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 25
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understood to be a student in divinity, was invited to preach the en- suing Sabbath. He requested to be excused till McL's return, which was every week expected; but several weeks having elapsed, and the parson not returning, the people became impatient, declared the young man's reluctance was but the effect of unreasonable modesty, and in- sisted upon his preaching. He put them off as long as he could, but when their urgency became imperative, put an end to their importu- nity by exclaiming " I'll be dumned if I'll preach till McLean comes home,"
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duced by Gen. Knox, deteriorated its appearance ; and it was not till the introduction of merinos, about 1810, and the su- perior workmanship of Stacy, that any tolerably handsome cloth was made. A carding machine was added to the works, about 1803. The old fashioned hand shears were employed until Hodgman's time, who introduced the first shearing machine, and indigo dye. Hodgman was succeed- ed by B. Dillingham, till the latter went into trade, and the present factory was established.
In 1793, J. Standish commenced ship-building on his own account, and launched the sloop Polly, for D. Dunbar, J. O'Brien and A. Malcolm ; probably at the yard which he subsequently occupied, near J. McCallum's present house.
The year 1793 is also distinguished for the introduction of the first pleasure carriage into the town ; Mr. Copeland having this year purchased a chaise - probably a second handed one, but not the less a mark of distinction on that account.
As yet, no mail had penetrated so far east ; and probably few or no newspapers were read in the place, except those occasionally brought by the coasters. The most eastern post office, was now at Wiscasset, to which a mail from Portland was brought twice a month. In 1793, a person by the name of Russel, was hired by private individuals to go from Castine to Wiscasset, to carry letters and newspapers to the several towns between those places. He went on foot once a fortnight, and carried his mail at first in a handker- chief, afterwards in saddle-bags. He lived at the Penobscot ferry, and, finding traveling agreed with him so well, he traveled off to the western states, leaving his family and the mail to take care of themselves. The next year, in con- sequence of a petition from the inhabitants, postmasters were appointed, and the mail sent, by Government. It was then carried once a week, on horseback. Rufus Crane was appointed the first postmaster in this town, Col. Wheaton in Thomaston, and Joseph Eaton in Camden. At the present village of Belfast, there were then only a few log huts. Mr. Crane's emoluments, for the first 3 months after his appoint- ment, amounted to 20 cents. He held the office till 1810, when he was succeeded by Jesse Page. The latter kept the office at first at his house, but afterwards, going into trade with his nephew, J. Page, Jr., he removed the same to his store, at or near which it has since remained. About 1838, the office was transferred to Hon. A. H. Hodgman, and kept by his brother, Thomas Hodgman, in the Head store, which
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he then occupied. Seth B. Wetherbee held the office from 1841, till Gen. Hodgman again received it in 1848 .* The income of the office was much lessened by the reduction of postage, which took place in 1844. Before that time, whilst held by Mr. Page, it is said to have yielded to the Govern- ment from $55 to $70 per quarter, and to the P. M. who received one half the postage on newspapers and one third of that on letters, about $150 per annum.
Hitherto, the standard of morals in the place, had been un- exceptionable ; and, if the people had not always lived up to it, they had at least escaped the more heinous and infamous crimes. But, about this time, an event occurred of a more serious and alarming character. The house of Dr. Schaeffer, during his absence in Boston, was entered in the evening by four men, in disguise, who seized the women, the only inmates of the house, pinioned their arms, confined them in the cellar, broke open the chests and closets, and carried off all the gold and silver they contained. The women, three in number, being left in confinement, were long in disengaging them- selves ; but succeeding at length, and recovering from their fright, fled to their neighbors and spread the alarm. Every search was made, every inquiry was instituted, but without obtaining any clue to the transaction. His agent, M. Cope- land, was particularly assiduous in his efforts to detect the per- petrators. Advertisements were posted up, and inquiries made in this and the neighboring towns of the whereabouts of every person thought capable of such an act, but no trace of the robbers was discovered ; and, from that day to this, a dark uncertainty has rested on the transaction.
