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 26
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up what was called a frolic. The women had their spinning- bees and wool-breakings ; and the men, their huskings and wood-haulings. When a building was raised, a vessel launch- ed, or the militia mustered, everybody attended, and every- body was treated. On all these occasions, a dance was generally got up in the evening, in which there was neither selection nor exclusion ; all who wished, participated. At first on the uniform level of poverty, the little inequalities of fortune which had since sprung up, had given rise to no invidious distinctions, no upper and lower classes in society. But this, also, was now undergoing some change ; and the power of wealth, dress, and fashionable connexions, was be- ginning to produce emulation and envy, divisions and de- traction.
This year, 1795, was memorable for the resignation of Gen. Henry Knox, as Secretary of War under Washington, and his removal to the town of Thomaston. This distinguish- ed gentleman, whose public services are too well known to need any eulogium here, had married the daughter of Thom- as Fluker, and, in her right, came into possession of a portion, we believe one fifth, of the Waldo Patent. Having, in 1784, been appointed agent to settle said Fluker's estate, he had made sale, July 2, 1791, to one Oliver Smith, of two-fifth parts of said Patent, which, after several mean conveyances, were repurchased by himself, and, together with two other fifth parts, which in 1793 he purchased of Samuel Waldo (3d) and others, put him in possession of the entire Patent, with the exception of what had been previously alienated. During the preceding year, a splendid mansion-house, un- rivaled for its symmetry and beauty, called by French visitors a chateau, and named Montpelier, had been con- structed by his order, and was now ready for the reception of his family, who were brought from Philadelphia in a sloop commanded by Capt. A. Malcolm.
At the same time, the General published advertisements in the public papers, offering favorable terms to new settlers, and extolling the fertility of the soil and salubrity of the climate, to the latter of which, the balsamic firs, he said, so greatly contributed. As a farther encouragement to the set- tlement of the country, he commenced several kinds of busi- ness on an extensive scale, which gave employment to a large number of workmen, and afforded a market for the products of the soil and the forest. Besides farming, brick- making, lime-burning, and trading in Thomaston, he deter- mined also to go into the lumber business ; and purchased
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the mills at the upper falls in Warren, together with the saw- mill which M. Cobb and W. Lermond had then in operation at Hart's falls. The latter, he removed to the site of the former, which he also rebuilt, enlarged, and supplied with gangs of saws sufficient to cut up a whole log at once. These saws could be easily removed and replaced at pleas- ure, so as to make boards, plank, or joists, of any required thickness. A grist-mill with burr-stones was also erected, together with two dwellinghouses near by. Mr. Barrett had now been employed a year or two, in constructing locks at the several falls in Warren. His plan, which located the locks in the main channel of the river, not succeeding to his mind, he became discouraged after expending some thous- ands of dollars, and sold out the whole concern to General Knox. The latter resumed the work, and, after some unsuc- cessful experiments, completed it, so far as the falls in War- ren were concerned. He raised the dam at the upper falls sufficiently high to supersede the necessity of a lock at Hart's falls, and constructed locks around the former, on the eastern bank. These, formed of earth only, and covered with sods to prevent erosion, were the work of a French engineer, who received his pay, and left the place before the water was high enough to make trial of them. The weather continuing dry, the sods were scorched by the sun, and the embankment rendered friable ; so that, when the waters were let in, the whole was swept away ; and the labor of months disappeared in an hour. The following season, Life Wilson was employed to construct the work anew, with plank and timber. At the falls below, a canal was cut across the point on which the Hawk building now stands, and connected with a lock west of the grist-mill. These locks afforded a passage for rafts and gondolas, and continued in use till after the death of Gen. Knox ; when they went to decay with his other works. The tolls allowed by law, were, at Senebeck Pond, Is. 6d. for every ton in weight and for every thousand feet of lumber; and the same again at the falls in Warren. At the latter, where alone any locks was made, the toll was, in 1803, raised to fifty cents. The income, however, was not great ; Knox's own lumber constituting the greater part of the amount transport- ed. About the period last mentioned, to prevent the neces- sity of taking up the dams at the upper falls, a passage was made for the shad and alewives on the western side of the river, which answered very well for the last, but altogether excluded the salmon, which have since nearly disappeared. The shad and alewives were taken without labor by obstruct-
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ing their way with wire and opening a slit on one side, through which they were carried by the water into a recep- tacle floored with slats, and left ready to be carried off by purchasers.
