USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 41
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 41
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Captain Sproul's company had it for their special duty to watch the coasts in the southern part of the town, and to give the alarm in case of danger. Sept. 12th, they were called out and stationed at Pomaquid falls, and guards, of 7 or 8 men each, stationed at New Harbor, Pemaquid harbor and Rutherford's island, their countersigu being "liberty." The next night the countersign was " union," but further than this the record saith not. Sept. 15th, they were dismissed to their homes, but re- quired to be ready at a moment's notice.
The number of men in Captain Sproul's company, Sept. 13th, present and ready for duty, was 75. Captain Yates's company probably contained about the same number.2
During these movements of the militia all eyes were turned eagerly to the eastward, to watch the actions, and, if possible discern the intentions of the hostile force which had been so successful in that direction; and no little relief was felt by the people when information was received that the hostile fleet on leaving the Penobscot, had turned to the eastward. This took place Sept. 19th, but could not be fully known here until several days later. The favorable season was now fast passing away, and the assurance became general that the great danger for the present at least had passed, and the militia companies were at length formally dismissed.
During the British occupancy of the eastern territory, a glorious opportunity was afforded for smugglers; and it was not neglected. English goods at that time commanded very high prices and were brought in in abundance, some paying a high duty but more without paying any. At the same time beef and other articles needed by the British forces were in great demand, and were readily paid for when they reached the lines. The temptation to engage in an illegal traffic was too great to be resisted, and many yielded to it who would be very indignant to be charged with dishonesty. Droves of cattle were sent through the country,
1 Captain Hiscock's Orderly Book. Tradition. Hiscock had been elected in the place of Robert Day, promoted colonel.
2 Captain Sproul's Orderly Book Tradition. Captain Sproul, July, 1860.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
even from the western part of the state; and the people in some sections so far sympathized with the traders that they were allowed to carry on the wicked traffic almost unmolested, The British goods were generally sent west in wagons, the drivers, to avoid arrest, resorting to all sorts of contrivances ; but some were also brought along the coast in boats; and many curious stories were formerly told of mysterious adven- tures in this vicinity.
In those days sheriffs were appointed by the governor and council, and of course in politics were in sympathy with the federal party then in power. The sheriff of Hancock county was of this character; and having been detected in a smuggling operation, the opposite party showed him no mercy. Passing through Wiseasset with a peculiar wagon, he was arrested by the collector there;' and his vehicle on being searched was found to have a double bottom in which was concealed a quan- tity of English goods that had not paid the duty. They were of course seized and confiscated; and it was a long time before he heard the last of his " Double Bottomed Waggon."
The following is an extract from a communication to the Boston Patriot, for Nov. 9, 1814.
" The Double Bottomed Waggon. The next trip Mr. Sheriff ADAMS takes to Costine, we would advise him to make use of an Air Balloon as there appears to be no safety in travelling on the land. The double bot- tomed waggons are not safe from the gripe of James Madison's sentinels ; but in an Air Balloon there will be perfect safety, as the officers of gov- ernment are not permitted to travel in the air, nor to make seizures there." * * " But he must take care that when he commences his aerial voyage from Castine, he must not have it published in the papers, as the Government Sharks may be looking out for him at his landing-place in Boston."
The treaty of Ghent, was signed by the plenipotentiaries of Great Britain and the United States, Dec. 24th, 1814; but the news did not reach Washington until some time in February, arriving there almost simultaneously with the news of Gen. Jackson's victory at New Orleans, January 8th. An express messenger was at once despatched with the joyful tidings of peace to New York, which he reached in twenty-three hours; then the news was again expressed to Boston which required thirty-two hours.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Everywhere the announcement of peace was received with the loudest demonstrations of joy ; and in the larger cities public meetings were held to commemorate so important an event. It was the last of February before the news reached this place; but the people, not to be outdone by their fellow- countrymen elsewhere, appointed a meeting at the Town House for the exchange of their mutual joys and cheerful congratula - tions. No record of the meeting has been preserved; but it was held, it is believed, early in March, and was largely attended, several clergymen of the place taking part in the exercises.
CHAPTER XXXII.