At first, the community was struck aghast at the enormity of the crime ; but some were more easily reconciled to it by the belief that the treasures thus dishonestly taken, had been as dishonestly obtained ; and that, however infamous in itself, it was, to the sufferer, but an act of retributive justice. It was said, too, that the Doctor was not long for this world, that he would soon fall a prey to dropsy and high living, that he had here no legitimate heirs, and that, saving the criminality of the deed, the money might as well be kept in the country as to go to foreigners, his connexions, whom he was daily ex- pecting to arrive from Germany. Suggestions of this kind, blunted the edge of public indignation, though they could not remove it. In the absence of proof, various surmises and
* The office has since been restored to Mr. Wetherbee.
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conjectures were engendered, which it is not the office of au- thentic history to record. The Doctor, who was in Boston at the time, repaired to the celebrated Moll Pitcher, the far famed fortune teller of Lynn, for assistance in detecting the criminal. She, probably judging from his appearance, had no hesitation in declaring that he would never see his treasure again ; " it was in possession of a long-headed man, who knew how to keep it." He returned in rage and despair, and plunging still deeper into intemperance, expired on the 20th April, 1794. Mr. Copeland was appointed administrator, with a will annexed, which was made in 1767, bequeathing his estate to his wife Margaret and to his daughters Margaret . and Mary. The personal property and notes, according to the inventory, amounted to £656 2s. 6d. or $2265,15 cents ; and the debts and payments allowed, were $707,69 cents ; leaving a balance, besides real estate, of $1557,44 cents. On the 20th of August following, Mr. Copeland, whose wife had deceased the preceding year, married the doctor's widow.
The autumn of 1793 is memorable for a premature snow storm, which, on Tuesday the 29th of October, whilst the corn and potatoes were but partially secured, covered the ground to the depth of a foot or more ; and was succeeded by weather so cold as to freeze up the ponds, and make good sleighing for several weeks. Afterwards, however, a spell of more mod- erate weather carried off the snow, and gave an opportunity to complete the harvest, though the ponds did not break up till spring .*
* J. P. Davis, and J. Rokes, the latter of whom places this storm on the 11th.
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CHAPTER XIV.
SETTLEMENT OF REV. J. HUSE, AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS FROM 1794 TO 1800.
1794. THE annual meeting in March, was called this year at the new meeting-house, which proving uncomforta- ble for the want of windows, it was adjourned to Mr. Bird's barn, and the town officers chosen by nomination and hand vote. To assist in repairing the more difficult and thinly peopled portions of the road, M. Copeland was appointed surveyor for the whole distance from Cushing to Union, and also to Waldoboro'. At an adjourned meeting, held at the school-house near M. Cobb's, it was voted " that the hogs within the town may go at large, in the commons, they being well yoked and ringed." This vote was doubtless passed, not because the swine had not before made use of this priv- ilege, but because an attempt was now made for the first time to deprive them of it.
D. Dunbar was chosen agent to answer to an indictment against Oyster river bridge, which being out of repair, was, on the report of a committee appointed to examine the local- ity and confer with a similar committee from Thomaston, built anew, probably in connexion with that town, in its pres- ent situation.
The collector being, probably, pressed for the payment of the State tax, and the people, at that time of year, before their wood and lumber could be transported to market, find- ing it difficult to pay their respective rates, the town, in May, voted " to pay the cost of any execution that might be issued against Mr. Dunbar, the collector, for State tax No. 10, pre- vious to Sept. 1st." July 5th, voted " to hire a town school- master for this year." Sept. 8th, voted " that the town will make up to the 17 men that are called for out of this town, $12 per month, whilst in actual service." These men were probably part of a draft made from the militia by the gener- al Government, to be in readiness for actual service when called for. The call was made in view of the Indian hostili- ties in the western country, and the unsettled difficulties with England, which were assuming a more serious aspect. They were never called for; as the Indians were defeated by Gen. Wayne, Aug, 20th ; and the difficulties with England settled
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by a commercial treaty, negotiated Nov. 19th, by Mr. Jay, at London.
