USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 3
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Samuel Denny filled many and sometimes all the important offices in Georgetown, which then comprised a much larger district than at present. For many years he was surveyor in the District of Maine. He was appointed chief justice of the court of common pleas and president of the court of sessions for Lincoln County, which com- prised the section east of Cumberland. He continued to hold these offices until his death.
Major Denny was a thrifty man, having acquired extensive real estate on both sides of the river, as well as much personal property, all of which he left to his wife and his only child, Mrs. Rachel Den- ny McCobb, then living at Arrowsic. He died at the ripe old age of eighty-three years, June 2, 1772, in the full possession of all his faculties, and is buried alongside of his wives in the " old George- town cemetery " on Arrowsic Island.
Reminiscences of the Settlement .- Mrs. Susan Spinney of Georgetown, now eighty years old, lived on Arrowsic Island until
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HISTORY OF BATH.
her eighteenth year with an aged couple whose parents had also lived there; consequently her traditions come down from two pre- ceding generations. She says: "The old gentleman with whom I lived would relate the events he remembered in his childhood, youth, and early manhood. He was seven years old when the French and Indian war broke out. His family at that time lived on the south end of Arrowsic, his father having one of the ten-acre lots originally laid out there. Major Denny lived there at the same time, their lot joining his. There were many Indians living then near the white settlers, and they came in and out among the whites familiarly and peaceably until the war broke out, when they went east to join the other tribes. He said they knew of the war long before the white people did. It seems that they had a sort of telegraphic communi- cation from the head of one river to another, that the white people of that generation never knew about.
"There was one Indian that was particularly friendly with his father's family, who came in and out and told his mother that he was going away not to come back, but did not tell her where he was going. He brought some birch-bark boxes (small ones) and gave each of the children one for a present or keepsake. The old gentle- man kept his as long as he lived. After the Indians had been gone some time, news came of their uprising. Then came the dreadful events of that savage war.
" Major Denny was a prominent character; he had the adminis- tration of all the law and gospel in those days in town. As inci- dental to new settled places, disputes and quarrels were many and varied, which were all brought up to be settled before the Major. This was so habitual, and such a terror had he become to them, that in their disputes they would threaten to have each other up before the Major even after he was dead. The original settlers on Arrow- sic, who were nearly all from the north of Ireland and Scotland, observed the keeping of the Sabbath strictly, and tithing men were appointed here and there to enforce obedience to the Sunday laws. And woe to the unlucky wight who should be caught walking out on the Sabbath, except he was going to meeting or to care for the sick.
SAMUEL DENNY BLOCK HOUSE.
JUDGE SAMUEL DENNY STOCKS.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
If for anything else, he was arraigned before the Major, who put him in the stocks for so long or short a time as he saw fit. I believe they considered the punishment of sitting in the stocks rather more of ignominy and disgrace than painful, though I don't know but - what it was also painful.
" Swearing was another thing punishable in the stocks. It seemed that somebody, out of ill-will, as was often the case when complaints were entered, had accused a young sailor of swearing. He stoutly :lenied it, saying he could prove he never was in the habit of using profane language; but he could not prove that he did not swear at that particular time, so the Major put him in the stocks, from which he was afterwards released and returned to his vessel. The next morning the vessel that the young fellow belonged to sailed away out of the Kennebec River with a fair wind, carrying the Major's stocks at the mast head in triumph " in full view of the justice.
" The Major owned slaves, and he had a slave by the name of Sandy Hill who was married; his wife's name was Peggy, and they had quite a large family of children. The Major, who was a kind master, bought a pew in the Congregationalist meeting-house on Arrowsic for Sandy, where the Major and his family also worshiped. Sandy was always in his pew on the Sabbath, looking around on his family with smiling satisfaction to see them all in the house of God. The Major and Sandy were both members of the church." The in- stitution of slavery was not abolished in the state of Massachusetts until eleven years after the death of Samuel Denny.
Attacking Savages .- Notwithstanding their treaty of peace, the Indians continued hostile and the Denny block-house was often attacked by them. On one of these occasions, when the settlers had fled to his garrison for safety, a party of savages surrounded the building and the chief called out, "We got you now," when at that instant the boom of a cannon was heard down the river, at which the savages fled in terror. It proved to be the signal of a vessel arriving with supplies for the settlers (vide Andrew Reed).
