  settled  in  Ipswich,  Mass. 

JouN  Farrin,  son  of  the  above,  and  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  this 
vicinity,  was  b.  in  Ipswich.  He  m.  Hannah  Newman,  of  Lynn,  Mass.  Soon 
after  his  marriage  he  went  to  Mystic,  where  he  taught  school  for  about  six 
years.  About  1755  he  moved  to  Brunswick,  where  he  taught  school  for  many 
years. 

Ch.  were:—  William,  b.  Aug.  24,  1758;  Richard,  b.  Oct.  9, 1760;  Winthrttp, 
b.  Feb.  27,  1763;  Ehenezer,  b.  Xov.  23,  1764;  David,  b.  Feb.  8,  1767. 

FULTON. 

Gowen  Fulton,  with  his  wife  and  one  child,  came  into  this  country  with 
Actor  Patten  and  family,  about  the  year  1730.  He  lived  in  Coleraine,  the  mar- 
ket town  of  Derry  County,  Ireland,  and  was  a  journeyman  weaver  of  linen. 
His  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Margaret  Caswell,  was  born  in  Glasgow, 
Scotland,  where  she  lived  until  she  was  twelve  years  of  age,  then  went  over 
to  Ireland  and  lived  with  Actor  Patten  till  she  married. 

They  first  landed  in  Boston,  and  after  living  In  several  places  they  moved  to 
Topsham  about  the  year  1750,  and  settled  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  town.  He 
was  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name,  in  this  vicinity,  at  least.  He  lived  to  be  96 
years  of  age,  and  died  about  1791.  His  wife  died  fourteen  or  fifteen  years 
previous.     Both  were  buried  on  their  farm. 

He  had  ch.  : — John,  b.  in  Ireland,  m.  Hannah  Maxwell,  of  Scarboro',  lived 
and  d.  in  Topshtun:  Jnmos,  b.  in  Scarboro',  June  2,  1732,  m.  in  1764  Mary  Fer- 
guson, of  Easton,  Mass.  (she  b.  Meh.  0,  173fi).  He  d.  Feb.  4,  1820.  He  was 
the  first  representative  from  Topsham  to  the  General  Court;  Robert,  b.  Mch. 
27,  1745,  m.  In  M^K  ^Wfth  Patten,     He  d.  Jan.  13,  1777. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  835 

GATCHELL  OB  GETCHELL. 

This  family  is  said  to  be  of  Welsh  origin. 

Capt.  Jonx  Getciiell  (see   Blog.)  came  to  Brunswick  from  Spurwlnk 

about  the  year  1736.     He  m.  1st,  Elizabeth ,  and  had  ch. :  — Abigail,  b.  in 

Brunswick,  May  10, 1737 ;  William,  b.  Sept.  6,  1740.  He  m.  2d,  Mary ,  and 

had  ch. :  —  Dorcas,  b.  Feb.  25, 1743;  Samuel,  b.  Aug.  15,  1745;  John,  b.  Dec.  8, 
1748;  Mary,  b.  March  23,  1750;  Hugh,  b.  Dec.  26,  1752;  Robert,  b.  Sept.  21, 
1754;  Jude,  b.  Aug.  18,  1756;  Susanna,  b.  June  21,  1757;  Nathaniel,  b.  May 
14,  1759.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  now  resid- 
ing in  this  vicinity. 

Moses  Getcuell  was  a  settler  on  Harps  well  Neck  in  1731.  What  relation 
he  was,  if  any,  to  Capt.  John  Getchcll  is  not  known,  and  no  record  of  his 
children  has  been  found. 

GIVEEN  OR  GIVEN. 

David  Giveen,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  In  this  vicinity,  with  his 
wife  and  three  sons  came  ft*om  Coleraine,  county  of  Londonderry,  Ireland. 
He  came  to  Brunswick  about  1719.  He  first  settled  at  Mair  Point.  In  1730 
he  applied  to  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  for  land  on  the  Maquoit  road  for  his 
son  David  and  his  sons-in-law  Samuel  Clapp  and  James  Campbell.  In  his 
petition  to  the  proprietors,  he  signed  his  name  Giveen,  and  some  of  his 
descendants  still  spell  it  so,  while  others  spell  the  word  with  but  one  e. 

In  1735  he  purchased  three  hundred  acres  of  land  at  Middle  Bay,  for  forty- 
eight  dollars,  and  soon  after  moved  there.*  He  was  held  in  considerable 
esteem,  and  was  a  deacon  of  the  old  Presbyterian  Church.  The  name  of  his 
wife  is  not  known,  nor  the  date  of  his  or  her  death.  Ch.  were :  —  David,  who 
moved  to  She<?pscot;  John  and  Robert,  twins;  Martha,  m.  Samuel  Clarke; 
Jane,  m.  Hugh  White,  who  was  afterwards  drowned  in  Middle  Bay.  She 
afterwards  m.  Dr.  William  Spear;  a  dau.  who  m.  James  Campbell;  a  daw.' 
who  m.  Samuel  Clapp. 

GOWER. 

Robert  Gower  came  to  Topsham  firom  Kent,  England,  about  the  year  1766. 
He  m.  1st,  Margaret,  a  sister  of  Robert  Alexander.  He  m.  2d,  Mary  Henry, 
a  sister  of  James  Wilson's  wife,  Ann.  His  intention  of  marriage  to  Mary, 
dau.  of  James  Henry,  "y«  Cooper,"  was  recorded  Nov.  17, 1770.  He  removed 
to  Farmington,  Me.,  of  which  town  he  was  one  of  the  first  settlers,  and  where 
he  d.  Ch.  by  first  wife  were:  —  Edward,  b.  Feb.  12,  1761^  William,  b.  Nov. 
30,  1762.  By  second  wife: — James,  b.  Feb.  2,  1772;  John,  who  afterwards 
lived  in  Industry,  Me. ;  Samuel,  who  lived  in  Waterville,  Me. ;  George,  who 
lived  in  New  Sharon,  Me. 

GRAVES  OR  GREAVES. 

Four  brothers  of  this  name  came  to  Topsham  at  diffVirent  dates,  but  about 
the  year  1762.  They  came  ft*om  Falmouth.  In  the  latter  part  of  the  seven- 
teenth century  John  Graves  removed   from   Kittery  to   Falmouth,  and  m. 


*  P^epscot  Papers.  ^  McKeen^  MS.  Lectvre. 


i 


!• 


«36        HI9TOBT  or  BUrXSWlCK.  TOF^UkJL  ASD  HAEPSWUJ^ 


j..n^i- \  Gi^iVL*  WL*  V  F-er:"-  ZT.?i.  H*  it.  I<1-  tit  FjuixDr^ini-  Sani.  i 
*i*trr  ■'-f  >v;  'l.*zl  xzrl  SiiS-a^-l  SiAj-^e*.  H*  it.  ifL  J-ci*  2!i-  jr^"!.*"-.  Mwl  SoMma 
'H'>'':*>~  >'Jk^'.r^.  f>r:ii+r;T  ->f  Fi;:=Fr-r:L-    Hti  J*ai.  3f,  j^24-    Ci.  In-  j«i"rf. 

J  17'y>:  J.X%.  '•>.  :a  Ft:=*.v:ni  Xilj  «,  :r«±:   ITwJiffw,  b.  iu  Tcip*ii*SL,  Abx-  4. 

*  John  «i«ivx*.  &  broibtr  ->f  J'>bji«<c!4i.  m.  rn  I't"?.  Smruli  B-^tteod,  cf  F£- 

r»-ror5^i  Acs.    rj»-     «."l:j-irrn  w^-rr:  —  Ip'.%'>.1.  '*.  J-zct  !"•.  ;?"'"':    S-^rni.  •-. 
rNrn.  :r.  ITTl:  ./.3^^*r-»,  ':..  F'-V  *:.  :rT«:  rr-ibT^^A,  V  Jib-  :f-  TTT^:  J'Juk-b. 

Xov,  ;■>.  !?>>. 

Samuel  Gravh*.  a  *:*rcpTber  of  J'-^hn  aj>*i  Jn^haston.  h*d  bis  :iii*'nt5oii  of  ilu- 
ria^  to  Mary  ^»».y>iiD2.  r*f  T«>j*«>bAai.  r«»n3*^  Not.  *?.  IZZX  He  wa*  <«ie  of 
iJa*  **S*r-r!iiK-D  ill  1773.  He  -1.  As?.  2S-  ITSe.  C?:ildx>to  wrre:  —  E^^,t^c^.  K 
Auir-  2i.  1775.  .1.  .\ii2-  !4.  :<>*:  -/-K^-?  :  71k^.-»r7* .-  J-zl'fz,  svf'j>w«Ki  loluxt  in. 
in  New  Bran* wick:  .SVj^t*.  wit*  m.  J<:*<>epb  Jack,  of  BowdoiiahaiD :  Af.^V>,  wbo 
m.  E;<hn2ni  MarriDer:  .4«ii.  who  m.  I«aac  Ja*}ai5.  of  Bow'ikMD. 

Of  J<>>EPH  (iiLivR^.  a  brother  of  JoSui^ton.  John,  aad  SamoeL  noihinr  i» 
known  except  tbat  be  ira.«  one  of  the  selectmen  in  177*>.  and  was  a  grantee. 
with  SamaeL  of  half  of  l.^"Xi  acres  to  ^  laid  oat  near  and  conrenient  to  the 
two  Sracch*^  of  the  western  stream  of  Catfaance  Rirer.  The  deed  was 
recorJe'i  McL.  10.  11^^. 

GBAFFAM- 

J%roB  Grafiam.  who  was  amoE?  the  earij  senlers  of  Bmn«w5ck.  is  the 
flr*':  of  the  Riiinf  of  whom  we  dnd  anr  r«roid.  His  wife's  name  was  Marr. 
r  h.  were  :  —  .V'fr^/.  h.  iJec.  2.  17S5:  -/".f^pk,  b.  Feb.  14.  17:>^:  JP-'^-'r^T,  b.  July 
^.  1741. 

HALEY. 

PrL.%Tiui  Haley  sop  Bios.^  was  b.  in  Kittenr.  Oct  ?.  174*?  He  m.  E!:ia- 
atK-tJi  L'-wis.  who  was  b.  .\pril  if.  1743.  ami  d.  Feb.  1?.  :S3«.  They  came  to 
Top«ihaiij  in  May.  17»'I.  H»?  d.  in  Topsham.  Oct.  29,  1>19.  Ch.  were: —  P'/j- 
ti-yh  :  S'lann-ih.  ID.  Ix*muel  Thompson.  Sept.  27,  17?2:  EU:<i^'^th.  m.  .\ndR'V 
AVhiteljon^f;.  April  3.  17if5:  Mnr^/.  m  David  Alexander,  Nov.  3«\  1'?<'0:  John, 
m.  Nancy  Hi^'j^ins.  Sept.  1^27.  and  d..  without  issne.  Oct.  23,  1S32 

Jo'-KPii  Halev.  pruhably  a  brother  of  Pelatiah.  wa*  b.  in  Kitterr  in  17.V. 
He  in.  -Marr.  <ist<;r  of  Saranel  Goodwin,  of  Wells.  He  lived  on  the  fiftr-acre 
lot  whicli  wa>  convfyed  to  Jolin  Merrill  by  the  proprietors,  Aug.  5,  17^S  It 
wa>  n»-ar  tin*  fir-t  or  *•  old  yellow  *'  Baptist  Meeting-House,  which  was  built  in 
;rn-ai  pari  hy  him.  H*.-  wa«i  one  of  the  signers  of  a  remonstrance  by  the 
••  fatlu-f!* "  ol"  the  town  prote>tinir  asrainst  unequal  taxes  for  the  support  of 
the  niini-^t'-r  an«l  for  other  town  charges,  which  bears  date  May  4,  176*.  He 
d.  in  Top-ham,  May,  1  vi ».  Ch.  wore :  —  Susnnnnh  ;  Ji.*f^pK  moved  to  Lewis- 
ton  :  M'lr'/^  m  a  Goo  Iwin.  of  Well<:  Joshu*i,  moved  to  Lisbon:  ,^»Ar,  b.  in 
1777;  M'lmufl,  moved  to  Lewiston;  Mos^$,  a  joiner,  moved  to  Bath. 


FAMILY  HlHTORIEa,  837 

Joseph  Haley  was  b. .    He  ra.  Esther  Towns,  of  Kennebunk.    This 

Joseph  is  a  different  person  f^om  the  preceding  one.  He  was  a  clothier,  and 
was  often  called  •*  Fuller"  Haley,  on  account  of  his  occupation  and  to  dis- 
tin^ish  him  fi*om  his  namesake.  |Ie  is  recorded  as  a  grantee,  for  £14,  of  a 
two-acre  lot  on  the  road  from  John  Dunlap's,  on  Aug.  18,  1790.*  He  d.  Sept. 
29,  1832.  Ch.  were:— Jo/in,  b.  May  4,  1777,  m.  a  MiUiken.  of  Scarboro*; 
Olive,  b.  Jan.  22.  1779,  m.  May  19,  1796,  to  Obed  Burnham;  Jesse,  b.  Sept.  8, 
1780,  never  married;  Susannahy  b.  Oct.  8,  1783,  m.  David  Foster;  Sarah,  b. 
July  22,  1784,  m.  Actor  Wilson;  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  6,  1785.  m.  a  Towns,  of  Ken- 
nebunk; Esther  b.  May  6,  1787,  m.  Timothy  Foster;  Rebecca,  b.  Dec.  1, 1788, 
d.  single ;  James,  b.  Oct.  26,  1790,  m.  Lois  Durell,  of  Woodstock ;  Abigail,  b. 
Aug.  2,  1793,  d.  single;  Abner,  b.  Mch.  30,  1795;  Ruth,  b.  Nov.  4,  1796,  d. 
single. 

HALL. 

John  H.u.l  was  b.  in  England  in  1617.  Came  to  America  about  1633.  His 
son  John  was  owner  in  1652  of  a  lot  of  land  in  Dover,  N.  H.,  and  afterwards 
bousht  numerous  other  lots  in  the  same  town.  He  was  quite  prominent  in 
town  affairs  for  a  number  of  years. 

Hatevtll  Hall,  son  of  John,  of  Dover,  lived  in  Dover ;  had  but  one  ch., 
Hatevil. 

Hatevil  Hall,  son  of  HateriL  ra.  Sarah  Furbish,  of  Kittery,  April  1,  1733. 
Settled  in  Dover.  Removed  to  Falmouth  (now  Portland)  in  1753.  He  was 
a  large  land-owner  in  that  place,  and  in  Windham.  He  was  a  Quaker.  He  d. 
Nov.  28.  1797,  aged  90  years,  and  leaving  four  hundred  and  seventy-five 
descendants.  He  lived  to  see  some  of  his  posterity  of  the  fifth  generation. 
His  wife  d.  Mch.  2,  1790.  He  had  ten  sons  and  three  dau.,  all  married.  Of  these 
children  Paul  was  the  eighth  son.  He  was  b.  in  Falmouth,  Dec.  15,  1755.  He 
m.  Jan.  27, 1782,  Sarah  Neal.  Moved  to  Brunswick  previous  to  1798.  He  d. 
April,  1841.  His  descendants  are  numerous,  and  many  of  them  are  living  in 
this  vicinity  at  the  present  time  (Blog.). 

HAM. 

Tobias  Ham,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  this  vicinity,  was  a  son  of 
John  Ham,  of  Newington,  N.  H.,  whose  father  was  born  in  the  Isle  of  Man, 
and  emigrated  fVom  England  to  Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  with  the  first  settlers. 
Tobias  came  to  Brunswick  in  1740,  and  settled  at  New  Meadows,  and  erected 
his  house  on  what  has  since  been  known  as  Ham's  Hill.  He  was  a  tanner 
aod  shoemaker  as  well  as  farmer.  His  tan-pits  were  in  the  low  land,  east  of 
his  house.  It  is  related  of  him  that  as  he  was  going  to  his  tan-pits  one  morn- 
ing before  suurise  he  discovered,  by  his  dog's  peculiar  growl,  that  Indians 
were  in  ambusli  among  the  cedars  near  tlic  pits.  He  therefore  walked  back- 
wards to  the  house  with  his  gun  pointed  toward  the  cedars.  The  Indians 
dared  not  fire,  for  it  would  have  been  certain  death  to  them  had  they  missed 
him,  as  "  Old  Long  Gun,"  as  they  called  him,  was  a  dead  shot  they  well  knew. 
He  m.  Abigail  Smith,  whose  father  lived  on  Lines'  Island,  In  the  Kennebec. 


^Lincoln  County  Registry  Deeds,  Vol,  39.  p.  3. 


■■i 


A 


r 


I 

I 


; 


l-l  ■ 


838      HISTORY  OF  Brunswick,  topsilim,  and  uarpswell. 

Ch.  were :  —  B^njaiHin,  b.  Jane  2.  1742.  settled  in  B«th :  John,  b.  Sept.  1, 1744, 
BettUrd  in  Bath ;  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  30,  1746,  settled  on  the  homestead ;  Judith,  b. 
April  18,  1749,  m.  a  Mr.  Amo;  T*tbias  and  Thomas,  twins,  b.  July  2,  1751, 
.settled  in  Lisbon;  XothanUI,  b.  Feb.  17^  1756,  settled  on  the  homestead; 
another  son,  Reuben,  whose  birth  is  not  recorded,  settled  either  in  Lisbon  or 
Wales. 

HAR3IOy. 


Col.  Johnson  Harmon  came  from  York  or  Its  immediate  vicinitr  and  set- 
*  tied  in  Harps  well  in  1727.    Reference  has  already  been  made  to  his  militarr 

services  and  exploits,  and  bat  little  else  is  known  concerning  him.  He  m. 
Mar>',  dau.  of  Jeremiah  Moiilton.  of  York-  Ch.  were:  —  Zebulon,  b.  Nov. 2, 
1702;  Manj,  b.  Mch.  28,  1704,  m.  Lieot.  Kicliard  Jaqnes;  Miriam,  b.  July  7. 
1707;  Johnson,  b.  July  2,  1710;  Josf^ph,  b.  Mch.  1,  1712;  H'lnnah,  b.  Feb.  19, 
1715;  Martha^  b.  April  13,  1720.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  many,  if  not  of  all 
the  Harmons  of  this  vicinity. 

HENRY. 


James  Henky  came  from  Providence,  R.  I.,  about  1761  or  1762,  to  Harps- 
I  well,  where  he  intended  to  reside;  but  having  been  disappointed  in  the  par- 

1  chase  of  a  tract  of  land  he  had  contemplated  buying,  he  soon  removed  to 

I  Topsham,  to  the  lot.  probably,  that  he  bought  of  Adam  and  James  Hunter. 

For  some  years  before  coming  to  Topsham  he  had  been  a  former ;  before  that 
he  had  been  a  mariner,  but  he  experienced  so  many  disasters  and  encountered 
I  so  many  dangers,  that  he  abandoned  the  sea.     He  was  called  *'the  cooper," 

!  but  was  not,  it  is  said,  a  cooper  by  trade,  but  he  acquired  the  appellation 

i  f^oni  the  fact  that  his  early  sea-faring  life  had  made  him  somewhat  familiar 

j  with  that  biisii.ess.     He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  of  Topsham  In  1766  and 

in   17i;'.>      He  in.  a  McXess.     She   was  the  sister  of  Col.  Samuel  WincheHs 

wife,  and  came  to  this  country  when  eighteen  years  of  age.     It  was  two  years 

I  subsequent  to  tlie  time  of  her  parents'  arrival.     It  is  believed  that  there  was 

i  no  other  family  of  Henrys  in  this  section  of  the  State.*    Ch.were  :— Jiini^jt,who 

was  probahly  m.  Fei>.  !.">,  1776,  to  Mercy  Beveridge;  .V'jry,  m.  Jan.  17,  1771.  to 
KolH-rt  (iower:  Ann,  h.  in  1748.  m.  James  Wilson;  BeUij,  m.  July  2d.  1770.  to 
Stephen  Titcomh;  Jt'iniftt,  b.  Sept.  25,  1751,  m.  Joseph  Berry;  Samh,  m.  s 
Sewall.  of  Bath. 

HINCKLEY   OR  HINKLEY. 

This  name,  variously  spelt  Hinciieue,  Hynckeley,  Hingel,  Hynkeley, 
HixcKKLEY,  Hynkkele,  Hixkley,  was  an  ancient  one  before  the  Conquest. 
At  the  grand  survey,  begun  by  direction  of  William  the  Conqueror  10*^,  and 
completed  1<>S«*).  Hinckley  was  returned  a  part  of  the  possessions  of  Conius 
Alberif^us  (Aubrey  d«'  Vere  ,  Lord  Hitrh  Chamberlain.  Soou  after  it  became 
the  property  of  Hiiiro  dc  (irentsiiiainell,  and  was  called  the  Honour  or  Barony 
of  Hinrkley.     lu  I'lM.i.  Simon  de  Hvuklev  was  vicar  at  Hincklev. 

Samiel  HiNCKMiv.  >aid  to  be  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  the  I'nittd 
States,  came  from  Tenterden,  Kent,  England,  with  his  wife  Sarah  and  four 
children,  in  March,  1<>:)4.  He  landed  in  Boston  on  Sept.  18,  and  settled  in 
Scitnate  that  same  year.     He  was  one  of  the  associates  of  Rev.  Mr.  Lothrop. 

>  Woodman,  MS.  Hist. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  839 

He  moved  with  his  fiimlly  to  Barnstable  in  1639.  His  wife  Sarah  d.  Aug.  18, 
1656.  He  m.  for  his  second  wife,  Bridget  Bodttsh,  Dec.  15,  1657.  He  d.  at 
Barnstable,  Mass.,  Oct.  31,  1662.  His  will  was  dated  Oct.  8,  1662.  He  left 
the  use  of  his  house  and  garden,  and  some  land,  to  his  wife  Bridget,  dur- 
ing her  widowhood,  and  also  gave  her  **all  the  household  stuff  she  brought 
with  her,"  and  his  two  cows  "Prosper"  and  "Thrivewell,"  but  his  landed 
property,  and  the  rest  of  his  live  stock,  which  was  considerable,  he  divided 
chiefly  among  his  sons.  He  left  to  each  of  his  daughters,  and  to  each  of  their 
ch.  the  nominal  sum  of  one  shilling,  by  which  it  is  presumed  the  daughters 
were  all  married  and  well  provided  for.  He  bequeathed  some  of  his  live 
stock  to  his  grandchildren,  sons  of  Thomas  and  Samuel,  and  to  Mary  and 
Bathsheba,  daughters  of  Thomas,  and  to  Henry  Cobb*8  sons,  Samuel  and 
Jonathan.  In  Freeman's  History  of  Cape  Cod,  Samuel  Hlnkley  is  described  as 
having  been  a  very  prominent  man  in  public  affairs. 

One  of  his  sons  (Thomas)  was  governor  of  Plymouth  Colony  ft'om  1681  to 
16D2  (except  during  Andross*  rule),  and  was  otherwise  very  prominent  In  the 
affairs  of  the  colony. 

Samuel  Hinckley  (see  Biog.),  of  the  third  generation  ft-om  Samuel,  was 
b.  Sept.  24, 1684;  m.  Mary,  dau.  of  Edmond  Freeman  of  Eastham.  He  moved 
to  Brunswick  about  1739,  having  by  the  way  made  a  few  years*  stay  at  Bidde- 
ford,  where  the  York  County  records  say  he  bought  thirty-three  acres  of  land 
Aug.  29,  1735,  of  James  Kent,  for  £115.  He  had  oh.i  —  Seth,  b.  In  Harwich, 
Dec.  25,  1707;  Shubael,  b.  Harwich,  March  25,  1709;  Samuel  and  Mary,  b. 
Harwich,  Feb.  7,  1711;  Edmond^h,  Harwich,  Nov.  20,  1712;  Reliance,  b.  Har- 
wich, Nov.  21, 1714;  Aaron,  b.  in  Truro,  Sept.  13,  1715  (see  Biog.) ;  Mehitable, 
b.  in  Truro,  Dec.  25,  1718;  Experience,  b.  in  Truro,  Jan.  16,  1720.  Of  these 
sons  Shubael,  when  about  75  years  old,  moved  to  the  eastern  part  of  the 
State  and  married  his  lifth  wife  in  Machlas,  by  whom  he  had  4  ch.,  whose 
descendants  are  to  be  found  In  that  part  of  the  State.  The  other  sons  of 
Samuel  settled  In  Brunswick. 

HOLBROOK. 

Jonathan  Holbiiook  Is  said  to  have  baen  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in 
this  vicinity.  Settled  In  Harpswell,  at  what  time  is  not  known.  He  m. 
Rebecca,  dau.  of  Rev.  Samuel  Veazie,  of  Harpswell.  Ch,  were :  —  Israel,  b. 
1773;  Deborah,  h.  1775,  d.  young;  Deborah,  b.  1778;  Abizer,  b.  1779,  d.  in 
infancy;  Abizer,  b.  1780;  Jonathan,  b.  1783;  Rebecca,  b.  1785;  Deborah,  b. 
1788;  Hannah,  b,  1790;  Folly,  b.  1792;  Priscilla,  b.  1795. 

HUMPHREYS. 

Law^rence  Humpiiurys,  the  ancestor  of  the  Humphreys  family  of  Bruns- 
wick, was  born  In  the  Cove  of  Cork  (now  Queenstown),  Ireland,  in  1757.  Of 
his  early  life  but  little  is  kuown,  except  that  he  received  a  good  mercantile 
education,  and  after  the  death  of  his  father  went  to  one  of  the  West  Indies, 
probably  Jamaica,  where  his  first  employment  was  as  secretary  to  the  widow 
of  a  wealthy  planter. 

He  remained  at  Jamaica  several  years,  returning  to  Ireland  once  during 
that  time,  until  the  close  of  our  Revolutionary  war,  when  he  was  sent  by  an 


840        lUSTORY  OF  BRVN8WICK,   70PSEAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

uncle,  supercargo  of  a  vessel  laden  with  molasses  from  Jamaica  for  George- 
town, Me.  This  vessel,  just  at  the  close  of  her  voyage,  was  wrecked  on  Par- 
ker's Island  (now  Georgetown),  and  with  her  cargo  was  a  total  loss. 

Humphreys  landed  penniless  among  strangers,  but  soon  found  ft-iends,  and 
decided  to  remain  in  Georgetown.  In  1788  he  m.  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  John 
Campbell,  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  town,  whose  flither,  Alexander 
Campbell,  emigrated  ft'om  Scotland  to  Georgetown  in  1729  with  his  young 
bride,  Frances  Drummond. 

After  residing  several  years  in  Georgetown,  Humphreys  removed  with  his 
Aimily  to  Topsliam,  where  he  d.  1835.  His  widow  removed  to  Brunswick, 
where  she  d.  in  18o9,  aged  02  years. 

Their  ch.  were :  —  Mary,  b.  1790,  m.  liev.  David  James,  d.  Newburg,  N.  Y., 
1844;  Sallyy  b.  Sept.  15,  1792,  m.  Benjamin  Mason,  d.  1843;  Xancy,  b.  June 
22,  1795,  m.  Thomas  N.  Thacker;  John  CampfteU,  b.  Feb.  22,  1798  (see 
Biog.);  Daniel,  b.  1800,  m.  Lydia  Clark,  d.  1821;  EUza,  b.  1806,  m.  Thomas 
U.  Thacker,  d  1828;  William,  b.  1808,  d.  1810;  Margaret,  p.  1810,  m.  Daniel 
Ham,  living  at  Great  Falls  In  1877. 

HUNT. 

Several  persons  of  this  name  settled  in  this  country,  at  various  places  and 
times,  in  the  seventeenth  centurj-.  Tlie  Brunswick  Hunts  are  descended  flrom 
Edward  Hunt,  wlio  was  of  Amesbury  in  1G77.  He  had  a  son  John,  who  also 
had  a  son  John.     The  latter  was  b.  in  1718. 

John  Hunt,  the  first  of  the  name  in  Brunswick,  came  ft-om  Newbur3'port 
or  Amesbury  in  1752,  and  settled  at  the  west  end.  He  was  probably  of  the 
third  generation  tVoni  Edward.  No  record  of  his  eli.  has  been  found.  The 
earliest  records  of  the  family,  in  this  town,  which  we  have  seen,  are  the 
followinjj :  — 

Epiiraim  Hunt  had  ch.  by  wife  Martha:  —  ^fartha,  b.  Nov.  20,  1779;  John, 
b.  Mch.  27,  1780;  Jeremiah,  b.  Jan.  11,  1782;  James,  b.  Sept.  10,  1783;  Jennet, 
b.  Aug.  8,  1785;  Lydia,  b.  Oct.  9,  1787;  William,  b.  July  19,  1789;  Sarah,  b. 
Nov.  10,  1791;  Ephraim,  b.  Nov.  17,  1793;  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  12,  1795;  Ebetie- 
zer,  b.  Mch.  11,  179s;  Charles,  b.  Oct.  4,  1800;  Clarisse,  b.  Nov.  13,  1802; 
James,  h  July  10,  1805. 

William  Hunt,  in.  Elizabeth ;  ch.  were :  —  William,  b.  Oct.  25,  1774 ;  Mary, 
b.  July  8,  1770;  Martha,  b.  Dec.  11,  1777. 

Danikl  Hunt  m.  Jannet.     They  had  one  ch.,  Dacid,  b.  Sept.  18,  1783. 

HUNTER. 

Adam  Huntkr,  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Hunters  in  this  vicinity,  settled  In 
Topshiiiu  in  171H,  at  which  time  ho  purchased  of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors 
two  lots  of  land  of  one  hundred  acres  each,  at  £5  each.  He  was  also  one  of 
the  proprietors  of  the  Cathanco  Mill  ri^ht,  ownina:  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
five  acros  of  laud  and  oui*  ciy:htli  of  tlu*  double  saw-mill.  He  subseciuently 
made  other  purt'liascs  ol"  laud,  lie  was  evidently  a  man  of  wealth  for  those 
days.  His  house  was  deemed  the  best  in  town,  and  to  it  strangers  were 
directed  for  ncroninKxlation.  He  was  a  captain  in  the  last  Indian  war,  and  a 
selectman  in  170G.    lV\s  wife  vjivs  of  Irish  descent,  and  came  to  this  country 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  841 

when  ten  years  of  age.  Their  eh.  yterei  — Elizabeth,  b.  Sept.  18,  1733,  m. 
William  Woodside  of  Brunswick ;  James,  b.  April  15,  1735;  Sumnnahyh.Yeh. 
9,  1787,  m.  Benjamin  Lemont,  of  Bath;  Mary,  b.  Dec.  6,  1738,  m.  James  Le- 
mont;  Jane,  b.  Feb.  28,  1740,  m.  Joseph  Berry;  William,  b.  Dec.  2,  1741; 
John,  b.  July  13,  1743;  liobert,  b.  June  15,  1745;  Margaret,  b.  June  28,  1747, 
m.  Robert  Patten,  d.  July,  1831 ;  Arthur,  b.  April  5,  1749. 

JAQUES  OR  JAQUISH. 

Lieut.  Richard  Jaques  m.  Mary,  dau.  of  Col.  Johnson  Harmon,  and  came 
with  Col.  Harmon,  or  soon  after,  ft*om  York  (about  1727/  and  settled  in 
Harpswell.  He  was  conspicuous  in  the  Indian  wars.  Among  other  exploits 
he  killed  Ralle  at  Norridgewock.  His  descendants,  though  not  numerous, 
still  reside  in  this  vicinity.  Ch.  were :  —  Miriam,  b.  June  24,  1725 ;  Susanna, 
b.  June  15,  1726;  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  17,  1731. 

JORDAN. 

Rev.  Robert  Jordan  was  b.  in  the  West  of  England  in  iniO.  It  is  not  im- 
probable that  he  graduated  at  Oxford,  as  "a  Robert  Jordan  matriculated  at 
Oxford,  15  June,  1G32,  aged  19,  as  son  of  Edward  Jordan  of  Worcester,  county 
of  Worcester. "»  In  1640  became  to  America  and  settled  at  Spurwink.  He 
was  a  kinsman  of  Thomas  Purchase,  and  resided  with  the  latter  for  some 
time,  either  previous  to  or  subsequent  to  his  residence  at  Spurwink.  In  1642 
he  m.  Sarah,  dau.  of  John  Winter.  He  subsequently  removed  to  Newcastle 
and  afterwards  to  Portsmouth,  N.  II.,  where  he  d.  in  1678.  He  was  an  Epis- 
copal clergyman.  (For  further  particulars  concerning  him,  see  Williamson's 
Hist,  of  Me.,  Vol.  I,  p.  680.)  Ch.  were:  —  John,  Robert,  Dominicus,  Jedediah, 
Samuel,  and  Jeremiah. 

John  Joiu>an,  son  of  John  and  grandson  of  Rev.  Robert  Jordan,  was  b.  at 
Cape  Elizabeth  about  1709.  He  moved  to  Brunswick  in  1739,  and  thence  to 
Harpswell,  where  he  died  about  1795.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  Jordans 
now  living  iu  Brunswick.  Ch.  were :  —  Fields,  b.  at  Cape  Elizabeth ;  Peter 
and  John,  b.  in  Brunswick. 

LARRABEE. 

This  is  said  to  be  a  French  family  of  Huguenot  extraction. 

Benjamin  Larrabee,  of  Falmouth  (Portland),  a  son  of  Isaac,  a  military 
man,  recovered  the  property  of  his  father,  who  with  his  family  had  been 
forced  to  fly  from  the  war.  He  m.  Deborah,  dau.  of  John  Ingersoll,  and  had 
a  son,  Benjamin,  b.  1700. 

Benjamin  Laukabee,  the  ancestor  of  the  Brunswick  family  of  that  name, 
is  said  by  tradition  to  have  been  b.  in  Falmouth.  He  came  to  Bninswick 
about  1727,  and  was  commander  of  Fort  George  for  some  years.  He  was  also 
agent  for  the  Pejepscot  proprietors.  He  may  have  been  the  Benjamin  referred 
to  above  as  being  born  in  1700.  He  d.  May  9,  1748.  His  wife's  name  was 
Mary.     She  survived  him  and  m.  John  Oultou.     Ch.  were:  —  Mary,  b.  April 

^Joseph  L.  Chester,  of  London,  in  a  letter  to  J*  W,  Thornton,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  April, 
1876. 


842         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

7,  1728;  Nathaniel,  b.  in  Fort  George,  Dec.  23,  1729;  Isabella,  b.  Nov.  27, 
1731;  Abigail,  b.  Jan.  9,  1733-4;  Hannah,  b.  Dec.  10,  1735;  Elizabeth,  b.  Jan. 
10,  1737-8;  Benjamin,  b.  Feb.  5,  1739-40;  Stephen,  b.  July  12,  1742;  Jame$, 
who  had  a  dan.  who  m.  Aaron  lllnkley. 

LUNT. 

All  persons  of  this  name  in  this  country,  so  far  as  known,  are  descended 
trom  Henry  Lunt,  who  was  one  of  the  original  settlers  of  Newbury,  E^sex 
County,  Mass.,  in  the  year  1635.  His  will,  recorded  at  Ipswich,  is  dated  in 
1662.  The  name  Lunt  is  of  Scandinavian  origin.  In  Denmark  it  is  well 
known  and  is  spelled  Luudt.  It  seems  likely  that  it  is  derived  flrom  some  or 
the  early  Danish  invaders  or  incursionists  into  England.' 

Amos  Lunt  (Biog  ),  a  grandson  of  Henry,  was  b.  in  Falmouth,  Feb.  29, 
1752.    He  m.  Mrs.  Hannah  Quimby,  a  dau.  of  Josiah.  Noyes.     He  came  to 
Brunswick  with  Cutting  and  Thomas  Noyes,  lived  with  them  in  the  fort 
awhile,  and  then  built  a  two-story  house  on  the  comer  of  Mill  and  Bow 
Streets.     He  d.  Mch.  4,  1837.     Ch.  were :  —  Frederick  and  Harry,  who  went  to 
North  Carolina  and  d.  there ;  Joseph,  who  m.  Martha,  a  niece  of  Dr.  Page.     He 
lived  awhile  in  Brunswick  and  then  moved  to  Fryeburg,  where  he  d.  without 
issue. 

McMANUS. 

Jambs  McManus  came  to  this  country  trom  Ireland  about  the  middle  of 
the  last  century,  and  settled  at  Maquoit.  He  had  five  sons :  —  Daniel,  James, 
John,  Richard,  Robert.  The  latter  was  b.  July  14,  1764,  in  a  house  on  the 
west  side  of  the  twelve-rod  road,  a  few  rods  south  of  the  old  west  meeting- 
house. He  lived  for  a  while  with  Deacon  Robert  Dunning  and  then  for  five 
years  with  Brigadier  Thompson.  John  was  b.  about  1760.  and  served  as  a 
soldier  nearly  four  years  in  the  Revolution.  He  was  at  the  surrender  of 
Burgoyue,  served  under  Gen.  Sullivan  in  the  Mohawk  country,  and  received  a 
wound  at  Cherr}'  Valley  which  rendered  him  lame  for  life. 

MARINER. 

The  great-grandfather  of  the  first  of  this  name  in  Brunswick  is  said  to 
have  come  ft-om  Wales,  G.  B.,  with  a  patent  to  settle  Monhegan.  It  is  also 
said  that  his  two  sons  went  out  in  their  boats  fishing,  and  upon  their  return 
found  tlielr  father  had  been  killed,  and  their  mother  knocked  on  the  head 
with  a  hatchet  by  the  Indians ;  a  girl  with  them  had  escaped  and  hid.  They 
tooli  their  motlier  and  the  girl  into  tlieir  boat,  and  after  burying  their  father, 
saileil  for  Marblehead,  where  a  physician  was  emplo3'ed,  who  trepanneil  their 
motlier's  head,  and  she  eventuall}'  recovered.* 

John  Marinku  settled  in  Brunswick,  about  17G6.    He  m.  Kuth .    Ch. 

were:  —  SamucL  b  July  21,  1767,  m.  Margaret  Mosley,  Aug.  7,  1786;  Sarah, 
b.  June  11,  irC'J,  m.  Johu  Simmons  Gatchell;  and  probably  other  ch.  He 
was  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  this  vicinity. 

»  N.  E.  U.  and  G.  Reg.,  22,  p.  223.  "  P^^^scot  Papers, 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  843 

MARTIN. 

fl 

The  first  of  this  name  of  whom  we  have  found  any  record  was  John 
Mautin  or  Majitaix,  as  the  name  was  formerly  spelled.  He  was  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Brunswick.  His  wife's  name  was  Margaret.  Ch.  were:  — 
John,  b.  Nov.  3,  1738;  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  5,  1740;  Rebecca,  b.  Jaa  17,  1743; 
Ephraim,  b.  July  23,  1746;  Jennet,  b.  Aug.  1750;  Samuel,  b.  Dec.  25,  1753. 

MELCHER. 

The  name  is  ft*om  the  Hebrew,  and  indicates  a  long  line  of  ancestors.  The 
meaning  of  the  word  is  said  to  be  "the  king,"  **the  kingly  one,"  or  **  the 
royal  one."  The  true  spelling  of  the  word  is  **  Melchior."  The  name  is  a 
common  one  in  Switzerland  and  in  Germany.  It  is  not  known  who  was  the 
first  of  the  name  to  settle  in  this  country'.  Joseph  Melchcf  and  his  brother 
Samuel  Melcher  settled  in  this  town  about  the  year  1757,  and  were  the  ances- 
tors of  all  of  the  name  in  this  vicinity. 

Joseph  Melcher  settled  at  Bunganock,  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Jedediah  Mariner.  He  was  a  housewright  by  trade.  He  m.  in  1757,  Mary 
Cobb,  of  "Gorham  town."  He  d.  Apr.  21,  1821,  in  the  86th  year  of  his  age; 
she  d.  May  18,  1825,  in  the  87th  year  of  her  age.  Ch.  were ;  —  Xoah,  Nathan- 
iel, Abner,  Josiah,  Samuel,  and  nine  others.  Those  named  lived  in  Bruns- 
wick. 

Samuel  Melcher,  brother  of  Joseph,  settled  at  New  Meadows,  on  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  Dea.  James  Smith,  and  he  built,  in  1767,  the  house  which 
Dea.  Smith  now  occupies.  He  m.  Isabella,  dan.  of  Judge  Aaron  Hinkley. 
He  d.  Mch.  3,  1834,  in  the  90th  year  of  his  age;  she  d.  Aug.  17,  1832,  in  the 
86th  year  of  her  age.  Ch.  were: — Reliance,  b.  Nov.  15,  1768,  d.  Nov.  29,  1804; 
Mary,h.  Aug.  6,  1771;  Aaron,  h.  Feb.  23,  1773;  Samuel,  b.  May  8,  1775,  d. 
Mch.  3,  1862;  Elizabeth,  h.  May  13,  1777;  Lois,  b.  July  2,  1780;  Rebecca,  h. 
Mch.  6,  1783,  m.  a  Donnel,  now  living  in  West  Bath;  *Tohn,  b.  May  19,  1786; 
Noah,  b.  May  30,  1788,  d.  in  infancy;  Rachel,  b.  Feb.  23,  1793. 

MERRILL. 

The  name  of  the  first  American  ancestor  of  this  family  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained, but  was  probably  Nathaniel  of  Newbury,  who  was  among  the  first  set- 
tlers of  that  place.  There  was  a  John  Merrill  in  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  1657, 
who  was  a  son  of  Nathaniel  of  Newbury.  He  had  a  son  John,  b.  1669,  and  a 
son  Abel,  b.  1680.  One  of  these  may  have  been  the  father  of  the  John  and 
Abel  named  below  as  settling  in  Arundel,  but  there  is  no  positive  evidence  of 
the  fact. 

John  Merrill,  with  his  brother  Abel,  settled  in  Annidel,  now  Kennebunk- 
port,  about  1725,  and  erected  a  log-house  there.  It  is  not  known  ft-om  whence 
they  came.  He  was  b.  about  1700.  He  m.  Mary  Hutchins  of  Kittery.  Ch. 
were:  —  DanieL  John,  Hannah,  Obed,  and  Humphrey,  who  d.  young. 

John  Mkrrhx,  sou  of  John  of  Arundel,  was  born  in  Arundel,  Jan.  29,  1734, 
m.  Susannah  Haley  of  Kittery,  moved  to  Topsham  in  1758.  He  d.  March  24, 
1828.  Ch.  were:  —  Susannah,  b.  in  Topsham,  Nov.  25,  1768,  m.  Andrew 
Walker  of  Arundel;  Mary,  b.  April  9,  1770,  m.  Stephen  Furinton  of  Harps- 


I 


I 

__   • 

til 


844        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

well;  John,  b.  Oct.  4,  1772;  Joseph,  b.  Jan  22,  1774,  d.  1798;  Ahtl,  b.  July  30, 
1776,  d.  Feb.  13,  1857.     (Sec  Biog.) 

MERRY  MAN. 

(Spelled  also  Merj'man  and  Merriraan.) 

Walter  Mkryman,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  in  this  vicinity,  was  an 
Irishman.  He  was  kidnapped  in  Dublin  and  brought  to  Boston,  where  he  was 
sold  for  his  passage  to  a  man  named  Simonton,  who  lived  at  Cape  Elizabeth. 
After  serving  his  time  with  Mr.  Simonton  he  came  to  Harpswell,  date  not 
known.  He  first  settled  (according  to  the  late  Capt.  James  Merryman,  of 
Harpswell)  on  Birch  Island:  then  he  moved  to  the  mainland  Just  above 
**  Lookout  Point,"  near  the  shore,  and  afterwards  moved  to  a  point  nearer  the 
road.  Accordin§^  to  Capt.  James  Sinnett,  who  is  a  descendant,  he  settled  at 
first  in  the  old  house  on  the  Neck,  north  of  the  Congregational  Church,  now 
occupied  by  his  grandson,  Hudson  Merryman.  He  m.  Betty  Potter  of  Tops- 
ham.  Ch.  were: — Thomas,  m.  Sarah  Bailey;  Hugh,  m.  Delight  Bailey: 
Waiter,  m.  Betsey  Webber;  James,  m.  Hannah  Blake;  Michael,  m.  Mary 
Bishop :  and  several  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Joseph  Ewlng. 

MINOT. 

The  first  American  ancestor  of  this  family  was  George  Minot,  who  was 
among  the  first  Pilgrim  emigrants  to  Mass.,  and  one  of  the  first  settlers  of 
Dorchester.  He  was  the  son  of  Thomas  Minot,  Esq.,  of  Safif^on-Walden, 
Essex,  England,  and  was  b.  in  1594. 

Stephen  Mi2?ot,  of  Boston,  was  grandson  of  George,  of  Dorchester.  He 
was  a  merchant  and  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  Pejepscot  tract. 

John  Minot  (Biog.),  son  of  Stephen,  was  b.  in  Boston,  in  1694.  He  was 
m.  in  Capt.  John  Slaughter's  chamber,  Boston,  July  22,  1731,  to  Hannah 
Bradstreet,  of  Reading,  Mass.  He  came  to  Brunswick  in  1730.  He  d.  Jan. 
10,  1764.  Ch.  were:  —  Mercy,  b.  July  11,  1732,  at  Mair  Point,  Brunswick, 
m.  Rev.  John  Wiswcll  of  Portland;  Hannah,  b.  March  9,  1733-4,  at  Richmond, 
m.  Samuel  Moody,  moved  to  Boston  and  then  to  Bath;  Mehitahle,  b.  March 
1,  1735,  at  Richmond;  John,  b.  Dec.  4,  1737;   Thomas,  b.  April  16,  1740. 

MORSE. 

Joseph  Mouse  was  b.  in  England,  emigrated  to  New  England  abt.  1635, 
and  settled  at  Ipswich  prior  to  1641. 

Anthony  Morse  was  b.  at  Marlboro',  Wiltshire,  England,  May  9,  1606. 
Emigrated  and  settled  at  Newbury,  1635,  and  d.  1686.  One  of  these  was 
doubtless  the  ancestor  of  the  Brunswick  Morses,  but  the  line  has  not  been 
traced. 

Anthony  Mouse,  of  Portland,  was  b.  1720;  had  six  sons,  besides  daugh- 
ters. Two  of  his  sons,  Joseph  and  Anthony,  settled  in  Brunswick  about  the 
time  of  the  Revolution,  and  were  the  ancestors  of  all  the  Morses  of  this  inmie- 
diate  vicinity. 