The season, this year, was as unpropitious to the husband- man, as the prospect was gloomy to the politician. On the 17th of May, there was a heavy frost, so thick as to resemble snow, and so severe, that, while crops in general were poor, those of apples, nuts, acorns and berries, were entirely cut off. For want of these, the bears were forced to leave their woody retreats, and seek subsistence nearer the seashore. Many were killed in Union and the upper part of Warren. It was said, that more than 300 were slain or taken in the whole State (then District,) of Maine .*
The first regular lawyer in the place, Samuel Sumner Wilde, Esq., late one of the Justices of the Supreme Court of Mass., who had been a short time in the practice of the law at Waldoboro', being resolved to remove to Warren, agreed with Mr. Head, to build him a house on the hill west of the river. This was done, we believe, the present year; and Mr. Wilde lived and practised law here till 1799, when he moved to Hallowell, and, on the division of the State, to Boston or vieinity, where he still resides. This house was afterwards owned and occupied by Hon. Samuel Thatcher, and now by Mr. Dillingham.
On the 7th of April, the meeting-house was ordered to be painted ; and it now remained to provide a minister. Josiah Thaxter, a missionary from Martha's Vineyard, came here in June, and on the 22d and 23d, baptised 89 persons ; but his stay was short. Rev. Mr. Whiting, who had previous- ly been employed, was a man of talents and taste ; his senti- ments were orthodox, and his public services approved ; but his infirmity of will, his compliant and convivial disposition, led him into irregularities inconsistent with the character and subversive of the influence of a christian minister. The committee, therefore, who had charge of the matter, gave an invitation to stop here for a time, to Rev. Jonathan Huse, who had, the preceding season, been employed a short time at Blue Hill, and was again on a visit to this part of the coun- try ; and the town voted, Sept. 8th, to hire him till the " last day of October."
This gentleman was a native of Methuen, Mass., graduat- ed at Dartmouth college in 1788, and studied divinity with the Rev. Jonathan French of Andover. He boarded at first
* Capt. A. Davis.
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with Mr. John McIntyre, Jr., who then lived in a one-story house, on the place since occupied by the late Dea. Crane. On the expiration of his term, the town, Nov. 3d, voted to invite him to return the ensuing spring, and preach as a can- didate for settlement. 1795. Accordingly, in the following April, Mr. Huse returned. On the last day of his journey, which was performed on horseback, he came from Wiscasset in company with Silas Lee and Manasseh Smith, lawyers of that town, who were proceeding eastward on business. The travelling was bad, the freshet high, and the road, particular- ly at Stirling in this town, almost impassable. It was late before they arrived at Frost's tavern ; the crop of hay, which had been scanty that year, was exhausted, and, though the host was willing to entertain the men, he could furnish noth- ing for their horses. After some deliberation, Mr. Lee de- termined to try the hospitality of Mr. Head, with whom he had some acquaintance, and left the others to shift for them- selves. Mr. Huse, from what he knew of Col. Starrett, thought it likely that hay or provender might be found there ; and he and Mr. Smith went down and spent the night at his house. Prior to this, April 6th, the town had appointed T. Starrett, M. Copeland, and J. Andrews, a committee " to agree with Rev. Mr. Huse if he should return, otherwise with some other minister, to preach on probation." This commit- tee now employed him accordingly ; and on the 29th of June, the town voted to give him " a call to settle in this town in the work of the Gospel ministry." After a conference on the terms, it was voted, in August, that the town would give Mr. Jonathan Huse £100 a year, so long as he should con- tinue their minister, and for six months after the town, by a two thirds vote, should determine on the discontinuance of his ministry ; all disputes that might arise under the con- tract to be finally settled by arbitrators mutually chosen.
These votes passed without any opposition ; and after ma- ture deliberation and advice, Mr. Huse gave an affirmative answer to the invitation. The Presbyterian polity being found inconvenient, and somewhat out of favor, a Congrega- tional council was invited to convene in Warren, Oct. 28th, for the purpose of organizing a church, and ordaining their minister. The Council accordingly met on said day, consist- ing of Rev. Josiah Winship of Woolwich, Alfred Johnson of Freeport, and Alden Bradford of Wiscasset, with delegates from their respective churches, who, after organizing the church, and sufficiently examining the candidate, proceeded to his ordination. The church consisted of John Dicke,
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Moses Copeland, Daniel Peabody, Thomas Starrett, John Andrews, Joseph Copeland, and James Mathews, who adopt- ed the following articles of faith and covenant.