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HISTORY OF BATH.
From Massachusetts Archives :-
GEORGETOWN, July 4, 1722.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY.
I recd. yr. Excys Letter of Express of ye 20th ult. but last night, this morning I Dispatched away my whale boat up the river & Called in the Inhabitants. I also order'd ye Boat to Richmond to direct the officer there to keep good Guards inasmuch as I had but just heard of Capt. Wecstbrooks being attacked at St. Georges & the Damage that was done there, but as soon as the Boat had got as far as Merrymeeting Bay they saw about 30 of the Indians, who as soon as they found themselves Discovered man'd out their Canoos in chase of the Boat wch was then obliged to return & soon got Clear of them, the Houses in the Bay were Just then Sat on fire, & after the Boat returned to me, wth the above act , we observed smokes to rise in Long Reach & mr , Allen· ye bearer being at his own House about three mile of, I was willing to try to Save him, & Immediately man'd out ye Boat wth fresh hands & releaved him, who had been in defence of his House about two hours, it happened we did not Loose a man, tho they fought the Indians about half an hour before they could get m' , Allen away, it's probable our men wounded if not killed Some of the Indians.
There is five Garrisons in this Town but can keep but three wch will Defend one another & we are in a good Posture of Defence.
I am further strengthening in according to yr Excys , order, they are within Shot of one another & some good Houses between that we are able to receive and Entertain a good number of men. Mr. Allen who now comes up will give your Excy, a more particular act , of his Loss & what happened to him this day. I have divided my half Comae, that are here, among the three Garrisons for their better Defence, am fortifying for the Security of the Stores, would pray yr Excy to order me two Swivil Guns to fix in the flankers for the Secu- rity of the Same, there and here Several Smart Lusty Young men that have been robbed of all they had by the indians, who would be glad to be in the Service if yr Excy would be pleased to admit of it,. they Cannot possibly Subsist here without, I have detained em till
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HISTORY OF BATH.
yr. Excy, order inasmuch as their going oft now will weaken the Coutry.
I am yr. Excy. most Dutiful & most Obt. Servt. (signed) JOHN PENHALLOW'S Letter to His Excy, July 4, 1722.
Penhallow commanded at the forts on lower end of Arrowsic.
July 4, 1722, the inhabitants had left their dwellings to attend public worship in Denny's fort, when the Indians surprised the fort but were repulsed, the only casualty being their killing a child. On their retreat they burned twenty-six houses and killed fifty head of cattle. The houses were never rebuilt. This author, as well as other people now living, has distinctly seen the old cellars on either side of the road, fifty or more years ago, and at this day one only of them is indistinctly seen by the road side. "Seventy years ago there were also to be seen vestiges of potato beds on the farm then owned by Judge Mark L. Hill, together with fifteen of the old cellars." (vide M. L. Hill, 1819).
Battle of Arrowsic .- At the time of the Watts settlement at Butlers Cove, the garrison and its forces were made the command of Penhallow. In 1720, there were twenty dwelling-houses occupied by farmers. On Sept. 10, 1722, at dawn of day, an armed force was sent out from the garrison to protect the farmers in gathering their crops. This escort discovered a large number of Indians prowling about in the adjoining woods. They immediately attacked the Indians, killing one and wounding three. The whites then re- treated to the fort. The villagers, alarmed at the firing, fled at once to the garrison-house, taking with them all they could carry. The savages surrounded the house and with hideous cries poured shot from every possible approach, but the fort proved impregnable and the only casualty to the defenders was the killing of Samuel Broaking through a port-hole. Defeated in their undertaking, the foe with- drew and encamped in the woods. Tidings of the battle spread and reinforcements arrived from other settlements. Colonel Walton and Captain Harmon arrived in whale boats with thirty men, and Col.
0
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HISTORY OF BATH.
Robert Temple at his settlement on the river above Bath heard the report of the guns below and hastened with a force to render ser- vice. Colonel Temple, who had seen active service in the Irish army, proved himself very serviceable on this occasion. He and Penhallow formed a party of seventy men and made a night attack upon the savages around their camp-fires, but they were driven back to the garrison overpowered by the numbers of the foe. The Indi- ans, however, took to their canoes and returned to Norridgewock. On their passage they captured a government sloop, mortally wound- ing the captain. Thus, after six years of prosperity, this portion of Georgetown was again made desolate; but the inhabitants, notwith- standing all these adverse influences, rebuilt their homes, and But- lers Cove continued to be prominent to the close of the eighteenth century (vide Williamson).