Joseph  Morse  was  b.  in  Portland  in  1746.  Settled  in  Brunswick  near 
where  the  old  Baptist  Meeting-House  stood  on  the  twelve-rod  road  at  Ma- 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  845 

quoit.  He  afterwards  moved  to  Bunganock  to  the  fSarm  where  Mrs.  Emery 
Morse  now  Uvea.  lie  was  a  cordwainer  and  also  a  shoemaker.  He  m.  Han- 
nah Hunt,  dau.  of  Ephraim  Hunt.  He  d.  Feb.  10,  1817.  Ch.  were :  —  John^ 
b.  Jan.  23,  1774;  Hannah,  b  Nov.  12,  1775;  Ephraija,  b.  Nov.  10,  1777;  Anne, 
b.  Nov.  8,  1779;  Martha,  b.  Sept.  23,  1781;  Joseph,  b.  Jan.  11,  1784;  Anthony, 
b.  Mch.  13,  1780;  Mary,  b.  Apr.  80,  1788;  iSusannah  and  Sarah,  b.  July  30, 
1790;  Benjamin,  b.  May  17,  1793. 

Anthony  Mokse  came  to  Brunswick  with  his  brother  Joseph.  He  was  in 
the  army  during  the  whole  period  of  the  Revolution.  He  m.  Susanna  Elliot. 
He  d.  abt.  1811.  Ch.  were:  — Margaret,  b.  Nov.  8,  1777;  Hannah,  b.  Nov.  21, 
1780;  James,  b.  June  21,  1783;  Adam,  b.  July  11,  1785;  Susannah,  b.  Apr.  16, 
1790;  Anthony,  b.  Feb.  14,  1793. 

MOUNTFORT. 

The  first  of  this  name  of  whom  we  find  record  was 

EDMrxD  MouNTFORT,  who  was  settled  in  Brunswick,  and  had  ch:  —  Han- 
nah, b.  Dec.  17,  1792;  3/ary  and  Ester,  b.  Jan.  11,  1796;  William,  b.  July  20, 
1798;  Vincent,  b.  July  20,  1801;  Margaret,  b.  July  1,  1804. 

NO  YES. 

Rev.  Jamks  Noyes  and  his  brother  Nicholas  came  to  this  country  in  1634 
ftrom  Choulderton,  Wiltshire,  England,  and  was  sou  of  Rev.  William  Noyes, 
who  was  rector  of  that  diocese  in  1602. 

NicuoL.iS  Noyes,  brother  of  the  above,  was  b.  in  Choulderton,  Eng.  in 
1616.  He  m.  Mary,  a  dau.  of  Capt.  John  Cutting.  He  d.  Nov.  9,  1701,  leaving 
a  large  family. 

Cutting  Noyes,  a  grandson  of  Nicholas,  was  b.  in  Falmouth,  Feb.  27, 1746. 
He  came  to  Brunswick  soon  after  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  with  his  brother 
Thomas,  and  Amos  Lunt.  They  bought  a  portion  of  the  **  Fort  Right,"  and 
lived  in  the  fort  until  Cutting  built  a  house  where  the  store  of  J.  T.  Adams  & 
Co.  now  stands.  He  m.  Anne  Martin  of  Brunswick.  He  d  Feb.  15,  1813. 
Ch.  were:  —  Jospph,  b.  Mch.  19,  1792,  m.  Mary  Lowell,  and  lived  in  Turner; 
Harriet  and  Mary,  b.  Dec.  30, 1793 :  Harriet  m.  William  N.  Hall,  of  Brunswick, 
Mary  m.  Nathaniel  Davis,  of  Wobnm,  and  settled  in  Brunswick ;  Jane,  b.  Oct. 
22,  1795,  m.  Ballard  Green,  who  settled  in  Thomaston. 

ORR. 

This  family  came  firom  Ireland  to  Boston,  in  company  with  the  Skolflelds, 
in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century.  There  were  three  brothers,  Joseph^ 
Clement,  and  John,  with  their  sister  Mary.  They  remained  in  Boston  a  few 
years,  when,  in  1742,  they  came  to  Ilarpswell  and  Brunswick.  Joseph  and 
Clement  settled  on  the  upper  end  of  HarpswcU  Neck,  and  subsequently  (about 
1748)  purchased  Little  Sebascodigan  Island,  which  has  since  been  known  as 
Orr's  Island,  for  which,  it  is  said,  they  paid  two  shillings  per  acre.  John 
settled  on  Mair  Point. 

Joseph  Dim  m.  Mrs.  William  Wycr.  Ch.  were:  —  Mary,  b.  1761.  m.  Col. 
Wm.  Stanwood;  Lpttire.h.  17(>3,  m.  John  Reed,  of  Topsham.  She  d.  at  the 
age  of  93. 


846         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AKD  HARPSWELL. 

Clement  Our,  son  of  Clement,  b  June  27,  1752,  d.  Oct.  9, 1813.     His  wife, 
Patience,  d.  Dec.  8.  1812,  aged  61.     Ch.  were :  —  Richard,  John,  Lettic^,  Marjf, 
John  Orr  m.  Susan  Skolflcld.    Uad  no  children. 

OWEN. 

The  name  of  the  first  American  ancestor  of  this  family  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. The  Brunswick  Owens  are  probably  descended  from  John  and 
Lucretla.  of  Falmouth,  who,  according  to  Willis,  had  a  son  William  In 
Brunswick. 

(tideon  Owen,  the  first  of  the  name  In  Brunswick  of  whom  there  is  any  other 
record,  was  b.  April,  1742.  His  wife's  name  was  Jane.  He  d.  July  8,  1772. 
Ch.  wore:  — Margaret,  b.  Oct.  6,  17C4;  Thomas,  b.  Sept.  1,  17G6;  Hugh  White, 
b.  Sept.  23.  1768;  Martha,  b.  July  13,  1770;  Jolin,  b.  Aug.  3,  1772;  David,  b. 
Nov.  31,  1774. 

William  Owen,  whose  wife's  name  was  Mary,  had  ch. :  —  Janney,  b.  April  9. 
1776;  Lxtcy,  b  June  3,  1779;  Rachfl,  b.  May  9,  1781;  WilUam,  b.  Jan.  8,  1784. 

Philip  Owen  was  b.  Feb.  18,  1756.     He  m.  Joanna .     He  d.  May  28, 

1849.     Ch.  were:— John,  b.  Mch.  19,  1784;  Philip,  b.  Dec.  3,  1785;  Dorothy, 

la.  Feb.  11,  1787;  Jane,  b.  Sept.  29,  1789,  m.  Nath'l  Badger;  Jeremiah,  b.  Mch. 

16,  1792;  Joanna,  b.  May  13,  1794,  m.  Joseph  Grlfiln;    Hannah,  b.  Sept.  2, 

1796. 

PATTEN. 

Four  brothers.  Actor,  William,  Robert,  and  Matthew  Patten,  came  to 
this  country  early  in  the  last  century  ft*om  Coleraiue,  a  market  town  of  Deny 
County,  Ireland.  According  to  one  account  they  all  came  over  at  the  same 
time  (about  1727).  Another  account  places  the  date  of  Robert's  arrival  at  1737. 
Actor  was  an  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Ireland.  He  landed  In 
Boston,  from  whence  he  went  to  Falmouth  (Portland),  and  soon  afterwards 
settled  in  Saco.  From  Saco  he  moved  to  Flying  Point,  In  Freeport,  and 
afterwards  moved  to  what  Is  now  the  town  of  Surry,  where  he  d.  previous  to 
the  Revolution.  William  settled  In  Boston,  and  Matthew  in  Saco.  Robert 
settled  in  Arundel  (Kennebunk). 

John  Patten,  son  of  Actor,  was  b.  in  Ireland  In  1717.  He  came  to  this 
country  with  his  father  in  1727.  He  m  Mary,  a  dan.  of  Robert  Means,  of 
Saco.  She  d.  about  1798.  He  d.  April  7,  1795.  Ch.  were:  —  Robert,  b.  May 
14,  1743,  in  Saco;  Sarah,  who  m.  Robert  Fulton;  Jane,  who  m.  William  Ran- 
dall In  1783,  and  who  d.  in  Nov.  1832;  3Iary,  who  m.  Samuel  Jameson;  Han- 
nah, who  m.  Thomas  Harward ;  Margaret,  who  m.  James  Maxwell ;  John,  d. 
in  Topsham,  single;  William,  d.  in  England,  a  prisoner,  single;  Thomas,  b. 
Feb.  10,  1761,  m.  Katherine  Fulton;  Joseph,  b.  In  1764;  Matthew,  d.  at  the  age 
of  15 ;  Dorcas,  who  m.  James  Hunter  (sou  of  Col.  James  Hunter)  ;  Actor,  who 
m  Auu,  dau.  of  John  Huutcr;  David,  who  m.  Hannah  Reed,  and  who  d.  in 
Bowdoluhaui. 

Actdk  Patten,  son  of  Robert  Patten  who  settled  in  Arundel  (Kennebunk) 
in  1737,  was  a  cousin  of  John.  He  was  b.  in  Ireland,  Jan.  22,  1737.  He  m. 
In  1706,  Jane,  a  dan.  of  Hugh  McLellan,  of  Gorhain.  She  was  b.  Dec.  29, 
1748,  and  d.  Aug.  2S,  1835.  He  was  only  six  weeks  old  when  his  parent* 
emigrated  to  this  country.     He  was  an  only  son.     He  moved  to  Topsham  in 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  847 

Dec.  1760,  when  23  years  of  age.  He  had  visited  the  town  the  previous 
June.  He  d.  July  20,  1816.  Ch.  were :  —  Elizabeth,  who  m.  Henjamin  Patter- 
son, of  Saco;  liobert;  Actor ,  b.  in  Topsham,  in  1771;  Jlfnry,  who  m  1st, 
Thomas  Buckmlnster,  of  Saco.  ni.  2d,  Dr.  Sliannon,  of  Saco,  and  d.  at  Passa- 
dnmkcag,  of  cronp,  in  Jan.  1834;  Ahujail,  who  m.  William  Tate;  Jane,  who 
m.  Jonathan  Marston,  of  Monmouth ;  Lebecca,  who  m.  Robert  McLellan,  of 
Gorhani ;  Hugh,  who  m.  Lucy  Green  (sister  of  Nathaniel  and  Ganiner  Green)  ; 
Rachel,  who  d.  single;  William,  who  was  a  sea-captain;  Margaret,  who  m. 
1st,  Joseph  Swett,  and  2d,  Noah  Melcher. 

PENNELL. 

Thomas  Pexnell  and  two  of  his  brothers  came  to  America  ft-om  the  Isle  of 
Jersey,  in  the  English  Channel,  about  the  year  1740.  They  are  supposed  to 
have  descended  ft*om  a  Huguenot  family,  who  fled  ftrom  France  on  account  of 
religious  persecution.  It  is  said  that  these  three  brothers  were  orphans  who 
had  some  property  in  England,  and  were  sent  here  by  their  uncle,  who  had 
charge  of  the  property,  under  pretence  of  giving  them  an  education,  and  that 
they  landed  at  Scituate,  Mass.,  without  any  money.  After  stopping  there 
awhile  they  moved  to  York,  and  from  there  to  Capisic  (near  Portland),  where 
Thomas  and  one  of  his  brothers  bought,  each,  a  farm.  Thomas  is  said  to 
have  lost  his  on  account  of  an  Incumbrance  upon  it  when  he  purchased  It. 
The  brother  who  bought  a  farm  there  also  remained,  and  his  descendants  are 
scattered  over  Gray,  Wcstbrook,  Portland,  and  neighboring  towns.  The 
other  brother  went  to  Kingston,  Canada,  where  his  descendants  are  to  be 
found.  Thomas  m.  Rachel  Riggs.  He  moved  from  Capisic  to  Gorham,  and 
afterwards,  in  1760,  to  New  Meadows,  Brunswick.  He  d.  Nov.  12,  1812. 
Ch.  were : —  Matthew,  b,  in  Capisic,  1748,  d.  in  Portland,  1817 ;  Thomas,  Jacob, 
John,  Mephen,  and  several  daughters,  one  of  whom  m.  a  Mr.  Ham,  whom  she 
survived,  and  afterwards  m.  James  Merryman,  of  Harpswell. 

PERRY. 

The  ancestor  of  at  least  one  of  the  families  of  this  name  now  residing 
in  Brunswick  was  Nathaniel  Perky,  who  emigrated  from  England  about 
1680.     His  son  JoHX,  of  Rehoboth,  Mass.,  was  b.  in  1770. 

John  Perry,  grandson  of  the  John  named  above,  was  b.  in  Rehoboth,  Dec. 
3,  1772.  In  1798  moved  to  Brunswick.  He  m.  in  1802,  Jane,  dan.  of  Col. 
Wra.  Stanwood.  He  d.  in  Bangor,  March  18,  1846.  Ch.  were:  —  John  A.; 
OctaviaJane;  Isabella  Hunt ;  Martha  Stanicofxl ;  William  Stanicood ;  Hannah 
L.  M'.  ;  Jesse  Appleton. 

PETER.SON. 

The  name  of  the  first  American  ancestor  of  this  family  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. The  earliest  known  was  Joseph  Peterson,  of  Duxbury,  Mass., 
whose  son  Jonathan  d.  in  1756. 

John  Peterson,  grandson  of  Jonathan  above  named,  and  the  ancestor  of  all 
of  the  name  in  this  vicinity,  came  to  Brunswick  about  1783,  and  settled  at  New 
Meadows.  His  wife's  name  was  Sarah.  They  lived  in  the  house  now  occu- 
pied by  Bartlett  Adams.     He  kept  a  store  in  the  building  opposite,  and  also 


848         BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  BARPSWELL, 

in  a  bnilding  near  the  river.    He  built  vessels,  had  a  mill,  and  was  one  of  th& 

most  enterprising  citizens  of  the  time.     All  of  his  children  but  the  last  thre^ 

were  b.  iu  DuxlMiry.     Ch.  were:  — t/oAn,  b.  July  30,  1767;  Levij  b.  Nov.  7, 

1760;  James,  born  Dec    30,  1771;  Nancy,  b.  Mch.  20,  1774;  Charlett,  b.  Aug. 

20,  1776;  Hcwett,  b.  Sept.  19,  1778;  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  20,  1781;  Daniel,  b.  Oct. 

28,  1783;  Abigail,  b.  in  Brunswiclc,  Sept.  17,  i786;  William,  b.  Mch.  4,  1789; 

Lucy,  b.  April  27,  1791. 

POTTER. 

The  name  of  the  ancestor  of  the  Potter  family  in  this  vicinity  has  not  been 
ascertained.  He  had  three  sons,  William,  James,  and  Alexander,  who  all  set- 
tled in  Topsham,  about  1740. 

William  Potter  m.  Catherine  Mustard  (tradition  says).  She  afterwards 
m.  Edward  Cunningham,  of  Bowdoln.  He  was  killed  by  the  Indians  in  1747. 
Ch.  were :  — James,  called  the  second;  Alexander,  who  m.  a  lady  bj'  the  name 
of  Snipe,  of  Georgetown;  John;  David,  who  m.  Ruth,  dau.  of  Caleb  Curtis, 
of  Harpswell;  Samuel,  who  was  drowned;  Joseph,  who  lived  at  Moose 
Island,  Eastport;  MnUhevr,  whom.  Isabel  Hcddrean,  Sept.  1787;   William. 

James  Potter  settled  on  Lot  No.  41,  in  Topsham.  Ch.  were :  —  William, 
who  lived  In  Litchfield;  John,  who  also  lived  in  Litchfield ;  Samuel,  b.  in  1746, 
m.  April  21,  1778,  Elizabeth  Dunlap,  and  d.  about  1800;  Hexcey,  who  lived  in 
Gardiner;  Joseph,  who  lived  in  Ohio;  James,  who  m.  April  8,  1784,  Jenny 
Mallet;  Andreic,  who  lived  in  Gardiner;  Christian,  who  m.  Jan.  6,  1777,  Eben- 
ezer  Dunlap,  of  Litchfield;  Elizabeth,  who  m.  Nov.  26,  1782,  James  Dunlap; 
Jane,  who  m.  April,  1787,  Nathaniel  Marston,  of  Gardiner. 

Alexander  Potter  b.  in  1711,  d.  April  14,  1800.  Ch.  were:  —  Alexander, 
who  m.  in  1782,  Al)lgail,  dau.  of  Ezra  Randall;  Mary,  who  m.  April  18,  1777, 
Hatherby  Foster,  of  Georgetown;  ,7a m^,  b.  In  Topsham,  Dec.  11,  1743,  m. 
John,  son  of  William  Rogers. 

PURINTON. 

Humphrey  Purlnton  came  ft*om  Cape  Cod,  about  the  time  of  the  last  Indian 
war,  to  the  New  Meadows  River,  settling  on  the  Bath  side,  near  the  present 
railroad  bridge.  His  ch.  were  all  bom  before  he  came  here.  They  were :  — 
Nathaniel,  b.  1731  (or  1736);  Abial,  who  m.  Brig.  Sam'l  Thompson;  Joshua, 
who  lived  In  Bath;  Hezekiah;  James,  b.  In  Truro,  Mass.,  April  9,  1742; 
Humphrey. 

He  was  the  ancestor  of  all  the  name  in  this  vicinity  who  spell  the  name  as 

above. 

RANDALL. 

William  Randall  emigrated  from  Bristol,  England,  and  settled  in  Scltuate, 
Mass.,  about  1660.  He  was  the  father  of  Joseph,  who  was  the  father  of 
Benjamin. 

Ezra  Randall,  son  of  Benjamin  above  named,  settled  in  Topsham,  but 
afterwards  moved  to  Bowdohiham.  He  Is  called  a  shipwright  in  a  deed  to 
him  dated  Oct.  lo,  1761,  ft*om  Jacob  Eaton,  of  a  lot  numbered  18,  In  the  town 
plau.i    May  7,  1762,  he  also  bought  lots  13,  14,  15,  and  16,  of  Michael  Mal- 


*  Lincoln  Registry  Deeds,  Lib.  1,  p.  144. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  849 

colm  of  Georgetown,  and  May  U,  1762,  he  sold  lots  13  and  14  to  his  brother 
Paul.*  June  4,  1766,  he  sold  to  his  brother  William  fifty  acres  of  land."  He 
is  said  to  have  been  addicted  to  drinking  liquors,  and  to  have  soon  squan- 
dered his  property.    He  ra.  Margaret .    He  d.  in  Bowdoinham,  aged  88. 

Ch.  were:  —  Isaiah,  b.  Nov.  4,  1772;  John,  b.  iTeh.  24,  1769;  Xabby,  who  m. 
John  Mustard,  Jan.  22,  1778;  JoHcph,  who  m.  Martha  Reed,  about  1778; 
Heatherbijj  b.  Aug.  26,  1766;  Ezrajh.  Aug.  28,  1764;  Margaret,  b.  Aug.  6, 
1762,  in.  Alexander  (son  of  Alexander)  Potter,  of  Bowdoin;  Isaac,  b.  June  1, 
1776;  Elizabeth,  b   Nov.  28,  1779. 

Paul  Randall,  son  of  Renjaniin  and  brother  of  Ezra,  b.  in  Scituate  In 
1736;  settled  in  Harpswell.  He  m.  Molly  McFarland.  Ch.  were:  —  Paul, 
and  probably  others. 

William  Randall,  also  brother  of  Ezra,  was  b.  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  Jan.  1, 
1743.  He  m.  Jane  Patten,  to  whom  his  intention  of  marriage  was  published, 
July  23,  1783.  He  settled  in  Topsham,  later  than  his  other  brothers  there. 
He  bought  fifty  acres  of  Ezra,  and  together  with  l]?aniel,  eighty-five  acres  of 
land  of  his  brother  Paul,  and  ftfcy  acres  of  Williaui  Thome,  Jr.  (See  deeds 
referred  to.)  He  was  one  of  the  selectmen  In  1776,  and  one  of  the  Commit- 
tee of  Correspondence  and  Safety  in  1778  and  In  1785.  He  d.  in  Topsham, 
June,  1826.  Ch.  were  :  —  Jajte,  h.  April  28, 1784,  m.  James  Jameson ;  William, 
b.  Aug.  22,  1785,  who  was  father  of  Elbridge ;  Benjamin,  b.  Nov.  14,  1789, 
gmduated  at  Bowd.  Coll.  in  1809. 

Danikl  Randall,  brother  of  Ezra,  m.  a  Widow  Kemp,  and  moved  to 
Harpswell,  wliere  he  d.  He  bought  land,  with  his  brother  William,  of  Paul, 
Ezra,  and  William  Thome.     Ch.  was  :  — a  dau.,  who  m.  Capt.  Norton  Stover. 

RAYMOND. 

Paul  Raymond  came  ft-om  Dorchester,  Mass.,  or  vicinity,  to  Harpswell, 
previous  to  1770.  He  had  ch. :  —  Edward,  b.  In  Harpswell,  Dec.  6,  1771;  m. 
Lydia  Coombs,  dau.  of  Anthony,  who  came  ft*om  Dorchester;  moved  to 
Brunswick  (Growstown),  in  1799.  Paul,  who  m.  Abigail,  dau.  of  Wm. 
Thompson,  of  HarpsweU. 

REED. 

The  name  of  the  ancestor  of  the  Reed  family,  of  Topsham  and  Harpswell, 
has  not  been  ascertained,  but  the  family  is  of  Irish  descent.  Three  brothers, 
David,  John,  and  William,  settled  in  Topsham  about  1731. 

David  Rked  m.  Anna  Rogers  (the  sister  of  John  who  was  the  father  of 
Hugh).  He  lived  on  what  is  now  known  as  the  Willis  Sprague  farm.  He 
was  licensed  May  26,  1761,  by  the  Court  of  Sessions,  as  an  innholder,  and 
also  in  1762,  '63,  '64,  *GG,  '67,  and  in  1771,  as  a  retailer,  and  again  as  an  inn- 
holder  in  1772,  '73,  and  '74.  He  was  a  lieutenant,  under  Capt.  Actor  Patten,  at 
the  Penobscot  expedition,  and  was  a  captain  in  1783.  He  was  one  of  the 
Committee  of  Correspondence  and  Safety  in  1776,  '81,  and  '83.  He  removed 
to  the  Penobscot  about  1790,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Stillwater. 
He  is  said  to  have  built  the  first  mills  there.     Ch.  were :  —  Deina,  b.  July  12, 

A  Opus  cit.,  pp.  187  and  188.  «  Qp^is  cit.,  Lib.  6,  p.  6. 

54 


850        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL. 

1760;  Mary,  b.  July  8,  1762;  Margaret,  b.  Aug.  20,  1769;  Anna,  b.  Joly  22, 
1766 ;  David,  b.  Mch.  7,  1769. 

John  Reed  was  b.  In  IrelaDd  about  1719.  He  d.  Jan.  12,  1795.  Ch.  were : 
—  John,  b.  in  Ireland  about  1747;  Jane,  who  m.  Joseph  Foster,  of  Topsham; 
Martha^  who  m.  Joseph,  son  of  Ezra  Randall ;  Hannah,  m.  Robert,  son  of 
Rev.  James  Potter;  Charity,  who  m.  1st,  Benjamin,  son  of  Ezra  Randall,  2d, 
a  Prescott  (who  ran  off  and  left  her),  and,  3d,  John  Hern,  of  Ireland,  after- 
wards of  Whitefleld ;  Susan,  who  d.  single. 

William  Reed  was  b.  abt.  1691.  His  wife's  name  was  Mary.  He  d.  in  July 
or  Aug.  1773.     Ch.,  if  any,  are  unrecorded. 

RICH. 

The  earliest  known  ancestor  of  this  family  was  Richard  Rich,  a  mariner, 
who  went  ftom  Dover,  N.  H.,  to  Truro,  Mass.,  and  was  admitted  as  a  freeman 
In  1681,  and  d.  In  1692.    His  son  Richard  was  father  of  Obadiah. 

Isaac  Rich,  son  of  Obadiah  and  Polly  [Cobb]  Rich,  of  Truro,  Mass., 
moved  to  Harpswell  and  settled  on  Great  Island  in  1797,  bringing  with  him  & 
numerous  family.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  In  this  vicinity. 
Of  his  ch.,  Zaheth,  m.  Mary,  dau.  of  Capt.  Saml  Snow;  Isaac,  m.  Sarah  S. 
Small,  who  still  survives ;  David,  m.  Betsey  Rich,  of  Truro ;  Reuben,  settled 
in  West  Bath,  where  his  descendants  still  reside. 

RIDLEY. 

James  Ridley  came  ft*om  Truro  to  Harpswell  before  the  Revolution,  but 
precisely  when  is  not  known.  He  m.  Mary,  dau.  of  Samuel  Small  of  Truro. 
Ch.  were :  — itfa^^•,  b.  1757;  Daniel,  b.  1759;  Rachael,  b.  1763. 

ROGERS. 

William  Rogkks,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  that  name  In  this  vicinity,  was  b.  In 
Ireland.  Nothing  more  than  this  fact  and  the  names  of  his  children  have  been 
ascertained  concerning  him.  Ch  .were :  —  John  ;  George,  who.  d.  In  Freeport ; 
Thomas,  who  d.  In  Georgetown ;  Hugh,  who  d.  In  Georgetown ;  WiUiam,  who 
d.  In  Freeport;  Ann,  whom.  Benjamin  Kendall;  Margaret,  who  m.  Rev.  John 
Miller,  of  Brunswick ;  Robert,  who  d.  In  Phipsburg. 

John  Rogers,  son  of  William,  Sen.,  was  b.  In  Georgetown,  June  20,  1746, 
O.  S.  He  m.  Jane,  dau.  of  Alexander  Potter,  of  Topsham.  He  probably  moved 
to  Topsham  about  1768,  as  there  was  a  John  Rogers  there  at  that  time.  The 
last-named  was  a  sea-captain  during  a  portion  of  his  life.  He  was  one  of  the 
selectmen  In  1790,  '91,  and  '92.  He  was  town  clerk  In  1797  and  *98.  Ch.  of 
John  and  Jane  were :  —  John,  b.  Aug.  30,  1771,  lost  his  leg  in  Jan.  1836;  Wih 
Ham,  b.  June  2,  1773;  Jenny,  b.  Nov.  15,  1776,  ra.  Ephralm  Larrabee;  Alexan- 
der, b.  March  13,  1778,  moved  out  West;  Dinah,  b.  April  1,  1781,  m.  Nahum 
Houghton ;  Hugh,  b.  Feb.  9,  1785,  d.  April  30,  1867. 

Alexander  Rogers,  son  of  George  and  grandson  of  William,  Sen.,  was  b.  in 
Georgetown  in  1754;  moved  to  Topsham,  but  precisely  when  is  not  known. 
He  m.  Margaret  [Wilson]  Hunter,  widow  of  John  Hunter,  and  settled  on  the 
farm  which  was  occwpVed  by  the  late  Hon.  George  Rogers,  and  which  Is  now 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  851 

occupied  by  the  family  of  the  late  George  A.  Rogers.     He  was  the  father  of 
George  and  grandfather  of  George  A. 

ROSS. 

The  earliest  reference  to  this  family  which  has  been  found  is  contained  in 
Vol.  I,  Me.  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  314,  where  allusion  is  made  to  a  James  Ross,  as 
follows :  — 

"  James  Ross  was  born  in  Falmouth,  1G62,  son  of  James.  He  was  taken  pris- 
oner with  his  father's  family  in  1670,  and  again  in  1C90.  He  was  a  shoemaker 
by  trade,  and  occupied  his  father's  farm,  or  part  of  it,  at  Back  Cove.  His 
mother  was  Ann,  the  eldest  daughter  of  George  Lewis.  On  his  return  ft-om 
his  second  captivity,  he  resided  at  Salem.  His  father  was  here  [Falmouth], 
about  1657.  He  was  living  in  Salem  in  1724.'*  In  1720  a  James  Ross  pur- 
chased of  the  Pejepscot  proprietors  a  lot  of  land  in  Topsham  (probably  lot 
No.  18),  and  built  a  house  upon  it,  and  resided  there  for  some  time.  After  his 
death,  which  was  previous  to  1761,  his  heirs  sold  their  rights  to  the  land. 
(See  Line.  Co.  Reg.  Deeds,  Vol.  I,  p.  170.)  It  Is  not  improbable  that  this  James 
may  have  been  a  son  of  James  of  Falmouth,  but  the  connection  has  not  been 
traced.  The  first  of  the  family  in  Brunswick  of  which  we  have  found  any 
record  was  William  Ross,  who  was  b.  July  15,  1747.  He  was  probably  son 
of  William,  of  Sheepscot.  His  wife's  name  was  Jennett.  She  was  b.  Nov.  12, 
1752.  Ch.  were  :^  mil  la  in,  b.  Nov.  15,  1773;  Jennett,  b.  Aug.  3,  1776; 
Martha,  b.  Mch.  27,  1777;  Elizabeth,  b.  Mch.  22,  1777;  Anna,  b.  Oct.  11,  1781; 
Robert,  b.  Oct.  7,  1783;  James,  b.  Mch.  27,  1785;  Sarah,  b.  Apr.  21,  17U0. 

SIMPSON. 

William  Slmpson,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  the  name  in  this  vicinity,  came 
firom  the  southern  part  of  Ireland  (probably  ft-om  the  county  of  Clare)  about 
1735,  and  bought  the  farm  at  Maquolt  where  Robert  Chase  lived  In  1859.  He 
returned  to  Ireland  and  brought  back  his  wife  and  two  daughters,  but  left 
one  son  there.  Both  of  his  daughters  married  and  went  to  Sheepscot.  One, 
Jane,  m.  a  Hopkins,  and  lived,  it  is  said,  to  be  102  years  old.  His  wife's 
name  was  Agnes.  Ch.  b.  In  America  were :  —  William,  b.  Nov.  17,  1738 ; 
Jiobert,  b.  Oct.  30,  1740;  Lewis,  Josiah,  and  two  other  sons.  All  but  Lewis 
and  Joslah  settled  at  Sheepscot.  Joslah  settled  on  the  homestead.  He  m. 
1st,  Elizabeth,  dau.  of  Robert  Spear,  Jr. ;  2d,  a  dau.  of  James  Potter.  He  d. 
Dec.  25,  1819.     Lewis  m.  Martha  Skolfleld. 

SINNETT. 

Michael  Sinnett,  the  ancestor  of  all  by  that  name  in  this  vicinity,  was 
bom  In  an  Inland  town  of  Ireland.  After  serving  his  time  as  an  apprentice, 
he,  in  company  with  one  or  two  fellow-workmen,  went  to  Dublin  In  search  of 
employment.  They  had  been  In  Dublin  but  a  few  days  when,  as  they  were 
loitering  about  the  wharves,  looking  at  the  shipping,  which  to  them  was  a 
lovel  sight,  they  were  accosted  by  a  well-dressed  man  of  pleasant  appearance, 
who,  after  some  conversation,  invited  them  to  go  down  the  harbor  in  a  ves- 
;el  which  was  about  to  sail,  assuring  them  that  they  could  return  with  the 
)llot.      They,  without  suspicion,  accepted  the  invitation.     As  soon  as  the 


852        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

city  was  fairly  left  beblDd,  Mr.  Sinnett  and  his  companions  were  token  before 
the  captain,  who  informed  them  that  they  must  go  to  America  with  him,  and 
that  resistance  would  be  of  no  avail.  They  were  thunderstruck,  but  resolved 
to  make  the  best  of  their  unlucky  situation. 

When  the  vessel  reached  Boston,  public  notice  was  given  that  Sinnett  and 
his  companions,  having  embarked  of  their  own  ft-ee  will,  and  having  no  money 
to  pay  their  passage,  would  be  sold  to  pay  their  passage  fees.  Joseph  Orr, 
who  with  his  brother  Clement  had  purchased  Orr's  Island,  paid  the  passage 
money  for  Sinnett,  and  took  him  home  with  him  and  set  him  at  work  upon  his 
farm.     What  became  of  Slnnett*s  companions  we  do  not  know. 

When  Sinnett  had  served  for  a  length  of  time  sufficient  to  reimburse  Orr 
for  the  passage-money  paid  by  the  latter,  he  was  a  free  man.  Soon  alter  gain- 
ing his  freedom,  he  married  a  woman  whose  relatives  lived  in  Hingham,  Mass. 
Her  ftill  name  we  have  been  unable  to  learn,  but  her  Christian  name  was 
Mary.  Shortly  after  his  marriage,  Sinnett  went  with  his  wife  to  what  is  now 
Boothbay,  where  he  built  a  small  house  and  began  to  clear  up  a  piece  of  land. 
By  and  by  a  coaster  came  along,  bound  for  Boston.  Mrs.  Sinnett  thought  it  a 
good  opportunity  for  her  to  visit  her  relatives,  and  Mr.  Sinnett  assuring  her 
that  he  could  get  along  alone  for  a  few  weeks,  she  concluded  to  make  the 
journey.  She  had  been  gone  but  a  few  days  when  a  press-gang  came  ashore 
and  carried  him  to  New  York,  ftrom  whence  he  was  marched,  ria  the  Lakes,  to 
Quebec,  to  join  Gen.  W^olfe*s  anny.  He  continued  In  the  service  until  after  the 
capture  of  Quebec,  when  he  was  discharged.  Meantime  his  wife  had  returned 
to  their  dwelling  at  Boothbay,  and  finding  It  deserted  she  picked  her  way,  as 
best  she  could,  to  Orr's  Island,  and  told  her  story  to  Joseph  Orr.  He  took 
pity  on  her,  and  promised  to  take  care  of  her.  He  and  she  then  went  In  a 
boat  to  Boothbay,  and  brought  back  to  Orr's  Island  what  few  things  of  value 
were  loft  in  the  house.  When  her  husband  was  discharged,  he,  with  others 
who  had  been  impressed  into  the  service,  picked  their  wav  back  to  Maine.  He 
came  directly  to  Joseph  Orr's,  where  he  found  his  wife.  Mr.  Orr  then  sold  to 
Sinnett  thirty  acres  of  land,  for  wliich  the  latter  was  to  pay,  and  did  pay,  In 
days'  work. 

On  this  lot  he  built  a  house,  and  It  stands  to-day  In  good  repair,  a  monument 
to  his  industry  and  perseverance  under  difficulties.  Ch.  were :  —  Stephen,  b. 
17GG ;  James,  b.  1770. 

SKOLFIELD. 

The  first  of  the  name  of  whom  there  is  any  knowledge  was  Thomas  Skol- 
fleld,  of  England,  who  was  an  officer  In  King  William's  army  In  1690,  when 
Kinir  James  was  driven  from  Ireland.  He  was  granted  a  tract  of  land  for  his 
services,  and  settled  in  Ireland.  He  had  four  eh. :—  Thomas,  Georye,  ElizahfAh, 
and  Susan.  Thomas,  George,  and  Susan  came  to  America  early  in  the  last 
century.  Georirc  settled  In  Philadelphia.  Thonms  and  Susan  settled  In  Bnms- 
wick.     The  latter  m.  John  Orr. 

Thomas  Skoliikld  (see  Hlog.)  was  b.  in  Ireland  In  1707.  He  settled  in 
Brunswick  on  the  farm  now  owned  b}'  Teter  Woodard.  He  m.  Mary  Orr.  He 
d.  Jan.  6,  171)6.  She  d.  Aug.  1.  1771,  aged  57.  Ch.  were:  —  Jiebecca,  b.  July 
8,  1737;   Uichard^  b.  Sept.  G,  1738;   Clement,  b.  June  1,  1740;  ^Iwwe,  b.  May  18, 


FAMILY  HISTORIES,  853 

1742,  m.  Robert  Spear,  Jr. ;  Thomas^  b.  June  8,  1744,  in  Brunswick,  m.  Ann 
Anderson ;  Mary^  b.  Feb.  10,  1748,  m.  Captain  Robert  Given ;  Stephen,  b.  July 
8,  1751;  Martha,  b.  Mch.  19,  1753,  m.  Lewis  Simpson;  John^  b.  June  13, 
1755;  Joseph,  b.  Mch.  1,  1757;   William,  b.  Aug  27,  1760. 

« 
SMALL. 

The  ancestor  of  this  family,  in  Harpswell  at  least,  is  believed  to  have  been 
Taylor  Small,  who  was  b.  in  Truro,  Mass.,  and  moved  to  Harpswell, 
between  1750  and  1755.  He  m.  Thankful,  dau.  of  Thomas  Ridley.  Ch.  were: 
—  Deborah,  b.  1743;  Thankful,  b.  1745;  Taylor,  b.  1740;  Joseph,  b.  1748; 
David,  b.  1750, — all  b.  in  Truro.  The  following  were  b.  in  Harpswell:  — 
Thomas,  b.  1755;  Samuel,  b.  1757;  Ephraim,  b.  1759;  Lydia,  b.  1761  ;3far^•,  b. 
17G3. 

SMITH, 

Joseph  Smith  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Brunswick.  He  settled  at 
New  Meadows  in  1739.  His  wife's  name  was  Susannah.  Ch.  were :  — Thomas, 
b.  Feb.  22,  1754;  Samuel,  b.  Oct.  10,  1756;  Molly,  b.  Mch.  22,  1758. 

Thomas  was  killed  by  the  Indians  when  fourteen  years  old,  t.  c,  in  1768.  He 
was  going  after  the  cows,  and  when  near  the  tan-pits  the  Indians  intercepted 
him.  His  father  saw  the  Indians  and  shot  one  of  them.  They  then  shot 
Thomas,  and  his  father  killed  another  of  them. 

SNOW. 

Nicholas,  Anthony,  and  WnxiAM  Snow  are  reported  to  have  come  over 
early.  The  two  former  brought  families.  William  was  an  apprentice  and  set- 
tled in  Duxbury.  Anthony  settled  first  at  Plymouth,  and  then.  In  1642,  in 
Marshfield.  Nicholas,  who  came  over  in  the  Ann  In  1623,  settled  in  Eastham. 
From  one  of  these  probably  sprang  the  Snows  of  this  vicinity,  but  the  con- 
necting links  are  missiug. 

The  ancestor  of  the  Snow  family  of  this  vicinity  was  Isaac  Snow,  who  set- 
tled in  Harpswell  early  in  the  last  century.  His  wife's  name  was  Affier.  Ch. 
were: — John,  b.  July  25,  1734;  Isaac,  b.  May  18,  1736;  Elisha,  b.  March  26, 
1739;  Joseph,  b.  Oct.  2, 1740;  Ambrose,  b.  Mch.  20,  1742;  Elizabeth,  b.  Nov.  3, 
1743;  Samuel,  b.  Feb.  2S,  1746;  Mercy,  b.  Dec.  8,  1751;  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  30, 
1756. 

Samuel,  John,  and  Isaac  are  said  to  have  once  owned  all  the  land  on  the  east 
side  of  Great  Island,  Harpswell,  north  of  where  Mark  Small  now  lives. 

SPEAR. 

RoBKRT  Spear,  one  of  the  early  settlers  in  Brunswick,  was  b.  abt.  1682. 
He  may  have  been  son  or  grandson  of  George,  of  Braintree,  who  was  made  a 
ftreemau  in  1644.  He  lived  a  little  west  of  where  the  old  meeting-house 
stood.  His  house  was  a  garrison,  protected  by  a  timber  fortification.  Mr. 
Spear  is  supposed  to  have  m.  a  Finnoy.  His  wife  d.  in  1781,  aged  85  years. 
He  d.  in  1763.  Ch  were:  —  Jlohert;  William;  a  dau.  who  m.  John  Given; 
another  dau.  who  m.  William  Ross. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES,  855 

STONE. 

Slmon  Stone  and  his  brother  Gregory  were  among  the  early  settlers  of 
Watertown,  and  from  them  are  descended  most  of  the  very  numerous  fomi- 
lies  of  that  name  in  New  England.    Gregory  moved  to  Cambridge  about  1687. 

Benjamin  Stone  and  w.,  Rebecca  Littlefleld,  came  ftrom  Kennebunk  in 
1760,  and  settled  in  Brunswick.  At  first  he  lived  in  the  fort,  afterwards 
built  a  large  house  near  the  corner  of  Maine  and  Mill  Streets,  which  he  occu- 
pied as  a  tavern.  He  d.  1806.  Ch.  were :  —  Lydiaj  b.  1758,  m.  Joseph  Holt 
Ingraham,  of  Portland;  William,  b.  1761,  d.  at  sea,  unmarried;  Benjamin^  b. 
1763,  m.  Elizabeth  McLcUau,  of  Portland,  d.  at  sea;  James^  b.  1764,  m.  Han- 
nah Walker,  of  Topsham,  d.  in  1802 ;  Rebecca,  b.  1766,  m.  Joseph  McLellan, 
of  Portland,  moved  to  Brunswick  in  1819,  and  d.  in  1825;  John,  b.  1768,  d.  at 
Brunswick,  1787;  Theodore,  b.  1770,  never  m.,  d.  at  Baring,  Me.,  in  1839; 
Daniel,  b.  1772,  m.  Nancy  Hinkley,  of  Brunswick,  d.  1825;  Mathias,  b.  1774, 
d.  in  Brunswick,  1793;  Hannah,  b.  1776,  m.  Joseph  E.  Foxcroft,  of  New 
Gloucester,  d.  in  1810;  Jotham,  b.  1778,  m.  1st,  Bridget  Walker,  of  Concord, 
N.  H.,  2d,  Nancy  Whitwell,  of  Boston.     He  d.  at  Brunswick  in  1824. 

STOVER. 

(STAFFORD?) 

John  Stover,  the  ancestor  of  all  of  that  n^me  In  Harpswell,  was  b.  in  1709, 
In  the  town  of  York.  It  is  held  as  a  family  tradition,  handed  down  for  many 
generations,  that  when  he  was  nine  years  old  his  parents  and  all  his  brothers 
and  sisters  were  killed  by  the  Indians ;  that  he  escaped  by  hiding  under  a  pile 
of  brush ;  that  when  he  was  discovered  by  the  whites  he  had  been  so  terribly 
frightened  that  he  was  not  sure  of  his  name,  but  thought  that  it  was  Stafford  ; 
and  that  he  was  adopted  by  a  family  named  Stover.  (It  has  been  ascertained 
that  two  brothers  named  Stafford  emigrated  from  England,  one  of  whom  set- 
tled in  Providence,  R.  I.,  and  the  other  in  York,  Me.)  He  m.  a  dau.  of  Captain 
Johnson  Harmon.  He  moved  to  Harpswell,  probably  nc^  later  than  1730,  and 
settled  on  a  spot  about  half-way  between  the  present  highway  and  Norton 
Stover's  ship-yard.  He  d.  about  1786.  Ch.  were: — John,  who  d.  at  home; 
Wanton,  who  settled  in  Portland ;  Joseph  ;  Alcott ;  Johnson  ;  Abigail,  who  m. 
a  Vamum,  and  moved  to  Bowdoin;  Mary,  m.  a  Wheeler,  who  lived  where 
Robert  Stover  now  does. 

SWETT. 

Arms.  —  Gules,  two  chevrons  between  as  many  mullets  in  chief  and  a  rose  in 
base  argent,  seeded  or. 

Crest.  —  A  mullet  or,  pierced  azure  between  two  gillyflowers,  proper. 

According  to  Burke,  the  Sw^ete  or  Swett  family  was  formerly  of  Trayne  in 
Edward  Vl's  time,  and  subsequently  of  Oxton,  in  the  county  of  Devonshire, 
which  furnished  many  colonists  to  New  England. 

John  Swett,  admitted  to  the  ft*eedom  of  the  Mass.  Colony,  18th  May,  1642, 
was  one  of  the  grantees  of  Newbury  as  early  as  Dec.  7,  1642. 

JouN  Swett,  probably  a  descendant  of  John  of  Newbury,  came  to  Bruns- 
wick in  1788.     Ch.  were :  —  WUliam ;  John ;  and  James. 


II 


85(»        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 

SWIFT. 

William  Swift  was  an  early  settler  on  Cape  Cod.  He  d.  in  Sandwich  in 
1642.     His  descendants  are  very  numerous. 

Major  Lemuel  SwitT,  probably  a  descendant  of  William  of  Sandwich, 
came  from  New  Bedford,  and  settled  In  Brunswick  In  1790.  He  was  a  hatter 
by  trade,  and  a  major  In  the  militia.  He  d.  June  30,  1820,  and  was  the  first 
person  burled  In  Pine  Grove  Cemetery  (the  village  burying-ground).  Ch. 
were:  — Deaw,  b.  Feb.  16,  1791,  d.  Nov.  1877;  Mary  Jane,  b.  Sept.  19,  1810; 
John  Lufkin,h.  Jan.  1,  1813;  Swan  Dincen,  b.  Mch.  3,  1815. 

SYLVESTER  ob  SILVESTER. 

Arms.  —  Ar.  an  oak  tree,  eradicated,  vert. 

Crest.  —  A  lion's  head,  erased,  vert. 

This  name  appears  to  be  of  French  origin ;  and  in  the  French  language, 
Sylvestre  signifies  a  tr^e^  whence  the  coat  of  arms  represents  an  oak-tree  In  the 
shield,  being  a  parlant  or  speaking  coat,  descriptive  of  the  name.  We  find 
the  family  settled  In  England  not  long  after  the  Conquest,  and  the  ancestor 
probably  went  over  In  the  army  of  William,  In  1069.  Stephen  Silvestre  was 
among  the  gentry  of  Norfolk.  Gabriel  Sylvester,  D.  D.,  was  Prebend  of 
Weeford,  Litchfield,  In  1506.  The  family  is  highly  respectable  In  the  old 
country,  and  Is  numerously  represented  In  the  United  States.  (See  Hist,  of 
Hanover,  Mass.) 

The  first  of  the  name  In  New  England  was  RicnARD,  who  was  of  Weymouth, 
1633,  and  of  Scltuate,  1642. 

William  Silvester,  of  the  third  generation  from  Richard,  was  bom  In 
Hanover,  Mass.,  Feb.  25,  1708;  m.  Mary  Barstow  May  12,  1736.  She  b.  in 
Hanover,  May  20,  1717. 

In  his  diary  is  the  following  entry :  — 

*'  May  25,  1702,  then  we  left  Hanover  and  came  to  Hlngham  that  day 
shipped  our  goods  on  board  the  Grayhound,  Courtney  Babbidge,  Commander, 
and  we  sailed  that  night  about  10  o'clock.  The  2Q  day  we  went  on  board.  30 
we  came  to  anchor  and  landed  our  cattle.  31  we  landed  our  goods  and  took 
possession  of  our  house  in  Ilarpswell  the  last  day  of  May."  This  house  was 
on  the  lot  now  (1877)  owned  by  Rev.  Elijah  Kellogg. 

Ch.  were:—  William,  b.  1737;  Charles,  b.  1739;  Mercy,  b.  1741;  Elijah, h, 
1744;  Isanr,  b.  174G;  Hannah,  b.  1748;  Deborah,  b.  1751 ;  Marlboro,  b.  1753,  d. 
1829;  Hnldah,  b.  1755;  Barstoir,  b.  1757;  Stephen,  b.  1759.  The  four  ch.  last 
named  came  to  Ilarpswell  with  their  parents.  Some  of  the  other  ch.  died 
young,  and  others,  it  is  probable,  settled  somewhere  in  Mass. 

