USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Waterville > A chronology of municipal history and election statistics, Waterville, Maine, 1771-1908 > Part 3
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And be it further enacted,
(Sect. 2.) That James Howard Esq., be, and hereby is, empowered to issue his warrant, directed to some principal inhabi- tant in said town, requiring him to notify and warn the inhabi- tants thereof, qualified by law to vote in town affairs, to meet at
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
such time and place as shall therein be set forth, to choose all such officers as shall be necessary to manage the affairs of the said town.
And be it further enacted,
(Sect. 3.) That the freeholders of the said town shall be, and hereby are, empowered, at their said first meeting, to bring in their votes for a choice of register of deeds, for the county of Lin- coln, also for a treasurer for said county, qualified according to law; and the votes for such register and treasurer shall, at the same time, by a constable (who may be chosen and sworn), be sealed up and by him returned unto the court of general sessions of the peace to be holden in June next, at Pownalborough, for the said county in like manner as is provided by law in like cases for other towns within this province; which court is hereby author- ized and required to receive the said votes; which, with the votes of the other towns of said county, shall be opened, sorted and counted as the law directs for determining the choice of such reg- ister and treasurer ; and such shall be, to all intents and purposes, valid and effectual in law.
And be it further enacted,
(Sect. 4.) That if by reason of sickness, or any other means, the said James Howard Esq. shall be prevented from performing the business, or any part thereof, to which he is appointed by this act, then in that case William Cushing Esq. shall be and hereby is empowered to transact the whole or any part of such business, as fully and effectually as the said James Howard Esq. is, by the second clause of this act empowered to transact the same. Passed and Published April 26, 1771.
By the authority of the act of incorporation, provided for in section two, the first town meeting was held at Fort Halifax, May 23, 1771. The following officers were elected :
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Moderator: Clerk and Treasurer : Selectmen :
Wardens:
Surveyors of Highways:
Fence Viewer:
Timothy Heald. Ezekiel Pattee. Ezekiel Pattee, Timothy Heald, John Tozer. Robert Crosby, John Peter Cool, Nathaniel Carter. Joel Crosby,
John Ayer. Jonah Crosby.
WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING HELD AT FORT HALIFAX, SEPT. 17, 1771
Lincoln ss.
1771
To the Constable of the Town of Winslow:
Greeting.
In His Majesty's Name you are hereby required, forthwith, to notify and warn all the Freeholders and other Inhabitants, quali- fied by law to vote in Town Meetings, to meet at Fort Halifax on Tuesday the seventeenth day of September next, at one of the clock in the afternoon to act on the following articles :
1st. To choose a Moderator.
2nd. To draw out a Suitable Person to serve on the Petit Jury at the next Inferiour Court to be held at Pownalborough.
3rd. To vote for a County Treasurer.
4th. To raise money for the Town's Use.
5th. To see if the Town will vote to Clear the Banks of the river in this Town for the Advantage of Boating.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
6th. To see if the Town will vote to hire some preaching this present or the ensuing year and how much.
7th. To see if the Town will vote that the Meetings shall be warned by posting up a Notification at Proper places for the future.
And hereof fail not.
And make Due Return of this Warrant with your doings hereon.
Given under our hands and Seal this First day of August A. D. 1771 and in the Eleventh Year of His Majesty's Reign. Timothy Heald, Ezekiel Pattee.
The record of the meeting reads that forty pounds was raised for the town's use, and that meetings for the ensuing year shall be warned by posting up notifications at proper places.
1772
Cemetery on Fort Hill established. Tract of land for the purpose secured by Dr. McKechnie of Dr. Sylvester Gardiner.
COMPLETE LIST OF OFFICERS ELECTED IN 1772
Moderator:
Town Clerk: Selectmen:
Ezekiel Pattee.
Ezekiel Pattee.
Ezekiel Pattee,
Robert Crosby,
Zimri Heywood. Ezekiel Pattee.
Town Treasurer: Assessors :
Ezekiel Pattee,
Tything Men:
Zimri Heywood. Robert Crosby. Hezekiah Stratton, John Tozer
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Wardens:
Surveyors of the Highways:
Fence Viewersand Field Drivers:
Constable : Hog Reeves :
Deer Reeves :
Morris Fling, Bennet Woods, Timothy Hudson. John Ferguson, Ezekiel Pattee, John Tozer. Timothy Heald, Solomon Parker. Joseph Carter. Elijah Phipps, David Pattee. Timothy Heald, John Tozer.
