USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Turner > A history of Turner, Maine, from its settlement to 1886 > Part 9
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
The petitioners therefore confidently expect [if incorporated upon the very liberal plan prayed for] that such members will shrink from the burden of Ministerial taxation, and shelter themselves under their incorporation, as will at no distant period constitute them the majority, [and considering the moral state of Society there is reason to apprehend such an event] the consequence will be that either from the paucity of num- bers, or in case they should not abandon their incorporation, or by a Major Vote, in case they should, the undersigned would be forced to Relinquish an Institution, which they believe highly important and interesting to themselves, their Rising Families and Society at large.
They therefore pray your Honorable Body to take their Situ- ation in your deliberative consideration, and if it shall be thought expedient to incorporate Benjamin Chamberlin and 54 others into a distinct Society ; the undersigned earnestly intreat that the act may be so framed as to promote the peace, har- mony and best interests of the undersigned and of those who have acted with them, from being disturbed by them in future.
Dated at Turner, May 28, A.D. 1804.
Daniel Howard.
Benjamin Evans.
Samuel Blake.
John Strickland.
Thatcher Blake.
John Loring.
David Hale.
Willard Mason.
Levi Mitchell.
Daniel Briggs.
Blake.
David Talbot.
Caleb Bourne.
Hart Briggs.
Zacheriah Chickering.
John Briggs.
Judah Teague.
Daniel Cary.
Samuel Irish.
Luther Cary.
Seth Harris.
Ezra Cary.
Simeon Warren.
Ezra Cary, Jun.
George O. Chickering.
David Talbot, Jun.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Ebenezer Harlow.
Isaac W. Talbot.
Samuel Brown.
William Barrell.
Benjamin Conant.
Abner S. Strickland.
Michael H. Stevens.
Joseph Ludden.
Joseph Coopling.
Alden Blossom.
Moses Stevens.
Martin Leonard.
Sylvester Jones.
Bani Teague.
IN SENATE, June 7th 1804.
Read and committed to the standing committee on applica- ions for incorporation of parishes, etc. to hear the parties and report.
Sent down for concurrence,
D. COBB, Pres't.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 7, 1804. Read and concurred.
H. G. OTIS, Speaker.
The Committee of both houses appointed to consider appli- cations for Incorporation of Parishes and Religious Societies, on the Petition of Benjamin Chamberlain and other Inhabitants of the Town of Turner in the County of Cumberland, pray- ing that they may be incorporated into a Religious Society by the name of the First Universalist Gospel Parish in Turner, Report, that the prayer of the petitioners be so far granted that they have leave to bring in a bill for that purpose, which is submitted.
ISAAC COFFIN. IN SENATE, June 15, 1804. Read and accepted. Sent down for concurrence.
D. COBB, Pres.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 15, 1804. Read and concurred.
H. G. OTIS, Speaker.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
CUMBERLAND SS.
To the Honorable House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in General Court assembled.
The Petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of Turner in the County of Cumberland and Commonwealth aforesaid, humbly sheweth, that in as much as a respectable number of the inhab- itants of this Town are professed Universalists, some of which have formed themselves into a distinct parish and presented a petition to the General Court of this Commonwealth for an Incorporation, the prayer of which has been already granted by the Honorable Senate at a former session, and whereas a vote of the other Inhabitants of this Town at a legal Town meeting has been heretofore passed against opposing the same, notwith- standing some individuals have remonstrated against it, your Petitioners, who are not members of said parish of Universa- lists, take leave to inform your honors that the adverse party, as a body, are far from wishing to interpose in the affair, it being the general opinion, as well as that of your present petitioners, that the granting of their the said Universalists' Petition will make for peace and good fellowship in this town [the adverse party, or other Society in Turner, as a body, are under no apprehension of the least degree of danger of any molestation from them, they having unanimously agreed not to oppose them, in regard to ministerial and religious matters] wherefore and for diverse other good reasons which are need- less to mention, your Petitioners humbly pray your Honors to concur with the Honorable Senate in granting the prayer of their the said Universalists' Petition, and your present Peti- tioners as in duty bound will ever pray.
Dated at Turner the 5th day of November A.D. 1804. John Turner. George Bradman.
Ichabod Bonney.
Charles Lee Turner.
Enos Turner. Nath'l Robinson.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Samuel Gorham.
Stephen Turner.
Isaiah Leavitt.
