USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 12
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 12
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 12
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[1753.] At the annual town meeting in March, 1753, a vote was passed to petition the General Court for power to tax the lands in town belonging to non-resident proprietors, unless they should speedily grant some satisfactory assistance to the inhabitants to enable them " to finish the Meeting house, settle the Minister and defray other publick charges." This vote was reconsidered at the October meeting, and it was then voted to delay action upon it until the following spring. At this October meeting Captain David Dunning was appointed a commissioner, in behalf of the town, to join the other towns in the county in signing a petition to have the county divided.
The town also voted to raise £10, in lawful money, for a supply of ammunition and £20, old tenor, for the relief of Widow Mitchell.
The ratable polls in Brunswick at this time were about eighty.1
[1754.] The town, in 1754, voted to raise £55 for current expenses, " to be paid in lumber landed in Boston on or before September 1st."
At the annual meeting in March, the question of taxing the lands of non-resident proprietors again came up, but the town then voted not to petition the General Court, at that time, for power to assess these lands, on account of the anticipation of a war. In September, however, the town voted that their representative should prefer such a petition to the General Court, and suitable instructions were accord- ingly given, October 1st, to John Minot, Esquire, by a committee con- sisting of Samuel Hinkley, David Dunning, James Thompson, and Samuel Stanwood, who were appointed for that purpose.
Those instructions were, in brief, that he should, with the assistance of an able lawyer, draw up a petition to the General Court, in which it should be stated that the town had undergone much difficulty and its settlement been retarded by reason " of the wars and incursions of the enemy "; that the town had not equal privileges with other towns, which could, sell or grant vacant lands for public uses, whereas those who were settled upon lands derived from proprietors could not do so. For this reason, the petition was to state further that the town prayed " for power to rate the non-resident Proprietors' land for the sum of £200 for the following uses."
1. For finishing the meeting-house.
2. For the settlement of their minister.
3. For establishing a school in the town.
1 Memorandum on cover of Brunswick Records, in Pejepscot Collection.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
4. To help clear and keep good the county road through the proprie- tors' lands ; which, "if it should be insisted upon to make it a complete road would take the bigger part of said money."
The representative was also instructed that in case the proprietors would give security for the payment of £100 for the above-mentioned uses, he was authorized to withdraw his petition.1
[1755.] In 1755 the town passed the following votes : -
To pay John Orr £1, lawful money, "for collecting the Province rate at Topsham for 1752," and to pay William Spear an annual salary of 6s. " for sweeping the meeting-house, locking doors, and taking care of the key."
The town decided not to petition the General Court for the annexa- tion of Topsham this year.
The vote of the town in 1744, in regard to taxing soldiers, seems not to have been fully enforced, as instructions were this year given to the former constables of the town to proceed according to law to collect the taxes which had been assessed upon the officers and soldiers belonging to Fort George. Against this action of the town John Orr, John Smart, James Ellet, Samuel Clark, and Thomas Skolfield entered their dissent and protest.
The selectmen this year sent the following petition to the General Court, applying for military relief : -
"PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY.
" TO HIS EXCELLENCY WILLIAM SHIRLEY ESQ. CAPTAIN GENERAL AND COM- MANDER IN CHIEF OF SAID PROVINCE, THE HONBLE HIS MAJESTYS COUN- CILL, AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN GENERAL COURT ASSEMBLED AUGUST 11TH 1756.
THE MEMORIAL OF THE SELECTMEN OF THE TOWN OF BRUNSWICK
HUMBLY SHEWETH,
" That in Consequence of a Memorial presented to this Court at their Sessions in May last representing the exposed circumstances of said Town by reason of the Enemy, this Hond Court was pleased to order 14 men out of Capt. Samuel Goodwin's Company to scout on the back of the Inhabitants from Fort George to Maquoit untill the further Order of this Court; the Benefitt of which they enjoyed but a very short time, not more than two weeks, when the aforesaid Order was superceeded on the Petition of Thomas Hancock Esq and others and
1 Pejepscot Papers.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
on the 7th July it was ordered by this Court that said 14 men be returned to said Company again by which means the Inhabitants at this Critical Season of their Husbandry are greatly exposed to the Incursions of the Indian enemy. As the former Memorial was in behalf of a Garrison situate near the meeting house on the main road from Maquoit necessary for the entertainment of Expresses, or any other Travellers in time of Warr kept by M. Robert Speer who is greatly advanced in age, and very decrepid, the support of which Garrison would be a kind of Barrier to the Inhabitants, and a great Security to the House of Publick Worship, these & many other rea- sons that might be urged in favour of said Garrison, induced your Memorialists then to apply to this Hond Court for such Relief as should in their Wisdom seem meet.