Sullivan says that in 1756 "a strong party of Indians appeared before the fort on the lower end of Arrowsike Island, but could not take it. The people within were not able to go out of the garrison to attack the enemy. This gave the savages an opportunity to kill all the cattle on the island and to enjoy the spoil at pleasure."
Under the guidance of Father Ralle, the Jesuit priest who had a mission settlement at Norridgewock, the Indians continued very troublesome to the English settlers until in 1724, when a military expedition was organized under the command of Colonel Moulton and Major Harmon, who surprised Norridgewock, killed Ralle, mas- sacred the Indians, and destroyed the settlement. The tribe was so badly crippled that they ever after ceased to be formidable.
Formation of a Town .- When the settlement had become sufficiently strong, the matter of incorporating a town was under- taken, as the under-written documents will show. Long Reach was identified with the formation of a town, its people joined in the movement to effect this desirable object, and continued to compose a portion of old Georgetown, taking part in its organized proceed- ings until set off in 1781 to form the town of Bath.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
Mass. Gen. Court Records, Vol. IX, page 426 :-
FRIDAY Oct. 29, 1714.
Upon reading a petition of John Higginson Esq. & John Watts in behalf of themselves & Sir Biby Lake Barronet, Proposing to settle or cause to be settled a town in a regular manner according to the directions of this Court upon arrowsic Island at the mouth of the Kennebeck River, Praying the assistance of this Court in allowing them a company of men to be a security for the people in their set- tlement of a Town of Forty Families there the next summer in a defensible manner &c.
1952018
Voted: a concurrence with the vote passed thereon by the Repre- sentatives. That is to say that the town proposed in this Petition to be settled being in the place the furthest of the Five directed by this Court & so will in some measure be a Barrier & security to the other Four when they shall be brought forward.
Voted: that his Excellency the Governor be humbly requested to order a Sergeant with nineteen centinels from the Fort at Casco Bay to Arrowsic Island to continue there for the space of six months to cover and defend the designed settlement, when the undertakers shall have provided convenient Barracks for their entertainment & ten families or more shall offer to proceed with them thither; which it is supposed may be now done with safety to the Fort, Peace being now happily established.
Extract from the Records of the General Court of Mass., Vol. X :- June 13, 1716.
"The following order passed in the house of Representatives, "read & concurred. Upon reading a Petition of Edward Hutchin- "son Esq., John Gerrish and others, the first settlers on Arrowsic " Island, praying that an addition may be made to their number of "men, or at least to continue the twenty six men now there, for fur- " ther time as the Court shall see meet, to cover the new settlements, "and that the Island of Arrowsic may be granted and made in a "township and have the privelege of a town by the name of George- " town.
Consented to, WILLIAM TAILER.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
" The Board are of opinion that it will be much for his Majesty's "service, the intirest of this Goverment & for promoting the new " settlements (which is of great consequence). That a suitable num- " ber of men be continued at Arrowsick for some time and desire " the house would reconsider it ".
The following order passed in the House of Representatives, viz: Upon further consideration of this Petition, Ordered, that sixteen men in the publick pay be allowed to cover the Settlement at Arrow- sic Island now denominated Georgetown for the space of six months & no longer.
Agreed to by the Councill. Consented to WM. TAILER.
No record of such organization of a town has been found to the knowledge of this author. There is, however, in the records of the town which was organized in 1738 this vote :- " That James McFad- den be an agent to demand, require, and recover the town book from any person or persons with whom the same may found "; but no report was made of his success or the want of it.
Old Georgetown Records .- The records of the town organized in 1738 have been preserved as kept in three books of large size in the office of the town clerk of Georgetown. One of these books contains the proceedings of town meetings, with supplementary en- tries of the accounts of town treasurer while Samuel Denny held that office, from 1738 to his death in 1772, and reports of laying out of highways. Another book contains family records, and the third volume records the legal marks of cattle, sheep, and swine. These books are in good condition, the entries perfectly legible, and the penmanship of a large portion of them in plain handwriting.
