USA > Maine > Knox County > Warren > Annals of the town of Warren; with the Early History of St. George's, Broad Bay and the Neighboring Settlements on the Waldo patent > Part 24
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and school lots. But it is probable that some doubt respect- ing the legality of such sale, operated to prevent purchasers from coming forward, and nothing farther was done.
Dr. Schaeffer, who had before employed Mr. Copeland to repair his house in Warren, the one built by D. Patterson, 2d, and also given him a power of attorney to transact business for him, (his own activity being now impaired by age and intemperance,) this year removed to the place. He here continued his medical practice at his own house, took out a license for retailing, lived high, drank flip, and went but little from home. He was considered wealthy, was supposed to own several houses in Boston, and to have large sums of money hoarded in his house. As he had no legitimate chil- dren, nor even a wife, in this country, speculations were sometimes indulged in as to the disposition of his property in the event of his death. But the Doctor himself, enjoyed life too well, to give himself much uneasiness on that account. The youngsters in the neighborhood, were at- tracted, of an evening, by his flip, and amused by his " donner und blitzen," " tausend teufel," and other exclama- tions equally intelligible.
1791. Signs of improvement continue. New emigrants arrive, and new names appear on the records. Nelson had removed from the place ; and his house had been, for some time, rented and occupied by J. Standish, who, about this time or a little later, purchased of Mr. Whiting the land and built the house where J. Cobb now lives. J. P. Davis, A. Davis, John Payson, and Wm. Starrett, had settled, or were about settling on the middle road to Union ; where the posterity of the three last still inhabit. Daniel Peabody was now settled on the Haskell farm, and Alexander Kelloch on the adjoining lot known as the Kelloch place. Mr. Whiting, in exchange for real estate at Newcastle, conveyed his house at the head of the tide, together with the land where the tan-yard now is, and that now owned by Wm. Hovey, to Ichabod Frost, who removed hither from New- castle and opened a tavern, the first ever kept in that village. William Moore had, before this, erected a store where A. Fuller at present trades, and now sold goods there, and boarded with Frost ; but afterwards failed, left the place, and was, at a later period, employed as a clerk in the custom house at Waldoboro'.
A law was this year passed, to protect the more valuable wild animals from being hunted at improper seasons. Game
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was now become so scarce in this vicinity, that little profit was derived from hunting, and not much time devoted to it. The martin and beaver had nearly disappeared. Beasts of prey were more numerous. Wolves and bears were so trouble- some as to compel the people to hunt them in self-defence. On the western side of the river, the young Libbeys, Halls, and others, were particularly active in destroying them. Major Libbey had a large dog, that never hesitated to engage and detain a wolf, till the hunters came up and despatched him. Many a wolf was immolated by his instrumentality ; but he fell a victim at last to his heroism. Venturing out alone, he com- menced an assault, as is supposed, in his usual way, but was overpowered by numbers, and found dead on the field of battle. Other canine exploits, there, doubtless, were, in those days; but, like the heroes that preceded Agamemnon, the names of the actors have perished for want of an historian.
Several afflictive casualties occurred this year. In April, Joseph Skinner, a lad of about 13 years of age, whilst em- ployed with others, in rolling logs down the bank at Peabody's mill, was killed by a log passing over him. Eli Bosworth, about 9 years of age, later in the season, fell from a float, whilst gathering lilies in North Pond, and was drowned. Catherine, wife of Samuel Dunham, who had from childhood exhibited signs of insanity, in the summer of this vear, left her home in one of her moody spells, and was supposed to have gone in the direction of the old stone blockhouse in Cushing, about which, and on the seashore, she was wont to linger, as if absorbed in some pleasing reverie known only
to herself. It was ascertained, however, from some frag- ments of her dress, that, after crossing the river, she had wandered away towards Crawford's meadow. People from different parts of the town, turned out and made a diligent search, for a week or more, but finally gave it up as hopeless. Her bones were found in something like a year afterwards, in the borders of Union or Hope. A son of hers, Joseph Dunham, inherited her eccentricities, leading a vagrant life, and sometimes taking up his abode, unbidden, in the cabin of a coaster hauled up for the winter, trusting to his wits for food and fuel.
