USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 39
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 39
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Rev. Jesse Lee was the first Methodist preacher to visit this place ; he passed through this country from Portland to Thom- aston in 1793, but made his first visit here two years later, Nov. 23, 1795, by invitation of Col. Wm. Jones. He came down from Newcastle, probably no further than the house of Colonel Jones, where, or in the immediate vicinity, he held a single service, and returned to Nobleboro to preach again in the even- ing at the house of a Mr. Russ. This was the beginning of the Methodist society in the place which rapidly increased in num- bers and influence.
1
The Friends or Quakers appear to have been the first to move in the strife that followed before the " ministerial tax" was abo- lished.
1Letter of Rev. W. S. Spaulding, June 10, 1971.
2 January 20th, 1800, Elder Stinchfield prepared a list of the male meil ers of the church, which was subsequently entered upon the town records. Among the names are those of William MeIntyre, long known as Squire MeIntyre, and James Hackelton, father of our respected fellow citizens Wm. and James H. Hackelton.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The first reference on the town record to the presence of Quakers or Friends in the place is in 1784, when at a town meeting (April 5th) an article was inserted in the warrant to test the question whether they should be excused from paying their proportion of the regular ministerial tax; and it was de- cided in the negative. The subject appears not to have been again discussed in town meeting until May 3d, 1798, when the Baptists were also included in the petition for an abatement of this tax; but the decision was the same as before.
At a town meeting, April 6, 1801, an attempt was made to remit the " ministers' tax" to all persons " professing themselves Methodists," but without effect. Subsequently several times during this and the following year the same question in dif- ferent forms, was brought forward in town meeting, but the article in the warrant was invariably "dismissed" by decided majorities. But now, by union of the different sects that had sprung up, the opposition was becoming strong, and much feel- ing was beginning to be manifested. Once or twice an effort was made to have the money raised by the town for the sup- port of the gospel divided among the different denominations, in proportion to their relative numbers, but this too was refused.
By the close of the year 1802, the Methodists had so increased in numbers that their proportional share of the public money would be quite appreciable ; and it was thought by many that by a proper interpretation of the law then in force the Method- ist ministers who had been actually employed in the town could legally recover payment. Therefore, by advice, the Rev. Joshua Taylor, at that time presiding elder of the Kennebec district, in which Bristol was included, brought an action against the town to recover payment for himself and colleagues for the two preceding years ; and at a town meeting, May 2, 1803, it was voted to offer his agent $30, as payment in full of the claim. Whether or not a settlement was thus effected has not been ascertained.
But other troubles connected with this subject, though of a different character, now began to threaten the town. After the dismissal of Rev. Jonathan Belden in 1804, the town was several years without any regularly settled minister of the " standing order," and after Mr. Belden's settlement in 1807, it was found exceedingly difficult to raise the money needed for his support. As there was in existence an express statute pro-
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
viding a penalty for such a state of affairs, some one entered a complaint against the town for not providing properly for the support of the gospel, and an action was begun against them in proper court. In due time a bill was found against the town for neglecting to raise money for the support of the Gospel, by the grand jury, and at a town meeting, April 1, 1811, Enos Baxter was chosen agent of the town to make the proper de- fence. At another town meeting two months later, June 3d, it was voted to take the case to the Supreme Judicial Court; but it is not known how it was disposed of.
Jonas Fitch, ancestor of the several families of this name in the place was born in Boston or vicinity in June, 1718, and came to this place in 1753. About this time he was an officer under Gen. Winslow, who was employed in building the forts, Halifax and Weston, on the Kennebec river. Subsequently, in the years, 1756, 7, 8 and 9, he served, first as lieutenant, under Capt. Goodwyn, and afterwards as captain of a militia company, sent here against the Indians. A part of the time the company served as " scouters " and ranged from Brunswick to George's river. Ilis father, Joseph Fitch, married Margaret Clark, a daughter of Timothy Clark, and sister of Mrs. Shem Drowne, and was equally interested with Mrs. Drowne in the Pemaquid Patent. Jonas Fitch as son of Joseph, and grandson of Mar-
garet (Clark) Fitch was therefore by inheritance entitled to a share in the Pemaquid Proprietary claim, but he declined to take any action in the matter, saying he thought the actual set- tlers had the best title.1 He was chosen a member of the board of selectmen several years, the first time in 1785; and subse- quently, John Fitch, a son of his, served the town in the same capacity many years.
