USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Early ministry on the Kennebec Read before the Maine Historical Society, November 22, 1895 > Part 2
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means in evidence that the Kennebec had been peopled by cavaliers and by malecontente from Wasenchusetts. usetts.1 There does not seem, therefore, to be such saturation of the call by Episcopacy as to affect Robert Gutch. Still, if the new civil aystem in Charles' nane had included religious observances, Mr. Gutch seems to be the man to be invited to take the charge. But the record has not a word respecting such matters, and they were doubtless pas- sed over, though a religious constitution was laqued at Sheep- moot, on liberal principles. 2
But previous to this date, it must be doubted if oast of the Kennebec there were any services or any public heed to religion. Subsequently under "His Royal Highness," in a little mensure, forme of worship were observed at Pennquid, of course, Episcopal, and at Sheepscot in 1683 the plan for a renewal of the settlement, stipulated for a meeting-house and a minister of their free choice as approved by the majority - quite a envor of independency. 3
But in 1665, at Kennebec, we may doubt if there were half as much tendency to Anglican forme as to the freedom of wor- ship in the Bay colony. Surroundings indeed, do not make the man, and we can neither deny to Mr. Gutch, nor assert of him, proclivity to the established church before or after settlement at Kennebec. Episcopal attachments must be read in between the lines if at all. Yet if the few frete showing his connection with the new government shall be construed as evidence that he
1. Hany of the eastern people were strongly attached to her gov- ernment, Williamson's Maine, Vol. I ., p. 414.
2. Sullivan, District Maine, p. 288.
3. Maine Historical Collection, Vol. V., pp. 51, 79.
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had become a partisan of the stuarts in that would arise slight reasons for thinking him turned toward. Episcopacy.
On the contrary, evidence positive and weighty is drawn from his residence in Massachusetts. A home chosen and maintained among non-conformiste and Independente at Salem, cer- tifies to congenial opinions and similar aims in coming to New England. Membership in that church, in it the baptism and nur- ture of his children, with it fellowship continued a score of years, are strong points revealing hearty sympathy with its meth- ode and spirit. .
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Enterprise or exigent business affairs removed him to the Kennebec. A change there Into the communion of the establi- shed church, where there was no church, will be assumption gratui- tous and unworthy. Nothing speaks for Episcopacy but the place, and that uncertainly and feebly; against it all his former life in New England, his religious relations and training.
Hence was Robert Outch affiliated with early Congrega- tionaliem. 1 Sound evidence lies on that side: only conjectured possibilities on the other. In the spirit of free Congregation- alism which by inherent life always adapts itself to conditions and needs, he entered on a Christian work. The wilderness gave him freedom far larger than in Salem; the clampo of a system were loosened; he was a Christian man among needy men, women and children who were living without religious instruction or influ- ence. In the spirit of primitive evangellan he went forth to preach the gospel, asking leave neither of magistrato, elder, or prelate, and finding his authority in the great commission. The
1. Anc. Dominions, p. 334. Christian Wirror, 1858, Feb. 11, Bar. 31. Maine Cong'l Minutes, 1876, p. 198; 1881, p. 27.
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building of a church arguen a previous pinn or the consenting purpose of the people. It expressed religious convictions which prepared the way for a servant of God, or at once responded to ostablish Christian worship when one was among them ready and fitted to be an evangelist.
The location of the house of worship likewise favors Congregationalion. It was upon Arrowalo - the leland owned by the Boston merchants Clarke and late, where their main business and garrienn were, a proof of their favor and large support. Major Clarke mas a worthy citizen of Ponton, honored by official stations in civil and military life, liberal-minded and benevo- lent. Captain Lake was a gentleman of distinction and worth, an attendant and a few years later n member of the North Church, Boston (Doctor Father's). They entered upon their Kennebec en- terprice about 1654, had many workmen in their employ and exor- cised no small influence on general affairs. Their agency in promoting this religious movement and the erection of a church can be counted on. Upon an old map, added by a later hand is a date 1665, referring to this church, but I do not romard it worthy of rellance to show the time of erection, but only an in- ference or approximation based on the time of l'r. dutch's minis-
try. Anouming that he entered upon his public work soon after he had established his home, the church may have been built a your or two after 1650, yet an earlier date is possible, especial- ly if we allow that Clarke and Lake wore principal patrons. In- deed, some other mnn previous to Er. Gutoh may have ministered for a time and been the true pioneer, for the Puritan sentiment required the place of worship very early in every settlement.