1773
RELIGION 1146180
In Massachusetts Episcopacy had been encouraged by the royal Governor, who attended the "King's Chapel" in Boston. The dread lest the crown should appoint an Episcopal Bishop may be considered as one of the causes which operated in Massachusetts to bring on the Revolution. Influences were at work in a num- ber of the Congregationalist churches of Massachusetts which eventually developed into Unitarianism. The only colony which openly tolerated entire freedom of worship by legislative enact- ment, was Rhode Island; laws existed which forbade Catholics from holding public worship. Although none of these conditions were pronounced in the town of Winslow, we may presume that there were the usual disagreements among the inhabitants. Massa- chusetts controlled the religion as well as the civil life of its citizens, and required the several towns to provide religious insti- tutions by legal enactment and to support it by taxation.
On March 8 it was voted "to hire some Preaching this Summer and the Select Men are appointed to hire the Reverend Deliverance Smith for twelve Sabbath Days to preach in this
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Town, provided he comes to this Town sometime between this and the middle of June next: And if he don't come within that time to hire some other suitable man for the like Number of Days, provided it can be done with little or no Cost as to his Travelling Expenses, or their going to procure him."
1774
On March 17 it was voted "That a pair of stocks be pro- vided, and that Lieut. Heald shall have out of the Treasury Eight Shillings lawful money for building and finishing same."
At this time there were two political parties in America. The Whigs, which included the Sons of Liberty, Liberty Men, and Patriots, advocated independence, while the Tories favored roy- alty. At the close of the Revolution the Whig party divided into Particularists, favoring State sovereignty and advocating confed- eration, and Strong Government, favoring a constitution. Later the Particularists became Anti-Federalists and the Strong Gov- ernment party Federalists.
1775
Arnold's expedition with eleven hundred men passed through the town on their way to Canada.
S. H. Whitney in his "Early History of the Kennebec Val- ley," says : "The passage of Arnold's army up the Kennebec valley was a great event to the early inhabitants; eye witnesses describe the train as several miles in length. Around Fort Hali- fax there was quite a large group of homesteads and at Gatchell's Corner in Vassalboro there were a few families; these were all the settlers there were north of Augusta. Benedict Arnold with one thousand one hundred men arrived at Fort Western (Au- gusta) about the 20th of September, 1775, en route for Quebec.
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Fort Western being at the head of navigation upon the Kennebec River, Arnold was obliged to leave his transports at this place and the main army advanced up the river by land while their sup- plies were placed in batteaux and conveyed up the river. The army left Fort Western about September 25th." The date of their arrival at Fort Halifax was September 29.
1776
COMMITTEE OF SAFETY
In order to render the governors and judges of the royal colonies independent of the popular will and dependent on the Crown, the King had resolved to pay those officers out of the Eng- lish treasury. Samuel Adams took alarm at this act, which he believed tended to convert the government of the province into a "despotism." At a town meeting in Faneuil Hall (1772) he moved the appointment of a "Committee of Correspondence" to state "the rights of the colonists" "to the several towns, and to the world." The motion passed; the statement was sent forth, and soon every town in Massachusetts had appointed a similar committee. In the future it would make little real difference whether the Governor permitted the colonial assembly to meet or not, since the Committees of Correspondence would always be vigilant in the interests of liberty.
A Committee of Safety consisting of three members was chosen on March 4 at the annual town meetings held at Fort Halifax. The members were Timothy Heald, John Tozer and Zimri Heywood.
At a town meeting called "in the Name of the Government and People of the Massachusetts Bay in New England" held at Fort Halifax, July 8, it was voted "To borrow of Esquire Pat- tee one hundred thousand shingles, of Deacon Tozer eight thou-
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
sand shingles, of Joshua Davies four thousand shingles, of Amb- reur Davies three thousand shingles, of Lawrence Costigan one thousand clapboards, and of Nathaniel Carter five thousand shin- gles, to purchase a town stock of ammunition, and that the prod- uce of the same, or what the same shall clear in the market, shall be assessed upon the town sometime in the month of October next." It was further voted "Not to give the Committee of Safety directions. To hire three men to go up the river on a scout. That the Selectmen of this town shall immediately peti- tion the General Court in behalf of themselves and the Inhab- itants above, for a sufficient guard against the Canadians."
1777
The members of the Committee of Correspondence, Inspec- tion and Safety for this year were Ezekiel Pattee, Timothy Heald, Robert Crosby, Manuel Smith and Ephraim Osborne.