As we have seen (p. 346), the citizens of the town, by a spon- taneous movement in 1775, organized three militia companies of 60 men each, exclusive of officers, which were ever after- wards maintained. At the beginning of the present century James Young was captain of the Harrington company ; and at a general training or muster at Newcastle, in 1805 or 1806, led his men in an act of insubordination which occa- sioned considerable reprehension especially in military cir- cles. On the day of the muster the three Bristol companies
1 Lincoln Rep., 1811, p. 160.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
took their proper places in their regiment, and all went well until the middle of the day when the general officers leaving their men in line, without any explanation, went to dinner at a hotel near by. The company officers, when they ascertained the cause of the delay were highly indignant, and Capt. Young, first ordering his men to load their pieces and fix bayonets, led them from the field to a place at little distance where refreshments were provided. The Walpole company, under their lieutenant, Mr. Hatch, left at the same time, Capt. Huston of the company re- fusing to join in such an act of insubordination. One other company of the regiment (name not ascertained) joined in the rebellion.
In the afternoon the rebellious companies returned but were not admitted to their places. The rebellious officers were subjected to trial by court martial, in the ordinary mode. Capt. Young was deposed from office, and a new election ordered - which resulted in his reelection unanimously. As might be ex- pected the election was declared void and another ballot ordered, in which, however, the same man was unanimously reelected as before. The general officers, not choosing to contend longer, now prepared and forwarded to him his commission, but Capt. Young died a few days subsequently.1 This was in 1807. .
Capt. Young belonged to the family several times alluded to heretofore, who lived on the neck between the Pemaquid and Damariscotta rivers (ante, p. 276), but the relationship has not been traced. He married Polly Clark (publishment Nov. 21st, 1792) who in 1817, married Samuel Jackson, as a second husband and removed from the town.
During the early years of the present century, among the aged people of Bristol, the wild horses that roamed the woods in this region were a common topic of remark. It is sup- posed they were descendants of horses left here by the early settlers a century before. Occasionally some of them were caught and appropriated ; and not unfrequently when guilty of breaking into fields and destroying the growing crops, they were shot down without mercy. Some few remained in the woods until very near the close of the last century. Mrs. Alexander Fossett, who died in 1860, remembered to have seen at one time, about 1783, a dozen or more of them feeding to- gether near the head of Long Cove.2
1 Tradition. John Fossett, Wm. Hackelton.
' Ilist. Gen. Reg., vol. xxIv, p. 100.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
.
Bears and other wild animals were not uncommon until about the beginning of the present century. James Sproul, who died in the Long Cove district only a year or two ago, when a child, was once caught by a bear and considerably injured. He was about six years old, and in company with a sister and another girl, both older than himself, was passing through the woods in the Fountain neighborhood, when their attention was attracted by the squealing of a large pig which a bear had caught and was holding fast. Sproul, supposing the animal to be a big dog rushed at him to drive him off, when Bruin leaving the pig caught hold of the boy, and probably would have done him more serious injury but for the interfer- ence of his small dog, which opportunely joined in the fray ! The bear jumped at the dog, at the same time dropping the boy, who then made his escape. Though considerably injured he soon entirely recovered. The occurrence probably took place about 1794:1
CHAPTER XXXI.
BRISTOL IN THE WAR OF 1812.
War declared against Great Britain - Feeling in regard to the war - War ships and privateers on the coast early in the spring, 1813 -- The war ships, Bream and Rattler - Coasters captured -The sloop Increase fitted out as a privateer, Capt. Tucker, she captures the privateer Crown -" Distress in Maine " - The privateer Young Teazer - The war ships Enterprise and Boxer -- Perilous condition of affairs in 1814 - Attack of the enemy in the Sheepscott, and at Pemaquid and New Harbor - Seizure of Eastport, and Castine -Two of the militia companies of Bristol ordered to Wiscasset - Smugglers.
