USA > Maine > Knox County > Union > A history of the town of Union, in the county of Lincoln, Maine : to the middle of the nineteenth century, with a family register of the settlers before the year 1800, and of their descendants > Part 12
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1848. Abel Walker, William A. Thayer, Samuel Bowker, Isley Martin, Charles Kahler.
1849. Obadiah Harris, William Caswell, Calvin Boggs, Nathan D. Rice.
1850. William Shepard, Hugh Gordon, George M. Fossett, James Davis, David Blackington.
1851. Hugh Gordon, Ebenezer W. Adams, Nathan Whit- ney, Samuel Howland.
In 1815, the law for prosecuting violators of the Lord's Day was vigorously enforced. As the com- plainant was entitled to one-half of the fine, it is not to be supposed that he was always indifferent about the fee, or that he was actuated solely by a desire to check the profanation of the day.
On one occasion, a teamster, who had been carting goods to Boston, arrived at Waldoborough on Satur- day. Being very unwilling to spend Sunday on the road, he took his departure about midnight for his home in Union. One of his oxen was thus over- tasked, and he was delayed. For this delinquency he was complained of by a vigilant tithingman, whose house he was obliged to pass, and was fined.
On another occasion, a citizen of Boston, having heard of the dangerous illness of an intimate friend, was hastening home, and tarried at the tavern over- night. He rose very early on Sunday morning, and quietly departed with his family in his carriage, while many of the neighbors were yet asleep. But his de- parture did not escape the vigilance of a tithingman, who entered a complaint, though he did not himself see him.
All persons were permitted to enter complaints ; and sometimes ill-will was gratified. A young man went to spend the Lord's Day with a relative, whose nearest neighbor he disliked. During the day, the neighbor went into the field to look at his cattle or sheep. Ac- cordingly, on Monday, a complaint was entered against
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FISH-WARDENS.
him for violating the Lord's Day. There were similar proceedings in other towns. They show the practical operation of the law.
FISH-WARDENS.
1787. David Robbins, Amariah Mero, John Butler.
1788. Royal Grinnell, John Butler, David Robbins.
1789. Jessa Robbins, Amariah Mero, Royal Grinnell.
1790. David Woodcock, Josiah Robbins, Philip Robbins.
1791. John M. Wight, Samuel Hills, Thomas Daggett, jun. Levi Morse, David Robbins.
1793. Edward Jones, David Robbins, Christopher Butler, Samuel Hills, Levi Morse.
1794. David Robbins, Josiah Hart, William Hart.
1795. Rufus Gillmor, Philip Robbins, Jessa Robbins, Chris- topher Butler, Josiah Maxcy.
1796. Royal Grinnell, Nathaniel Robbins, Christopher But- ler, David Robbins.
1797. David Robbins, Christopher Butler, Moses Hawes, David Gillmor, Rufus Gillmor.
1798. Olney Titus, Josiah Maxcy, Christopher Butler, David Gillmor, Nathaniel Robbins.
1799. David Robbins, David Gillmor, Thomas Nye, Jere- miah Mitchell, Matthias Hawes.
1800. Thomas Nye, Rufus Dyer, Olney Titus, George Washington West, Royal Grinnell.
1801. David Gillmor, Edward Jones, Nathaniel Robbins, Matthias Hawes, Thomas Nye.
1802. Olney Titus, Rufus Dyer, Edward Jones, Edward Oakes, Jesse Rogers.
1803. A. Mero, John Butler, Nich. Smith, Tho. Nye, R. Gill- mor ; April 4, Rufus Dyer, in the place of T. Nye. 1804. Abel Walker, Royal Grinnell, Nicholas Smith, John Clark, Benjamin Eastman.
1805. David Robbins, John Clark, Calvin Morse.
1806. Jonathan Daggett, Ezekiel Hagar, Amos Barrett.
1807. Spencer Walcott, Thomas Nye, Christopher Butler, David Robbins, Royal Grinnell.
1808. Edward Jones, William Hart, James Rice, Nathan D. Rice, Richard Grinnell.
1809. Timothy Stewart, Thomas Nye, Zelotes Tucker.
1823. Eben. W. Adams, John Butler 1st, Phinehas Butler.
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TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
CHAPTER XVI.
TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
First Burial Place. - Old Burying Ground. - First Private Burying Ground. - Second Private Burying Ground. - East Union Bury- ing Ground. - Hearses. - Common. - Pound. - Town House.
BURIAL-PLACES.
FIRST BURIAL PLACE. - Fourteen 1 persons were buried in David Robbins's field, on the point of land which juts into the west side of Seven-tree Pond. The only adults were Elisha Partridge and Jessa Robbins's first wife.
