USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > Historic Harpswell, Harpswell, Maine, its historic Congregational church and famous ministers. 1758-1903 > Part 1
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Gc 974.102 H23s 1852022
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01091 7950
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2014
https://archive.org/details/historicharpswel1758sinn
HISTORIC HARPSWELL,
HARPSWELL, MAINE, 2.
ITS HISTORIC
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
AND FAMOUS MINISTERS.
1758-1903.
BY REV. CHARLES N. SINNETT.
HAVERHILL, MASS., C. C. MORSE & SON, 1903.
1852022
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF THE
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH,
HARPSWELL, MAINE.
"We trust that you will here retain What relics of this church remain, Preserve this pulpit, sound and good, In which old Parson Eaton stood.
This church and everything around E'er seem to me as hallowed ground, It marks the time when men had grace To meet and worship in one place.
When here we walk with reverent tread, Or yonder 'mong the sainted dead, We feel an inspiration rare From those who bravely bore such care."
So wrote one who had often sat in this old Congregational Church of Harpswell, Maine, on which the tempests have vainly beaten since the far year 1758. And as he read these, and other lines, at the memorable meeting which was held to secure funds for putting the old cemetery in the rear of the Church in good repair, scores of hearty "Amens !" were heard. The poet's prayer for the preservation of this hallowed place, as well as his sentiments regard- ing it, were the prayer and sentiments of old and young. His words made a deep impression in that hour, and later on when they were printed and scattered widely abroad, because they knew that the man was giving them thoughts out of a large heart and a wide ex- perience. They saw already that the many years and cares had not
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dimmed in the least the bright seeds of faith and trust which had been sown in his heart in the old church when he was but a child. He had touchingly referred to this in a later verse :
"Twenty-eight years have passed away Since I lived here across the way But, oh, how cheering is each thought, The Man of Sorrows to us brought."
The impressions of the poet's words were deepened because his listeners knew that he had been to many far-off lands, and had seen earth's grandest shrines and temples, and yet looked back to this gray old church as to no other place of prayer. And in him, the poet; the successful sea-captain ; the honest business man; the citizen beloved by all who knew him, they saw the type of hundreds of true men and women who had been taught in Divine things in this church since the first prayer had been offered within its walls. Each listener knew that this sacred place had been the central point in the town's history in its early days, and that it had kept this grand place firmly in all the changing years. In this place had come to worship the fathers and mothers so strong and sturdy. Their children had here been baptized and consecrated to God, and had grown into noble shipbuilders, and ship captains who sailed prayer- fully to all ports of the world; others had as valiantly penetrated into the forests which overshadowed the surrounding towns and laid the foundations of strong and religious growth ; others had aided in building cities in prosperity and honor. Some had written well in prose and verse. Scores had served in the Revolutionary Army, and later struggles. Others had preached the Gospel with power and blessing. In the more quiet lives of others the gifted pen of a late pastor, Elijah Kellogg, had found the material for most of the stirring and helpful scenes in his books for boys which have had such a wide reading. It was the home of one of the Deacons of this church which Mrs. Stowe so eloquently describes in "The Pearl Of Orr's Island," and the life of one of the churches' Pastors shines brightly in the pages of this same book. It is safe to say that no church outside of the older ones in the cities of Maine has wielded such an influence as this one, so early builded by the fathers of the town. As pictures of it are preserved in prairie homes and in nooks for across the seas, so the pictures of the Gospel truth in sermon and Godly lives remain and glow all about the world. To this strong people God has sent the strongest men from the Colleges and Semi- naries of the land.