John Allen, Jun.
Stephen Bryant.
Josiah Staples.
Dan Pratt.
Levi Merrill, Jun.
James Torrey, Jun.
Benjamin Jones.
William Turner.
Seth Staples.
Job C. Randel.
Samuel Speare.
Southard Washburn.
Jonathan Philips.
Abner Thayer.
Nath. Staples.
Henry Jones.
Cornelius Staples.
An act to incorporate a number of the Inhabitants of the Town of Turner, in the County of Cumberland, into a Religious Society, by the name of The Universalists' Society in Turner.
SECT. I. Be it enacted by the Senate and house of Repre- sentatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That Benjamin Chamberlain, (here follow the names of all the petitioners, which are omitted,) with their families and estates, be, and they are hereby incorporated into a relig- ious Society by the name of the Universalists' Society in Turner, with all the powers, privileges and immunities to which other parishes are entitled by the Constitution and laws of this Commonwealth, for religious purposes only.
SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That any person belonging to the said town of Turner, who may at any time within one year from the passing of this Act, actually become a member of, and unite in religious worship with the Society aforesaid, and give in his or her name to the Town Clerk of said Turner, with a certificate signed by the Minister or clerk of said Society, that he or she has actually become a member of, and united in relig- ious worship with the Universalists' Society aforesaid, fourteen days at least previous to the town-meeting to be holden in said Turner, in the months of March or April annually, shall, from and after giving such certificate, with his or her polls and
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
Estates, be considered as part of said Society, Provided how- ever, That such person or persons shall be holden to pay their proportion of all money assessed in said town of Turner pre- vious to that time.
SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That if any member of said Universalists' Society, shall at any time within one year from the passing of this Act, see cause to leave the same, and unite in religious worship with any other religious Society in said town, and shall lodge a certificate of such his or her intention with the Minister or Clerk of said Universalists' Society, and also with the Clerk of the town of Turner, fourteen days at least before the town-meeting in the months of March or April annually, and shall pay his or her proportion of all money assessed in said Society previous thereto, such person shall, from and after giving such certificate, with his or her polls and estates, be considered as belonging to the town or parish in which he or she may reside, in the same manner as if he or she had never belonged to the said Universalists' Society.
SECT. 4. And be it further enacted, That any Justice of the Peace in the County of Cumberland be, and hereby is author- ized to issue a warrant, directed to some suitable member of said Universalists' Society, requiring him to notify and warn the members thereof to meet at such time and place in said town as shall be directed in said warrant, to choose such officers as parishes in this Commonwealth are by law authorized to choose in the months of March or April annually.
(This Act passed February 16, 1805.)
This act of Incorporation was not satisfactory to the society, and some of its members advised its rejection because it limited the time for receiving members to one year, and contained no provision for the reception of members after the expiration
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
of that time. But, on the whole, it was thought best to accept it, yet it became, not long after, a dead letter. By an act of the Maine Legislature, this original act of incorporation was rescinded, and the society made a territorial parish about 1830.
Rev. Thomas Barnes, a native of Vermont but a resident of Poland, Maine, was probably the first preacher employed by this society. From 1800 to the time of his death, which occurred in 1816, he frequently preached in town. Rev. Isaac Root seems also to have been employed during these years; he resided in town with his family five or six years. In 1806, Rev. Sebastian Streeter, then a young man, and a native of New Hampshire, preached for a season and awakened a deep inter- est, and is said to have made many converts to his views. For several years previous to 1824, there was preaching irregularly by Revs. William Frost, Thomas Barnes, Jabez Woodman, William Fare- well, a Mr. Smith, a Mr. Sargent, Benjamin Thorn, and others.
About 1824, Rev. Sylvanus Cobb commenced preaching with them, and continued his ministry two or three years. Rev. William A. Drew sup- plied for them a portion of the time.
On the second Sabbath in February, 1827, Rev. George Bates commenced his ministry, preaching regularly every other Sabbath until January, 1830,
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
when he was settled as the minister of the First Parish in Turner. He was installed in the pastoral office on the 18th of that month. Rev. William A. Drew, of Augusta, preached the installation ser- mon. He continued to perform the duties of his office until 1852, a period of about twenty-five years. A church was organized October 12, 1849, consisting of twenty-nine members. In March, 1853, Rev. W. R. French was engaged as pastor, and continued his services for seventeen years.