The Articles of Confederation between the thirteen United States of America were agreed upon by delegates from the States, in Congress assembled, on the 15th of November.
1780
Annual town meeting called "In the name of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts."
The first General Court, under the Constitution of the Com- monwealth of Massachusetts, assembled at Boston on Wednesday, October 25, 1780, and was finally prorogued (having held three sessions) May 19, 1781. From this time, as long as Maine con- tinued to be a part of Massachusetts, the political year com- menced on the last Wednesday in May; and the General Court. held two, and frequently three, sessions each year.
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1781
The Articles of Confederation between the thirteen United States of America were finally ratified by all the States, March 1, 1781. Under the Confederation, Congress consisted of a sin- gle house which represented the States but not the people. The national government had no president; it was simply "a body without a head." Congress could advise, request, implore, but it could not command. In this last point lay the fatal weakness of the whole system. The national government could make trea- ties but could not compel their observance. It could borrow money but could not guarantee that a single dollar of the debt would ever be paid. It could recommend taxation but could not enforce it. It could enact laws but could not punish those who refused to obey them. It could make war but could not raise a single soldier to fight in its defence. While the Revolution was in progress the pressure of the war forced the separate States to stand by each other, but as soon as that pressure was removed, the States, like a barrel that had lost its hoops, threatened to fall to pieces.
1782
Zimri Heywood elected first representative to the General Court of Massachusetts from the town of Winslow.
1785 SEPARATION OF MAINE FROM MASSACHUSETTS
The first record of any special action on the part of the early citizens of this community regarding the separation of the counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln from the State of Massachusetts and their erection into a separate State, appears this year; however, it is generally supposed that the question had been thoroughly discussed for several years previous. As far
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF WATERVILLE
back as 1660 the inhabitants of Maine petitioned His Majesty "beseeching your Majesty's royall word for our redres & continewed establishment, either as wee now stand under your own Imme- diate Authority." Again in 1664 they petitioned "His Gratious ·Majastee King Charles" protesting against Governor John Endi- cott and his council "intermeddling with the government of the province of Maine."
From year to year this question was discussed and voted upon, the majority favoring separation gradually increasing until the desired result was finally obtained in 1820. In the following pages, under the different years, will be found the vote in detail and other information of record as it appears from time to time.
The following circular was received by the authorities in October and at a subsequent town meeting Zimri Heywood was elected a delegate to attend the convention referred to in the circular.
CIRCULAR
At a meeting of a number of Reputable Inhabitants of the Counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln held at Messer's. Smith and Dean's Meeting House, in Falmouth, on the fifth day of Octo- ber, instant, agreeable to a ratification published in the Falmouth Gazette, of Sept. 17 and 1st October instant, in order to form some plan for collecting the sentiments of the said Inhabitants, on the subject of said Counties being formed into a separate State.
Voted: "That the Subscribers be a Committee to apply to the Several Towns and Plantations in said Counties, requesting them to send Delegates to meet at said Meeting House on the first Wednesday of January next (1786) at ten o'clock A. M. to consider the expediency of said Counties being formed into a Sep- arate State, and if after mature Consideration it should appear to them expedient, to pursue some regular and orderly method of carrying the cause into effect."
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Pursuant to the above vote, we the Committee above said, hereby request the inhabitants of Winslow to choose a Delegate or Delegates to meet at the time and place above mentioned, for the purpose aforesaid.
Peleg Wadsworth, Chairman.
Stephen Longfellow, Jr.
William Gorham.
Stephen Hall.
Jeremiah Hill.
Joshua Fabian. Henry Y. Brown.
To the Inhabitants of Winslow.
Falmouth, Oct. 5th, 1785.
1786
On March 6, Zimri Heywood was again chosen delegate to attend another convention to be holden at Falmouth on the first Wednesday in September, 1786, to discuss further the separation of the counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln from the State of Massachusetts, and forming themselves into a separate State. Considerable opposition developed, but by a vote of twenty-one to eleven it was decided to send a delegate. The services, however, were scantily appreciated, for at a meeting of the town held Sept. 25, it was voted to expunge from the warrant Article 2, pro- viding for payment of Zimri Heywood for attending two conven- tions at Portland, and it was further voted not to send a dele- gate to attend a convention to be held at Portland in January, 1787, for further discussion.