OLD BURYING GROUND. - Who owns the Old Bury- ing Ground ? This question is often asked, and from the town-records will now be given all the information respecting it which they contain.
Nov. 8, 1790, Matthias Hawes, Ezra Bowen, and David Woodcock, were chosen a committee "to look out a plat of ground and procure the same for a bury- ing-place," and "to settle with David Robbins in regard of the inhabitants that had been buried on his land." David Woodcock2 died Dec. 9, and was the first person buried in the Old Burying Ground. March 7, 1791, the "report of the [other members of the] Committee on the spot for a burying-place at the north end of the spot for the meeting-house," was ac- cepted by the town. At the same time it was " voted that Mr. Philip Robbins shall clear and improve the
1 N. P. Hawes's MS.
2 Mr. Woodcock lived at South Union. The road around the head of Seven-tree Pond was so bad that it was hardly passable. The pond was frozen so as to prevent crossing with boats, and yet the ice was not thick. The funeral procession went to the pond ; and the people, two by two, passed along on the margin very near the shore, at great distances from each other, lest the cracking ice should give way be- neath their feet.
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OLD BURYING-GROUND.
spot for a burying-place, till it be subdued according to his proposal." Aug. 29, 1791, " Chose two sextons to attend the graveyard, viz. Rufus Gillmor and Nathaniel Robbins." It was expected that the meet- ing-house would be erected near the place selected for burials. When it was determined to build the house on the Common, the inhabitants continued to bury where there had already been several interments.
There is no other record on the subject till Jan. 16, 1796, when it was voted to fence the burying-ground and measure it, - a vote which was reconsidered April 4. May 20, 1799, Rufus Gillmor, for twenty- five dollars, agreed to put round it " a good five-rail fence, with a decent gate in the front," by the last of June; and David Robbins, Amariah Mero, and Thomas Mitchell, were chosen a committee to see that it was done according to agreement. April 7, 1806, the selectmen were directed to fence it with boards and pine-posts. April 4, 1808, upon an article " to see if the town will request Mr. Robbins to pas- ture the burying-ground with sheep and horses only, or act and do any thing relative thereto," it was " voted that the selectmen be a committee to contract with some person or persons to fence" it, and report at the May meeting. In May, 1809, Amariah Mero took at auction, for thirteen dollars, the job "to make a new fence on the north side, ... similar to that now standing by the road, and to have the remainder of the old fence repaired well." The records make no further mention of the subject till Sept. 10, 1827, when it was " voted that the selectmen make or repair the fence about the burying-ground, to the best advantage." Nov. 7, 1836, " voted that the selectmen see that the burying-ground near Willard Robbins's be fenced as soon as may be for the interest of the town, and with such materials as they may think most suitable."
There is no record of any purchase or agreement respecting the land. It is doubtful if any record was made. Mr. Robbins, the owner of the land, gave the place to be used as a burying-ground ; it being under-
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TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
stood that the town should fence it, and that he should pasture it with sheep or such cattle as would not in- jure the graves or grave-stones. "The town," accord- ing to the late Nathaniel Robbins, Esq. " has generally been negligent about fencing it." In April, 1842, William Gleason, Calvin Gleason, and Samuel Stone, were chosen a committee to examine the condition of the fence; and, upon their making a report, Aug. 27, it was "voted that the building of said fence be left in the hands of the selectmen." Probably nothing was done; for, Sept. 29, 1845, the town voted to allow " Willard Robbins's bill for repairs done on graveyard- fence from 1834 to 1845."
At the meeting in April, 1842, when the subject of the fence was brought forward, it was " voted that the selectmen procure a deed of said ground in behalf of the town." A deed was not obtained. Sept. 29, 1845, when Willard Robbins's bill for repairs was allowed, an article was brought forward "to see if the town will allow any person to pasture the town burying- ground ;" whereupon Walter Blake, Nathan Hills, and Elijah Vose, were chosen a committee "to ascertain what right, if any, the town had to said burying- ground, and report at the next town-meeting." 'Their report is not recorded. In July, 1846, Nathaniel, son of Josiah Robbins, not knowing, and not being able to ascertain from his father's deed, whether he had any title to it or not, gave a quit-claim deed of the Old Burying Ground to his son Willard.
The situation of this ground is very beautiful; and if trees, shrubbery, and flowers were planted, it would be one of the most interesting spots in Union. Here, too, is the only monument in town. It is of marble, and was placed over the grave of Nathaniel Robbins, Esq. Dec. 4, 1850, in memory of him and his wife Lovey, who is buried by his side.
