USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bremen > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 43
USA > Maine > Lincoln County > Bristol > A history of the towns of Bristol and Bremen in the state of Maine : including the Pemaquid Settlement > Part 43
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Anagent was appointed to act in behalf of the town in receiving the money and giving a receipt for the same. It was at first in- tended that the money thus received should be loaned on proper security, and the interest applied for the benefit of the schools ;. but eventually it was distributed per capita among the people of the town, in accordance with a resolution of the legislature.
1 The author remembers well a copy of Rees's Cyclopedia in his library, which used to command his admiration, as the only large work of the kind he had ever . seen. Letter from Hon. Thos. Drummond.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
The " Aroostook war," which occurred in the latter part of the year 1838, and beginning of 1839, though fortunately not at- tended with bloodshed, was the occasion of no small excitement in all this region. The troubles began two years earlier, by the unjustifiable interference of the New Brunswick authorities with the agents of this state who were in the discharge of their du- ties on a portion of the disputed Aroostook territory. First the New Brunswick authorities arrested the agent of Maine who was engaged in taking a census of the population ; and the mat- ter was scarcely settled, when it was discovered that trespassers. from New Brunswick were actively engaged in cutting and re- moving valuable lumber from a part of the territory in dispute. The people of Maine naturally thought this a little too cool ;- and measures were at once taken to assert the rights of the state. When the facts came to the knowledge of the governor of the state, Hon. John Fairfield, he addressed a communication to the legislature then in session ; and means were taken to arrest the trespassers without delay. This provoked opposition from the other party and several arrests were made on both sides, many hard words were spoken by the officials representing the two governments, and real war seemed likely to ensue. The legislature of the state passed a resolution for the better protec- tion of the public lands, and appropriated $800,000 to carry out its provisions; at the same time a general order was issued for drafting 10,000 of the militia of the state to be held in readiness for a forced march at any moment.
The draft was made here, Feb. 27th, and was attended with much excitement. It called for every ninth man of the whole militia of the state. The following names were drafted from the Harrington company, viz : Asa Thompson, John Thorp, Eliph- alet Thorp, George McFarland, Austin Jones, Benj. Gammage, Wm. Martin jr., John Blunt, Hiram Sproul, Zacheus Norwood, Franklin Bailey, Robert Davis, John Curtis, Morton Johnston Isaac P. Fosset, Solomon D. Yates, Samuel Lord, Michael Thompson, Wm. J. Russell. Afterwards, Enos Jones was sub- stituted for .John Curtis .!
In Augusta, the capital of the state, a volunteer company was hastily formed, and actually began their march to the seat of
1 Orderly Book of the Harrington company. The old orderly book of the Wal- pole company has no record on the subject, and no information has been obtained of what was done in Bremen.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
expected war, followed by some companies of militia; but those -drafted from this region were never called out. After several weeks of suspense the whole force was discharged, the difficulty in regard to the Aroostook territory having been temporarily adjust- ed by the proper authorities. The whole matter in dispute was afterwards settled by the Webster-Ashburton treaty between England and the United States in 18-12.1
Rev. Enos Baxter died, Sept. 8th, 1853, aged 74 years, a local preacher of the Methodist E. church.
Mr. Baxter, was born in Methuen, Massachusetts, near the present site of the city of Lowell, May 2d, 1774, but came to this town when abont 20 or 21 years of age, and after- wards resided here. His father and elder brother died in the army during the revolutionary war, and his mother very soon afterwards. The children, of whom there were five or six, were left very destitute ; and Enos, the subject of our notice, was indentured to a farmer in the neighborhood, who wishing to make as much as possible out of his ward, treated him with much severity and even cruelty, allowing him only three weeks to attend school, all the years of bis service, and this at a time when he was nearly disabled by an accident and almost blind from an injury to one of his eyes. Feeling himself thus deeply wronged, when about 20 years old he took the responsibility of leaving his master, and proceeded to Salem where he embarked on board a coasting vessel bound for Bristol, commanded by Capt. John Elliot. Finding employment here he remained in the place, and in 1796 was married to Jane Elliot, daughter of Capt. Simon Elliot, and soon afterwards purchased a farm near Round Pond, on which his family continued to reside the rest of his life.