Another  branch  of  this  family  is  found  in  Durham. 

TARR. 

This  family  is  probably  descended  from  Richard  Tarr,  of  whom  tradition 
states  that  lie  was  born  in  the  West  of  England  about  1660,  and  settled  in 
Marblehcad  soon  after  10<so,  wliere  he  m.  He  had  a  son  named  William,  who 
m.  in  1708,  and  had  several  ch.  He  also  had  a  nephew  named  William.  Some 
of  this  family  are  known  to  have  moved  to  Maine. 


FAMILY  mSTOBIES.  857 

A  William  Tarr  settled  on  Merriconeag  Neck  prior  to  1763,  and  was  prob- 
ably the  ancestor  of  those  now  living  in  this  vicinity.  He  was  probably  a 
son  of  William  named  above,  but  the  connection  has  not  been  traced.  The 
earliest  record  of  the  family  In  the  Harpswell  town  records  is  the  following :  — 

Capt.  Wilijam  Tarr  m.  a  dan.  of  Joslah  Clark  of  Harpswell.  Ch.  were :  — 
Jiichard,  b.  1783 ;  William,  b.  1785 ;  Catherine,  b.  1787 ;  Bets^-y,  b.  1790 ;  Mary, 
b.  1793 ;  Clark,  b.  1795. 

THOMPSON. 

According  to  the  family  tradition  three  brothers  of  this  name,  Benjamin, 
Thomas,  and  James,  came  to  this  country  IVom  Ireland.  Benjamin  and 
James  settled  In  York.     Thomas,  In  1718,  settled  In  Blddeford. 

James  Thompsox,  son  of  the  James  above  mentioned,  was  b.  in  Kittery, 
Feb.  22,  1707.  He  came  to  Brunswick  from  Blddeford  about  the  year  1789, 
and  settled  at  New  Meadows.  He  m.  1st,  Reliance  Hlukley,  Apr.  13,  1732. 
She  d.  May  23,  1751.  He  m.  2d,  Mrs.  Lydla  [Brown]  Harris  of  Ipswich,  Dec. 
13,  1751.  She  d.  Feb.  10,  1764.  He  m.  3d,  Mary  Higglns,  Mch.  22,  1764.  She 
d.  May  23,  1790.  He  d.  In  Topsham,  Sept.  22,  1791.  (h.  by  first  wife:  — 
ElizahPth,  b.  Mch.  13,  1733,  m.  Daniel  Weed;  Samuel  (Blog.),  b.  Mch.  22, 
1735,  was  brigadier-general  In  the  Revolution;  James,  b.  Feb.  7,  1737,  d.  In 
Infancy;  Jieliance,  b.  June  27,  1738,  m.  James  Edgecomb;  Adrian,  b.  Mch.  29, 
1740;  Bachel,  b.  June  3,  1741,  m.  James  Curtis;  Ruth,  b.  May  27,  1743,  m. 
Daniel  Curtis;  Aaron,  b.  May  29,  1745,  sailed  for  Ireland  at  age  of  22,  and 
never  heard  from;  Isaiah,  b.  April  17,  1747;  James,  b.  May  22,  1760.  Ch.  by 
second  wife  were:  —  Benjamin,  b.  Oct.  26,  1753;  Jemima,  b.  Oct.  18,  1755,  m. 
John  Ham,  son  of  Tobias  Ham ;  EzekieJ,  b.  Sept.  16,  1757,  m.  PrLscllla  l*urln- 
ton,  of  Harpswell;  Sarah,  b.  Sept.  16,  1760,  ra.  Theophllus  Hlnkley;  Buth  and 
Bachel,  b.  Dec.  29,  1763 :  Rachel  d.  In  Infancy ;  Ruth  m.  Robert,  son  of  her 
father's  brother,  Cornelius  Thompson. 

By  reference  to  the  list  of  early  settlers  In  the  Appendix,  it  will  be  seen  that 
there  were  several  others  of  the  Thompson  family  who  settled  at  New  Mead- 
ows in  the  same  year.  They  were  probably  either  brothers  or  cousins. 
James  and  Cornelius  were  brothers. 

Alexander  Thompson  was  b.  at  Arundel  Aug.  27,  1757 ;  m.  Lydla  Wildes, 
of  Anindel,  April  8,  1784.  Mdved  to  Topsham  in  1786.  He  d.  Feb.  23,  1820, 
she  d.  April  8,  1864.  Ch.  were: — Jane,  b.  Nov.  7,  1785,  m.  MaJ.  Nathaniel 
Walker;  Eunice,  b.  March  17,  1788,  m.  Gen.  John  Wilson;  Lydia,  b.  April 
17,  1790,  m.  Ellas  Pierce;  Hannah,  b.  June  1,  1792,  m.  Calvin  Fairbanks; 
John,  b.  Aug.  11,  1794,  m.  Mary  Mustard;  Alpheus  B.,  b.  Jan.  24,  1797,  m.  at 
Santa  Barbara,  Franclsca  Carrillo;  Mary,  b.  Apr.  9,  1799,  single;  Wildes  T., 
b.  March  20,  1801,  m.  Wealthy  Robinson;  Dixey  W.,  b.  May  2,  1803,  m.  Sarah 
E.  Purlnton;  Francis  A.,  b.  June  27,  1807,  m.  at  Bath. 

There  are  other  branches  of  the  family  In  Topsham  and  Brunswick  of  which 
no  account  has  been  flirnished  us. 

TOOTHAKER. 

Tradition  says  the  Toothakers  were  originally  Wltitakers,  and  that,  upon 
coming  to  this  country,  they  changed  their  name  in  order  to  avoid  being  im- 


t 


I 


858        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AKD  HARPSWELL. 

pressed  into  the  British  service,  they  having  fled  flrom  England,  probably  on 
account  of  religious  persecution. 

The  earliest  of  the  name  in  this  vicinity  of  whom  there  is  any  record  were 
Ebenezer,  Sktii,  and  Andrew,  who  settled  in  Harpswell  about  1737  or  1740. 
No  record  of  their  children  has  been  found.  The  following,  firom  the  Harps- 
well  town  records,  are  the  earliest  records  of  this  family  which  we  haye 
seen :  — 

GiDEOX  TooTHAKER,  m.  Abigail .  Ch.  were: — Andrew,  b.  April  10, 

1776;  Abigail,  b.  Nov.  22,  1779;    William  Bodick,  b.  Feb.  19,  1782. 

Abram  TooTiiAKER,  m.  Mary .  Ch.  were : — Alexander,  b.  Sept.  7, 1771; 

Abram,  b.  March  16,  1774;  Elizabeth,  b.  July  14,  1777;  Bebecca,  b.  June  3, 
1783;  Isaac,  b.  Aug.  22,  1785  (the  foregoing  b.  in  Harpswell)  ;  Rebecca,  b.  in 
Brunswick,  May  2<,  1789;  Jenny,  b.  June  19,  1792. 

VEAZIE. 

This  family  is  probably  descended  from  William  Veazik,  who  was  of  Brain- 
tree  in  1643.  There  was,  however,  a  George  Veazie  in  Dover  in  1659.  Hev. 
Samuel  Veazie  came  to  Harpswell  Arom  Nantasket,  near  Boston,  in  1767.  He 
purchased  a  lot  of  land  on  Great  Island,  adjoining  the  old  meeting-house, 
cleared  it,  and  built  a  house  upon  it.  He  m.  1st,  Deborah  Sampson;  and  2d, 
Sarah  Jones.  He  had  ch.  by  1st  wife: — John,  who  settled  in  Portland  and 
was  father  of  Gen.  Samuel  Veazie  of  Topsham ;  Samuel,  settled  in  Harpswell; 
Rebecca,  m.  Jonathan  Holbrook ;  Deborah,  m.  Robert  Jordan.  By  2d  wife,  he 
had  two  ch.,  both  of  whom  died  young. 

WALKER. 

The  first  Anglo-American  ancestor  of  this  family  has  not  been,  and  probably 
cannot  be,  determined  with  certainty.  There  is,  however,  little  doubt  that 
the  family  is  of  English  origin.  John  Walker  was  admitted  a  freeman  of 
Mass.,  Apr.  4,  1634,  and  Augustine  Walker  in  1641 ;  both  settled  in  Charles- 
town. 

Capt.   Richakd  Walker  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Lynn  in  1630; 


t  admitted  as  a  freeman  In  1634. 


.John  Walker,  the  ancestor  of  the  Walkers  of  Topsham,  was  b.  in  Newing- 
ton,  N.  H.,  In  1692.  June  1,  1717,  he  bought  what  was  known  in  1845  as  the 
**  Walker  Field"  In  Klttery,  where  he  afterwards  resided.  He  m.  Oct.  21, 
1717,  Mary,  dau.  of  John  Blckford,  of  Newlngton.     He  d.  June  3,  1743. 

Gideon  Wai^ker,  son  of  John,  of  Newlngton,  was  bom  In  Kittery,  Oct.  12, 
1719.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  tanner  in  Rowley,  Mass.  He  m.  1st,  Hannah 
Palmer  of  Rowley,  Feb.  3,  1741 ;  and  2d,  Mrs.  Hannah  Lossell.  In  1741  his 
father  bought  him  a  homestead  In  Arundel  (Kennebunkport),  where  he 
moved  with  his  first  wife  in  1745. 

Gideon  Walker,  son  of  Gideon,  of  Arundel,  was  b.  in  Arundel,  July  8, 
1751.  He  m.  Mary,  dau.  of  Thomas  Perkins,  of  that  town,  Nov.  2,  1777. 
She  was  b.  Jan.  IG,  1758,  andd.  Mch.  1,  1845.  He  moved  to  Topsham,  Dec.  3, 
1789,  and  d.  there  May  5,  1828.  Ch.  were :  —  Hannah,  b.  Jan.  2,  1780,  m.  1st, 
James  Stone,  1797,  and  2d,  Johnson  Wilson;  Nathaniel  (Blog.),  b.  Sept.  25, 
1781,  and  d.  Aug.  17,  1851 ;  Lucy^  b.  June  29,  1786,  d.  Dec.  19, 1802;  Susanna,  b. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  859 

Mch.  29,  1792,  d.  June  27,  1862,  m.   Samuel  Veazle;   two  ch.,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

WEBBER. 

No  account  of  this  ftimily  has  been  found  of  an  earlier  date  than  1738,  when 
Waitt  Webber  settled  on  Merriconeag  Neck.  No  record  of  his  ch.  has  been 
found,  but  Josiah,  David,  and  Daniel  were  prohahly  his  sons. 

JosiAn  Webber  had  ch. :  —  Elizabeth,  b.  1750;  Sarah,  b.  1761 ;  Patience,  b. 
1753;  Jotnah,  b.  1754;  Abigail,  b.  1757. 

David  Webber  liad  ch.  i  — Richard,  b.  1769;  Charles,  b.  1772;  Susanna,  b. 
1775;  Eleanor,  b.  1777;  Jeremiah,  b.  1779;  David,  b.  1781;  Phinehas,  b.  1784; 
Mercy,  b.  1786;  Jane,  b.  1790;  Lucy,  b.  1793. 

Daniel  Webber  had  ch. : — Joseph,  b.  1763;  Hannah,  b.  1766;  Daniel,  h, 
1768;  Deborah,  b,  1770;  William,  b.  1772;  Martha,  b.  1774;  Waitstill,  b. 
1779;  Abigail,  b.  1781;  James,  b.  1784;  Robert,  b.  1786;  Patience,  b.  1789; 
Betsey,  b.  1792;  Martha,  b.  1796. 

WESTON. 

» 

The  ancestor  of  this  family  was  Edmund  Weston,  who  came  in  the  Wil- 
liam and  Ann,  ft-om  London  to  Boston  in  1635,  and  settled  in  Duxbury. 

Jacob  Weston  came  from  Duxbury,  Mass.,  to  Brunswick  in  1783  or  1784, 
and  bought  the  house  at  New  Meadows  which  had  been  occupied  by  Dr. 
Duncan,  and  still  earlier  by  Gideon  Hiukley.  Mr.  Weston  was  a  shipwright 
bv  trade.  He  built  a  number  of  vessels  and  sailed  in  some  of  them  himself. 
He  was  also  a  house-joiner,  and  there  are  specimens  of  his  handiwork  still 
remaining  in  the  eastern  section  of  the  town.  He  m.  (it  is  thought)  Alice 
Southworth,  1784.  No  record  of  his  ch.  has  been  furnished  us,  and  we  are 
not  positive  that  he  m.  as  above  stated. 

WHITE. 

Several  persons  of  this  name  came  from  England  at  different  times  in  the 
seventeenth  century  and  settled  in  different  places. 

William  White,  with  his  wife  and  five  ch.,  came  over  in  the  Mayflower  in 
1620.  Another  White  came  from  England  and  landed  at  Ipswich  in  lf)35. 
The  first  of  the  name  iu  this  vicinity  was  Samuel  White,  who  between  1717 
and  1722  took  up  a  lot  in  Topsham  (the  sixth  above  John  Merrill's).  He, 
however,  forfeited  his  lot  and  it  passed  into  other  hands,  and  no  record  has 
been  found  of  his  having  taken  up  another. 

Hugh  White  settled  at  Middle  Bay,  in  Brunswick,  in  1739.  His  wife's 
name  was  Jane.  Ch.  were :  — John,  b.  Ort.  14,  1738;  Martha,  b.  Oct.  3,  1740; 
Jean,  b.  Dec.  23,  1742;  David,  b.  April  25,  1746;  Mary,  b.  Sept.  2,  1747; 
Hugh,  b.  Sept.  2,  1749. 

The  first  of  the  name  in  Topsham  to  whom  reference  has  been  found  was 

Deacon  Elijah  White,  who  was  b.  July,  1761,  and  d.  Oct.  16,  1864.     Ch. 

were:  — Polly,  b.  Sept.  7,  1788;  Elijah,  b.  Dec.  31,  1791;  Judah,  b.  Sept.  16, 

1793;  Jane,  b.  Oct.  28,   1795;    William,  b.  Aug.   26,  1797;  Sally,  b.  Oct.  27, 

1799;  Joseph,  b.  Dec.  19,  1801;  Doretha,  b   Dec.  12,  1803. 

George  White,  of  Topsham,  had  his  intention  of  marriage  to  Lucy  Thorne, 
of  Topsham,  recorded  Oct.  19,  1771.     No  record  of  their  ch.  has  been  found. 


860        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


I 


WHITNEY. 

It  is  probable  that  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  families  of  this  name,  in 
New  England  at  least,  are  descendants  of  John  and  Euxor  Whitxey,  of 
Watertown,  who  came  over  from  Ipswich,  England,  in  the  Elizabeth  and  Ann 

in  1G36. 

Samuel  Whitxey  settled  at  New  Meadows  in  1739.  His  honse  stood 
opposite  the  Cornelius  Thompson  house,  w^hich  is  still  standing  a  short  dis- 
tance west  from  Harding's  Station.  He  was  a  deacon  of  the  old  Congrega- 
tional Church.  His  wife's  name  was  Lydia.  Ch.  were :  —  Samuel ^  b.  Sept. 
15,  1732;  Jonathan,  b.  Dec.  21,  1734;  Lydia,  b.  Feb.  20,  1735;  Susannah,\). 
July  25,  1738;  Lettis,  b.  June  27,  1742. 

Jonx  Whitxey,  probably  brother  of  Samuel,  also  settled  at  New  Meadows 
In  1739.  His  wife's  name  was  Lettis.  They  had  Benjamin,  b.  May  22,  1725, 
and  perhaps  other  ch. 

WHITTEN. 

The  name  of  the  Anglo-American  ancestor  of  this  family  has  not  been  ascer- 
tained. 

JoHX  WniTTEX,  the  first  of  the  name  to  settle  in  this  vicinity,  was  b.  in 
Arundel  in  1734,  and  m.  Hannah  Walker  of  that  place.  He  came  to  Topsbam 
about  17(14,  and  settled  in  the  western  part  of  the  town,  above  John  Merrill's. 
He  d.  in  1802.  Ch.  were  :  —  Moses,  who  d.  at  West  Point  during  the  Revolu- 
tion; John,  b.  Dec.  14,  1758;  Hannah,  b.  April  20,  1761;  Ruth,  b.  March  12, 
1763;  JlolJy,  b.  Jan.  18,  17—;  Joshua,  b.  Oct.  28,  1768;  Samuel,  b.  Mch.  8, 
1771;  Joseph,  b.  July  28,  1774;  Sarah,  b.  Aug.  26,  1776;  Eleanor,  b.  Feb.  22, 
1779. 

WILSON. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Topsham  were  Hugh,  Samuei.,  Robert,  Wil- 
liam, and  TUOM.VS  Wilsox  ;  and  an  Alexander  Wilson  Settled  at  Harpswell. 
Hugh,  Samuel,  Robert,  William,  and  Alexander  were  probably  brothers. 
Thomas,  according  to  family  tradition,  was  of  no  relation  to  the  others  of  the 
name. 

A  Jamp:s  Wilson  is  called  ^  the  father  of  Hugh,  and  so  was  probably  father 
of  Robert,  Sajuuel,  William,  Alexander,  and  Jane,  who  m.  William  Alexauder 
of  Topsham,  afterwards  of  Harpswell. 

Hugh  Wilson,  son  of  James,  was  b.  about  1729.  About  1763  he  bought 
100  acres  of  laud  at  Cathauce.  He  had  his  leg  broken  among  the  logs  on  the 
eastern  branch  of  the  Cathauce.  An  amputation  was  made  by  a  physician 
IVom  Casco  (Portland),  but  he  did  not  long  survive  the  operation.  He  ui. 
Elizabeth  llewey,  who  survived  him  and  m.  Timothy  Weymouth.  Ch.  were: 
—  Jfufjh  ;  James,  who  d.  s.  in  1786 ;  William,  who  m.  Sarah  Chase ;  Betsey,  who 
m.  Jessie  Davis,  of  Lisbon ;  Martha,  who  m.  Ebenezer  Farrin. 

Samiel  Wilson  m.  1st,  Mary  Reed;  and  2d,  Elizabeth  [Snow]  Holbrook. 
He  was  liccns(Ml  as  an  inuholder  at  Topsham,  by  the  Court  of  Sessions  for  Lin- 
coln County,  in  Oct.  17<;2,  and  for  each  successive  year  down  to  Sept.  1766, 


'  Lin,  Reg.  Deeds,  Lib.  1,  p.  262. 


FAMILY  HISTORIES.  861 

when  his  last  license  was  granted.  He  removed  to  Lisbon  prior  to  1700,  and 
lived  and  d.  on  the  farm  owned  in  1835  by  Charles  Thompson.  Ch.  by  first 
wife  were: —  Hannah,  b.  Oct.  27,  1762;  James,  b.  July  2,  1764;  Susannah,  b. 
May  18,  1766;  John,  and  William.    No  ch.  by  second  wife. 

William  Wii^on  settled  in  Topsham ;  m.  a  Larrabee.  Ch.  were :  —  Tri7- 
liavi;  John ;  Samuel ;  Elizabeth  ;  Isabella ;  Hannah, 

Alexander  Wilson  m.  Catharine,  dau.  of  Kobert  Swanzey.  Settled  on 
Merricoueag  Neck  (Harpswell).  She  d.  1764,  aged  37.  Ch.  were:  —  James, 
b.  1747,  d.  1838;  Mary,  b.  1749;  Elizabeth,  b.  1761;  David,  b.  1764;  Esther,  b. 
1766;  Jennet,  b.  1757;  Alexander,  b.  1769;  Sxcanzey,  b.  1761;  Catherine,  h. 
1763. 

TnoMAS  Wilson,  of  different  parentage  from  the  foregoing,  came  to  this 
country  from  Ireland  when  a  boy.  He  m.  Ann  Cochran  of  Londonderry, 
N.  H.  Settled  In  Topsham  in  1762.  Ch.  were :  —  William,  b.  In  Boston  In  1741, 
m.  Mary  Patten  of  Arundel  in  1769;  James,  b.  1744;  Thomas,  who  went  to 
sea  and  was  never  heard  from,  said  to  have  been  a  Tory ;  Lettice,  m.  a  Martin, 
of  Brunswick ;  Margaret,  who  m.  1st,  John  Hunter,  and  2d,  Alexander  Rogers ; 
Mary,  who  m.  June  18,  1776,  John  Sandford;  Elizabeth,  who,  in  1772,  m. 
William  Porterfleld. 

Mr.  James  Wilson,  now  residing  in  Topsham,  and  who  was  bom  in  1789,  is 
a  grandson  of  Thomas,  Sr. 

WINCHELL. 

This  name  is,  without  doubt,  of  early  Saxon  origin.  It  signifies  "  an  an- 
gle," and  was  probably  derived  from  some  Saxon  town  situated  on  the  angle 
of  a  river.  The  name  has  been  spelled  In  various  ways,  at  different  periods 
and  in  different  countries.  The  earliest  mention  of  the  name  as  a  proper 
appellation  which  has  been  found  Is  Feb.  18,  1293,  when  Robert  Winchelsey 
was  elected  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 

Robert  Winciiell  was  probably  b.  In  the  South  of  England,  but  perhaps  in 
Wales.  He  was  at  Dorchester,  Mass.,  as  early  as  1634,  and  removed  to 
Windsor,  Conn.,  about  1636. 

Samuel  Winchell,  of  the  fourth  generation  from  Robert,  of  Windsor,  was 
b.  at  Windsor,  Mch.  16,  1711 ;  m.  Sarah  McNess  of  Harpswell,  about  1738 ;  d. 
Topsham,  Feb.  4,  1783.  He  settled  In  Harpswell  as  early  as  1738.  His 
brother  Ebenezer  accompanied  him,  but  subsequently  returned  and  settled  at 
Torrlngton,  Conn,  in  1740,  Samuel  removed  to  Topsham  and  settled  near  the 
Cathance  Mills,  of  which  he  became  one  fourth  owner.  He  was  also  owner 
of  a  large  tract  of  laud  In  the  vicinity  of  the  mills.  He  was  a  prominent  man 
In  the  town,  and  must  have  been  a  man  of  considerable  wealth.  It  Is  said 
**  he  kept  the  first  public  house,  — not  a  tavern,  — but  his  house  was  deemed 
the  first  in  town,  and  for  It  strangers  used  to  Inquire."  Ch.  were :  — John,  b. 
In  Harpswell,  May  2,  1740;  Martha,  b.  in  Topsham,  May  14,  1742,  was  pub- 
lished to  Benjamin  Barrens  of  Harpswell,  In  May  or  June,  1768,  who  was 
afterwards  killed  in  Bowdoin  by  a  falling  tree;  Salome,  b.  July  8,  1744; 
Samuel,  b.  Oct.  25,  1746,  and  James,  were  both  drowned  (though  as  only  one 
body  was  found  it  was  supposed  the  other  person  had  been  captured  by  the 
Indians);  Ebenezer,  b.  May  16,  1749;  Ann,  unmarried;  Sarah,  b.  in  1760,  m. 
Arthur  Hunter,  Feb.  16,  1775;  Silence,  whom.  James  l^irington,  of  Topsham, 


862        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 

Nov.  23,  1786 ;  Mary,  who  m.  John  Given,  Aug.  8,  1771 ;  Hannah,  b.  In  Tops- 
ham  in  1759,  d.  there  July  29,  1823,  s. 

WOODSIDE. 

Rev.  James  Woodside,  a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England,  came  to 
this  country,  with  his  son  William,  prior  to  1719.  He  preached  for  a  while  to 
the  church  in  Brunswick,  but  prior  to  1726  he  returned  to  England,  leavlDg 
his  son  in  Brunswick. 

William  Woodside,  son  of  Rev.  James  Woodside,  m.  Ann  Vincent,  of 
Brunswick.  He  d.  1764.  Ch.  were:  —  James,  b.  July  18,  1727;  Vincent,  b. 
Sept.  25,  1729;  Anna,  b.  Aug.  19,  1731;  William,  b.  Oct.  11,  1733;  Jfary,  b. 
Jan.  20,  1735;  Mary,h.  March  5,  1738;  Anthony,  b.  May  23,  1740;  «/eaii,  b. 
May  14,  1742;  Sarah,  b.  Jan.  13,  1744. 


WOODWARD. 

Samuel  Woodward  settled  in  Brunswick,  near  Bunganock,  in  1738.  Noth- 
ing relative  to  his  ancestry  has  been  found. 

Peter  Woodward  settled  at  New  Meadows  about  1750,  possibly  earlier. 
His  wife's  name  was  Judith.  Ch.  were :  —  Samuel,  b.  Nov.  22,  1749 ;  Peggy, 
b.  April  7,  1751;  Ebenezer,  b.  Feb.  28,  1755;  Peter,  b.  Feb.  25,  1759;  Joseph, 
b.  Nov.  25,  1761. 

WYER. 

This  family  is  of  Irish  descent.  The  first  of  whom  we  have  any  accoant 
was  William  Wyer,  of  Boston,  whose  widow  came  to  Harpswell  in  1762, 
with  her  son  Robert  and  daughter  Agnes.  The  latter  married  James  Barstow. 
The  mother  married  Joseph  Orr. 

Robert  Wyer  was  b.  in  Boston,  Apr.  22,  1754.  Ch.  were:  —  Lettice.  b. 
May  27,  1777;  William,  b.  Nov.  14,  1779;  David,  b.  April  18,  1783;  Jamf$  S. 
b.  Aug.  27,  1785;  Joseph,  b.  March  27, 1788;  Margaret,  b.  Aug.  5,  1790:  J/ary, 
b.  March  17,  1793;  Jane  E.,  b.  Nov.  4,  1795;  Lucretia,  b.  April  17,  1797. 


APPENDICES. 


APPENDICES. 


A  i.auc;e  amount  of  interesting  matter  was  collected  for  appendices, 
among  which  were  ancient  deeds,  depositions,  and  other  documents ; 
a  list  of  vessels  built  in  the  three  towns  ;  a  ver}'  full  and  complete  list  of 
the  flora  of  this  vicinitj',  etc. ;  which,  much  to  our  regret,  we  are 
obliged  to  omit. 

APPENDIX    I. 

A  LIST  OF  EAULY  SETTLERS  OR  LAND-OWNERS  IX  BRUNSWICK.* 


Name.  Ycar.  Locality. 

Adams,  Jolin 1737  ....  New  Meadows. 

'»        Nathan 1737  ....  do. 

"        Thomas 17.'>2  ....  West  End. 

Allen,  Benoni      17')2  ....  Kiist  End. 

Anderson,  Martin 17?<0  ....  Bun|2:anock. 

Andrews,  Stephen 1752  ....  East  End. 

Aubens,  I'hilip 17r>2  ....  do. 

Austin,  Benoui 1737  ....  New  Meadows. 

Baker, 1700.   .   .  .  Lot  55. 

Barrows,  John 1738.   .   .  .    **    31  &  ,S2. 

Bennett,  Andrew —    ...  .  Head  of  Merriconeag. 

Berr}',  Tliomas 1731)  .   .   .  .New  Meadows. 

Beverage. 1752  ,    .   .  .  Lot  25. 

Beverly,  Ahraliam 1717 


•      •      • 


**         James 1717  .   .    . 


Bisbee,  Oliver prior  to  171M)  .   .   .   .  New  Meadows. 

Booker,  Jolin ]  737  ....  do. 

Bump,  Josiah 1742  .   .   .   .  

Bunker,  Benjamin 1740.   .   .   .  Head  of  Merriconeag. 

Burrill,  William 1   .   .   .   .  1739  .   .   ,   .  New  Meadows. 

Bury,  Joseph 1731)  ....  do. 

Casida,  Charles 1730  ....  New  Meadows. 

Chase,  Judah 1752  ....  West  End. 

Chesman,  Sanmel 173i)      .   .    , 

Chismore,  Jacob 1739.   .   .  .  New  Meadows. 

Clark,  Robert, 1752.   .   .   .  West  End. 


I  Compiled  from  Pejepscot  Records,  old  deeds,  and  other  sources.     The  date  given  is 
the  earliest  ktwwn. 
bb 


niSTORT  OF  BSVKSWICK,  TOPSUAM,  AXD  HARPSWELL. 


Cloua'n,'  Samuel    .... 

CoRliniii,  Jolin 

CoonilMi,  Aniliony  .... 
Caleb 

bel.  17 
bet.  17 

17  &  ivia .  . 

17  A,  1722  .   . 
.   .  1739  .   . 
.  1752-7  .   . 

.   .  Sew  Meadows. 
.  .            do. 

Joliu 

IVtlT 

Samuel    .... 

.  1762-7  .   . 
.   .  1730  .   . 
.  1752-7  .   . 

do. 

do.' 

.  .            do. 

Cotton,  Tboinas   .... 
Cowell,  TUouiiis    .... 

!   be't.': 

.  1752-7  .   . 
1717-1722.   . 

.  .  East  Eud. 

UouKliiy.  David 

Diisco,  .Toseph 

"       Mrwes 

.   .  1752  .   . 
.   .1739.   . 
.   .  1789      . 

.  .EastKud. 

.   .  Sew  Meadows. 

.   .             do. 

"      Jaciib 

■•      Samuel 

Elliot,  James 

bet.  171 

.   .  1787  .   . 
7  &  1733      . 
.   .  1752  .   . 

.   .  Sew  Meadows. 
.   .  VlllaKP. 
.   .  West  End. 

KUliard  .... 

,   .  bet.i; 

ri7il722.   . 

.  .   "   :i. 

nrflflUtii.  Jacob 

Gray.  Jo-;ei.li 

.  .  i7;i5  .  . 
.  .  i7:.2  .  . 

.  .  East  End. 

ihiimuri 

•   ' 

Gvles.  Jcitin 

Givpcii.  l>iivl.l 

iK-t.  i: 

17  i  1722.    . 

.    .  1719  .    . 

.   .  Lots  .->  4  8. 
.   .  Middle  Hay. 

GmWanl.  liol.trt    .... 
Oowi'ii.  l-eiliuel 

."    .  1740  !    '. 

.   .  Near  Frcvport  Line. 

'  F-jr/ciUd  hit 

title. 

-  '  Lott  for/eittd. 

APPENDIX  L 


867 


Name. 


Year. 


LOCAUTT. 


Hacker, .  • 

Haines.  Peter bet.  1717 

Hanif  Tobias  .   .   • 
HaniiltoD,  Patrick . 

*»         Kobert  . 

*»         Robert,  Jr 
Handsard,  William 
Hardin;?, .   . 

Harwood,  Benjamin 

**  Edward 

Hewey,  James    .   . 
Hinckley,  Aaron   . 

Elwnezer 

Edmund 

Edward 

Gideon  . 

Samuel  (Deacon) 

Samuel,  Jr 

Seth  .   . 

Shubael 
Ilinney,  Joseph  .   . 
How,  Israel     .   .   . 
Hunt,  John  .... 

Jenkins,  David  .  . 

Jenkins,  Philip  .  • 

Jones,  T^muel    .  . 

Jordan,  James    .  • 

Jordan,  John  .   .  • 

Larral>ee,  Benjamin 
Nathaniel 

Lemont, .   . 

I^w, .   .   . 


ti 
II 
It 
II 
II 
If 
It 


Lumber,  Sam*l   . 

Malcom,  John    . 
«*      William 
Mariner,  John    . 
Martin,  John  .   . 
**       Thomas 
Mason,*  Samuel . 
McFarland,  James 
McGre^ror,  Thomas 
McKcnny,  Isaac 
McManus,  James 
Melcher,  Joseph 
**        Samuel 
Miles,  Henry  .   . 
Minot,  (ieorge    . 
*»      C'jipt.  John 
**      Thomas  , 
Mitchell,  Israel  . 
Mo  rely,  Rebecca 
Morse,  Anthony 
**      Joseph    . 


.  177» 

&1722 

.  1731)  . 

.  1717 

.  1717 

.  1717 

.  1717 

.  17G0 

1752-7 

1752-7 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1757 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1739 

.  1732 

1752-7 


.  1752  . 
.  1739  . 
about  1773  . 
.  1739  . 
.  1739  . 

about  1727  . 
.  1752  . 
.  1738  . 
.  1722  . 
.  1752  . 

•  1728  . 

.  1737  . 

.  1766  . 

.  1749  . 

.  1749  . 

.  1717  . 

.  1717  . 

.  1749  . 

.  1728  . 
about  1764  . 
««      1760  . 

.  1767  . 

.  1717  . 

.  1742  . 

.  1730  . 

.  liot  , 

.  1728  . 

.  1751  . 
about  1775  . 


1 


4  ID 


Lot  40. 

New  Meadows. 

Lot  28. 

**     18. 

*•    27. 

**     2. 


East  End. 

do. 
Middle  Bay. 
New  Meadows. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 
Lot  9. 
West  End. 

New  Meadows. 

do. 
West  End. 
New  Meadows. 

do. 

Fort  George. 
East  End. 
New  Meadows. 

East  End. 

Village. 


•  « 


West  End. 

do. 
Lot  10. 
Village. 

New  Meadows. 
West  End. 

do. 
New  Meadows. 
liOt  7. 
Mair  Point. 

do. 

New  Meadows. 

do.    Non-resident. 
West  End. 

do. 


1  Lot  forfeited. 


BISTORT  OF  BrUN&WICE,  TOPSUAM,  AXD  BABPSWZLL. 


Nevers,  rhlncns  . 
Norton,  Itowlaud  . 
Norton,  Caleb  .  . 
Noyes,  Cattiug  .  . 


Parker,  Benjamia . 
Penncll,  Thomas  . 
Peterson.  John  .  . 
Preble,  ColUna  .  . 


SaTsge'  (the  widow 
"        Niclioliis  . 

Saywarcl,  Jouutlian  . 

Skolfleld,  Clement  & 
"        Thomas 

Smart,  John  &  Thorn 

Smith,  James  .   .   . 

Smith,  Joseph    .  .  . 

Snow,  ElisliB , 

"  Isaac,  Jr. 
Spear,  Koltcrt 

"  William. 
Stun  wood,  Ellen  ezer 

William 
Starlilrd,  John  .  . 
Stevenson,'  James 

"        '  itoliert 
StlDson,  James  .  . 

"     "Robert'  . 

Stone,  Benjamin  . 
Stratton,  Samuel  . 
Swett,  John  .  .  . 
Swift,  Lemuel    .   . 


"  Cornelias 

"  James 

"  Peter  . 

"  Kiiinucl 

Thornton,'  James  . 
TlWiets,  Samuel.  .  , 
TIblietIs,  Timothy 
Trego  we  th,  Thomas 
Trescott,  .   .   . 

Tyler  Alexnuder 


&3on) 
Riehard 


.   .   .  1717 
,    .    .  1717 

about  1780 


Lot  13. 

West  End. 

Lots  31  &  32,  16  t  17. 

Lot  56. 

New  Meadows. 

Lots  16,  17,  20.  21  &  SI. 

"     14.  15,  18  &  23. 
West  End. 


Villoge. 

New  Meadows. 


LotC. 

New  Meadows. 

Lot  4<>. 


APPENDIX  L  869 


Name.  Year.  Localitt. 

Vincent,  William 1752  .   .   •   .  West  End. 

Washburn,  Thomas 1739  ....  New  Meadows. 

Waterhoiise,  S -Ho?  .... 

Watts,*  John 1717  ....  Lot  1. 

Wensley,*  George 1717.   .   .   .     do. 

Weston,  Jacob 1784  ....  New  Meadows. 

White,  Hugh 1739  ....  Middle  Bay. 

**       Samuel 1717  ...   .  New  Meadows. 

Whituev,  Joliu 1739  ...   .  do. 

**    '    Samuel 1739  ....  do. 

Woodart,  Peter  . 1752  ..   .   .  East  End. 

Woodman,  P 1739  .... 

Woodslde,  Rev.  James 1717  ...   .  Maquolt, 

**  William 1717  ....  do. 

*»  Vincent 1717  ....         do. 

Woodward,  Samuel 1734  ....  Bunganoc. 

A  LIST  OF  EARLY  SETTLERS  OR  LAND-OWNERS   IN  TOPSHAM. 

Addison,  James before  1731  ....  Lot  67. 

Allen,  Samuel 1752  .... 

Alexander,  J 173H  .... 

*♦         Robert before  17fi8  .... 

♦*         William 1731  ....  Cathance. 

Ball  (or  Barr\  Thomas 1731.   .   .   .  Lots  28,  29  &  80. 

Baxter,  Reverend  Joseph 1717.   ..."      14,  15  &  16. 

Bennett,  Thomas 1731.   ..."      41&48. 

Beverldge,  .Tames 1758  ....**      7. 

Bcveridge,  Samuel 1752  ..,   .    **      3. 

Beverly,  .Tames 1717  ....**      40. 

Bradley,  John 1731  .... 

Campbell,  Alexander 1741  ..   .   .  Lot  37. 

Carr,«  Daniel 1717  ....  Lots  12  &  13. 

Clapp,  Stephen 1768  .   .   .   .  N.  W.  part  of  town. 

Clark,  Samuel 1737.    ,    .    .  Lots  13,  14,  15  &  16. 

Corney  CCaptaln) 1731  ....    "      45. 

Crain,  Richard 1731.   ..."      32,  33,  &  69. 

Danforth,  Enoch —    ....  Lot  62. 

Denuison,  Joseph 1768  .   ..."    72. 

Doar,  James 1731  .   ..."    77. 

Dockley,  Sirauel 1731  .   ..."    32. 

Douglass,  James 1752  .    .   .   .    "    52  &  53. 

Drlnkwater,  (r;»orge 1731  ....    "52. 

Drlnkwater,*  Warren 1731  ....    "4. 

Drummond,  Alexander 1738  ....  Cathance. 

Dunlap,  John about  1738  .   .   .   .  Lot  60. 

Duulap,  Robert 1731  ....    "61. 

Elton*  (I^leutenant) 1717.   .   .   .  Lot  2. 

"        Daniel 1752  .... 

"        Jacob 1737  ....  Lots  18,  23  &  24. 

^Forfeited,        ^Ibid.        ^  Occupied  less  than  three  years.       *  Forfeited.       ^Ibid. 


.1' 

■■■^\ 

'I'l 

-11 


t 

■in  ■») 

fl" 


111 


4! 
9] 

MP 


.  t? 


.1 


870        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


Name. 


Elder,  Robert .   .   . 
Ellis,  Rev.  Jonathan 
Evans,  Alexander 

John  ^ .  . 

Joseph   • 


Fulton,  Gowen  . 
**  James  . 
**      John  .   . 

Gatchell,  Stephen 

Gates*  (Captain) 

Grower,  Robert  . 

Graves,  John  .   . 

**       Johnson 

"       Joseph  . 

**       Samuel . 

Gyles  (Doctor)  . 

John  .   .   . 


(( 


Haley,  Joseph    . 

"     Pelatiah  . 

Hamilton,  John  . 

Harper,  James*  , 

**        Joseph* 

**        Moses   . 

"  William* 
Heath, ^  Joseph  . 
Henry,  James  .  . 
Holman,  John  . 
Hunter,  Adam    . 

**      Andrew 

**      Isaac  .   . 

**      James*  . 

'*      John*    . 

Ingram,  Henry   . 


Jack,  Andrew  .  . 
•*  Joseph  .  . 
Jackson,  Francis 
Johnson,  John  . 
Johnson  Robert . 
Jones,*  Phineas  . 
Jones,  Stephen  . 
Jouxson,  Thomas 

Kennedy,  Andrew 
Kin^,  Edward .   . 
Kuowles,  Richard 

La  Berry,  David 
Lnmoss, (the 


Larrabee  (('apt.  B 

Lemont,  Robert . 

Lithgood  (orLithgow),  Robert 


widow 

) 


Year. 


.  1731  . 
.  1789  . 
.  1752  . 
.  1717  . 
.  1762  . 

•  1749  . 
.  1751  . 
.  1752  . 

.  1758  . 

.  1717  . 

.  1766  . 

.  1769  . 
about  1764  . 
about  1770  . 
about  1770  . 

.  1746  . 

.  1717  . 

.  1768  . 
.  1761  . 
.  1731  , 
.  1717. 
.  1717  . 
.  1717  . 
.  1717. 
.  1717. 
.  1763  . 

.'  1717  ! 
.  1731  . 
.  1717. 
.  1717  . 
.  1717  . 

.  1731  . 

about  1738  . 
.  1758  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 

.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1755  . 

,  1731  . 
.  1758  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1731  . 
.  1717  . 


Locality. 


.  .  Lot  75. 
East  End. 


Lot  28. 


Cathance. 
I^t  74. 
Cathance. 


Lot  9. 

**  50. 


a 

tt 
(( 


Lot  1. 
do. 

Near  Merrill's. 
Lot  67. 
**  8. 
34. 
32. 
25. 
31. 
17. 

East  part  of  town. 
N.  W.  part  of  town. 
Lots  30,  31,  34  &  35. 
"    34&35. 
"    37. 
**    35  &  36. 
**    38. 


Lot  50. 

"  59. 

"  54  &  56. 

"  51. 

"  13. 

«*  2  &  37. 

"  58. 

"  74. 

Lots  16  &  43. 
**      62. 
**      8&9. 

Lots  39  &  55. 


Lot  11. 
"    44. 

**    20. 


» Forfeited, 


a 


APPENDIX  I. 


871 


Name. 


Year. 


31acFarland,  James 1717  to 

Mackcallin":, 

Malcoin,  Jolm 1717  to 

Malcom,  William about 

Mallett,  John ** 

Melus,  Thomas 

Merrill,  John 

Merry  man,  Thomas before 

Merryman,  Watter 

Miller,  James, 1717  to 

Minnery,  Dr.  Hugh 1717  to 

Minot,  Stephen 

Moffltt,  Archibald  ......  about 

Moffltt,  John 

Morton,  James 

Mustard,  James about 

John 

William 


1722 
1731 
1722 
1738 
1738 
1749 
1758 
1768 


i( 


i( 


1722  . 
1722  . 
17t>9  . 
1738  . 


1763. 
1741  ! 


LOCAX.1TT. 


.  Lot  29,  30,  46,  47  &  71. 

.    **    6. 

.    "    22&39. 

.    **    19,  20  &  21. 

.  Cathance. 


Lots  64  &  68  &  Island. 


.  Lots  44  &  45. 

.    '*      33. 
.    **      9&24. 
.    **      2  A. 


.  Lots  48,  49.  50. 

.     **     26  (Ministerial  lot). 

.  Cathance. 

.  Lot  36. 


it 


37. 


Orr,  Robert 1758  .... 

Patten,  Actor 1760.   .   .  .Cathance. 

**      John 1749.   .   .   .  Near  Little  River. 

**       William 1749  ....  Cathance. 

Pattison,  John 1731  .... 

Pattison,  Thomas 1731  ...   .  Lot  40. 


Potter,  Alexander 1752  . 

James about  1738  . 

James,  Jr 1758  . 

Joseph 1768  . 

Katheran 1752  . 

Prince,  Benjamin 1731  . 


{( 
ii 


Catliance. 
Lot  41. 

**    38  &  Lsrd  in  Narrows. 
West  of  Cathance  R. 


Lot  59. 


Randall,  Ezra 1761  . 

Reed,  David 1758  . 

"      John 1758  . 

**      William 1731  . 


Lot  18. 
East  End. 
Lots  5  &  6. 
**    2,  3,  4,  &  60. 


**      William.  Jr 1752.   .   .   .  East  End. 

Robinson,  Charles 1731  ....  Lots  12  &  47. 

Moses 1731      .   .   .     **    12. 

Rogers.  John  .   .   .   .' about  1768  ....  East  End. 

Ross,  John 1731  ....  Lot  70. 

James,  alUis  Thomas    .   1717  to  1722  ....     "   18  &  19. 


i( 


Spear,  Robert 1731  ....  Lots  15  &  17. 

"      William 1731  ....     **      49. 

Sprague,  Francis 1701  ...   .  East  End. 

Springer,  David 1758.   .   .   . 

•*         Thomas 1758  .... 

Stan  wood.  Samuel 1746  ...   .  Lots  24  &  25. 

Staples,  Samuel 1768  ....     **    65. 

**        Stephen 1758.   .  .   .  above  Cathance  Mills. 

Stlnson,  William 1717  to  1722  .   .   .   .  Lot  30. 

Stoddiford,  Ephraim 1731  ....     **  .S8. 

Stuart,  Charles 1717.   ...     **  5  &  6. 

Taller  (William?) 1717.   .   .   .  Lots  3  &  4. 

Tarp,  John 1735  ....  On  Merrymeeting  Bay. 


872        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


Name.  Yeab.  Locality. 


Thomas,  Benjamin 17r>5  .   .   .   .  Lots  28,  20,  42  to  45,  02, 03. 

•*        James 17r>r>  .... 

Thorns,  AVilliam 1752.   .   .   .  Lot  0. 

**       William,  Jr 1752  ....     '*    10. 

Thompson,  Benjamin about  1738  ....     **  7. 

**  Samuel 1773  ....     *»     48,  49,  52,  53. 

Thoni,  Tliomas 1717.   ..."    17,18,23,24,53,72. 

**      William 1731  ....     **    22,  23,  03. 

Vincent,*  John 1717.   .   .   .Lot  11. 

**        William 1731  ....     **  10,  11,  73. 

Walker,  Cfldeon 1780  ...   .  Villn>;e. 

AVall,  Patrick 1735.   .   .   .  On  Merrymeetlng  Bav. 

AVartl,  William 1731  ....  Lot  10. 

Washhurne,  Thomas 1731  ....     **  00. 

AA'atson.  William 1731  ....     *' 

Watts,  Samuel 1731  .   .    . 

White,  Samuel 1717  .   .   . 

Whittcn,  John 1704  .    .   . 

Wilson,  Alexander —    ... 

**        George"  ... 1717  .   .   . 

"         Huju'h 1703  .   .    . 

»*         Robert 1758  .   .   . 

**        Sanniel 17r.3  .   .   . 

**        Thonitts 1752  ...    .  Lots  54,  55,  70,  71. 

"         William 1758  ....    **    50. 

Winchell,  Samuel .  1740  ....    *»    7A. 

Woodburn,  (leorjre 1717  .   ..."    21. 

Woodsid(3  (Captain) 1731.    ..."    33  &  34. 

AVork,  James about  1738  ....    **    27. 

Wormegum,  John —    .   ..."    51. 

York,  Samuel 1717.   .    .   .  Lot  20. 

Young,  John 1717  .... 

A  LIST  OF  EARLY   SETTLERS  OR  LAND-OWNERS  IN  IIARPSWELL- 

Adams,  Nathan X)rior  to  1755  .   .   .   .  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Allen,  Elisha 1740  ....  Lot  40. 

Babbidge,  James about  1750  .... 


40. 

01. 

2  A. 

00. 

50. 

10  or 

11. 

