USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 29
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Captain Patten was 31 years old when he made his home in Bath. yet he lived here an ordinary life-time. Very few attain to his age of 97 years and 6 months, with perfect health and unimpaired fac- ulties, and it is a rare instance where one of advanced age has been able to give personal attention to business to the very last days of his life. His gentle, beaming countenance was a pleasant sight for old and young. The restless spirit that so strongly marks this age, seems to have passed him by; he moved serenely in our midst, receiving the respect and regards of the entire community, and at each recurrence of his birthday of later years, a large number of citizins were accus- tomed to assemble at his dwelling, to do honor to the good citizen and venerable man.
Captain Patten was twice married. His first wife was Miss Betsey Bates of Boston. They had two children, Thomas and Gilbert E. R. Patten. Thomas became a sea-captain and died at middle age; Gilbert also went to sea, commanded his father's ships, and in the latter part of his life retired from the sea and joined his father in building ships. The mother of these sons having died, the father married a daughter of Levi Peterson of this city. They had a daughter who died young, and a son, John L., who died just as he reached maturity.
Captain Patten survived his second wife thirty years. The follow- ing extracts from Rev. Mr. Dunnell's sermon on Captain Patten's life and character are fitting tributes to an active, harmonious, and peaceful life : "It is not as a person valuable for his age, it is not as a successful money getter, one estimated by the figures of his taxes, but pre-eminently as a man that Captain Patten stands within our memory. His remarkable health one may safely say to have been partially due to the robust nature of his moral character. His physician states that to the last of his life there was no organic diffi- culty undermining his physical life. He had never impaired his constitution. Though a little remarkable for a sea-faring man, he was not addicted to the use of tobacco in any form. Although brought up in a period when spirituous liquors were used with a free- dom we can hardly comprehend to-day, he never used them in any but the most moderate degree, and of late years not at all. His
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even, cheerful disposition was a great moral factor in his physical life. He was a man who never allowed himself what is popularly called the 'blues.' Gloom was not a companion that he tolerated in his home. He was what we would call a successful man and I only speak of it to point out another way in which his manliness has impressed itself upon us. His success shows his character, because it was his own. He was in every sense a self-made man. I can testify from what I have personally heard him say that he was sensi- tive to anything which seemed to reflect on a man of small begin- nings. He had the keenest feelings about the value of a self-made life. "There are few of us,' he said, 'who have not worked up from the smallest start.' It was not often we spoke together on religious themes, but whenever we did he always talked without reserve .- ' Jesus has done everything for me.' This was the expres- sion which he coined himself, and which he repeated again and again. Surely no one who knew his life would be slow to believe that it had such a source. His spirit can be easily understood, when I remind you of a simple incident. As he was one day on his way from his office to his home, a poor man stopped him, asking if he would not help to procure a coat, when Captain Patten quickly removed his own, gave it to the man in need, and himself proceeded homeward without any. Any unworthy person rarely received from him. He was discriminating as well as generous. Truly there was fulfilled in him the promise to the godly-' with long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.' "
George F. Patten was born in Topsham, the home of his ances- tors, September 18, 1787. His advantages for an early education were limited, but his natural capacities made him a peer with all with whom he associated in his after life, whatever may have been their training. His early start in business life was in that branch in which he continued ever afterwards. Having been engaged in building boats, and later some small vessels, at his native town, he sought better advantages for ship-building by coming to Bath.
In this city he established a yard in which he built ships during his entire life, having, at different times, his brothers, John and and James F. Patten, associated with him, being himself the builder.
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His regular build was one ship a year and he managed them all. The Patten fleet became the largest in the United States. He was the builder of forty ships and other classes of vessels. He first built the brig Statira, of 188 tons, in 1819, at Topsham. The first he built at Bath was the brig Jasper, in 1821, which was of 223 tons ; his last ship built at Bath, 'in 1868, was the Japan, of 1,252 tons. He built two steamers to run on the Pacific coast, during the years of early California enterprises. The greater portion of the vessels of his building were ships of the larger class for those days. While his brothers, John and James F. Patten, continued going to sea they were in command of ships of the firm.