War was declared against Great Britain, June 18th, 1812; and news of it reached the city of New York, at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 20th, by express from the secretary of war to Gen. Bloomfield, then in command of this division of the United States army. It was announced in the Commercial Ad-
' Statement of Mr. Sproul to the author.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
vertizer of that day under the heading " Awful Calamity ; " a fact which may be taken as faintly indicating the feeling with which the announcement was received by a large propo- tion of the people of New England, as well as New York. When the president's proclamation was received in Providence, R. I., the bells of the churches were tolled, most places of busi- ness were closed, and the flags of ships at the wharves displayed at half mast. A similar spirit was manifested in many other places.
The people of Bristol could not be without anxiety at such a time, situated as they were directly on the coast, and exposed to assaults from the ships of the enemy; but they made no factious demonstrations. Many of them did not sympathize with this act of the administration, but the general feeling was that the country must be sustained.
The first entry in the records of this town on the subject is August 10th, when a town meeting was called to consider the condition of affairs, on the petition of Samuel Tucker and others. It was decided to petition government for a supply of arms and ammunition, &c. Following the example of the fathers in the revolutionary war, they also appointed a " Committee of Safety and Correspondence, " consisting of Samuel Tucker, James Yates, Simon Elliot, Thos. Dockendorf, Wm. Russell, Israel Cox, John Sproul, John Dickey, Wm. McClintock, Samuel Porter, Aaron Blaney, Wm. Rodgers, Philip Crooker, Samuel Reed, and Miles Thompson. At a meeting a month later, it was decided to erect a building for the storage of arms and ammunition, and a committee appointed for the purpose.
May 12th. this year, the line between this town and Nobleboro was carefully surveyed by John Gleason, Esq., of Thomastown, the selectmen of both towns being present.
The line between this town and Waldoboro was surveyed June 24th, 1813 by Wm. MeClintock.
After war was declared the people were in constant appre- hension of danger from ships of war and privateers of the enemy ; but none seem to have made their appearance here for the remainder of the season. This is the more remarkable as an English fleet, under the command of Admiral Warren, arrived at Halifax as early as September. It consisted of three ships of the line, besides several frigates and gunboats.
In the interior the war was begun in earnest, aud for us with
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disaster, not to say disgrace. Aug. 17th, Gen. Hull, who had invaded Canada, by crossing Niagara river, without any very serious fighting, surrendered to the commander of the British forces his whole army of 2500 men
Early in the spring of the next year, 1813, the people were made aware of their danger by the appearance of a number of British cruisers at different places on the coast, of which the Rattler and the Bream became subsequently the most noted. They were sloops of war, the former carrying 16 guns, and the latter 8 guns. They suddenly made their appearance off Pemaquid point, the last day of March, and at once gobbled up 5 schooners and sloops, on their way to Boston, loaded with wood and lumber. Prize crews were put on board of the vessels which were ordered to the eastward ; but one of them was recaptured two days afterwards by 3 boats, manned by 20 men, and sent out from Boothbay harbor. At this time she was entirely becalined, and the day before had been unable to make headway against the east wind that prevailed. Only two days later a privateer, called the Liverpool Packet, made her appearance and captured 3 sloops and a schooner in sight of Boothbay harbor. The men were put in one of the sloops, a small craft from Cape Cod, and sent into the harbor.
A little time after the recaptured prize had been secured in the harbor the Rattler came in from the westward, and anchored near Squirrel island. An alarm was fired by Captain Read, who was in command of the militia there, which soon brought to their assistance Captain Rose with a company of soldiers from the Damariscotta fort. In the night a boat from the Rattler, landed some men at a place on the west side of Spruce Point; but when fired upon they made haste to escape.1
The beginning thus made by the enemy upon the coasting trade of Maine was followed up vigorously during the summer, and a large part of the sloops and schooners engaged in it captured and destroyed or sold for the benefit of the captors.