The various works carried on by Knox, brought hither a great number of mechanics, particularly carpenters and mill- wrights ; many of whom became permanent residents in this town. Clarke Gerrish, in 1794, came from Newburyport or vicinity, and though not regularly bred to any trade, was a capable man and much employed about the upper falls and head of the tide. James Gerrish, a brother, came a few years later. Life Wilson, a carpenter and joiner, came from Dra- cut, Mass., lived awhile in Knox's house at the upper falls, purchased and enlarged that of Nathaniel Copeland, built a store now occupied by T. Wilson as a cabinet-maker's shop, commenced trading, but, meeting with losses by the embargo of 1807, was compelled to stop business, though he saved a portion of his property. Parker Coburn, also from Dracut, lived many years at the upper falls, purchased the place and repaired the house where his widow now lives, and followed his trade more or less as a mill-wright, till his death in 1845. Nathan Williams came from the same neighborhood, and fol- lowed the same business ; purchased and lived awhile on the farm in Union which he exchanged with John Whiting for that in Warren, on a part of which his sons still live. He, many years, commanded the Union Light Infantry company, and was a good officer. His brother, Jesse Williams, was a shoemaker by trade, and settled on the farm where he still re- sides. Luther and Lot Lincoln were masons, and came from Hillsboro', N. H. The former settled in Thomaston, the lat- ter in Warren, where he followed his trade for many years, and rang the bell for the Baptist Society from near the time of its purchase till 1848. Joseph Calef, a cooper of Marblehead, resided at the upper falls and other places in town, till his death in 1839. Others of these workmen settled in the neigh- boring towns.
The various kinds of business thus commenced by Knox, stimulated the enterprise of others, and was the beginning of a season of prosperous activity, which lasted many years. Mill-logs, kiln-wood, staves, and hoop poles, were taken at a generous price ; employment was given to vessels in the coasting and W. I. trade ; and ship-building met with more ample encouragement. It was in 1795, that the first lime was burnt in Warren. Thomas Kirkpatrick erected a kiln that year at the upper falls, below the dam, where a great
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quantity of slabs had accumulated, which he used for kiln- wood. Lime was then put up in fifty gallon casks, which brought from 10s. to 12s. The next year, William Kirk- patrick, who settled on the present Cutting farm, in connexion with John Libbey, built a kiln on the hill beyond Mr. Paskiel's, the remains of which are still to be seen. Another was built at the lower falls about the same time ; and thus com- menced a business, which has been more or less extensively prosecuted ever since. The following year, B. Webb, J. Libbey, T. Kirkpatrick, and J. Copeland were chosen the first lime inspectors. The first of these, who had married a daugh- ter of Samuel Boggs, at that time lived on the farm now owned by Alvan Vaughan, and, besides his professional prac- tice, carried on farming and other branches of business. His mother and sister kept a small assortment of English goods there. His brother, Deacon William H. who came in 1799, purchased a small portion of the farm, built the house in which he now dwells, and commenced business as a silver- smith and worker in brass and other hardware, which he and his son have since successfully carried on.
The town was this year, for the first time, divided into school districts, there having previously been but one town school, taught alternately on each side of the river.
1796. Early in the summer of this year, was launched from the yard of Mr. Weston, the brig Neptune, of 123 tons, owned by W. Lermond, A. Lermond, R. Henderson and others, being the second square rigged vessel owned in the place. She was commanded by Alexander Pease, from Martha's Vineyard, who had, the preceding year, built the house afterwards owned by D. Standish, and more recently by P. Ludwig. One quarter of the vessel, owned by A. Ler- mond, and perhaps other portions, were chartered at $2 a month, per ton, by Bracket & Davis, who, together with W. Lermond, furnished a cargo of timber, and sent her to Liver- pool, with instructions to return directly to the river. Instead of this, Capt. Pease commenced freighting to different parts of Europe, or lying idle in port, without either writing to the owners, or making any remittances. After a year and a half had elapsed, W. Lermond embarked for Liverpool, where he arrived May 10, 1798, and learnt that the brig was then at Rotterdam, advertised for sale. Following her there, he found the vessel, but so involved in debt, that little or nothing remained to the owners. The captain avoided an interview, and did not afterwards return. The loss on this vessel was severely felt by the owners, and more especially
22
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by Bracket & Davis, who never fully recovered from its effects, though they continued to do business for many years.