Cathance. 

Bailey,  Deacon  Timothy  ....  about  1742  ....  Bailey's  Island. 

Barnes,  Natlumiel 1735  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Barstow,  James prior  to  1777.   .    .   .  Sebascodlgan  Island. 

"         Samuel 1738.    .   .   .  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Booker,  James 1748  ....  Ilarpswell  Centre. 

Boone,  Samuel 1720  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Brewer.  James 1738  ....  do 

Byles,'  Rev.  Mat  hew 1700  ....  Orr's  Island. 

Cady.  William 1733  ....  Sebascodigan  Island. 

Carman,  Francis 1738  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

"  Tliomas 1738  ....  do. 

Carter,  Joliu prior  to  1755  .   .   .   .  Sebascodigan  Island. 


*  OccupUd  ksi  than  three  years.         2  yorfcitcd.         ■  Probably  not  a  resident. 


APPENDIX  I. 


873 


Name. 


Tear. 


Locality. 


Cole,  Nicholas 1720  . 

Condy,  WilUara 1733  . 

Conner,  Gideon 1731  . 

Cook,  Elisha prior  to  1748  . 

Cook,  MidtUecott 1748  . 

Coombs,  John prior  to  1740. 

Cromwell,*  Joshua 1737  . 

Curtis,  David about  1744  . 


.  Mcrriconeag  Neck. 
.  Scbascodigan  I.slaud. 
,  Merriconeag  Neck. 
.  Orr's  Island. 

do. 
.  Great  Island. 

do. 
.  Merriconeag  Neck. 


I>enslow,  Benjamin 1740  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

T>ouglass,  E)lijah 1750  ....  New  Damariscove  Island. 

Dunning,  Andrew 1757  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Dyer, , 1752  ....  do. 


Saton,  Rev.  Elisha 1754  . 

I*arr,  Thomas before  1775  . 

I'ayrweather,  John 1743  . 

:Fltzgerald,* before  1748  . 


•  Merriconeag  Neck. 


.  Orr*s  Island. 
.  Orr's  Island. 


Gatchell,  Moses 1731  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Gibson,*  William 1740.   .   .   .  On  William  Orr's  lot. 

Haines,  Samuel 1738  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Hals,  Richard 1738  ....  do. 

Hall,  Isaac 1738  ....  do. 

•*    Isaac,  Jr 1738  ....  do. 

**    John 1738  ....  do. 

"    Nathaniel 1738  .....  do. 

Harmon,  Colouel  Johnson 1727.   ...  do. 

**         Joseph 1741  ...   .  do. 

Hasey,  William prior  to  1755  ....  Sebascodigan  Island. 

Hinkley,  A 1747  ....  do. 

Samuel 1747  ....  do. 


i( 


Holbrook,  Jonathan prior  to  1770  .   .   .   . 

Jaqnes,  Richard 1727  .  •   .    •  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Kenney,  Elisha 1738  ....  do. 


Leavitt,  Daniel ,   .  prior  to  1755  . 

Lewis,  Job 1743  . 

Lindsay,  John 1740  . 

Linscott,  Joseph prior  to  1755  . 


.  Sebascodigan  Island. 
.  Orr's  Islaud. 
.  Merriconeag  Neck. 
.  Sebascodigan  Island. 


McGregor,  Thomas 1738  . 

McNess,  William 1738  . 

Madbury,  Theophllus  ....  prior  to  1747  . 

Magray,  William 1740  . 

Mathews  John 1740  . 

Melone,  Edward 1738  . 

Merrlman,  Walter prior  to  1770. 

Moulton,  Job 1728  . 


Merriconeag  Neck, 
do. 


.  On  Norton  Stover  place. 
.  Merriconeag  Neck.    . 
do. 
.  do. 
.  Scbascodigan  Island. 


1  Vacated  in  1742.  «  Traditional. 

•  Vied  alone  in  a  camp  in  the  field,    P^epscot  Papers. 


'•  •! 


.  • 


I 


■I 


874        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


Name.  Yeab.  I.ocautt. 

Negro,  A 1752  ....  Lot  36. 

Orr,*  Clement 1742.  .  .   •  Merriconeag  Neck. 

«*      Clemeut,  Jr.* 1742 ....  do. 

**      John' 1742  ....  do. 

**      Joseph* 1742  ....  do. 

Pinkliam,      1752  ....  Lots  37,  38,  40. 

f.  Purintou,  David bet.  1720  &  1755  .   .   .   .  SebascodijE^n  Island. 

*  "         Nathaniel 1760 ....  do. 

Qaingham,  Edward 1740  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Rankin,  James prior  to  1747  .   .   .   •  Sebkscodigan  Island. 

Raymond,  Paul **      **  1770  ....  do. 

Rich,  Isaac 1797  ....  do. 

Ridley,  James about  1757  ....  do. 

Ross,  John prior  to  1747  ....  do. 

John,  Jr 1740  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 


;i3. 

i 


'■If 


I     -3   i 


:t|> 


i 

! 


(( 


Searl,  John 1738  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Sinnett,  Michael before  1775  .   .  .  .  Orr's  Island. 

Small,  Taylor, **       1755  ...   .  Sebascodigan  Island. 

Smith,  James 1735.   .   .   .  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Snow,  Elisha 1766  ....  Several  small  islands. 

**      Isaac before  1747 Sebascodigan  Island. 

**      John **      1771  ....  Long  Island. 

Starbird,  Richard **      1755  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Stover,  John 1727  ....  do. 

Sylvester,  William 1762  ....  do. 


Taller,  William 1748  ....  Orr's  Island. 

ij     '.  Tarr,  William prior  to  1753  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

Thomas,  William  W 1738  ...   .  do. 

Thompson.  Joseph 1747  ....  Sebascodigan  Island. 

;    [  Tibbetts,  Timothy before  1755  .   ...  **  " 

;    I  Toothaker,  Andrew 1737.   .   .   .  Merriconeag  Neck. 

j  •*  Ebenezer 1740  ....  do. 

';!    j  **  Seth 1740  ....  do. 


Veazie,  Rev.  Samuel 1767  ....  Sebascodigan  Island. 

.f  'I  Warren, 1752.   .   .   .  Lot  47. 

'  Watts, 1752.    .   .    .    **    48. 

Webber,  Wait 1738.   .   .    .  Merriconeag  Neck. 

'  \  Weeks prior  to  1747  ....  Sebascodigan  Island. 

Whelan 1752  ....  Lot  33. 

.  •  Willson,  Alexander 1747  ....    "    32. 

Wiuchell,  Samuel 1740  ....  Merriconeag  Neck. 

;  :  Wyer,  Mrs.  William 1762  ....  Orr's  Island. 

;i  ,  Young,  Abij ah prior  to  1755  .   .   .   .  Merriconeag  Neck. 

I  ■ 


1  Removed  to  Orr'a  Island  about  1748.  2  75/^. 

•  Removed  to  Brunswick  about  1742.  *  Removed  to  Orr's  Island  about  1748. 


APPENDIX  II. 


875 


APPENDIX  II. 


LIST  OF  THE  SOLDIERS   FROM  BRUNSWICK  AND  TOPSHAM   IN 

THE  SEVERAL  INDIAN  WARS.' 

17S3  and  17»4. 

John  Giles's  Company. 


Name. 


TixB  OP  Service. 


Remabk«. 


Bevcrlin,  James  .  .  .  . 
Uradbury,  Wyman  .... 

Cochran,  James 

•*        John 

William*  .  .  . 
CowcU,  Thomas,  gunner  . 
Dunning,  Andrew  .... 

Andrew,  Jr.*  .   . 

David*    .       .   . 


t( 


i( 


172:^ 

1723 

1723-4 

1723-4 

172.1-4 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723-4 

1723-4 


3  weeks,  2  days 
II  **  2 
37 
69 
37 
G9 
37 
C9 
25 


(I 


Robert* 1723-4 

Eaton,  Samuel,  Serg't 1723-4 


**      Thomas 1724 

Gardiner,  Isaac,  Lieut.      .   .   .  1 723 

Giles,  John,  Capt 172.3-4 

Harper,  James,  clerk     .   .   .   .1723-4 

**       John* 1723-4 

'*       Moses 1723-4 

**       William 1723 

Lithgow,2  Robert 1723-4 

McBride,  James 1724 

McCluer,*  David     .....   .172.3-4 

Malcom,  John 1723-4 

Mitchell,  Henry 172.3-4 

**         Hugh    ......    .  1723-4 

Norton,'  Rowland,  drummer  .  1723-4 
Stauwood,  Ebenezer     ....  1723 

Stevenson,  .Tames 1723-4 

**  James,  Jr.*     ...  1723-4 

"  William 172.3-4 

William,  Jr.«  .   .   .  1723-4 


Trego weth,  Thomas  )  f.^^.. 
(written  Frigoath),   S  ^^^^  ^ 
Wells,  Luke 


1723 
1724 


22 

69 


47 
20 
C9 
31 
69 
64 
22 
65 
40 
(K) 
.->6 
37 
69 
69 
4 

37 
69 
69 
<>9 

22 
12 


(I 
ft 

II 

n 
ti 
t( 
(k 

(( 


It 
(( 
t( 
t( 
(( 
(t 
il 
(i 
i( 
tt 
i( 
II 
It 
il 
II 

11 
II 
II 
il 

II 
II 


1 
1 
1 

5 

1 
1 


1 
2 
1 
4 
1 
6 
3 
1 
6 

1 
1 
4 

1 
1 
1 

1 
2 


*  From  Rolls  in  Massachusetts  archives  and  other  sources, 

*  Detailed/or  duty  under  Col.  Weslbrook's  order. 


Son  of  John. 
(Ireland.) 


It 


(Boston.) 
(Ireland.) 


ti 


(Ireland.)     An- 
drew's son. 

(Salisbury.) 
Prom,  tolieut.in 
1724. 
(Salisbury.) 


(Salisbury.) 
^Ireland.) 


tt 


Prom,  to  clerk. 


(Ireland.) 
Capt.'s  servant. 


(Ireland.) 

tt 

(Salisbury.) 


(Ireland.)The 
name  is  Stin- 
•  son  in  one  roll. 
The  last  was 
son  of  James. 


(Amesbury.) 


876         HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


17«7. 

William  Woodside's  Company. 


Name.                                                   LEXGrn  of  Service. 

Beimct,  Andrew 33  weeks,  4  days 

*<       Peter 52  **      3  ** 

Brown,  John 48  **      4  ** 

(Had  care  of  a  Province  gun.) 

Burnett,  John 52  "      s  " 

Denny,  Owtu 52  *»      3  ** 

Dunning,  James 3  *^      6  ** 

Eiiton,  Samuel,  Lieut 29  "      8  ** 

Eaton,    Samuel  (Sentinel) 22  ♦*      2  " 

Fitzgerald,  Maurice 27  " 

Frazier,  Thomas 62  **      3  ** 

(irimes,  Thomas 52  "      3  ** 

Haynes,  Daniel 32  **      5  " 

(Had  care  of  a  Proxincc  gun.) 

Lindsey,  John 52  **      3  ** 

Lith^ow,  Robert 52  "      3  ** 

McCoshlin,  James 19  *»      5  ** 

McFarlan,  Samuel       23  **      2  " 

Noble,  Arthur,  Lieut 22  **      2  »* 

Simpson,  James 31  **      6  ** 

Spear,   Robert 18  **      6  *' 

Stevenson,  William 52  ♦*      3  ** 

Wells,  Luke 52  *«      3  " 

Woodside,  William,  Capt 52  **      3  ** 

1 1730. 

Bknjamin  Lakuabkk's  Company. 

Barick,  Robert 10  weeks,  2  days 

Bradbury,  AVyman,  Lieut 19  **      2  " 

Cassiday,  Charles 19  "      2  ** 

Eaton,  Jacob 19  »*      2  '* 

*'      Sanmel 19  "      2  " 

Frazier,  Thomas 19  *'      2  ** 

Lane,  Thomas 19  "      2  ** 

Larrabee,  Benjamin,  Capt 19  **      2  ** 

AA'illiam 19  *'      2  '* 

Lithffo,  Robert,  gunner 19  **      2  ** 

McGregor,  Thomas 19  "      2  »* 

Porapev  (Capt.  *s  negro  seryant)     ....  19  **      2  *' 

Robinson,  Nahum 19  **      2  ** 

Serfreant,  Dayid,  Corp 19  "      2  ** 

Washburn,  Thomas 19  "      2  *' 

AVells,  Luke 19  "      2  " 

17851748. 

Benjamin  Lauuabee's  Company. 
Year. 

Allen,  Daniel 1740-2    —    23  weeks,  5  days 

Austin.  John 1748        —    11  "     — 

Barrick,  Robert 1735-7    —    79  **      5  *» 

Brad])ury,  Wvmau,  Lieut.    .  1735-7    —    85  "       1  »* 

Bridges,' Daniel 1739-42  —  107  "      6  ** 


Pat. 


30^. 

per  111 

h4 

50*. 

30«. 

(( 

38  to  45». 
30*. 

t( 

(i 

50*. 

30«. 

(( 

i( 

45*. 
30*. 

t( 

(i 

£4 

Total  Pat.; 
£12  17*.  2d, 

n 
n 
(( 
(( 
il 
(( 

£19     5*.  8(7. 

£12  17*.  2d. 
(i 

ti 

n 
kt 
n 
(I 


Pat. 

.    .  40*. 

per  m 

.    .  31*.  M, 

*  > 

.    .  40*. 

n 

.    .  5,H*.  4<7. 

l( 

.    .  40*. 

tt 

^ 


APPENDIX  II. 


-■,  »i'llj.,rupt.  . 
]lL-iij.,  tiriiiniiii 
NiithiiiiU'l  .  . 
Williniu  .   .   . 

-.  It'llHTt      .     ,    . 

or,  'I'lioiiiaN  .  . 
.  .Iiiliii 

AVilliinii  \  '.  '.  '. 
AluxanUcr  .  .  . 

III,  Xuhiiiii  ,  .  . 
Hdlwrt  .... 
t,  David,  Corp. 


Wllliiiiii 


■4M        —    11  V 

■:i.>-7   —   .17 

■a.-,-40  —  157 
■;15-(3  —  23!) 


■3.)-4n  — 1129 
4S  —  11 
:ii;-4K  —  \Hi 


.11*.  M. 

47».  e.,i. 
ain.  3d. 


AM   BUKN8'8  COMPAXY. 

IC  weuka,  5  (lays 


APPENDIX  11. 


879 


Captain  David  Dunning*8  •* Alarm"  List. 


Clark,  Samuel. 

Coombs,  Peter,  Jr. 

Giveen,  John  (^Eusign). 

Gray,  Joseph. 

Ilinklcy,  Aaron. 

I.arrabee,  Nathaniel  (Ensign). 

Lumber.  Samuel. 

Minot,  John  (Ensign). 

Nevers,  Dr.  Fhineas. 


Skolfleld,  Thomas. 
Spear,  William. 
Standwood,  William. 
Thompson,  Capt.  James. 
Vincent,  William. 
Whitney,  Deacon  Samuel. 
Woodside,  Vincent. 

William. 

William,  Jr. 


ii 


Captain  Adam  Hunter's 


Alexander,  William. 
Allen,  Samuel. 
Beveredge,  James. 
Douglass,  Andrew. 
**         James. 
**  Robert. 

Dunlap,  John. 
E wings,  Alexander. 

**        Joseph. 
Fulton,  James. 

"       .John. 

**        Kobert. 
Hunter,  James. 
Jack,  Joseph. 
Knowles,  Richard. 
McFarland,  James. 
Malcom,  William. 
Mallet,  John. 
Moffett,  Archibald. 
Mustard,  James. 
Fatten,  Lieut.  John 
Fatten,  William  (Clerk). 


Company  and  ** Alarm"  List. 

1757. 

Potter,  Alexander. 
**       James. 
**       James,  Jr. 
**       John. 
**       William. 
Reed,  David. 

**     William,  Jr. 
Robinson,  Charles. 
William. 
Springer,  David. 
Thorne,  Thomas. 
Tlbbetts.  Andrew. 
Warrlngham,  Thomas. 
Wilson,  Hugh. 
Robert. 
**        Samuel. 
**       William. 
Winchell,  John, 

**         Samuel 
Work,  Ebenezer. 
James. 


(( 


Dunlap,  Robert, 
liatou,  Jacob. 


"Alarm"  List. 

Fulton,  Gowen. 
Gatchell,  Stephen. 


Reed,  WMUiam. 
WiUson,  Thomas. 


880        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


APPENDIX  III. 


LIST    OF 


REVOLUTIONARY    SOLDIERS    ARRANGED 
CALLY  BY  COMPANIES.! 


ALPHABETI- 


I. 
BRUNSWICK  MEN. 


Captain  Jamea  Curtis's  Company. 


Date 

OF 

Time  or 

Service. 

Enlistment. 

Names. 

Rank.                              Munths. 

Duyi. 

17 
July 

75. 

17. 

Austin,  Benoni   .   .   . 

.  private         ....           3 

June 

10. 

Brown,  Daniel    .   .   . 

4i 

2 

4 

July 

17. 

Coombs,  Benjamin    . 

i< 

3 

May 

ll . 

Fields    .   .    . 

t( 

3 

(( 

1  '* 

"         llezekiiih  .   . 

(i 

3 

July 

1^. 

'*         Nathan     .   . 

•  corporal      .    . 

3 

May 

lu. 

Curtis,  James  .   .   .   . 

.  captain 

3 

o 

at 

July 

1  4  ■ 

Duncan,  John  .... 

.  x>rivate        .   . 

3 

(t 

17. 

Dunning,  James  ...   . 

(( 

3 

May 

17. 

John    .    .   . 

n 

8 

(1 

17. 

Ham,  Tobias    .... 

t( 

3 

it 

1  i . 

llinkley,  Isaac     .   .   . 

(» 

3 

July 

JiO. 

Hunt,  John 

.  corporal 

2 

15 

4k 

2:>. 

Jones,  John 

.  private 

2 

19 

May 

17. 

Rideout,  Beiyamin     . 

(t 

3 

July 

17. 

Ripley,  Samuel     .    .   . 

(I 

3 

June 

1. 

Spear,  William    .   .   . 

(( 

2 

U 

July 

17. 

Stanwood,  William    . 

.  corporal 

3 

(( 

17. 

Thompson,  Richard   . 

.  private        .   , 

3 

•  ( 

17. 

Walker,  John  .   . 

.  drummer     . 

3 

(. 

17. 

Woodward,  Ebeuezer 

.  private        .   . 

3 

June 

1. 

*'         Samuel    . 

(» 

2 

U 

^% 

1. 

Young,  Jonathan    .  • 

(( 

2 

U 

Captain  Nathaniel  Larradek*s  Company. 


July       11.     Coombs,  George  Fields,  private 
"  9.     Rideout,  Benjamin  .    ,   . 


<t 


... 

■    .    • 


0 
G 


5 


All  not  otherwise  specified  are  from  muster'rolle,  etc. 


APPENDIX  HI. 


881 


Captain  William  Lithgow's  Company. 


TE  OP 
TME5T. 


Name. 


Rank. 


Time  op  Service. 
MoQtbi.  Dayn. 


77 

a. 

rh 

13. 

11. 

15. 

9. 

h 

15. 

!h 

13. 

19. 

:h 

21. 

•li 

15. 

15. 

15. 

19. 

rh 

18. 

Austin,  Benoni  . 
Coombs,  Fields  . 
Dunning,  James  . 
"  John  . 
Given,  John  .  .  . 
Grafton  (Graffam?), 
Hunt,  John  .  .  . 
Jones,  John  .  .  . 
Lawrence,  Joseph 
M alloy,  Hugh  .  . 
Kitleout,  Benjamin 
Spear,  William  . 
Stan  wood,  William 


Eph. 


(i 


(( 


Woodward,  Ebenezer 


private 


<( 
it 

(( 


(deserted) 
Corp.  prom,  sergt. 
private        .   . 


(t 


sergeant 
private 


t( 


8 
8 
8 
9 
8 

90 

o 
8 
9 
5 
9 
6 
8 
8 
9 
4 


12 
14 
10 
14 
10 
23 
12 

4 
11 

4 

2 
14 
14 

4 
19 


Captain  George  White's  Company. 


777.  Austin,  Benoni  . 
Cornish,  John  .  . 
Given,  John  .  .  . 
Grows,  John  .  . 
Hunt,  John  .  .  . 
Lawrence,  Joseph 
McGill,  William  . 
Malloy,  Hn^h  .  . 
M«.*lcher,  Joseph  . 
Ozburn,  Jonathan 
By  an,  Francis  .  . 
Stauwood,  William 


a 


t( 


Starbird,  Samuel 


private 

(( 
it 
(( 
II 
(( 
i( 

n 
n 

1st  lieut. 
private 


874 
654 

804 
C6 
135 
974 

884 
614 
434 
994 
109 
47 
87 


Captain  Samubl  Noybs's  Company. 

775. 

20.     Hunt,  Daniel. 

Captain  Coombs's  Company,  Colonel  Mitchell's  Regiment.* 


K  or 

TMEWr. 


Name. 


Age. 


Stature. 


Complexion. 


i  ^ 


8.        Getcliell,  Benjamin 28  ...  5  feet  7  inches  .   .   light. 

Hideout,*  Abraham 20  .   .   . 

**         Stephen 18  .   .   . 

Woodward,  Joseph 10  ,   .   . 


ii 


lese  men  were  to  scree  *'  nine  months  from  the  time  of  their  or  rival  in  Fish  Kills.** 
Iso  serred/our  years  and  three  months.  Enlisted  from  Brunswick  in  Captain  Dan- 
zrriirs  eoinffany^  Colonel  lireicers  regiment,  at  White  Plains^  N.  Y.  ikrved  also 
•rptuin  Bullock's  company  untler  Greene,  and  voas  discharr/ed  at  West  Point  in 
After  the  tear,  he  removed  to  Kennebunkport,  w/tere  he  was  living  in  1837. 

56 


APPENDIX  in. 


883 


Date  of 

ExLISTXElfT. 


Name. 


Rakk. 


Time  op  Sebvicf. 
Months.  Dayi. 


1776. 

Feb.       20.  Shannon,  John    ....  private 

March   11.  Thompson,^  Alexander  .       ** 

Peb.       10.  Walker,  Peter private 

Jan.         1.  White,  George     .   .   .   .  Ist  lieot 


1777. 


Allen,  Daniel    .... 

.  private 

**     William     .  .   . 

11 

Bester,  Foster     •  •  , 

t( 

Beveridge,  Robert     .   , 
Jones,  John  (for.  Bruns. 
Kennedy,  James  •  .  . 
Poor,  Richard  .... 

ensign 

)  private 

i( 

Potter,  Alexander  .  . 

(( 

Shannon,  John    .   .   . 

(( 

White,  George     .   .   . 
Whitten,  John     .  .  . 

.  captain 
,  private 

1777. 


Gray,  Uriah private 

Owen,  Philip *♦ 

First  Regiment,  Lincoln  County.* 


.       a 

• 

• 

7 

16 

.     .     •     • 

8 

14 

.      .      •      • 

5 

18 

8 

— 

d  Company. 

•  ■  .  . 

70 

• 

70 

79 

110 

87 

G2 

103 

87 

98 

110 

46 

\'B  Company. 

•       •       a       . 

141 

1 

1       .       1 

1       ■ 

> 

141 

Date  of 
Emubtmemt.    Name. 


Captain. 


Age. 


Stature. 


Complexion. 


1778.    Bead,  James  .   .  . 

Mustard,  James  . 

Patten,  Actor   .  . 

Potter,  Hugh     .  . 

**       Joseph  .  . 

"       Robert .  . 


Mustard  . 

.   .21  . 

.   .  6  feet  —  inches 

.   .  light. 

Patten     ! 

Mustard  . 
Patten     . 

.   .  17. 
.   .  32  . 
.   .  20. 

*   *.  6   "     7      ** 
.   .6    **     7      " 

.    .6    **     8      ** 

.    .  light. 
.   .  dark. 
.   .  light. 

Companies,  etc.  Unknown. 


Date  op 

BlILISrMBNT. 


Name. 


Rank. 


1775. 
1779. 
1779. 

1774. 
1776. 
1776. 
1779. 
1779. 


1776. 
1776. 


Berry,  Thomas lieut. 

Graves,'  Johnson private. 

IIaley,8  Pelatiah 

Hunter,'  Adam *' 

**       James major,  prom,  to  col. 

Jameson,  Given lieut. 

Patten,  William  W •  captain. 

Porter,'  Benjamin  (not  then  a  citizen). 

**       James  2d lieut. 

Purington,  James " 

Reed,  David **    prom,  to  captain. 

**     John capt.     **       **  lieut.-col. 

Whltehouse,'  Thomas ensign. 

Wilsou,  Thomafl captain. 

William lieut. 


(t 


*  Enlisted  in  Captain  Hitchcock* $  company ^  Colonel  Brewer* $  regiment.    Afterwards 
moved  to  Topsham, 

*  Enlisted  for  "  nine  months  from  the  time  of  their  arrival  in  Fish  Kills,*  * 
<  From  traditional  sources. 


HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPbff^. 


III. 
HARPSWELL  MEN. 


Captain  James  Ccjrtis's  Company. 


Date  op 
mlibtment. 


Name. 


Ramk. 


Time  or  Sbbyicb. 
Months.  Days. 


17' 

r5. 

July 

20. 

it 

17. 

May 

17. 

i( 

20. 

July 

17. 

June 

10. 

July 

17. 

May 

17. 

(( 

17. 

July 

18. 

t( 

18. 

t( 

17. 

May 

17. 

(< 

17. 

July 

17. 

(( 

1. 

May 

20. 

n 

15. 

July 

20. 

(( 

20. 

(( 

1. 

(I 

18. 

May 

17. 

Juue 

10. 

Adams,  Thomas  .  . 
Andrews,  John  .  . 
Barstow,  James  .  . 
Bibber,  James  .  .  . 
Blake,  John  .... 
Cummin^s,  John  . 
Curtis,  Jacob  .  .  • 
*'  Nathaniel  . 
Doyle,  Elijah  .  .  . 
Ewing,  John  .  .  . 
Hunt,  William  .  .  . 
Johnson,  David  .   . 

**         Jlinies  .   . 

**  John  .  . 
Miller,  Asa  .... 
Purititon,  Humphrey 
Roddick,  William  . 
Rogers,  Mark  .  .  . 
Tarr,  Joseph  .  .  . 
"  William  .  .  . 
Thompson,  Cornelius 

Joel  .   . 
Toothaker,  Ei)hraim 
Williams,  Samuel    . 


private 


(( 


corporal 
private 
sergeant 
private 


(( 


sergeant 

t( 

private 

(( 

flfer 
private 

1st  lieut. 

private 

(( 

n 
(( 
l( 
it 


2 

25 

3 

— 

3 

2 

25 

3 

— . 

2 

4 

3 

— . 

3 

— 

3 

3 

2 

3 

2 

3 

-^ 

3 

— 

3 

-^ 

3 

-^ 

1 

11 

2 

25 

3 

2 

2 

25 

2 

25 

1 

11 

3 

2 

3 

-^ 

2 

4 

Captain  Nathaniel  Larraber's  Company. 


1775. 

ily 

9. 

Birthright,  Peter    .   . 

.  private 

0. 

Dolph,  ElUs 

i( 

9. 

Hall,  Nathaniel    .   .   . 

(( 

1. 

Larrabee,  Nathaniel  . 

.  captain 

1. 

Snow,  Isaac     .... 

.  1st  lieut. 

10. 

Toothaker,  Abraham 

.  private 

9. 

Williams,  Sanmel   .   . 

.  sergeant 

(? 

7 

6 

7 

6 

7 

6 

16 

6 

16 

6 

6 

G 

t 

Captain  William  Lithoow's  Company. 


Time  of  Marching. 

1776. 
Au2:"^^t  G. 


March   11. 


Andrews,  John    ....  private 
Barstow,  Isaac    ....        *' 
Douglity,  Benjamin    ,    .       " 
Huut,  William  .....  corporal 


6 
6 
8 
5 


APPENDIX  IIL 


885 


Captain  George  White's  Company. 


Date  or 

BNUSTMElfT. 


Name. 


Rank. 


Time  or  Sebyice. 
Dayi. 


1777.  Adams,  Adam  C. 
"  Samuel  . 
Allen,  Pelatiah  . 
Curtis,  Benjamin 
Henrj',  Zebulon  • 
Toothaker,  Seth  . 
Whittum,  Thomas 
Wilson,  William  . 


private 


121 
70 


79i 
68i 


Adams,  Samuel 
Aderton,  Badger 


Captain  Rebd*s  Company. 


Bray,  Robert 
Herferuan,  Patrick 


Nickerson,  Luke 
Weymouth,  Arch. 


Whittum,  James 


Captain  Smith's  Company. 


Bibber,  James 
Dojie,  James 


Captain  Lane's  Company. 


Doyle,  Jotham 
Webber,  Samuel 


Captain  Curtis's  Company,*  in  Colonel  Mitchell's  Regiment. 


Date  op 
Xnlistmen't. 


Name. 


Age. 


Btatube.        Complexion. 


5  feet  5  inches 


1778.        IMshop,  Hutson 19  .   . 

Booker,  Isaiah 16  .   . 

Gardner,  Seth 28  ...  6     "      9  «* 

Haskell,  Ward 24  ...  6     **     10  " 

Johnson,  Jonathan 23  ...  6    "    — 


light, 
dark, 
light. 


(i 


It 


Companies,  etc.,  Unknown. 


Date  op 
Bni.istment. 


Name. 


Rank. 


1776.  Alexander,  Thomas captain. 

1777.  Curtis,  Nehemiah " 

—  Doughty,*  James — 

Farrin,' private. 

1776-1780.  Ilodgkins,  Eli ensign. 

1775.  Leavitt,*  Caleb private,  killed  at  Bunker  Hill. 

—  "         Nathaniel* ** 

—  Merritt,'  Henry — 

1776.  Merrj'man,  Huston lieut. 

1776-80.  Purlnton,  John  M captain. 

—  **         Stephen* . — 

—  Small,'  Epraim private. 

—  "      Samuel* " 

1776.  Stover,  Simeon  Q ensign. 


1776-1780.   Trufant,  Samuel lieut. 


I  Enlisted  for  **  t?ie  term  of  nine  months^  from  the  time  of  their  arrival  in  FiihKiUs.** 
*  From  traditional  sources  alone. 


i| 


886      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham,  and  habpswell 


I 

1'.: 


Privateersmen  from  the  Three  Towxs. 


Name. 


LOCAUTT. 


VB8PKL. 


1'  n 


Bishop,  Abner Harpswell 

Black,  John " 

Campbell,  John  (Capt.) — 

Dunning.  James — 

Hall,  Nathaniel — 

Hopkins.  Elisha — 

Hunt,  William — 

Reed,  John — 

**      William — 

Skolfleld,  John — 

Snow.  Elisha Harpswell 

**       Isaac ** 

"       John " 

Stanwood,  David — 

♦*  David,  Jr — 

♦*  Eben — 

"  Samuel — 

♦*  William — 

Sylvester,  Marlboro Harpswell 

Toothaker,  Abraham ** 

**  Isaac ** 

Totman,  Josiah «* 

Wier,  Thomas — 


In  Sea  FlowerA 


Sea  Flower. 

Sturdy  Beggar. 

Sea  Flover. 
it 


Sea  Flatter. 


It 


Stttrdp  Beggar. 


'  I 


i  4 


•'M 


■  I 


Of  Nevohuryport,  Captain  Tracy. 


a 


APPENDIX  IV.  887 


APPENDIX    IV. 

A  LIST  OF  THE  SOLDIERS  IN  THE  WAR  OF  1813-14. 

I. 
FROM  BRUNSWICK. 

Brunswick  Artillery,*  in  Service  at  Bath. 

1814. 
Naur.  Rakk. 

Aldcn,  Peter  O captaiu. 

Eastman,  Robert 1st  lieutenant. 

Marsh,  Moses  M 2d  ** 

Pennell,  Thomas 3d  ** 

Stetson,  Harvey clerk  and  sergeant. 

Welch,  Edward sergeant. 

Dunham,  Johnson ** 

Stetson,  Charles ** 

Hedge,  George drummer. 

Carey,  James **matross"  s=  private. 

Cummings,  Samuel  S fifer. 

Danforth,  Isaac matross. 

Dillingham,  Ammi driver. 

Dunlap,  Joseph matross. 

Given,  William,  Jr ** 

Gray,  Uriah ** 

Hall,  Robert hostler. 

Hunt,  Jeremiah matross. 

Hunt,  John " 

Kimball,  Dean ** 

Kincaid,  Patrick,  Jr hostler. 

Larrabee,  William driver. 

Littlefleld,  Moses matross. 

Lunt,  John '* 

Merrill,  James ** 

Morse,  Ephraim ** 

Morse,  Lemuel ** 

Murray,  Trueworthy »* 

Nelson,  James ** 

Osgood,  EUphalet ** 

Owen,  John,  2d ** 

Owen,  Philip,  Jr " 

Pattee,  William ♦* 

Pierpont,  Edward *» 

Powers,  Paul 


(( 


i-Fwm  Treasury  Department,  Washington. 


.1 


i 


888        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


Name. 


Kahk. 


'I  r. 


\ 


I 

v.- 
V 


■i 


I 

Ij 


Pray,  Edmund matross. 

Rowe,  Amos ** 

Simpson,  Thomas ** 

Stanford,  Warren waiter  to  lieutenant 

Stanwood,  Thomas matross. 

Toothaker,  Andrew driver. 

Toothaker,  Charles matross. 

Toothaker,  William hostler. 

Todd,  John captain's  waiter. 

Welch,  Reed   . matross. 

Wllmot.  Orlando " 

Wing,  Allen " 

Captaix  Richard  T.  Duxlap's  Company,'  Lieutenant.  Colonel  Charl-3 

TuoMAS'8  Regiment,  in  Bath. 

1814. 

Dunlap,  Richard  T captain. 

McManus,  Richard 1st.  lieut. 

Sherwood,  David,  2d 2d.      ** 

Tltcomb,  William orderly  sergeant. 

Merrlman,  Nathaniel sergeant. 

Badger,  Nathaniel ** 

Badger,  Joseph *< 

Privates. 

Adams,  Charles.  Gray,  John. 

Blake,  Samuel.  Given,  Thomas. 

Bowker,  Washington.  Given,  Thomas,  Jr. 

Bradley.  Foster.  Growse,  Thomas. 

Brown.  Isaac.  Hall,  Hammond. 

Campbell.  John.  Hall,  Johnson. 

Carev,  Alansou.  Hall.  William. 

Caswell.  Wilbur.  Herrlck,  Benjamin  J. 

Chase,  Enoch.  Hiukley,  Noah. 

Clarke,  Alfred.  .  Hunt,  John. 

Clarke,  John.  James,  William. 

Clarke,  John,  2d.  Keith,  Isaac. 

Coombs,  Abner.  Kimball,  Joseph. 

Coombs,  Joseph.  Kincaid,  David. 

Coombs,  William  S.  Lambert,  James. 

Cowiui;,  Daniel.  Lemont,  Adam. 

Cox,  James.  Litchfield,  Waid. 

Cox.  Isaac.  Littlefleld,  James. 

Curtis,  Joshua.  Lovejoy,  Odiorne. 

Curtis,  William.  Lowell,  John. 

Dailey,  Silas.  Lowell.  Simon. 

Eatou,  .Aimer.  Luut,  Joseph. 

Eaton,  Charles.  Lunt,  Josiah. 

Eatou,  Daniel,  Jr.  McLellan,  Alexander. 

Eaton,  John.  McManus,  Charles,  Jr. 

Elliott.  Jauies,  2d.  McManus,  James,  2d. 

Ford,  Daniel.  McManus,  John.  Jr. 

Graffam,  David.  McManus,  Richard,  2d. 

Grant,  John.  Mayhew,  Zaccheus. 

Grant,  Uuite.  Melcher,  Abner. 


*  From  Treasury  Department^  Washington, 


APPENDIX  IV. 


889 


Melcher,  Samuel,  3d.  Ross,  William,  2(1. 

Merryman,  Thomas,  2d.  Ryan,  Charles. 

Merryman,  Timothy.  Sampson,  Alexander. 

Merritt,  Henry.  Simpson;  William. 

Merritt,  Jesse.  Skolfleld,  John,  2d. 

Minot,  George.  Skolfleld,  Joseph. 

Moore,  Samuel.  Sloan,  Robert. 

Morse,  Benjamin.  Snow,  Abiezer. 

Morse,  Lemuel.  Stan  wood,  Philip. 

Morse,  Paul,  Jr.  Starbird,  William,  Jr. 

Noyes,  James.  Swift,  Dean. 

O'Brien,  Jeremiah.  Taylor,  Phlneas. 

Osgood,  Theodore.  Thomas,  Ephraim. 

Otis,  James.  Thompson,  Pelatiah. 

Owen,  Jeremiah.  Titcomb,  Benjamin,  Jr. 

Owen,  Sanniel.  Toothaker,  Abraham. 

Pattee,  William  S.  Toothaker,  Alexander. 

Pinkham,  Stephen.  Toothaker,  Isaac. 

Ransom,  David.  Towns,  Aaron. 

Robertson.  John  R.  Townseud,  Aaron. 

Rodick,  William.  Towusend,  Henry. 

Ross,  James,  3d.  Turner,  James. 

Ross,  John.  Woodward,  Martin. 
Ross,  Robert,  2d. 

Brunswick  Light  Infantry,*  in  Colonel  Thomas's  Regiment,  Bath. 

1814.    June  SO  to  9^2d  and  September  10th  to  20th. 
Name.  Rank. 

Dunniner,  Robert  D captain. 

Owen,  John lieutenant. 

Coburn,  .John ensign. 

Brown,  Eliplialet sergeant. 

Dunning,  Aaron '* 

Dunning,  John,  3d ** 

Noyes,  Joseph ** 

Given,  Samuel musician. 

Eaton,  Edward ** 

Robertson,  Isaac  O corporal. 

Herrick,  Joshua ** 

Brown,  John " 

Shaw,  David ** 

Privates. 

Baker,  Zachariah.  Hall,  Neal. 

Bradley,  Foster.  Hammond,  James  R. 

Brown,  Gardner.  Hunt,  William. 

Clark,  .John,  2d.  Kidder,  Jonathan. 

Davis,  Joseph  W.  Lock,  Abraham. 

Dinsmore,  James.  Moore,  Richard. 

Dunlap,  Robert.  Moulton,  Samuel. 

Dunninff,  Joseph  X.  Mullen,  Thomas. 

Elliot,  James.  Mustard,  William. 

Flood,  Henry.  Noyes,  James. 

Fuller,  Ira.  Osgood,  Theodore. 

Gratt'am,  Thomas.  Owen,  Samuel. 

Grows,  John.  Ross,  James,  3d. 

i  From  office  of  (KJjutant-general  of  Maine, 


\ 


890        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HABPSWELL. 


Sampson,  Alexander. 
Shaw,  John. 
Titcomb,  John  L. 


Toothaker,  John. 
Wing,  Calvin. 
Woodside,  George, 


Staff  Roll  of  Colonel  Thomases  Regiment. 


% 


* 

4' 

II 


?.* 


•Sr 


n 


!   ? 

f 

I 

\ 


1 

II 


> 


'    1 


r 


;«f 


Namk.  Rakk. 

Thomas,  Charles It. -colon el 

Estabrook,  Thomas  S major 

Poor,  Nathaniel " 

Coombs,  John  E ** 

Sewall,  William adjutant 

Badger,  Nathaniel ** 

Thomas,  Charles,  Jr paymaster 

Hercick,  Jacob chaplain 

Page,  Jonathan surgeon 

Holbrook,  Moses 8urgeon*s  mate 

Anderson,  Martin sergeant-major 

Dunning,  John quartermaster 


LOCALITT. 


Bmnswick. 

(( 
(( 

tc 

Durham. 

Bruns^ic 

•   •   •  ■  • 


Captain  Joseph  Dcstin's  Company,'  at  Bath,  in  Col.  Thomas's 

Regime.nt. 

1814. 


Name. 


Rahk. 


Dustin,  Joseph captain. 

Pennell,  William lieutenant. 

Dunning,  John ensign. 

Brown,  Benjamin sergeant. 

Given,  Thomas ** 

Dunning,  James.  2d " 

Lewis,  Jazzaulah   .   .       ** 

Messerve,  Jesse corporal. 

Anderson,  Charles '• 

Dunning,  Thomas *' 

Given,  John,  3d      drummer. 

Simpson,  Robert flfer. 

Privates. 

Blaisdell,  Jonathan.  Morse,  Adam. 

Chase.  George.  Morse,  Anthony,  Jr. 

Crips,  Jolin.  Morse,  James. 

Curtis,  Abiezer.  Morse,  Joseph,  Jr. 

Curtis,  Calvin.  Moseley,  William. 

Curtis.  Melzer.  Parsley,'  Eliphalet. 

Given,  Benjamin.  Pennell,  Jacob. 

Given,  David,  Jr.  Pennell,  Robert. 

Given,  John,  2d.  Skolfleld,  Jacob. 

Gould.  Joseph.  Simpson,'  Lewis. 

Graffam,  Samuel.  Simpson,  Matthew. 

Hodgdon,  Jeremiah.  Stan  wood,  Benjamin. 

Hunt,  William.  Stanwood,  David, 

^farincr,  John,  3d.  Stanwood,  James,  3d. 

Miller,  William.  Stanwood,  Judah. 

Minot,  Vincent.  Stanwood,  Robert. 

1  From  Treasury  Department,  Washington.       ^  The  only  members  now  living. 


ti 


APPENDIX  IV. 


891 


Stevens,  Reuben. 
Stilkey,  George. 
Woodslde,  Robert. 


Woodside,  Stinson. 
Woodside,  Willlara. 
Woodward,  Nathan. 


Captain  Jordan's  Company,*  in  Colonel  Thomas's  Regiment,  in  Bath. 

1814. 


Name. 


Rahk. 


Jordan,  Peter,  Jr captain. 

Woodward,  Isaac lieut. 

Toppan,  Josiah  F sergeant. 

Jordan,  Henry ** 

Bisbee,  Ruftis ** 

Snow,  Jordan ** 

Mariner,  Thomas cor]>oral. 

Leavitt,  Caleb " 

Peterson,  Benjamin " 

Privates. 

Bates,  James.  Holbrook,  John. 

Bisbee,  Studley.  Holmes,  William  (waiter). 

Cook,  Eli.  Hyde,  Jude. 

Coombs,  Asa.  Jordan,  Abijah. 

Coombs,  Charles,  Jr.  Jordan,  Jesse. 

Coombs,  Joseph,  Jr.  Larrabee,  James. 

Coombs,  Samuel.  Lewis,  Jabez. 

Cotton,  Levi.  Lewis,  Nathan. 

Crawford,  Charles.  Linscott,  Abijah  (waiter). 

Crawford,  John.  Linscott,  Abraham. 

Crowd  1,  John.  Linscott,  Joseph,  Jr. 

Danforth,  Abner.  Low,  Samuel. 

Danforth»  Enoch.  Marr,  Joseph. 

Davis,  Miab.  Mariner,  Unite. 

Davis,  Uriah.  Mclcher,  John. 

Dounell,  Abiel.  Peters,  Simeon. 

Donnell,  John.  Peterson,  John. 

Doughty,  Jacob  G.  Pollard,  George. 

Doughty,  Stephen.  Smiley,  David. 

Doughty,  William.  Story,  William. 

Estes,  John.  Thomas,  William. 

Farriu,  David.  Wallace,  John. 

Farrin,  Winthrop,  Jr.  Wiuslow,  Job. 

Gatchell,  Aaron.  Woodward,  Ebenezer. 

Gatchell,  Benjamin.  Woodward,  Samuel. 
ILardiug,  Nehemiah. 

Cavalrf/, 
Jordan,'  Robert.  Weston,*  Jacob. 


In  Colonel  McCobb*s  Regiment,  in  New  York. 

1818. 

McManus,*  Richard. 


1  From  Treasury  Department,  Washington. 


Traditional 


'APPENDIX  /F. 


893 


Time  op 
Skrvice. 


Namr. 


it 
it 
it 

(4 
<t 

44 


10  days.    Wentworth,  John     . 

—  Pluinmer,  Nathaniel 
19  days,     riummer,  Moses  . 

Haley,  Abner  .  . 
Wilson,  John,  4th 
Hlnkley,  James  , 
Holbrook,  Jesse  . 
Stone,  Alfred  .  . 
Cook,  Lincoln ,  . 
Kimball,  Abraham 
Alexander,  David 

—  Baker,  Jonathan  . 
10  days.     Brown,  Robert     . 

—  Crosby,  Ebenezer 

—  Crosby,  Sharon    . 
19  days.     Dennett,  William 

•*  Green,  Gardner    . 

7  days.     Grey,  Solomon     . 

—  Haley,  James  .     . 
19  days.     Haynes,  Heuben  . 

Hardin;;;?,  Richard  C. 

—  Hinkley,  Ezekiel  . 

—  Hodsdon,  Silas    . 

—  Hanniford,  William 

—  Jack,  John  .     .     . 

4  days.  Plunnner,  Lemuel  D 

—  Rollins,  Aaron 

—  Thomas,  Consider 

—  Thomas,  George  . 

—  Towns,  Samnel    . 

—  Tuttle,  Joslah      . 
19  days.  Ware,  William    . 

—  Wej^mouth,  Moses 


Ramk. 


sergeant 


(( 


corporal 
musician 
hostler 

14 
44 

waiter 

44 
44 

private 

44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
44 

(4 

private 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 

44 
44 
44 
44 
44 
4i 
44 


Bfmarkb. 


Cavalry. 
Frost,'  William. 

From  Other  Towns. 
Haskell,*  Joshua. 


absent  on  duty  in  fort. 


for  captain. 
**  1st  lieutenant. 
««  2d  ** 

excused  from  duty. 

absent  C  did  not  > 
**      (  serve.  5 


detached  from  Infantry 

as  instructor, 
absent  in  fort. 


absent  in  fort, 
did  not  serve, 
absent  in  fort. 


44 


44 


sick;  discharged, 
did  not  serve, 
absent  in  fort. 


44 


44 


lame ;  did  not  serve, 
absent  in  fort. 

absent  in  fort. 


in. 

BARPSWELL  MEK, 
Captain  Johnson's  Company.^ 

1814.     June  90  to  35  and  September  19  to  21. 

— .  ■■■.■y  I. .1.1  I.,  ■ "  ■  ■» 

Name.  Hark. 

Johnson,  David captain. 

Curtis,  PeU'i; lieut. 

Curtis,  David ensign. 

^Traditional.  ^Ibid.  ^ From  Treaeury  Department^  Washington. 


APPENDIX  IV. 