Sunday, April 25th, the same ships of the enemy captured two sloops and a schooner near George's islands, putting the men ashore. About the same time the sloop Lucy, of Salem, was captured by the Bream, a few miles west, or southwest, of White Head light, and 4 schooners seized in Tennant's
1 Bost. Pat., April 13th, 1813; Letter from Capt. W. M. Read, Boothbay, April 5th.
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN. 401
harbor, and 2 schooners loaded with wood captured near Seguin island, and some or all of them burned.1
Soon after the Bream made her appearance on the coast, a number of gentlemen having accidentally met together on a Sunday afternoon, some one ventured to raise the question whether it would not be possible to capture her by such a force as could be raised on the spot. The suggestion was favorably received, and Commodore Tucker, being called in consultation, strongly advised that such an enterprise should be instantly started. The proposition being once named there was no lack of volunteers for the service; and before 24 hours, the sloop Increase had been engaged for the enterprise, and a crew of 45 men. Subsequently the crew was somewhat increased and the old commodore, Samuel Tucker, chosen captain. The sloop was only of about 100 tons burden, and lay near by partly loaded with cordwood, which would answer well for ballast. Soon the necessary papers were obtained from the Custom House, and the sloop was ready to sail, the men having provided for themselves the necessary rations. Each man also supplied himself with arms and ammunition. Some boarding pikes were provided, but the only gun they had, larger than a musket, was a small swivel.
Thus prepared, the sloop without Capt. T., passed down from Muscongus, where she lay, and around Pemaquid point to Boothbay harbor where they came to anchor, and sent to Wiscasset for a couple of cannon and a brass field piece with the proper ammunition. Here the commodore came on board and assumed the command ; some thirty men of the guard stationed there also joined the expedition, and one of the original crew left the sloop for home.
Everything being in readiness they passed out of the harbor and steered east, in the hope of meeting the Bream or some privateer of the enemy, but only to be disappointed. After sailing east a distance they tacked ship and stood again to the west; but met no vessel of the enemy. At the end of two days their supply of provisions became scanty, and they concluded to return ; indeed they had been out as long as
1 Bost. Pat., April ?Sth, 1813. The writer, then but a child, distinctly remembers to have seen two vessels burning at one time in the night, between Pemaquid Point and Monhegan, and a third at another time ; being loaded with wood or lumber, the fires continued some time.
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they had at first contemplated. They ran into Boothbay, discharged the soldiers who had joined them there, returned the cannon and field piece they had borrowed, and prepared to make their way home, a little discouraged at their want of success.
As they had passed around Pemaquid point in going out with no other arms than the muskets in their hands, so now they must return in the same manner, though outside the point they would be exactly in the track of the enemy's ships of war and privateers. This had not been unthought of; but they did not hesitate to run the risk. As they came around the point they saw a sail some distance to the east, but kept on their way as if heading for St. George's river, and at the same time eyeing the stranger closely. Soon the stranger changed her course as if designing to intercept them, and they were then fully satisfied of her true character. Previous to this, Tucker had ordered all his men below, except the regular sailors to manage the vessel, and shaped his course as if aim- ing to make his escape.
But soon tacking ship he suddenly bore down on the craft, at the same time ordering the American flag to be hoisted, and all his men to take their proper positions on deck, the object being to oblige the enemy to fight at close quarters, which in his condition was an important point to be gained. The enemy fired the first shot, but the firing was soon returned by the Increase, and with such effect that the enemy's men were soon obliged to seek a place of safety below decks. The captain, whose name was Jennings, threw himself upon his back on the quarter deck, and reaching up with his hands to the helm undertook to steer his vessel out of the range of the Yankee's guns, but it was of no avail. He was obliged to strike his colors, and the Yankees soon had possession of his vessel. Though there was much firing on both sides, and the sails and rigging of both vessels were considerably damaged, no person
. on either side was injured. Capt. Jennings found, by a hole in his hat, that a bullet had passed in very close proximity to his head, but he suffered no bodily harm. This occurred April 26th. It has been said that the perforation of the hat was by a bullet directly aimed at the captain as he lay upon the deck, but the story is questionable.
The prize proved to be the Crown, a privateer from Halifax,
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of about 35 tons burden, and 20 men. She had been only 8 days out from Halifax, but had captured an American brig and had a number of Americans as prisoners on board. Her surgeon and one or two inen had been left on Monhegan before the fight, but fortunately the services of the surgeon were not needed.