It was while in search of this unfortunate woman, that a clearing was observed on one of the hills in the present town of Hope; and some of the old hunters familiar with the region, led by curiosity to visit the place, found there some sixty acres of excellent rye, sown by Messrs. Barrett and Miles, pioneers in the settlement of that place; the latter of
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whom, had bought out his companion, and was now in solitary possession of the whole. John Lermond was so struck with the promising appearance of this crop, together with the ponds and streams in the vicinity, which he exanı- ined with the eye of an amateur in such matters, that he immediately resolved to change his residence, and erect mills there. For the present, however, he only contracted with Miles to clear a road for him, as far as Crawford's meadow, which he performed the following winter, for thirty bushels of rye. This crop of grain, excessively large, which was thus laid open, proved very acceptable to the inhabitants of this town ; though the producer would take nothing but hard dollars in payment. Lermond kept his purpose in view, till, having made his arrangements, he removed with his sons into that neighborhood, near the close of the century, built mills, and established himself in the borders of Union. He was a laborious, honest man, but distinguished by some peculiarities, among which was that of refusing interest for money due him. He used to say, it was " hard enough for a poor man to pay the principal, without adding interest to it."
Ship-building, though it continued to increase, had, with the exception of a few vessels built for people in other places, been thus far, in this town, confined to sloops and schooners. This year, however, Col. Starrett and Capt. Spear commenced building the brig Speedwell, on the shore of the latter, oppo- site Andrews's point. This vessel, the first brig owned in town, probably launched the next spring, was commanded by James Crawford, till captured by a French privateer when coming from Demarara in 1799.
The bridge at Boggs's shore, and one of the saw-mills below, were, this year, carried away by the freshet. In the fall, the mill was rebuilt ; and Mr. Copeland, with some aid from others, made a temporary bridge at the lower falls. Prior to this time, there had been no crossing there, except on a single plank by foot passengers, or by fording the river on horseback .*
1792. It was again voted to hire preaching a part of the year, and to raise a tax of £100 for building a meeting-house. In 1792, a farther sum of £22 18s. was raised by the sale of timber on the ministerial and school lots ; committees were
* Joseph Copeland is said to have had an old mare which used to walk this plank, and his wife often rode across on that narrow bridge. - Capt. Crane, &c.
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chosen to receive the materials, and superintend the raising of the house ; which, notwithstanding former votes, was now or- dered to be located at the corner, near Alexander Bird's house. The land was purchased of M. Copeland ; and it was voted " that the town raise the meeting-house on Tuesday the 2d day of October next." Probably on that day, certainly in October, the long talked of house, was raised ; and the con- troversy respecting its location brought to an end.
Mr. Copeland continued his activity, and, this year, built a store for Mr. Head, and a tailor's shop. The former was a one story building, and stood at the corner where Mr. Head afterwards built the store now occupied by B. Dillingham. The tailor's shop was occupied by Simon Lovett, who carried on his business here several years, living in the same building till he built the house since new-modelled and occupied by the late J. H. Counce. This house he afterwards sold to Samuel Davis, and removed to Portland. Nathaniel, son of Moses Copeland, this year erected the house now occupied by Mrs. M. Wetherbee ; but it was not finished till a year or two later. This was the second two story house built in town, P. Pebbles having built the first one some years before. Bracket & Davis were doing a thriving business. Rufus Crane had now taken up shoemaking ; and Luther Crane, a distant member of the same family, worked here as a journey- man at the same business. The latter settled, in 1799, on the farm adjoining Mr. Peabody's, and the next year built the house where his family still live. Mr. Weston, this year built a sloop called the Betsey, which was owned by her Cap- tain, E. Killeran, Bracket & Davis, and others. This vessel was running in 1826.
