USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 38
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 38
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William who married Nancy Lermond.
Robert Jane Bell.
James
Fanny Rodgers.
Margaret
Wm. Jones.
Jane
66 John Stinson.
Elizabeth "
Dodd.
About 1745, when nearly all the settlements were broken up, by the Indians, some of their number were killed and others taken prisoners, and the rest obliged to flee for safety. Most of them went to Boston or vicinity, but at the close of the war in 1759, nearly all found their way back to their old homesteads in Walpole.
They had received no titles to their lands from Dunbar, and the place was then entirely desolate; so they selected for them- selves some 1200 or 1500 acres in a body, dividing it into lots to suit the number of families. Nearly all of these lands are still in the possession of their descendants.1
1 J. Gilmore Huston, 1859.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
John Huston, in 1811, testified before the commissioners for settling the difficulties in Lincoln county, that he was a grandson of the first of the name that came to Walpole, and was born in Boston in 1748. Probably they had been settled here before this, but had been driven off by the Indians, and were now re- turning to their former possessions. He learned from his parents that they came to Walpole the next year; and he him- self remembered " living in garrison." Before he was born an aunt and grandmother of his were killed by the Indians, and grandfather (he does not say whether on his father's or mother's side) taken prisoner. In 1757, a man was killed in Walpole and another taken prisoner ; and the next day they killed two and wounded several in another part of the town. As early as he could remember, the country there was "considerably set- tled " on both sides of the river.1
Several individuals of the family have distinguished them- selves by holding important offices in the town, always perform- ing the prescribed duties with fidelity.
James Huston, sou of the first of this name, was a very estimable citizen, and was often employed in the public service (ante, pp. 347, 350). Ile was first elected on the board of se- lectmen in 1766, the second year after the town was incorpo- rated, and subsequently many years, the last time in 1797. The time of his death has not been ascertained. He married Fanny Rodgers.
Robert Huston, son of Wm. and Nancy (Lermond) Huston, was perhaps as distinguished as any. He was for many years a justice of the peace and was familiarly known as " Squire Huston." From 1799 to 1812, both years inclusive, he was elected a member of the board of selectmen, and one or two years afterwards, and often filled other offices. The present Mrs. William Hackelton is a daughter of his. He died May 7th, 1824, aged 72 years.
The name of Thomas Brackett has been several times men- tioned (pages 345, 346 and 355) in connection with important offices held by him. It is believed that he came here from Boston where himself or his father had kept a tavern. He married a daughter of James Sproul (ante, p. 334) and lived for a time, at least, on the place owned formerly by Arthur Child, and subsequently by James Blaisdell. He was a mem- 1 Lin. Rep., 1811, p. 151,
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN. 385
ber of the board of selectmen in 1787; but as his name does not afterwards appear it is probable that he died about this time. All of the name in the town are probably descendants of his.
In the autumn of 1784, it was determined to have an accurate survey made of the territory of the town, in accordance with a previous resolve of the legislature. A. map was also to be prepared; and the enterprise was committed to John Johnston and Caleb Turner, who engaged to do it for £42. They em- ployed Thos. Boyd as surveyor; and the map made by him is still preserved in the secretary's office in Boston. By his re- port, dated, June 25th, 1795, it appears that he began at the northeast corner of the town, " and ran thence southerly by the shore as the shore lyeth to Pemaquid Point," and so on around the shores of John's river and Damariscotta river to the Noble- boro line, then on the line of Nobleboro and Waldoboro to the place of beginning. . He mentions also as included in the survey " Rutherford's Island, and all the islands in Pemaquid Sound." He estimates the distance of the centre of the town "from the shire town of the county" [Wiscasset] to be 15 miles, and "from the metropolis of the commonwealth " (Boston), 190 miles.
The shore line with all the indentations of the sea, seems to be accurately laid down, and also the various ponds and streams but not the roads. The places of the three meeting houses are noted and those of the saw and grist mills, but noth- ing more.