On coming to Bath to reside, not many years elapsed before Captain Patten became a very prominent man, both in businees and as a citizen. He was a large stockholder in the banks of Bath, especially of the Lincoln Bank. He was a Whig and later a Repub- lican in politics. Never seeking, or indeed desiring, public positions, yet his fellow-citizens called him to responsible trusts, he having served several terms in the Legislature and in the City Government.
He was prominent in the affairs of our first railroad, of which he was one of the original projectors, lifted the first spadeful in its construction, and was one of its most powerful supporters in the difficulties which its construction encountered.
He was a member of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College; of the Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions; was Vice- President of the Maine Missionary Society, and by far the largest individual contributor to its funds. While in the prime of his man- hood, this eminent man became a professor of religion and a member of the Winter Street Church, of which the Rev. Dr. Fiske was the pastor, and who has warmly testified to his "true and sincere Christian character."
Captain Patten was large in statue, commanding and distin- guished in his personal appearance. While always possessing more than ample means, his mode of life was that of comfortable sim- plicity, and his house was one in which there was always generous hospitality.
Captain Patten never went to sea, and derived his title of Captain
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from having been in command of a company of the militia at the time he was living at Topsham. During the last war with Great Britian, he was on duty at the head of his company when the troops were called out to protect Bath, when the British men-of-war were off the mouth of the river, alarming the town in June, and again in September, 1814.
Captain Patten married in 1820, Miss Hannah Thomas who was born in Lebanon, Conn., in 1795. Their children were Catharine T. Patten, George M. Patten, Statira Patten, James F. Pat- ten, Pauline Patten, Ann Augusta Patten, George Maxwell Patten, and Hannah T. Patten. George F. Patten died September 26, 1869.
James Fulton Patten was born in Topsham, June 28, 1790, and was educated in the schools of his native town. He then com- menced a sea-faring life, during which he made his home in Bath, rising to the command of vessels. He sailed in Bath ships, chiefly those built by his brothers, John and George F. Patten; himself eventually becoming a member of the firm, in which he continued until retiring from active business.
He married a granddaughter of Col. John Reed of Topsham, and their children were Charles E. Patten and Frederic H. Patten. Captain Patten died in Bath, January 14, 1883, aged 82 years.
Charles E. Patten, son of James F. Patten, was born in Bath, January, 1834, was educated in the city schools, and when 16 years of age began life on the sea, making his first voyage with Capt. J. Q. A. Reed, in the ship Italy. He won deserved promotion and was captain of the ship Britania in 1856. Until 1882 he continued in command of different ships, and retired after thirty-two years' ser- vice. In 1857 he married Miss Jessie Jones in London. Since his return from the sea he has continued his interest in shipping, and is one of Bath's heaviest tax-payers. He was elected Mayor in 1890 and served one year with credit, and in 1892 was elected Alderman in a ward that is Republican, when he is an old-time Democrat. Since retiring from the sea Captain Patten has been a large stock- holder and for years a director in the the Lincoln Bank. Himself and wife are liberal to the poor, and he has made generous dona-
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tions to the support of the Free Public Library and other objects of benevolence.
Gilbert E. R. Patten was born in Boston, February 28, 1825. The home of the Patten family was in Topsham, Me., but Capt. John Patten, the father of Gilbert, made a permanent residence in Bath during his son's infancy. Gilbert was educated in the public schools, and his life associations and deepest interest centered in the home of his adoption on the Kennebec.
Like the majority of young men of his time, he made the sea his profession and entered upon it at the early age of fifteen years. Manifesting unusual ability for his chosen career he easily gained promotion, and at twenty-one was captain of the ship Haleyon, one of the youngest commanders that ever sailed out of the Kennebec. One who knew him well writes: "I was with Captain Patten when he first stepped upon the active stage of life, in the first ship he commanded, and although I believe not yet two and twenty, he exhibited abilities far in advance of his years: sound judgment, coolness and self-possession in danger, and a faculty to command, qualities so necessary to carry the ship-master safely through the thousand difficult passages that are sure to lie in his way. I remem- ber him in his second voyage as master in a most perilous situation, one which called for the best qualities of the seaman to extricate his ship and save her from imminent wreck. He was equal to the emer- gency. With quick decision, he adopted the course which the event proved was the only one that could have brought him out of the jaws of destruction, and the decision, made with a coolness and pre- cision that would have done honor to a veteran, carried his plan to a successful issue. Even in those early days, he was governed in his dealings and in his intercourse with men by principles of high honor, and I well remember the impression he made upon those with whom he was thrown in business relations in different countries, and the many words I heard spoken in praise of his trustworthiness and integrity."