FROM THE CLOSE OF THE WAR IN 1815 TO THE INCORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF BREMEN IN 1828.
Enterprise of the citizens after the restoration of peace-Support of the Gos. pel ministry from the town treasury discontinued-Propositions for dividing the town -- Question of the separation of Maine from Massachusetts-A satinet manu- factory-Support of the poor-Dr. Marius How-Wm. MeIntyre-Thomas Child- Wm. Burns-Rev. Jesse Lee-Formation of a Methodist Society-Progress of the society-First Methodist church erected-Ordination of Rev. Nathaniel Chap- man-Alexander and Ninon Erskine-Hon. James Erskine-Samuel Saunders- The Friends or Quakers-Religious revival under the Freewill Baptists-Enthu- siastic celebration of Anniversary of Independence.
The war with Great Britain (1812-1815) being chiefly & maritime war, the great interests of navigation and commerce suffered enormously ; but it was upon these most of the people of Bristol depended for their living, either directly or indi- rectly. Therefore, though they rejoiced on the return of peace, they could not but feel poor, yet a commendable spirit of enter- prise soon began to manifest itself chiefly in the way of ship building, in which many of them had formerly been engaged. Before the year had closed, several small vessels, designed chiefly for the coasting trade had been launched or were pro- jected.
During the war they had kept up nearly their usual appro-
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priations for schools, for improving the roads and for other public purposes. Even a proposition to establish a grammar school at the centre of the town was started at a little later period, but it failed through fear that it would not receive suffi- cient patronage to support it.
Up to this time the support of the gospel was considered a proper charge of the town, as much as the support of the schools; and the expenses were met by a tax upon the people ; but the minority opposed to this practice was continually in- creasing until in 1816, when it was abolished. This year, May 6th, an appropriation of $300 for this purpose was voted, but two weeks later, May 20th, the vote was rescinded, and the subject seems never again to have been brought before the town meeting.
The spring of this year was cold and wet, and vegetation unusually backward. As a consequence, the farmers were de- layed in their planting; and certain of their crops, as Indian corn, was so backward that an early frost quite destroyed them. It is believed there were some frosts on the low grounds in the town every month of the year. On the evening of June 6th (or 8th) snow fell so as to fairly whiten the ground.
By authority of the General Court, the question whether it was expedient to separate the district of Maine from Massachu- setts, in order to form an independent state, was this year (1816) twice brought before the people of the several towns, and ou both occasions the people of Bristol gave their voice in the neg- ative. May 20th the vote was 13 for, and 37 against separation, and Sept. 6th, 76 for, and 142 against separation. To determine the result of this vote, and form a constitution, if the decision should be in the affirmative, the law provided for holding a con- vention in Brunswick; and Wm. Chamberlain was chosen dele- gate. The convention was held, but the separation was not effected.
The territory of the town being extensive, and many obliged to travel a great distance to reach the centre, many plans for dividing it had often been talked of, but one of them was for the first time submitted to a vote of the citizens, Oct. 15, 1817, but it was rejected by a vote of 42 in favor, and 60 against it. The next year, Nov. 2, 1818, a proposition to divide the town by the old parish lines of Walpole, Harrington and Broad Cove was submitted to vote and rejected.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
This year the town voted to send no representative to the General Court, for the reason, probably, that each town was now required to pay its own representatives, they having been paid several years before this by the state.
The question of separation from Massachusetts again came up, July 26, 1819, and the decision in the town was in favor of the measure by 80 yeas, and 50 nays. The reason of this change in the public sentiment, is found in the fact that by a recent change in a law of congress, vessels sailing from one state to another were not required to make regular entries and clearances, as they had formerly been, though not when passing from port to port in the same state.
The business between the seaport towns and Boston was im- mense, and those engaged in it under the old regulation derived an advantage from their political relations to Massachusetts. By the new regulation this was done away with.
The question of separation having been decided by a suffi- cient majority of the voters of the state, delegates to form a constitution for the state were chosen Sept. 20th, the individuals selected being Samuel Tucker, William McClintock, and John Fossett.
Plans for dividing the town were again agitated and twice rejected in the year 1821.