Mr. Head, also, engaged in ship-building this season, and built the schooner Angelica on the eastern side of the river, near the present yard of T. P. Burgess. He employed a crew from Newburyport or its vicinity, consisting of Ezekiel and John Barnard, Jonathan Harriman, carpenters, and Edward Brown, caulker, all of whom remained and settled in this vicinity. Harriman lived in a small house below Weston's, till he removed to his present dwelling, near the upper falls. Brown, after building the house now owned by Ambrose Cobb, on the site of the late Wm. L. Starrett's, settled at Watson's Point.
The same year, were built the schooner Dove, by the Ler- monds, Wyllie and others ; the schooners Lucy, and Hope, by Cobb, Copeland and Anderson ; and the schooner Jenny, by the Libbeys.
On the 9th or 10th of May, a fatal accident occurred at the village. Mr. Rokes came out in the morning for the purpose of obtaining some garden seeds, and remarked to some one in conversation, that, after many years of toil and hardship, he had just got able to live. Waiting for the stores to be opened, and probably watching for the appearance of the fish, he fell from the bridge, upon the rock below, and ter- minated an honest and laborious life at the age of sixty-seven. In the autumn of the same year, Thomas Morison, in a dark evening, crossing the same bridge, of which he had been the architect, stepped off at a place where the railing was defi- cient, and was drowned.
In consequence of a law of the State passed the preceding year, the Federal currency of dollars and cents was this year adopted by the town in its votes for raising money ; though ' pounds' occasionally appear on the records a few years later. Coins from the U. S. mint, established in 1793, were now beginning to circulate here. The other coins in circu- lation, were, the Massachusetts cent, and the English half- penny, English and French guineas at 28s., English and French crowns at 6s. 8d., the Spanish dollar at 6s., together with halves, quarters, &c., at the same rate, and pistareens at 20 cents each. The old paper money disappeared with the adoption of the constitution ; but bank bills were now grad- ually coming into use.
This year, began the practice, which was for a long time prevalent in town, of choosing every newly married man to the office of hogreeve, which in March was exemplified by
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the choice of Samuel Davis and Thomas Kirkpatrick. As every person elected for the first time to any office, was called upon after the meeting for a colt's tail, in the shape of brandy or gin, it was no objection, in those days, that this rule, in particular years, gave a superfluity of these officers.
A new pound was directed to be built on J. W. Head's land near the meeting-house ; one of the first uses of which, was, we believe, the confinement of some goats, about this time introduced and kept by A. Anderson. The animals, however, disappeared during the night, leaving no other clue to their escape, than a board extending from the top rail to the ground inside.
The trouble occasioned by the freshet this year, was thought to be increased by the dam at Hart's falls ; and an investigation of the matter, probably, led to the sale and removal of the mill there, the following year. To repair damages done by these and subsequent freshets, $1,50 was, till 1801, assessed upon each poll, and estates in pro- portion.
1797. The meeting-house being now painted, (outside,) and the galleries finished, by E. Page for $140, a vote was passed empowering the selectmen to procure stone steps for the doors, and Alexander Lermond, who was now the leader of the choir, to purchase 12 singing books and as many psalm books for the use of the singers.
In consequence of the threatening attitude and hostile acts of the French republic, particular attention was directed to the condition of the militia and military stores. This town having neglected to provide its quota of gunpowder, and other matters required by law, and being now indicted for such neg- lect, a committee was appointed, August 21st, consisting of B. Bracket, T. Starrett, and S. S. Wilde, to examine the law on this subject, and report what its requirements were. It was, also, voted that Mr. Wilde be appointed agent to answer to the indictment ; and that the military stores, when purchased, be deposited in the garret of the meeting-house until some other place be provided. As fires, at this time, were alto- gether unknown in such places, meeting-houses were gener- ally used in country towns as the safest depositories of such stores ; and no one seems to have been shocked with the sin- gular incongruity of filling the churches of the Prince of Peace with the murderous munitions of war.
