USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Bath > History of Bath and environs, Sagadahoc County, Maine. 1607-1894 > Part 4
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That they are Inhabitants of those Lands on Kennebeck River bounded Southerly on Winniganie River, Easterly on Kennebeck, Westerly on Steven's Rivr and Northerly on Merry Meeting Bay, in length about nine Miles and in breadth about Three; which about Fourteen Years since being Inhabited but by about Six or Seven Families, were annex'd by this Court to George town, since which they have increased to the Num' of about Forty Families and made very considerable Improvements. That they Labour under the Greatest Difficulties in attending the Publick Worship of God at George Town, in that they not only Live remote from thence but are obliged to cross Winniganee River at least three quarters of a Mile
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HISTORY OF BATH.
where the Tide is very rapid and the Ice in cold season's in very Large quantities by means whereof the Ancient People, Women & Children can scarce ever Attend the Publick Worship of God so necessary to their wellbeing.
Wherefore Your Petitioners most humbly pray this Honourable Court to take the Premises into Consideration and of their wonted goodness and Paternal care for such infant settlements Grant and order them a Distinct Precinct or Parish to be set off by the afore- said bounds and Grant them such Powers and Priviledges as have been usual for such or provide such other ways and Methods for the redress of their Inconveniences aforesaid as this Court in their Wisdom shall Judge most fit and reasonable.
And Your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray.
Jonathon Philbrook, Seig", John Wise, Joseph Berry, Phillip Hodgkins, John Lammon, Humphrey Purinton, Benjamin Thomp- son, Shubel Hinkley, John Tarp, James Thomson, William Johnson, William Philbrook, Benja. Ring, Job Philbrook, Moses Hodgkins, Joshua Philbrook, Abel Eaten, Josear Weber, Joseph Gray, Benja- min Brown, Hezekiah Purinton, Humphrey Purinton, junr , Mikel Thornton, Jonathon Philbrook, jun", Thomas Joy, Bryant Robert_ son, Samuel Brown, Daniel Brown, James Brown, Thomas Foot, Simon Burton, David Purinton, James Mecib, Benj. Lemons, Ebenezer Hinkley, Isaiah Crooker, John Soliven, William Marshall, N. Donnell, George Williams, Joshua Coomes, John O'Neal, Samuel Meloon, jun', Nathanel Berrey, David trufant, Samuel Meloon, Sene".
IN THE HOUSE OF REPYES, June 12, 1753.
Read and Ordered that the Pet's serve the Town Clerk of the Town of George Town with a copy of this Petn that so the said Town shew cause if any they have on the Second Wednesday of the next Sitting of this Court why the Prayer thereof should not be Granted.
Sent up for concurrence.
T. HUBBARD, Spk". IN COUNCIL, June 12, 1753.
Read and Concur'd.
THOS CLARKE, Dpty Secry.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
IN COUNCIL, Sept. 7, 1753.
Read again with a copy of the vote of the Inhabitants of George Town passed at a Meeting held the 10th of July last And it appearing that they had no Objections to make thereunto.
Ordered that the Petitioners & their Lands as bounded in the Petition be set off as a separate & distinct Parish or Precinct, And that the Inhabitants enjoy & be vested with the Powers & Privileges of other Precincts in this Province.
Sent down for Concurrence.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPVES, Sept. 7, 1753. Read and Concurd.
I. WILLARD, Secry.
T. HUBBARD, Spkr.
Consented to.
W. SHIRLEY.
The Act. - Anno Regni Regis George II Viressimo Septimo an act for erecting Part of Georgetown in the County of york into A Presinct whereas it hath been represented to this Court, that the rest of the Inhabatants of Georg Town aforesaid, living on the Westerly side of Long reach in sd Town, Labor under Difficulties by reason of their not being set off as a Sepperate Presinct. Be it Enacted by the Governore, Council and House of Representatives, that part of the Said George Town with the inhabitants thereon be and hereby is Erected into A Presinct.
Bounding of following, Southerly on winnigance River, Easterly on Kenebeck River, westerly on Stevens River, and Northerly on merrymeeting Bay, in Length about Nine, miles, and in Breadth about three miles, and that the Said Presinct, be and hereby is inested with all Privilidges, Powers and immunities that Presincts in this Province by Law do or may enjoy.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, September 10, 1753.
Read a first, Second & Third Time & passed to be Engrossed. T. HUBBARD, Spk".
IN COUNCIL, September 11, 1753.