In 1870, Rev. H. C. Munson became their pastor, and remained with them about seven years.
In the spring of 1878, Rev. G. M. D. Barnes was engaged, and continued his ministry two years.
In August, 1879, Rev. W. R. French became their pastor again, and continued his services four years, making twenty-one years in the whole.
In the autumn of 1883, the services of Rev. John Kimbal were secured, and he continued in the pas- toral office till July 1, 1886, when he resigned.
METHODIST CHURCH.
Several years ago, Methodist meetings were sus- tained for a time in North Turner, but no organi- zation was effected, and there was no church building in which to hold the services. Rev. E. Martin, then a young man, was the minister, and was not, probably, in full connection with the
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
church; and when he was appointed to a station or circuit, the meetings at North Turner ceased, and no visible results were manifest. But on Feb- ruary 8, 1879, a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Turner Village by Rev. S. T. Record, who in middle life had then just entered the minis- try, and in May following was appointed to that charge, and held it for three years. During his term of service, he succeeded in erecting a chapel with a vestry, the latter being finished and occupied for the Sabbath services. The audience room was finished as funds were secured, thus an example was set of building slowly, and not rushing into debt, that the parish might not be oppressed, and perhaps crushed by a heavy burden.
Rev. N. C. Clifford was appointed to the charge in May, 1882; and Rev. J. Moulton, in 1883, and was the pastor as long as the rules of that church would permit.
Rev. John P. Roberts was appointed the pastor, April 29, 1886. At this date the membership of the church is twenty-two.
MEETING-HOUSES.
The first meeting-house was built on the upper street, on the ledge a little north of G. W. Blos- som's, for the accommodation of the whole town. It was erected in 1783, under a contract between the
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
proprietors and several of the settlers, who were to receive eighty-seven pounds toward the expenses of building it. It was to be thirty-five feet square, with twenty feet posts, the walls covered with boards and clapboards, and the roof with boards and shingles. There were to be twenty-four win- dow-frames set, and six windows glazed, and the lower floor was to be laid.
In 1819, the Congregationalists built a large church on the cross road, half a mile to the west of the former, and occupied it till the winter of 1836, when it was destroyed by fire. Afterward, they built a chapel on the spot occupied by the first house, but after a few years they sold it, and built a tasteful church at the village, in which they have continued to worship to the present time.
The Baptists built a church at the village, in 1826, which they occupied for many years, but at length erected a church of fine proportions, with vestry accommodations, and pleasing in style. It is probably the most expensive church in the town.
In 1825, the Universalists erected a large church on the lower street, designed to accommodate the people in all the country round. It was two stories high, with capacious galleries. This house was taken down in 1848, and the materials used in the construction of a new one at the center, a location which much better accommodates the parish. Its
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
interior now presents an attractive appearance, and it is a comfortable place of worship.
The Universalists about the north part of the town built a chapel at Richmond's Corner in 1841, before the site of the first church was changed, but public worship has not been sustained in it except in the mild portion of the year. It stands in the midst of thrifty farmers, to whom it sends out its silent invitations.
In the autumn of 1877, the people of North Turner dedicated a small church of graceful pro- portion, tasteful finish, and attractive in every feature. It is a little gem. The peculiarity in its erection is that the ladies of the place took it in hand, raised money by levees and by subscriptions, made the contracts, and pushed the work along to completion; and it was dedicated free from debt. It is called a union church; the several ministers in town united in the service of dedication, and its doors are opened for religious services without regard to the faith of the minister officiating. No pastor has been settled there.
MINISTERIAL AND GRAMMAR SCHOOL FUNDS.
The original proprietors of Sylvester Canada were required by the act of the General Court which secured to them the township, to set apart one sixty-fourth part thereof, for the support of a
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
learned Protestant minister, one sixty-fourth part for the support of schools in the town, and one sixty-fourth part for the benefit of Harvard College. For a number of years, the settled minister culti- vated the land set apart for his support, or as much of it as he chose, and in this way received a portion of his salary; but there was no way to get any rev- enue from the school lands but to rent them. Only very small funds were raised in this way for the support of schools in the town. It soon became apparent that all these lands would better promote the interests for which they were set apart, if they were sold, and from the proceeds a permanent fund created, the interest of which should be expended annually for the support of public worship and schools. Hence, in 1802, the town voted to peti- tion the General Court for liberty to sell the parsonage and school lands. Their petition was favorably received, and the following act was passed.