The first public Library in town, was established, this year, by a division of the Friendly Society founded in 1787. In September of that year, a number of persons in this and other towns between the Sheepscot and Penobscot rivers, sub- scribed the following sums for procuring books to be owned by them in common ; viz. Joshua Head, John Head, Zebedee Simmons, David Vinal, Marlboro' Packard, David Fales, Philip M. Ulmer, Peter Creamer, David Jenks, and Benjamin Brown, &1 8s. each ; Waterman Thomas, £6, Thurston Whiting, £2, Ezekiel G. Dodge, ££2 16s., George Ulmer, £1 12s., Charles Sampson, £2, J. W. Head, £2, Moses Copeland, £2, Benjamin Webb, £2 16s., and John Paine, £2. The subscribers held their first meeting at the house of Capt. Stephen Andrews, in Waldoboro', November 6th of the same year ; and W. Thomas was chosen Librarian. The Society
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continued to flourish ; meetings were held at various places, in Waldoboro', Warren, and Thomaston ; new members were added, public addresses delivered ; and there was nothing but the remoteness of its members from each other, to prevent it from being a permanent, harmonious, and valuable institution. In February, 1792, a division took place ; and the eastern portion of the members, about 16 in number, met at the house of Ichabod Frost, in Warren, and organized as " the Friendly Society on St. George's river." For eight years, the annual meeting in January was held, and the Library kept, at War- ren and Thomaston, alternately. The novelty of the thing, the popularity of many of the books, illustrated, occasionally, as the dramatic portion of them were, by the histrionic pow- ers of Sullivan, Dodge, and others; the public dinners and convivial merriment usual at the meetings of the society, to- gether with the practice of celebrating the 4th of July by a public dinner and oration, attracted general attention, and in- duced great numbers to share its advantages. Orations were delivered, by Rev. J. Huse in 1796, S. S. Wilde, Esq. 1797, and Rev. T. Whiting in 1798 and 1799. In 1799, its mem- bers were 86 in number, paying an annual contribution of $43 ; but in January of that year, the society was again divid- ed, and a portion of its members held a meeting, and, Janu- ary 13, 1799, organized themselves as the " Proprietors of the Social Library in the town of Warren," according to the provisions of a recent statute. The number of members was 37, which in four years was doubled by the admission of new ones, embracing most of the intelligent and respectable citizens of the town, including two ladies, Mrs. James and Miss E. Kirkpatrick. In 1802, the price of a share was fixed at $5; and in 1820, the annual assessment reduced to 25 cents ; both which still continue. The society continued to celebrate the 4th of July, and orations were delivered, by S. Thatcher, Esq. in 1800, Rev. T. Whiting in 1802, M. Smith, Esq. in 1805, E. Thatcher, Esq. in 1808, I. G. Reed, Esq. in 1809, and G. Starrett, Esq. in 1820. For several years past, in consequence of the abundance of periodical and other cheap literature, less interest in this institution, than formerly, has been manifested. Several unsuccessful attempts have been made, to authorize' the sale of the books on hand, as also to raise the annual assessment to the original sum of 50 cents. During the first quarter of the century, large additions were annually made to the Library, which in 1825 contained something over 500 volumes, valued at about $800, and owned by 91 proprietors. Since that time, the increase has
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been less ; some valuable works have disappeared ; and the number of shares is reduced to 66. Still the collection is a valuable one, containing, as it does, most of the standard works in the various departments of English and American literature and science. Nothing is wanting, but that our young men should duly appreciate the treasure within their reach, and feel the same desire for improvement manifested by their ancestors sixty years ago, to make this institution, by its annual additions, again become an attractive source of rational amusement, the means of cultivating the taste, en- lightening the mind, and purifying the heart of the commu- nity.
Upon the subject of separating Maine from Massachusetts, first agitated about 1785, and at that time denounced as treason by Gov. Bowdoin, the people of Warren, in 1792, for the first time, took a vote; the result of which was, one in favor of, and fourteen against the measure.