Read a first and second time & Pased a Currince to be Engrossed. THOS CEARKE, Dpty Secry.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
Organization. - Samuel Denny, a magistrate of Georgetown, was empowered to call a meeting of the inhabitants of the new parish, which was held April 2, 1754, at the residence of Jonathan Philbrook, Jr. Humphrey Purrington was chosen Moderator; Samuel Brown, Clerk; Jonathan Philbrook, Sen., John Lemont, and James Springer, Parish Committee; and Jonathan Philbrook, Jr., a committee to obtain a minister, for whose support it was voted to raise £26, 18s. 4d. Jonathan Philbrook, Sen., John Lemont, Nathaniel Donnell, and Joseph Berry were chosen as committee to select a place for the meeting-house which it was voted to build. In 1759, the assessors were Joseph Berry, Samuel Brown, and Joshua Philbrook; the treasurer was Benjamin Thompson; consta- ble, Joseph White. This year there were sixty ratable polls (vide Lemont ).
Prior to the construction of the first meeting-house, the parish meetings were held in the dwelling-houses of the Philbrooks, James Springer, Isaiah Crooker, and Joseph Berry at Mill Cove. The organization of this parish was for municipal purposes only; it still comprising a part of the town of Georgetown, with a voice in its public affairs, until the parish became an incorporated town in 1781. In the second parish tax of personal property were twenty cows; hence it was called the "twenty cow parish." The cows corresponded with the number of families. At that date the parish took in West Bath, where in fact lived the larger portion of its inhabitants; on the New Meadows the greater business was pursued in building vessels and running mills.
Revolutionary Era. - When this country became agitated over the persistent acts of British oppression, the people of old George- town promptly arrayed themselves solidly on the side of resistance, and mantained their patriotism throughout the long contest that followed. There was not a known tory in all the town. When the authorities of the state issued a call to all the towns within its jurisdiction to respond to the aggressive step that had been taken, the citizens of the town enthusiastically adopted the patriotic senti- ments that had been boldly avowed by the authorities at Boston.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
At a town meeting, March 16, 1773, Samuel McCobb, John Stinson, William Swanton, Dummer Sewall, and Thomas Moulton were appointed a committee to take into consideration a letter of correspondence from the town of Boston and prepare an answer to the same. Attest Samuel McCobb, Town Clerk. The answer was:
We have considered the rights of the colonies with the list of infringements and violations of those rights as exhibited to us by you. We think the rights of the colonies justly stated, and the violations and infringements really alarming and bode the most shaking consequences to ourselves and posterity. It is but a few years since we have felt the effects of the most inhuman cruelty from the savage natives of this country. We have had many of our friends and relatives cruelly slain by them. The idea is shock- ing, but of losing our freedom and becoming slaves is much more so. We are situated on the banks of the river Sagadahock, where some of our forefathers who left their native country for the sake of their liberty first landed, many of whom fell a sacrifice to savage barbarity rather than endure oppression; their graves are with us and we would by no means affront their relics by a tame submission to oppression and slavery. We are embarked on the same bottom with you and are proportionably concerned in the event, and are, therefore, willing to join with you and the other towns in this Province in adopting such measures as shall be most proper for our peaceably having and enjoying our invaluable rights and privileges. THE COMMITTEE.
GEORGETOWN, March 16, 1773.
It was voted that the thanks of this town be returned to the town of Boston for their vigilant care of the public rights and liberties, and that the aforesaid committee transmit a copy of their letter, which is agreeable to the minds of this town, to the commit- tee of correspondence for the town of Boston, and that the same be recorded in the records of this town.
1774, December 6, William Butler and John White were appointed a committee to examine into the town stock of ammunition and make return of their doings at the next annual meeting.
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HISTORY OF BATH.
In 1775, John Wood, Philip Higgins, Theophilus Batchelder, Elijah Drummond, Samuel McCobb, Jordan Parker, John Stinson were appointed a committee to see that the resolves of the Continental Congress be complied with. [ This was in relation to resistance to the " Force Act" of the English parliament.]
At the same meeting it was voted "That the inhabitants of Georgetown have leave to join with Brunswick in building a bridge over Stephens River somewhere against Dr. Duncan's land."
As town clerk, Samuel McCobb certified to the call for the annual town meeting of March, 1775, and did not make record in the town book of the proceedings of that meeting until August 2, 1775. In the interum he had been to the Provincial Congress as a delegate and at the battle of Bunker Hill; and was at home in August raising men to join Arnold's expedition in September. He was not town clerk again, as he was in the military service during the entire Revolutionary war. Dummer Sewall was moderator of the March town meeting of 1775, which was prior to his entering the public service, civil and military; yet during the war both he and Samuel McCobb appear on record as taking part in town meetings at times during the war, especially as selectmen and in war measures.