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Such are some of the known and inferred surroundings of the ministry of Robert Gutch. Of its methods, its spirit, its results, we are ignorant, only knowing that this man bore the name and did the work of a minister of the word of God. far ad known he lived at Kennebec only seven years, of which the whole or possibly not one-half was given to religious service. Brief at the most, and then as one tradition has told, returning across the river from his public duty, the angry waves assailed him, and his family if doubtless watching, with what agony did they see the catastrophe and find themselves sorely stricken. It is but a reasonable conjecture to regard Er. Cutch at death nearly fifty-five years of age.
One original deed extant ( Indiano to Webber), and a few others on record doubtless written by him, disclose acquain- tance with legal forms, and show acquirements enabling him to advise and assist in business battera. His handwriting indica- tes an easy and practised pen, and suggests a good education. The title "Mr." frequently applied denoted ordinarily a pareon of quality or official distinction.
HIS HOME AND FAMILY.
The actual life of the man and his family is partially dinclosed by the inventory of his eetate, which offers lighto and shaden, chiefly shades, for an instructive and touching pic- ture.
Inventory of the goods and chattels of Robert Couch, de- consod, as they were appraised by Christopher Lawcon and Edmund Fatteshall on the 20th day of September 1667. (Nearly verbatim
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et literatim. )
Imprimis: one dwelling house with outhouses, and upland where- of six acres are in tillage with marsh ground which is in : controversy. £30-0-0 IN THE CHAMBER NEXT THE KITCHINE.
One feather bed, one bowlster, 1 grein Rugg. 2 blanketts
One bed stuffed with Catt tayles.
one bowlster, three blankets,
2 bedsteads Weareing apperell
a prcell of bootes 3 guns at 14-10-0
1 spineing Wheele 2 Chests
2 Milke pannes one ould little Table £44-10-0
IN THE KITCHINE.
One Iron kettle onė brasse pott one Iron pott one small furnace
4 small Kittles of brass one brass Mortar & pestle .
one skimer 2 pewter dishes 5-0-0
one heyre sive one pott hanger 2 peyre of pott hooks one Table
one Chare, une grind stone
Some Wooden dishes & Trays & trenchers
2 milking pales IN THE LOFT ABOVE
one flocke bedd & bowlster 3 blanketts one dough troffe
Some empty caskes all 01-08-0
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In debts by booka & bills wch ara desperate
£05- 0-0
foure Come & one bull
20- 0-0
four Steures
att
12- 0-0
2 yearlings and 3 calves
att
05-0-0
Two piggo
20
1-10-0
51- 8-0
(brot down)
44-10-0
95-18-0
This schedule of articles appears to be minute and complete and speake most forcibly by what it lacks. One chair only: were they luxuries in a wilderness home, or had rough uenge by children demolished the original supply, and did rude stool or block and banch of slab serve the family? Two bedsteads and one bed on the floor seem the supply for this family of eight or ten: two pewter dishes and the rest for cooking, serving and table uso, all of wood, and no knives, or were they over- looked? two milk-pens and four cows, and we know not the capa- city of either: abed of "catt tayles"; did busy children gather the harvests of the marches and with nimble fingers provide for their own confort and learn lessons of household oconomy? Three guns - the arsenal of the family's defense, as also to supply the table with pigeon, duck and goneo: but no farming Implements no tools, not a hoe nor ax; shall we guess that the son was the supporting farmer and to him had been confirmed all utensils of farm and wood craft? tools somewhere, or what does the grind- stone Intend? Some empty casks - evidently his license had ex- pired. Dut notice, not one book, not even a Bible! Did the only one go down with its owner beneath the tides of the Kennebec? Then a primitive house having two rooms, chamber and
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kitchen, and the loft under the roof, for our fancy to construct by the shore of Long Reach. Euch was the equipment and the home conforte of the pioneer minister of the Kennebec.