The position of the vessels at the time of the fight was a mile or more east and a little north from the extremity of Long Core point. After the capture both vessels were taken into Round Pond. The prize was found to have on board a con- siderable quantity of ammunition and other stores, intended for the supply of some of the enemy's ships, all of which was sold for the benefit of the captors. The Crown was sold to a party living at Gloucester, or vicinity, and was repaired and long used as a packet between that place and Boston.
The men of the Crown, being prisoners of war, were sent to the jail in Wiscasset, and it is presumed, were in due time ex- changed. Capt. Jennings, the commodore at first took with him to his own house; but he was afterwards sent to Wiscasset jail, from which he made his escape in disguise.1
During the summer many vessels, coasters and fishermen, were captured in this vicinity, and some of them again recaptured by American privateers that occasionally visited these waters. Among these, were the Fox, belonging to Wiscasset, and the Teazer and Young Teazer of New York. Of the latter, especially, we shall soon have occasion to speak more particu- larly.
The next month after the capture of the Crown, Commodore Tucker was elected representative to the legislature, and with more boldness than discretion, as some thought, ventured to take passage by sea to Boston, though it was well known that the enemy's armed cruisers were constantly on the coast. He sailed in the sloop, "Penobscot Packet, " Capt. Elliot, of Waldoboro, which was so fortunate as to make the passage in safety, though not without great danger. As they were off Cape Agn, in company with several other coasters, loaded mostly with lumber and wood, a British armed brig suddenly
1 Shep. Life of Tucker, 216 ; Com. Adv. (N.Y.) May 7, and12, 1813 ; Tradition. The newspapers of the time say she had twenty American prisoners on board. Three of these belonged to this town. James L, McIntyre, Andrew Sproul, and -- Plummer. The first two were really prisoners, but many were suspicious that Plummer was voluntarily serving as pilot. But wlien put on trial the court failed to convict him. James L. MeIntyre, 1853. Cupt. J. Sproul. John Fossett, 1872.
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came upon them, and captured several of the fleet, but Capt. Elliot, and one or two others put about, and ran into the harbor of Portsmouth. The commodore himself witnessed the capture of two sloops and a schooner, one of which was after- wards burned.1
Much of the business of all this region was at this period closely connected with the navigation interests and the fisher- ies, both of which were for the time nearly destroyed, and the people suffered seriously in consequence. They could neither send their wood and lumber to market, nor obtain the neces- sary supplies they were accustomed to receive in return. Besides this they were kept in constant alarm, especially those living immediately on the coast, where marauding parties seeking plunder occasionally made their appearance. But though the inhabitants suffered many privations, their condition was not quite as deplorable as was often represented by the papers.
The following extract is from the Com. Advertizer (N.Y.) May 12, 1813.
" The District of Maine. We are assured by gentlemen best acquainted with that part of the state (of Mass.) that the situation of the poor inhabit- ants in regard to the supply of provisions, is deplorable, having neither flour, nor corn, nor even potatoes to live upon. The general poverty of the people, produced by the anticommercial policy, and restrictive mea- sures of the government, has been greatly increased by the short crops of the last season, and has, at the same time, rendered provisions scarce and dear, and reduced the means of the country people so low that they could not pay for them even if they were plenty and cheap. " The writer then goes on to urge that means may at once be devised to send the needed supply.
Of course we cannot fail to see in the extract a little of the partisan spirit of the time. The writer desired to make a point against the government.
Nor did the people of Maine alone suffer in consequence of the war; June 5th, less than a month after the above date, flour in New York was $22 per barrel and Indian corn $2.50 per bushel. (Boston Pat., June 9, 1813.)
The Young Teazer, Capt. Dobson, was a privateer hailing from New York, which made her appearance in these waters early in
1 Bost. Pat., May 20, 1813.
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the season, and for a time had wonderful success in capturing many prizes from the enemy, but eventually came to a disastrous end. In one cruise she is said to have made nine prizes from the enemy, several of which arrived safely in port, but others were retaken. In the early part of June she was off the port of Halifax, and captured several English vessels in sight of the Light House. At one time she was chased quite into the harbor of Halifax by a British ship, but escaped by hoisting a British flag, and thus deceiving the Englishman, who put about and stood out to sea, leaving the American to follow, as soon as it was safe.
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