FIRST PRIVATE BURYING GROUND. - The warrant calling a town-meeting, July 4, 1820, contains an arti- cle "to hear the report of the selectmen relative to buying a piece of land for a burying-ground ;" and it
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PRIVATE BURYING-GROUNDS.
was "voted that the selectmen be a standing com- mittee, and make further report respecting the burying- ground in the west part of the town." May 7, 1821, the selectmen were authorized to purchase a piece of land of Samuel Daggett, provided they could obtain a sufficient quantity for a sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars. The next mention of the subject bears date April 5, 1830, when Calvin Gleason, Henry Fossett, and Henry Blunt, were chosen a committee "to make such inquiries as they think proper, as to purchasing a piece of land for a burying-ground." The town voted not to accept their report, which was made Sept. 13. Individuals then took up the subject, and a justice's warrant for incorporation was granted Nov. 22, 1830; at which time ground was bought in the corner of the field made by the two roads, about 100 rods north-east of the present graveyard. The funeral of Mrs. Jane Bryant, the only person buried here, was Jan. 14, 1831. The ground was so wet that the coffin rose, and the body was removed, April 16, 1831, to the present burying-ground, which was purchased by a commit- tee chosen Dec. 30, 1830, and was accepted Jan. 22, 1831. The burial of Mrs. Jonathan Morse was the next. There were fourteen removals from other places, most of them from the Old Burying Ground. Henry Fossett, Ebenezer Blunt, Brotherton Daggett, and Thomas Mitchell, had each of them one child, and Cal- vin Gleason, Nahum Thurston, and John Tobey, had each of them two children, reburied here. Beside these were Jonathan Carriel; also Philip Grinnell and wife, who were removed from Liberty in 1834; and a child of Nathan D. Rice, Nov. 18, 1835, which was re-interred at the time he buried another. The records were remarkably well kept, giving the ages, and also the time of all the burials, by Samuel Daggett, the sexton and clerk, till his decease in the fall of 1846.
SECOND PRIVATE BURYING GROUND. - A justice's warrant was issued Nov. 1, 1841, and a meeting held and proprietors incorporated Nov. 8, at which time may be dated the opening of the Second Private
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TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
Burying Ground. The deed of the land probably is of a later date. Formerly the spot was the northern part of the Rev. Mr. True's orchard. In April, 1844, the town voted to pay half the expense of building the fence between it and the Old Burying Ground. It is divided into family lots, cornered by marble posts. The first person buried in it was David Cummings, who died the 24th, and not, as the grave-stone states, the 17th of March, 1842. Several bodies in the Old Bury- ing Ground were disinterred, and reburied here. Here are the only tombs in the town. The first was built in the north-east corner of the ground, in the autumn of 1846, to be a temporary receiving tomb when the ground is frozen. Before this time, graves were dug during the winter. The first person whose remains rested here temporarily was the wife of Dr. Jonathan Sibley. A few weeks afterward, the tomb was again opened to receive the remains of Mrs. Reed, who was the second tenant, and who with the first was interred in the spring of 1847. In the autumn of 1848, two contiguous tombs were built by Ebenezer Alden and John Little, who owned adjoining lots. Some of the proprietors have ornamented their squares with trees.
EAST UNION BURYING GROUND .- July 4, 1820, John W. Lindley, Micajah Gleason, and Reuben Hills, were chosen a committee " to examine and report on the petition for a burying-ground in the east part of the town." Nov. 6, the town accepted a report "to purchase a piece of land of John Lermond at twenty- five dollars an acre, and one dollar per rod for the wall standing thereon." This land was about 100 rods, in a north-easterly direction, from the present private burying-ground, and near a large rock. Ephraim Bowley and four (?) children were buried here; but the ground was so wet, that it was voted, Sept. 11, 1826, that " the treasurer be authorized to exchange deeds with John Lermond," for another spot " more suitable." The spot obtained was north of this, on the north side of the river, near the mills. Sept. 8, 1828, it was "voted that John Lermond build the
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HEARSES.
fence, to the best advantage to the town." Several persons were buried here; but the ground was so rocky, that nearly all the inhabitants in the vicinity united in purchasing the spot now known as the East Union Private Burying Ground. The first burial in this yard was of Sarah G. Collins, who died Feb. 27, 1846. As early as Aug. 17, 1846, sixteen bodies, mostly from the second place selected, had been re- interred. The ground is the property of individuals, and divided into lots.
HEARSES.