In 1776, James McCobb, John Stinson, and John Wood were chosen in March a committee of correspondence in connection with war measures; and on July 8th, same year, James McCobb, William Butler, Samuel McCobb, Philip Higgins, and Benjamin Lemont were appointed "a committee of safety, inspection, and correspond- ence."
Some of the earlier town meetings had been called in the name of His Majesty, but in November, 1776, one was called in the name of the United States of America; in subsequent years of the State of Massachusetts Bay.
In 1776 and 1777 there was provision made for a town stock of ammunition, which was distributed by localities: "Thirty-three pounds of powder and thirty-three ditto of ball be left with John Wood, and thirty-three pounds of powder and thirty-three ditto of ball be left with James Lemont at Long Reach; forty-four pounds
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John Patten
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HISTORY OF BATH.
of powder and forty-four ditto of ball be left with William Butler; forty-four pounds of powder and forty-four ditto of ball be left with David Oliver; and forty-four pounds of powder and forty-four ditto of ball be left with James McCobb, and the flints be divided according to the above proportion. Money was hired to pay for the same."
"John Stinson and Samuel McCobb are the persons appointed to fetch the said powder, balls, and flints from Samuel Nichols, to pay him for the same, and deliver them to William Butler."
"James McCobb, Benjamin Lemont, William Butler, Samuel McCobb, and Dummer Sewall were chosen a committee of inspec- tion, safety, and correspondence."
Nathaniel Wyman was authorized to "recall the money he borrowed for ammunition, and return the same to those he hired of."
"The town of Georgetown allow the selectmen to give Colonel Samuel McCobb an order on the town treasurer for the sum of nine pounds, five shillings, for travel and attendance twenty days to represent the town at the Provincial Congress held at Watertown in May and June, 1775."
At the same meeting there was a vote on "the form of constitu- tion, forty-five voters present. After having read distinctly and then by paragraphs, debated on every article, unanimously rejected " four articles, one of which was for the reason that "a man being born in Africa, India, or ancient America, or even being much sunburnt, deprived him of having a vote for representative "; and another was because "a foundation is laid for persecution, and the rights of conscience destroyed"; other objections were the inequaliy in voting for choice of senators, and of "civil and field officers not being nominated by the corporations in which they are to serve."
The men that went to Fish Kill and staid their time out were allowed the rebate of "their poll taxes for the last three years." [These men went as soldiers.]
1780, May 23. "Voted that the town is willing that the second parish in Georgetown, which is now a part of said town, may be
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HISTORY OF BATH.
set off into a separate town by itself, said second parish being bounded southerly on Winnegance Creek, and from said creek by the carrying place as said path goes to Casco Bay."
June 13. On a vote on the adoption of "the new form of a constitution proposed by the honorable convention of this state," it was "voted unanimously that the frame of government in general be established, and that the word Protestant be in the stead of Christian in the specification, for the same reasons made use of in the address; against any man of the Popish religion holding any office; that the Protestant churches be instead of Congregational churches, for the reasons that are mentioned in the Bill of Rights; that no subordination of any one sect or denomination to another."
September 4, the votes for Governor were twenty-four for John Hancock, and twenty-two for James Warren for Lieutenant Gov- ernor; for Senator, James McCobb, eight votes, Nathaniel Thwing, six votes, William Lithgow, one vote.
November 29. "Voted that Capt. Jordan Parker be agent for the town to purchase eight thousand, seven hundred and fifty pound weight of beef for the use of the state on account of said town."
"That the town treasurer be empowered to hire the sum of eleven thousand pounds for the use of the town."
1781, March 13. "Voted that the town of Bath be allowed to raise their quota of men that the whole town of Georgetown was, by the order of the General Court, to raise in said Georgetown."
April 2. "Voted that the sum of fourteen thousand pounds be assessed upon the polls and estates of the inhabitants of the towns of Georgetown and Bath to pay the debts contracted by them when one town."
August 13. "Voted that the assessors of Georgetown shall call on one of the assessors of Bath town to assist in making rates to supply the clothing for the Continental army."
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HISTORY OF BATH.
TOWN OFFICERS.
Moderators. - Samuel Denny, from the organization of the town in 1738 to 1771 (the year before his death), presided at annual and special meetings excepting at one meeting each; James McCobb, William Lithgow, James Farnham, Dummer Sewall, six times; Jona- than Philbrook, Thomas Stinson, once each at special meetings; also John White, Daniel McFadden, William Butler, William Lithgow, Jr. After Samuel Denny's time, James McCobb many times; Francis Wyman, William Lithgow, Jr., Jordan Parker, several times; William Lee, Lewis Thorp, Greenleaf Snow, Mark L. Hill, many times; Andrew Reed, Benjamin Riggs, Gideon Snow, James N. Lithgow.