It appears that the convention at Falmouth in the early part of September had voted to refer the question of separation to the voters of the various towns so as to be able to get a more thor- ough expression of the people. Article 5, in a warrant issued calling a town meeting to be held on December 25, read "For
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every voter to give in his vote for or against a separate State." James Stackpole was elected Moderator. The meeting proceeded in the usual quiet manner until Article 5 was reached. The rec- ord of the meeting relating to Article 5 is as follows :
"It was requested to bring in the yeas and nays for and against a separate State. There was a small number brought in; the people then got so disorderly that they would not act any further on the Warrant though requested sundry times to be silent and act on the business of the day or dissolve the meeting, but they continued in such disorder that the moderator declared that he would not have anything more to do with it. The meeting was then broken up without being legally adjourned or dissolved."
1787
At a special town meeting called December 17, Jonah Crosby was chosen a delegate "to attend a Convention to be holden at the State House in Boston on the second Wednesday of Janu- ary next to see if the people will accept the New Constitution or Form of Government as set forth by the Convention held at. Philadelphia September the seventeenth A. D. 1787."
The Federal party was formed in this year from the Strong Government or Constitutional party. They elected two Presi- dents, Washington for two terms, and Adams one term. They advocated a tariff, funding of the public debt, a United States Bank and assumption of state debt by the government. They favored England as against France, and opposed the war with England in 1812.
1788
February 6. The constitution of the United States of America was ratified by the State of Massachusetts.
The first election for United States officers was held at Fort Halifax, Dec. 18. For member of Federal Court, to be holden
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at Philadelphia, to represent the counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln, the following vote is recorded : George Thacher, 9 Samuel Thompson, 1
March 3. It was voted "That the Selectmen sign a petition to the General Court praying that there may be a Probate Court and Register of Deeds established in the Northwesterly part of the County of Lincoln." This was the beginning of a movement that led to the formation and erection of Kennebec County in 1799.
VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT
Previous to 1804, each elector voted for two candidates for President. The one who received the largest number of votes was declared President, and the one who received the next largest number was declared Vice President. The electoral votes, for the first President of the United States were:
George Washington of Virginia, 69
John Adams of Massachusetts,
34
John Jay of New York,
9
R. H. Harrison of Maryland, 6
John Rutledge of South Carolina, 6
John Hancock of Massachusetts, 4
George Clinton of New York, 3
Samuel Huntingdon of Connecticut,
2
John Milton of Georgia, 2
James Armstrong of Georgia,
1
Benjamin Lincoln of Massachusetts,
1
Edward Telfair of Georgia, 1
Washington was chosen President and Adams Vice President. They were both Federalists. The Commonwealth of Massachu- setts was entitled to ten electoral votes, all of which were thrown
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for Washington and Adams. The election in the town of Wins- low was held at Fort Halifax on Dec. 18, 1788. The following vote for electors is recorded :
William Widgery, 6
Henry Dearborn, 2 Daniel Coney, 6
1790
Population of Winslow,
Population of Lincoln County, 29,962
Population of the District of Maine, 96,540
There were no slaves in Massachusetts proper and none in the District of Maine. There were sixteen in Vermont, one hun- dred and fifty-eight in New Hampshire, nine hundred and forty- eight in Rhode Island, and two thousand seven hundred and sixty . four in Connecticut.
Election Oct. 4, for members of Federal Court :
William Lithgow, 22
Thomas Rice, 14
George Thacher, r
Henry Sewall, 2
John Gardiner, 1
1791
It was voted not to raise any money for preaching.
Election for members of the Federal Court Jany. 25th :
William Lithgow, 32
George Thacher, 3
A vote taken on May 2 on the question of the separa- tion of Maine from Massachusetts resulted in fifty-two votes in favor of the separation.
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A petition was sent to the General Court praying for author- ity to conduct a lottery, the proceeds to be used for building a bridge across the Sebasticook River.
-
DIVISION OF THE TOWN
The first articles appearing in the warrant for the divi- sion of the town of Winslow and the formation of a new town on the westerly side of the Kennebec River, were posted in this. year. Dissatisfaction arising from the inconvenience of crossing the river to attend religious services and town meetings were the primary causes of the division that was finally effected in 1802.
At the annual town meeting held March 7, the town voted thir- teen in favor and seven opposed on an article favoring the divi- sion. Owing to the smallness of the vote or some other reason of sufficient import, the vote was not considered binding, for a similar article appeared in the warrant calling another meeting that was held on April 7. At this meeting the article was dismissed.