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.
In the year of our LORD, one thousand eight hundred and three.
An Act to authorize the raising a fund for the support of the ministry, and a Grammar School in the town of Turner in the County of Cumberland.
Sec. Ist. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre- sentatives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, that Ichabod Bonney esqr, William Bradford, Benja-
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
min Evans, John Turner esq, Daniel Cary, Luther Cary and John Loring be, and hereby are appointed trustees to sell the ministerial and school land in said Town of Turner, and put out at interest the monies arising from such sale, in manner hereafter mentioned, and for that purpose.
SEC. 2d. Be it further enacted, that the said Trustees be and hereby are incorporated into a body politic by the name of the Trustees of the Ministerial and Grammar School funds in the town of Turner in the County of Cumberland; and they and their successors shall be and continue a body politic and cor- porate by that name forever, and they shall have a common Seal subject to be altered at their pleasure ; and they may sue and be sued in all actions real, personal, and mixed, and pros- ecute and defend the same to final judgment and execution, by the name aforesaid.
SEC. 3d. Be it further enacted, that the said trustees and their successors, shall and may annually elect a President and Clerk to record the doings and transactions of the trustees at their meetings ; and a Treasurer to receive and apply the monies hereinafter mentioned, as hereinafter directed, and any other needful officers for the better managing of their business.
SEC. 4th. Be it further enacted, that the number of trustees shall not, at any time, be more than seven, nor less than five, and five of their number to constitute a quorum for transacting business; and they shall and may from time to time fill up vacancies in their number, which may happen by death, resig- nation or otherwise, from the members of said town ; and shall also have power to remove any of their number who may become unfit and incapable from age, infirmity, misconduct or any other cause of discharging their duty, and to supply a vacancy so made by a new choice from the town aforesaid. And the said trustees shall annually hold a meeting in March or April, and as much oftener as may be found necessary to
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
transact their business, which meetings, after the first, shall be called in such way and manner as the trustees shall hereafter direct.
SEC. 5th. Be it further enacted, that Ichabod Bonney esqr. be and hereby is authorized to fix the time and place for holding the first meeting of the trustees and to notify each trustee thereof.
SEC. 6th. Be it further enacted, that said trustees be, and they hereby are authorized to sell and convey in fee simple, all the ministerial and grammar school lands belonging to said town and to make, execute and acknowledge a good and sufficient deed or deeds thereof, which deed or deeds subscribed by the name of their Treasurer, by direction of said trustees with their Seal thereto affixed, shall be good and effectual in law to pass, and convey the fee simple from said town to the purchaser, to all intents and purposes whatever.
SEC. 7th. Be it further enacted, that the monies arising from the sale of said lands shall be put at interest as soon as may be, and secured by mortgage of real estate to the full value of the estate sold; or by two or more sufficient sureties with the principal, unless the trustees shall think it best to invest the same in public funded securities, or bank stock of this Com- monwealth, which they may do.
SEC. 8th. Be it further enacted, that the interest arising from time to time on such monies, shall be annually, or oftener if practicable, put out at interest and secured in manner aforesaid, unless invested in the funds or bank stock as aforesaid, and also the interest accruing from the interest, until a fund shall be accumulated on the sale of school lands and the interest arising thereon, which shall yield yearly the sum of two hundred dollars, and from the ministerial lands, three hundred and fifty dollars annually.
SEC. 9th. Be it further enacted, that as soon as an interest
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
to that amount shall accrue, the trustees shall forthwith apply the same, or that part arising from the sale of the ministerial lands, toward the support of a learned protestant minister which may then be settled in town, or which may thereafter be settled there ; and as long as the said town shall remain without a set- tled minister, the annual interest aforesaid shall be put at interest and secured as aforesaid to increase the said fund, until there be a resettlement of a minister ; and that part arising from the sale of the school lands as aforesaid towards the sup- port of a grammar School in said town; and it shall never be in the power of said town to alienate or anywise alter the funds aforesaid.
SEC. Ioth. Be it further enacted, that the Clerk of said Corporation shall be sworn previous to his entering on the duties of his office; and the Treasurer of the Trustees shall give bond faithfully to perform his duty, and to be at all times responsible for the faithful application and appropriation of the money which may come into his hands, conformably to the true intent and meaning of this act, and for all negligence or mis- conduct of any kind in his office.