Very probably he would have been little known but for the deep religious character he afterwards developed, and his zeal- ous labors continued through life in behalf of the cause he had espoused.
On the introduction of Methodism into the place, just at the close of the century, he was one of the earliest converts, and very soon connected himself with the church and entered upon a religious life with a fervor and earnestuess altogether becom- ing a follower of Wesley. He took an active part in every thing pertaining to the interests of the church, and as early as
1 North's History of Augusta, p. 593,
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
1802 was licensed to preach.1 This office he ever afterwards held, discharging the duties it required conscientiously and tho- roughly without fee or reward from man, though to do so often required no little sacrifice. He preached almost constantly on the sabbath in some schoolhouse or other convenient place in the vicinity, and his consistent Christian life gave him no little influence. He had his farm to manage, and from it by incessant toil obtained the means to support his family, but was ever ready to attend to funerals even for families who had no claims upon him whatever, and this without expectation of re- ward in any form. It was known to his neighbors that in some instances he did this when he felt obliged to hire a man to take his place in the field, or himself subsequently spend in the field hours that ought to be devoted to sleep and rest. Once, in the latter part of his life, having attended a funeral in the family of a friend a few miles distant, he was astonished a few days af- afterwards by receiving a bushel of wheat. The fact that it was remarked indicates the singularity of the incident.
His first license as a local preacher, was given him, as we have seen, as early as 1802; and he was ordained deacon by Bishop Asbury at the Monmouth conference in 1809, and elder by Bishop George in 1820.
Working industriously on his farm six days in the week, we should do him great injustice to expect him to excel in his pul- pit perfomances on the sabbath. His sermons -perhaps more properly his exhortations - were, however, delivered with such earnestness, and more than all, were supported by such a trans- parent Christian life, known and read of all men, that they fre- quently produced very considerable effect upon the minds and hearts of his hearers. With much native shrewdness, and a de- termined will, he went forward in the discharge of what he con- sidered his duty in total disregard of any popular clamor or idle talk of the world. When the first temperance society in the town was formed, he was present, and made the opening prayer, though for some reason, not now remembered, his name does not appear on the list of those who that day signed the pledge.
Occasionally his conscientious adherence to duty, as he under- stood it, worked a little to his disadvantage.
At a time when hay was scarce, and the price high, he sold
1 Jones's Second Free Gift, p. 23.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
a considerable surplus he had on hand at ten dollars a ton, which he said he always considered a fair price for the article, and he would take no more because of the present scarcity. If afterwards, in a time of hay-famine, he had been a buyer of the article very probably he would have discovered the falsity of his theory of the true relation of buyer and seller.
Dle was too industrious to be particularly social; but was esteem- ed as a good citizen, and a kind and obliging friend and neighbor.
.
Habitually serious and earnest as he was, " rude fellows of the baser sort" did not often attempt to annoy him, but if some- times an individual ventured to do so, he was likely to get the worst of it. James Gwin, a neighbor of Baxter, manifested little regard for any kind of religion, but professed to believe in the doctrine of transmigration of souls ;- meeting Baxter one day on the road, as he was driving a team with rather a heavy load, he thought to have a little sport, and, as he approached the team, began to pray in a loud voice " Good Lord, when thou callest the spirit of thy humble servant to pass to some other animal let it not be an ox, to be driven by Enos Baxter." Bax- ter instantly replied, " Amen, I always hated a lazy ox." Gwin was noted for his laziness and inefficiency, to say nothing of his love of strong drink.
Mr. B. was three times married, and left several children, one of whom, John E. Baxter, is well known in the western part of the state as a man of business and a local preacher of the Methodist E. church. Many years ago he represented his native town of Bristol in the legislature, several years succes- sively. 1
Reverend Moses McFarland, of Monville, died in the early part of the year of 1866, at the age of 84. He was born in Bristol in 1782, and belonged to the family of this name be- fore mentioned, (pp. 329, 331.) In the religious revival under the Freewill Baptists, at the close of the last century, he became interested in religious things and connected himself with the Freewill Baptist church, organized about that time. He at once began to take an active part in the religious meetings, and in 1805, was duly authorized, according to the forms of that church, to preach the gospel.
1 Rev. S. H. Beal, Zions Herald, Oct. 18, 1848. Letter of Rev. John E. Baxter. Personal recollection of writer. Wm. Mcclintock. Horatio N. Fossett.