895 


ane  20  to  25.  Totman,  Levi.  Jane  20  to  25. 

une  20  to  25.  Sept.  10  to  29.    Wheeler,  Simeon. 

ept.  10  to  29.  Webber,  Charles.  June  20  to  25. 

une  20  to  25.  Sept.  10  to  29.    Wilson,  John. 

ept.  10  to  29.  Wheeler,  John. 

Captain  Snow's  Company.' 

September  10  lo  90,  18 14* 

Names.  Ramk. 

Snow,  Stephen captain. 

Snow,  Paul lieutenant. 

Merritt,  William ensign. 

Merritt,  Stephen sergeant. 

Holbrook,  Jonathan *^ 

Coombs,  Elisha " 

Thomas,  Williams " 

Toothaker,  Samuel corporal. 

Toothaker,  Cornelius ** 

Eastman,  Kingsbury ** 

Hopkins,  Simeon ** 

Sawyer,  Daniel musician. 

Green,  Josiah ** 

PrivateB, 

Alexander,  John.  Otis,  Samuel,  Jr. 

Aublns,  George.  Prior,  Leonard  P. 

Aubins,  Humphrey.  Purrington,  Joshua. 

Blackmorc,  James  (waiter).  Purinton,' Nathaniel. 

Blake.  Samuel  (waiter).  Rich,  Bei^jamln. 

Coombs,  Jesse.  Rich,  David. 

Diugley,  Spencer,  Rich,  Isaac. 

Dresser,  Ebenezer.  Ridley,  Mark,  Jr. 

Eastman,  James.  Small,  Israel. 

Holbrook,  Israel.  Snow,  Isaiah,  Jr. 

Hopkins,  Elisha.  Snow,  Jesse. 

Kemp,  Timothy.  Snow,  Jesse,  Jr. 

Leavitt,  George.  Snow,  Samuel. 

Lorey,  James.  Toothaker,  John. 

Lunt,  Isaiah  (waiter).  Wilson,  Alexander, 

Merritt,  Isaac.  Wilson,  Seth. 
Merritt,  Samuel. 

« 

In  Companies,  etc.,  Unknown.' 

Dyer,  George.  Raymond,  Paul. 

Dyer,  Leonard.  Purington,  Robert. 

1  From  Treasury  Department  Waihington,  *  J/lenoards  prom  to  Kent. 

•  All  the  latter  are  from  traditional  sources. 


896       BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSnAif,  AND  KABPSWELI. 


i! 


illi 

LJilJ 


Hi 


i  -?    11=8  L  ij 

it:*  Ei^;  IS  ^=s 
I  I  i  l||l5i|,^^i 


II  s 


.5 1  liiiiii  illiiiii  ii   ii  ii'i 


I         |,  =  „      =      „,  =  =  =  .=      if        I      ::: 


mm 

Ii 

III 

mm% 

llll«« 

m 

II 

fii 

APPENDIX   r. 


897 


P^  f^    v^    «M     *^     *«»    a^^    'M    •^    ■'^    A^   *A     A^^    mf<  »0^    m^  #  ••     a^   m0^    #  «^    '^    •A    aA  #«^    o^    •««    «^k    •««    m^^    *«^    •»  pM^    #A 

•-^     iir""ai^     aszrjcr^s      i-t      B2r    h3C5^wc^— «      Q.'^xx^s^ii.a<     a<a 

_5    ^  3  5  aT    ^^33iS    3    ^3    <Ds3j^pao    ^^^^W3^v    ©3 


uj  waasT  sss^^hto 


m 


crwi:<p^;5Vd'  cVfeptra'Q's;;:^   cw 


^     i?«a*-j   .  ♦J +j  *j  ^  ,c  3;    .   . 

CI        C*  lO  iC  wi  t-*  —  ^  r-l  t- X  «  »-' t-' 


*e.a 


^  ^  •«  M'  Vk  w«  w« 


CS   a} 

.2 1. 


OS  4i 
>  3 

•j:.2 


5 


g3 

«•       ^       V       ^       V       ^  f»     J^ 

^«       <t«       •«       V       1*       1*         *^*  ^ 


2a$      ^-a^r52?2     "CS 


ee  3 


APPENDIX  V. 


89» 


> 

«  3 


6 


n  .25  - 


9  A 


-nS 


B 

5 

9 

s 

o 
,2 


CB 


I 


-oB  a  •'■•  If  a     2 


I 


■  v«     ,a     •-  art  p-4     '"^  ** 

-a  o  Sco  o  o  rt  - 

ej         C  "   **  »• 


'-'    *S)2 

o  I— —I   - 


^  eS 
2^ 


It 


5a 


Is 


I 

3 

i5 


=21 

•C  00  O  ^"5  2 


1  . 

•  •i^  »Q    ^ 


to  00  S  5      .  o 


a 
o 


'S.SO'0^3 


HS 


S  g  3  S  £.SF|  § 


fin 

•*^         K  © 

©•^  ©       Q 
TS  G  O  C^     • 

5  its  li 

-  ©-«  S-S-o 


^ 


'^  2 
iS 


♦»  *^ 

a    .**^ 

m   *   © 

5  2-9 


S 


5     s 


1^       ri  1-4  ^^  ,-1 


8f  ?i?f  ^  ?f :q'"^'25\^"  s   gf  g[ifs^s^=:f-^"J2gfs''       gf  ^^     s"  ^';2:s^*s' 


3       ©  e8  3  3 


P^ 


l- 


5 


^M  ^i^       ^     ^     ^     ^  •« 

1.*^  iQ  ^  ^  4^  «a         w 
^1  ?l  ^  O  O  O        t- 


t3    s 


g     5 

O       eS 

^  T*  *      ^      »• 


u   £ 


03 


U3 


JZ  •*»  *»  JQ 


©    « 
S-r 


s 

i 

3 
3 
3 

Q 


©  M 

c  © 

c  S 

©   CS 


«  J 

'  3   O     .Q     ^ 

3  S  ^^  bfrS  g  fl 

3  3  ©  3  S  3  3 

9  H  >,0  3d  3 

QQQQ;::jq  « 


>      C'S^  S  S  ©  2  53  3  §• 


& 


3 

o 


2 


W)  fee©  S  >»U>»t>0:8«5  p  5  *  o 
3  3  3  CS  2"s:  3  3  3  5  g  S5  5 
O       PQ303C00:8©       3      fS       eS 


o 
© 

C 

3** 
O 

*^ 

03 


'H  o  §  ©" 

#h    »    »•    •» 
3  3  3  3 

3222 

c3  CS  cS  o3 


900     msTosr  of  bruxswick,  topsham,  and  haspsweli. 


111 

ti 

ill 

.    ill 

M 

. 

ii 

1 

3!  1 

r.  1 

1    ~ii 
I   ill  i 

1 " 

1 

1 

s 

-ll     1 

-lilt 

i 

11 

ii 

il  1 

ifti  lit 

^■iiip.;}:i;i 

ilii 

1 

a    ££   £   iSsxc^C£    £^£z£ 

m 

^ . 

i  i  fi 

i 

ii  s 

iiiliil  liiiiin 

1 1 

^1 

s"  s  '-s 

3" 

23"    S" 

sfasiaa's'a     "gs- 

3    £ 

*3 

fill 

1 

III 

fiiilll  iiili 

1    * 

!s 

S 

0 

=B   d 

e'=:a(tK"-"a"   cs"       fcT   ca" 

CT  c" 

k:  .Si 

Za' 

%t--  ^-=" 

.=■   s    "-S 

££^       t=i     ^i.>* 

1 

P.      i      t.^ 

s 

ag  S 

siil«Sg  ISS=2«ri 

S    £ 

i 

^ 

p" 

a 

1    s 

S 

.  i 

■c    '         S 

e- 

t    -. 

y 

1  " 

Ilk 
1  "?  ^1 

i 

III 

; 

^3      5- 

S  1  Ii 

1 

III 

iiiii  iiiiiiii 

11 

APPENDIX  7. 


901 


« 


^.2 


a 

•c 


SisS«     1 

•  ^  SO 


15 


s     "-a 

o 

1 

SI 

•*■-._  — 


:3 
o 

1 

!3 


.c  C  4, 


S  £«Cm^ 


<^: 


-     w     _ 

go  p 
£  o  ^  o 

«  ens  a 
5  2.2g 


sa:sasj; 


Si'^    Si    SsBi    i    S^iSS    ^si^^Sii    Sii    SSi$z'€iS 


S2i?    J:;^    S^S    S    ^^^fi^    3*^32    g3SS    -SS^    8^^S^?;=5« 


O  V   9 

2CQ 


2  =  2 

ego 
eS  hi  es 

ceo 


^5: 

«  o 


mJz;q 


ii'^-- 


mW 

e« 

m* 

^ 

feV«Grf 

wwVw 

«k      ^      tf^ 

p:c;q 

Q*M&<VW*Q»-rHr 

t^ 

< 

rs 

^ 

>  >>  >  >> 

1? 

'3 

eS    . 

08  eS  eS  4 

Ti 

«k        »        «k 

> 

eS 

m^      m      m      m^      m>^ 
^  A^  ^  *»^ 

»> » » (i 

*k      m 

«»  «»  -tia 

•s  ♦* 

.C  •i^.jC 

■^ 

^  ^  a  *» 

•  •   •  • 

^sJSJQ 

h:  lit  o 

t-l  mm  r^ 

lii    OQ 

Cir-t  ^ 

IS 

sva   w«   «»'   •;«  "i 
»-«  1F^  «-•  ?1  5^ 

Pt3t3lD 

S  73  lO  O  «  7  o  IQ 

r-oCi-if-i'Hi:^  —  »H 

C3 

■ 

♦i'  _ 

S 

15 

g 

5        SS 

£ 

2-S^S 

Sergean 
Private, 

'mm 

u 

o 

u 
O 

O 

Priva 

(t 

Capta 
Pnva 

^  ^     «•     «# 

Priva 
Music 
Priva 

«2 
CO 


IP 

08  e8  M 

ooo 


08 


fc:w«5 


§   e2g2§ 

o   occoo 


^  irt  **  **  "  ^^       o 

2  *^^  o!  O  23  08 


r»     -*    ^ 


§2£|£22e 

occoooco 


4« 

>»e8  5 


pa    ^' 


5oe8980?eee8 


902        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


u 
a 

E 
& 

•3 
C 
eS 


O 
«s 


>  > 


^       • 

X  5  be 

;:: «»  s 

'=2  **'" 
-•    S.S 

CO  g  2 

*  era's 


3 


s  a 


o 
2 


•T3      rs 

•^  X  -^  » 

^^  ^M  ^"^  m^ 

c    ,  s 

^  ^—  bO 

5  *  ♦*  3f  +2  2 

3isS36 

3^3.2 


e8 

§2SW 


3^  3 

3  3  3 
9  O  O 

£gg 

Sao  cR 
3  3 


c8  c9  •' 


1 


'3 


3 
O 

rs 

£ 


^  =  13 

^  ♦»»**^ 

3  <«  3»*i 
4^  3  ««  9 

cs:  og. 

'2'^'S'^ 
2-' 2^ 

«  5  «^ 

3  2  3^ 


^6 


V«  w  ^  ^  ^m  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^  ^  »■  »»  w"  w^  w"  w-  »-  ^-  w  --■  — —  ^  ~^ 

f^  C^      '^   f^    "^  £f^  f^^    *^   F^   f^   f'"    f^   f?   P^    fi^  £A   A^   frf^  gJk  f^   m0\  t^   f ^  r^    ^W  *£  CS 


C^ 


c 
C 


rH  r-«  t^  i-«         lH         f-^  ^H  .^  1-^  iH  rH  1-^  iH  lH 


SSBSi    it    S^    Sisi 


^r^-cf^-'   «^-   J2 


*»  ^  *» 


c 


s-; 


V        V        •  *• 


o 


(mC  ts>  -v  ^  ^  ^ 


Q     O 


93 


en 


I       O 


?x'^ 


■*->   -^A  -vJ 


'3 
bo 


OR 
X 


'^•^       •*;       ''^♦J^^'533       .^d"^ 


o  tft      t'l      *.-?  ».•  »*:  Q  tr  ►-1      »o  1^1 
c4  rJ      d      cl  ci  ?\  ?5  —  i^      —  f  J 


s 


4.3   4^   «« 


Jt      I      « 


O 


2 


1 5 


3  ^•' 


X  M      c  c      ^  Z  ^ 


^ 


be 

u 
O 


rr. 


-r  «  ^-   - 

^  ^  b£  r  2 

C~"   -   =  5 

^^          *  •*«      ^a  mm 

^  c:  £  C  C 

••"        ^        aw       «•  b^ 

P^  M^  F-i  fH  H^ 


c: .   :   <.    f^    c:         X   C  t>^ 


o  be 

s 


'3  f;  S*^ 


'r.5 

c 


=1 


^> 


be  ^      £♦*'§** 

2  2        s  3  .^  -^ 
^   »         S  "  "*  3 


APPENDIX  y. 


i 


=   s 


Iril    III      Mil  |S  Jl  II 

pjs iii:|i||    III: dE H;r;ii |3| |si lull 
iiiiiiiiiiiiii  iiii  i  iliiliiil  lilii  11 

S  $  S  S  =  3  E- ^S  ^  ^3  S  dSsS      5      l!  2  V  S  u  I  □  V  i     's  a  S-3'3      Sa 

<  is 


mMtm 

m 

an 

1" 

mm 

11 

ma 

fi 

is 

fr- 

= 

=======. 

:     ■ 

11= 

ii 

IliirHllilid  P.U  1  lllr*  iH  Mill  |s 


904        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


es 

B 
S 

e 
<: 


4 


bo 

u 
4 

O 


2 

es 


3 


is  s 
c  o 

Is 

-.2 

be 

s  o 

»o   • 
2 'J 


1  sIq 

to 


'O 

5 

b 


_  id 

en         C3    S  •—  w 


S 

Q 


S 

d 


2 

M 

6 


H 


.-SIS 
t-^'S  8  2 


to 


® 
OD 

s 
o  *■* 


9 
O 

s ! 

•M  OS 

JO  na 

< 

•^  3 


o  g  o 

or.  O  90 


O  _:         •^'^     .       kT  "C  * 


O 

> 

> 


a  13 


a 


Cl 


9*  9^  ^w**!  ^Vk^  — 

—      1-1      cioic^      »-•  —  la      :i 


t-i  —  C<»  C-l  <M 


'^^ 


eS  «  V  u 


Cl 


o 

O 


* 

o 


t  ^  10 

COS 

5  ©ft 


ft 


c^ 


Ui^^'^'^ 


<    <    ^i>Q   e    q"  M-     pcVwcTo*  cTcT  wca 


<  i 

•    • 

• 

■3    tp 

0 

.   h 

*2u-- 

» 

E 

03   > 

««  s 

Vet 
Vet. 

•^      .i 

J=« 

.fl 

M 

» 

^      «« 
»•    ** 

*« 

• 

•k 

» 

jiji 

4^  -M 

cw 

g 

S2; 

»5  ^  •-I 

5 

1 

•4^ 

c^c5 

n^ 

• 

•« 

*i 

» 

M 

i" 

s 

fe 

2 

0 

5 

§5 

5 

£ 

2 

s 

>- 

2 
5^ 

> 

1-3 

>  - 

> 

*• 
«• 

^     *• 
«•     «• 

c 

ft 

V 

>.«i 
Im 

§- 

^     ^ 
«     •* 

'3 

0 

'A3 

£ 

c  0 

£ 

Ed 
< 


.  c3 

S   '-   '^  "* 
•'"  "^  "^  i> 

^-^^     . 

— '  S  i  O 

.^  V  -  o 


oc' 

O 
7. 


hi 


•1—  ^  »• 


•-5 


^    »     iM 

c  c  2 

0   0)0 
^   ^   ^ 


^A      ^fs'^^'A      00^ 


ft 

s 


c  S  c  S   •  ^  ^ 

'^r*  b  «*  2  tc^ 

•S«?  P  ^  S  *:'^ 

C  C  C   v.S  c8   O 


'c'o 


APPENDIX  V. 


905 


J5  i  X         ^ 


2  a 
§0 


d  S  3 

0.2  O 

'-'CO 


:;:s;^s^ 


.0 

« 
o 

0 


!li 


OH 

5  2* 


qm 


S-..t3 


'O  sS  «  c  o  4, 


['2  o 


lsil|s:-liJ 


•5  tf    ^js*-"  J 


1 


S     t5  "'::5     ci     oiS?i«         ;:;A     ^^     cici 


K    <1«=: 


sfcwdawso"   fcTQ 


PQ 


KWGQQ     QhT    Md^feSQCr 


^ 


>»>» 


e3 

c 

•^        03  eS 

I  — J-' CO  CO 

X  '^  «  M  ^,  »-> 

«-«  1^  i-i  r^  *^  ^^ 


4 


PQ       «      ^      »   _!> 


»0  »        «  r-i  —  —  5>1  M 


.55 

•p^    r*  i«     «•     «*     ^     ««     «« 
tfd    ^  •«     ««     ^     ^     ^     «« 


5 


M 

A 


2§ 
»-  o 


__,  ^  1/ ».  ^ 


h<  Sk  PU  Ch  r^  pN  Ch 


ee.2oo3Sc;       gg       gg 


-§     c 


e.- 


ti 


Su       •«« 


i-i 


oacoaQQQGOao 


OQCO 


3 
O 

« 

H  s^*:  3 

00  00  QQ  GO 


GO  GO 


HISTORY  OF  BBUJfBWlCK.  T0P8HAM,  AND  HABPSteSLL. 


i 
1 

1 

1 
1 
s 

1!  m  a 

li   ^i  % 

11        H  a     |i 

1  ill!  11 

li  ;^^i  111" 

S2^<S2|2-ii    <    ShISISs 

•3"ti3i'Sii-:5.3,irli'j« 

li's1s^iiSi?lls»ldls 

iiilpn|3llliin§?i 
liiall|l|liiilil  ill 

hii 

lis!  ililll^ 

coaEaHGQ    K 

1 

iii 

yHiiiSiSSSis'SiiiS 

muim  i 

s-aa- 

iti 

aaa"a"asa-a"ss"3-!isa 

mmammii 

lllllllll 

5 

C3Q 

o"ia'B"=aGM's's;<   a"a"<<p 

awa'a'  -<ss   a 

! 

iW 

< 

1 

1= 

l..lf..  I 

1 

.X 

1 

4|lll|!|  IIHW 

lllpifiStiiiWl 

aum  i 

APPENDIX  V, 


907 


3 


•-5 


Si 

S  «  « 

Sea 


o  o  «  c 

to  «  C^ 


0 

5 

► 

O 
8 

c 

3 
O 


s^  e  --  <»  «D  T  fl9 


rfl 


51 


EtS^^ 


.aJg 


1-tci-^i 


gs&2r,^  ;s  ss;--:^  s^:ssri?5ss^ss52'«2  s^^s  s  ss?^ 


**  ^   4J   -ti 


^     C{^S 


eofr^^^    m" 


coqV  fe"  -<rct:^fis">rirfed"<ffcr&r 


c 

I 


5 


c 


t5 


c     a  t-^  <!  7;  > 


c3  u 

JZ  :9 


-  to 


s  b  ;:  b.  •:•  -ta 

—  ♦J  —  ♦J  ^^  3 

^    ^    p^ 


<i©     5^      Ss 


c 

Hi 


HHH 


c  «  2  © 

«  w  i;  1* 


K  ——  •— )  .««    £*  ,_4    M    h<    M  ^^ 

r;:;::::::^  ©  ©  es  cs  es  d 


d 
© 


«  »_:3  «  r  c  ^      -2 
,-^^, —  ,—,«.—  CS       d      *? 


da 

S3  :S 

•«     art 

o  o 


908        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 


ft; 


g 


« 

u 
a 

c 

B 


§ 


t. 
es 

« 


O 

ce 

I      Q 


■ 

*» 

O 

c 

E 

'« 

c 

"Zi 

H 

J  ^r  _i!  kA  ^  _.:  ^  t^  .^ 

X  «  §  «  3C3E2  S  « 

*^  '^  op  •— iF^  •^ -^  rH>Q  ^^ 

•5             -   -  .  55-*;©  s'^"°5  ««  Q    s 

^•^-^"-•gt  1^  s  Cell's  -l^-zfg^--:     i§   !•=§ 

xSaExSEaS  OD  S  x  oc  S  S  oQ  SoCSSES  oCoExxdc          obx     x 

~   »  U)    t    "^   ^  ^  &£^  (AaI^u  nS^-*^^  tC^-*-  'fee       tC 


c 


"  •»  #k  *^  0^  Ph  ^  #»  ^"^  vs  r«  v«  vv  p^  ^  Mb  *^  ^ 


<ii.     i. 


c 
s 
"5) 


":3 


©  ^ 


•1^ 

".C  M  .IS  ^  ,3  *         *    -JS  .C  sS  ^^ 

;  ^^  ^^  ?^  ^- T-i         t^         t- IC  r-«  C^  ►-^  ►J 


•k  ^      •«      #«      *« 

^*      ^*      ^^    ^^  ^^    ^d     A^    ^^ 

^^wo  C:  c: -t  •>• 

I-  1^  ir:  iF^  ^  f-i  c«  c» 


^         ^         ^         *s         «« 

^.SX.3jC 
^  ^  w  w  «» 


C»^        - 


2 


c3 
u 
O 

u 
O 


V 

A 


B     .  >; 

—           1-3        3 

• 

£1^ 

• 

"3  jr   •  "       " 

© 

^  3  V  j:    .  t> 

W 

1-1  3  'C  — 

X    "    —  "T" 

cr^  -^  C  3 

— - 

".1^=. 

^  A^  Z        :a 

0 

»-    ^          ^ 

"   S  -r   '*  £   i; 

»»^ 

®  3  ^  - 

i;^  t;  i;.3  s 

c 

S  »-  C  ?: 

c  c:  ^  »4 

<<<<<< 

a 

«•  >^  "^^  >^ 
fc-^  p-«  p-^  ^*^ 

•    •  r*^   •• 


5  *-  t-   ^»3 

6  5  8?^ 

>3       •.     ^     „  09 

3-3  2;  ©r: 
.3  C  eS  eS  O 


•  .  • 


J5  2  =5 

©  C»-' 


>;2 


3 

3  S 

JZ  © 


SS3 


H  -•  « 
3   C»3 


IS 

0{^ 


-5^ 


II 


oe 


o 


APPENDIX  F. 


909 


i 


IT    2 


es 


Z:  ^  C  •'■ 

»;  ^  »; 

'o'oo  2 

dxc  o 

Ese, 

sSSg 

(LH^^ 

E-HHO 

0 
^ 


bet's 
gc^  c 

•^  "^  on 


2  ill 

£  SS  *2 


a:=5«2s 

%5CX56 

1-H  —  f^  ^^ 

b*  *^ 

»         *k        •«         M 

II 

?i^^l2 

§5 

cS«^^ 

>  > 

fl  —  .->  fl 

«»  4»  4J  «» 

E£ 

B  S  S  9 
O  O  O  o 

llll 

u 

o  s  «  o 

-«->  <«S  3  43 

K  X  on  » 
s  s  S  3 

Ph 

S^J^S 

« t>- 


Ih?5?5 


>  >  >.  50 

O   O   O   S 


o 


P  o  o  5 

-<oo<; 


;^ 


£:2 


o 

CO 


&.<<  = 


«     fe<fe'Q     <{m<     d 


P5     mSCW 


c;«w 


p         dt  a  A  a  ii  as 

^'^  ,a -5  03 :» cd  CC  3Q  OQ 


•»  •»      •«>      » 

^-t  ^  4-I  «^  _r 


.  -     •»     • 

>  >  > 

«  e8  s8 


^S|S:i:j-bDD^    2    gsIS    5*1    IdD^' 


>  >  > 
e:  ::  :3 

Jz;  55:25 


cc^S  J; 


3 

i 

i 

• 

1  *' 

>  >    «    « 

>         ^     ^     ^     ^ 

-   .   .         rt 

•-^ 

es  w  e8 

£ 

£ 

£ 

IS 

c  5c 

2    0. 

CQ 


;?^ 


2  ^  S  i- 
•e  ^-  C  ♦* 
M  J*  «-»  2 

'<«/ w  <«/  ^ 


«< 


c5 


3 


if 


o 

a 
o 


B 


w   1^ 


s 


K 


o 


5:2       -5 


.  eS 
5^ 


e9 


S3  o 


5;S  £11 


n 
Ui 


?^  -  ^  --  E  y 


c:  =  rt 

^       ^^       "■"       3v 

-err  >'« 
=  s  ^  s 
o  s  C  o 


910       BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  A2fU  HARPSWELL. 


^ 

» 

^1 

it 

1 

-i 

i 

i 
I 

t 

1 

Sg            dg 

fig      =1 

iji  i  li 
ti  ^  il 

i 
1 

s 

1 

1 

it 

It 

Iji^:i5i5ii1lll-| 

Ui 
UK 

mil 

si 

lirh 

rill 

m 

III. 

S        S3 

% 

SiiS 

m 

si 

iSiilSliSSISI 

iUn 

srt'i* 

■sis 

-s 

53 

aasisasassasafi 

2-SS 

sss-sa" 

1  ~. 

m 

<»<! 

11 

II 

«fl 

uAi 

6 

<a 

=s 

o4i= 

i'4= 

i.  i^ 

^ 

1 

ffSt 

PB 

>. 

'V'} 

sl 

w 

Siis 

1 

s 

Ifl 

■  5-^5 

•il 

Is 

£ 

£ll 

£Si: 

i 

if 

"1 

=  1 

■if 

1 

|isl|ldlii|i 

llll 

il 

i 

XX 

ii 

^iiiilMfcli^ 

4-1^4 

llm 

APPKNDIX  r. 


911 


I  I 


c 

M 
U 

3 

§ 

>* 

>> 

9 

g 

%^ 

^ 

A 
u 

• 

*  8  *  3  9 


►tOQ 

I 

OS 


•S 
Si 


\5  g.o  fl,*^ 


U3 


c  c  =  S 
>  >  P-  5 

•k       ik        •        ^"^ 

eS  eS  08  & 

ml 


7t  T2  .-= 


ft! 


CO 


o 


^^  w^  ^  V«  VB  ^  v«  v^  ^^  ^^ 

*     t     *i     '^     •-'     «ia^;£rt 

rt         N         5l         rl  1-4  C^l  fH         e^ 


c 
55 


2      be      . 


3 
•^ 


s 


s  !=  w  5^ 


Si      WM  n  *      2j  ji  ji  ^  1-1 1-1  »-^ «      t,  1^  9:  ^ 


Q    ca    <j    c:    \^:i4<x' 


Q^    ^ 


tt£w<<ia 


>  > 


a 


s  >  > 


^      JZJZA 


9 


•  ejfjs'js^^ao 


>  «  «    ^^ — 
g>jz;     55?«;5Z5 

odaiaD  . 


>  >  > 

tS  fS  tf 


to  O  h 

&4     :j     Ph 


2     g     S 

cu    u     fi 


is 

> 


s 

>  ■ 


s 

o8 

c 


§1 


I 


2  x^ 

eS"" 


en 

1) 


hi 
0) 


CO 


M       -- 


5 

be 


*:?-■"       ^ 


E   2 


ss:^  :^  s 


05: 


BT*    »    S     -     ®     ®    « 

•««  •««    W    K  »r^  •••  (^ 


8 

•-5 
fc 

o 


=  -  «  -•  -^  S  g) 


I 


ss      —  «  >»o  c)  fee*  * 


^     a^ 


GCCQ 


•ga 

OS  so 


912        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARPSWELL, 


I. 

:1    I- 


■w 

w 

:1 


I 

i 
1-1 

f 


'  I  * 


li 


II 


I    5 


.a 

0 


o 

& 

u 
cS 


o 
O 


c 
E 


c 


^ 


•-5 


55 


Q     s 


55 


5 


a! 

at,  2 

US  s 

li 


o  2  ^  '^  >i»    .  «^  S  3C  * 


^       »»  ^ij  .^ 


«     3 


i 


_  ^,  «    . 


5^ 


C4 


C  Ci  ^     • 


•  I 

8' 


•   X   o  C    ©         ** 

^  ••M  _.  *^  ■**  }r.  ■ 


5 


^        1-1  v-i  r-i  ^  S>)  7)  C'l  ^  ri  t 

o8     §B2aE22222aEZ'- 


2  2  2*i*e^^ 


?. 


>4  -^  ^ 


•-a     •-; 


2  2*i  d  e«  •^♦^      > 


;z;::2:::^^'<j<j 


tt;:i    fif      a    c:s32:;;5^<i<;S 


>» 

u 


.1 

-2 


2 

3 


3 

o 


I*  I-  L-  \n  ^  ri  CI      « 


•k  •.        »         »^II  ^Z  J!>   «S  aS 

«      15  «  c:  «-"-•  ?i  ri  ?i  ^  — ' 


9       es 

5     C 


c 


W«        ^        ^H       «W        ^i»        «ry    -^  ••"    •'^       ••  t-       t-  ^^ 


5     ^Vj4'5V^'r«  I  ! 


APPENDIX  r. 


1 

i 

i 

1 

i 

3 

1 

1 

: 

B 

a 

1 

5  t. 

i       i 

1 

I 

i 

1 
1 

Q 

i 

1 

H 

1 

S-': 

-  %'.  m 

1 

32 

OS 

f-il 

m 

i 

■   3 

1- 

lii 

iilit 

^ 

1 

pi 

iji 

i 

yiilJII 

1 

i:l 

J 

iiii 

ii 

is'ii 

iii'ii'si 

1 

1 

i 

ill 

ii 

•B  i 

^i 

8-"S 

-s" 

88 

5'sse"ssg" 

g" 

S-'a" 

*l!4<. 

S3. 

tt 

iS^^iii 

» 

js« 

<Sm 

4.8 

a 

<<<S.iss 

<Ki, 

3 

wa 

<" 

oa 

s^wawanq" 

w 

cV 

7 

t^ 

t 

j| 

l« 

ii 

K 

Is 

z 

1:^ 

a-  .»03 

!>;« 

iililil 

w 

u 

:=Vli 

«aai 

gs== 

J=_ 

D 

B 

p 

iS= 

L^3 

1 

i 

1 

I 

i 

1= 

£ 

i_ 

£ 

_E_ 

? 

H 

d 

1   ,■=■ 

i 

.=aJ 

.KSa;  .    H 

U 

E 

II 

II 
■3 -a 

go- 
el 

up 
if 

1 

5 
a 

1 

i 
1 

} 

ill 

ill 

914        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  HARP8WELL, 


M 

1  ^ 

I  I  ^ 

i  I  ^ 

CD  r^  , 

&       S2  -a  *              t  ='l 

g  :5g  ilggg  «  |*g«:    C'^SgS'ggg^  ig|  ^^s 

S      S£      SSSISoC^S  cS  oBaCccw      a6»  060606060006      wwo6a6d6a6 

»H   »-!»-<   rH  »H  r-(  »H  »-•  iH  tH  ^H  rt  rH  iH   »H  r^  iH  rH  i-^  iH  iH  iH   iH  iH  rH  r-l  i-S  vH 


a 

I 


3 
^ 


es 

^  4^       «te       ■«       a^       a^    ^ 


I 

^  ♦»  ♦*  . 


QQ 

P3 


>  i>  > 


M 

a 


> 


e3 

^  w      w      «•      w 

'C 


5 

0^ 


•c 


09 

a 

C8 

a 
o 

CQ 

P 

•8 


OB 


e8  w 


^■ip:$# 


(£  bo 

3 


fe8=§®g 

.h^ihaP  a 

'C   p.  «  «  "^ 
s  w  c  a  ►.^ 

i  2  s  a  ^  « 

«:-  ti  ^  o  o  « 


a 

es 


ii  v.^;^"^*^ 


^  3 

02  <0  O  P 


-2 

ap>^ 


$  2  S  fl  S  s 


...  r-g 


5  S      a  Sid 
^^  c-S  £C^ 


APPENDIX   V. 


915 


e   § 

s   ^ 

E      S 


4i         *i 

£   £ 


Q    WUi 


> 


is 


fi   .IS 


a 

0) 


c 
S 

es 
C 


3 

€    e 

or*  O 

00     H 


if 

^~2  *^  ^^ 

a     ^ 

9  9^  3     ' 
£  «  ^ 

*"  •*■  JB 


1-4         1^         r^  r^  ,.H 


•  9r'         I 

^^3 


a 

I 


63 

11 


916        mSTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


APPENDIX    VI. 

NATIONAL  AND  STATE  OFFICERS. 

Representatives  to  Congress. 

Robert  P.  Dimlap Brunswick,  1843  to  1847. 

Charles  J.  Oilman **  1857  to  1859. 

Benjamin  Orr .    Topsham,  1817  to  1819. 

Governors  of  Maine. 

Robert  P.  Dunlap Brunswick,  1834  to  1838. 

Joshua  L.  Chamberlain **  1867  to  1871. 

Members  of  Governor's  Council, 

R  P.  Dunlap Brunswick,  1833. 

David  Dunlap **  1841. 

Marshall  Cram "  1855. 

Secretary  of  State. 
Franklin  M.  Drew Brunswick,  1868  to  1871. 

State  Treasurer. 
Abner  B.  Thompson Brunswick,  1831,  1832. 

State  Commissioner. 
Benjamin  J.  Porter Topsham,  1820,  1821. 

A  D  JUT  ant-Genera  l. 
Abner  B.  Thompson Brunswick,  1839,  1840. 

State  Senators. 

Jacob  Abbot Brunswick,  1813-14-15. 

John  Barron Topsham,  1850. 

Joseph  Barron **  1859,  1860. 

Heurv  Car v  ill Brunswick,  1870. 

Marshall  Cram "  1871. 

Robert  P.  Dunlap "      1824,  1826,  1826, 

1827,  1828,  1830,  1831, 
1832. 

Daniel  Elliott Brunswick,  1863. 

Nathaniel  Green Topsham,     1820,     1821, 

1822,  1823,  1824,  1826. 

John  C.  Humphreys Brunswick,  1839. 

Samuel  K  Jackson **  1847. 

WSlliam  H.  Morse "  1848. 

Jonat\irtn  ruge **  1829. 

Beujumiu  J.  Porter Topsham,  1812,  1813. 


APPENDIX  VL 


917 


Tobias  Purinton Brunswick,  1836. 

EUjah  P.  Pike «*  1841. 

George  Rogers Topsham,  1837. 

ClemcDt  Skolfleld Harpswell,  1859,  1860. 

Samuel  Thompson Topsham,  1797. 

Levi  L.  Tot  man Harpswell,  1840, 

Abner  fi.  Thompson Brunswick,  1856. 


REPRESENTATIVES   TO   THE   LEGISLATURE. 

From  Brunswick. 


Peter  O.  Alden,   1826,   1826,  1827, 

1828. 
Henry  H.  Boody,  1857. 
James  Cox,  1849,  1850. 
Marshall  Cram,    1863,   1864,    1867, 

1868,  1870. 
James  Curtis,  Jr.,  1809. 
Henry  Carvill,  1872. 
WUliam  Curtis,  1829. 
William  Curtis,  1847,  1848. 
Dr.  Samuel  Dunkcn,  1781. 
David    Dunlap,    1810,    1812,   1813, 

1816,    1816,    1820,    1831,    1832, 

1833,  1837. 
John  Dunlap,  1799,  1801,  1802, 1803, 

1804,  1805. 
Robert  P.  Dunlap,  1821,  1822. 
David  Dunning,  1742,  1743. 
Robert   D.    Dunning,    1808,    1809, 

1810,  1811,  1812,  1814,  1816. 
Ebenezer  Everett,  1839. 
Benjamin  Furbish,  1854,  1861. 
Charles  J.  Gihnan,  1853. 
Capt  Robert  Given,  1806, 1807. 
Joseph  C.  Given,  1856,  1858. 
Dr.  E.  H.  Goss,  1800. 
Samuel  Hinkley,  1747. 
Geo.  W.  Holdeu,  1830. 
0.  C.  Humphreys,  1871,  1872. 
Samuel  R.  Jackson,  1865,  1866. 
Francis  C.  Jordan,  1876,  1876. 


(to 


Coan  Jordan,  1869. 

Adam  Lcmont,  1844,  1845. 

Hartwell  Little,  1874. 

Joseph  Lunt,  2d,  1846,  1852. 

Joseph  McKeen,  1819 

Capt.  Joseph  McLellan,    1821 

fill  vacancy). 
James  F.  Matthews,  1840. 
Benjamin   H.   Mceder,   1841,   1842, 

1843. 
Roger  Merrill,  1823,  1824. 
Henry  Merritt,  1841. 
Capt.  John  Minot,  1796. 
John  M.  O'Brien,  1834. 
Philip  Owen,  1812,  1813. 
William  Owen,  1785. 
Captain  John  Peterson,  1790,  1791, 

1792. 
Eiyah  P.  Pike,  1838. 
Henry  Putnam,  1813. 
Thomas  Skolfleld.  1859.  1860. 
Capt.  William  Stanwood,  Jr.,  1793, 

1798 
Col.  William  Stanwooil,  1794,  1795. 
Samuel  Stanwood,  1776. 
Alfred  J.  Stone,  1835. 
Capt.  Daniel  Stone,  1820. 
John  L.  Swift.  1862. 
Brigadier  Samuel  Thompson,  1776. 
Samuel  S.  Wing,  1855. 


From  Topsham. 


Joseph  Barron,  1856. 

George  Barron,  1872. 

Benjamin  M.  Brown,  1866. 

Jonathan  Ellis,  1805. 

Major   William  Frost,    1823,   1824, 

1828,  1830. 
James  Fulton,  1775. 
Nathaniel  Green,  1838,  1839,  1840, 

1846. 
Benjamin  Hasey,  1806,  1807,  1809, 

1814,  1816. 
Aaron  Hinckley,  1841. 
Horace  B.  Hubbard,  1848. 
William  King,  1795,  1799. 
H.  P.  Mallett,  1854. 
Abel  MerriU,  1820. 


Actor  Patten,  3d,  1810,  1811. 
Actor  Patten,  1812,  1813,  1815. 
Ruftis  Patten,  1860,  1864. 
Major  Nahum  Perkins,  1825,  1826, 

1827,  1829. 
Sandford  A.  Perkins,  1858. 
Dr.  Benjamin  J.  Porter,  1800,  1801, 

1803,  1804. 
Daniel  F.  Potter,  1868,  1870. 
Humphrey  Purinton,  1821,  1822. 
George  Rogers,  1819. 
Josiah  Sandford,  1835. 
David  Scribner,  1832,  1833,  1834. 
William  S.  Skolfleld,  1862,  1874. 
Willis  Sprague,  1852 
Charles  Thompson,  1831. 


918        mSTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  T0P8HAM,  AND  HARPSWELL. 


John  H.  Thompson,  1837. 
Samuel  Thompson,  1784  to  1788, 1790 
to  1794,  and  1797, 1798. 


Robert  P.  Whitney,  1851. 
Henry  WUson,  1808. 


From  Harpswell. 


John  Blake,  1841. 

Joseph  Coney,  1799. 

John  Curtis,  1821,  1826,  1826.  1834, 

183.5. 
Benjamin  Dunning,  1785, 1791, 1793, 

1797,  1800,  1801,  1803,  1806. 
James  H.  Dunning,  1856. 
Samuel  Dunning,  1808. 
Thomas  U.  Eaton,  1860. 
Thomas  A.  Estes,  1865. 
Jonathan  Fogg,  1871. 
Phlneas  Foss,  1872. 
Washington  Garcelon,   1837,  1838, 

1840,  1843. 
Stephen  Merrit,  1831. 
David  Pennell,  1873. 
Thomas  Pennell,  1866. 


Stephen  Purlnton,  1810,  1813,  1814 

1816,  1820,  1824. 
Bei\jamin  Randall,  1822,  1823,  1827 

1830,  1836. 
Paul  RandaU,  1832.  1833,  1839. 
Paul  Raymond,  1819. 
Clement  Skolfleld,  1846,  1847,  1849 

1850,  1852,  1854. 
Capt.  Isaac  Snow,  1783,  1787,  1789 

1790,  1792. 
Samuel  Snow,  1795. 
Samuel  Stanwood,  1770. 
Lemuel  H.  Stover,  1862,  1868,  1869, 
Daniel  R.  Stover,  1875,  1876. 
Isaac  Sylvester,  1828,  1829. 
Marlborough  Sylvester,  1809, 
Levi  L.  Tptman,  1845, 


APPENDIX  VII. 


919 


APPENDIX  VII. 


TOWN  OFFICERS. 
Selectmen  of  Brunswick. 


1780. 

Captain  Benjamin  Larrabee. 
Samuel  Hinkley. 
John  Getchel. 
James  Duning. 
David  Duning. 

1740. 

Benjamin  Larrabee. 
Samuel  Hinckley. 
David  Giveen. 

1741. 

Samuel  Hinkley. 
David  Duning. 
Robert  Spear. 

1749. 

Capt.  Benjamin  Larrabee. 
Samuel  Hinkley. 
Wyraond  Bradbury. 

1743. 

Elected  at  annual  meeting.    Held  office  till 

Aug.  90. 

Isaac  Snow. 

Samuel  Hinkley. 

Wymond  Bratibury. 

Elected  Aug.  90.    Held  office  till  Jan.  17,  '44. 

Capt  John  Minot. 

Eben  Standwood. 

James  Dunning. 

1744. 

ElecWd  Jan.  17.    Held  office  till  March  mect< 

ing. 

Thos.  Skolfleld 
Ebenezer  Standwood. 
James  Dunning. 
Elected  at  annual  meeting  In  March. 
James  Dunning. 
Samuel  Clark. 
Ebenezer  Standwood. 


1745. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Ebenezer  Standwood. 
Aaron  Hinkley. 

1746. 

David  Given. 
Isaac  Snow. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1747. 

David  Given. 
Isaac  Snow. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1748. 

James  Thompson. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 
John  Smart. 

1740. 

John  Getchel. 
David  Dunning. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1750. 

• 

John  Minot. 
Aaron  Hinkley. 
Robert  Finney. 

1751. 

John  Minot. 
Isaac  Snow. 
Robert  Finney. 

175S. 

James  Thompson. 
Samuel  Stondwood. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1753. 

William  Woodside. 
James  Thompson. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 


920        HISTORY  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSHAM,  AND  UARPSWELL. 


1754. 

James  Thompson. 
Siimuel  Staiitlwood. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1755. 

Aaron  Hinkley. 
William  Speer. 
Robert  Giveen. 

1756. 

Isaac  Snow. 
Samuel  Standwood. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1757. 

James  Thompson. 
William  Standwood. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1758. 

Isaac  Snow. 
William  Standwood. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1750. 

Aaron  Illnkley. 
William  Standwood. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1760. 

Aaron  Hinkley. 
Samuel  Moody. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1701. 

Samuel  Standwood. 
Phlueas  Xevers. 
Thomas  Skolfleld. 

1702. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Samuel  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

1703. 

Samuel  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Vincent  Woodside. 

1704. 

Samuel  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  larrabee. 
Vincent  Woodside. 

1705. 

Samuel  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Tlioinas  Sko\t\c\d. 


1766. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Samuel  Standwood. 
Stephen  Getchell. 

1767. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Samuel  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

1768. 

Samuel  Thompson. 
William  Woodside. 
Andrew  Dunning. 

1760. 

Samuel  Thompson. 
William  Woodside. 
Andrew  Dunning. 

1770. 

Samuel  Thompson. 
Andrew  Dunning. 
William  Woodside. 

1771. 

Samuel  Thompson. 
William  Woodside. 
Robert  Spear. 

1779. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Sanmel  ^tandwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

1778. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Samuel  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

1774. 

Samuel  Standwood. 
William  Standwood. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

1775. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Thomas  Moulton. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

1776. 

Samuel  Standwood. 
Benjamin  Stone. 
James  Curtis. 

1777. 

Benjamin  Stone. 
Samuel  Standwood. 
James  Curtis. 


APPENDIX  riL 


921 


1778. 

William  Staiiwood. 
John  Duulap. 
Nathauicl  Larrabee. 

1779. 

Nathaulel  Larrabee. 
William  StaDwood. 
Andrew  Dunning. 

1780. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
William  Stanwood. 
Andrew  Dunning. 

1781. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
WMUiam  Stanwood. 
Andrew  Dunning. 

1789. 

Thomas  Skolfleld. 
Samuel  Stanwood. 
James  Curtis. 

1783. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
William  Stanwood,  Jr. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 

1784. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
William  Stanwood,  Jr. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 

1780. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
William  Stanwood,  Jr. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 

1786. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 
Andrew  Dunning. 

1787. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Andrew  Dunning. 
Ephraim  Hunt. 

1788. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Andrew  Dunning. 
William  Stanwood,  Jr. 

1789. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Andrew  Dunning. 
William  Stanwood,  Jr. 


1790. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Andrew  Dunning. 
William  Stanwood,  Jr. 

1791. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
John  Dunning. 
Daniel  Given. 

1792. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
John  Dunning. 
Daniel  Given. 

1793. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 

Daniel  Given. 

Capt.  Wm.  Stanwood,  Jr. 

1794. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Col.  William  Stanwood. 
Daniel  Given. 

1795. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Col.  Wm.  Stanwood. 
Daniel  Given. 

1798. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Col.  Stanwood. 
Daniel  Given. 

1797. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Col.  Wm.  Stanwood. 
Daniel  Given. 

1798. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Col.  Wm.  Stanwood. 
Capt.  Wm.  Stanwood. 

1799. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
Capt.  Wm.  Stanwood. 
Amos  Lunt. 

1800. 

Nathaniel  Larrabee. 
William  Dunning. 
Amos  Lunt. 

1801. 

William  Dunning. 
Dr.  Charles  Cottln. 
Nathaniel  Larrabee. 


APPENDIX  VII. 


923 


1896. 

Abner  Boarne. 
Thomas  Given,  2d. 
David  Farrin. 

1897. 

John  A.  Danning. 
James  F.  Matthews. 
Thomas  Given. 

]8a8. 

John  A.  Dunning. 
James  F.  Matthews. 
Thomas  Given. 

1890. 

John  A.  Dunning. 
James  F.  Mathews. 
Thomas  Given. 

1830. 

John  A.  Dunning. 
James  F.  Mathews. 
Thomas  Given. 

1831. 

Noah  Ilinkley. 
James  F.  Mathews. 
Isaiah  Hacker. 

1839. 

John  A.  Dunning. 
James  F.  Matthews. 
Isaiah  Hacker. 

1833. 

John  A.  Dunning. 
James  F.  Matthews. 
Isaiah  Hacker. 

1834. 

Elijah  P.  Pike. 
Isaiah  Hacker. 
Thomas  Given. 

1835. 

Nathaniel  Dunning. 
James  F.  Matthews. 
Henry  Merritt. 