On leaving the sea, Captain Patten became junior partner in the ship-building firm of John Patten & Son, and continued in that busi- ness until his health failed him in the prime of life and he was
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forced to seek its restoration in various parts of our own land as well as in foreign climes. This practically closed a highly pros- perous and eminently successful business career, and crippled energies that were freely given to enhance the prosperity of Bath and add to the happiness of his fellow-citizens. Endowed with a capacity for friendship, he formed, and retained through life, the regard and respect of a large circle. His kindly disposition and genial smile remained undimmed through years of physical suffering, which he bore unflinchingly, while his resigned and truly Christian spirit enlisted the sympathy of both his older and later friends.
He married, in 1859, Miss Emma M. Owen, daughter of Henry W. Owen, of Bath, formerly of Wayne, in this state. Captain Patten built a commodious and stately home on Washington street, where he died January 12, 1882. He left a son and daughter: John O. Patten; Clara M. Patten, married Richard E. Goodwin, of Augusta, February 10, 1887, and has one daughter.
Frederic H. Patten, the younger son of James F. Patten, was born in Bath, May 13, 1838, where he obtained such education as was afforded by the schools of his native place. When entering upon the business of life, he went to New York City and engaged in the shipping business. Upon the decease of his father in 1883, who left him a large property, he returned to Bath where he remained during the remainder of his life, attending to the business of his estate. On April 26, 1883, he married Miss Clara Allan Kendrick of Bath, who was a devoted wife till his death, July 23, 1889.
Mr. Patten was a quiet, unassuming gentleman, of striking personal appearance and genial manners, whose departure in the prime of life has been greatly missed by his numerous friends and acquain- tances.
John Owen Patten was born in Bath, April 20, 1861, and his parents are Gilbert E. R. Patten and Emma M. (Owen) Patten. He acquired his education in the schools of his native city, after- wards taking a special course at Johns Hopkins University, Balti- more, Md. He went to Boston, secured a position on the repor- torial staff of the Boston Post in 1884, and subsequently purchased
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an interest in the paper, of which he was afterwards managing editor. He subsequently severed his connection with the Post and became executor of his grandfather's large estate (Captain John Patten), in connection with his brother-in-law, Richard E. Goodwin.
On February 23, 1886, Mr. Patten married Miss Lucy W. Larrabee, daughter of Mr. Charles W. Larrabee, attorney-at-law, in Bath, moved to Boston to reside, and later returned to Bath.
Mr. Patten has been a somewhat extensive traveler, having doub- led Cape Horn and made a sailing voyage to Madeira and England with his wife. In 1887-8 they made a trip around the world, visiting many countries in Europe, as well as Turkey, Greece, Syria, Pales- tine, Egypt, India, Ceylon, Java, China, Japan, and California, and in 1892-3 passed a winter in Spain in the study of the Spanish lan- guage. Mr. Patten has never lost his liking for journalism, and has lately become owner and editor of the Daily Times of his native city, which he has considerably improved, both as to circulation and influence. Mr. Patten is president of the Bath branch of the Sagadahoc Loan and Trust Company, and a director of the Bath National Bank.
The Pattens have collectively and individually built from 1819 to 1875, thirty-eight ships, four barks, three brigs, two steam vessels, and one schooner.
The Houghton Family .- The Houghtons of Milton and Bolton, Mass., trace their family line back to the Hoghtons in Lancashire, England, the founder of the family having come to England with William the Conqueror, and having been assigned large estates in Lancashire as a reward for his military services. The family was an active one, taking part in public affairs and the civil wars.