" And we now again humbly apply ourselves to this Hond Court in behalf of said Town, and the aforesd Garrison that they would be pleased to give such further Direction for their Relief as that they may be enabled to pursue their Husbandry without that Danger to which . they might otherwise be exposed.
" And your Memorialists as in Duty bound Shall ever pray &c.1 " THOMAS SKOLFIELD, ) Selectmen of SAM'L STANWOOD, S Brunswick."
[1757.] In February, 1757, John Getchell and Captain David Dunning were appointed commissioners " to represent to the Colonel of this Regiment the difficult circumstances of this town, and to try for an abatement of the men he has sent for." This regiment was Colonel Ezekiel Cushing's at Falmouth.2
The first set of weights and measures for sealing purposes was pur- chased this year.
The number of polls in Brunswick at this time was ninety-two, and in the adjacent region it was eighty-one, of which number thirty-two were in that portion of Harpswell included within the boundary lines of North Yarmouth and Brunswick, and forty-nine were in Topsham.3
[1758.] This year the selectmen were instructed by the town " to acquaint the Honorable Board for levelling the province tax, concern- ing the adjacents that are taken of us." Harpswell was this year incorporated as a distinct town.
[1760.] In compliance with an order of the General Court, a com- mittee was chosen by the town, in 1760, to communicate to the session
1 Pejepscot Papers. . 2 Massachusetts Records, Vol. 21.
8 l'ejepscot Papers.
119
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
of the legislature to be held in Boston, on the first Tuesday of May, 1761, their desire that Brunswick might be comprehended in the new county of which it was desired that Falmouth might be the shire town. The various petitions sent in had the desired effect, and on June 19th, of this year, the county of York was divided into three counties, the most western one retaining the name of York, and the other two being named Cumberland and Lincoln, of which the latter was the most eastern. The dividing line between these two last commenced at the mouth of the New Meadows River, extended up that river to Stevens's Carrying-Place at its head, thence to and upon Merry- meeting Bay, and up the Androscoggin thirty miles. Owing to this division. Topsham came into Lincoln County.
It was voted this year that hereafter the eastern and western por- tions of the town .. repair their own roads, and that the eastern end of the great pitch pine plains be the partition between each end of the town." Three shillings per day was allowed for men, and two shillings for each yoke of oxen employed upon the roads. £26 13s. 4d. was raised this year for the schoolmaster, and £45 for a town stock of ammunition.
[1761.] John Minot was requested by the town this year to urge upon the General Court the propriety of taxing the lands of non-resi- dents, but he was unable to accomplish anything, because, as he says in a letter to " Gentlemen and neighbors," dated May 22, " upon the Carpet there was nothing but the Bloody Sword drawn forth by our bitter enemys & no man living then could give any judgment where or how things would end."1
The petition of the selectmen in 1760, desiring the General Court to include Brunswick in the new county to be established, was consid- ered in council, June 16, and dismissed, it appearing that the whole town was already in the county of Cumberland.2
[1762.] A petition from a number of the residents at New Meadows, for separation from the western part of Brunswick, was this year presented to the General Court, and the following letter was sent to the proprietors : -
" BOSTON, May yo 14th, 1762
" GENTLEMEN
" I with a number of the Inhabitance of Brunswick Have Pettitioned the Court to have that Part of said town Called New Meadows, made
1 Pejepscot Papers. 2 Ibid.
120
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
into a seperate Distrect -for we find by Longe expereance that it is Imposable for us to Injoy the preaching of the Gosple while togather -- We likewise want to be Joyned to the Lower County as we can then attend Court with Greater ease and less Charge - as we have had our Lands from you, gentlemen, and as I Have endevored to serve the Intrest of your Company so far as it was in my power ; and am ready still to do so - and tho' it was but Lettel I Could or Can do to serve you - yet Gentlemen I have some reason to Hope that you will look on my Honest Intentions to serve you to be equal to the thing, shall therefore request of you Gentlemen who have a Seat in the general Court to use your Intrest in favor of said Pettition, and you Gentlemen that Have no Seat in that Honourable House, I must also beg of you not to say anything to its predigue. In the mean while Gentlemen I remain
" Your most obedient Humble Servant
" AARON HINKLEY, 1
" TO BELCHER NOYES ESQ.