A Satinet manufactory that was established at the mills in 1822, by Messrs. Benjamin and Oakman Ford, two gentlemen of en- terprise and experience from Massachusetts, richly deserves to be commemorated, though the enterprise was not ultimately successful. The article turned out by them was considered of good quality; and considerable business was done for some time, but the manufacture was not found to be sufficiently re- munerative to become permanent.
Previous to this time, ever since the incorporation of the town, the poor had been supported in separate families in dif- ferent parts of the town, as might be agreed upon, but at the April meeting of 1823, it was decided to keep them together ; aud John Bearce contracted to support and clothe them, and also supply them with tobacco and snuff for $550. The number to be supported is not known.
Dr. Marius IIow died Nov. 30th, 1822. He was born in Worcester, Mass., April 9th, 1773, and studied medicine there with Dr. Willard. He came to Bristol before the close of the
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
last century, and taught a school for some time, until his medi- cal practice was sufficient to yield him a support.
April 30th, 1801, he was married to Betsey Sproul daughter of Wm. Sproul, of the neighborhood called " The Meadows," and established his residence near the old meeting-house in Walpole. He was rather a portly gentleman, as the writer re- members him, with an agreeable person and manner, and was considered an excellent physician, until he allowed the love of strong drink to get the mastery of him. It is believed he was the first regularly educated physician who came to reside perma- nently in the place, unless Dr. Foster be an exception, who resided some time at the Mills, but of whom little is now known. Dr. How's popularity as a man and citizen was shown by his election as the first captain of the artillery company, as before mentioned (p. 408).
Dr. John F. Gardiner came here from Massachusetts some time before the death of Dr. How, and resided at the Mills, He was popular as a physician, and interested himself in the public schools, occasionally serving as a member of the super- intending committee of the schools, but continued here only a few years. He removed with his family to Lynn, Mass.
The summer of the year 1823 was exceedingly dry ; and late in the season a disastrous fire occurred in the northern part of the town of Wiscasset, which spread over many acres, de- stroying the crops in the fields, and many buildings, and greatly distressing the people thus " burned out." The select- men of Bristol, in view of these facts, called a town meeting to consider the subject ; and by almost a unanimous vote it was decided to appropriate $800 for the benefit of the sufferers, and places of deposit were also appointed to receive donations of produce for the same purpose.
Wm. McIntyre usually known as "Squire Mcintyre, died about this time. His father, Wm. McIntyre sr., came here from the St. George's river, and settled on the neck, formerly called Orr's neck, and recently owned by James Blaisdel. 1 Little is now known of him except that he died at compara- tively au early age, and that his widow subsequently married Thomas Fletcher, and continued to reside on the same place.
Wm. MeIntyre (second of the name) was born probably be-
1 Eaton's Annals Warren, 48,410.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
fore 1750, and was married to Susan or Susanna Simonton, Sept. 28th, 1773. In the revolutionary war he acquired some mili- tary distinction, and was often called Major MeIntyre. In 1796 he represented the town in the general court, and in 1799 was appointed a justice of the peace, and was twice reappointed to the same office at intervals of seven years, as was then the cus- tom. He continued to perform the duties of the office to the general satisfaction until debilitated by age. He was a man of excellent character and good standing in society ; and became deeply interested in the religious movement under the Freewill Baptists, just at the close of the last century. Yet the following anecdote was told of him by Mrs. Susan (Child) Fox in New London, Ct., in 1848, she being then in her 80th year.
It is given as illustrating one phase of society at that time.
Mrs. Fox's father, Capt. Thomas Child, was engaged in the West India trade, and his family resided at the Falls. Her mother being out of health, it was determined that she should accompany her husband in a voyage to the . West Indies; and the family was left in the daughter's care, she being the oldest of the children. One evening, on a stormy night in mid-winter, some gentlemen in the neighborhood were having a " drunken frolic " (her own words) and soinething was said about giving Susan Child a little fright by way of sport. Some said she could not be frightened; and the result was a bet in regard to it, and Major McIntyre and Major Mckown volunteered to make the experiment. She had with her an Indian boy, named Ned, and the children of the family, her brother Arthur, then but a child, being sick. It was near midnight when the two men on horseback, riding up rapidly stopped before the door, and deinanded to be admitted. She refused, saying, she had a sick child in the house, and they could not come in. They boister- ously insisted; but she called earnestly for "Ned to bring the pistols," declaring " by the powers " " she would make an eye- let hole through somebody " if they did not desist. They were obliged to leave; but how the bet was decided she did not know. The gentlemen named sought to keep the thing secret as possible ; but were greatly mortified as it gradually became known.