The branch of the family in Massachusetts, from which the Houghtons of Bath are descended, was founded by Ralph Houghton. The legal proof of Ralph's parentage does not now exist, owing in part to the fact that Ralph, having been chosen clerk of his town in Massachusetts, was attacked by Indians and his office and all of its records were burned. He came to America for the purpose of enjoy-
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ing in freedom his religious and political opinions. He had fought under Cromwell against Charles I. He landed at Charlestown, Mass., some time between the years 1635 and 1647. In 1647, he and nine others founded the town of Lancaster, Mass. In 1682, he settled at Milton, and after a brief residence meanwhile at Lancaster, he built at Milton in 1689 or 1690 the old Houghton homestead, which has ever since been occupied by his descendants.
Levi Houghton came from Boston to Bath in the schooner Sophronia, Capt. William Hayden, father of John Hayden, in 1802. He went into business in the northeast corner of a building located about fifty rods southwest from Davis', now Houghton Brothers', wharf. His stock in trade did not amount to over two hundred dollars, the chief portion of which consisted of ladies' and children's shoes.
He early commenced taking an interest in vessels. The first vessel in which he invested was the brig Betsey, which went out on a voyage to the West Indies and was lost. When Samuel Davis failed, in 1808, Mr. Houghton purchased his property and went largely into the grocery business, supplying vessels during the war of 1812 and later. In 1820 he began building ships on his own account, which he continued until far advanced in age, when he relinquished his business to his sons. His vessels were all built at the foot of South street. He managed his own vessels. He eventually relin- quished keeping store, but retained trade in salt, wholesale and retail, his ships bringing in yearly cargoes from Cadiz and Liverpool on their return voyages from Europe.
Mr. Houghton was a member of the Central Church for many years and one of its deacons.
Levi Houghton was the son of Jonas and Lucy Houghton, and was born in Bolton, Mass., September 3, 1783. He married Char- lotte Reed, daughter of John and Rachel Reed, in Bolton, Novem- ber 3, 1813. She was born May 29, 1793; her father was born February 13, 1756; her mother was daughter of Ebenezer and Abagail Clark, and was born July 15, 1760.
The successors to the business of Dea. Levi Houghton were his sons, Levi Warren, Silas Amory, John Reed, and Henry L. Hough-
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ton. At a later date Amory died. The same line of building ships and dealing in salt has been pursued by them as was that of their father, and with the like success. Outside of this they make no speculative ventures, and are largely interested in banks in the city, especially so in the Lincoln Bank, the oldest institution of the kind in Bath, and of which L. W. Houghton has been on the board of directors many years, as also one of the board of trustees of the Bath Savings Institution. They are citizens who are notable for attention to their own business, and whose word is as good as their signatures. Levi Houghton and Houghton Brothers have built thirty-six ships, three barks, and four brigs.
James McLellan, long identified with the business interests of Bath, was born in Gorham, May 7, 1777, and died in Bath, October 26, 1854, at the age of 77 years. His father was Capt. Alexander McLellan, who led a company to the siege of Biguyduce during the Revolutionary War in 1779. His son James commenced life a house carpenter at Monmouth, at the age of twenty-nine settled at Bath, in 1806, established a mercantile business, first under Music Hall, and afterwards at the foot of Summer street, near which was his ship-yard. He had Gen. Dwelly Turner for partner until his death in 1827, and afterwards his son, J. H. Mclellan, keeping a store and building vessels for the West India trade on their own account.
In his political life he was a staunch Democrat, and though never seeking office was one of the electors for President and Vice-Presi- dent of the United States during the War of 1812; was a member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1816 and 1817, and later was a member of the Executive Council. Entering the military service, he became Captain of a Bath company, from which he rose to Major, and through all the regimental grades to that of Major-General in 1822, always an active and distinguished officer.
In religious matters he affiliated with the Methodist denomination and was conspicuous as one of the founders of the Wesley Church, of which he was a life-long member.
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His house, at the top of the "hill " on Washington street, was ever the home of generous hospitality, clergymen finding always a hearty welcome, one of whom married his eldest daughter.