56
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
About this time, or perhaps a little earlier, he made his way northward, far into the woods, and began the clearing of a farm, within the limits of the present town of Montville, which however was not then incorporated. Having provided himself with a log-house, he married a lady of his native place, Pa- tience Curtis (Oct. 20, 1805), to whom he had been previously engaged, and began life in carnest. Subsequently he removed a short distance to a place on the direct road from Belfast to the Kennebec, where in time' a small village grew up and is now known as McFarland's corner. Here hespent the rest of his days, carefully cultivating his farm during the week, and preaching the gospel freely on the sabbath, to such as were pleas- ed to hear him. His education was poor, but he had some abil- ity as an extemporaneous speaker, and became in time very familiar with the simple text of the English Bible, so that his discourses or exhortations were often interesting and effective.
Having lived some twenty years or more in communion with the Freewill Baptist church, about 1826, a considerable change took place in his religious views, and he became a Universalist. This change being recognized, a year or two afterwards, he be- came formally connected with the convention of this denomina- tion, and continued his labors on the sabbath as before, his par- ish extending from the Kennebec on the west to the Penobscot on the east. His services were always performed without stipu- lation as to payment; but he gratefully accepted the free offer- ings of the people. Always and everywhere he maintained the same elevated Christian character; and was greatly respected and beloved even by those who were not of his own party or creed. He died at his home, his last hours being solaced by the presence and attention of children and grandchildren, and more than all, of his aged companion, with whom he had lived more than sixty years. 1
John Fossett, son of Alexander Fossett, was born March 4th, 1778, in the Long Cove district, and in early life followed the sea ; and having acted as captain of several vessels at different times, he was usually designated by this title. His education was only moderate, but being distinguished for his practical common sense, he was often called to fill important offices in the town. He was a member of the convention to form the constitution of the state in 1819, and 12 or 13 years a member of the board of ! Rev. Wmn. A. Drew in the Gospel Banner. Personal Recollections.
John Trefsett
CAPT. JOHN FOSSETT, FROM A PAINTINGAT THE AGE OF 20, ( 1798.)
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
selectmen, and three times a member of the legislature of the state. Ile also often filled other important trusts. He was married to Polly Hanly, March 20th, 1800, and died March 20th, 1848, leaving several children and grandchildren.
He was a grandson of the Scotchman, Alexander Fossett, pre- viously mentioned, (ante. p. 830).
Henry Fossett, son of the first Alexander, and uncle of Capt. John, was a man of considerable distinction in his day. He was several years one of the selectmen of the town, and often filled other offices of trust. He died, Aug. 24th, 1823, aged 74 years. His place of residence was at the " Meadows." 1
Israel Cox was for many years a prominent man in the affairs of the town. He was a descendant, probably in the fifth gene- ration, from Wm. Cox, one of the witnesses to the Indian deed to John Brown, in 1625. He was accustomed to say that Wm. Cox, witness to the Indian deed, was his great grandfather's father. He was born in this town in 1755, but the family re- moved to Beverly, Mass., when he was an infant, on account of the Indian troubles. They returned to Bristol, in 1767, and he spent the rest of his life here. He carly followed the sea, and having attained the rank of captain, was afterwards always honored by the title. He married Jane Given, daughter of Ro- bert Given, about 1787, (published May 28, 1787,) and took up his residence at Brown's Cove, in the Long Cove school Dis- trict.
Though inclined to be skeptical in his religious views, he was a man of very equable temperament, and honest and upright in his intercourse with the world. He was well read in the his- tory of Maine and New England generally, and indeed of the whole country, especially considering the scarcity of books, and the little interest taken in such subjects among his neighbors. He was first elected on the board of selectmen of the town in 1802, but was many times re-elected, the last time in 1825. He died April 3d, 1850, at the age of 94 years and 6 months.