For many years, the remains of the dead1 were carried to the grave on biers, which were borne on men's shoulders, sometimes two or three miles. There were commonly eight bearers; four to relieve the other four at short distances. Subsequently, when horse-wagons came into use, the custom was intro- duced of removing the body of a wagon, and "strap- ping " or cording the coffin to the axle-trees. May 1, 1817, and Sept. 27, 1822, the selectmen were autho- rized " to procure a good decent hearse for the use of the town." There was none in town before this time. Dec. 20, 1823, Abiel Gay, for $23.50, bid off the job of building a hearse-house, sixteen feet by eight, and seven feet high, and agreed to have it done to the ac- ceptance of the selectmen in June. Sept. 13, 1824, it was voted to purchase a pall, paint the hearse-house, and repair the fence. April, 1845, P. C: Harding was authorized to purchase two hearses, with palls for the same, and to dispose of the old one. April, 1846, it was voted that the town provide a hearse for the bury-
1 Of course, when there were but few families, a death was imme- diately known by all in town. Now it is generally announced by the bell. Within a few hours after a death, the bell is rung in the usual manner, - unless it be in the night, when the ringing is deferred till the following morning. Then, for a male, the bell is struck three strokes in rapid succession three times, there being between each three strokes an interval of one two or minutes. For a female, it is the same, except that the strokes are three times two. After this the age is tolled, - one stroke for each year.
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TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
ing-ground at East Union. One for the First Private Burying Ground was voted in May. In April, the selectmen were authorized to purchase two harnesses to accompany the hearses; also, in May, another for the hearse at the West Burying Ground.
COMMON.
The Common also has been a topic of much discus- sion. The earliest record alluding to the subject bears date April 5, 1790. " Voted that boars and rams shall not have the liberty of going on the Common." Voted that " hogs shall have liberty of going on the Common at large."1 Jan. 16, 1796, Josiah Robbins, Timothy Stewart, Amariah Mero, Samuel Hills, and David Robbins, were chosen a committee "to apply to Da- vid Gillmor for a deed of two acres for a meeting- house lot, and to measure the same." There does not seem to have been any action upon the subject im- mediately; for, Nov. 5, 1798, the town voted not to accept the report of a committee chosen to lay out the Common round the meeting-house, but ".to have the Common as surveyed by Mr. Waldron Stone." It was somewhat rough at this time, as we may infer from an article in the warrant for May 27, 1801, " to see if the town will clear out the stumps and stone out of the Common, so as it may be fit for training
1 Votes of a similar nature were frequently passed. Hogs were privileged characters each year afterward till 1794. From 1794 to 1799, votes were annually passed that " swine be allowed to run at large, being yoked and ringed as the law directs." With the excep- tion of the year 1804, they have never since been allowed their lib- erty, not even if subjected to the ignoble yoke on the neck and wire- ring in the nose. Several movements have been made in their behalf; but their friends have been so disconcerted in town-meetings at hav- ing their articles always " dropped," that it is many years since they have given up in despair all attempts to procure for them the rights and privileges which they enjoy in some of the streets of large cities.
The general principle of choosing all men hog-reeves who have been married in the course of the preceding ycar has not always pre- vailed here. Unmarried persons have sometimes attained to the dis- tinguished honor, though there is no record that the honor has been conferred on any one since April 4, 1825, when it was "voted to choose no hog-reeves."
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THE COMMON.
for the town-soldiers." The same warrant contained an article "to see if the town will accept of a deed of land for a Common, for a training-field, from Mr. David Gillmor." The town "voted the selectmen be a committee to apply to Mr. David Gillmor for a deed of the Common in the best manner they can get it for the town, and to postpone the clearing until a deed is procured."
April 4, 1808, upon an article to see if the town will survey the Common, it was " voted that the selectmen look up the deed of the Common, and put it on record as soon as convenient." On the 2d of May following, it was " voted that the selectmen survey the Common, and compromise with Capt. [Rufus] Gillmor, and David his brother, by giving up the old deed, and tak- ing a new one on the terms proposed by Capt. Gillmor, and get the deed recorded." Accordingly, the follow- ing deed was obtained :-
"KNOW ALL MEN by these presents, that I, David Gill- mor, of the Plantation No. Two, in the county of Hancock, and State of Massachusetts, gentleman, in consideration of one hundred dollars, well and truly paid by Nathaniel Bache- lor, Joel Adams, and William Hart, selectmen of the town of Union for the year A.D. 1809, and their successors in said office as selectmen of Union, the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby give, grant, sell, and convey unto the said Bachelor, Adams, and Hart, and their successors in the office of selectmen of said Union, for ever, a certain tract of land lying in Union aforesaid, and is bounded as fol- lows, viz. : Beginning at a stake and stones standing west thirty-three degrees south seven rods and five links from the south-west corner of Capt. Rufus Gillmor's dwelling, at the northerly corner of said tract; thence south seven de- grees east [west ?] fourteen rods to a stake and stones ; thence east fifteen degrees south twenty-three rods to a stake and stones ; thence east seventeen degrees north thir- teen rods and five links to a stake and stones ; thence east twenty-six degrees north eight rods to a stake and stones ; thence north seven degrees west four rods and sixteen links to a stake and stones; thence west fourteen degrees north
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TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
forty rods and twenty links to the bound first mentioned, be the same more or less ; and the above premises are to be occupied for the sole purpose for a Common for the use of the town of Union, to have and to hold the afore-granted premises to the said Bachelor, 'Adams, and Hart, or their successors, to their use and behoof for ever.