Mrs. Fox, at the same interview, gave the following account of her father, Capt. Thomas Child, mentioned above. At her
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
earliest recollection the family lived in Newport, R. I., and her father held some office in connection with the British army or navy, though bis sympathies were altogether with his country. For some reason they removed to Bridgewater, Mass., and Capt. C. engaged in business as a merchant.1 He had acquired a large property, and at one time loaned the government $10,000, "in silver dollars," receiving therefor continental bills, which soon became utterly worthless, and Mrs. F. and sisters afterwards used many of them in " doing up their hair." Subsequently the family removed, first to Wiscasset and then to Pemaquid. .
Deacon Wm. Burns died May 13th, 1821, aged 87 years and 6 months. His father, and family came to Pemaquid under Col. Dunbar, about 1729 or 1730, and received from him a lot of land there when the general distribution was made, as before described. Being dissatisfied with the land assigned him he purchased a lot of. Waldo at Muscongus harbor, on which the family afterwards lived, except for limited periods, when driven off by the Indians. At one time, about 1743 or 1744, to 1748, the family lived in Scituate, Mass., but returned in 1748. Hc (the father), was present at the capture of Louisburg as captain of a transport (p. 200). IIe died in Dec., 1750 and his wife in March, 1755.
4 Deacon Wm. Burns was born, Nov. 12th, 1733, and Jan. 11th, 1763, was married to Mary Maxwell, who died just four years afterwards, on the anniversary of their marriage. He then married, as his second wife, Sept. 23d, 1767, Elizabeth Young of Harrington, who was the mother of most of his children. For his third wife, he married Mrs. Margaret (Full- erton) MeClintock, mother of Wm. McClintock, Esq., who still (1873) survives at the age of nearly 95 years. Deacon Burns was a man of much prominence in his day, and served the town many years, as clerk, treasurer, and selectman. He lived on the old homestead at Muscongus harbor, and, it is believed, owned the grist and saw mills there, which probably were erected by his father. In early times the travelled road from Round pond followed up the shore to Muscongus harbor, and thus by Burns's house to Greenland cove, where the old meeting house stood, and so on to Broad cove. As late as 1816, this road from
I He died, October 19, 1721, in his 53d year .- (Tombstone.)
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Muscon gus to Broad cove was much used. The town meeting was often held at his house.
A few very old apple trees still standing on the place may have been planted by the senior Burns, but it is believed by many that they belong to an earlier period. Other trees of a similar character are found on the place of David Chamberlain, Esq., at Round pond. A few years ago, apples from these trees were exhibited at an agricultural fair.
Joseph Burns, brother of the above, was born March 23d, 1737. During the Indian wars, he raised a company for the general defense, of which he was appointed either captain or lieutenant, and his commission (it is believed) is still preserved. According to a tradition in the family, he was killed in the time of 'the revolutionary war at a place called Mare's Brook, by an Indian who was concealed among the thick branches of a tree near which he was passing.1
The first Methodist society in the town was formed. a little before the close of the last century, but the names of the mem- bers are not now known. That famous apostle of New Bengland Methodism, Rev. Jesse Lee, was the first preacher of the denomination who visited the place. According to his journal, his first visit to this place was made Nov. 23d, 1795, though he had passed from Portland by way of Newcastle to Thomaston two years before, preaching frequently as he had opportunity. At the date just given, he came down from New- castle, probably on the invitation of Col. Wm. Jones, who had become much disaffected towards his Presbyterian brethren.2 Probably he came down no further than the residence of Col. Jones (in Walpole) where, or in the vicinity, he preached a ser- mon from the text 2 Peter, iii, 14. He tarried not even for a night, but returned to Nobleboro to preach again in the evening at the house of a Mr. Rust. The next day he preached at New Milford (Alna) and then continued his journey westward.