The Town Comprised what is now Arrowsic, Georgetown, -Phipsburg, Bath, Woolwich, and West Bath. Town meetings were held at the dwelling-house of Samuel Denny until they were held in the " meeting-house at Pleasant Cove," which was at the Noble and afterwards Lithgow and later the Morse farm, immediately south of Fiddlers Reach, March 8, 1742. When the meeting-house on Ar- rowsic Island was built and completed in 1763, the town meetings were held in that house. If meetings were called in winter, there
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HISTORY OF BATH.
being no heating apparatus in the meeting-house, the meetings were often adjourned to the house of William Butler, who kept something like an inn.
Town Records .- The scope of this work can only admit a tran- script of the records of old Georgetown and confined to proceedings that relate to the history of Bath while comprising a part of the town. Following are some of the quaint and interesting entries to be found therein.
"At a grate and general Court or assembly for the province of the massachusets bay held at Boston the 30th day of may 1716 the fol- lowing order passed in the Hous of Representatives Red and Con- cured vix upon Reading a petition of Edward Hutchinson Esq', John Watts and others first settlers of arousick Island praying that an addition may be made to their number of men or at least comprise the twenty men now there for farther time as this court shall see meat to cover the new inhabitant and that the Island of arousick may be granted and made a township and have the privileges of a town by the name of georgetown
Ordered that the prayer of the petition be so far granted that the Island of arowsick be constituted a town by the name of george- town. Consented to Wm tailer Copy examied pr simon frost Dept secretary, A true entry attest Samuell Denny Town Clerk of George- ton "
"In the hous of Representatives June 16, 1738, voted that samuel Denny Esqr a princepal Inhabitant of the Island of arowsick alias georgetown so called in the county of york be and hereby is fully authorised and directed to call a meeting of the Inhabitants there as soon as may be with convenience for the chosing select men con- stables collectors and other ordinary town officers who shall stand till the time of anaversary meeting by Law for the choice of town officers in March next and that the said collectors be and hereby are as fully authorised and Impowered to gather and collect all rates and taxes to them committed with warrant therefor - - any of the collectors within any of the towns of this province are by Law im- poured unto and to pay the same according to directions in the war-
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HISTORY OF BATH.
rant annexed to the sales conformable to the law in such Cases made and provided, sent up for concerrance I quinsey spk In coun- sel June 16, 1738 Red and concured I willard secry Consented to I Belcher secy Examined I willard secy A true entry Samuel Denny Tn Clk."
Whereas the Honorable House of Representatives on June 16, 1738 passed a vote, and on the 17th of the same was concurred in by his Majesty's Council and which was consented to by his Eycel- lency the Governor, a paragraph of which is in the words following viz .: Voted that Samuel Denny Esq. a principal inhabitant of the Island of Arowsick alias Georgetown, so called, in the County of York, be and hereby is fully authorized and directed to call a meet- ing of the inhabitants thereof as soon as may be with convenience, for the choosing selectmen, constables, collectors, and other ordinary town officers, who shall stand till the time of the anniversary meet- ing in March next &c,
These are therefore to warn the above mentioned inhabitants to meet at my dwelling house in Georgetown aforesaid on Tuesday the twenty-sixth day of this instant December, at ten of the clock be- fore noon, for the ends and purposes aforesaid. Dated at George- town December 8, 1738. SAMUEL DENNY.
GEORGETOWN December 8. 1738
I warned the within mentioned inhabitants to meet according to the tenure of the within instrument by reading the same publicly at the head of the company whereof I am Captain, at said Georgetown on the day of the date hereof.
SAMUEL DENNY
December 26, 1738
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Georgetown so called, legally warned by virtue of a vote of the General Assembly, for the choice of selectmen, constables, collectors and other ordinary town officers to stand till the anniversary meeting in March next:
1. Voted that Samuel Denny be moderator,
2. Voted Johnathin Preble, Michael Malcom, Arthur Noble, Daniel Farnham, Patrick Drummond selectmen.
3. Voted Samuel Denny Town Clerk.
٢
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HISTORY OF BATH.