Robert Given was the first town clerk of Bristol elected after its incorporation, and subsequently served as one of the select- men of the town. He was born (it is believed) in Newcastle about 1732, and came to this place when a young man, and married Jane Nickels, a-daughter of Alexander Nickels, com- mander of Fort Frederic, and sister of Alexander Nickels jr., who served as captain of the company " of scouters " as before related, (ante, p. 312). He purchased land at the Falls on which a saw and a grist mill were erected, probably before his time. IIe carried on the business of his mills and farm with much success, and became, before his death, the most wealthy man in the town. Having faithfully served his generation, he died Jan. 15th, 1736, aged 64. His wife died June 14th, 1819, at the age of 87.
19
!
386
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
A remarkable circumstance that happened in the family a century ago, is still preserved in the traditions of the place. Robert jr., one of his two sons, when about 10 or 12 years old, was sent to a distant pasture in the woods for some oxen, but on the way was frightened by a bear, and so confused that he became entirely lost, and unable to find his way home. The family and people of the neighborhood searched the country for him in every direction for many days, and were about to relinquish further effort when he was discovered nearly ex- hausted, by a company that had penetrated the woods from the Round Pond neighborhood. He was found some two miles from home near Boyd's pond ; and a large rock in the imme- diate vicinity is still known as Robert's rock, or Given's rock. By careful nursing he recovered, though not fully until after considerable time. He afterwards died at sea as did also his brother, but on different ships.
There were four daughters in the family, one of whom, Sarah, as we have seen, married Rev. A. McLean. Jane married Israel Cox, Betsey married John Nickels, and Hannah married Thos. Miller.
Robert Mckown of Boston married another daughter of Alex- ander Nickels sr., and early came with his family to Pema- quid. He had his residence on the west side of the harbor, where he purchased a lot of 12 acres of Shem Drowne, agent of the Pemaquid proprietors, Oct. 12, 1759; but it is believed that he had leased the same or an adjacent lot as early as 1727, at which time, as appears by the record, a dwelling house of some kind had already been erected on the lot. According to a gravestone, supposed to be his, in the Pemaquid cemetery he died April 1, 1776, aged 57 years.
John McKown, believed to be a brother of Robert, purchased a lot here with a dwelling house upon it of Shem Drowne, July 3, 1740, and probably lived here for a time, but afterwards re- moved to Boston. By his will, dated July 9, 1768, besides other bequests, he gave to his nephew, John McKown, then a minor, " all his real estate lying in Bristol in the county of Lincoln," thus showing that he still owned land here. The will was admitted to probate Oct. 11, 1771; and of course he had died previous to this date.1
Sept. 26, 1776, Robert MeKown who had previously been 1 Certified copy of will in possession of the author.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
appointed " commissioner for troops at Bristol " made a requi- sition for money upon the council in Boston, saying that he bad made his first payment, and now needed more means " to meet the expenses for the next three months." As Robert Mckown, first mentioned, had died previous to the date of the requisition, it is clear there was another man of the same name here, who at this time held the important office alluded to. Their rela- tionship the author is unable to determine.1
The name has now become extinct in the place.
Rev. Wm. Riddel (ante, p. 372), was born in Coleraine, Mass., about 1768, and graduated at Dartmouth college in 1793. Having spent some time in the study of theology, he came here in 1795, and was subsequently settled as colleague with Rev. Mr. McLean, as heretofore stated. His ordination took place Ang. 17th, 1796, according to the usual forms of the Con- gregational church. The exercises were as follows, viz :
Introductory Prayer by Rev. Mr. Gillett, Hallowell.
Sermon2
Emerson, Georgetown.
Consecrating Prayer
Powers, Penobscot.
Charge,
Bradford, Wiscasset.
Right Hand of Fellowship, “ Wallis, Bath.
Concluding Prayer.
Mr. R. in his letter of acceptance reserved the right to be absent four sabbaths each year.
The church was originally organized according to the Pres- byterian forms, but on the settlement of Mr. R., it was changed and became Congregational. According to the record " they therefore, without renouncing Presbyterian principles, but be- cause the edification of the body at present requires it, mutu- ally and unanimously agreed to change the constitution of the church, as to its government and discipline from Presbyterian to Congregational."
Soon after his settlement Mr. R. married a daughter of Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D.D., of Hadley, Mass., whose acquaintance he had previously formed. He was received here with some cordiality, but for some reason full sympathy between him and the people seems never to have been established, and his min-
1 Muss. Archives, vol. 165, No. 289.
' Said to have been the same preached by him more than 20 years previously, at the ordination of the notorious Rev. John Urquhart. Euton's An. Warren, p. 155.