1836. 

Nathaniel  Dunning. 
James  F.  Matthews. 
Thomas  Given,  2d. 

1837. 

James.  F.  Matthews. 
Thomas  Given,  2d. 
John  C.  Humphreys. 


1838. 

James  F.  Matthews. 
Robert  PennelL 
Peter  Jordan. 

1880. 

James  F.  Matthews. 
Robert  Pennell. 
James  Cox. 

1840. 

James  F.  Matthews. 
James  Cox. 
Joseph  Lunt,  2d. 

1841. 

James  F.  Matthews. 
James  Cox. 
Joseph  Lunt,  2d. 

1848. 

Adam  Lemon t. 
Joseph  Lunt,  2d. 
Richard  Greenlcafl 

1843. 

Adam  I^mont. 
Joseph  Lunt,  2d. 
Richard  Greenleafl 

1844. 

Adam  Lemont. 
Richard  Greenleaf. 
Joseph  Lamb,  2d. 

1845. 

Richard  Greenleaf. 
.Joseph  Lunt,  2d. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 

1846. 

Richard  Greenleaf. 
Joseph  Lunt,  2d. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 

1847. 

Richard  Greenleat 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 
James  Otis. 

1848. 

Richard  Greenleaf. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 
J.  W.  Forsaith. 

1840. 

Richard  Greenleaf. 
S.  S.  Wing. 
Bet^amin  D.  Pennell. 


APPENDIX  VU. 


925 


1874. 

Larkin  D.  Snow. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 
Geo.  P.  Simpson. 

1875. 

Samuel  S.  Wing. 
Geo.  P.  Simpson. 
Horatio  A.  Patten. 


1876. 

• 

Lyman  E.  Smith. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 
Thomas  U.  Eaton. 

1877. 

Lyman  E.  Smith. 
Thomas  U.  Eaton. 
Sumner  L.  Holbrook. 


Town  Clicrks  of  Brunswick. 


athaniel   Badger,    fh)m    18S7   to 
1859. 

Imond  Bradbury,  1741,  1742. 
[larles  Coffin,  1803. 
avid  Dunning,  1762. 
obert  Finney,  from  1744  to  1761. 
W.  Forsaith,  1865  to  1867. 
aniel  Given,  1810,  1811, 1812, 1813, 
1815,  1816,  1817,  1818,  1819,  1820. 
&muel  Hinkley,  1739 
ei\]amin  Larrabee,  1740,  1743. 


Nathaniel  larrabee,  from  1766  to 

1802. 
John  McKcen,  from  1821  to  1836. 
John  Perrv,  1809. 
Nathaniel  Poor,  1814. 
Thomas  Skolfleld,  from  1762  to  1761 

and  1763,  1764,  1766. 
Jotham  Stone,  from  1804  to  1808. 
Leonard  Townsend,   from  1860  to 

1864,  and  from  1868  to  1877. 


SELECTltfEN  OF  TOPSHAM. 

1764. 

1771. 

John  Fulton. 

John  Merrill. 

John  Heed. 

William  Reed.  Jr. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Fulton. 

1765. 

1772. 

No  record. 

John  Fulton. 
John  MerrilL 

1766. 

James  Potter,  Jr. 

Adam  Hunter. 

1773. 

James  Hendry. 

John  Merrill. 

John  Fulton. 

James  Hunter. 

Samuel  Graves. 

1767. 

James  Hunter. 

1774. 

John  Merrill. 

Thomas  Wilson. 

John  Wincheli. 

James  Beverage. 

John  Wincheli. 

1768. 

John  Fulton. 

1775. 

James  Hunter. 

Thomas  Wilson. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Beverage. 

John  Fulton. 

1769. 

1776. 

John  Fulton. 
William  Randall. 
Actor  Patten. 

William  Thome. 
Jjimos  Henry,  Sen. 
Actor  Patten. 

1770. 

1777. 

Joseph  Graves. 

John  Merrill. 

.Tames  Mustard. 

James  Potter. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Fulton. 

i: 


926      msTORT  OF  Brunswick,  topsham.  and  harpswell. 


r  t, 


I 
I 


•  r" 


r* 


177S. 

John  Merrill. 
James  Potter. 
James  Fulton. 

1779. 

John  Merrill. 
James  Hunter. 
WUliam  Wilson. 

1780. 

John  Merrill. 
James  Fulton. 
William  Wilson. 

1781. 

John  Merrill. 
Arthur  Hunter. 
Jonathan  Berry. 

1789. 

Arthur  Hunter. 
John  Reed. 
James  Wilson. 

*    1783. 

Arthur  Hunter. 
James  Wilson. 
John  Sandford. 

1784. 

John  Fulton. 
James  Wilson. 
Arthur  Hunter. 

1785. 

John  Fulton. 
James  Wilson. 
Arthur  Hunter. 

1786. 

John  Fulton. 
James  Wilson. 
Arthur  Hunter. 

1787. 

John  Fulton. 
James  AVilson. 
Arthur  Iluuter. 

1788. 

John  Fulton. 
James  Wilson. 
Arthur  Hunter. 

1789. 

John  Fulton. 
Jouston  Graves. 
Ezeklcl  Thompson. 


1790. 

William  Wilson. 
John  Rogers. 
Ezekiel  Thompson. 

1791. 

William  Wilson. 
John  Rogers. 
Ezekiel  Thompson. 

1799. 

William  Wilson. 
Ezekiel  Thompson. 
John  Rogers. 

1798. 

John  Fulton. 
William  Wilson. 
John  Merrill. 

1794. 

John  Merrill. 
John  Fulton. 
William  Wilson. 

1795. 

John  Merrill. 
John  Fulton. 
William  Wilson. 

1798. 

John  Merrill. 
John  Fulton. 
WiUiam  Wilson. 

1797. 

John  Menlll. 
John  Fultou. 
William  Wilson. 

1798. 

John  Merrill. 
Jauics  Wilson. 
Alexander  Rogers. 

1799. 

William  Wilson. 
Alexander  Thompson. 
Robert  Patten. 

1800. 

John  Merrill. 
Arthur  Hunter. 
John  Fulton. 

1801. 

John  Fulton. 
Arthur  Hunter. 
Jolm  Merrill. 


■j 


APPENDIX  VU. 


925 


1874. 

Larkin  D.  Snow. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 
Geo.  P.  Simpson. 

1875. 

Samael  S.  Wing. 
Geo.  P.  Simpson. 
Horatio  A.  Patten. 


1876. 

• 

Lyman  E.  Smith. 
Samuel  S.  Wing. 
Thomas  U.  Eaton. 

1877. 

Lyman  E.  Smith. 
Thomas  U.  Eaton. 
Sumner  L.  Holbrook. 


Town  Clicrks  of  Brunswick. 


athaniel   Badger,    from    18S7   to 
1859. 

amond  Bradbury,  1741,  1742. 
harles  Coffin,  1803. 
avid  Dunning,  1762. 
obert  Finney,  from  1744  to  1751. 

W.  Forsaith,  1865  to  1867. 
aniel  Given,  1810,  1811, 1812, 1813, 

1815,  1816,  1817,  1818,  1819,  1820. 
amuel  Hinkley,  1739 
enjamin  Larrabee,  1740,  1743. 


Nathaniel  Larrabee,  from  1766  to 

1802. 
John  McKeeu,  from  1821  to  1836. 
John  Perrv,  1809. 
Nathaniel  Poor,  1814. 
Thomas  Skollleld,  from  1762  to  1761 

and  1763,  1764,  1766. 
Jotham  Stone,  from  1804  to  1808. 
Leonard  Townsend,  from  1860  to 

1864,  and  from  1868  to  1877. 


Selectmen  of  Topsham. 

1764. 

1771. 

John  Fulton. 

.John  Merrill. 

John  Reed. 

William  Reed.  Jr. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Fulton. 

1765. 

1772, 

No  record. 

John  Fulton. 
John  MerrilL 

1766. 

James  Potter,  Jr. 

Adam  Hunter. 

1773. 

James  Hendry. 

John  Merrill. 

John  Fulton. 

James  Hunter. 

Samuel  Graves. 

1767. 

James  Hunter. 

1774. 

John  Merrill. 

Thomas  Wilson. 

John  Wlnchell. 

James  Beverage. 

John  Wlnchell. 

1768. 

John  Fulton. 

177B. 

James  Hunter. 

Thomas  Wilson. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Beverage. 

John  Fulton. 

1769. 

1776. 

William  Thorne. 

John  Fulton. 

James  Henry,  Sen. 

William  Randall. 

Actor  Patten. 

Actor  Patten. 

1770. 

1777. 

.Joseph  Graves. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Mustard. 

James  Potter. 

John  Merrill. 

James  Fulton. 

APPENDIX  VII. 


927 


184M. 

Arthur  Hunter. 
John  Merrill. 
Alexander  Rogers. 

1803. 

John  Merrill. 
John  Fulton. 
Alexander  Thompson. 

1804. 

Alexander  Thompson,  Sen. 
Ezra  Smith. 
John  Rogers. 

1805. 

John  Merrill. 
John  Rogers. 
Pelatlah  Haley,  Jr. 

1806. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
Actor  Patten,  Jr. 
Crlspus  Graves. 

1807. 

Actor  Patten,  Jr. 
Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
Crlspus  Graves. 

1808. 

Actor  Patten,  Jr. 
Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
Crlspus  Graves. 

1809. 

Actor  Patten,  3d. 
Crlspus  Graves. 
Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 

1810. 

Actor  Patten,  3d. 
Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
William  Graves. 

1811. 

William  Graves. 
Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
James  Fulton,  Jr. 

1818. 

William  Graves. 
Pelatiah  Haley.  Jr. 
James  Fulton,  Jr. 

1813. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
William  Graves. 
James  Fulton,  Jr. 


1814. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
Alexander  Thompson. 
William  Graves. 

1815. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
Alexander  Thompson. 
William  Graves. 

1816. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
Alexander  Thompson. 
William  Graves. 

1817. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
William  Graves. 
John  Rogers,  Jr. 

1818. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
William  Graves. 
John  Rogers,  Jr. 

1810. 

Pelatiah  Haley,  Jr. 
William  Graves. 
George  F.  Patten. 

18«0. 

Benjamin  J.  Porter. 
David  Foster. 
Arthur  Hunter,  Jr. 

1831. 

Pelatiah  Haley. 
John  Rogers,  Jr. 
William  Graves. 

1833. 

Pelatiah  Haley. 
William  Graves. 
John  Rogers. 

1833. 

Pelatiah  Haley. 
William  Graves. 
Capt.  John  Rogers. 

1834. 

Pelatiah  Haley. 
William  Graves. 
Capt.  John  Rogers. 

1895. 

Pelatiah  Haley. 
William  Graves. 
John  Rogers,  Jr. 


928        BISTORT  OF  BRUNSWICK,  TOPSBAM,  AND  BARPSWELL. 


Felatiali.  Haley. 

Capt.  John  Rogers,  Jr. 

Isaac  Thompson. 

18S7. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
Capt.  John  Rogers,  Jr. 
John  H.  Thompson. 

istes. 
Nathaniel  Green. 
John  H.  Thompson. 
John  Rogers,  Jr. 

1899. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
John  H.  Thompson. 
Josiah  Saudford. 

1830. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
Josiah  Saudford. 
Isaac  Thompson. 

1831. 

John  H.  Thompson. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
Samuel  Perkins. 

1839. 

John  H.  Thompson. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
Samuel  Pcrkius. 

1833. 

John  H.  Thompson. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
Samuel  Perkius. 

1834. 

Johu  H.  Thompson. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
Samuel  Perkins. 

1835. 

John  H.  Thompson. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
Samuel  Perkins. 

1836. 

John  n.  Thompson. 
George  Ro<rers. 
Joshua  Haskell. 

1837. 

John  H.  Thompson. 
(Jeorjre  Rojrers. 
Joshua  Has\^e\\. 


18S9. 

George  Rogers. 
Joshua  Haskell. 
DaTid  Scribner. 

1839. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
David  Scribner. 
Benjamin  Thompson. 

1840. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
David  Scribner. 
Bei^amin  Thompson. 

1841. 

David  Scribner. 
Benjamin  Thompson. 
Alvah  Jameson. 

1849. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
Francis  T.  Purinton. 

1843. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
Josiah  Sandford. 
F.  T.  I*urinton. 

1844. 

Nathaniel  Green. 
Francis  T.  Purinton. 
Matthew  Patten. 

1840. 

Alvah  Jameson. 
George  Rogers. 
Beixjamin  Thompson. 

1846. 

Alvah  Jameson. 
George  Rogers. 
Uriah  Jack. 

1847. 

Alvah  Jameson. 
George  Rogers. 
Uriah  Jack. 

1848. 

George  Rogers. 

Uriah  Jack. 

John  H.  Thompson. 

1849. 

George  Rogers. 
Uriah  Jack. 
Charles  E.  White. 


APPENDIX  VII. 


929 


1850.] 

George  Rojajers. 
<  laleb  Killffore. 
JohD  H.  Alexander. 

1851. 

George  Rogers. 
Caleb  Klllgore. 
John  II.  Alexander. 

1852. 

George  Rogers. 
Caleb  Killgore. 
John  Alexaiider. 

1853. 

William  Dennett. 
Caleb  Killgore. 
Humphrey  P.  Mallet t. 

1854. 

William  Dennett. 
Humphrey  P.  Mallett. 
Hoi  man  Staples. 

1855. 

William  Dennett. 
George  Rogers. 
Aaron  Hinkley. 

1856. 

George  Rogers. 
John  H.  Thompson. 
Robert  Tate. 

1857. 

George  Rogers. 
Joshua  Hasl^ell. 
Robert  Tate. 

1858. 

Humphrey  P  Mallett. 
Joshua  Haskell. 
Holman  Staples. 

1859. 

George  Rogers. 
Fred  W.  Dearborn. 
Charles  T.  Patten. 

I860. 

H.  P.  Mallett. 
Francis  Adams. 
Given  Jameson. 

1861. 

H.  P  Mallett. 
Francis  Adams. 
Given  Jameson. 

09 


186S. 

Humphrey  P.  Mallett. 
George  A.  Rogers. 
Charles  W.  Pui-inton. 

1863. 

H.  P.  Mallett. 
Given  Jameson. 
David  Work. 

1864. 

H.  P.  Mallett. 
Given  Jameson. 
David  Work. 

1865. 

H.  P.  Mallett. 
Given  Jameson. 
David  Work. 

1966. 

H.  P.  Mallett. 
Given  Jameson. 
David  Work. 

1867. 

Francis  Adams. 
Given  Jameson. 
George  A.  Rogers. 

1868. 

Francis  Adams. 
George  A.  Rogers. 
Joseph  U.  Puringtou. 

1869. 

Francis  Adams. 
George  A.  Rogers. 
Joseph  H.  Purington. 

1870. 

George  A.  Rogers. 
William  E.  Graves. 
Joseph  H.  Purington. 

1871. 

George  A.  Rogers. 
William  E.  Graves. 
Joseph  H.  Purington. 

187S. 

William  Five. 
David  Work 
Charles  W.  Purlnton. 

1873. 

David  Work. 
Charles  W.  Purlnton. 
Joseph  H.  Purington. 


APPENDIX    VJL 


931 


1969. 

WUliam  Sylvester,  Esq. 
Edward  Cuniuj^ham. 
Nathaniel  Puriutou. 

1769. 

William  Sylvester,  Psq. 
Edward  Cuniii|;ham. 
Nathaniel  Furiuton. 

ITTO. 

Paul  Raymond. 
Capt.  Jolm  Stover. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1771. 

William  Sylvester.  • 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 
Paul  Uaymoud. 

1778. 

William  Sylvester. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 
Isaac  Snow. 

1773. 

William  Sylvester. 
Isaac  Snow. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1774. 

William  Sylvester. 
John  Snow. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1775. 

Lieut.  John  Roduck. 
Anthony  Coombs,  Jr. 
William  Sylvester. 

1776. 

William  Sylvester,  Esq. 
IJcut.  John  Roduck. 
Ensi<j^n  Anthony  Coombs,  Jr. 

1777. 

William  Sylvester,  Esq. 
John  Hoduck. 
Anthony  Coombs,  Jr. 

1778. 

William  Sylvester,  Esq. 
Nathaniel  Purinton,  Esq. 
Capt.  Nehemiah  Curtis. 

1770. 

William  Sylvester,  Esq. 
John  Hoduck. 
Simeon  Hopkins. 


1780. 

John  Roduck. 
Nathaniel  Purinton,  Esq. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1781. 

John  Roduck. 
Lieut.  HenJ.  Duniug. 
Dea.  Isaac  Snow. 

1782. 

Capt.  Isaac  Snow. 
John  Roduck. 
Lieut.  Beuj.  Duning. 

1783. 

William  Sylvester. 
John  Roduck. 
Nathaniel  Purinton. 

1784. 

John  Roduck. 
Nathaniel  Purinton. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1785. 

John  Roduck. 
Nathaniel  Purinton. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1780. 

Nathaniel  Purinton. 
John  Roduck. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1787. 

Nathaniel  Purinton. 
John  Roduck. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1788. 

John  Roduck. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 
Anthony  Coombs. 

1780. 

John  Roduck. 
Anthony  Coombs. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1790. 

Isaac  Snow. 
Daniel  liandall. 
Ezekiel  Curtis. 

1701. 

Johnson  Stover. 
Jahn  Rodick. 
Stephen  Purinton. 


APPENDIX  Vn. 


933 


1816. 

Alcot  Stover,  Jr. 
John  Curtis. 
Paal  Raymond. 

1817. 

John  Cartis. 
Alcot  Stover,  Jr. 
Paul  Raymond. 

1818. 

Benjamin  Randall. 
John  Fennel  1. 
Paul  Raymond. 

1819. 

John  Curtis. 
Benjamin  Randall. 
Paul  Raymond. 

1820. 

George  Skolfleld. 
Jfenjamin  Randall. 
Stephen  Merrltt. 

1821. 

Paul  Raymond. 
John  Curtis. 
Capt.  Peleg  Curtis. 

1822. 

John  Curtis. 
Paul  Raymond. 
Benjamin  Randall. 

1823. 

Isaac  Sylvester. 
Benjamin  Randall. 
Paul  Raymond. 

1824. 

Isaac  Sylvester. 
SiunuerToothalter. 
Capt.  Peleg  Curtis. 

1825. 

Peleg  Curtis. 
Isaac  Sylvester. 
Samuel  Toothaker. 

1896. 

Samuel  ToothakeE 
Paul  Randall. 
Peleg  Curtis. 

1827. 

Svlvestcr  Stover. 
Paul  Randall. 
Samuel  Toothaker. 


1829. 

Benjamin  Randall. 
Samuel  Toothaker. 
James  Mcryman,  3d. 

182  B. 

James  Meryman,  3d. 
Benjamin  Randall. 
Sanmel  Toothaker. 

1830. 

James  Eastman. 
James  Mer}'man,  3d. 
Benjamin  Randall. 

1831. 

Peleg  Curtis. 
James  Meryman,  3d. 
Simeon  Orr. 

1882. 

Paul  Randall. 
.John  Stover. 
Simeon  Orr. 

1833. 

Paul  Randall. 
Benjamin  Randall. 
Samuel  Toothaker. 

1834. 

Peleg  Curtis. 
James  Merj'man,  3d. 
Samuel  Toothaker. 

1835. 

Isaac  Stover. 
Paul  Randall. 
Stephen  Snow. 

1836.  . 

Isaac  Stover. 
Paul  Randall. 
Samuel  Toothaker. 

1837. 

Isaac  Stover. 
Paul  Randall. 
James  Eastman. 

1838. 

Benjamin  Randall. 
Thomas  Alexander. 
James  Eastman. 

1839. 

Thomas  Alexander. 
William  Randall. 
Simeon  Orr. 


APPENDIX   ril. 


935 


18A4.' 

Lemuel  II.  Stover. 
Will.  C.  Eaton. 
Samuel  S.  Toothaker. 

1865. 

Wm.  C.  Katon. 
L.  H.  Stover. 
Samuel  S.  Toothaker. 

1866. 

Thos.  Pennell. 
E.  C.  Simpson. 
Stephen  Purinton. 

1867. 

L.  n.  stover. 
William  C.  Eaton. 
Charles  E.  Trufant. 

1868. 

William  C.  Eaton. 
L.  II.  Stover. 
Francis  J.  Orr. 

I860. 

L.  IT.  Stover. 
William  ('.  Eaton. 
S.  S.  Toothaker. 

1870. 

Isaac  Merrvman,  2d. 
Sylvester  Stover. 
S.  S.  Toothaker. 


1871. 

David  Pennell. 
L.  H.  Stover 
S.  S.  Toothaker. 

187». 

James  Alexander. 
E  K.  llodjfkins. 
S.  S.  Toothaker. 

1873. 

Thomas  E.  Skolfleld. 
Moses  Bailey. 
S.  S.  Toothj\ker. 

l»'74. 

Thomas  E.  Skolfleld. 
Moses  Bailey 
Samuel  S.  Toothaker. 

1875. 

Thomas  E.  Skolfleld. 
Moses  Bailey. 
Charles  E.  Trufant. 

1876. 

Thomas  E.  Skolfleld. 
Elijah  K.  Hod^'kins. 
Charles  E.  Trufant. 

1877. 

Thomas  E.  Skolfleld. 
Elijah  K.  Hodgkins. 
Charles  E.  Trufant. 


Town-  Ci.euks  of  IIarpswell. 


Anthony  Coombs,  Jr ,  1783,  179:5. 
Andrew  DunninjLj,  from  IToS  to  1782. 
Andrew  Dunninj^,  ftom  1814  to  1820. 
Benjamin  Dunninir,  1791,  1792. 
William  Dunning,  Jr  ,  from  1800  to 

1811. 
Joseph  Eaton,  from  1821  to  1825 
Thomas   U.    Eaton,    from    1853    to 

1857,  and  in  I8r>9,  18G0 
Washington  Gareelou,  1844,  1845. 
James    Mervman,   3d,    1833,    1834, 

1835 
Kobcrt  Pennell,  from  1840  to  1852. 


Paid    Kandall.   ft-om   182()  to   1832 

(supplv  James  Mervman,  q,v  ), 

and  from  1830  to  18*43. 
Elisha  S    Stover,  18r,3,  18G4,  18G5, 

1872,    1873,     1874,    1875,    1870, 

1877. 
Lemuel  H   Stover,  1858,  1861,  18C7, 

1808,  1809,  1870,  1871. 
Sylvester  Stover.  1802,  1800. 
^farll)orough  Sylvester,  IVom  1794 

to  1799,  ami  in  1813. 
William    Sylvester,   from    1784   to 

1790. 


GENERAL   INDEX. 


Abapwlusset  Point.3,  27,28,  82. 
AbaRaiioMet  River,  3,  ai,  76,  8a. 
Abeimtii,  The.  1,3. 
Abortirinal  InhabitantB,  1-e. 
Academical  lostitntioua,  475-7,  486-7, 

496-7. 
AcridpntR  at  Mills,  etc.,  318. 
Araidcnts  bv  Singe.  325. 
AccidentB,  Cnrioua,  iOS. 
ArciitentJi.  Faliil.  223,316-19. 
Accidenla  from  Li;.'litning,  317. 
Acconut-Ut.ok  of  Elislia   Eaton,  Docd- 

Accoiinmook?,    See  Dav-Bookn. 
Account  of   thp   Settlements  made  on 

Wharton's  Lands,  19-21. 
Acconnt  of  a  Barge  ordered  off  from 

Bailej'a  Island,  69S. 
Actiof  Annexation,  109,  l.^B-8. 
Act   of   Incorporstiou,  36,   -is,   84,    85  ; 

of  Bmnswick,  106-7,  ISO. 
Act  of  Incorporation  of  Hargmirel  1,1 61-2. 
Act  of  Incorporation  of  TcipahBm,  182-3. 
Actions  at  Lb»,  10. 
Adams  Hall,  Bowdoin  College,  S18. 
Addrc^toSenatorB,  141. 
AdTentnTeBofMoirj-Phiniiey,  6T-8. 
AdTocatB  lit  Freedom,  The.  .lo". 
Agreement  of  the  Continental  ConereM, 
122-3.  *•        ' 

Agricnltnre,  215. 
Agricnltural  and  Mechanical  A  saociation. 

The,  238-9. 
Ah-me-lah-cqg.netnr-cook  4. 
Alder.  9S. 
Alen-ife.  S4. 
Amasaqmuitcg',  4. 
.   Amiucon^n,  4. 
Amniotiiari  .Spar,  97. 
Amitiifonpontonk,  4, 
Ammnnition,  Town  Stocks  of,  119,  121, 

124,  167,  173,  184,  189,695. 
AjaphihiaoR,  92-3. 
Amphibite,  98. 
AmusementH,  206-7.  222-S. 
Analnical  Lalioraliirv,  Bowdoin  Colleee, 
518,  *• 


AndroHcngp-iii  Bank,  The,  616. 
Ancirowog^n  Bridge.  Tfie,  SO.  548. 
AndroscosRin  FalK  The,  14. 107,  554. 
Aodroscoitgin  Fire  Campanv,  275-6. 
Androacocgiu  Fire-Engine'  Xo.  2,  231, 

275. 
AndroscoBgin  Free  PreM.  The,  307. 
Androscojicin  Indiana,  2.  40,  50,  52, 
AndroBCoepin  Uivct,  Tlie.l,  4,  6,8,  9, 13, 

30,  B2,  58,  75-8,  82,  83,  94,  96,  107, 

110.  132,  133,  187. 
Anecdotes,  i^S-9.  212-13,  219,  221,  223, 

241.  2911,  3?0,  365-6,372.385-6. 
.\DneMitioJI,  1  l-'>.  11  ,  132,  183-4,  187-8. 
Ai]li«lnvprv-  SoeiWj,  233. 

Apotliecariea,  587. 

Applelon  Hall,  Uowdoln  College,  518. 

Appropriations  forthe  Wat  of  tlie  Rebel- 
lion ;  in  Bmnawick,  696,  700;  in 
HnrpBwp!l,702-5;  in  Topsham,  700-2. 

j\rbot-Vit«,  B9. 

Areas,  55.  28,  30,  43,  75,  104. 

Arnold's  Men  qnactered  in  Braiuwick, 
683. 

Arockamecook,  4. 

Aroostook,  91. 

Amndel,  11,34. 

Ash,  99. 

Ash  CoTC,  87. 

Aneiainnt  to  the  Government,  IB. 

Awwinlions,  2,1,'),  238,  256,  372. 

Atkind  Bay,  7.  13.  14. 

Attack  upon  the  Indians,  Harmon's,  55 

Attack  upon  Mr.  Wilson  b;  Gen. 
TiiOTii|wnnf/n;(.,680. 

Attack  npon  a  I'iciuoon  at  Harpswell, 
685. 


Antographa,  Fac-Siinilea  of,  632,  "48. 


:adnce  Expedition,  Order 
Regiment  for  Che,  et"  '" 
Bagadu-iset,  3. 
Bailev'a  laland,  75,  84-7 
Bakers.  577-8,  611,  GI9. 
Bald  Kock,  83. 


686. 


938 


GENERAL  INDEX, 


Balls,  231. 

BaniU)ox  Mannfactory,  568. 

Band,  Brunswick  Brass,  246. 

Bankj«,  575-7. 

Bank  Street,  539. 

Baptisms,  368,  370-1,  405,  424,  426,  432, 
442-3,  446. 

Baptist  Societies,  377-388. 

Baptist  Church,  Brunswick,  380;  Harps- 
well,  384;  Federal  Street.  384;  Tops- 
ham,  Predestinarian,  421 ;  Church 
Society,  Tupsham,  423-6. 

Baptist  Church  and  Sui'iety,  Brunswick, 
Maine  Street,  387-8 ;  Second,  383. 

Baptist  Church  and  Society,  Ilarpswell, 
First,  446-7  ;  Second,  447-9. 

Baptist  Preaching  in  Brunswick,  The 
first,  377-8;  in  Topsham,  419;  in 
Ilarpswell,  446. 

Baptist  Kclijifions  So<'iety  in  Brunswick, 
Harpswell,  and  Bath,  S78. 

Baptist  Keligious  Society  of  Brunswick, 

382,  383  ;  of  Toj)sham,  420-<J. 
Baptist    ScK*iety,   at   Maquoit,   379 ;    in 

Brunswick*  First,  381,  383  ;  Second, 

383,  386 ;  Federal  Street,  386-7  ;  in 
Topsham  411,419-23. 

Baptist   Societies,  Differences  between, 

383. 
Baptist  Societies,  Separation  from,  423. 
Bar!)ers,  578. 
Barne's  Island,  87. 
Banmiet rical  Statistics,  101. 
Bass-Viol  in  Church,  389. 
Batli,  69,  75,  76,  84,  144. 
Bath,  Maine  luKinircr,  310. 
Bath  Stroot,  530. 
Baxter's  Island,  42,  81. 
Bay  Hri<l;re.  81,  322. 
Hear  Bay,  5. 
Bear  Place,  5. 
Bears,  S8-9,  220. 
Bears,  Anecdote  alwut,  89. 
Beaver,  88. 
Beech.  99. 

Beecli  Ishmd,  78,  85. 
Beef  for  the  Arniv,  129,  18.'>-6,  686-7. 
Bell,  The  First  Church,  145,  371;   other 

HelU  373. 
Berwick,  57. 
Beryl,  97. 

Bihie  of  Hcv.  Robert  Dunlap,  670. 
Bi-ht.  The.  11. 
Bill    for    Kepairs    njK»n    East   Mecting- 

1  louse,  593. 
Biographies,  709. 
Biolite,  97. 
Birch,  99. 

Bireli  Island,  75,  87. 
Bin  Is.  9r>-2. 

Hishnpseotte,  The  Kiyer,  9. 
Bi-iniutheiiite,  98. 
Bisun  Teeth,  90. 


Blackfish,  Capture  of,  93-4. 

Black  Point,  2. 

Blacksmiths,  578-9,  611,  619-20. 

Blank  Book  of  Samuel  Adam**,  671-2. 

Block  Houses,  57,  69,  633-5,  65 1-2.  Cti«. 

BlucHsh,  94. 

Boat-Builders,  579,  620. 

Boodv  Street,  539. 

Bookbinders,  579. 

Bookstores,  587. 

Booms,  563. 

Boom,    AndroBCOfTgin,  563;   carried  off 

by  Freshet,  564. 
Boot  and  Shoe  Dealers,  587. 
Boot  and  Shoe  Makers,  579,  612,  620. 
Bolt  to  mark  the  Beginning  of  l.\A»  aud 

Roads  in  Brunswick,  537. 
Bomazeen  Island,  56,  87,  89. 
Boston,   19,  31,  32,  39,  44,  47,  48,  119, 

121,  125,  128,  134,  187. 
Bottle-Basket,  671. 
Boundaries,  23-4,    75,    106-7,   119,  126, 

144,  155,  180,  184. 
Bounties.   126,  169,  170,  696-7,  698-700, 

700-2,  702-5. 
Bow  Street,  51,  539. 
Bowdoin,  26,  75-6,  144,  202. 
Bowdoinham.  25,  35,  44,  75-6,  82,    184, 

188. 
Bowdoin  College,  Act  in  Regard  to,  510- 
12. 

Athenfean  Society  of,  505-6. 

Benevolent  Soi'ietv  of,  507. 

Buildings  of,  501.  504,  508-9,  513. 

Caluvian  Soi-ietv  of,  507. 

Colored  Graduates  of,  510. 

Decision  of  Court  in  Regard  to, 
511-12. 

Donations  to,  500,  509. 

Effect   of  Act  of  Sei>aration  on, 
507-8,  510-12. 

Fire  in,  509. 

First  Commencement  at,  503-4. 

Graduates  of,  517. 

Inaugurations  at,  502,  505. 

Incorporation  of,  499. 

Land  (i rants  to.  499,  500. 

Libraries  of,  517. 

Museum  of,  97. 

Overseers  of,  499,  500-1,  508. 

Petitions  ft»r,  498 

Peucinian  Society  of,  501 ,  nott  ,503. 

Picture  Gallerv  of,  517. 

PresideuU  of,* 501 -2,  504-5,  507, 
513. 

Professors  of,  502-3,  506-7,  509- 
10.  51.3-15. 

Secret  Societies  of,  518. 

Site  of,  501. 

Suit  of  President  of,  511-12. 

Trustees  (»f.  499,  500,  508. 
Bowdoin,  Death  of  Goyeruor,  506. 
Boyle's  Point,  86. 


GEXER-AL  INDEX. 


939 


Bradlev*8  Pond,  76. 
Brnining'8  Ledge,  87. 
Bream,  94. 

Brick  Clav,  Deposit  of,  96. 
Brick  Yards,  80,  568,  609,  620. 
Bridpea,201,  548-51. 
Bridges  burnt,  261,  266,  269.  550. 
Bridge  Company,  The  Androscoggin, 549. 
Bridge  across  the  (iranny-IIole  Stream, 
550. 

across  the  New  Meadows,  550. 

Turnpike,  across  the  New  Mead- 
ows, 550. 

Railroad,  across  tlio  New  Mead- 
ows, 550-1. 

across  (rravel  Island  Gullv,  551. 

acro.<*s  (rullyin  Winter  Street,  551. 

across  Ravine  in  B«)w  Street,  551. 

Androscoggin,  548-.50. 

Androscoggin  Railroad,  551. 

at  Stone's  Brook,  551. 

Bay,  550. 

between  Great  and  Orr's  Islan(\^, 
550. 

Bull  Rock,  550. 

The  First,  548. 

The  Free,  550-1. 

The  Gurnet.  548. 

near  Village  Bury ing-G round  in 
Topshani,  551. 

on  Federal  Street,  551. 

over  the  Catliance,  548. 

Shad  Jsland,  550. 
Bnmst<me  Hill,  77. 

Brook  in  Brunswick  Village,  An  old,  32. 
Brook  Trout,  94. 
Brunswick  Academy,  475-6. 

and  Topshani  Ritie  Co.,  692-3. 

a  Township,  104. 

Bank,  The,  575. 

Cotton  Manufacturing  Co.,  564. 

Divided  into  recruiting  Districts, 
687. 

Factory  Companv,  .565-6. 

Falls,  i,  5,  14,25,*  77,  81,  88. 

In})al>itants  of,  3'). 

in  War  of  i\w.  Rebellion,  696-700. 

Journal,  .307-8. 

Liglit  Infantry,  692. 

Militia  Companies,  692-3. 

named,  104. 

representi'd   in     Provincial    Con- 
gress, 122. 

Savings  Institution,  The,  576. 

Selectmen  of,  33.     See  ApiHindix. 

Telegraph,  309-10. 

under  the  (Commonwealth,  104-43. 

under  tlie  State  of  Maine,  143. 

Village  (Corporation,  274. 
Brnnswickor,  The,  309. 
Building  Sites  overflowed,  96, 
Bull-Head,  94. 
Bull  Rock,  84,  550. 


Bunganunganock  (or  Bungnnock),  4,  5, 

37,  83,  106-7,  155. 
Burglaries  in  Tojysliam,  286. 
Burial  alive,  680. 

Burial  Ex|)ense8  of  Elisha  Eaton,  437. 
Burial  delaved  by  a  Storm,  62-3. 
Bunial-Places,  3.39-351. 

Indian,  351. 
Burial-Place  in  Brunswick,  oldest,  339. 

in  Topsham,  oldest,  347. 

others.     See  Graveyards. 
Burials,  209. 
Burkett's  (Commentary  on  New  Testa- 

ntcnt,  670. 
Burning,  Deaths  by,  317. 
Burnt  Place,  The,*5. 
Burving-Ground    in   Harpswell   fenced, 

*166. 
Butchers,  579,  611-12. 
By-Laws  of  Towns,  146,  200,  202. 

C. 

Cabinet-Makers,  579-80,  612. 

Cabot  Manufacturing  Company,  566. 

Calcite,  98. 

Calves,  220. 

CjiUs  to  settle  in  the  Ministry  in  Bruns- 
wick, 3.54-5,  358,  362-5,\370-2,  374, 
381,  385,  387,  389,  390,  396;  in 
Topsliam,  407-9,  416,420-9,  431-3; 
in  llarpswell,  436-7,  444-8,  453. 

Canada,  62-4,  68,  70. 

Canada  Lvnx,  90. 

Canals,  132-3,  188,  555. 

Canal  between  Merrymeeting  Bay  and 
X.  Meaclows,  555. 

Canal  from  the  Androscoggin  to  Maquoit, 
555. 

Canceau,  Attempt  to  seize  the,  681-3. 

(^andlestick,  A  Wooden,  671. 

Canil)as,  The,  1. 

Canton  Point,  4,  53. 

Cannon  of  Topsham  Artillery,  691. 

Cape  Cod,  205. 

Ca|)e  Elizal)eth,  52. 

Cape  Small  Point,  7. 

(^iptain  Adams  Place,  The,  82. 

Captives,  65,  67-8,  70,  679,  694. 

Caravans,  223-5. 

('aril)ou,  90. 

Car]>ent<?rs  and  Joiners,  580-1,  612,  620. 

Carpets,  216. 

Carpet  Making,  568-9. 

Carriage-Makers,  580,  612. 

Carrying-Places,  6,  11,  45,  188. 

Cars',  etc.,  ])urnt,  262,  264. 

Carts,  216. 

('asco,  17,  52. 

Ca.sco  Bay,  9,  11.  13,  14,  17,  19,  4.5,  75, 
77,  ai  95,  101,  104. 

Catalogue  of  Bowdoin  College,  306. 

Cathance  Mill,  35. 

Cathance  Point,  35,  81,  183-4,187. 


l"i 


940 


GENERAL'  INDEX. 


t  I 

1      T 


•    i 


I 


I 


■  •  • 

■  i' 

:    If 

■  -I 

■■! 

i  ?l 


■I 


Cathance  Pond,  6,  76. 

Cathance    Kiver.  5,  6,  21.  25.  28,  .35-6, 

4.'J-4.  60.  76-7,  81-2,  97-8,  201. 
Catholic  Society,  The  Koniaii.  405. 
Cavalry  Company,  693. 
Cedar,*99. 
Cedar  Led^s,  86. 
Cedar  Street,  540. 
Celebrations,  227-233. 
Celebration  of  the  Battles  of  Concord  and 
Loxinpton,  233. 
Formation    of     Bapti.st   Chorch, 

Topsham,  426. 
Fourth  of  Julv,  228-30.     * 
Inanjruration  of  Jackson.  229. 
laving  of  the  Atlantic  Cable,  232. 
Memorial  Dav,  233. 
Temperance  i^cn-ieties,  229-30. 
"Wasliinptou's  Birthday,  232. 
Censns  of    Brunswick,  599  ;*  of    Harps- 
well,  623-4:  of  Topsham,  617. 
Center  Point.  82. 
Centre  Street,  540. 
Chair-Makers,  580. 
Chaisi's,  215. 

Charitable  Associations,  239-42. 
Chaudiere  River,  62. 
CbiTry,  99. 
Chicka<Iee,  92. 
Chlorite,  98. 
Cholera,  314. 
(^holera  Infantum.  314. 
Chnh,  94. 
Christian    Church     in    Brunsi;\ick    an<l 

Freeport.  388-9. 
Chri.stcninjr  Basin.  07O. 
Church  Choirs,  214. 
Church.  Confession  in,  368. 
Church    (^)Von;uit,   368,  372,   389,   392, 

410,  433-34. 
Churcli  Councils,  3:>9-60.  366.  370,  372, 
386.  390,416.  418,  425,  429,  431,  436. 
Church  Creed,  372. 

Church.  Dithculties  in  the,  368-70,  384. 
Church  (JovernuH'Ut,  Paper  concerning-, 

367:   Fonu  of  367,  369,  407. 
Church  Library,  372. 
Church  Members  of  First  Parish  Brun??- 
wick.  366. 375-7  :  of  liaptist  Ke- 
li;:ious  Society  in  Bath.  Ilarps- 
well,  ami  Brunswick,  378-9. 
of  First  Baptist,  of  Brunswick,  380. 
of  Second     *•  •'  386. 

of  Maine  Street  Baptist,  of  Bruns- 
wick. 387. 
of  Ba]itist  Helipious  S(X'ietv,  Tops- 
ham,  420-1. 
of  Baptist    Chnrch  Sooictv,  Tops- 

liam.  423. 
of  First  Baptist  Chnnh  and  Soci- 
ety, Harps  well,  446. 
of    Second    Bajiiist    Clinrch   and 
Society,  Haq^^wtll,  ^47. 


Church   Members  of   Catholic  Sodrtr, 
Brunswick,  405. 
of  Congregational  Society,  Topp- 

sham,  411,  415. 
of  Fintt  Free- Will  Baptist  Societr, 

Brunswick,  388. 
of  Free  Baptist  So<-ietv,Bmn.«wirk, 

390 
of  Methodist  Societv,  Bmnswick, 

400. 
of  Methodist  Societr,  Harpniel], 
I  454. 

of  I'nitarian  Society, Topsliani.434. 
of  First  Free-Will  baptist  SoneiT. 

Harpswell,  449. 
of  Second  Free-Will  Baptist  Socie- 
ty, Hariiswell,  449. 
'    Chnnh.  Votes  of  the,  367-8,  370.  382. 
Cisterns,  274. 
City  Charter,  153,  236. 
j   Clams,  93. 

i   Claphoanl  Manufacton',  560. 
;   (Marke's  Island,  87. 
,   Clay  Land  Falls,  4. 
i   Cleaveland's  Cabinet,  Bowdoin  College. 
I  517. 

Cleaveland's  Meteorological  Record,  99- 

lOL 
Cleaveland  Street.  539. 
Climatic,  et<*..  99-ia3. 
i   Clock,   Watch,  and  Jewclr>'  EsUbli^b- 
:  ments,  569-70. 

Coasting,  215. 
!   Cobb's  Quarry,  97-8. 
I   Cobbasecimtee  Pond,  36. 
Cochran's  Adventure,  56. 
Cod,  94. 

C<»in.s  Collection  of,  670. 
College  burnt.  258,  260. 
C<»llege  Street,  540. 
Colonel  Thompson  ordered  to  Bninsi»ick, 

etc.,  684. 
Columbite.  97-8. 

Commercial  Histon-  of  Brons^rick.  552, 
602:  of  Haqiswell,  618-24;  of  Tops- 
ham.  6a3-17. 
Commi.<sioners,  13,  17,  52,  56,  112,  113, 

118. 
Commissioners'  Court,  283. 
Comnn's.<ion  of  Ad«im  Hunter.  65-6. 
Comnnssion  of  Boliert  Patten.  685. 
Committee   of  Correspondence,    Safetv, 
etc..  123-7.  129,  168-71,  173.  184-7. 
676.  684.  689. 
Committee  on  Land  Claim.«»,  22, 36. 
Commons  Hall,  102.  516. 
Commons,  Deed  of  Town.  522-4. 
Comnmns,    Reports    of   Committee    on 

Town,  525-7. 
Commons,  Survev  of  Town,  525 
Comm(m.s  The  Town.  30.  1150.     1.  115. 
126-7,   131-2,  134,  138,1    149,3-421. 
521-7. 


GEXERAL  INDEX. 


941 


Commmiication  to  Town  from  Kev.  Mr. 

Dunlap,  361-2. 
CommnDion   Service  presented  to  Bap- 
tist Cliurch  Society,  Topaham,  425. 
Complaint  of  Sani'l  Boone,  with  Keturn 

and  Jud},nnent,  278-9. 
CompLiint  of  Town  against  Isaac  Snow, 

27^80. 
Complaint  for  breaking  open  Jail«  282. 
Corapressed-Air  Company,  274,  507. 
Compressed-Air  Power,  567. 
Concerts,  224. 
Concord,  127. 

Condy's  Harbor,  47,  87,  687-9. 
Condy's  Point,  6,  86. 
Conference-Hoom  of  Pirst  Parish,  Bruns- 
wick, 642. 
Congregational  Church,  Topsham,  410- 

19;  Ilarpswell,  436. 
Congress,  Proceedings  of,  122,  123. 
Constables,  18. 
Constitution  of  Maine,  143  ;  Vote  on  tlio, 

170,  185,  200. 
Constitution  of  the  U.  8.,  Acceptance  of, 

132,  171. 
Consnmption,  Pulmonary,  314. 
Controver.Hy  ])etween  Pejcpscot  and  Kon- 

nel)ec  Comiwinies,  23-6. 
Convictions  for  Manslaugliter,  etc.,  283, 

285,  286,  287. 
Cooking,  Former  Mode  of,  221. 
Cook's  Corner,  84. 
Coi)t,  The,  92. 
Copper  Pyrites,  98. 
Cordwainers,  581. 
Cotton,  Price  of,  219. 
Council  of  Plymouth,  7, 10,  12,  24. 
Counterfeit  Money,  127,  171-2. 
Counties,  Division  of,  etc.,  119,  132,143- 

4,  149,  154,  171-6,   187,   189,  200-1, 

203. 
County  Court  established,  282. 
Course  of  Kivers,  76. 
Courts,  189,  199,  200- 
Courts  and  Trials,  277-87. 
Court  at  Topsliam,  The  first,  283. 
Court  House,  190,    199,   228,  656-7;  at 

Topsham  built,  283 ;  sold,  286 ;  burnt, 

269. 
Court,  A  Military,  283. 
Court,  Municipal,  Brunswick,  286. 
Court  of    Common    Pleas   for   Lincoln 

County,  283. 
Court  Records,  278-9. 
Court,  Regulations  of  the  earliest,  277. 
Cow  Island,  81,  93,  184. 
Crabs,  93. 

Crimes  and  Criminals,  277-87. 
Crops,  98-9,  220-1. 
Crow  Island,  87. 
Crows,  91,  164,  172,  190. 
Crustaceans,  93. 
Cuckoo,  91. 


Cultivation  of  Soil,  98-9. 

Cuml)erland  County  set  off,  282. 

Cunner,  94. 

Cuprite,  98. 

Cushing  Street,  540,  545. 

Cusk,  94. 

D. 

Daguerrean  Artists,  581. 

Damariscotta,  58. 

Damariscove  Island,  85. 

Dams,  55.'i-4,  603. 

Dam,  The  Upper,  553 ;  The  Long,  553 ; 

T\ft  Gulf,  553-4;  The  Middle,  5.54; 

The  Factory,  554. 
Dancing  Scliools,  222. 
Dangerous  Places  to  bathe,  317. 
Danville,  26,  144. 
Dav-Book  of  James  Booker,  Extract  from 

'  the,  622-3. 
Day-Book  of  Jotham   Stone,   Extracts 

'  from  the,  593-4. 
Deacons,  a  List  of,  375. 
Dedication    of    Moeting-Houses,   372-3, 

396,  432,  453-4,  642-5. 
Deeds,  34,  37,  39,  42,  44-5,  48,  76,  81, 

126-7,  131,  522-4. 
Deep  C^ut,  77, 
Deer,  90. 
Delegates,   121,  123.  132,  134,  143,171, 

173,  187,  189,  196,  199. 
Dentists,  581 

DejK)sitions,  46,147,  5.53,  651. 
1  )eput  burnt,  262,  263,  265. 
Derrick  Manufactorv,  609. 
Devil's  Kock,  78. 

