USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 20
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 20
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 20
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" That a war so forced upon us' we can neither approve nor volunta- rily support ; that we cannot consent to forego the abundant and hon- orable returns of legitimate commerce for the scanty and disgraceful plunder of legalized piracy ; we cannot freely exchange the cheering scenes of domestic peace for the chilling horrors of the 'bloody arena.' Indeed we are unwilling wantonly to put to hazard the noblest gifts of God to man, - our liberty and independence, - to assist even our loving friend Napoleon in his aim to destroy the remnant of liberty in Europe, that he may the more easily bring within his iron grasp the
1 Madison.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
' ships, colonies, and commerce of the world.' In short, this war we must reprobate and abhor chiefly because it tends to draw us into a close connection, into a fatal alliance with this tyrant of nations, the enemy of the human race, whose tender mercies are cruel, whose friendship is slavery and death.
." Resolved, That, undismayed at the gloomy and threatning aspect of our public affairs, we will not despair of the safety of our confed- erated Republic, trusting that the discerning, enlightened, and resolute spirit of a free people, not to be shaken by the ruffian assaults of faction, not to be sednced by the insidious arts of tyranny, will speed- ily arise in vindication of their honor and in defence of their rights, and make manifest to the world that their confidence cannot be betrayed nor their interests sacrificed with impunity."
[1814.] In 1814 it was voted to accept the offer of the Court House, for the purpose of holding town meetings, on the terms named by the Court of Sessions.
[1816.] At a meeting held May 20, 1816, the town voted strongly against a separation of the District of Maine from Massachusetts, and the representative from Topsham was instructed to use all means in his power to prevent such separation.
At a meeting held September 16, Benjamin Hasey was elected dele- gate to the convention to be held the latter part of the month in Brunswick.
At a meeting held November 4, the memorial strongly opposing separation, which was adopted by the convention at Brunswick on the last Monday in September, relative to the separation of the District of Maine from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, was read, and it was then voted that the same should be signed by the selectmen and town clerk, and by them be presented in behalf of the inhabitants of the town of Topsham to the honorable General Court.
[1818.] At the annual meeting in 1818, Messrs. Abel Merrill, Thomas G. Sandford, and Captain Nathaniel Walker were chosen a committee to adopt measures for the maintenance of paupers. They reported at the May meeting in favor of the town poor being collected together and provided for by some one individual.
[1819.] At a meeting held July 6th, 1819, the town again, and for the last time, voted in favor of a separation of the District from the Commonwealth. This was the fourth time that the town had voted in favor of a separation, never having voted against it but once. September 20th, Mr. Nathaniel Greene was elected delegate to the convention to be held at Portland in October, for the purpose of
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
framing a constitution for the new State. On December 6th, the town voted unanimously in favor of the Constitution framed at that convention.
UNDER STATE OF MAINE.
[1820.] The annual town meeting this year was held April 3d. This was the first meeting of the town after the admission to the Union of the State of Maine. At this meeting Mr. Pelatiah Haley declined any longer service as a selectman, and the thanks of the town were ten- dered him " for the ability and punctuality displayed in his service in that capacity for many years past."
At a meeting held in May following, the representative to the legislature was instructed to advocate a petition in favor of a new county.
[1821.] In 1821 the selectmen were instructed to provide a hearse for the use of the town.
[1822.] The vote for county officers was this year thrown out by the Court, on account of unlawful proceedings at the town meeting.
[1824.] In 1824 the selectmen were instructed to pay each sol- dier belonging to Topsham, who was entitled to receive rations, agreeably to a late law, twenty cents in cash. This was to enable the soldiers to buy their dinner on muster days. They were also instructed to employ a physician to vaccinate the town. The town this year voted to purchase the farm occupied by Aaron Thompson, " for the use of the town," paying for the same three hundred dollars in three annual payments. Probably the vote never went into effect.
The following by-laws were adopted by the town and approved by the Court of General Sessions this year : -
" 1. Sliding down hill in winter on sleds or boards, in any of the public streets, prohibited under a penalty of twenty-five cents for each offence.