388
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
istry was only partially successful. Therefore when he asked a dismission in 1801, it was very readily granted.
Afterwards hereturned to his native place, and was a few years settled as pastor over a church in Vermont; but most of his life was spent in missionary work in the vicinity where he re- sided, Ile died in South Deerfield, Mass., in 1849, aged 81 years. He is believed to have been a faithful minister of the Gospel, and sincerely devoted to his work. Though receiving only a small compensation for missionary labors, he was a liberal contributor to the various benevolent enterprises of the day. Two sermons of his delivered before his people in Bristol were printed. Hoskins, Wiscasset, 1800.
Thomas McClure came to this place probably from Boston, several years before the close of the last century, and opened a store on the Damariscotta river a little distance from the Walpole meeting house. He took an active interest in the affairs of the place, and was once elected treasurer of the town, and twice as representative to the general court. He was appointed post- master when the first office was established in Bristol, probably in October, 1800, as he made his first returns to the general office, Jan. 1, 1801. He held the office until his removal from the place in 1806. Aaron Blaney was appointed to succeed him in the office May 15, 1806. Hle married Nancy Hunter, daughter of Henry Hunter before mentioned. She died May 28, 1800, and five or six years afterwards he removed to Boston, Rev. Alexander W. McClure ( Amherst Col., 1827), re- cently so well known for his spirited controversial writing's was bis son.
Aaron Blaney jr. became associated in business with Mr. McClure on the Damariscotta, about 1803. He came from Roxbury to Damariscotta as clerk to Oliver Gridley in 1793, but the next year engaged in the service of Kavanagh and Cottrill (or Coterel) who were at that time very largely engaged in trade with the West Indies. . Subsequently, he became a partner with MeClure in Walpole, and when the latter retired he con- tinued the business many years.
Though carrying on a large mercantile business, especially during the first years of the century, before the war of 1812, he took a deep interest in the public affairs of the town ; and from his knowledge of business made himself particularly useful in settling the difficulties with the non-resident landed proprie-
1
arnold Blancy PNOLD BLANEY
389
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
tors, as will appear when the subject comes before ns for dis- cussion. Several years he was elected treasurer of the town, and later in life for four years successively (1824-27 inclusive) he represented the town in the legislature of the state. For many years he held the office of justice of peace.
His father, Aaron Blancy sr., who had come to reside in the place, was appointed in 1800, to succeed Mr. MeClure as post master, and held the office until 1818, when his son was ap- pointed to succeed him. ILe (A. Blaney ar.) died Oct. 21, 1822, aged 84 years. The son being in office as postmaster How dropped the "jr." from his name; and this being recognized on the records of the general office in Washington, one trusting to the records alone might be led to suppose that a new appoint- mont had been made. He was greatly afflicted with asthma in the last years of his life, and died, July 31, 1834, aged 58 years. His autograph will be recognized at once by all the older people.
Hon. Arnold Blaney, son of the above, was born in Bristol, and has always resided in the place. An active business man aud politician, he has filled almost every office in the power of his fellow citizens to give him. Member of the board of select-
men many years, even through the recent war, though an out- spoken democrat, treasurer of the town, and representative in the legislature, and for one term judge of probate for the district, no man more fully enjoys the respect and confidence of his fellow citizens.