1792
Vote taken May seventh, 1792, on the question of the sep- aration of Maine from Massachusetts :
Yes, 46
No,
19
Vote for member of Congress Nov. 2, to represent the counties of Lincoln, Hancock and Washington :
William Lithgow, 14
Daniel Cony, 11
Henry Dearborn, 6
Arthur Lithgow, Ezekiel Pattee and Josiah Brewer, Justices of the Peace, Solomon Parker, Deputy Sheriff.
Lincoln County proportion of tax No. 9 was :
County tax, £776-8-18,
Paid by representatives, £141-18,
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State tax, £25365-2-7, Paid by representatives, £4111-14.
Five regiments of militia in Lincoln County. The eighth regiment in division and fifth in brigade was commanded by Ezekiel Pattee, Colonel, and John Moore, Lieut. Colonel.
Owing to the action of the town wherein they had voted not to hire any preaching the year previous "a bill was found against the town in the Court of General Sessions of Lincoln County." On March fifth it was voted, "That Ezekiel Pattee, Esq., attend the next Court of General Sessions to be held in the County of Lincoln, as an Agent in behalf of the town to make defense against a presentment brought against the town for not having preaching, etc."
Vote for President and Vice President. The election was held at Fort Halifax, Nov. 2. Massachusetts was entitled to sixteen electoral votes. They were cast for George Washington for President, and John Adams for Vice President. The follow- ing vote is recorded :
Electors, County of York :
George Thacher, 16
Nathaniel Wells, 1
County of Cumberland:
Daniel Davis, 9
Peleg Wadsworth, ry
Counties of Lincoln, Hancock and Washington:
Thomas Rice, 10
George Warren, 11
Alex. Campbell, 4
Genl. Dearborn, 2
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1793
Nov. 4, a Public Building Committee was chosen consisting of Jonah Crosby, Josiah Hayden and Ezekiel Pattee.
Voted in annual meeting that one-half of the preaching should be on the east side, and half on the west side, also that the town meetings should be held alternately on the east and west side.
RATES OF POSTAGE
Single letter, 30 miles 6 cents, 60 miles 8 cents. 100 miles 10 cents, 150 miles 121/2 cents.
200 miles 15 cents, 250 miles 17 cents. 350 miles 20 cents, 450 miles 22 cents. more than 450 miles 25 cents.
No allowance made for intermediate miles. Double letters, double fare ; triple letters, triple fare. Every package weighing one ounce or more, rate of four single letters for each ounce.
TOWNS AND PLANTATIONS IN LINCOLN COUNTY IN 1793
TOWNS
Pownalborough, Georgetown, Bath, Woolwich, Bristol, Tops- ham, Bowdoinham, Bowdoin, Newcastle, Waldoborough, Boothbay, Edgecomb, Nobleborough, Cushing, Thomaston, Warren, Camden, Union, Canaan, Norridgewock, Fairfield, Greene, Vassalborough, Sydney, Hallowell, Winthrop, Readfield, Pittston, Winslow, Mon- mouth, Mount Vernon, Belgrade.
PLANTATIONS
Hancock, Starling, New Sandwich, Smithfield, Meduncoke, Baliftown, Lewistown, Livermores, Little River, Littleborough,
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Phips, Tyngs, Chester, 25 Mile Pond, Carytunk, Gore, Rockameth, Jones, Prescotts, Carrs, 7 Mile Brook, Wymans, Mouth Sandy River, Sandy River No. 1, 2 and 3.
The Democratic-Republican party was formed in this year. Its members were men taken from the Anti-federalists, the Repub- lican or Jeffersonian party, and Democrats or sympathizers with the French Revolutionists. Elected three Presidents: Jefferson two terms, Madison two terms, and Munroe two terms. They favored State rights, France as against England, war with Eng- land, purchase of Louisiana, Missouri Compromise, Munroe Doc- trine, free trade in 1800, and a protective tariff in 1828.
1794
Annual town meeting held at the dwelling house of George Warren.
On Nov. 3, an article favoring the division of the town was dismissed.
A convention of delegates from the towns within the border of the proposed new State was called, to be held at Portland on the second Tuesday in October, 1794. At a meeting of the town held Sept. 5, Col. Josiah Hayden was chosen a delegate to attend the convention.
1795
Annual town meeting held at the dwelling house of Richard Thomas.
A petition was sent to the General Court of the Common- wealth of Massachusetts, praying for the division of the town, and asking that the new town might be called Williamsburgh.
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