1793. Wm. Boggs, the first town clerk, who had also filled most of the other town offices, having deceased the preceding year, town meetings, which used so frequently to be held at his house, were this year called at the house of his widow and son. At that held Jan. 14, a committee was chosen to draw two different 'plans of the pews of the meeting-house, and report the same for examination. There was, probably, a rivalship between the slips of the present day, and the square pews of an earlier date. A committee was also chosen, to get the window frames and sashes ; and a vote passed that the pews be sold on March meeting day. At that meeting, March 4th, held at the house of Joseph Boggs, and thence, probably from the extra numbers attend- ing on account of the sale, adjourned to the barn, a plan of pews was accepted. The house itself was 49 feet by 40, with its high gable ends on the north and south, the pulpit on the eastern side, and the entrance on the west ; where was a porch, with stairs leading up to a capacious gallery occu- pying three entire sides of the house. Between the entrance and the pulpit, according to the plan accepted, were two rows, of seven slips each, on each side of the broad aisle ; five slips and two free seats on each side of the pulpit ; and square pews on the other three walls. Nothing above, but the front gallery, designed for the singers, was finished. The pews were appraised at $831, the highest at $25, and the lowest at $9 each; and the right of choice, set up to the highest bidders, amounted to $333,50. The £100 raised by the town, is said to have paid for the frame ; and the pro-
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ceeds of the pews to have defrayed all other expenses. The first choice, on the right hand of the broad aisle next the pulpit, was taken by Wm. Lermond, and the opposite one reserved for the minister. Behind these, were the pews of J. W. Head, and B. Bracket. Moses Copeland sat north of the pulpit, and, for twenty years or more, was scarcely absent for a single Sabbath. In April, a contract was made with Alexander and Wm. Lermond to find stuff and finish the house, outside and in, with the exception of the gallery pews, for the sum of £349 10s. or $1163,33 .*
A committee was again empowered to procure preaching a part of the time ; and probably Mr. Whiting was employed, who was also, in May, chosen representative. On the 9th of Dec. it was voted, " that the town purchase as much land about the meeting-house, as will be sufficient for a burying- ground and other public uses." The land on that side of the road, had, by that time, passed from Mr. Bird into the hands of Wm. Lermond, who gave a portion thereof to the town for a public common, and sold another portion for a burying- ground. As if hastening to occupy this newly appointed resting-place, great numbers of children were carried off, this season, by the scarlet fever, or throat distemper, as it was then called, which was very malignant and mortal. The grave-yard, at first, extended northward near to the road as now travelled, south of where the meeting-house stood ; but in May, 1794, when the town voted to fence the old burying-ground with pine logs and the new one with stone wall and board fence, it was restricted to a line running square from the corner of the wall near the hearse- house, according to the purchase. By this restriction, the graves of several children were left outside, on the common ; and the town voted " to remove such of them, whose rela- tions were willing, within the said limits." This was done ; but some were allowed to remain; and the graves of Mr. Sylvester's children were enclosed by a fence, which remain- ed on the common for many years. The ground was, in some respects, ill adapted to its purpose ; a ledge in some places approaches too near the surface, and in others the soil is not sufficiently dry. It had never been cultivated, and no pains were taken to level its uneven surface. But this defect became less and less obtrusive, as the graves became more crowded ; and, in 1840, it was enlarged by re-annexing a portion of what had been before fenced out.
* Plan and other papers of A. Lermond. Copeland's MS.
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Mr. Bird, about this time, built the house now owned by Col. Richmond. Between there, and Mr. Crawford's (now French's,) as also between the meeting-house and bridge, the ground was mostly covered with trees and bushes. But this year, the town voted " that the selectmen lay out a road, from the meeting-house to Miles Cobb's shop." This appears not to have been done, till 1795.
A committee was also chosen, in April, " to lay out a road to Barrettstown, and make report." This was the name at that time applied to what is now Hope, and a part of Apple- ton, being so called from Charles Barrett, Esq. of New Ips- wich, N. H., who was engaged in settling the same with emigrants from that and other places. He had previously been concerned with J. Jameson in a mill at Hart's Falls, which he built about 1790, and was this year authorized, by an act of the General Court, to improve the navigation of the river by locks and canals.
Willing Blake came, this year, from Wrentham, Mass., and after residing a year at J. P. Davis's, purchased, in con- nexion with him, the Bosworth farm, west of the pond ; to which they removed in 1794. Blake, subsequently, sold out to Davis, and bought of A. Lawrence, the farm first settled by Dunham, with part of that of T. Hills. These farms were little valued, on account of the sandy and barren qual- ity of the soil; but Blake, by industry and skilful manage- ment, converted them into one of the best in town. He had served in the revolutionary army, and here filled the office of militia Captain for many years. Lawrence, who had also served six years in the war of the revolution, for which he brought home enough of paper money to purchase one sheep, came from Franklin, Mass., first settled in Union, but ex- changed his farm there for that of Dunham, and now settled on the eastern side of the river, where his sons still reside.