Town Clerks. - Samuel Denny, from 1738 to 1771; Thomas Moulton, 1772; Samuel McCobb, 1773 to 1775; Jordan Parker, 1776 to 1777; William Butler, 1778 to 1789; William Lee, Jr., 1790 to 1791; Denny McCobb, 1792 to 1805; John Pattee, 1806 to 1811; Nathaniel S. Todd, John Hinkley, William G. Emmons, William Lithgow, Jr.
Town Treasurers. - Samuel Denny, 1738 to 1772; William Lithgow, 1772 to 1777; Samuel McCobb, 1778 to 1779; William Butler, 1780 to 1787; Nathaniel Wyman, 1788; John White, 1789 to 1792; William Lee, Jr., 1794; William Lee, 1795 to 1806; Benja- min Riggs, 1807 to 1808; William Butler, 1809 to 1811.
Selectmen and other Important Offices held by : James McCobb, Dummer Sewall, Thomas Moulton, William Lithgow, David Trufant, Henry Sewall, Samuel McCobb, John Rogers, John Parker, Jacob Parker, Joshua Coombs, Isaiah Crooker, Joseph Berry, William Swanton, Jr., Jonathan Philbrook, John Stinson, William Butler, Thomas Percy, John Lemont, Daniel Morse, William Lee, Francis Winter, Alexander Drummond, Francis Wyman, Mark
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HISTORY OF BATH.
L. Hill, Andrew Reed, Benjamin Emmons, Benjamin Riggs, John Lee, Michael Fisher, Gordon Snipe, Noah Webber, Andrew Whitmore, James Lemont, Charles Couillard, Elisha Shaw, Joseph Bowker, William Swanton, Theophilus Batchelder, John White, Thomas Williams, John Hinkley, Nathaniel Wyman, John Fisher, Seth Tarr, Jonathan Preble, Joseph Preble, Philip Higgins, Charles Snype, Benjamin Pattee, Timothy Batchelder, John Carleton, Alexander Nichols, Solomon Page, Hugh Rogers, David Ring, John Kelley, Patrick Drummond, Daniel McFadden, Michael Malcom, Samuel Hinkley, George Rogers, David Gilmore, Benjamin Ring, Edward Pettengill, James Springer, William Campbell, Benjamin Lemont, Hosea Morrison, Lawrence Humphreys, Francis Wyman, Jr., John Parker, Jr., Nathaniel Sprague, Elijah Drummond, James Drummond, Jordan Parker, Benjamin Brown, Arthur Percy, Robin Hood, Ebenezer Holbrook, Moses Hodgkins, Samuel Harnden, James Savage, Samuel Brown, Thomas Motherwell, Edmund Hinkley, William Lee, Jr., John Watts, William Stinson, Alexander Clary, Alexander Drummond, Jr., Parker McCobb, Robert P. Manson, Jonathan Morse, Henry Cutting, Collins Pattee, John Snipe, John Parsons, Levi Leathers, James Riggs, Ezekiel Cushing, Isaiah Wyman, James Bowker, Thomas Lennan, Silas Lee, Jacob Powers, Lazarus Bowker, Daniel Morse.
Samuel Denny was yearly chosen town treasurer from the organi- zation of the town to the year of his death, making out his final account in his own handwriting in the town records when eighty- three years of age.
1794. Andrew Reed excused from acting as constable.
The King's Timber Ships. - An incident in the action the men of Bath took, when Massachusetts sounded the tocsin of war in 1775, goes to show that they were inspired with a double portion of the spirit of patriotism and opposition to the King and Parlia- ment and all their officers and agents. At the parish meeting that was immediately called at their meeting-house at Witch Spring they by acclamation decided to stand by their countrymen in resisting the power of England; and resolved that all his Majesty's officers
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HISTORY OF BATH.
and agents within their reach were enemies and that they would arrest them and send them out of the country. At this time two of the King's ships lay in the river, waiting for cargoes of masts. About forty of his Majesty's carpenters and men were at work hewing and preparing masts and spars for these ships at what was then called the King's dock, afterwards the Petersons dock.