4. Voted the above mentioned selectmen to be assessors till the an- niversary meeting in March next.
5. Voted, no surveyors till March next.
6. Voted John Parker, Thomas Stinson, constables.
7. Voted Benjamin Pattee, David Gilmore, Fence Viewers.
8. Voted, John Parker, Thomas Stinson be collectors.
9. Voted James Stinson Sen, and Thomas Mothewell, Tithingmen. December 26, 1738 as attest Samuel Denny Moderator.
A true entry Samuel Denny Town Clerk.
The second town meeting was called for the twenty-second day of March 1739 to be held at the house of Samuel Denny on the war- rant of the selectmen and served by the constables, John Parker and Thomas Stinson within their respective " wards or districts."
As John Parker lived on the west side of the Kennebec and Thomas Stinson on the east side, their districts were probably di- vided by the river.
At this meeting Samuel Denny was made moderator, town clerk and treasurer. Jonathan Preble, Daniel Farnham, Michael Malcom, Patrick Drummond, and Thomas Motherwell, selectmen. Samuel Denny, Jonathan Preble, and James Stinson were chosen a committee to procure a minister or ministers; and " that the persons that paid money for supplies " (ministry) " since the twenty-sixth of December last be re-embursed "; " that the above committee procure a school- master to teach the children of said town to read, write, and cipher "; " that James McFadden be an agent to demand, require, and recover the town book from any person or persons with whom the same may be found."
1744. Voted address to the General Court to erect a breastwork at Hunniwells Point instead of Arrowsick Island, for which purpose $400 had been appropriated by the General Court.
1745. Address to the Governor and General Court to take off the province tax of this year and exempt the town from further tax during the present war, and that Edward Hutchinson be employed to prosecute the objects mentioned in the address.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
1746. James McCobb was empowered to obtain from the Gener- al Court men for garrison duty and guards to the inhabitants while getting lumber.
1745. The General Court was petitioned to grant the one hun- dred pounds formally voted by them for a breastwork to be laid out in ammunition for a town stock or otherwise for the benefit of the town, also for " supplies of men to cover us."
Samuel Denny was requested and empowered to procure from the governor and council some cover and defence against the enemy ; also that he labor to procure a minister, conforming to former in- structions given him except the requiring the recommendations of six ministers.
1756. A road three rods wide was made from Small Point to Capt. McCobb's, and the road from Bryant Robinson's to Sandy Cove be altered and approbated according to a plan made by James Springer, Jonathan Philbrook, and Isaiah Crocker. [This was at South Bath undoubtedly.]
1759. The town voted not to object to Nequasset being organized into a town.
1760. Road made from Daniel Brown's house to the landing at the New Meadows river, opposite the house of Captain James Thompson, three perches wide. The roads were part bridle and part open roads, and where gates were necessary persons owning the property must put up gates and keep them in repair.
1761. Road three perches wide "approbated " from Sheepscot River across Arrowsick Island to a landing at Long Reach.
1762. That Samuel Denny be allowed to keep gates and bars across a road leading through his premises.
1764. That road on Rousick Island, and that from the Basin to Small Point, and that from David Oliver's to the grist mill at Robin Hoods Cove be "approbated."
1765. Road on eastern side of Robin Hoods Cove, three perches wide, be approbated.
1767. Road "approbated " from Long Reach meeting-house to
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HISTORY OF BATH.
Browns Ferry. [Browns Ferry was about where is now Bull Bridge. Bull Bridge takes its name from a rock in the river there called Bull rock.]
1762. Last town meeting in the "old meeting-house in George- town at Pleasant Cove."
1763. First town meeting in the " new meeting-house on Arrow- sick."
Formation of the Second Parish, Long Reach .- More set- tlers came to the Reach, obtained land, and the population soon be- came sufficiently numerous to ask to be incorporated into a parish by the General Court at Boston. At a town meeting of Georgetown, July 10, 1753, " Voted to make no objection against the inhabitants on the west side of the Long Reach being taken off, persuiant to their petition to ye General Court." When Long Reach became the Second Parish of Georgetown it contained twenty families represent- ing a population of two hundred people (vide Lemont).
PETITION TO FORM A SECOND PARISH.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay
To the Honourable Spencer Phipps Esq Lieut Govern' & Com- mander in chief of his Majesty's Province of the Massts Bay afore- said, The Honble His Majesty's Council, and the Honble House of Representatives in Gener! Court assembled May 30th 1753. The Subscribers most humbly Shew
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