Clerk of the Pejepscot Company to be communicated "
[1763.] The town in 1763 again voted to petition the General Court to have the lands of non-resident proprietors taxed, and also that this petition should be signed by the selectmen and town clerk, and that some gentleman in Boston should be employed to present it and to speak in behalf of the town. It was also voted to set off and sell thirteen pews on the floor, and sixteen pews in the gallery, of the west meeting-house, " the oldest inhabitants that have no pews to have the preference in buying said pews," and the proceeds of the sale to go towards defraying the expenses of repairing and finishing the meeting-house.
[1766.] January 13, 1766, John Miller, his wife Jane, and his daughter Margret, and their families, were warned to leave town, in accordance with law, to prevent the possibility of their coming upon the town for assistance. Since this was, doubtless, the Reverend Mr. Miller who was settled three or four years before over the First Parish, it shows that the town paid no respect to persons in this matter, but served all alike who had no visible pecuniary means of support. This law was enforced here as late as 1792.
[1767.] The town this year voted to pay Mr. Hunt three dollars for building a new pair of stocks. This is the first mention made of dollars in the town records.
1 Pejepscot Papers.
121
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
The town also voted sixteen shillings per year for a sexton for the west meeting-house, and two dollars per year for one for the east meeting-house.
[1768.] At a meeting held September 22d, Aaron Hinkley was elected a delegate from Brunswick "to join the committee at Boston in order to consult and advise such measures as should be thought best for the peace and safety of his Majesty's subjects in this Province," and Thomas Skolfield, Isaac Snow, Captain Dunning, Samuel Thompson, and William Woodside, Jr., were appointed a committee to furnish him with instructions. By the term " committee" in the above extract from the records must be meant the Provincial Convention of delegates, which commenced its session that very day at Boston, in place of the General Court, which the governor had refused to convene without the consent of his Majesty, the king. The invitation to send a delegate from Brunswick was not received until two days before the convention met. 1
[1771.] In 1771 Aaron Hinkley, Isaac Snow, and Thomas Skol- field were chosen a committee "to answer the petition that the select- men of Topsham put into the General Court in May last." This peti- tion was to have the boundary line between the two towns so defined as to give the islands in the river to Topsham.
[1774.] The selectmen were instructed, in 1774, to lay out the 1,000 acres of Commons, and have a plan made of the same, in order that a deed of it could be obtained from the proprietors.
It was voted, at the annual meeting, to again petition the General Court for power to tax land belonging to non-residents.
At a meeting held Angust 3d, " the town took under consideration the difficulties of the Province, and unanimously agreed to the non- importing of English goods, until the matter in dispute between Great Britain and her colonies be reconciled."
The selectmen were directed to ascertain the quantity of ammuni- tion the town had in stock, and to purchase, if necessary, a new sup- ply. The port of Boston having been closed by Act of Parliament on account of the seizure of the tea, it was thought best to assist that town by subscription.
At a meeting held on the seventeenth of September, Captain Moul- ton, Samuel Stanwood, and Samuel Thompson were chosen a commit . tee " to meet the Falmouth committee that are to meet at Falmouth, on Wednesday, the twenty-first day of September, instant, to consider
1 McKeen, Manuscript Lecture.
122
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
what measures will be best to adopt for the good of the country and town."
At a meeting of the town held on the seventeenth of November, the proceedings of the Continental Congress and of the Provincial Con- gress were read. The Provincial Congress had passed a resolution which was, in substance, that the inhabitants of the Province should immediately provide themselves with arms and ammunition, and should use their utmost diligence to perfect themselves in military skill ; and if any town was not provided with a full stock of ammunition, according to law, that the selectmen of such town should take effectual care without delay to provide the same.1 The Provincial Congress also appointed Henry Gardner, Esquire, of Stow, receiver-general of all moneys for the use of the Province.2
The town, accordingly, adopted a resolution, " that it be our opinion that it is very proper to choose Militia officers in this town forthwith and act agreeably to the directions in the Provincial Congress." An election of militia officers then took place ; Samuel Thompson being chosen captain, Robert Dunning, lieutenant, Thomas Thompson, ensign, and Stephen Getchell, clerk. A resolution was also adopted, " That the money voted in May last by our representatives be paid in to Henry Gardner, Esq., of Stow .. and that, if any other or former collectors have any Province money in their hands that they pay the same to the said Henry Gardner, Esq."