The inhabitants, at this meeting, unanimously voted that the spars and masts should not be carried away. They chose Dummer Sewall a committee of one to wait on the King's agent, with whom he was acquainted, announce to him their determination, and at once put a stop to their further proceedings. Years afterwards Sewall said that this was a trying time to him. The people assured him that they would sustain him, and immediately about fifty of them, armed, proceeded to near the scene of action by a back route, and hid themselves in the thicket on the bank of the dock. The leader went by the highway, "solitary and alone." He said he was perplexed as to what language to use in the discharge of his mission as our independence had not been declared. He still advanced within speaking distance to the agent and men who were all engaged with their axes in hewing. He entertained no fears for his safety, as his sharp-shooters, then within gunshot, were his guaranty. He . stood up on a mast, and at once, with a loud voice, proclaimed to them: " In the name of the people of America, I command you not to strike another blow!" He said they all seemed amazed and dropped their axes and tools and immediately retreated to their ships. He said this gave him great relief, for had they disobeyed his orders or offered any insult or violence to him they would have atoned for it with their lives, as the guns of his men were loaded with powder and ball, and willing and ready to let slip the dogs of war. These citizens having successfully finished this day's work, and that too without the shedding of blood (vide Groton).
Among those who formed a company to drive away the English carpenters were Dummer Sewall, David Trufant, John Lemont, Capt. Wood, Isaiah Crooker, Sen., Joshua Shaw, William Swanton, H. Foster, Joshua Philbrook, Ed. H. Page, Patrick Grace, T. Craw-
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HISTORY OF BATH.
ford, J. Osgood, David Lemont, J. Sergant, John Weeks, Joseph White, J. M. Mitchell, Nathaniel Donnell, S. Turner, Luke Lambert, Sen., Nathaniel Springer, and Joseph Lambert. They were all powerful men.
Arrest of the King's Agent. - The British carpenters, enter- ing their boats, joined their ships that lay at Jones Eddy, which immediately joined the fleet then on the coast under the Mowatt who bombarded and destroyed Falmouth. Mr. Parry, the King's agent, immediately surrendered himself prisoner of war. The committee of safety for the district, at the head of which was Brigadier General Samuel Thompson of Topsham, was immedi- ately notified of these proceedings, and they convened at the tavern of Joseph Lambert for the trial of the prisoner. This house is still in existence and occupied, at the north end of High Street.
Of the five members of the committee no one appeared to doubt their authority to take action on the case. Two of them were in favor of having the prisoner dealt with as a spy, but the majority came to the conclusion to send him to the Provincial Congress then in session at Watertown. He was kept in custody in a room in the tavern a few days, when Luke Lambert, a son of Joseph above named, conducted him to Watertown, where he was ordered to jail. While in custody in Bath, Dummer Sewall and Jordan Parker gave their bond of $10,000 for his good behavior, and when he was removed to Watertown they asked to be released from their respon- sibility on the ground that the Provincial authorities had taken him in charge.
TO THE HONOURABLE CONGRESS NOW SETTING FOR THE PROVINCE OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY.
The petition of Timothy Langdon humbly sheweth: That upon the second day of May instant a committee of safety for ten towns in the County of Lincoln met at Pownalborough, and amongst other matters took under consideration the expediency of removing the King's masts, being in the dock in Georgetown, when it was unani_ mously voted that it was inexpedient to remove them.
That on the fourth day of May instant a meeting of the commit- tee of inspection for a number of towns in the County of Lincoln
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HISTORY OF BATH.
was held in Georgetown, and after duly considering of all matter respecting the King's masts were of opinion that all persons be forbid to work upon said masts, or aid in any manner in fitting them for the King's use. That Edw. Parry, Esq., who had procured those masts more than a year since, had promised the committee that no person should ship those masts for him, but that they should remain in the dock in Georgetown. The committee of inspection were then of opinion that it was inexpedient to remove the masts from the dock.
That while the committee of inspection were met, Col. Samuel Thompson of Brunswick, in the County of Cumberland, appeared with twenty armed men, and when he had heard of the result of the committee he seized on the body of Edw. Parry, Esq., and kept him in custody till he gave bonds in {2,000 to tarry in the town till the pleasure of the Congress shall be known respecting him, and also obliged said Edw. Parry to pay for the victuals and drink of him, the said Thompson, and his men, amounting to the sum of 42s. L.m. That the said Parry has ever behaved himself as a peaceable mem- ber of society, and he declared to the committee that had he have known there was an order of Congress respecting the matter he would not have concerned himself with them. Wherefore your petitioner, at the request of and as clerk to the committee of inspec- tion, humbly prays the Honorable Congress that they would take the matter of fact above stated under consideration, and that orders be sent to Messrs. Dummer Sewall and Jordan Parker, the bonds- men of Parry, that the said Parry may be released from his confinement, and the said Dummer and Jordan released from their bonds, and your petitioner as in duty bound shall ever pray, etc.
TIMO. LANGDON. GEORGETOWN, May 5, 1778.
Parry also petitioned for release. He remained in jail a year, when he was released on exchange and immediately returned to England.
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