Others came to the place, the same year. Jesse and Edmund Page were from Atkinson, N. H. The former, having spent the preceding season at Wiscasset, brought hither a few goods, which he sold out at Frost's. He subsequently traded some years, in a store, the frame of which he purchased of Frost, together with a small piece of land, where he and Wm. Mclellan, in 1818, built the stores at present occupied by S. B. Wetherbee & son. On the removal of Frost, he opened a tavern at first in his house, afterwards in that now ' owned by L. H. Vaughan, which he built in 1803. In that year, he was appointed deputy sheriff, and for nearly 20 years continued in that office,
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which, from the great number of suits then brought, was very lucrative, the fees sometimes amounting to $60 in a single day. He was, many years, deputy marshal under Thornton, which office, also, particularly during the war, yielded a handsome income; and was postmaster 29 years. His brother was a joiner, and occupied as a work-shop part of his brother's store, till he built where his family still reside. David Page, a younger brother, also a joiner by trade, came later, and after residing some years on the present J. Payson place, removed and built the house lately purchased by P. Rollins.
Dr. Edmund Buxton came from Reading, Mass. where he had studied physic ; and, taking lodgings at Frost's, com. menced, here, the practice of his profession. His prepara- tion was, perhaps, less ample than what is usual at the pres- ent day ; but, possessing a discerning eye, his skill increased with his practice ; and, for 35 years, he was held in deserv- edly high repute in this and the neighboring towns. He
was moderate in his charges, prompt in his attendance, pleasant and unpretending in his intercourse, and, though sustaining many town offices, allowed nothing to interfere with his fidelity to his patients. He lived many years in the Richmond house, which he purchased of Alexander Bird, and afterwards built that in which his widow resided till her decease in 1850. He died, much regretted, July 30, 1828, in the sixtieth year of his age. His death was occasioned by a fall from an ungovernable horse. During his lifetime, several physicians attempted to establish themselves here, among them Drs. Bracket, Stephens, Wells, and Ayers ; but none of them could withstand the assiduity and establish- ed reputation of the first physician, who was succeeded in practice and popularity by his son, B. F. Buxton. Dr. A. W. Kennedy practiced here four years from 1829, and has recently returned. Drs. C. C. Chandler, - Stearns, James H. Glidden, and John M. Brown, have cach resided a time in town, but gained no very extensive practice.
Wm. McBeath came from Scotland, where he had receiv- ed what was termed a liberal education. His parents had designed him for the ministry ; and he brought letters of recommendation to Rev. Mr. McLean of Bristol, requesting him, if he thought it expedient, to receive him as a student in divinity .* He was employed by him some time on his
* The story is, that McBeath arrived in McLean's absence on a visit to Scotland, and, being a portly, well looking young man, and
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farm, but probably not encouraged to engage in the ministry. He came here about this time, with a small stock of goods, which he at first kept in the store erected by Moore, but soon rented the house which Mr. Copeland this year built. This was a low, bevel-roofed building; one part of which Mc- Beath occupied as a store, and the other as a dwelling. This building, with the land on which it stood, was subsequently sold to Joseph Boggs, who erected in its room a store, in which he traded several years, and which is now converted into a dwellinghouse standing opposite the factory. It was probably in this year, also, that Timothy Parsons, from Read- ing, in company with a brother, established the tan-works now carried on by G. Kirkpatrick. He lived in the upper part of the tan-house, and carried on the business till 1803 ; when he sold out to the Hoveys, and removed to North Yar- mouth, or vicinity. John Parsons, a joiner, settled and built a small house, which was successively owned by B. Bussell, D. Page, and J. Page, till taken down in 1834, and the pres- ent house of James Payson built on its site.
Besides the building before mentioned, which was designed for the clothier, Mr. Copeland this year erected a fulling-mill at the head of the tide, the first establishment of the kind on the river. The first clothier was Benjamin Sylvester, who carried on the business about five years, and removed to New- castle. Ebenezer Wells succeeded, bargained for the mill, and, for awhile, carried on the works on his own account ; but not fulfilling the contract, Copeland, in 1803, sold the works for $500 to Robert Chase, who, after a few years, sold out to Miles Cobb. Cobb, and his son-in-law, John M. Gates, employed different workmen, and carried on the works till April 12, 1812 ; when they were purchased by Lewis Stacy. In Feb. 1814, Stacy sold out to Amos H. Hodgman, who, for many years, carried on the works satisfactorily to the customers, and profitably to himself. Cloth was, at the com- mencement of the business, dressed in rather a rough and inferior manner ; the coarse wool of the English sheep, intro-
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