Brunswick was represented in the Provincial Congress by Samuel Thompson.
The Continental Congress at Philadelphia, on the twentieth of Octo- ber, entered into an association or agreement, providing for the non- importation of goods, wares, or merchandise from Great Britain, Ireland, or other of the British possessions ; also, providing for the non-consumption of such articles, and for the non-exportation of home products. There were also articles abolishing the slave-trade ; pro- viding for improvement in the breed of sheep, and to prevent their being killed, unnecessarily, for food ; encouraging frugality, economy, and industry, and looking to the promotion of agriculture, the arts, and manufactures in this country, and discountenancing every species of extravagance ; guarding against extortion on the part of traders on account of the scarcity of goods, etc. The eleventh article, to which allusion is made below, was, in substance, that a committee should be chosen in every town to observe the conduct of all persons, and when
1 American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. 1, p. 852.
2 Ibid , p. 851.
123
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
the committee were satisfied that any person had violated the provis- ions of the agreement, the truth should be published in the Gazette, " to the end that all such foes to the rights of British Americans may be publicly known & universally contemned, as the enemies of Amer- ican Liberty : and thenceforth we will break off all dealings with him or her." 1 These proceedings having been read in full to the meeting, the town resolved, " that the proceedings of the Grand Congress be adopted and much applauded by this town, quite unanimous," and Tobias Ham, Nathaniel Larrabee, James Curtis, Samuel Stanwood, Ebenezer Stanwood, and Thomas Thompson were elected "a com- mittee to see to the due observance of the eleventh article in the pro- ceedings of the Grand Congress."
There is on file a warrant of this year, in his Majesty's name, call- ing the voters to choose a representative to the legislature at Salem, but no meeting was held, as the citizens no longer recognized the royal authority.2
[1775.] At a meeting of the town held January 10, 1775, the pro- ceedings of the Provincial Congress, at Concord, in December, were unanimously approved, with the exception of the article relating to "storing the goods after the tenth of October next," in regard to which article the vote was seventy-nine yeas and twelve nays.
A vote was also passed " that if a Number out of the several com- panies of militia should list as minute men," then each town ought " to make them such reasonable satisfaction as shall be thought proper by the town where they belong " Samuel Thompson, who was now a colonel, was elected as delegate to the Provincial Congress.
At a meeting held March 9, Benjamin Stone, Nathaniel Larrabee, James Curtis, Deacon Stanwood, and Aaron Hinkley, Esquire, were elected " a Committee of safety to consult what they shall think best at this crisis and make report at the adjournment of this meeting."
At a meeting held six days later, in the west meeting-house, the town voted " to pay Henry Gardner Esq. all the Province Money in the hands of the collectors of the town, agreeable to the advice of our Congress."
At a meeting held April 27, Aaron Hinkley, Deacon Samuel Stan- wood, Benjamin Stone, Captain Curtis, and Captain William Stanwood, Jr., were chosen a Committee of Correspondence and also a Committee of Supplies, to provide ammunition and whatever else was thought necessary for the safety of the town.
1 American Archives, Fourth Series, Vol. 1, p. 915.
2 Pejepscot Papers.
124
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
At a subsequent meeting, Reverend John Miller, Benjamin Rideout, Gideon Owens, Joseph Melcher, Joseph Allen, Colonel Samuel Thom- son, David Brown, George Hayden, Benjamin Hinkley, and Ben- jamin Larrabee were added to " the Committee of Inspection," as the Committee of Safety was also designated. Samuel Thompson was elected delegate to the Provincial Congress, from Brunswick and Harpswell, and he was to serve for one year after the last Wednesday in the following May. The selectmen were instructed to inform the Committee on Supplies why the town did not comply with their request in regard to coats, etc., for the army.
At a meeting held on the fourth Tuesday in May, it was voted that the powder and flints provided by the town should be equally divided to each man in town, and the town was to pay the cost of procuring the powder ; and " if the men who enlist under Captain Curtis should be called away, for them to carry their ammunition with them." A patrol was established this year, under the direction of the officers of the militia.