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Although the year 1758 is usually given as the date when the building of this old Harpswell meeting house was begun, it is proba- ble that such work was inaugurated a year before that time. Elisha Eaton, son of the Reverend Elisha Eaton, and who was a carpenter living in Boston, Mass., wrote in his diary Aug. 7, 1757 : "Getting stuff for window frames and Sashes for Meeting house which is for North Yarmouth Ye sec'd Parish." Other entries in this diary are, "Sept. 21, 1757, Caping window frames for meeting house." "June 13, 1759, Putting Sashes on board ye vessel for Meeting house at Harpswell. Oct. 6, Sailed for Harpswell - arrived there ye 8th, where I tarried until Nov. 27th." It is very likely that Mr. Elisha Eaton was hard at work on this church during all his stay in Harps- well. An examination of this old building shows that his work, and that of those who labored with him, and after him, was done in the same thorough manner in which his father, the Pastor, worked in building up the people in strong faith and hope. This is to be seen in the boards which were an inch and a half in thickness, and in the birch bark which thickly covered the cracks beneath the heavy clapboards. The windows, and the pulpit, with its sounding board, and everything thus preserved, speaks of a faithful workman.
As was the case with churches in all our early and scattered communities, the work on this church progressed slowly. But all that could be done was faithfully completed. At a special meeting of the town Nov. 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) paying the cost of the Same." 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 in this same year it was voted to lay the floor of 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 mend the windows."
June, 1781, it was voted to shingle the "Four sides of ye meet- ing house, and hang the Doors."
January 16, 1792 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 front alley," and that the money arising from the sale of the same should be expended in re- pairing the meeting house. Also voted that "the pew ground" should be sold at auction.
This meeting house was occupied by the First Parish until 1844. During that time it was used, like other churches of that date, for
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the place of holding town meetings, thus making it the center of all the town's work and prosperity.
During these long years many plans for changing the interior and exterior of the church were brought before the Parish and town, but the sturdy hands which had laid the foundations with such prayerful work had worthy successors.
On May 31, 1841 it was voted with much ardor "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." At a Parish meeting held March 26, 1842 it was voted to petition the District Court for leave to sell the meeting house at private sale, or otherwise, with or without the land on which it stood, as might be thought advisable.
But the sturdy old building still stands as it stood, and we need to be thankful that the throngs of visitors who yearly come to see it find it with so much of its original work remaining.
And though it was more than once voted that no more town meetings should be held in it it was, in 1856, taken possession of by the town to be used as a town house and selectmen's office. So, at every March meeting, its strong old equipments and myriad hal- lowed memories exert strong power for good over old and young.
It has often been said that these hallowed old churches took upon them the character of the people who reared them, loved them, and prayed for them without ceasing. And of no church in New England is this more true than of this one in old Harpswell by the sea. The early settlers here were truly of a strong, hardy, God-fear- ing type. Of those who came here from other shores, directly, or very nearly so, were the Alexanders, who came in the celebrated Scotch Irish colony of Robert Temple in 1719, landing at Topsham, Me. William Alexander, son of the pioneer, probably moved to Harpswell as early as 1737. This family has had worthy represen- tatives in all church and town work from that day to this. Ten years later, 1747, Alexander Wilson moved into the same neighbor- hood where William Alexander had located. He was William Alexander's brother-in-law and his ancestral history runs like that of his neighbor, as his first name shows. His trustworthy, reliable character is well shown in the fact that, at the first town meeting after the organization of Harpswell, he was appointed a committee "to settle off with North Yarmouth" (from which town Harpswell had been set apart,) "and to receive whatever money was due the town." At the same meeting he was paid three shillings "For get- ting the power of Attorney for Mr. Ralph Farnam." These Wilsons
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showed their patriotism in three wars. Alexander Wilson's eldest son James was long a faithful Deacon of the Congregational Church. Near these families was the sturdy McNess household, evidently of the same Scotch Irish line,- their house standing where that of the Rev. Elijah Kelloggs stood for many years, and which he always called "hallowed ground." Just across the bay from the Alexan- ders, on Great Island, was the home of the Ewings, a family of marked intellect and piety, linked with these others by old country ties, later marriages and friendships. Joseph Ewing was the man selected by the town Sept. 1774 to meet a committee of the House of Representatives "To consult together upon the Present State of the Colonies and to Deliberate & Determine upon wise and Proper Measures to be by them Recommended to All the colonies for the Recovery & establishment of their Just Rights." Other important offices were given to him and his brother Alexander Ewing. In church matters this family was also prominent. At a meeting of the First Parish, May 29, 1777, Joseph Ewing was chosen Deacon. He held this office until the day of his death, Oct. 4, 1790. Just down the bay from the home of the Ewing family lived Joseph Orr, for whom Orr's Island was named, and his brother Clement, of the same Scotch Irish stock of Coleraine, in Ireland. With the Orrs came to America, and to Harpswell, the Skolfields, a family whose ancestors, like those of the Orrs, had fought bravely for their home and native land. They and theirs have ever been identified with all good meas- ures in the town. The Skolfields located in the north part of the town, near the Brunswick line. In the neighborhood of the old church settled Ancestor Walter Merryman and his wife Elizabeth Potter. He was of sturdy Presbyterian family in Ireland and was kidnapped and brought to America early in 1700. His descendants in many generations, and in many towns, have been of the. bravest and best friends of the church. Near the Orrs' lived Michael Sinnett who was also kidnapped and brought to America, and was taken from Boston to the Island by sturdy Joseph Orr, who had selected him from among many as a true-hearted countryman of his. He was from Wexford, Ireland and a descendant of Sir Walter Sinnett, who came to Ireland with Richard DeClare, Earl Strongbow, about 1172. He and his wife were faithful supporters of this old church.