Thomas Johnston, whose name has been many times men- tioned, died, April 28th, 1811. Hewas born in the parish of
390
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Longformacus, Berwickshire, Scotland, March 28th, (or 31st) 1735, O. S. and came to this country in 1753. Though only & boy, he bad procured on credit a small package of goods of the value of about £5, and started on a peddling expedition in order to earn a livelihood. At the very beginning of his proposed tour, he had the misfortune to lose his whole stock in trade which was stolen from him in the night at the tavern where he had stopped. From the circumstances of the case a recovery of the goods he knew to be hopeless, and he was in utter consternation. Just at this time he met with Waldo's advertisement, inviting emigrants to his possession on the Muscongus patent, as it was called, in the state of Maine [district of Maine], and, with- out eren returning to bid farewell to his friends, struck a bargain with Waldo's agent and embarked on board the vessel which was about ready to sail. This was the brig Dolphin, Captain Cooters, then lying in the harbor of Greenock. They arrived first at Piscataqua, and came thence to the St. George's river, and landed on the west side in the lower part of the present town of Warren, Sept. 1753.1
There were on board, as emigrants, 14 families, consisting of about 60 persons, besides several young children, and two or more unmarried men. One or two years after his arrival he was in the employ of Waldo; but in those troublous times, the military service swallowed up all other employments, and in 1755, we find his name on the roll of Capt. John North, then stationed in Fort Frederic at Pemaquid. At the close of the war, in 1759, he was serving at the same place in the company of Capt. Alexander Nickels, and had probably been there the whole period intervening.2
April 13th, 1758, he was married to Mary McFarland in Pemaquid fort; she was a daughter of Solomon McFarland, and sister of Walter, previously mentioned (ante pp. 321, 333). A year after this marriage they removed to Broad Cove, and settled upon the farm, now owned by his grandson, James W. Johnston, where he lived the rest of his life. Johnston's wife died, Feb. 1, 1763, leaving three daughters, and he married, as his second wife, Anna Sproul of Harrington, July 26th, 1764. He had received in Scotland more of an education than most of those he was brought in contact with, in the then wilderness
1 Cyrus Eaton, Annals Warren, p. 85, 121.
2 Maxs. Archives, vol. 94, p. 432 and vol. 07. p.
391
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
of Maine, and soon came into notice as a public man. He took an active part in the preliminary steps to secure the incorpora- tion of the town of Bristol, in 1765, and in 1769 was elected on the board of selectmen. Subsequently he was elected to a place on this board, or the board of assessors every year, except in 1772 and 1781, until and including 1801. At the annual town- meeting in 1802, his name was omitted from the list and that of his son, John, substituted ; and he made them a short speech, thanking them for the favor so long shown him and especially for the honor done him in electing his son to take his place.1 According to tradition among his descendants he served six months in the revolutionary war, at St. Georges, in the com- missary's department, but no record of it has been found. The fact that his name is not on the list of selectmen for the year 1781, indicates that it may be he was absent at this time.2 In 1793 he represented the town in the general court.
For many years after Johnston came to the country there were no mail facilities extended to Maine east of Portland, and no correspondence passed between him and his friends in Scot- land for about 36 years. About 1789 a Scotch gentleman by the name of Proctor interested himself in taking letters from him to his friends in Scotland, and a correspondence thus be- came established.
Learning that his brothers, for the credit of the family, had many years before paid the debt he owed, when he left the coun- try so unceremoniously, he refunded the money with liberal interest.
He was first appointed a justice of the peace (this officer was then appointed by the governor and council) June 25th, 1789, and was subsequently reappointed three times at periods of seven years. According to the town record he officiated at a greater number of weddings than any other man, justice or clergyman, has ever done before or since. Next to him, in this respect, was the Rev. Enos Baxter. He became a member of the Presbyterian church, it is believed, at the time of its organi- zation by Rev. Mr. McLean, and was subsequently elected to
1 .John Clark, Bath, 1869.
2 The reason why he was not elected, either as selectman or assessor, in the year 1772, was probably because of the course he took on the meeting-house question, then raging.
392
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
the office of elder. He died April 28, 1811, aged 76 years. ITis wife died Jan. 9, 1809, aged 72 years.
John Johnston, eldest son of the above by his second wife, was born, May 11th, 1765, and in early life, followed the sea, He was elected selectman, as before stated, in 1802, and subse- quently annually re-elected to the same office, until 1808, the year of his death. He was also five times (1803-1807) elected representative to the general court.
The town meetings for thirty years after the incorporation of the town were held in different parts of the town, as we have seen ; but in 1797, it was determined to erect a house for the purpose, which, however, was not finished until 1799. The house was built by John Bugbee for $295, on the same spot as that occupied by the present town house, the land being given by Elisha Clark jr. It was of sufficient size, but only a shell, without any inside finish.
It has since been replaced by another and greatly improved building.