J)iary,  Extract  from  Mr.  Baxter's,  353. 
Dimensions  of  Log-Houses,  44. 
Diseases,  311,314-16. 
Dismissals  and   Resignations  from   the 

Ministry,     360,    364-5.    372,    381, 

384-5,  389,  412,  417,  423,  431. 
Distances,  75-6. 
Division  of  the  Town,  146. 
Dog,  as  a  Mail  Carrier,  A,  69. 
Do;fS  in  Meeting,  213-14,  220. 
Dollar  of  Capt.  Dunlap,  The  first  Silver, 

670. 
Dollars,  First  Mention  of,  120. 
Dolphins,  Capture  of,  93-4. 
Dorchester,  England,  8. 
Dorchester,  Mass.,  20,  39.  48. 
Double  dating  of  Records,  1 15. 
Dove,  The,  91. 
Dover,  19. 
Drain,  The,  603. 
Dresden,  18. 
Dress,  205,  218. 
Drinks,  Spirituous,  221-2. 
Drowning,  Deaths  by,  316-17. 
I)rv-(Joods  Dealers,  587-8. 
Ducks,  92. 
Ducking-Stools,  281. 


11 


ih 

^ 


1 


II 

f 

i 


942 

Duck  Water  Place,  The,  5. 
Duiilap  Street,  540. 
Dimuiii^r  Street.  540. 
Durham,  20,  42,  75,  l.'U,  144. 
Durham  Road,  82. 
Dysentery,  Epitleinic,  314. 

E. 

Eaple  Factory,  The,  321. 

Kagle  Island,  86. 

Eajile,  The  (iuhleu.  90. 

Eagle,  The  White-hea^led,  92. 

Eaflv  Conditions  and  CircunL^tanees, 
205-6. 

Earlv  Preaching  in  Brunf»wick.  352-4 ; 
m  Iiari«well,  436;  in  TojK^ham.  406. 

Earlv  Provision  for  Public  Worship,  352- 
*4. 

Earthquakes,  103. 

Eaaterly  Line  of  Ma>*sachnsietts,  10. 

Ea.*<t  Brunswick  Cliurch,  384. 

Eastern  Baptist,  The,  308. 

Eastern  Bav,  11. 

Eiistern  Count  v,  51. 

Eaton  Brook,  82. 

Eaton  Claim.  16. 

Ecclesiastical  llistorv  of  Brunswick.352- 
405;  of  Harpswell,  436-455  ;  of  Tojjs- 
hani,  406-435. 

Educational  History  of  Brun.swick.  456- 
81  ;  of  Harpswell,  493-7  ;  of  Tops- 
ham,  482-92. 

Education  of  early  Settlers,  456. 

E«r;r  Island,  155. 

Eider  Duck,  The.  90. 

Elders,  Rulinj:,  370. 

Elenry,  An,  228. 

Klrntheria,  19. 

Elliot  Street,  540. 

Elm,  99. 

Elm  Island,  86. 

Elm  Street,  540. 

Eml»aruM,  The,  97. 

Enicrald,  The,  97. 

En^nne  Hall,  301. 

Enlistment,  Encouni^remeiit  of,  53.  130, 
IS9.  689-90,  r,y6-9.  7<M)-2.  702-5. 

Enlistment  at  Ilarpswidl,  686. 

KuffTiainments,  223-5. 

Epidite.9S. 

Episcupal  Church.  402-5. 

Episi^-npal  Services  in  Brnnswiek,  402-3; 
in    Topsliam.  435. 

Epismpalians  in  liarpswrll,  436. 

Epirapii-!.  340-51. 

Epitapli  «»n  Proiih-nt  Apploton,  344  ; 
oil  Prof.  Clcavrland,  345  ;  on  Ex- 
(.;<)V.  Duiilap. 345-6  ;  on  Kev.  KoliiTt 
Dunlap,  340;  on  Dt'acon  Andrew 
Dunninjr.  35(»  :  on  Andrew  Dun- 
niiijET,  340  ;  on  Beiij.  Dnnniiifr,  351  ; 
on  Uev.  Klislia  Eaton,  349 ;  un  Rev. 


GENEKAL  INDEX, 


Sam  1  Eaton,  350 ;  on  Mrs.  Eaton. 
350 ;  on  Dr.  lloyt,  347  ;  ou  Rev. 
Chas.  Johnson.  3+8-9 :  on  KMer 
(ieo.  Lamb,  341  :  on  Wm.  McXess, 
350;  on  Sam'l  Mo<xly,  340;  on  I-L 
James  Pnrinton,  ;J48 :  on  Rev. 
Oliver  Qninbv.  :U9 :  on  Col.  Reeil. 
347-8;  on  Prof.  Wm.  Smvlh,  345; 
on  Prof.  T.  C.  Upliara,  345. 

Escritoire,  The,  307. 

Eulojry  on  Washington,  228. 

Everett  Strei^t,  540. 

Excursions,  245. 

Exhibitions,  Public,  223-5. 

Expeditions,  52. 

Expedition,  Church's,  51. 

Expedition,  llannon's,  54-5. 

Express  Companies,  3.38. 

F. 

Factory,  The  Brunswick  Cotton,  564; 
Maine  Cotton  and  W«M>llen,  564-5: 
Eagle,  565 ;  Brunswick.  56.5-6 ;  Wa- 
niml>o,  566 ;  CalM>t.  566-7 ;  Bruns- 
wick Woollen,  567 ;  Waqi  Yarn, 
567;  Match,  571. 

Factories,  564-7.  608. 

Factorv  Dam.  The,  78. 

Fairs,  238-9. 

Falls.  Height  of,  78. 

Falmouth,  57-8.  60,  67,  101,  118-19.  121, 
132,  15.5,  167,  187. 

Falstaff  Inn.  229. 

Families  of  S(d<liers,  Provisions  for,  685. 

Familv  Pioneer  and  Juvenile  Kev,  The, 
308. 

Farming.  220,  552. 

Farmington.  209. 

Farms,  98. 

Fasting,  Dav  of,  369. 

Fauna.  88-94. 

Federal  Street.  89,  145,  540. 

Felds|>.'ir,  95,  97. 

Feldspar  Mill. 609. 

Ferries,  188.  /ior*,  546-8 :  Brown's,  .Vlfi; 
Peterson's,  546;  MU'itard's.  ."546; 
Randall's,  .546-7  ;  Samuel  Wilsi>ijV, 
547;  Brig.  Thompson's,  547. 

Ferry  over  Long  Reach,  547  ;  from  In- 
dian   point  to   (ieorget<»wn,  .547-?* 
second  over  New  .Meadows.  .548 ;  tem- 
porary. Iietween  To]K><liam  an<l  Bruu*- 
Avick,  548. 

Ferry  Point.  80-1,  188,  209. 

Festivals,  Masonic,  240. 

Fevers,  Scarlet,  Tvphoiil,  and  Yellow. 
314. 

Fifth  Indian  War,  57-65. 

Finch.  TlicPine.  91. 

Fines  of  C:oiirt,  278,  280,2S2-3,  285. 

Finis  Lavationis,  735. 

Fir,  The,  99. 

Fire- Arms,  Sale  of,  170, 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


943 


rire  Companies  in  Brunswick,  271-4;  in 
Topsliam.  275-6. 

Fire.En;riues,  145,  14G,  152,  231,  271-6. 

Fireplace?*,  219. 

Fires,  51,  54,  143,  242,  257-76. 

Fires  and  Fire  Companies,  257-76. 

Fires,  Aid  for  Sufferers  from,  258-9. 

Fires,  a  Boy  wanted  to  set,  259. 

Fires  in  Brunswick,  257-67  ;  in  Harj)s- 
well,  270-6 ;  in  Topsham,  267-70. 

Fire-Works,  230-1. 

First-horn  Child  on  Sehascodigan,  18. 

First  Indian  War.  49-51. 

First  Fire-Kn;jrine  in  Brunswick,  271 ;  in 
Topsham,  274. 

First  National  Bank,  The,  576. 

Fish  Act,  132. 

Fisheries,  8,  13-14,  19,  22,  30,  38.  46-7, 
82,  94,  11.5,  187-8,  211,  552,  618. 

Fisher's  Quarry,  97-8. 

Fishes,  94. 

Fish-Hawks,  92. 

Fish-IIouse  Hill,  54.  82. 

Fishinj^-Rock  Island,  79,  211. 

Fisli-Wavs.  94,  603-4. 

Flagron  of  Toppan  Faniilv,Thc  Silver,670. 

Flajr  Island,  85. 

Flajric's  Brick- Yard,  80. 

FHp,'221. 

Flora,  99. 

Floral  Procession,  231. 

Flounder,  94. 

Flour-Mill,  Purinton's,  608  ;  Scrihncr's, 
558. 

Flvin^^  Point,  62,  66-7. 

FojTS,  101. 

Fooii.  221. 

Footprints  in  the  Rock,  79. 

Foot-Stove,  A,  673, 

Force  Pump,  272,  274. 

Foresido,  The,  76.  98. 

Forest  Church,  The,  385. 

Forester,  The,  309. 

Forts  and  Garrisons  in  Brunswick,  625- 
35;  in  Topsham,  651-2;  in  Harps- 
well,  662. 

Fort  Andross,  51-2,  54,625;  at  Casco, 
untlermined,  52  ;  at  Pejepscot,  15. 

Fort  Georjre,  32.  35,  38-9,  54,  56-7.  62, 
65,  66,  68,  70,  107, 110,  117,206,  209, 
625-33  ;  Huius  of,  633 ;  Cost  of,  627- 
9;  dismantled,  68,  625,  629;  leased, 
68,  633  ;  Petition  against  dismaut- 
lint:  of,  629-32. 

Fort  Ui;rht,  The,  556,  559. 

Fort,  an  Indian,  52,  651 ;  at  Ilarpswell, 
694. 

Fort  Richmond,  57-8. 

Fort  Saint  (irM>rge,  7. 

Foundries,  570. 

Fourth  Indian  War,  53-6. 

Foxes,  90. 

Franklin  Family  Sduxd.  239, 487,659-61 . 


Franklin  Street,  540. 

Freeport,  19,  67,  75,  77,  83,  134,  144. 

Free  port  Hoad,  90. 

Free- Will  Baptist  Societies  in  Brunswick, 

388-91  ;   in    Harps  well,  449-50 ;  in 

Toj>sham,  426-9. 
French  and  Indian  War,  65-70. 
Freshet  Bock,  79. 
Fnishet.  The  Great,  320-1. 
Freshets.  187-8,  319-22. 
Freyer's  Island  (or  Friar's),  81. 
Friends  in  Ilarpswell,  436. 
Friends,  Society  of,  388. 
Frogs,  93. 
Frost,  101. 
Frost-Fi.«4h,  94. 
Fulton's  Point,  18,  54,  81. 
Funerals,  208-9. 

Funerals,  Metho<l  of  conducting,  339. 
Furniture  Store,  588. 
Furs,  Tnide  in,  552. 

Q. 

Galeuite,  97. 

(Jales,  102. 

(iardiner,  96. 

(larnets,  97. 

(jJarrison  at  Maquoit,  633 ;  The  Dun- 
ning, 634  ;  The  Giveen,  634  ;  The 
Gurnet  Point,  635;  The  Hiuklev, 
634;  Ham's.  634;  McFarland's, 
634-5;  Minot's,  634;  SkolHeld's, 
635;  Sj)ear's,  635 ;  J.imes  Wilson's, 
652  ;  at  Foroside,  652 ;  The  Gore, 
652  ;  on  Bailey's  Island,  662  ;  on 
Orr's  Island,  662;  on  Ilarpswell 
Neck,  662. 

Garrisons,  37,  43,  68-9,  209,  633-5. 

Gas  Manufacture,  570-7. 

Geese.  47,  92. 

General  and  Social,  205-56. 

General  Court  of  Mas.*<achuset.ts,  10,17, 
21-2.  25,  27,  29.  35,  36,  50,  61.  63, 
104.  106,  109,  112,  114-21,  124-5, 
128-32,  134,  156,  160,  162,  184-90. 

Ge(dogical  Features.  95-6. 
I    ( Jeorgetown,  39,  112. 
'   Gift  of  God,  The,  7. 

Gilman  Avenue,  540. 

Glaciers,  95. 

Gneiss,  95. 

Goat  Island,  78,  102. 

(lohnite,  98. 

Golden  Pipe,  80. 

Goose  Island,  85,  87. 

(Joose  Bock,  78,  545. 

Gore.  The,  19. 

Goslings,  The,  85,  87. 

(Jranite,  95. 

(irant  of  the  Province  of  Laconia,  26. 

(irant  to  Purchase  and  Wny,  9. 

Grannv-llole  Bridge,  Mill,  and  Stream, 
79-80. 


944 


OEXERAL  INDEX. 


.    I 


'A 


Grave  van  I  at  ftrowsto^ii.  341 ;  Harps- 
well.  349 ;  Matjnoit,  341  :  New  Mead- 
ows,  341.  346  :  in  Tojishara  Villajre, 
348:  of  First  Parish,  Bniiiswii-k,340 ; 
of  First  Parisfh.  Topshani.  347  ;  Piue 
Grove,  341-2. 

Great  Fire.  The.  259.  561. 

Great  Island,  Harpswell,  5, 11, 44,  75,  84- 
7.93. 

Great  Island.  Topsham,  80. 

Great  Je I »ea^  Island,  11,  44. 

Great  Pla;:ue.  The,  314. 

Greene,  26,  88. 

Green  Street,  540. 

Grosbeaks,  91. 

Gronse.  90-1. 

Grove  Street.  540. 

(irowstown,  83. 

Guard  left  on  Bailev*8  Island  in  1812, 
694-5. 

Guide-Boanls,  534. 

Gulf  Dam,  79. 

Gulls,  92. 

Gun  of  James  Cochran,  671  ;  of  Thomas 
Spear.  674. 

Gun-Houses,  635,  652. 

Gun-House  stnu-k  by  Liphtninp,  102. 

Gunpowder,  Appropriation  for,  134,  685. 

Gunsmiths.  581,  620. 

Gurnet,  The,  87. 

Gurnet  Bridore,  The,  56.  87. 

Gvles's  Point,  81. 

H. 

Hackmatack,  99. 

Hacks.  3;j8. 

Hadd.K-k.  94. 

Hail.  101-2. 

Hake.  94. 

Halifax.  68. 

Hallowcll.  134.  189. 

Halls,  Public,  204.  292-8.  301. 

Hams  Hill.  16,  84. 

Hanover.  85. 

Hanlinjr's  Station.  63. 

Hares.  90. 

Harness- Makers.  583.  612.  620. 

Harpswell  Academy,  496-97  :  a  Di.^trict, 
162:  a  Precinct.  160:  and  Bmns- 
wick  (hnrch.  378.  384.  446-7  :  Ban- 
ner. 310;  Chunli,  378.  3S4.  446-7; 
first  District  Meeting:  of.  162;  first 
Orticers  of.  162:  tir.^t  Town  Meetinir 
of.l69  :  Harl>or.  84.  87  ;  incor|Kjrated, 
l.i5:  in  War  of  HelK-llion.  702-.'); 
Island  5.  98.  245;  Island  Meetin*:- 
House.  S9  ;  Militia  <'<»mpanies.  693  : 
Name  of.  162  :  Neck.  5.  17.  18.  41.44. 
7.*),  84.  8,').  87.  98 :  Hepresent.-ition 
<'f,  174.  176;  nnder  Commonwealth 
of  Massachnsetts,  15.')-73:  nnder 
State  of  Maine.  173-9  ;  Street.  540. 

Harraseekit  Bay.  101  ;  Landing,  77. 


Hartford,  8, 12. 

Hanard  College  Claim,  17,  45. 

Harwood's  Bn>ok,  82. 

Haskeirs  Island,  75.  85-6. 

Hat  and  Cap  Makers.  ."iSl-a,  612. 

Hat-Box  of  William  AVoodside,  671. 

Hawks,  91. 

Hay  Scales,  The  first.  142.  584,  613. 

Hay  sent  to  Brunsi^ick,  28. 

Health,  Board(or  Committee)  of,  175,315. 

Hearse  purchased,  etc.,    142,    151,    154, 
175,200,  204. 

Heipht  of  Falls,  78. 

Hematite,  98. 

Hemlwk,  99. 

Heron,  The  Great  Blue,  92. 

Herrinp,  94. 

Hisrh-Bank  Brook,  5. 

High  Head,  87. 

High  Street.  540. 

Highwavs,  196. 

High  Wind.  322. 

Hodgkins's  HaU,  294,  297. 

Hoe-I^nd.  4. 

Hoeg  Island,  18. 

Hogs.  221. 

Home.  A  Frontier,  645-6. 

Horse  Blocks,  219-20. 

Horse-Chi'stnut,  99. 

Horse  Island,  87. 

Hospitalities,  315-16. 

H(»stilities.     See  Settlers.  Attacks  upon. 

Hotels.  290-302      See  also  Taverns. 

Houses,    Old,   219-20,    645-50,    658-60, 
667-9. 

House.  The  Alexander,  649  :  Cle.ive]aud. 
6.'»0;  Coffin.  659:  I)ongl.a.*s  (Wm.). 
659;  Dunlap,  647-8:  Dunnimr, 
649:  Dunning  (Andrew).  667-8; 
K.astman  (James).  668:  Estabr«vk. 
648-9;  Forsjiith,  6.50;  Foster.  659: 
Frost  (Major).  659-60  ;  (iilman, 
649 ;  Goss,  650 :  Jackson,  649 : 
Hinklev,  647:  Howland  (Sti^k- 
bridge).  660:  Jovce.  6.')0 :  McKeen, 
648:  McLellan.  650:  Melcher.  648- 
9 :  Merrill.  659  ;  Old  Bed,  658 : 
Orr  (Jiisej.b).  668-9:  Page,  6.50 : 
Palmer.  649-50;  P.iiten  (Hachel). 
66(>:  Pierce.  649:  Porter.  660:  Pn- 
rinton  (Collins).  660;  Purinttm  (Na- 
thaniel). 668  :  Randall  (Paul).  668: 
Boirers.  659  :  Sinr.etl  (Michael).  669; 
Thompson  (Charles).  660;  Thonii)- 
son  (Robert).  646-7:  Vea/ie,  668; 
Walker.  660;  Weymouth.  649; 
Wilson  (James),  '659 ;  Wilson 
(Swanzey).  659. 

Houses,  burnt  in  Brunswick,  257-67  :  in 
Hari?swel].271  :  in  Topsham.  267-70. 

House  of  Correction.  283. 

Hum]direv's  Hall.    297  :  Ship-Yard.  81  ; 
Steam-Mill.  81. 


i 

i 


GENERAL  IKDEX. 


945 


Hminewell's  Core,  155. 
Hnnten,  209. 
Hnnter'B  Island,  81. 
Hydraalian  Fire  CompAny,  272. 
Hydranlian  Fire-Engine,  272. 


I. 

Ice  a  Scnlptor,  96. 
niominations,  232. 
Incorporation  of  First  Baptist    Cbnzcli 

and  Society,  Topsham,    411,  419- 

23. 
Incorporation  of  Towns.    See  Act  of. 
Indenture  between  Purchase  and  Got. 

Winthrop,  9. 
Indian  Attacks,  207,  208 ;  Deeds,  12-16  ; 

Hunting,  52  ;  Language,  3 ;  Marks, 

15;    Names,  3-5,  84;   Point,  547; 

Point    Landing,    6;    Race  of    Lt. 

Woodside  with,  206-7;    Relics,  673, 

674-5;.  Trails,  205;   Village,  1,  6; 

Wars,  2,  37,  43,  49-70,  207. 
Indians,  The^  1-6,  19,  24,  30,  43,  47,  49- 

70,81,  114,206-7,209. 
Inhabitants,  First  Meeting  of,  104 ;  Pub- 
lic Meetings  of,  104-5,  lOS-12. 
Inns,  190,  229,  230,  290-302.    Also  see 

Taverns. 
Insane  Persons,  201. 
Insanity,  316. 
Insects,  92. 
Installations  to  the  Ministry,  372,  426, 

431. 
Instructions  to  Representatiyes,  116, 126. 
Insurance    Company,  The    Brunswick 

Mutual    Marine,    577;     Harpswell 

Mutual  Fire,  621-2. 
Inrentoryof  taxable  Property  in  1762, 

600-7. 
Ipswich,  43. 
Irish,  205. 
Irish,  "Wild,"  205. 
Irony  Islands,  87. 
Iron  Pyrites,  97. 
Island,  The,  80. 
Islands,  42,  44,  46-8,  75,  78,  8(V-1,  84-7, 

121, 132,  145,  183-4, 186-7. 
Island  Street,  541. 

J.' 

Jaqnes's  Harbor,  87 ;  Island,  86. 

Jay  Point,  53. 

Jay,  The  Blue,  91 ;  The  Canada,  91. 

Jenny's  Island,  86. 

Joiners,  612. 

Journal  of  Capt.  Gatchell's  March  up 

the  Kennebec,  58-60. 
Juniper,  99. 

Jurisdiction  of  Territory,  23,  26 
Juvenile  Key,  The,  308. 
Juvenile  Watchman,  The,  309. 

60 


Kennebec  Company,  7, 17, 24,  25, 86,  44 ; 

Fire-Engine,     273-4;   Indians,  52; 

Journal,  309 ;  River,  1, 10, 13-14, 18, 

24-5,  27,  50-1,  76,  82,  155. 
Kingfisher,  92. 

King  PhiHp's  War,  18,  49-51. 
King  William's  War,  51-2. 
King  Chapel,  77,  513,  518. 
Kingston,  44. 
Kittery,  11, 18,  57,  84. 
Kiver,  94. 

L. 

Laconia,  Province  of,  26. 

Lake  of  New  Someisett,  76. 

Lamps  and  Candles,  221. 

Land  Claims,  17,  45,  48;  Owners,  865; 
Sales,  11-12, 19,  21,  23-4,  35,  87,  42, 
44,  47. 

Landing  in  Brunswick,  The,  80. 

Larches,  99. 

Lawsuits,  45,  201,  379. 

Lawyers  in  the  three  Towns,  287-9. 

Lay  £xhorters,  370. 

Leases,  38,  42,  45,  46. 

Lectures,  225-7,  245. 

Lecture  on  —  An  Interior  World,  225; 
A  General  Description  of  Inverte- 
brates, 227 ;  American  History,  226 ; 
Astronomy,  226 ;  Common-Sense, 
227;  Education,  226;  Electricity, 
226;  Explosions  of  Steam-Boilers, 
226;  Grahamism,  225;  H;^giene, 
226 ;  Iceland,  etc,  227 ;  Macchiavelli, 
226;  Methods  of  reckoning  Time, 
227 ;  Nationality,  226 ;  Natural  His- 
tory, 227 ;  Natural  History  and  Fine 
Arts,  227;  Origin,  etc,  of  the  In- 
dians, 226  ;  Physiology,  226 ;  Popu- 
lar Education,  226 ;  Primary  Schools, 
226 ;  Rags  and  Paper,  227 ;  Read- 
ing, 226;  Steam-lEnginery,  226; 
Storms  and  Meteorolofirv,  226 ;  The 
Acadians,  227 ;  Past,  Present,  and 
Future  of  Maine,  227 ;  Relation  of 
Natural  History  and  Religion,  227  ; 
The  Saracens,  226 ;  True  Enterprise, 
226 ;  Vegetable  Life,  226;  Walking, 
227. 

Lectures,  Antislavery,  233;  Temperance, 
250. 

Leda  Truncata,  96. 

Leeds,  26. 

Lemont  Hall,  298. 

Lenffth  of  Rivers,  76. 

Lepidolite,  97. 

Letters  from  Aaron  Hinkley,  119-20; 
Isaac  Hinkley,  60-61 ;  John  Minot, 
119;  Moses  Getchell,  45-6;  Mrs. 
Wilson  to  Thorn,  286 ;  Proi>rietor8, 
33, 35-6;  of  Brig.  Thompson  in  1775, 
678-9 ;  ol  Instruction  to  Larrabee, 


GENERAL  INDEX. 


U7 


.  Fre©^ Will  Baptist  Society,  Topeham, 
427-8,  656;  of  Free-WiU  Baptist 
Society,  Harpswell,  449;  of  Orr's 
Island,  449-50,  667 ;  of  Methodist 
Society,  Brunswick,  400,  402,  644  ; 
of  Methodist  Society,  Harpswell, 
454,  667 ;  of  Orthodox  Society, 
Topsham,  429,  432;  Subscription 
Paper  for  building  the  Last,  654-6 ; 
of  First  Parish,  Brunswick,  54,  102, 
116,  220,  354,  358-60,  365,  371,  373, 
637-42 ;  of  First  Parish  of  Harps- 
well, 436,  445,  662-5 ;  of  First  Par- 
ish of  Topsham,  190,  214,  406,  413- 
4,  652-4;  of  Unitarian  .Societr, 
Brunswick,  394,  398,  643-4;  of  Uni- 
tarian Society,  Topsham,  433-4  ;  of 
Universalist  Societv,Brun8wick,  393, 
396,  643-4 ;  of  Universalist  Society, 
Harpswell,  450;  Old  Yellow,  420, 
656  ;  of  St.  Paul's  Parish,  404,  644- 
5 ;  Union,  at  Growstown,  643 ;  Un- 
ion on  Harpswell  Neck,  667 ;  West, 
228. 

Meetings,  Public,  337. 

Meetings  -of  Baptist  Church  Society, 
Topsham,  423-4 ;  of  Orthodox  Soci- 
ety, Topsham,  429,  450. 

Members  of  Brunswick  Religious  Soci- 
eties, etc.,  381,  383,  392-4,  403-4; 
of  Topsham  Religious  Societies, 
415-21, 427 ;  of  Harpswell  Religious 
Societies,  451-2. 

Memorandum  of  Deeds,  38-9. 

Memorials  to  the  General  Court,  63-5, 
136-8,  184,  194-6;  to  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  191-2. 

Memorial  Hall,  Bowdoin  College,  515, 
517,  518. 

Menhaden,  94. 

Merganser,  The,  92. 

Merriconeag,  5-6,  11,  13-14,  17,  19,  20, 
30-1,  44-8,  75,  77,  84,  107,  155-6, 
158,  160. 

Merrill's,  6. 

Merrill's  Island,  78. 

Merry  meeting  Bay,  5-6, 10, 13, 14, 18-20, 
28-9,  42-3,  54,  58,  60,  63,  69,  75-8, 
81,  92,  107,  119,  132,245. 

Meteorological,  etc.,  99-103. 

Methodist  Church,  Society,  etc.,  in 
Brunswick,  398-401 ;  in  Harpswell, 
454-5 ;  in  Topsham,  435. 

Mica,  95,  97. 

Mice,  90. 

Middle  Bav,  18,  37,  66,  83,  85, 87,  88,  98, 
155. 

Middle  Rock,  80,  211-12. 

Middle  Stroot,  541. 

Mild  Winter,  A,  102. 

Military  History  of  the  three  Towns, 
676-705. 

Military  Resolutions,  j679. 


Military  Stores  carried  up  the  Eennebee 
in  Gondolas,  683. 

Militia.     See  Soldiers. 

Militia  Companies,  689-96. 

Millinery  Stores,  588. 

Mill  Privilege,  32,  556, 559, 604-5. 

MillPond  Basin,  87. 

Mill  Street,  541. 

Mills,  35,  604-9,  618-9 ;  burnt  in  Bnin»> 
wick,  259-64,  266,  269-70. 

Mills,  Grist,  32,  555-7,  607-8 ;  at  New 
Meadows,  557  ;  Maciuoit,  557  ;  Mair 
Brook,  557 ;  in  Brunswick  Village, 
557 ;  Purinton's,  608 ;  Scribner's,558. 

Mills,  Saw,  558-62 ;  at  Bungaoock,  558- 
9 ;  at  Cathance,  604-5 ;  at  N.  Mead- 
ows, 559-60;  Bourne,  561;  early, 
558-60 ;  Embargo,  606  ;  Folly,  559- 
60  ;  Goat  Island,  321 ;  GraUny-Hole, 
605;  the  Great,  319,  321,  606; 
Hodge,  321, 605 ;  Hodge  (New),  606 ; 
Humphrey's  561 ;  Nye,  559,  562 ; 
Page's,  561;  Patten,  320-1,  605-6; 
Perkins,  322 ;  Perry,  562 ;  Pike  & 
Co.'s,  561;  Purinton,  321-2;  Rogers's, 
321,  606;  Shad  Island,  560;  Tide, 
619;  Wind,  619. 

Mill,  Paper.  322. 

Milton,  Town  of,  11. 

Minerals,  14,  46,  96-8. 

Mines,  14,  46. 

Minks,  90. 

Ministerial  and  Minister's  Lots,  27,  134, 
357,  360,  407,  414. 

Ministerial  Taxes,  364. 

Ministers,  109, 115,  116,  212, 454;  Settle- 
ment of,  109,  115-16;  Msiintenance 
of,  22-3,  27,  116. 

Minot,  26. 

Minute-Men,  678. 

Missionaries  to  Indians,  352-4. 

Mobbing  of  Mr.  Wilson,  680, 683-4. 

Moffitt's  Point,  82. 

Moles,  90, 

Mollusks,  93. 

Molybdenite,  98. 

Molybdite,  98. 

Monhegan,  7. 

Moore,  88, 

Mortality,  311. 

Mount  Ararat,  76. 

Muddjr  River.  6,  21,  43,  76, 81. 

Municipal  History  of  Brunswick,  104- 
54;  of  Harpswell,  155-79;  of  Topi»- 
ham,  180-201. 

Murders,  285,  287,  318. 

Muscongu^  Company,  7. 

MuHic.  fnstrumentaf,  214. 

Musical  Journal,  The,  309. 

Mu-<kn»t<»,  90. 

Mus8el  Beds,  96. 

Mustard-Mill,  571. 

Mustard's  Island,  81 ;  Taveni,  102. 


OSKEBAL  INDKX. 


949 


556,  558-9 ;  Votes  of  Proprietors  in 
Rewd  to  Mills,  556,  558-9 ;  Votes 
of  Proprietors  in  Regard  to  Preach- 
ing, 357-9;  Purchase,  The,  7-26, 
75,  83;  Records,  8,  31,  33;  River, 
5,  9-11,  13-14,  20,  25;  Settlement, 
49;  Tract,  3,  13,18-19,22^,  26,  51, 
75. 

Pennacooks,  The,  2. 

Pemaqnid  Company,  The,  7,  47,  52. 

Pennellnl2e,83. 

Penobscot  Indians,  2,  52,  64 ;  Rirer,  1-7. 

Perambulation  of  Town  Lines,  147,  154. 

Perch,  94. 

Perkins  Hall,  301. 

Petitions,  105-6,109-11,  113-14,  117-19, 
121,  130,  132,  135,  143-4,  151,  156, 
158,  160,  183-8,  201,352,461-2,  465, 
466-7,  629-^2. 

Petition  against  dismantling  Fort 
Creorge,  629-^32 ;  for  Annexation  of 
Harpswell  to  Brnnswick,  156-7, 
159-60 ;  for  Incorporation  of  Towns, 
105,  106,  180-1 ;  for  Incorporation 
of  School  Districts  in  Brunswick 
Village,  465;  of  Warambo  Manu- 
facturing Company,  466-7. 

Phippsburg,  76,  144. 

Phlozopite,  97. 

Photographers,  581. 

Physicians  in  Brunswick,  311-13;  in 
Harpswell,  314 ;  in  Topsham,  313-14. 

Picaroon,  Attack  upon  a,  685. 

Picaroon  at  Harpswell,  Capture  of  a, 
687-9. 

Pickerel,  94. 

Picnics,  232,  245. 

Pigeons,  WUd,  91. 

Pine,  99. 

Pine-Grore  Cemetery,  341-2. 

Pinnacle,  The,  82. 

Pirates,  34. 

Piscataqua,  51. 

Pitchfork  Manufactory,  610. 

Plague,  The,  2. 

Pbite  of  Chas.  N.  Leavitt,  A  White 
Earthen,  674. 

Pleasant  Point,  10,36,  54,  68,  81. 

Pleasant  Street,  32,  154,  541,  545. 

Pleasure  Boat,  337. 

Plough  Manufactory,  573. 

Plovers,  91. 

Plymouth  Claim,  Bounds  of  the,  34. 

Plymouth  Company,  7,  17,  25,  33,  35-6, 
39,  49. 

Pneumonia,  314. 

Pocket  Compass  of  Andrew  Dunning, 
673. 

Poems,  226,  230-1,  245. 

Point  Agreeable,  3. 

Poland,  26. 

Pole  Island,  86. 

Pollock,  94. 


Pond  Island,  86 ;  Town,  36. 

Ponds,  76. 

Poorhonses,  134, 143-^,  149,  151,  176-8 
203-4,648. 

Poplar.  99. 

Population,  43,  48,  116,  118,  599,617, 
623-4. 

Porgy,  94. 

Porpoises,  93. 

Portland,  52,  68,  75,  77,  102,  127,  132, 
189,  199;  Road,  83. 

Portrait  of  Rev.  James  Woodside,  670. 

Portsmouth,  52. 

Postage,  305-6. 

Post-Offices,  303-6;  in  Brnnswick,  803 
(burnt,  259) ;  in  Harpswell,  305 ;  in 
Topsham,  304. 

Postmasters  in  Brunswick,  803-4;  in 
Harpswell,  305 ;  in  Topsham^  804-5 ; 
Income  of,  304. 

Potatoes,  220-1. 

Potter  Street,  541. 

Potters,  583,  610. 

PotU's  Point,  19,  29,  85-7. 

Pound,  164,  171. 

Powder  House,  635-6 ;  Hill,  77,  95. 

Pownal,  144. 

Pownalboro',  184. 

Praying-House,  Petition  for  a,  352. 

Preachers  in  Brunswick,  355-8,  362-5, 
371,  377-8, 380-4, 387-404 ;  in  Harps- 
well, 436,  446-50,  454-5 ;  in  Tops- 
ham, 406-9,  412-3,  419-20,  426^2, 
435. 

Presbytery,  359. 

Presentation  of  Flag  to  Volunteers,  236. 

President's  Reply  to  Memorial,  The,  192. 

Press,  Printing,  306 ;  of  Maine,  306,  810; 
Works  from  the,  306-10. 

Prices,  589-99,  616,  622-3. 

Price  Current,  127,  128,  591-2,  595-6. 

Price  of  Lumber,  591 ;  paid  for  Harps- 
well Neck,  11  ;  paid  for  Sebascodi- 
gan,  16 ;  of  Liquor  sold  in  Bruns- 
wick, 597-8. 

Prices  regulated,  185,  188. 

Priests,  Catholic,  415. 

Prince's  Point,  84. 

Prisoners,  British,  127,  686,  689. 

Prizes,  231,  276. 

Privateers,  686. 

Processions,  Public,  228-31. 

Prong^s,  The,  86. 

Proprietors'  Stock  at  Brunswick,  589-90. 

Protector  Engine  Company,  273  ;  Fire- 
Engine  No.  4, 272-4. 

Protest  against  Call  to  Mr.  Urquhart, 
409 ;  against  Election8,190-1;  against 
Vote  of  Town,  202. 

Public  Dinners,  229-30. 

Public  Meetings,  17,  30,  232-8;  Anti- 
slavery,  233-5;  Anti-War,  237; 
Temperance,  251-4;   War,  236-7; 


{ 


950 


GESESAL  \IXDEX. 


tor  Aid  tO' Fi««din»D.  137 :  for  Aid  | 
to  SoCelvn  fniin  Ponland  i'ire.  138 : 
for  Citv  Cbait^r.  336  ;  Localtos  of 
AgncullDral  CoIIp^.  S37 :  oma-  . 
BK-Diing  ViUntn'  *ith  Trevi.  S35 : 
Relief  vf  ibF  Giveki.  !3.-t:  id  Refisrd 
to  Bn<>kf'(  Attack  on  SnmDPr.SSS; 
of  St'ldien  of  thp  KtTolntiOD.  S33  ; 
to  «xinid  an  Imiiaiion  to  Prcai- 
dMit  JirkMiD.  233. 

pDUii<bin»Dt  Box.  417. 

Poblk  Laods.  531-e. 

PncfrTmngpT  Hirer.  The,  39. 

Pnlp  Compaui-,  j74,  573;  IfaoDfactoiT, 
573. 

Pulpit  Island.  31. 

Punch.  S21. 

ParcbaK's  Hobm,  6. 

PoTsoodoc,  60. 

Fvibouian  Libnrr,  SM  ;  Socictr,  it*. 


Q- 
Qnalaniok.  5. 
QnailB.  91. 
QnahBDfn',  93. 

Qnahant;  Bav.  S6-7.  93,  155. 
Quaten.  42.164,  3&8,  436  ;  fiaed,  164. 
QoarriM.  14.  571. 
Qnani.  95.  97. 
Qnebw,  67. 

Qneen  AnneV  War,  58-3. 
Quick  Canj-ing-Flace,  5. 


Rabbin 


?.  90. 


Ra^EL'dl  Ii'land.  F«. 

Kaiil  ou  ihf  Indi.-ins.  I4.V«. 

Katlmails.  245.  325-30 :  Credit  to.  3M. 

Railruail  Cv>mpanv.  Th*  AniiKwroppi"- 
329:  Attaiiliir  and  Si.  T-awrciicp, 
32T-6  :  Brnnsiick,  S->h:  Keniitt.w 
and  Puitland;  326:  Lswirfon  and 
Topfliam.  329  :  Maine  Ccutral,329; 
Ponlaiid  aud  Keniiei*c.  329. 

Railroad.  Conslrni-iinn  of.  326:  Depots, 
32^  ;  Fare?  ou  the.  327  :  first  Trip  on, 
326  ;  Hoadiiaartpr^  of  the,  327-S  ; 
Travel  on  the,  32y-3a 

Bain,  lOCv-l. 

Raw  Island.  S6. 

Reafh.  The.  69. 

Re)>e11ion  acaiuft  the  Proprietor*,  35. 

ReLellion,  War  of  the,  696-705. 

Kecopniiee  A.  12.'i. 

ReconlF  of  tbi-  BnpiiM  Chnrch,  etc.,  iu 
HarppweU.  447-'.>. 

Beeorda  of  llie  L'iii>vn<ilift  Potielv  in 
Hari»KeIl.  451. 

Records  of  the  Topsham  Artillery-,  691. 

Beferences  to  Map,  41,  73-4. 


Be^ttaa,S94. 

Regimental  Offieen.  69S. 

B^nJatoc,  Tbe,  309. 

Relics,  Interertinc.  670-5 :  of  Mia.  Ban- 

dall.  672  :  of  Skipper  Malrolm.  671. 
Beligiooi   ReTival*,   3S7.    401-2,   423-1, 

4S5;  SenicH.  108;     Societies,  134. 

See  alM  I>eDuininatioii3l  Kanws. 
Belinqniebment  of  Aceontits  br  Samael 

Eaton,  442 ;  of  Cinl  ConUct.  441. 
BemonnraDce  apainst  Bepeal  of  the  Ad 

creating    Village    School    DiKrict, 

465  ;  in  R^ard  to  Annexation,  Ml ; 

in  Regard  to  Iilleclion.lSO;  in  Regard 

to  the  Connie  Jail  Yard,  174. 
Report  of  Committee  to  ComDiDnicMiiMl 

from  BoHon,  165-7;  of  Rer.  SuB- 

nel  Eaton,  443-4. 
Beprewntatire,    The    first.     III,    164; 

others,  115,  131,   174,  176,  188-90, 

Resignation  of  Rer.  Sr.  Adanu,  373; 
of  Samnel  Eaton,  442;  of  Mr. 
GoM,  4i;  ;  of  I>r.  Whe«ler,  396. 

Remlntions,  123-4.  lSf>,  130,  132,  135-6, 
13$-41,  144,  147, 178-9.  191^,  196- 
9.  332,  134-6.  251,  254,  186,  439, 
485,  679,  685.  697-8. 

Bewlntion  to  sopport  Congrew.  685;  in 
Begard  to  a  Statement   of   V.   S. 
Lindsev,  M.  P.,  697-8. 
vision  of*  ConMitDtion,  133. 

BevululionaiT  War,  676-89. 

Bbenmatism.  Acnte,  314. 
'   Riding  to  Chnrch,  313. 

Biiiginir  the  Town  Bell,  146,  ISl. 

River  Road,  82. 

Boads,  32.  117,  119,  138,  164,  305,  518- 
38,  542-6. 

Boads  in  Bninsnick,  S2S^-38 ;  Twelve- 
Hod.  528,  534-18;  )onr-Rod,  5*8: 
from  Fort  to  Town  Landing.  528 : 
fr..in  X.  Meadows  to  Twelve-Hod 
R<uid.  529;  from  Stepbenf's  Carrv- 
inc.Piace  to  Cooml»s  Point,  530: 
fri'in  Gomet  uorlhrrlr,  530;  from 
Old  .Meeiing-Hoose  to'  Middle  Bav. 
-ViO;  from  BmuBwick  to  George- 
lown,  5.'i0 :  from  N.  Meadows  to  the 
Androscoggin,  530;  from  Xathao 
Woodward^*  to  S.  Meadows.  Mi; 
from  >la>)ODit  lo  Bnnpanock.  533:  on 
Mair  Point,  532;  from  Alexander's 
to  Bavmond'e,  533 :  from  Bath  to 
Krcepon.  534  ;  from  Cook's  Comer 
to  Balb,  532-3 :  from  Oak  Hill  to 
Bangntinrk.  533  ;  Ibe  Peniiell.  533; 
llic  Durham,  532;  the  Freeport. 
5.12 :  Friends,  533 ;  Xe*  Wharf,  533 ; 
Olis,  5.13 ;  Shnnpike,  533 ;  Tnmpike, 
5.33. 


GENERAL  ZNDBX. 


951 


on  Orr's  Island,  546;  on  the  Island, 
the  Main,  545;  on  the  Neck,  545; 
surveyed,  545-6. 

Iloads  in  Topsham,  542-5  ;  County,  544 ; 
Foresidc,  543 ;  from  Bowdoin  to 
Bowdoiiiham,  544  ;  from  Elm  Street 
to  River,  544 ;  from  Isabella's  Barn, 
542 ;  from  Little  River  to  Bowdoin 
Road,  544 ;  from  Main  Street  to  the 
Landing,  544 ;  from  Narrows  to 
Cathance,  542-3 ;  from  RnfuA 
Rogers  to  Andros  R.  R.  Bridge,  545; 
Lower  to  Bowdoinham,  543-4  ;  Main 
Street,  544  ;  Meadow,  544-5  ;  over 
Goose  Rock,  opposed,  545  ;  to  Bow- 
doin, 544  ;  to  Bowdoinham,  543. 

Robertson's  Hall,  297. 

Robin,  The,  91. 

Rocanioco,  53. 

Rock  Cod,  94. 

Rocky  Hill,  77,  82,  97. 

Rogue's  Island,  86. 

Roxbnry,  20,  44. 

S. 
Sabattis's  Visit  to  Brunswick,  68. 
Sabbath-Breakers,  213. 
Sabbath   School,   History   of    the  first, 

374-5. 
Sabbath  School  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist 

Society,  in  Brunswick,  390-1. 
Sachems,  2*^  10. 
Saco  Independent,  The,  307 ;  Indians, 

52 ;  River.  1. 
Sacrament,  Administration  of.  the,  370- 

1,  410,  417. 
Sacramental  Plate  of  First  Farish,Bruns- 

wick,  671. 
Saddle-Bags,  215.  , 
Saddlers  aiid  Harness-Makers,  583,  612, 

620. 
Sagadahoc  Agricultural    Society,  204; 

Hall,  204,  301. 
Sagadahoc  River,  1,  7,  10,  13,  18,  51. 
Sagamores,  2,  3,  10-12,  15,  52. 
St.  *Yancis  Indians,  The,  6. 
St  George,  The  River,  1,  7,  57-8. 
St.  Paul  s  Parish,  402-5 ;    a   Mission, 
.  403;  Baptisms  in,405;  Burials  in,405; 

Confirmations  in,  405  ;  Communion 

Set,  404  ;  Ladies'    Society  of,   404 ; 

Marriages  in,  405 ;  Or^n  of,  404 ; 

Rectors  of  ,403-4 ;  Wardens  of,403-4. 
Salamanders,  93. 

Salaries  relinquished  in  Revolution,  683. 
Sale  of  Liquor  prohibited,  203. 
Salem,  123. 

Salisbury,  16,  21,  55,68. 
Salmon,  94,  552 ;  and  Sturgeon  Fisliing, 

8,  13-14,  38,  82,  211,  552 ;  Island,  79. 
Salt  Works,  573,  619. 
Sandpipers,  91. 
Sand  Plains,  96. 


Sandy  Gully,  82. 

Sanitary  Condition,  311,  314. 

Sapsucker,  The,  91. 

Sash  and  Blind  Factory,  607. 

Satire  upon  General  Thompson,  681. 

Sawacook,  5. 

Scales  and  Weights,  164. 

Scarborough,  2,  18. 

Scenerv,  76-8,  82,  86. 

Schools,  116,  134,  145,  204;  Provision 
for  early,  457. 

Schools  in  Brunswick,  Public,  457-60, 
461  ;  first  Teacher  in,  457. 

Schools  in  Brunswick,  Private,  477-81  ; 
MiHS  Buss's,  477-8  ;  Mrs.  Putnam's, 
478;  O'Brien's,  478;  Miss  Chap- 
man's, 478 ;  Smith's,  478 ;  Preble's, 
•  478  ;  Jones's,  478-9  ;  Dodge's,  479 ; 
Adams's,  479 ;  Miss  Lee's,  479 ; 
Misses  Owen's,  479;  Woodhull's, 
479;  Baker's,  479;  Miss  Folsom's, 
479 ;  Miss  Dunning's,  479  ;  Miss 
Hinckley's,  479-80;  Fike's,  480; 
Kendrick's,  480. 

Schools  in  Harpswell,  493-7 ;  Private, 
497. 

Schools  in  Topeham,  482-92;  Private, 
487-92  ;  lliompson's,  487  ;  March's, 
488 ;  Miss  Eastman's,  488 ;  Mrs. 
Fields's,  488-91  ;  Miss  Wheeler's, 
491-2;  Miss  Wilson's.  492;  Nut- 
ting's, 492  ;  Woodside's,492  ;  Frank- 
lin Family,  487  ;  Topsham  Female, 
488. 