It was this year that Col. Benjamin Burton, who had, for a short time since the resignation of Col. Starrett, commanded
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the regiment, resigned his commission, and J. W. Head, who had previously succeeded Major Libbey, was chosen Colonel. Otis Robbins of Thomaston, and Benjamin Brackett of War- ren, were chosen Majors ; and Clarke Gerrish was appointed Adjutant. Soon after, measures were taken, in consequence of their increasing number, to get the militia of this town divided into two companies, which was effected in 1798. The officers then chosen, were, on the western side of the river, Willing Blake, Captain, J. P. Davis, Lieutenant, and J. Mclntyre, 2d, Ensign ; on the eastern side, R. Crane, Captain, A. Davis, Lieutenant, and J. Payson, Ensign. These officers succeeded in introducing a better discipline and exciting a more martial spirit, which, as well here as throughout the country, continued in a greater or less degree for many years, and rendered military reviews the most attractive and gener- ally attended spectacles of the period.
Miles Cobb, having disposed of his mill at Hart's falls, this year purchased the farm of Joseph Jameson ; which he subse- quently sold, one-half to David Vose and the other to Anselm Vaughan. Vose took possession of his, the year following, 1798. Vaughan came somewhat later from Carver, Mass. and was followed by his brothers, Lewis, in 1816, and Alvan, in 1839. Cobb this year began trade, and the year following purchased Copeland's saw-mill, or a part of it, and continued the lumber business. It was in 1797, also, that Jerathmael Leach, a native of Bridgwater, who had been about five years employed by Cobb, as chief workman in the blacksmith's shop, settled on the farm where he still lives, and drove, from Maxey's in Union to the head of the tide, the first cart that ever passed on that road. Enoch Leach and Freeman Jones, from the same place, settled on the same road not many years after. The Leaches were descended from the celebrated Miles Standish ; and an ancient looking decanter, said to have been brought over in the Mayflower and handed down to this branch of the family, is now in possession of their nephew, L. Jones.
A highway was laid out the same year, through what has often been denominated the " Kelloch neighborhood," to Union. The first settlers on this road, were Brice Jameson, who at least as carly as 1793 had established himself on the lot on which J. Crawford now lives, and David Y. Kelloch, who that year commenced work on the place where his widow is still living. Some years later, Kelloch was followed by his father and three brothers, who all settled near him. In 1797, Joel Robbins from Union, settled on the farm now
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owned by R. Lawry, and his brother, Joseph Robbins, suc- ceeded J. Rogers on that now owned by M. Stetson.
Mr. Weston, this year, built the schooner Minerva, J. Hall master, for the Creightons, Payson and others ; and Mr. Standish built in the gully below J. McCallum's, the schoon- er Lark, of which A. Malcolm was master till her sale in the south not long after.
1798. The acceptance of the road from the meeting- house to M. Cobb's requiring a public bridge at the head of the tide, and the private one erected some years before be- ing now out of repair, the town voted, June 14th, to build a bridge in that place ; and John Andrews was chosen agent to superintend the building of it.
On the 3d of Sept., the town made choice of Mr. Wilde, as a delegate to attend a convention held at Hallowell on the 4th Tuesday of October; a measure which resulted in the division of the county, on the 20th of February following, and the establishment of a new one by the name of Kenne- bec. The town, also, lost a portion of its territory, by an act passed June 28th, setting off W. and J. Watson, with their estates at Watson's Point, to the town of Thomaston. Up to the time of building the meeting-house, the affairs of the town had been managed with a good degree of harmony. But many causes conspired, about this time, to create some division. The location of the meeting-house, had occasioned much dissatisfaction to many in the neighborhood of the old one. That of Major Libbey was so great, that he declar- ed his determination never to enter the house ; whilst that of Mr. Hall was aggravated by a difference which had arisen between him and Mr. Copeland, who had great influence in town affairs. Mr. Dunbar was opposed in principle, not only
to a ministerial tax, but to any legal interference in religious matters whatever. Several had now joined the Baptist de- nomination ; and to these local circumstances, were added Jay's treaty, and the neutral policy of Washington, which though generally approved, were the subjects of complaint with some. From some or all these causes, in 1796 there was more want of unanimity in votes for Governor, than had ever occurred before, though after that year, the vote for Gov. Sumner was nearly unanimous for three years. At a town meeting, Sept. 3, 1798, Mr. Wilde was chosen agent to ap- ply to the Court of Common Pleas for a new trial in an action commenced against the town by Reuben Hall, and in which the said Hall recovered judgment by default. The explanation of this, as near as can be ascertained, is as fol- 22*
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lows : - Hall had refused to pay his portion of the tax as- sessed for the support of the minister; the collector had taken and sold property of his, sufficient to pay the amount ; thereupon, Hall commenced a suit against the town, for the money received. The writ was served by James Malcolm, coroner, upon Major Libbey, as one of the principal inhab- itants of Warren ; and the case was tried before Samuel Brown, Esq. of Thomaston. Libbey, from the dissatisfaction before alluded to, was willing to remain silent ; Malcolm was induced from regard to his employer, to do the same; the Justice was at a distance ; and, before any thing of the suit was known to the town, judgment was obtained in Hall's fa- vor. The application for a new trial was, probably, unsuc- cessful ; as, in the following year, Libbey and Hall were indicted by the Grand Jury for this proceeding, fined, Libbey $2, and Hall $10; and the cost amounted to $40,95 cts. Mr. Dunbar also resisted the payment of the ministerial tax, till, when about to be committed, his friends pursuaded him to yield.