Wm. Chamberlain died Dec. 18th of this year, 1851, at the age of 86. He was born in Charlestown, Mass., near the spot where the Bunker Hill monument now stands. He was nearly eleven years old when the Lexington fight took place, and well remembered many incidents in connection with it, which came under his own observation. His father and one or two bro-
' Formerly the name was somethnes written Fasseit.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
thers were under arms the whole day. After the battle the British forces retreated into Charlestown, much to the terror of the families occupying the few houses then standing on the peninsula. As they came in, a shot was occasionally fired with- out any apparent object and without being noticed by the officers. His mother thought it best to seek some safer place for herself and the children she had with her, and all of them embraced an opportunity that offered to cross over to Malden. As they were passing to the boat a little boy was shot dead near him ou the shore, and, further off, an old man,
He came to Bristol near the close of the last century as clerk to Thomas McClure, but subsequently purchased the farm in Round Pond, now occupied by his son David.
He was a man of sound mind, and the strictest integrity ; and having received a good business education, he was often elected to office by his fellow citizens. From 1806 to 1824, in- clusive, he served as town clerk, and for an equal or longer period, as treasurer of the town. Once or twice he represented the town in the state legislature.
IIe had a ready ear for music, and learned many of the tunes played by the bands of the British army in Boston, at the time of the revolution ; and during a few of the last years of his life would occasionally be heard humming some one of them that he had not probably thought of before for half a century.
He married Sarah, daughter of Henry Hunter, who died sev- eral years before him, leaving a large family of children to per- petuate the name.
Patrick and Roger ITanly, came to Bristol before the revolu- tionary war, and became permanent citizens of the place. They were brothers, born in Tipperary Co., Ireland, and engaged early in the fishing business on the coasts of Newfoundland, sailing out of Waterford. From Newfoundland they came to the Kennebec in the service of Gen. Lithgow, and thence to Bristol. They were honorable and useful citizens in their day, and left a numer- ous posterity.
Patrick, probably the older of the two, was born Noy. 29, 1742, married Agnes Erskine May 1, 1777, and died Sept. 9, 1812. They had a family of twelve children. His widow died Sept. 7, 1845, aged 88 years.
Dr. Joseph Washburn was born in Bridgewater, Mass., and began the practice of medicine in Bristol about 1812-14. He
.
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
married in 1816 Mrs. Jane (Drummond) Dockendorf, sister of JIon. James Drummond before mentioned. He was esteemed as a good physician, and for many years had a large practice. He died-
Robert Paul, ancestor (probably) of all that name living in this region, was a native of Ireland, but came to Boston before 1747, for in this year he came to Bristol in the employ of Shem Drowne, to assist in surveying the lands claimed by the Pema- quid proprietors. John North was the surveyor, and had for assistants Lieut. (Patrick ?) Rogers,1 George Caldwell, Alexander Erskine, Nathaniel Bull jr., Robert Paul and John Forbush.
Robert Paul (as also Caldwell and Erskine), settled on the east bank of the Damariscotta, all of them probably receiving grauts of land from Drowne. Paul left two sons, Hugh and James, the latter of whom removed to Camden many years ago, and is represented there by a numerous posterity. Hugh left three sons, one of whom still occupies the old homestead.
The legislature in 1811 caused two questions to be submit- ted to the people of the state, viz :
I. Whether the constitution of the state should be so amend- ed that the legislature, and also the governor and other state officers, should be chosen only once in two years ; and,
II. Whether it should be amended so as to limit the whole number of representatives to 151, instead of more than 200, as then authorized by that instrument.
These questions were submitted to the citizens here, Septem- ber 14th, and the first received 24 affirmative votes and 145 neg- ative.
On the second question there were 144 votes in the affirmative, and none in the negative.
The present town of Damariscotta was incorporated by the legislature, July 23, 1847, being composed of territory formerly belonging partly to Bristol and partly to Nobleboro. The movement was begun the year before, but was earnestly oppos- ed by a great majority of the people of Bristol. The commission-
1 Patrick Rogers, in a deposition given in 1778, mentions " seventeen hundred and thirty-six or seven" as the time when Jolin North was employed by Drowne in making a survey of this claim. North may have been employed in this ser- vice at both the dates mentioned, (1707 and 173?,) but if not then the latter is the true date. (Lin. Report, 1511, p. 59-63.)
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
ers appointed to fix the boundaries of the new town, were Ed- win Smith, A. G. Dole, and B. C. Bailey, Esqs .- they had a meeting and attended to the duty assigned them May 15th, 18-18.