School  Districts  in  Brunswick,  458-9 ; 
Votes  of,  460-2. 

School  Districts  in  Harpswell,  494-5 ;  in 
Topsliam,  483,  484. 

School  District  in  Brunswick,  The  Vil- 
lage, 460-75  ;  Act  of  Legislature  in 
Regard  to,  462, 467 ;  Board  of  Agents 
of,  463-4, 467  ;  Depositions  concern- 
ing, 466  ;  Doings  of,  463,  467-75  ; 
first  Meeting  of,  463  ;  Formation  of, 
460-7  ;  Petition  for,  461-2,  465 
Schools  in,  463-4,  473-5. 

School  Books  adopted  in  Topsham,  485. 

School  for  Indians,  457 ;  High,  Topsham, 
484. 

School  Fund  of  Topsham,  483-5. 

School-Houses,  165,  486;  in  Brunswick, 
459-60;  burnt,  261,  266,  269,  271; 
in  Harpswell,  493,  495-6 ;  in  Tops- 
ham, 486. 

School  Lots,  27,  189,  457,  459,  482,  483; 
Sale  of,  in  Topsham,  483. 

School-Masters,  112,  115,  119,  125,  458, 
460,  477-81.  482,  486,  495,  497. 

School,  Negroes  in,  459. 

Schools,  Special,  in  Brunswick,  480-1 ; 
in  Topsham,  492. 

School,  Special,  for  Dancing,  481 ;  Em- 
broidery, 481 ;  Instruction  in  Fancy 


952 


GENERAL  INDEX, 


Painting,  481 ;  French,  481 ;  Mnaic, 
481 ;  Navigation,  481 ;  Singing,  481, 
492  ;  Writing,  481,  492. 
School,  Snpervison  or  Committee  of,  in 
Topsham,  484 ;  in  HarpsweU,  494-5. 
Schools,  Votes  of  Brunswick  in  Regard 
to,  457-9,  461 ;  Votes  of  Proprietors 
in  Regard  to,  457. 
School  Street,  541-2. 
Scrag|^  Island,  87. 
Scnlpm,  94. 
Seals,  93. 
Sea  Point,  83. 
Seat  of  Government,  144. 
Sehascodigan,  5,  6,  11-4,  17-9,  30-1,  46, 

48,75,84-5,  155,160,  164. 
Second  Adventist,  The,  310. 
Second    Adventist    Church,  etc,  Tops- 
ham,  435. 
Second  hidian  War,  51-2. 
Second  Union  Bank^  The,  575. 
Selectmen,  Brunswick,  104-5, 108-11, 118, 
160;  Harpswell,  162;  Topsham,  183. 
Seminary,  The  Brunswick,  476-7;  The 

Pleasant  Street,  476. 
Separation  from  the  Town,  119,  143;  of 
Maine   from   Massachusetts,  132-3, 
142-<J,  171-3,  186-9,  191,  199. 
Sermons,  212. 
Settlements,  Abandoned,  37,  52;  under 

the  Proprietors,  37-48. 

Settlement  of  Rev.  Mr.  Clement,  431 ; 

Coffin,  365,  370;  Klisha  Eaton,  436; 

Samuel  Eaton,  437 ;  Ellis,  409 ;  Goss, 

416;    Harlow,  445;    Kellogg,   453; 

Kendall,   422;    Lamb,   449;    Lord, 

429;    Mead,     372;    Miller,    ,362-3; 

Moore,  364 ;  Pinkham,  448 ;  Potter, 

446 ;  Rice,  433 ;  Rutherford.  355 ;  A. 

D,  Wheeler,  433 ;  Samuel  Wheeler, 

408;  Wilde,  431;  Woodside,  354. 

Settlers,  Attaclw  upon  the,  49-56  58,  60- 

3,  66-8. 
Settlers,  Earlv,  3,  7-26,  27,  37-9,  41,  43, 

47-8,  69,  205,  865. 
Sextons,  121. 

Shad  Island,  78-9;  Mill,  79. 
Shapleigh's  Island,  20. 
Sheep  stealing,  283. 
Sheldrake,  The,  92;  Point,  21. 
Shells,  96. 
Shelter  Island,  84. 
Shingle  Manufactory,  610. 
Ship  burnt,  268. 
Shipwrecks,  332-4. 
Sidewalks  authorized,  152. 
Singinc  in  Church,  363,  370. 
Sixth  Indian  War,  65-70. 
Skeletons,  C74. 
Skunks,  90. 

Slaves  and  Slavery,  205-6. 
Sleeping  in  Meeting,  212-xJ. 
Sleeve-Buttons  of    Capt.   John    Rogers, 
673. 


Sluiceway,  The  Topsham,  603« 

Small  Isiaiid,  86. 

Small  Point,   13,  14, 19,  20,  22,  28. 

Small-Pox,  314-16. 

Smelts,  94. 

Smith's  Journal,  Extracts  from«  60. 

Smithsonian  Institution,  Report  of,  99- 
101. 

Smoking  Pish  Point,  18. 

Snakes,  92. 

Snipes,  91. 

Snow,  100,  102 ;  Island,  8. 

Snow's  Pond,  59. 

Soap  Factory,  573. 

Societies,  Bowdoin  Temple  of  Honor  and 
Temperance,  256;  Brunswick  and 
Topsham  Athenseum,  242,  245; 
Brunswick  Brass  Band,  246 ;  Bmnt- 
wick  Division  Sons  of  Tempeiance, 
255 ;  Brunswick  Humane  Society, 
241  ;  Brunswick  Linns^n,  245-6 ; 
Brunswick  Lyceum,  244-5;  Bruns- 
wick, Topsham,  and  Harpswell,  for 
the  Suppression  of  Intemperance, 
250-1 ;  Brunswick  Total  Abstinence 
and  Charitable,  252;  Brunswick 
Watch  Association,  247-9;  Cadets 
of  Temperance,  255-6;  Castalian, 
of  Brunswick,  245;  Hayden,  246; 
Joshua  Nye  Lodge,  Good  Templars, 
256 ;  Ladies'  Soldiers'  Aid,  242 ;  lib- 
erty Association  of  Brunswick,  247  ; 
Martha  Washington,  254;  Moxart, 
246  ;  Nucleus  Club,  242-5 ;  Patrons 
of  Husbandry,  239;  Peace,  246; 
Pejepscot    Division  Juvenile  Tem- 

E trance  Watchmen,  255 ;  Pejepscot 
odge,  Odd  Fellows,  242;  Pytho- 
niau,  244  ;  Reform  Club,  256 ;  Saga- 
dahock  Agricultural  and  Horticul- 
tural, 238-9;  Sawacook  Division 
Sons  of  Temperance,  Topsham,  255 ; 
The  Tenaperance,  255;  Temper- 
ance, of  Brunswick,  251-2;  Tem- 
perance, of  Bowdoin  College,  252; 
Temperance,  of  HarpeweU,  256; 
Temperance  Watchmen,  255 ;  Tops- 
ham Antislavery,  246-7;  Topsham 
Temperance,  252 ;  Town  History 
and  Natural  History,  246;  True 
Washingt  onian  Temperance,  of 
Topsham,254-5 ;  United  Lodge  Free 
Masons,  239,  241 ;  Washington  Fire 
Club,  244-5 ;  Washington  Temper- 
ance, 252 ;  Washington  Total  AMti- 
nence,  Brunswick,  also  of  Topsham, 
252-3;  Young  Men's  Temperance, 
252  ;  Young  Men's  Washingtonian, 
254. 

Soil,  98-9. 

Sokokis,  The,  1. 

Soldiers,  30-50,  51-2,  54,  57,  60,  62.  66, 
114,  117,  124-7,  130,  144,  167-70, 
172,  174,  186,  200,  677-8, 682-^,  685. 


OXNIRAL  INDXX. 


958 


Soldiers'  Momunent,  154. 

Somerset  Point,  36,  82. 

Spalenite,  980. 

Spaoish  War,  57-65. 

Sparrows,  92t 

Spawell,  62. 

Speeches,  232-7,250,  679-80. 

Sprague's  Qnarry,  97-8. 

Spring  Street,  542. 

Spmce,  99. 

Spmce  Company,  The,  682. 

Squirrels,  90. 

Stable  Keepers,  583. 

Stage  Companies,  323-5. 

Stage  Drivers,  323-5. 

Stage  House,  292-3. 

Stage  Routes,  302-3,  823-5. 

Stages,  323-5 ;  Fares  on,  324. 

Statement  of  Pejepscot  Title,  23-6. 

Statistics  of  Chnrcn-Goers  in  Brunswick, 

405. 
Stave  Island,  11,  81. 
Steamboat  Navigation  of  the  Kennebec, 

143. 
Steamboat,  The  first,  335-6;  Flushing, 

336 ;  Kennebec,  336 ;  Patent,  336  ; 

Rough  and  Ready,  245,  336;  Tom 

Thumb,  336;  Victor,  336-7. 
Steamboats,  245,  335-7. 
Stetson  Street,  542. 
Stevens's  Carrying-Place,  6,  8,  19,  39, 

107,119. 
Stevens's  River,  39,  76. 
Stocks,  The,  111,  115,  120,  280-2. 
Stoddard's  Hall,  297. 
Stone's  Hall,  297. 
Stores  and  Shops,  584-9 ;  burnt,  258-65, 

268-70. 
Store-Keepers,  584-9. 
Storms,  101-^. 
Stove  Manufactories,  613. 
Stow,  122. 
StreeU     named,     539-42,     545;    Signs 

erected,  545. 
Students'  Pranks,  223. 
Sturgeon,  94,  552. 
Sucker,  94. 

Suicides,  318;  Punishment  of,  282. 
Summer  Street,  80,  545. 
Sunfish,  94. 
Sunset  Hill,  77. 
Superstitions,  220. 
Surplus    Revenue    Money,   150-1,  175, 

201-2. 
Surveyors,  620. 
Surveys  of  Land,  29-30,  35-6,  75,  126, 

148.  172,  189,  525. 
Suspender  Factory,  574. 
Swallows,  91. 
Swamp,  Depot,  32. 
Swan  Island,  20-1,  27-8 ;  Pond,  76. 
Swivels      captured      from      Picaroon, 

689. 


Sword,  John  Harmon's,  673;  Kathaniel 

Pnrinton's,  673. 
Sword-Fish,  94. 

T. 

Tailors,  583,  612-13,  620. 

Tanager,  The  Scarlet,  91. 

Tanners,  583-4,  610-11,  620. 

Tarbox  Quarry,  97-8. 

Tariff,  147. 

Tavern,  Encouragement  to  keep  a,  290. 

Taverns  and  Public  Halls,  34,  290-302. 

Taverns  burnt,  260,  268,  271. 

Taverns  in  Brunswick,  290-7 ;  in  Harps- 
well,  301-2;  in  TOpsham,  298-301. 

Taverns,  American  House,  294 ;  Bailey's, 
301 ;  Baker's,  800 ;  Blanchard's,  299 ; 
Bowdoin  Hotel,  296;  Brunswick 
House,294-7;  Chase's,  292 ;  Cleaves's, 
296  ;  Coombs's,  290 ;  Curtis's,  291 ; 
Dennetts',  300;  Dinsmore's,  300; 
Dunlap's.  291 ;  Elm  House,  301 ; 
Eastman^  301;  Gatchell's,  296; 
Green's,  300 ;  HiJf-Way  House,  296 ; 
Haynes's,  300;  Hebberd's,  300; 
Ho>  gkins's,  294, 323 ;  Hunter's,  298- 
9;  Hunter's  (Widow),  299  ;  in  Fort, 
291 ;  Jack's,  300 ;  Jewell's,  302 ;  Lin- 
coln House,  294,  300 ;  Maine  Hotel, 
294 ;  Mansion  House,  302 ;  Merrill's, 
299  ;  Moorhead's,  292-3 ;  Mustard's, 
300 ;  Nichols's,  292-3 ;  Mrs.  Nichols's, 
292  ;  Old  Wheeler's,  296;  Pejepscot 
House,  294  ;  Pumpkin,  293 ;  Puring- 
ton's,  299 ;  Reed's,  298 ;  Richardson's, 
300;  Rogers's,  299;  Ross's,  291 
Sager's,  300;  Sandford's,  300 
Spear's,  290;  Starbird's,  301 ;  Stinch- 
field's,  294, 296, 323  ;  Stoddard's,  293 
Stone's,  291 ;  Storer's,  296 ;  Temper 
ance  House,  300 ;  Thompson's,  290  ; 
Thompson's  (BriKadier),  299;  Til 
ton's,  299;  Tontine  Hotel,  294-6 
Tucker's,  300 ;  Union  House,  301-2 
Veazie's,  300 ;  Walker's,  300 ;  Walk 
er's  (Elijah),  302 ;  Washington  Hall 
292;  Washingtonian  House,  301 
Whitney's,  299;  Wilson's,  •  298 
Winchell's,298;  Wyman's,  299. 

Taxation,  36,  115-17, 121,  129, 132, 184- 
8,  190,  203. 

Teal,  The,  92. 

Telegraph  Companies,  337-8. 

Telegraph  Company,  American,  337 ; 
Atlantic  and  Pacific,  338 ;  Interna- 
tional, 337 ;  Maine,  337 ;  Western 
Union,  337, 

Telegraph  Line,  329,  337-8. 

Telegraph  Offices,  329,  337-8. 

Telegraph  Operator,  The  first,  337. 

Temperance,  Addresses,  250,  253 ;  Ban- 
ner, 253  ;  Pledge,  251,  253 ;  Reform, 
249-56. 


954 


GENERAL  IITDEX. 


t 


Temperatiipe,  100-1. 

Ten-MOe  Falls,  8,  56,  65. 

Terraced  Land,  96. 

Teirainu^us  Cove,  10,  80. 

Territoriiil  Limits,  26. 

Theatre,  224. 

Third  Indian  War,  52-3. 

Thompson's    Brook,    84;    Island,    80; 

Street,  542. 
Three  Years'  War,  53-6. 
Thrushes,  91-2. 
Thunder-storms,  102-3. 
Tin  Sliops,  588-9,  613. 
Titanite.  98. 

Title  of  Andrew  Lee's  Sermon,  410. 
Titmouse,  The  Black-Cap,  92. 
Toads,  93. 

ToImicco  Manufactorv,  584,  611. 
Toll-Bridge,  93. 
Tom-Cod,  94. 
Tontine  Hall,  297. 
Tontine  Hotel  Company,  294-5. 
Tool  Manufactory,  574. 
Topsham  Academy,  486-7,  657  ;  burnt, 

269. 
Topsham  Artillery  Company,  690-2. 
Topsham,  First  Meeting  of'  Town,  183  ; 

^iTHt   Officers  of,  183  ;  in   AVar  of 

Rel)€llion,    700-2;   Inhabitants    of, 

33-6;    Militia   Companies,    690-2; 

named,  180;  Plan  of,  185;  settled, 

130;    under  Maine,  200-4;    under 

Massachusetts.  180-200. 
Topsham   and    Brunswick    Twenty-five 

Cents  Savings  Bank,  The,  576-7. 
Tories,  676,  <i89. 
Torture  of  Moses  Eaton,  55. 
Tourmaline,  97. 
Town  Clock  jjurchased,  151. 
Town  Fund,  114. 
Town    Houses,  150.   154,    177,  204,  636, 

657.  665:  burnt,  153,  263. 
Town  Line,  147. 
Town   Meetings  held   in   Taverns,  290, 

299;    Warrant   for,   in    1775,   677; 

illegal,  200. 
Town  Officers,  Election  of  the  first,  104. 
Townships  laid  out,  22,  27,  29, 34. 
Trades  and  Traders,  in  Brunswick,  577- 

89;  in  Harpswell,  619-21  ;  in  Tops- 
ham, 611-15. 
Traditions.   65,  69-70,  78-81,  84-5,  92, 

250,  683. 
TraiW,  Indian,  6. 
Train  Band  of  Topsham,  690. 
Transfer   of   Islands  to   Topsham,  145, 

183. 
Trial  for  Barn  hurninir,  284  :  Breach  of 

Promise,   285  ;    ^lurder,  etc.,,   283, 

285-7. 
Trial  of  —  Boone   v.  Woodside,    278-9  ; 

Capt.     William     Woodside,      278; 

Clark  V.  Dole,  283-4  ;  Jenny  Eaton 


V.  Rogers,  282 ;  First  Parish  Brnus- 
wick  r.  McKeen,  284  ;  Giles  r.  God- 
dard,  278 ;  McXesg  v.  Smith,  279 ; 
Orr  r.  Woodside,  280;  Smith  r. 
McNess,  279;  SmitH  r.  Vincent, 
279;  State  v.  Crips,  286;  State  r. 
Dudley,  286-7;  State  r.  Miller. 
287,  State  r.  Thorn  and  Wilson, 
285-6 ;  Veazie  r.  Jewell,  284-5  ; 
Village  School  District  r.  Titcomb, 
470-2  ;  Prea.  Allen  r.  State,  511-12. 

Triconnick,  56. 

Trouble  between  the  Proprietors  and 
Town,  113. 

Tungstite,  98. 

Turnip  Lsland,  86. 

Twelve-Rod  Road,  83. 

Twentv-Mile  Falls,  25. 

Twins,' The,  84. 

Tything-Men,  213-14. 

U. 

Uniforms  of  Topsham  Artillery,  691. 

Union  National  Bank,  The,  57*6. 

Union  of  Religious  Societies,  396-7. 

Union  Street,  32,  542,  545. 

Unitarian  —  Bible  Class,  394  ;  Choreh, 
Topsham,  433-4 ;  Preaching  in 
Brunswick,  394-5 ;  Preaching  in 
Topsham,  433 ;  Second  (Congrega- 
tional) Society  of  Bnmswick,  394-5 ; 
Society  of  brunswick,  397-8  :  So- 
cioty  of  Topsham,  432;  Fund  of 
Topsham,  434-5 ;  Society  removed 
to  Brunswick.  434. 

Universal  Christian  Society  in  Bmns- 
wick.  392-3. 

Univcrsalist  and  Unitarian  Societies, 
391-8. 

Univcrsalist  Preaching,  The  first  Efforts 
for,  391-2;  in  Harpswell,  early, 
450  ;  in  Topsham,  434. 

Universalist  Society  —  of  Brunswick  and 
Topsham,  393-4,  395-6;  in  Harps- 
well, 450-1  ;  Constitution  of,  450-1  ; 
reorganized,  451. 

Upper  Carrving-Place,  The,  6,  11. 

Uppermost  Vails,  The,  13. 

Urquhart  as  a  Preacher,  409. 

V. 

Vaccination,  175,  196,  200,  315-16. 

Validity-  of  Claims  to  Land,  23-4. 

Valuation  of  Real  Estate,  etc.,  599-602, 
616-17,  623. 

Ventriloipiism,  Exhibition  of,  224. 

Vessels,  104.  330-7;  seized  on  the  Ken- 
nebec. 684;  List  of,  330-7;  Accom- 
modation, 335  ;  Alice,  335 ;  Amln- 
tion,  333-4 ;  America.  333,688  :  Bos- 
ton, 335  ;  Caroline,  335 ;  Defiance 
331  ;  Elijah  Kellogg,  337 ;  Eliz- 
abeth,  333  ;  Eliza,  333 ;  Friendship 


OBNERAL  INDEX. 


955 


335;  a  Gnnboat,  333;  Hannibal, 
332;  Hope,  332,  335;  Industry, 
331 ;  Iris,  332 ;  John  Adams,  332 ; 
Maine,  333 ;  Maquoit,  330, 335 ;  Mer- 
ry meeting,  331;  Orlando,  335 ;  Pejcp- 
scot,  330 ;  Shaving  Mill,  688  ;  Speed- 
well, 331 ;  Statira,  333  ;  Susan,  333  ; 
Union,  335;  Unity,  331. 

Visit  from  Tallevrand,  291 

Visit  of  Soldiers  to  Mr.  Wilson,  683. 

Visit  of  Mob  to  Mr.  WiUjon,  683-4. 

Vocal  Music,  224. 

Vote  of  Towns  for  —  Aroostook  R.  R., 
1 54 ;  Postmaster,  204 ;  Shire  Town, 
2a3 ;  in  Regard  to  First  Parish  of 
Harpswell,  437;  Liquor  Law,  154; 
Settlement  of  Eaton's  Accounts, 
442 ;  to  support  the  Constitution, 
133. 

Votes,  Congressional,  133;  for  Presiden- 
tial Electors,  132,  188-9;  for  State 
Officers,  129,  143,  170,  174;  in  Re- 
gard to  Formation  of  Baptist  Soci- 
ety, 411;  in  Regard  to  settling  Mr. 
Ellis,  409-10;  on  Amendment  to 
Constitution,  151-2,  202-3. 

Votes  of  Brunswick  in  Regard  to  Return 
of  Conspirators,  etc.,  689. 

Votes  of  Harpswell,  163,  166-79;  of 
Topsham,  183-99,  202-4. 

Voting,  Disorderly,  190. 

Voyages  of  Discovery,  7. 

W. 

Wagons,  216. 

Waldo  Company,  The,  7, 

Wales,  144. 

Walrus  Tusk,  96. 

Wampum,  11. 

Warming-Pan,  John  Merrill's,  673. 

Warnings  from  Town,  120. 

War  — of  the  Rebellion,  696-705;  of 
1812,  and  Preparations  for,  196,  693- 
5;  of  Revolution,  676-89;  Thomp- 
son's, 681-3. 

Wars,  Indian,  49-70. 

Warn  mho  Manufacturing  Company,  566. 

Washington  Fire  Club,  271-2. 

Washington  Hall,  292-7. 

Washingtonian  House,  230. 

Watch,  The,  in  Brunswick,  247-9; 
Records  of,  249 ;  By-I^ws  of,  247-9  ; 
organized  in  Harpswell,  167. 

Watclies,  Invention  of  Machine-made, 
569-70. 

Water  Street.  542,  545. 

Water  Power,  Survey  of  the,  554. 

Wawenocks,  Tbe,  1. 


Weasles,  90. 

Weddings,  Accounts  of  Singular,  216-18. 
Weighers  of  Hay,  etc.,  584,  613. 
Weights  and  Measures,  The  first,  118. 
Wells,  The.  44. 
Wells,  Town  of ,  114. 
Wescustego,  155. 
West  Bath,  75-6,  204. 
Western  Bay,  11. 
Whales,  93. 

Whaleboat  Islands,  75,  65,  87. 
Wharton's  Deed,  12-16. 
Wharves,  334. 
Wheelwrights,  580. 
Whigby,  19. 

Whipping-Post,  115,  280-1. 
Whiskeag,  19. 
White  Bull  Island,  102. 
White  Mountains,  77. 
White's  Hall,  301. 
White's  Island,  18,  86-7. 
Widgeon  Cove,  11. 
Wigwam  Point,  6,  32. 
Wild-Cats.  88.  90. 
Wild  Fowl,  92. 
Will  Gut,  87. 
Willow,  99. 
Will's  Island,  84-5. 
Wind,  The,  100. 
Winnegance,  18,  20. 
Winuisimmet  Ferry,  21. 
Winter  Street,  551. 
Winter  Harbor,  52. 
Winthrop  Hall,  Bowdoin  College,  577. 
Winthrop  Ponds,  58-9. 
Witches,  220. 

Wolves,  85,  114-15,  130,  186,  220;  Anec- 
dotes about,  88-9. 
Woodchucks,  90. 
Woodcocks,  91. 

Wooden  Pegs  instead  of  Nails,  216. 
Woods  burned,  257-8,  261-3,  266-7,  269. 
Wood  Thrush,  91. 
Wood  Trade,  574. 
Wool  Braiding,  219. 
Work-House,  134,  171. 
Worumbo  Deed,  The,  12-16,  24-5. 
Wrentham,  184. 

Y. 

Yagerhamer,  The,  309. 
Yaggers  and  Rowdies,  222. 
Yagger  Club,  672. 
Yankee-Killer,  The,  50. 
Yarmouth,  19,  62. 
York,  45.  47. 

York  Countv  (or  Province)  Records,  16, 
21. 


INDEX   OF   NA.MES 


BIOGRAPHIES  AND  FAMILY  fflSTORIES 


Abbot,  Hon.  Jacob,  709-10. 
Abbott,  Rot.  John  S.  C,  710. 
Adams,  Rev.  George  E.,  710-lS. 
Alden,  Peter  O.,  712. 
Allen,  Rev.  William,  713-14. 
Anderson,  Jacob,  827-8. 
Appleton,  Rey.  Jesse,  D.  D.,  714-15. 

B. 

Babbidge  —  Betty,  Courtney,  James, 
Sarah,  Stephen,  Susannah,  and  Wil- 
liam, 828. 

Badger,  Capt.  Joseph,  715-16. 

Badger,  Capt.  Nathaniel,  715. 

Bailey  —  Delight,  Olive,  Sarah,  and 
Timothv,  828. 

Baker,  William.  716. 

Ballard,  Rev.  Edward,  716-17. 

Barron,  Hon.  John,  717-18. 

Barron,  William,  718. 

Barstow  —  Agnes,  Elizabeth,  George, 
James,  John,  Joshua,  Michael,  Rob- 
ert, and  William,  829. 

Berrv  —  Adam,  Hannah,  Harvey,  Jenny, 
^ohn,  Josiah,  Joseph,  Robert,  and 
Rufus,  829. 

Bisbee  —  Aaron,  Alice,  Elisha,  Hannah, 
Huldah,  Marv,  Oliver,  Rufus,  Sarah, 
Seth,  Studley,  Thomas,  and  Wil- 
liam, 829. 

Bisbee,  Charles,  829-30. 

Boardman,  Alexander  F.,  718. 

Booker  —  Daniel,  Ester,  Isaiah,  James, 
John,  Joseph,  Jotham,  Mercv,  Mir- 
iam, Ruth,  and  William,  8d0' 

C. 

Chase  —  Anne,  Anthony,  Isaac,  James, 
Jean,  Judah,  Margaret,  Mary,  Na- 
thaniel, and  William  Vincent,  830. 

Clark  —  David,  James,  John,  Margaret, 


Mary,  Nathan,  Robert,  and  Samuel, 

830. 
Cleaveland,  Prof.  Parker,  718-25. 
Cobum,  John,  725-7. 
Coombs  —  Caleb,    Greorge,    Peter,  and 

Samuel,  830. 
Coombs — Anthony  and  John,  831. 
Curtis,  Capt.  Nehemiah,  727. 
Curtis  — David,  Esekiel,  Bfichnel,  Fwal, 

Ruth,  and  William,  831. 
Gushing,  Caleb,  727-8,  831. 
Gushing  —  Daniel,    Deborah,     Frmncis 

Dunning, '  Jeremiah,    John,    John 

Schwartkin,  Louis    Tileston,   ICafc- 

thew,  and  Rufus  King,  831. 

D. 

Dennison,  CoL  Andrew,  728. 

Douglas,  John,  831-2. 

Douglass  —  Cornelius,  Daniel,  Elijah, 
George,  Israel,  Job,  John,  Joseph, 
Mary,  Patience,  Sarah,  832. 

Duncan,  Dr.  Samuel,  728-9. 

Dunlap,  David,  731. 

DnnUp,  Gen.  Richard  T.,  731-2. 

Dunlap — Jane,  John,  Margaret,  and 
Robert,  832. 

Dunlap  —  Elizabeth,  Hugh,  Jane,  John, 
Samuel,  and  Robert,  832. 

Dunlap,  Capt.  John,  730-1. 

Dunlap,  Hon.  Robert  P.,  733-3. 

Dunlap,  Rev.  Robert,  729-30,  832. 

Dunning,  Andrew,  733,  832-3. 

Dunning — Andrew,  David,  Jamen,  Rob- 
ert, and  William,  832. 

Dunning,  Deacon  Andrew,  733-4. 

Dunning,  Benjamin,  734,  833. 

Dunning,  David,  734. 

E. 

Eaton,  Rev.  Elisha,  734-5, 833. 
Eaton,  Rev.  Samuel,  735-8,  833. 


NAMK8  IN  BIOQBAPmES  AND  FAMILY  HISTORIES, 


957 


Ellis  — Caleb,  Elifha,  Elizabeth,  John, 
HaDnah,  Mary,  Samuel,  and  Thad- 
dens,  833. 

Ellis  —  Almira,  Asher,  Benjamin, 
Bethiah,  Daniel,  John,  Mary, 
Robert  Fulton,  Samuel  Deane,  and 
William,  833-4. 

EUis,  Rey.  Jonathan,  738-9,  833. 

Emerson,  Dr.  Ebenezer,  739. 

EsUbrook,  CoL  Thomas  S.,  740. 

Ererett,  Ebeneser,  740-1. 

F. 

Farr —  Elizabeth,  Heniy,  Isaac,  Jenny, 
John,  Loranejr,  Miury,  Michael, 
Noah,  Thomas,  and  Thomas,  Jr., 
834. 

Farrin  (or  FerrinJ  —  David,  Ebenezer, 
John,  Richard,  William,  and  Win- 
throp,  834. 

Fields,  Mrs.  Elizabeth,  741-2. 

Frost,  Major  William,  742. 

Fulton  —  Gowen,  James,  John,  and 
Robert,  834. 

Furbish,  Benjamin,  742-^. 

O. 

Gatchell  (or  Oetchell)  —Abigail,  Dorcas, 
Huffh,  John,  Jude,  Mary,  Moses, 
Nathaniel,  Robert,  Samnel,  Susan- 
nah, and  William,  836. 

Gatchell,  Capt.  John,  743,  835. 

Giddings,  Mrs.  Dorothy,  744-5. 

Giveen  (or  Given)  —  fhivid,  David,  Jr., 
Jane,  John,  Martha,  and  Robert, 
835. 

Goes,  Dr.  Ebenezer  H.,  745. 

Gower  —  Edward,  George,  James,  John, 
Robert,  Samnel,  and  William,  835. 

Gxaffam  —  John,  Joseph,  Mary,  and  Re- 
becca, 836. 

Graves  — John,  835-6. 

Graves  —  Crispus,  Daniel,  Elizabeth, 
John,  and  William,  836. 

Graves,  Johnson,  745,  836. 

Graves  —  Ann,  Daniel,  Ebenezer,  Eliza- 
beth, Esther,  Jabez,  Jacob,  John, 
Johnston,  Joseph,  Levi,  Molly,  Sa- 
rah, Susan,  and  Thomas,  836. 

Green,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  745-6. 

Greenleaf,  Richard,  746. 

Griffin,  Joseph,  746-7. 

Gyles,  James,  747-8. 

Gyles,  Capt.  John,  748-9. 

Gyles,  Thomas,  749-50. 

Gyles,  Thomas,  Jr.,  750. 

H. 

Haley,  Pelatiah,  750-1,  836. 

Haley  —Elizabeth,  John,  Mary,  Pelatiah, 

and  Susannah,  836. 
Haley  —  Abigail,  Abner,  Esther,  James, 


John,  Jesse,  Joseph,  Joshua,  Mary, 
Moses,  Rebecca,  Ruth,  Samuel,  Sa- 
rah, and  Susannah,  836-7. 

Hall,  HatevU  and  John,  837. 

Hall,  Paul,  751, 837. 

Ham  —  Benjamin,  John,  Joseph,  Judith, 
Nathaniel,  Reuben,  Thomas,  Tobias, 
and  Tobias,  Jr.,  837-8. 

Harmon  —  Hannah,  Johnson,  Johnson, 
Jr.,  Joseph,  Martha,  Mary,  Miriam, 
and  Zebnlon,  838. 

Hasey,  Benjamin,  751-3. 

Haskell,  D^ux>n  Joshua,  753-4. 

Henry  — Ann,  Betty,  James,  James,  Jr., 
tfennett,  Mary,  and  Sarah,  838. 

Hinkley,  Aaron,  754, 838-9. 

Hinkley,  Samuel,  754,  838-9. 

Hinkley —  Edmund,  Experience,  Marr, 
Mehitable,  Reliance,  Samuel,  Seth, 
and  Shubael,  838-9. 

Holbrook — Abiser,  Deborah,  Hannah, 
Israel,  Jonathan,  Jonathan,  Jr., 
Polly,  Priscilla,  and  Rebecca,  839. 

Humphreys — Daniel,  Eliza,  Lawrence, 
Margaret,  Mary,  Nancy,  Sally,  and 
Willumi,  839-40. 

Humphreys,  John  C,  754-4,  889-40. 

Hunt —  Charles,  Clarisse,  Dsniel,  David, 
Ebenezer,  Ephraim,  Hannah,  James, 
Jennet,  Jeremiah,  John,  I'jdia, 
Martha,  Mary,  Sarah,  and  William, 
840. 

Hunter,  Adam,  756-7,  840-1. 

Hunter,  James,  757,  840-1. 

Hunter— Arthur,  Elizabeth,  James,  Jane, 
John,  Margaret,  Mary,  Robert, 
Susannah,  and  William,  840-1. 

J. 

Jaqnes — Benjamin,  Miriam,   Richard, 

and  Susannah,  841. 
Jordan — Dominicus,  Jedediah,  Jeremiah, 

John,    Robert,     Robert,  Jr.,    and 

Samuelj  841. 
Jordan —  Fields,  John,  John,  Jr.,   and 

Peter,  841. 

K. 

Kendall,  Rev.  Henry,  757-8. 
King,  Hon.  William,  758-9. 

L. 

Larrabee,  Benjamin,  759, 841-2. 

Larrabee— Abigail,  Benjamin,  Elizabeth, 
Hannah,  Isabella,  James,  Mary, 
Nathaniel,  and  Stephen,  841-2. 

Larrabee,  Capt.  Nehemiah,  760. 

Lemont,  Adam,  760. 

Lincoln,  Dr.  Isaac,  760. 

Lincoln,  Dr.  John  D.,  761-2. 

Lunt,  Amos,  762,  842. 

Lnnt  —  Frederick,  Harry,  Henry,  and 
Joseph,  842. 


958 


NAMES  IN  BIOGRAPHIES  AND  FAMILY  mSTORIE& 


M. 

McKeen,  Dr.  James,  766-9. 

McKeen,  John,  765-6. 

McKeen,  Rev.  Joseph,  762-4. 

McKeen,  Joseph,  764-5. 

McManus  —  Daniel,  James,  James,  Jr., 
John,  Richard,  and  Robert,  842. 

McManus,  Richard,  769-70,  842. 

Mariner — John,  Samael,  and  Sarah, 
842. 

Martin,  Capt.  Clement,  770-1. 

Martin  —  Elizabeth,  Ephraim,  Jennet, 
John,  John,  Jr.,  Rebecca,  and  Sam- 
uel, 843. 

Melcher  —  Aaron,  Abner,  Elizabeth, 
John,  Josiah,  Joseph,  Lois,  Marj, 
Nathaniel,  Noah,  Rachel,  Rebecca, 
Reliance,  and  Samuel,  843. 

Merrill,  John,  771-2,  843. 

Merrill,  Col.  Al»el,  772,  843-4. 

Merrill,  Leonard  P.,  773. 

Merrill,  Capt.  Moses  Emerj,  773. 

Merrill  —  Abel,  Daniel.  Hannah,  Hum- 
phrey, John,  Josepli,  .JIary,  Obed, 
and  Susannah,  843-4. 

Merrvman  —  Hupfh,  James,  Michael, 
I'homas,  and  Walter,  844. 

Miller,  Rev.  John,  773-4. 

Minot,  Hon.  John,  774-5,  844. 

Minot  —  George,  Hannah,  John,  Mehit- 
able,  Mercy,  Stephen,  and  Thomas, 
844. 

Morse  —  Adam,  Anne,  Anthony,    Ben-   ' 
jamin,    Ephraim,   Hannah,    James, 
Joseph,    John,    Margaret,   Martha,   i 
Mary,  Sarah,  and  Susannah,  844-5. 

Mountford  —  Edumnd,  Ester,  Hiinnarh,  , 
Marfraret,  Mary,  William,  and  Vin-  | 
cent,  845.  i 

N. 
Newman,  Prof.  Samuel  P.,  775-6. 
Noye.x  —  CnttinfT,  Harriet,  James.  Jane,   ' 
Josepli.  Mary,  and  Nicholas,  845.         , 

O. 

O'Brien.  .John  M.,  776-7. 

Orr,  Benjamin,  777-9. 

Orr" — Clement.  John,  Josseph,  Lettice, 
Marv,  and  Richard,  845-6. 

Owen,  Philip,  779-80,  846. 

Owen  —  David,  Dorothy,  Gideon,  Han- 
nah, Uuph  White,  .Jane.  Janney,  Jo- 
anna, Jeremiah,  John,  Lucy,  *Mar- 
irarot,  Martha.  Philip.  'Rachel, 
Thomas,  and  William,  846. 

P. 
Packard.  Rrv.  Diaries.  7>i3-5. 
I'ajr*?,  Dr.  J«^natlian,  7S0-1. 
Patten.  John.  7SI-2,  846. 
Patten,  Capt.   Kobort.  782-'},  846. 
Patten  —  Abigail,  Actor,  David,  Dorcas, 


Elisabeth,  Hannah,  Hii||:h,  Jane. 
John,  Joseph,  Margaret,  Mary, 
Matthew,  Rachel,  Rotert,  Rebeccs^ 
Sarah,  Thomas,  and  WUliam,  846. 

Fennell — Jacob.  John,  Matthew,  Ste- 
phen, and  Thomas,  847. 

Perkins.  Major  Nahum,  785-6. 

Perry,  John,  786,  847. 

Perrv  —  Hannah  L.  W.,  Isabella  Hiiiit« 
Jesse  Appleton,  John  A.,  Martha  G., 
Octavia  Jane,  and  Nathaniel,  847. 

Perry,  William  S.,  786-7.  847. 

Peterson — Abigail,  Charles,  Daniel, 
Hewett,  James,  John,  Jonathan, 
Joseph,  Levi,  Lucy,  Nancj,  Sarah, 
and  William.  847-«. 

Porter,  Dr.  Benjamin  Jones,  787-S. 

Potter  —  Alexander.  Andrew,  Christian, 
David,  Elizabeth,  Hewer,  James, 
Jane,  John,  Joseph,  ]VIatthew,  Mary, 
Samuel,  and  William,  848. 

Purchase.  Thomas,  788-97. 

Purinton,  Humphrer,  797,  848. 

Purinton,  Francis  1^.,  797-8. 

Purinton,  Nathaniel,  798,  848. 

Purinton,  Stephen,  799.   . 

Purinton  —  Abial,  Hezekiah,  Humphrey, 
James,  Joshua,  and  Nathaniel,  8418. 

R. 

Randall  —  Benjamin,  Joseph,  and  Wil- 
liam, 848. 

Randall  —  Elizabeth,  Eacra,  Heatherbr, 
Isaac,  Isaiah,  John,  Joseph,  Mar- 
garet, and  Nabby,  848-9. 

Randall  —  Benjamin,  Daniel,  Jane,  Paul, 
and  William,  849. 

Raymond  —  Edward  and  Paul,  849. 

Reed  —  Anna,  Charity,  David,  Deina, 
Hannah,  Jane,  John,  Margaret, 
Martha,  Marv,  Susan,  and  William, 
849-50. 

Reed,  John,  799,  849. 

Rich  —  David,  Isaac,  Obadiah,  Richard, 
Reuben,  and  Zabeth,  850. 

Ridlev  —  Daniel,  James,  Mark,  and 
l^achel,  850. 

Robbins,  Augustus  C,  799-800. 

Rogers,  Hon.  George,  800,  850. 

Rogers,  George  A.,  800-1. 

Rogers  —  Alexander,  Ann,  Dinah, 
Hugh,  Jenney,  John.  Margaret,  Bob- 
ert,  Thomas,*  and  William,  850. 

Ross,  William,  801-2,  851. 

Ross  —  Anna,  Elizalwth,  James,  Jennett, 
Martha,  Robert,  Sarah,  and  Wil- 
liam. 851. 

Rutherford,  Rev.  Robert,  802. 


Simpson  —  Jane,  Josiah,  Lewis,  l^beri. 
and  William,  851. 


NAMES  IN  BIOGRAPHIES  AND  FAMILY  HISTORIES. 


959 


Sinnett — James,  Michael,  and  Stephen, 

851—2. 
Skolfield,  George,  803. 
Skolfield,  Thomas,  802-3,  852. 
Skolfield  — Anne,    Clement,    Elizabeth, 
George,    John,     Joseph,     Martha, 
Mary,    Rebecca,    Richard,     Susan, 
Thomas,  and  William,  852-3. 
Small  —  David,  Deborah,  Ephraim,  Jo- 
seph, Lydia,  Mark,  Samuel,  Taylor, 
Thankful,  and  Thomas,  853. 
Smith  — Joseph,    Molly,  Samuel,    and 

Thomas,  853. 
Smyth,  Prof.  William,  803-7. 
Snow  —  Ambrose,  Anthony,  Elisha,  Eliz- 
abeth, Hannah,  Isaac,  John,  Joseph, 
Mercy,  Nicholas,  Samuel,  and  Wil- 
liam, 853. 
Spear,  Robert  and  William,  853. 
Sprague  —  David,   Elizabeth,    Frances, 
James,     Joseph,     Marv,    Oakman, 
Robert,  Ruth,  Samuel,  \Villiam,  and 
Willis,  853-4. 
Stanwood,  David,  807-8. 
Stanwood,  William,  808. 
Stanwood  —  Charity,     David,     Dorcas, 
Ebenezer,  Eleanor,  Elizabeth,  Jere- 
miah, Lydia,  Lucy,  Marv,  Samuel, 
Sibbel, Stephen,  Susan,  William,  and 
Winslow,  854. 
Staples  —  iVnne,Daniel,^  Ephraim,  James 
John,  Joseph,  Josiah,  Jude,  Lucy, 
Marv,  Robert,  and  Stephen,  854. 
Stetson,  *Rev.  Seth,  808-9. 
Stone,  Alfred  J.,  809. 
Stone  —  Benjamin,     Daniel,     Gregory, 
Hannah,    James,     John,    Jotham, 
Lydia,   Matthias,  Rel)ecca,    Simon, 
Theodore,  and  William,  855. 
Stover  (or  Stafford)  — -Abigail,  Alcott, 
John,  Johnson,  Joseph,  Mary,  and 
Wanton,  855. 
Sw^tt  —  James,  John,  and  William,  855. 
Swift  —  Dean,  Jane,  John  Luf kin,  Lem- 
uel, Mary,  and  Susan  Dincen,  856. 
Sylvester,  Marlborough,  809-10. 
Sylvester  —  Barstow,  Charles,  Deborah, 
Elijah,   Gabriel,   Hannah,   Huldah, 
Isaac,   Marlborough,   Mercy,   Rich- 
ard, and  Stephen,  856. 

T. 

Tarr  —  Betsey,  Catherine,  Clark,  Mary, 
Richard,  and  William,  856-7. 

Thompson,  Abner  B.,  810. 

Thompson,  Charles,  810-11. 

Thompson,  Brig,  Samuel,  811-16,  857. 

Thompson  —  Aaron,  Adrian,  Alexander, 
Aiphcns,  Benjamin,  Dixey,  Eliza- 
beth, Eunice,  Ezekiel,  Francis  A., 
Hannah,  Lsaiali,  James,  Jane,  Jemi- 
ma, John,  Lydia,  Mary,  Rachel,  Re- 


liance, Ruth,  Sarah,  and  Wildes  T., 
857. 

Titcomb,  Rev.  Benjamin,  816. 

Toothaker — Abigail,  Abram,  Andrew, 
Alexander,  Elizabeth,  Ebenezer, 
Gideon,  Isaac,  Jenney,  Rebecca, 
Seth,  and  WUliam  Rodick,  858. 

U. 
Upham,  Prof.  Thomas  C,  816-18. 

V. 

Veazie — Deborah,  George,  John,    Re- 
becca, Samuel,  and  William,  858. 
Veazie,  Samuel,  818-20,  858. 

W. 

Walker  —  Augustine,  Gideon,  Hannah, 
John,  Lucy,   Richard,   and   Susan- 
nah, 858-9. 
Walker,  Nathaniel,  820,  858-9. 
W^ebber  —  ^Abigail,    Betsey,    Charles, 
Daniel,   David,   Delwrah,  Eleanor, 
Elizabeth,    Hannah,  James,   Jane, 
Jeremiah,    Joseph,    Josiah,    Lucy, 
Martha,   Mercy,  Patience,  Phineas, 
Richard,  Robert,  Sarah,  Susannah, 
Waitt,  and  Waitstill,  859. 
Weston  —  Edmund  and  Jacob,  859. 

Wheeler,  Rev.  Dr.  Amos  D.,  820-2. 

White  —  David,  Doretha,  Elijah,  George, 
Hugh,  Jane,  Jean,  John,  Josenh, 
Judah,  Mary,  Martha,  Polly,  Sally, 
and  William,  859. 

"WTiitney  —  Benjamin,  John,  Jonathan, 
Lettis,  Lydia,  Samuel,  and  Susan- 
nab,  860. 

Whitten — Eleanor,  Hannah,  John,  Jo- 
seph, Joshua,  Molly,  Moses,  Ruth, 
Samuel,  and  Sarah,  860. 

Wilson,  Thomas,  822-,3,  860-1. 

Wilson  — Alexander,  Betsey,  Catherine, 
David,  Elizabeth,  Ester,  Hannah, 
Hugh,  Isaliella,  Jame8,Jennet,  John , 
I>ettice,  Margaret,  Matthew,  Mary, 
Robert,  Samuel,  Susannah,  Swan- 
zev,  Thomas,  and  William,  860-1. 

Winchell  —  Ann,  Ebenezer,  Hannah, 
James,  John,  Martha,  Mary,  Rob- 
ert, Salome,  Samuel,  and  Silence, 
861-2. 

Woo<l8ide,  Rev.  James.  823-5,  862. 

Woodside,  William.  825-6, 862. 

Woodside  —  Anna,  Anthony,  James, 
Jean,  Marv,  Sarah,  Viiiccnt,  and 
William,  862. 

Woodward  —  Ebenezer,  Joseph,  Peggy, 
Potcr,  and  Samuel,  862. 

^Vyer  —  Agnes,  David,  James  S.,  JaneE., 
Joseph,  Lettice,  Lucretia,  Margaret. 
Mary,  Robert,  and  William,  862. 


i 


11:1  'M 

m 


m 


■i9 


r. 


3   2044   024  055  384 


WIDENER  LIBRARY 

Haivaid  CoUegc  Cambridge,  MA  02138:  (617)495-2413 


If  the  item  i>  recalled,  the  borrower  will  Im  notified  of 

the  need  for  an  eariler  return.  (Non-receipt  of  overdne 

notices  does  not  exempt  the  borrower  from  overdne  fines.) 


1 

Thank  you  for  hewing  us  tapresave  our  coBecttoni