ARTICLES OF FAITH AND COVENANT.
" We, whose names are hereunto subjoined, that we may promote the growth of religion in our souls, and enjoy the ordinances of the Gospel in a church state, do covenant and agree together in manner following, viz. : - We declare our faith in the divine inspiration of the scriptures of the Old and New Testament, which we receive as the word of God. We believe there is one God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. We believe in the fall of man, the depravity of human nature, and the redemption through the mediation, intercession, and atonement of Christ. We believe that Christ hath appointed two special ordinances to be observed by every true believer in his name, viz. : - Baptism and the Lord's Supper. We believe that the qualifications for these ordinances in all adults, are sincere repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. We also believe the future existence of the soul, the resurrection of the body, and the day of future judgment, in which every one will receive a reward according to his works. And we do also, humbly and penitently, asking the forgiveness of our sins through the blood of the Redeemer, give up ourselves to God in an everlasting covenant in our Lord Jesus Christ and, as in the presence of God, we solemnly promise, that, by the assistance of the Divine Spirit, we will forsake the vanities of the present evil world, and approve ourselves the true disciples of Jesus Christ in all good carriage toward God and toward man. And we · likewise promise to walk together in christian communion as members of the church of Christ, and to attend statedly upon the administration of the ordinances of the gospel, to watch over one another, and to submit to the discipline of the church in this place. And finally, by daily prayer to God, we will seek for grace to enable us to keep this covenant."
To the young reader, it may appear singular that the con- tract was entered into, and the minister settled, by the town in its corporate capacity. But such was, at the time, the universal practice ; and the laws of Massachusetts had, from the very first, not only allowed, but absolutely required, every town to maintain a minister of the Gospel as well as a teacher of the public school, on the principle that instruction in religion and morality was as essential to the public welfare as in liter- ature and science.
The relation thus entered into between Mr. Huse and the
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town, continued, and the salary first stipulated remained, without increase or diminution, till the contract was dissolv- ed by mutual consent in April, 1830. As a farther induce- ment for him to settle, an acre of land for a house lot was given him by M. Copeland, and a hundred acres of wood- land by Gen. Knox ; the latter of which he advantageously disposed of, at a time when land was high. From the pro- ceeds of this sale, and his annual stipend, joined with strict economy in living, he supported and educated his family, and has even acquired a handsome property.
Col. Thomas Starrett was chosen, June 9th, 1796, the first deacon of this church and for more than a quarter of a century exercised the office, and, by his piety and meek- ness, contributed much to its prosperity. After his death, in 1822, James Mathews succeeded and discharged the office till his death in 1836. The male members of the church, were, however, never numerous. The sentiments professed, as may be seen from the articles of faith, as well as the general tenor of the pastor's preaching, were what may be called moderate Calvinism; and the intention, probably, was to take an intermediate position between Arminianism on the one hand and ultra Calvinism, or Hopkinsianism, on the other ; which two parties at that time existed in, without rending asunder, the Congregational churches. Questions of strife and disputation, were generally avoided by the preacher, who, content with inculcating the practical duties, was not anxious to disturb the dogmas of theory. The con- gregation, for a time, embraced nearly the whole town. A few were Baptists ; a few others were dissatisfied with the location of the meeting-house, and kept aloof from its wor- ship ; but the new house, the new pastor, and the new mode of singing without the intermediate reading of the lines, together with the new tunes that had been introduced, were generally attractive ; and the meetings were well attend- ed. No dissension in the church, or any other cause requiring a council, ever occurred whilst Mr. Huse's ministry continued.