" 2. Playing with, or knocking, a ball in the streets, within three fourths of a mile from the toll-bridge, prohibited, under a fine of twenty-five cents.
"3. Smoking a pipe or cigar on the streets prohibited under a fine of twenty-five cents for each offence.
" Carrying fire through the streets strictly prohibited, under a penalty of one dollar, unless it was properly secured in some metallic case or pan."
[1825.] At a meeting of the town, held in September, 1825, it voted to accept the land on Great Island, purchased by the selectmen for
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
the use and benefit of the town, at the price of one hundred and twenty-five dollars. This land was for the erection of a building in which to confine an insane person.
At a meeting held in December following, the représentative to the legislature was instructed "to oppose the petition of George Jewett and one other," unless the whole expense occasioned by its being granted should be imposed upon the county. It is probable that this petition was for a bridge across the Cathance River, at the eastern part of the town. Persons now living recollect that there was, about this time, considerable discussion in regard to this bridge, and no one has any knowledge of any other purpose for which a petition was likely to be presented at this time.
[1829.] This year the selectmen were instructed to petition the legislature for a new county.
[1832.] In 1832 the representative to the legislature was instructed to confer with the representatives of other towns on the subject of a modification of the militia law, so as to dispense with all trainings except the annual inspection in September, and such other meetings of companies as might be deemed necessary for the proper organiza- tion of the militia, and to request their co-operation.
[1833.] The selectmen were again instructed by the town, in 1833, to petition the legislature for a new county. They were also author- ized to defend the town against any suit brought by the Maine Stage Company to recover damages for the upsetting of one of their carriages near James Purinton's tannery, in Topsham, on the evening of the 12th of January, 1833, or were authorized to settle the matter with the company, if judged expedient.
[1837.] The town, at its annual meeting in 1837, voted to receive its proportion of the surplus revenue deposited with the State of Maine by the United States government, and to deposit this money in Androscoggin Bank, provided the bank would allow interest at five per cent per annum, the interest to be paid annually to the town treasurer. Mr. John Coburn was appointed an agent to receive and receipt for the money in the name of the town. The September meet- ing was held in the Freewill Baptist vestry, near the brick school- house. At this meeting the selectmen and treasurer were appointed a committee to consider the subject of building a town-house.
The town also voted that the surplus revenue money should be put at interest and the interest divided among the school districts. This vote was, however, reconsidered the next year [1838], and the town voted to divide it per capita amongst the inhabitants, and Gardner
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
Green was chosen agent to collect and distribute it. The money hav- ing already been loaned to individuals, the agent was authorized to borrow the same amount and distribute it per capita, as directed for the surplus revenue money. Messrs. Charles Thompson, Joshua Has- kell, and William Frost protested against this action of the town as illegal, and gave notice that they would severally hold all persons, and particularly the agent, responsible, who should be instrumental in carrying the vote into effect.
[1841.] In 1841 the town voted in favor of the proposed consti- tutional amendments, in regard to the election of State officers, but voted against any increase of the number of representatives.
[1842.] In the year 1842 the town was classed, for election of rep- resentative, with the town of Bowdoin. Previous to this date it had elected its own representative.
[1843.] At a meeting, held February 6, in accordance with an Act of the legislature to see if the town would consent to the annexation of a part of Bowdoin, agrecably to a petition of sixty-three of the inhabitants of Bowdoin, the town chose Abel Merrill and Nathaniel Walker a committee to remonstrate against and oppose the proposed annexation. At the annual meeting in April, the selectmen were authorized to appoint one or more persons to sell ardent spirits for medicinal and mechanical purposes, and were instructed to prosecute all who were guilty of a violation of the law in regard to such sales. At a meeting held in September following, the selectmen were instructed to petition the legislature for a separate representation of the town.
[1846.] The following by-law was adopted by the town in 1846 : " Any person sliding in the streets or highway in the town of Tops- ham, within three fourths of a mile from the Androscoggin toll-bridge, upon a sled, board, or any other vehicle or thing ; or who shall skate in said streets or highways, as aforesaid; or shall knock, throw, or play at ball, in said streets or highways, as aforesaid ; or be accessory thereto ; shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five dollars for each and every offence so committed, together with costs, to be recovered on a complaint before a justice of the peace.