The "Bath and Union circuit" is first mentioned in the Conference Minutes of the church in 1798, in which it is be- lieved this town was included ; and " a class " had been formed in Bristol at least as early as this. Robert Yallaley and Aaron
1 Town Record ; Burns Family Record ; Joseph Burns, MeClintock Family Re- cord ; Lincoln Report, p. 162.
2 Letter of Rev. Wm. Riddell, 1847.
/
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Humphrey were the preachers in charge of this circuit. The number of members for the circuit is given as 100.
The name of this town first appears in the Minutes of 1803 ; and from the fact that it is credited with 200 members, we con- clude they belonged to a " circuit," and not to the town of Bristol. The minister of the circuit was Comfort C. Smith. The number of members reported in 1804, was 188. Samuel Hillman being the preacher in charge. In 1805 the number reported was 158, and in 1806, only 149. At this time, and for many years afterwards, the town-house at the Mills was used as a place of worship ; and here persons still living remember to have heard Josse Lee and Joshua Soule, and other prominent preachers of that day.1
From 1797 to 1801, Joshua Taylor was presiding elder of this district, and the events occurred in regard to salaries before described (p. 395). During this period an carnest pamphlet controversy took place between Rev. Nathaniel Ward, Congre- gational minister of New Milford [Alna] and Rev. Mr. Taylor, on the respective merits of the Calvinistic and Arminian creeds. Both sides were well sustained; and to students of Divinity the pamphlets four in number are worth reading at the present day. Mr. Ward, who began the controversy, was a graduate of Dart- mouth College in the class of 1792, having as classmates the two distinguished men, Rev. President Appleton of Bowdoin College, and Rev. President Porter of the Andover Theological Seminary. After closing his ministry in Alna, he returned to New Hampshire, where he was greatly respected, and for many years before his death, which occurred at Brentwood, Feb. 24th, 1860, was familiarly known as " father Ward." Ilis age at the time of his death was a little over 90.2
Mr. Taylor was born in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1768. He early became connected with the Methodist church, and in 1791 was received into the conference, and in the regular course of his ministry came to this district as stated above. In 1806 he located and opened a private school in the city of Portland where he ever afterwards resided. " IIe .usually preached in 'some neighboring church on the sabbath, and as a citizen was greatly respected. In 1824 he was chosen one of the electors of president and vice-president for Maine, and cast his vote
1 Hon. James Erskine.
3 Independent, March, 1860.
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for John Quincy Adams. He died March 20th, 1861, at the great age of 93 years.
Though a Methodist society was thus carly formed in the town, and had never been left for a single year without a min- ister, they were content for many years to worship, in the town house, in private houses, school houses, or other places, as occa- sion might offer.
Late in the summer of 1823, the first Methodist church in the town was dedicated by the Rev. David Hutchinson, pre- siding elder of the district, Rev. James L. Bishop being the preacher in charge. The enterprise was begun some two years before by Mr. Elijah Crooker, and others.
METH. E. CHURCH, BRISTOL MILLS.
The house was in the old meeting house style of New England, and stood on the high hill a mile north of the Mills village. Of course it was soon found that a great mistake had been made in the location; but it was not until 1868, that a decided effort was made for its removal to its present position. This year, under the superintendence of the Rev. S. H. Beale, then preacher in charge, it was taken down and removed, or rather a new church was constructed from the materials of the old, where it now stands in the north part of the village.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
Many years before a substantial parsonage had been erected in the immediate vicinity for the minister in charge of the station. The new church was dedicated in 1869 by the Rev. Charles B. Dunn, presiding elder of the district.
After the dismission of the Rev. Mr. Belden, in the time-of the war of 1812, for some ten years, there had been no settled pastor of the Congregational church; but one or the other of the two pulpits at Harrington and Walpole was supplied, much of the time, by different ministers from abroad, some of them being sent for limited periods by the Maine missionary society.
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