To Reverend Robert Gutch' and his wife Lydia were born eight children. The oldest and the only son was John, baptized in Salem, 1641, August third. His birth may have been much earlier as the baptism would not occur till his father joined the church. , To him his father conveyed the interior portion of land behind Thwait's, but it soon paneed to other hands, and he doubtless found abundant scope for his industry and energies in managing his father's farm. He continued at Kennebec as ho Bigned the submission to the king in 1665, and also the "Humble Request" to Massachusetts in 1672. After this no trace of him appenra, and death erelong is presumed, perhaps in the Indian vara. It is- probable that he had no family or else all were early removed by denth as no heirs claimed rights in his father's estate.
The second daughter Lydia, baptized 1642, Warch twenty- eighth, married William Rogore. Their known family comprised two daughters, Lydia who married John Orsment of Manchester, De- borah who married John Burnet of Boston, n soldier in the eastern
1. This le the correct form of the name shown by his autograph etill extent, (Pojenscot Papers, Maine Historical Society ) by his own and son's signatures in documents and records, and by the umrge of his heire and assigne in many legal papers in the next century. Yet others sometimes wrote it - Gooch, Gouch, Goutch and once Cours. The Yorkshire clerk recorded it Gouch, the fami- liar form of a family name in Wells and York. "'r. Gutch's old stylo chirography In part, contained some peculiar letters. The copyist of one deed interpreted the letter o to be r and though then ency of correction, the entry was no made four times, and the error now appears in the published volume, vide York needs, Indians to Thwait, Book X., fol. 251.
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forces in 1724.
Magialen was the third daughter, baptized February 6, 1645, and beenue the wife of John Tilmon. They had but one day- ghter who by marringe became Mary Soper and was living in Boston in 1734. Both Rogere and Tilman had homes on the west of the river and at no grent distance from that of their father-in-law. The sixth daughter was Bargh, and baptized April 4, 1654, was twenty-two years old in 1676, when the first war ex- polled the settlers, and she with the fugitive family retiring as presumed to Enlem, thereafter married Thomas Elking of that place. Their con Thomne went to the Kennebec, onterod on the Gutch lands, and in 1716, built the first house on Long Reach after Queen Anno's war. In a few years he was forced to flee
or was alain, ant his house was burned. Sarah Elking lived to be eighty-one years old or more, and sold one-fifth of her petri- mony to her daughter Lydia and her husband John Stevens of Salem. and the romni der to hor grandeon John Elking.
No bnption was recorded of the youngest daughter "ar- garet, but accepting the usual spacing of births in former gener- atlona, hers can be assigned to 1656, or perhaps 1658. The leck of the baptismal entry may be slight evidence that Er. Gutch had removed from Enlon como years before his appearance at Kennebec, and supports the hypothesis of a sojourn at Pemaquid. This daughter married William Lovering of Sheepscot. Their only dau- ghter was named Margaret and beonme the wife of Willian (or Wit- ham) Johnson of Lebanon. They made a home, about 1740, on the Gutch lands, and dwelt there till death.
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The oldest, and the fifth and sixth daughters, Pa- tionco, Ellza, Deborah, dropped out of the family by early death no thint only four of the eight children had heirs to survive and share in the paternal estate.1 These heirs between 1720 and 1740, rold their several rights in the property to various per- sons, Nathaniel Donnell of York, obtaining about three-fourths. Surveys and partition were made by order of court, 1752.
1. Thore le a rontion in the New England Historical and Genealo- cical Register 1880, p. 314, of atill another daughter of Mr. Gutch, Fachel, said to be born about 1557. The error arose in the sunposition that the person uniting with Sarah Elkins in a deposition concerning the dutch family (York Dordo, Book XVI .. fol. 109) was a daughter. The ms a neighbor, daughter of Thom- so Atkins and married first, John Drake of Small foint, and next John Berry (Barry) of Boston. York Deeds, Book VIII., fols. 167, 1.69.
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