[1847.] In 1847 the town voted in favor of amendments to the Constitution providing that State officers should be elected by a plu- rality instead of a majority vote, and also in regard to the State loan- ing its credit.
[1850.] At a meeting held September 9, the town voted against an amendment to the Constitution providing for a change of the meet- ing of the legislature from May to January.
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MUNICIPAL HISTORY OF TOPSHAM.
[1853.] At a special town meeting, held February 28, 1853, the representative was instructed to use his greatest exertions to prevent any change in the territory of the county of Lincoln, and the senator from the district was requested to co-operate with him. At the annual meeting the article in the warrant, to see if the town would choose an agent to sell liquors for medicinal and mechanical purposes, was dismissed. This was, of course, a total prohibition of the sale of intoxicating liquors for any purpose.
[1854.] In October, 1854, the town was called upon to express by vote its preference of a town to be the shire town of the new county of Sagadahoc, which was incorporated on the fourth day of April pre- vious. The vote stood :
In favor of Topsham for shire town, one hundred and fifty-one. Of Bath, five.
[1855.] The town voted, in 1855, almost unanimously, against amendments to the Constitution of the State which provided that judges of probate, registers of probate, sheriffs, and municipal and police judges should be chosen by the people ; and also providing that the land agent, attorney general, and adjutant general should be chosen by the legislature. The representative was chosen this year from the town of Lisbon, Topsham and Lisbon being classed together.
[1858.] In June, 1858, the town voted unanimously in favor of a Prohibitory Liquor Law.
[1859.] At the annual meeting in 1859, the selectmen were author- ized to hire out to suitable persons such town paupers as might be able to perform labor, and also to bind out the children of such per- sons to suitable individuals, who should be required to give bonds for the faithful discharge of their trust. They were also authorized to provide a suitable building or buildings, in which to take care of the aged and of all others unable to do anything for their own support, and to employ some judicious person to take care of them under the general supervision of the overseers of the poor.
At a meeting held in June the town voted to exempt from taxation for ten years all capital which might be invested in manufactures in the town. The town also voted, at this meeting, against "an Act to aid the Aroostook Railroad Company, increase the value and pro- mote the sale and settlement of the public lands."
[1860.] The town concluded in 1860 to make a different provi- sion for its poor, and accordingly, at the annual meeting, it was voted that the selectmen and overseers of the poor be authorized to pur- chase a farin and to stock the same by hiring or purchasing stock, as
,
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
they deemed most expedient. The town's poor were to be kept upon the farm and a superintendent was to be chosen who should be under the direction and control of the overseers. The selectmen were also authorized to hire money for the purchase of the farm, and to give notes payable in ten years in equal annual instalments.
The sum of $2,200 was raised this year for the support of the poor, and $1,250 for schools.
[1861.] At the annual meeting in 1861, the town expressed its choice of the candidates for the office of POSTMASTER, and Robert P. Whitney received a majority of the votes. This was an unusual, but at the same time eminently fitting way of securing the appointment of an efficient and honest officer. This year, Topsham and West Bath were classed together for representation.
[1863.] The town-house being in need of repairs, it was voted this year that the selectmen should ascertain what terms could be made with the Sagadahoc Agricultural Society, for the use of their hall for future town meetings. The next year, 1864, the town obtained the privilege of using the Agricultural Hall and authorized the sale of the town-house.
[1865.] This year the town voted to dispense with a liquor agency.
[1867.] At the September election in 1867, the town voted in favor of authorizing the county commissioners to effect a loan of $25,000 to complete the county court house at Bath.
[1868.] In 1868 an appropriation of six hundred dollars was voted for the purchase of a new hearse.
The municipal acts of this town, in reference to the enlistment of volunteers and the support of their families, as well as to all other matters not already given, will be found in their appropriate connec- tion in other chapters.
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GENERAL AND SOCIAL.