Prior to his coming to Bath to reside he married Lydia Osgood, at Hallowell, in 1799, and their children were: Harriet E. (Mrs. Husted), J. H. Mclellan, Mary O. (Mrs. Robinson), Lydia (Mrs. Hawkes), Charles, Samuel, Caroline (Mrs. Dr. Rogers), Sarah B. (Mrs. Snow), Louisa H. (Mrs. E. K. Harding), Adaline D. (Mrs. J. H. Allen, afterwards Mrs. Roberts), and Rufus. The mother of these children was notable for her traits of womanly character, and was an enthusiastic member of the Methodist denomination.
General Mclellan had the reputation of a man of strict integrity, active in business, and was one of the old-time merchants and prominent characters of Bath. He was a man of extraordinary energy and persistency, - a model specimen of the Anglo-Saxon Yankee character, - and through all the revulsions of commerce and trade for forty-six years maintained his credit. He built and owned, during the time he continued in active business, more than twenty-five ships and brigs, and, by his enterprise and example, was instrumental in doing much for the growth and prosperity of the city.
The Moody Family .- Joshua Moody, son of William Moody, one of the original settlers of Newbury, Mass., was born in England in the year 1633, about one year before his father came to this country. As he was prepared for admission to college by the Rev. Thomas Parker, he was undoubtedly well fitted to enter college, having enjoyed the instruction of this eminent, classical scholar. Mr. Moody graduated at Harvard College in 1653; after which he commenced the study of Divinity, and very early began to preach. He had, before leaving Cambridge, made a public profession of religion, and joined the church in that town.
Mr. Moody commenced his ministerial labors in Portsmouth, N. H., early in 1658, at which place he laid the foundation, and event- ually gathered the first Congregational church in that town. In 1660, the town passed a vote for his establishment in the pastoral office, yet for some reason he was not ordained until 1671, at which
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time the first church was gathered. As a minister, Mr. Moody was zealous and faithful. The church flourished under his pastoral care, and he was distinguished by his independent and faithful preaching.
The Governor of the Province suspected that the general influence of Mr. Moody was the chief obstacle for the accomplishment of his own plans of self-aggrandizement. He accordingly determined to drive Mr. Modoy out of town by a series of persecutions, which culminated in 1684 in getting him into prison, by the perjury of a witness, but he was soon after released.
After this persecution he went to Boston, May 3, 1684. The First Church made an arrangement for him to co-operate with Rev. Mr. Allen as assistant preacher. He was highly esteemed there, as a man, a scholar, and a theologian. Upon the death of Presi- dent Rogers, July 2, 1684, he was elected President of Harvard College, which position he declined. . His usefulness was seriously abridged by the anathemas which his manly resistance to the witch- craft delusion drew upon him. It was chiefly by his moral courage that a gentleman and his wife, who had been lodged in jail in Boston, were saved from the cruel doom which the laws awarded to persons suspected of witchcraft.
At length by the earnest entreaties of his former congregation he returned to Portsmouth, in 1692, where he spent the remainder of his days with his affectionate people. He died on the Sabbath of July 4, 1697, in the 65th year of his age. Dr. Cotton Mather preached his funeral sermon. The ninety-third volume of his man- uscript sermons is in the Massachusetts Historical Society.
For the purpose of erecting a brick building at Harvard College, in 1689, Mr. Moody, by his exertions at Portsmouth, aided in obtain- ing the desired subscription for that object of £60 per annum, for seven years.
Rev. Samuel Moody, son of Rev. Joshua Moody, was a graduate of Harvard College, in 1689, and was for several years a preacher at New Castle, N. H. After a few years he laid aside his calling, and assumed that of a military commander with the rank of Major. He took command of a body of men in an expedition against the Indians, and frequently held a "talk" with them upon matters in dis-
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pute. Mr. Moody eventually located himself with the new settlers at Falmouth, and has always been regarded as one of the principal persons who assisted in building up that colony. Mr. Moody was at the head of the committee who invited Rev. Thomas Smith to settle in the town. Maj. Samuel Moody may justly be called the leader of the little colony at Falmouth. In 1705 he had the command of forty men stationed at St. John's fort, Newfoundland. In 1709, he commanded the fort at Casco. While here, he had some correspondence with Father Ralle, the French missionary at Norridgewock. He became the organ of communication, repeatedly, during the war between the Indians and our government.
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