In consequence of the public distress and the grievousness of the taxes, Reverend Mr. Miller and Mr. John Farren, the schoolmaster, voluntarily gave up a portion of their salaries, and Thomas Skolfield and Nathaniel Larrabee, two of the selectmen, served the town in that capacity gratuitously.
[1776.] At the annual meeting in March, 1776, James Curtis, Samuel Stanwood, Thomas Thompson, Andrew Dunning, and Nathan- iel Larrabee were chosen a Committee " of Correspondence, Inspec- tion and Safety."
At a subsequent meeting, held May 27, it was voted " to send a petition to the Great and General Court," and the selectmen, together with the Committee of Correspondence and Samuel Thompson, now a brigadier-general, Thomas Skolfield, and Thomas Cotton, were elected a committee to draft the petition. What the object of this petition was has not been ascertained. Deacon Samuel Stanwood was chosen a commissioner to present this petition at the General Court.
A meeting was held May 31st at which " It was unanimously voted that if the Honourable Congress should, for the safety of the United Colonies, Declare themselves Independent of the King of Great Bri- tain, that they will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support the Congress in that measure." The selectmen were in- structed to deliver the powder that was brought by Brigadier Thomp- son to the captains of the militia, for them to deliver to the men, when necessary. Brigadier Thompson received fifty, and Deacon Samuel
125
MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
Stanwood thirty-nine votes for representative to the General Court, and the town then voted to send them both, - they agreeing to serve for half-fees.
At a meeting held December 24th, " after due consideration on a Resolve of the Great and General Court of this State, dated Septem- ber 17, 1776," it was voted, " That the present House of Repre- sentatives of this State, with the Council, should consult and agree on some form of Government that shall most conduce to the safety, peace, and happiness of this State in all after generations."
Brigadier Samuel Thompson was chosen to represent the wishes of the town at the General Court, agreeably to the above-mentioned resolve.
[1777.] At a special town meeting, held in February, 1777, Deacon Snow and Captain Robert Dunning were elected to fill the places of Deacon Stanwood and Captain Curtis, and at the annual meeting, March 4, Major Nathaniel Larrabee, Doctor Samuel Dunken, Captain Robert Dunning, Robert Spear, and Andrew Dunning were chosen a Committee of Correspondence, etc.
At a meeting held May 22, Thomas Skolfield was elected a recog- nizee. i. e., an officer empowered to take recognizances. The select- men were instructed to execute the law " concerning monopoly and oppression." Notwithstanding the exciting and trying circumstances connected with the war of Revolution then going on, the citizens were not unmindful of the interests of education, for the town voted to have a school this year and to pay a schoolmaster £30. A committee was at this time appointed to procure a teacher.
At a meeting held on the twenty-seventh day of November, in pur- suance of an Act of the General Court, entitled " An Act for supplying the Families of the Soldiers in the Continental Service," the town voted to supply the families of the men thus engaged, agreeably to the afore- said resolve. For this purpose, £20 were voted and Benjamin Stone, Samuel Stanwood, James Curtis, Nathaniel Larrabee, and Robert Dunning were elected a committee to attend to its disbursement.
[1778.] At the annual meeting of the town in March, 1778, it was voted to allow Mr. Josiah Simpson eight pounds and four shillings for his service in carrying the baggage of twenty-two men from Bruns- wick to Boston the previous year. It was also voted " to supply the wives of those men that went for this town into the Continental army, by way of subscription, - they to be allowed the market price for sd articles that they shall find for sd use." Lieutenant Thomas Berry, Nicholas Rideout, Captain Robert Dunning, John Dunning, and
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
William Woodside were elected as Committee of Correspondence, etc.
The proprietors made an agreement with Aaron Hinkley for him to survey the town Commons. This he had done, but the survey differed so much from the plan made by James Scales, " and the inhabitants made so much uneasiness about it," that it was laid one side, and the Scales plan was accepted. The proprietors complain, however, of the neglect of the selectmen in the matter.1 This explains why, at a subsequent meeting, held May 12, the town voted to have the Commons surveyed, but laid upon the table till the next meeting the clause in the warrant relative to applying to the proprietors for a deed. At this meeting, Aaron Hinkley, William Stanwood, and Andrew Dunning were chosen to consult as to the best method for supporting the fami- lies of soldiers.
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