CHAPTER V.
GENERAL AND SOCIAL.
AT the time of the earliest occupation of these towns. the settlers lived far apart, and days, perhaps even weeks, must often have elapsed without a family seeing any of its neighbors. They had few, if any, roads, except the Indian trails, and alinost invariably, there- fore, settled upon or near some stream which might serve to them as a highway. This accounts for the fact that the houses of the early set- tlers fronted the water.
EARLY CONDITION AND CIRCUMSTANCES.
The early settlers of Topsham were nearly all English and partook of the national characteristics. Those in the vicinity of the New Meadows River were principally from Cape Cod. Those between New Meadows and Maquoit, who constituted a majority of the inhabi- tants of Brunswick, were Irish. They were usually called " wild Irish " by the native New-Englanders.1 It is said of these early set- tlers that " they used to peek out through a crack or partly opened door, to see whether their callers were friends or foes, and that the same habit of peeking out through a half-open door to see whom their callers may be, is noticed to this day in their descendants." These settlers were nearly all poor, and often suffered for the necessaries of life. They had to work hard for their living, and dress in the plain- est manner. Those, however, who came into this vicinity later, some- where about 1750, were in better circumstances, and the appearance of their rich and fashionable apparel, especially the hoop in the dresses of the ladies, whenever they went to church or showed themselves abroad, drew forth the gaze and wonder of the earlier and more rustic settlers.2
The later settlers, and a few of the earlier ones, were sufficiently well off to be able to own slaves. The act of holding fellow-creatures, white or black, in involuntary bondage, was not, at that time, consid-
1 Pejepscot Papers.
2 McKeen, MSS. Lecture.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
ered to be wrong. Andrew Dunning, who came to Brunswick in 1717 and who died in 1735, kept slaves during his life, and his family con- tinued to own them for some time after his decease. Captain Benja- min Stone, who kept a tavern in Fort George in 1767, and subsequently, had a slave named Sarah Mingo as his house-servant. After she obtained her freedom she kept house for Timothy Weymouth, near where the Congregational Church now stands. Judge Minot also owned slaves. Brigadier Thompson had a negro servant named Hall- up. It is uncertain, however, that she was a slave. As late as 1765 there are said to have been four slaves in Brunswick and no less than fourteen in Harpswell. Captain Nehemiah Curtis owned two or three, one of whom was a female.
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.
Nothing is known concerning the social relations of the very early settlers. During the period embraced by the Indian wars, the charac- ter of the people differed materially from what it afterwards was. Instead of gayety and dissipation, a melancholy spirit prevailed. Almost the only topic of conversation with the people was in regard to their troubles with the Indians and the individual difficulties of their situation. Their chief relaxation consisted in singing psalms and dog- gerel rhymes. The only news that reached them was of cruel mur- ders, by the savages, of their friends and acquaintance, or else of the wonderful escapes and marvellous exploits of the latter. Some of these accounts of personal adventure with the Indians have come down to us and will be noticed. Even when there was no open war with the Indians, the latter would mingle with the inhabitants and were apt to take offence, and revenge themselves by committing indis- criminate depredations. It cannot be denied that oftentimes the set- tlers were to blame, and that there were many among them who had the same deadly hostility against the savage that they had against a venomous reptile. The only time they could attend to their business without fear of molestation was in the winter, when the Indians usually retired to the interior. At these times they employed then- selves in getting lumber to the landings, ready to be sent to Boston and other markets as soon as the spring opened. In summer they cultivated their fields, but always with their guns within easy reach.