" And I do covenant with the said Bachelor, Adams, and Hart, that I am lawfully seized in fee of the afore-granted premises ; that they are free of all incumbrances; that I have good right to sell and convey the same to the said Bachelor, Adams, and Hart, or their successors in office ; and that I will warrant and defend the same premises to the said Bachelor, Adams, and Hart, for ever, against the law- ful claims and demands of all persons.
" In witness whereof, I, the said David Gillmor, have here- unto set my hand and seal, this fifteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and nine.
" DAVID GILLMOR, and seal. " Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us,
"RUFUS GILLMOR. " NATHL. ROBBINS.
"Lincoln, ss. June the 15, A.D. 1809. Then the above- named David Gillmor personally acknowledged the above instrument to be his free act and deed before me,
"NATHL. ROBBINS, Justice of Peace."
1809, April 3, the town "voted that cattle shall not be allowed to run loose on the Common on pub- lic days." Sept. 25, 1809, David Robbins, Nathaniel Robbins, and Amos Barrett, were chosen a committee to keep the Common clear of incumbrances.
1830, April 5, an unsuccessful proposition was brought forward " to see if the town would pay Daniel F. Harding and John Little for the powder already expended, and necessary to be expended, in removing the ledge on the Common."
1838, Sept. 10, an article was " dropped," which re- quested the town to " authorize the treasurer to release to D. F. Harding, and the subscribers associated with him, for building a Congregational Meeting-house, the
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THE COMMON.
land on which the Old Meeting-house stood, including that portion of the Common below Ebenezer Cobb's line and the road leading from said Cobb's new build- ing to Zaccheus Litchfield's house." This was at the beginning of an excitement in regard to the location of the meeting-houses. At different times, several votes were passed, the object of some of which may have been to test the feelings of the town as to how far they meant to allow the Common to be trespassed upon. The deed was obscure; and, Nov. 29, 1838, it was "voted that the selectmen survey, or cause to be surveyed, the Common, and erect suitable monuments at every angle and corner, and ascertain the right said town has to it, if any." April 1, 1839, an application was made by the Universalists "to see if the town would allow Nathaniel Bachelor, and such others as may be associated with him, to build a free meeting- house near where the old house stood, blow the rock, and level the ground in front of the contemplated free meeting-house .... Voted that they be allowed to blow out the rock and level off the spot in front." An ap- plication came from the other party, April 16, 1839, " to see if the town would allow Joseph Vaughan and others to blast rocks and remove them from the ledge on the Common for the use of a meeting-house. .. . Voted that they be allowed to blow out and remove the rock from the Common."
Upon recurring to the deed, it was found impossible, by pursuing the courses marked out in it, to arrive at the point of departure ; and it was concluded that the word east meant west. April 29, 1839, the town " voted that the selectmen survey the Common as now holden, and [that] durable monuments [be] erected at the angles of the same, and a plan thereof made and filed in the clerk's office." From this plan, it appears that the Universalist Meeting-house projects somewhat upon the Common.
Several articles have been brought forward in town- meetings, during the last eight years, respecting incum- brances and pasturing cattle on the Common, -
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TOPOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
designed probably by a few individuals to tease each other, or for sport.
POUND.
Of course, the cattle of the early settlers grazed in meadows and browsed in woods in the sum- mer, and were fed principally on meadow-hay in the winter. Cow-bells and sheep-bells were fastened to the necks of the leaders of the herds and flocks, so that they might be the more easily found. From an early period, owners have left with the town-clerks records of the marks of their cattle. " Thomas Dag- gett's mark for his cattle, sheep, &c. is half a crop on the foreside of the left ear, and the end of the right ear cut off. Entered Aug. 28, 1790." Another entry,
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