The " temperance reformation," which, begun here in 1828, though only a few comparatively joined heartily in it at first, in a very few years, produced gratifying results plainly visible to all; and the good cause was much strengthened by the Wash- ingtonian movement of 1840.
The prohibitory liquor law, afterwards, enacted, under the leadership of Hon. Neal Dow, of Portland, was favorably re- ceived in the town, but we may not claim that it was universally obeyed. In 1858, at a town meeting, June 7, it was voted by a decided majority that no licenses for the sale of liquors should be granted. What the occasion wasfor the action at this parti- cular time does not appear.
Samuel T. Hinds, was a grandson of Commodore Tucker, with whom he was brought up. He was born September 27th, 1798, and died in 1870. He was a man of good abilities and excellent character, and early secured the public confidence which he afterwards retained. In the militia, when compara- tively young, he had attained the rank of colonel, and was af- terwards very generally known by this title, as his grandfather was by that of commodore. Living a part of his life in Bre- men, and a part in Bristol, various public burdens were laid upon him in both towns, the latter of which he several times represented in the legislature.
He married Nancy Nickels, daughter of Thomas Nickels, and . grandaughter of Capt. Alexander Nickels, who commanded the company of "scouters" in the Indian war. Mr. Hinds left a family of several children, one of whom, Benjamin Hammond Hinds, graduated at Tufft's College in 1860.
The name of James Yates has been mentioned (p. 290) as one who joined the Louisbourg expedition from this place. Prob- ably he was an Englishman from Yorkshire, but came to this country when very young. In Boston he became acquainted with Jane or Jeannet M'Nay whom he married. Their first child, Elizabeth, was born Jan. 10, 1739, and in 1742 they removed to this place, selecting for their residence a place on the north shore of Round Pond. Some of his descendants have claimed
1 Can Pe Hinds
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND BREMEN.
that he planted on his farm the first Indian corn ever raised in the town of Bristol. 1
They had a family of nine children, seven daughters and two sons, and from the latter have sprung all of the name in the place.
In time of special danger from the Indians, the family was accustomed to flee by boat to New Harbor, and walk across to the fort. Once in her husband's absence Mrs. Yates, with four of her children, the eldest only ten years old, made the passage to New Harbor unaided, though the south wind blew so fresh as to make the task severe and difficult.
Mrs. Ruth Barnaby was born in Marblehead in 1064, but when only a few months' old the family moved to New Harbor, where they lived until the first Indian war in 1676. When a hundred years old, Sept. 6, 1764, she gave a deposition in Boston concerning affairs here in her childhood, having person- ally known John Brown sen. and jr. and the Pierces, Stilsons and others, then residing in the place. When driven off by the In- dian war the family returned to Boston, where she was living in 1764, as just stated. She died Feb. 12th, 1765. She prac- ticed midwifery in Boston some forty years ; and was remark- able to the last for her strong physical constitution and reten- tive memory. Once when the small pox prevailed in her neigh- borhood she removed from town, but on its occurring again in the spring of 1764, being then in her 100th year, she determined to be innoculated and remain at her home. The precaution of innoculation was not taken, and the disease visited the family where she lived-but she escaped, to die of old age a few months afterwards. 2
1 Mr. Monroe who married a daughter of Solomon Dockendorf. This of course supposes that this grain was not cultivated by the early inhabitants before the Indian wars began.
2 Lin. Rep., 1811, p. 120. Drake's Hist. Boston, p. 688. Probably her maiden name was Sergeant or perhaps Berry. (See p. 233).
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HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND PREMEN.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
BRISTOL IN THE CIVIL WAR. FROM 1860 to 1872.
Offensive interference of slavery in the politics of the country - War not expected when the Presidential election was held in 1860- The attack upon Fort Som- ter aroused and united all parties --- Response to the President's first proclama- tion - EIN ct of the President's proclamation after the failure before Richmond - The " enrollment act" of 1863 very unpopular - Liberal bounties offered by the town for men enlisting in the army - Result of the first draft -The commuta- tion fee allowed by government - Price paid for substitutes - More men called for, and liberal bounties offered for men to enlist in the service - Names of those who entered the army and navy from the town during the war - Whole number of men supplied by the town - Hospital and other stores forwarded from Bristol Dr. A. S. Clark - Revival of business after the war - Win. M'Clintock. -- Wm. Hunter.
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