As this event forms a new epoch in the history of the town, it may be well to pause for a moment to consider the condition to which it had now arrived. The original settlers from Ireland, and a part of those from Scotland, were now gone. The names of Giffen, James, Locke, Scott, McLean, and Gregg, had disappeared, or were confined to females. The elder Lermond and his wife deceased about 1790; Pat- terson, Robinson, and Miller, probably before that time ; Kirk-
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patrick died in 1785 ; Samuel Boggs in 1783, and in 1792, was followed by William, the oldest and latest surviving of his sons. Boice Cooper's was the first funeral that Mr. Huse attended. Deacon Crawford, whose services had been so long appreciated and whose praise was in every mouth, was yet living, and, though not formally admitted as a mem- ber, regularly communed with the new church till his death in 1797. A new generation had sprung up, and was fast taking the place of the preceding. Of the second genera- tion, some were advanced in years, and others past the me- ridian of life. The young Starretts, Spears, Robinsons, McIntyres, Boggses, Lermonds, Creightons, and Kellochs, of the third generation, the Mathewses, Wattses, Kirkpatricks, Crawfords, Andersons, Dickes, Copelands, Libbeys, Jame- sons, and others of the second, were settled, or about settling, on farms of their own. Near the western limits of the town, were established, about or soon after this period, several German families from Waldoboro', such as Sidens- berger, before mentioned, Hoffsis, Hysler, Storer, Stahl, and Winchenbach, together with Peter and John Mink ; the two last of whom, though their lands extended into Warren, fixed their dwellings in the limits of Waldoboro'. A large addi- tion had been made to the population, by emigrants arriving more or less recently from the west, whose ideas, manners, and customs, mingled with and modified those of the first settlers. Ship-building was successfully carried on ; stores and mills were multiplied ; and a central point of attraction was beginning to show itself. Agriculture had made some ad- vances. Potatoes were beginning to be cultivated for expor- tation .* Farmers were supplied with more and better imple- ments, particularly plows and carts. Of pleasure carriages, there was but one; horse wagons were unknown, and ox wagons but just coming into use. The usual conveyance for persons and light burdens, was on horseback. Men and boys rode to mill with two or three bags beneath them. Kegs of molasses and rum, were carried home in the same way. The practice of 'riding double', as it was called, was universal. Whether to the church or the ball, the man rode before on the saddle, the lady on the pillion behind him. But this mode of conveyance was beginning to yield, during the winter months,
* The varieties of the potato, then chiefly raised, were the Rough- skin and Bunker ; the former, less productive, but in great request for roasting on the ample hearths, beneath the huge fires of those times.
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to sleighs, which, both double and single, were now become common. But there were, as yet, no robes of buffalo or other furs, for the protection of man or beast ; though the feet were sometimes relieved by portable foot stoves, both on journeys and at church.
Most of the older settlers were now furnished with framed houses ; few of these were painted, without or within. Major Libbey's and Capt. McIntyre's were painted on the outside with red ochre ; Miles Cobb's, now, or not long after, of the same color ; and Head's, Wilde's and Bracket's, were yellow. There were no carpets, rugs, sofas. The floors, made of the hardest and whitest boards, were frequently scoured, and covered with white sand, which was drawn and tastefully fig- ured with the broom - not the present corn broom from the valley of the Connecticut, but brooms manufactured from trunks of the yellow birch or the twigs of the hemlock and spruce. The kitchen was usually provided with a dresser, or set of shelves in one corner, extending four or five feet on each wall, with closets beneath. These were filled with glit- tering rows of pewter plates, dishes, and spoons, which were scoured to the last degree of brightness. Little crockery was used, except cups and saucers, which had now replaced the wooden ones of the Revolution. About this time and after, to the close of the century, spermaceti oil, and lamps, made of tin, brass, or other metal, gradually came into use in the place of candles. Men continued to wear their hair in clubs or queues. Petticoat trowsers and leather breeches, had given place to French pantaloons or sailor's trowsers ; yet the full dress of the former period, was still worn by gentlemen advanced in life. The town was well supplied with mechan- ics and professional men. One or more schools were taught on each side of the river ; settlements were made or making in most parts of the town ; public worship was established ; a choir of singers formed ; and all the elements seemed pro- vided for a prosperous and harmonious community.
With the increase of business and influx of strangers, came also some change in the customs and condition of society. The practice of sending portions, and sharing one's good for- tune with his neighbors, of borrowing and lending without reckoning or accounts, had somewhat declined. People be- gan to expect pay for the use of a horse or a yoke of oxen, a cart or a plow. Tea and coffee were in general use. Ar- dent spirits, which were formerly used only on extraordinary occasions, were becoming more dangerously common. Hos- pitality still abounded; and no occasion was lost for getting
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