SEC. IIth. Be it further enacted, that the Trustees or their officers for the services they may perform shall be entitled to no compensation out of any money arising from the funds aforesaid, but if entitled to any shall have and receive the same of said town as may be mutually agreed on.
SEC. 12th. Be it further enacted, that the said Trustees and their successors shall exhibit to the town at their annual meet- ing in March or April, a regular and fair statement of their doings.
SEC. 13th. Be it further enacted, that the said Trustees and each of them shall be responsible to the town for their personal negligence or misconduct whether they be officers or not, and liable to a suit for any loss or damage arising thereby, the debt or damage recovered in such suit, to be for the uses aforesaid.
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 7th 1803.
This bill having had three several readings passed to be enacted.
JOHN C. JONES, Speaker.
IN SENATE, February 8th 1803.
This bill having had two several readings passed to be enacted.
DAVID COBB, President.
February 9th 1803. By the Governor approved.
CALEB STRONG.
True copy,
ATTEST : JOHN AVERY, Secretary.
At a meeting of the trustees, convened at the house of Ichabod Bonney, Esq., March 15, 1803, Benjamin Evans was chosen Clerk, Luther Cary, Esq., President, and John Turner, Esq., Treasurer. At a meeting held the following month, a commit- tee was chosen consisting of Ichabod Bonney, William Bradford, and John Turner, to appraise the ministerial and grammar school lands with ref- erence to their sale. The treasurer was instructed to procure a seal with the letter T. It is presumed that this letter was designed to represent Turner ; but, at a subsequent meeting, it was voted to adopt the letter J instead, but nothing appears to indicate the reason for the change.
The following is a statement of the sale of the ministerial and school lands in the town of Turner, and county of Cumberland.
II
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
MINISTERIAL LANDS
Lot No. 224, sold to Stephen Drew Jun. and Chand- ler Decoster; notes given dated June 11th, 1803, for one thousand dollars.
$1,000.00
Thatcher Blake and Stephen Drew were bondsmen for Chandler Decoster, and Zeri Hayford and Chandler Decoster were bondsmen for Chand- ler Decoster Jr.
Lot No. 126 was sold June 15th, 1803, to Asa Brad- ford, for cash, 50.00
Lot No. 203 was sold June 15th, 1803, to Seraiah Merrill; note for 250.00
Of Lot No. 51, the northwest quarter was sold to Luther Cary, January 2, 1804, for 450.00
Samuel Gorham and Joseph Leavitt were his bondsmen.
Of Lot No. 51, the southwest quarter was sold to Samuel Gorham for 550.00
Luther Cary and Joseph Leavitt were his bondsmen.
Of Lot No. 51, the northeast quarter was sold to Joseph Leavitt for 750.00
Luther Cary and Samuel Gorham were his bondsmen. Of Lot No. 51, the southeast quarter was sold to Samuel Pumpilly for 800.00
Total, $3,850.00
SCHOOL LANDS.
Lot No. 99 was sold to David Hale and Oliver Hale for $1,100.00
The note given was dated May 20, 1803, and Oliver Hale and the selectmen of Waterford were bondsmen.
Lot No. 257 was sold to Joshua Whitman for 350.00
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HISTORY OF TURNER.
The note given was dated June 11, 1803, and Sam- uel Gorham and John Strickland Jun. were bondsmen.
ยท Lot No. 168 was sold to John Swett for 700.00
The note given was dated June 15, 1803. Judah Teague and Samuel Irish were bondsmen.
Lot No. 4 was sold to Ezra Cary Jun. and Seth Staples for 400.00
The note given was dated September 10, 1803. Ezra Cary and Abner Thayer were bondsmen.
Total,
$2,550.00
As the ministerial and grammar school funds were not productive until the annual interest of the former amounted to three hundred and fifty dol- lars, and the latter to two hundred dollars, the trustees had but little business, except to keep up their organization and look out for the notes given for lands sold. A committee was chosen annually to advise with the treasurer respecting the notes in his keeping. When there was money in the treas- ury arising from the payment of notes due, any man in town could hire it, or as much as he might need, by procuring the names of two men as indorsers who were acceptable. There was rarely a time when no one was ready "to borrow money of the town," as it was called, when there were funds in the treasury; and in this way, the people of the town were accom- modated, and the money kept at interest. This was a great convenience to those in need of money,
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