Of other Harpswell settlers from across the sea were the Dun- nings. From the organization of the town in 1758 the Dunnings were always prominent people and lived next the Alexanders, Wil- sons, and others. The American ancestor of this family, Andrew Dunning, with his wife Susan Bond, and five sons, came to George-
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town, Maine, in 1717, from Ashburton, Devonshire, England. William the eldest son, settled in York, Me., left two sons, Andrew and Benjamin, the former marrying Hannah Shepard of York, by whom he had twelve children; and the latter married Elizabeth Ewing daughter of Joseph Ewing of Harpswell, by whom he had nine children. Although Andrew Dunning did not settle in Harps- well until 1758, and his brother Benjamin some years later, both were given places of honor and trust in the new town. An- drew was elected the first town clerk, and held that office 25 years. From 1767 until his death in 1808 he was Deacon of this First Church. Among the important offices held by Benjamin Dunning was that of an overseer of Bowdoin College for several years.
The mention of the town of Old York, Maine, in connection with the Dunning, recalls a proverb, "All the rest came from York." This is very true of many of the early settlers of Harpswell not given in foregoing classification. And it is something to be proud of, since this town was settled so early and by such a sturdy stock. The following list contains those who came from York, and among whom were some of the noblest families there : Webbers, Stovers, Bookers, the Nathan Adams family, Tootmakers, Allens, Jaques, Harmons, Thompsons, &c.
The Randalls and Woodworths were from Scituate, Mass. The families of Curtiss, Bailey, Barstow, Sylvester and Gardner, were from Hanover, Mass., the two first families furnishing some very devoted members of the church. Other representatives of Massa- chusetts were the Eatons whose ancestor was probably Francis Eaton of the Mayflower, the Blakes, Bishops, Tarrs, Martins, Doug- lass', Haskells, and the Wyers of Orr's Island. The Bibbers and Johnsons were descended from strong old English ancestors, and Deacon Ralph Johnson of Orr's Island was one of the most faithful officers in the church. The Pinkhams and Halls were the chief rep- resentatives of Dover, N. H. The former, with Lemuel and Thomas Jones, and Edward Estes, were members of the old Quaker Church at Falmouth, and have many industrious, worthy descendants in many parts of Maine.
Most of the early settlers on Great Island, or East Harpswell, where a Congregational Church was formed at an early date 1770, and a meeting house erected, were from Mass., and of a strong, hardy race. Many of them were faithful helpers in the church. Of these, Rev. Samuel Veazie came from Nantasket in 1767 ; the Snows from Cape Cod; the Smalls from Truro, Mass., about 1750; the Ridleys, Puringtons, and Richs from the same town. 'Paul Ray-
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mond and the Coombs Ancestor were from Dorchester, Mass.