In times of peace the Indians were in the habit of trading with the settlers. It is narrated that on one occasion one of the Indians, feel- ing in a merry mood and ready for sport, challenged old Lieutenant Woodside to run a race with him, and laid down upon the door-stone
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GENERAL AND SOCIAL.
of the fort six beaver-skins as a wager. The Indian evidently expected, from Mr. Woodside's corpulency, that he would decline the challenge. The Lientenant, however, contrary to the Indian's expec- tation, accepted it. The race was to commence at the brook under the hill, and the one who could get the skins first was to have them. At the commencement of the race the old man feigned himself rather more clumsy than he really was. The Indian found he could keep up with him at his leisure, and was quite amused at the clumsy run- ning of so fat a man, and continued indulging in violent fits of laugh- ing until at last the old gentleman began to wax warmer, to become more earnest. and to extend his steps. He thus obtained the advance and took the beavers, while the Indian was exhausted with laughing and running. This Mr. Woodside was a remarkably stout, athletic man, who could face danger, endure fatigue, and accomplish much.1
During this period old Mr. Joseph Foster, of Topsham, had a large dog that he had trained to attack an Indian whenever he met one. One day, during the French and Indian War, the women and children were sent for safety to the block-house, near where the late Lithgow Hunter afterwards lived. One afternoon while they were there, some of the children wanted to go to the river-side berrying. As no Indians were known to be about at that time, permission was given them to go, but the dog was sent with them for safety. While the children, langhing and chatting, were picking berries, the big dog suddenly became excited, and getting between a pile of brush and the children, bristled up and began to growl and display his teeth as if there were mischief lurking in the brush-heap. Mrs. Foster was nearest to the brush-pile, and having her attention called to it by the unwonted fierceness of the dog, saw an Indian there. She sereamed, and the alarm being given all the children ran up the hill toward the block- house, the dog protecting the rear all the way. Several years after the war this same Indian was in the vicinity, and referred to the inci- dent by saying that had it not been for the big dog he would have ·· made a great hanl of pappoose." 2
" The late David Alexander's father was remarkable when a youth for his agility and uncommon strength. In muscular vigor he far exceeded any of the lads in town who were anywhere near his own age. One day he and another boy by the name of Thorn were on the hill near the river and opposite where Mr. David Work now (1875) lives. Suddenly a couple of stont Indians pounced upon them,
1 Pejepscot Papers.
2 Dr. James McKeen's Notes.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
each Indian singling out one of the boys. Their object was to run the lads off into the woods, where they would be comparatively safe from pursuit. The stout resistanee, however, made by young Alex- ander, although a mere boy, made the Indian feel as if he had more than his hands full. At every step he encountered a resolute resist- anee, and although a powerful Indian he was making slow progress. The boys' outcries at length attraeted the attention of the settlers up and down the river, and his father being first to comprehend the true state of things outstripped all others in going to the relief of his son, guided partly by the voice of the lad and partly by the zigzag trail of the furrowed earth which was a eonspieuous mark and was made by the boy's stubborn obstinacy and resistance. The father at length eame in full sight of his son and was hastening to his rescue when the Indian, letting go the lad, fired, killing Mr. Alexander, who fell instantly dead. The son, the moment he saw his father fall, ran, and the Indian, fearing pursuit, desisted from attempting his recapture. The inhabitants of the neighborhood having provided themselves with guns, and guided by the Alexander boy. started off in pursuit. They found Mr. Alexander dead. Pursuing farther they came to the apparently lifeless body of the lad Thorn. His comparatively feeble resistance had enabled the Indian to earry him off to a greater dis- tance, but hearing the gun and apprised by the Indian who had just shot Mr. Alexander that they were in danger of being captured them- selves, they knoeked the boy in the head and scalped him. The boy was found still alive and eventually recovered. It is said that he afterwards died at Farmington from a eurious aceident. Coming in one day to dinner and the meal not being ready, he sat down in a chair near the wooden eeiling (there were no lathed and plastered rooms then) and tipping his ehair back leaned against the partition just under where a hog's head (what was ealled a 'minister's face') was suspended by a nail in the ceiling. The jar broke the string, and the hog's head fell, the nose, it is said, hitting the unfortunate man on the very spot where he had been scalped in his boyhood. The con- eussion caused his instant death.' 1
" Not far from this time (time of Moffitt's death, - 1747) four men were killed, all at one time, a few rods from the old Flagg house, just beyond Joseph Foster's. One of these was a friendly Indian, the other three were white settlers. They were going to look at a field of corn to see if it had been molested. The bodies were all found near together.
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