A curious piece of furniture, which formerly occupied one corner of the audience-room, was the stocks for confining per- sons disposed to be disorderly. This piece of furniture, as many will remember, was made of two pieces of oak plank 10 or 12 fect in length, and probably 8 inches in width, with a strong iron hinge at one end, so as to allow the two pieces to open precisely like a carpenter's rule. Then supposing the rule closed, in the line where the two pieces came together three pairs of holes were made about 4 or 43 inches in diameter, in which to place the feet of culprits. The feet were introduced by slightly opening the two parts; and when they were brought together again and secured by staple and padlock, at the other end from that on which the hinge was placed, the offender or offenders would be held very securely.1
Rev. Jonathan Belden succeeded Mr. Riddel as pastor of the Congregational church, his installation having taken place July 26, 1807. He was a native of Wethersfield, Ct., but when a
1 It is not easy to understand what position the body of the offender was er- pected to take when confined in the stocks, - whether he was to sit on the instru- ment with the feet protruding below, or whether he was to lie on his back upon the floor, the instrument being placed on one side, as is sometimes represented in the old pictures. In early tintes, in Massachusetts, towns were obliged by law to provide stocks and whipping-pods. (N. E. Hist. and Gen. Reg. II, p. 08).
393
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
child was received into the family of Deacon Jonathan B. Balch of West Hartford, who kindly paid the expense of his education at Yale College. He graduated in 1796, the late eminent Prof. Silliman being a classmate.1 He was to preach only in the Walpole and Harrington meeting houses, the Broad Cove people not uniting in the arrangement. He came here from Winthrop, where he had been previously settled. He was a man of only moderate abilities, and had little influence and little success. HIe continued his services here about eight years, but, in the troubled times of the war with Great Britain, much of his salary remained unpaid, and he left in a rather informal way. Several years afterwards he, or some of his family, threatened the town with a lawsuit for the recovery of the part of his salary still due, and a sum was raised by subscription to pay the claim. He died in Augusta, or Hallowell, not many years ago.
The concerns of religion appear to have received little atten- tion in the early history of the settlement here; and for a whole century the people were favored with preaching only occasionally as ministers of the gospel might happen to be in the place.
Rev. Robert Pike, of Portsmouth, in the autumn of 1692, was appointed chaplain of the fort at Pemaquid, and remained here nearly three years, being, so far as we know, the first resi- dent clergyman in the place. Though appointed particularly as chaplain to the persons connected with the fort, the people of the vicinity were not neglected by him.
Subsequently when Dunbar, by order of the British govern- ment, came here in 1692 to rebuild the old fort, he brought with him as his chaplain Rev. Robert Rutherford, a Presbyterian clergyman of good character and superior ability. He remained here some five or six years, when he removed to Brunswick, where, and in Georgetown, he officiated regularly until 1742. He was a warm friend of the Dunbar family, and after the death of Dunbar, and the marriage of his widow with Thomas Henderson of St. George, he removed there with his family, and died there October 18, 1756, aged 68 years. Though never attempting to organize a church in any of the places where he resided, his in- fluence as a moral and religious man was always good.
Religion was supported by law in Massachusetts, as we know, until some time after the beginning of the present century ; and immediately after the incorporation of this town we find that 1 Letter from Rev. Myron N. Morris, West Hartford, Ct., January 24, 1865.
50
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
money was occasionally appropriated from the treasury to pay for " preaching," though they had no settled minister. Very probably they had, long before the time mentioned, supplied themselves with occasional " preaching" in the same way.
Though at first the people here were cordially united in sup- porting the gospel by this mode, ministers of other denomina-" tions besides that established by law soon made their appearance, and the usual train of difficulties and strife succeeded.
About 1792, a considerable revival of religion occurred at Muscongus and vicinity under the labors chiefly of Rev. Job Macomber a Calvinist Baptist minister; 1 and a church of this denomination organized which, in form at least, is still preserved by some members living on Muscongus island.
A few years later than this, about 1795 or 1796, a more ex- tensive revival occurred, in the lower part of the town, includ- ing Rutherford's island. It was chiefly under the direction of Rev. Ephraim Stinchfield, a minister of the Freewill Baptist denomination. Among his people he was generally known as Elder Stinchfield. This revival numbered among its converts some of the most substantial men of the place. A church was organized according to the usages of the denomination num- bering nearly fifty male members.2 For some reason the organ- ization was not long maintained; and many of the members were transferred to the Methodist and other denominations.
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