As will at once be guessed from the earnest and faithful charac- ters of such people as these, the influence of this old Congregational Church has been marked through all its long years by an intense missionary spirit which has seldom been equalled. It was this which largely seems to have led to the planting of this church in the hal- lowed spot, near the center of the town, towards which so many eager eyes have turned. As the early settlers came thronging here it was at once seen that not all of these could cross the Bay and reach the old North Yarmouth Church by the rugged road which lay waiting after the windy waters were crossed. It would not be wise to leave this people without the influence of the Gospel in the icy and stormy seasons. And in the time of sickness among these settlers on Mer- riconeag Neck, as Harpswell was then called -how far it would be for the North Yarmouth minister to come to them with his words of cheer! Christian help must be given at once to those who landed on these shores with firm faith in God. The seeds of truth must at once be sown in the hearts which hitherto had lain as fallow ground. So, from the first, little knots of people came together for prayer. Their one thought was, "We must have a Church on the Neck." And as they spoke these words their eyes looked far across the waters to the east and west. They meant that the influence of the church must reach out to all the neighboring points and islands, wherever a smoke rose from a single home, however humble it might be.
This is clearly shown in some of the earliest town and church records. As early as 1758 the town voted that, "The Selectmen should provide for preaching on the Island," meaning Great Island, or Sebascodegan, as it was then called. This vote also looked to the certainty of the minister reaching his Island flock, as it was decided that four shillings should be paid to each person who conveyed him thither.
It is certain that much good seed was sown on Orr's Island. From records handed down in the family of Deacon Timothy Bailey, after whom Bailey's Island was named, it is clear that the minister often preached at the house of this godly man, and that from thence he was taken to all the outlaying islands. This Bailey Ancestor was probably the first Deacon of the Church.
This was in the days of the Rev. Elisha Eaton, the first perma- nent minister of Harpswell. His son, the Rev. Samuel Eaton, took up his fathers' work in a very earnest manner. The records show that he often preached on Great Island and gathered many members
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to the church. I have before me a large collection of the sermons" of this talented man, the earliest dated April 4, 1773. These are pervaded by an earnest missionary spirit. At the bottom of these sermons is marked the places in which they were preached, and the statement, "Preached at Harpswell Island," or "the Island," shows how well the thought of the sermons was carried out. Some were also delivered in Bath, and all neighboring towns where help and cheer could be given. An old letter lying before me shows that he sent messages by his pen to the home towns from which his parish- oners came. One writes from the north of Ireland to thank him for his good words, and tells that she has lately become a Presby- terian.
The earnest love of the church for others is plainly seen in its records. "Oct. 24, 1770, voted that Messrs. John Snow and Na- thaniel Purington be a Committee for the Island, that if any mem- bers of the Church who conduct themselves according to the Gospel, and are well reported of, but by the Providence of God are cast into those circumstances which necessarily call for relief, may apply to, and the Committee shall make known to the Pastor, and the Pastor to call the brethren together, that they may judge of their case, and, according to their liberality relieve them."
And as has been seen this true spirit of the Gospel looked far away and embraced all shores. Vessels were constantly making their slow way up and down the coast. Inquisitive eyes were daily peering up all the rivers to the north and east, and scanning every creek and shady bay. Trips inland were frequently made. Though this Neck and its islands was so fair and healthy, men and women who came hither were as restless as the foam blown from the surges which broke on the shores. Some of the settlers of an early date stayed but a year ; others but a month. A family tarried but a week on an island which now is studded with cottages .and hotels. Such people must not only be given the bread of life while they tarried, but they must have some to carry with them, wherever their junkys, or little sloops, might take them, and the ships, later on - what a great procession of these left these shores for all the lands where lay an open port. And each Captain must have his Bible, and each sailor his trust in God, to shine as a light on the far-off shores while the sun rose and set upon the gray old meeting house on Harpswell Neck.
The first inhabitants of Harpswell attended service in the First Parish of North Yarmouth, of which town this one was then a part ; this is clearly shown by the early records. They made their way
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thither in many a Sabbath when the bay was beaten by savage winds and when the snows were piled high on the roads which they must cross after the shores to the west were reached. In days of calm the heavy boats were rowed to North Yarmouth shore by those who had risen very early after a hard week's work, for none would give an excuse in those days for being late at a service twelve and more miles away. Out of their scanty means these people paid well to- wards the support of the distant parish. But in 1751 Merriconeag, as Harpswell was then called, became a Parish, styled " The Second Parish of North Yarmouth, and from this time, and probably for some years before, employed a minister of their own.