Among the new names which appear about this time, we find those of Daniel Snow and Perley Emerson. Snow came from Bridgwater, purchased a portion of J. Lermond's land, and after selling there, bought out Emerson, who had built a house and lived awhile where D. Page afterwards built and resided till the time of his death. Emerson removed ; and Snow, after some years, sold a portion of his land to M. Cobb, subsequently the remainder to J. Page, and left here for Union. Mr. Bird, who had, a short time before, transferred hisdwelling house to Dr. E. Buxton, and erected another on the Waldoboro' road, this year transferred the latter with the remainder of his land to M. Copeland. The latter having relinquished his own house to his son Moses, was living on the Schaeffer place, at present owned by James Copeland. The land purchased of Bird, was, about the same time, sold to Capt. Matthew Dagget, who came from Martha's Vineyard, and had, the preceding year, been in charge of Copeland's sloop. Dagget occupied this estate, and was employed as master of various vessels in the coasting and foreign trade, till his death in 1831.
The vessels built this year, were the Sch. Ten Brothers for Capt Spear and sons, and the Sch. Bridgwater for D. & A. Dunbar, R. McIntyre, and R. Hall, both by Mr. Wes- ton.
1799. This last year of the century, was distinguished by the death of Gov. Sumner, June 7th, and still further
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saddened on the 14th of Dec. by that of Washington, the most remarkable man of this or any other age. In this town, a discourse, exhibiting a parallel between the lives of Wash- ington and Moses, was preached by the Rev. Mr. Huse, and printed at the request of the hearers.
The spoliations committed on our commerce by the French, about this time, had a disastrous effect upon the busi- ness of this place, not only by the actual losses sustained at sea, but still more, perhaps, by the interruption it caused in the W. I. trade and the exportation of lumber. The Speed- well, owned by Starrett and Spear, was captured and con- demned ; as was also the Dolphin, owned by Messrs. Hall, Parsons, and others. On the other hand, the entry and clearance of vessels were greatly facilitated by a custom house, this year established at Waldoboro'.
By the exertions of Mr. Wilde, then representing the town in the General Court, the term of the Court of Com- mon Pleas, before held at Waldoboro', was removed to this town. This was the last of Mr. Wilde's services in this place, as he this year removed to Hallowell, carrying with him the general good-will, and many strong attach- ments. A court-house was erected ;* and, in Nov. 1799, the first Court was held here. The house, however, was not finished till a year or two afterwards. It was a wooden structure, with a hip roof, and a belfry in the centre. Mr. Copeland, and others, who built the house by contract, re- served to themselves the use of the upper story, which, on the incorporation of Warren Academy, they sold to that institution for a school-room. The building was also used for religious and other public meetings, as occasion required ; and the town meetings were uniformly held there till the present town-house was built in 1840. The courts were held once a year in it, till 1847, when the half-shire towns were given up, and all the courts in the county held at Wiscasset. The building and lot on which it stood, was then sold for $751, and the lower part is now occupied as a school-house for district No. 20.
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