The first minister of this Church was Rev. Richard Pateshall, a graduate of Harvard College. He preached for two or three years, but was not permanently settled. It seems likely that his successor, Rev. Mr. Packard, preached not a full year.
Still, in spite of these changes, and many more which have left no lasting record, the people went sturdily in the paths of truth. In 1753 a church was organized, and the Rev. Elisha Eaton was or- dained as pastor. This ordination took place in the house of Lieu- tenant Eaton, this being the only plastered house in the town at that date, and was probably the place where religious services had been held up to this time. This faithful minister was born 1702, and died in Harpswell, Me., on Sunday morning, April 22, 1764. He had been pastor over the Third Parish in Braintree, Mass., now Ran- dolph, from 1731 until 1750, and was recommended to the Harpswell Church by Rev. Mr. Alden, the first minister at Cape Elizabeth. His salary was to be 450 pounds old tenor, or 60 pounds of lawful money. But little is known of his pastorate, but it was no doubt one marked with much zeal and fervor.
The esteem in which this good man and his wife and family were held may be seen by the quaint item, that the "Town voted thirty-seven pounds and seven shillings to defray the funeral ex- penses of the pastor, and to give his wife a Decent sute of Mourn- ing." A vote of July 3d of this same year shows that eight shillings were paid one William Morgridge for making the coffin, and another was paid five shillings for assisting in making the coffin and digging the grave.
But the strongest proof of the esteem in which the deceased pastor was held is shown in the call of his.son, Rev. Samuel Eaton, to fill the place made vacant by the fathers' death. There was not a dissenting vote in Church or Parish, and the Committee chosen to convey this call was composed of the strongest men in the town.
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At the same time this young minister had a call to the Church of New Gloucester. He accepted the call from Harpswell and was or- dained there Oct. 4, 1764. He died in Harpswell in the 59th year of his ministry, Nov. 5, 1822, in the 86th year of his age. His grave- stone bears this simple tribute, " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord." He graduated from Harvard College in 1763, and during his theological studies he also attended medical lectures and obtained some knowledge of the healing art, which his excellent judgment afterwards enabled him to put in practice for the benefit of his peo- ple. He was a man of thought. It has been truly said of the min- ister, who remained a bachelor through life, "He was a man of re- markable energy, and when eighty-six years of age he not only attended his ministerial duties, but also attended to the care of a barn containing eleven head of cattle, which he always fed before sunrise in the morning. He was a ripe scholar. His knowledge of religious doctrines was both thorough and discriminating. He pos- sessed great eloquence, and people flocked from all quarters to hear him, notwithstanding his sermons were written with all the old- fashioned divisions. He was of most commanding presence, and possessed a natural dignity. For this reason, and because of his rare executive talent which he possessed, he was generally chosen to preside in all deliberative assemblies where he was present. His people were justly proud of his abilities and fame. He was pos- sessed of a keen wit, and was never at a loss for a reply. He was peculiarly fearless in the expression of his opinions. What he thought he was never afraid to abide by. In the War of the Revo- lution he was an ardent patriot and exerted all his abilities in the cause of his country."
The character of the people of Harpswell was widely known in the Colonial days. Early in the year 1775 a recruiting officer was sent to the town. His influence over men had been marked, and his energy highly esteemed by others. But, though he went to the houses of Merriconeag Neck and to some of the islands, he could not move the sturdy people as he had hoped to do. " He has too many words, and we do know they are all his," was the comment of one of the most patriotic men of the town. It is the clear, terse way in which the people have often spoken since. On Sunday morning this officer appeared before the parsonage and thus, and by his words, revealed the character which the parishoners had read at once. His plea was, "Mr. Eaton, cannot you do something for me and the cause." Mr. Eaton quickly replied, " It is my Communion Sabbath, sir, I can have nothing to do with secular subjects ; but if
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