USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 44
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 44
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 44
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL.
port of the preached Gospel and the maintenance of Christian wor- ship.
" 5th. We agree to strive to live in a moral and virtuous manner that we may give no occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully, and that we may honor our God and Saviour by a well-ordered life and Christian conversation.
"6th. Any person of a sober, moral character may become a member of this society by subscribing his or her name to the forego- ing rules.
"7th. Any member may withdraw from this society when they shall have paid their subscription and signified their desire so to do, to the clerk of this society."
The following names were affixed to this constitution : -
Isaac Stover. Thomas Alexander, Samuel Dunning, David Curtis, Joshua Stover, Paul R. Thomas, James Meryman, 2d, Alcot S. Pen- nell, Robert Pennell, Sylvester Stover, 2d, Jacob Blake, Alcot Stover, Harmon Pennell, Thomas Pennell, and Robert Dunning. In 1845 this society was received into the Kennebec Association of Univer- salists.
The entries in the records of this society are very brief, and contain little else than the lists of officers chosen annually.
At a meeting held April 14, 1849, it was voted to support a preacher that year by subscription, and not by taxation.
At a meeting held July 21, 1860, the treasurer in his report declared the society to be free from debt. The society, notwithstanding this fact, had only occasional preaching for nearly ten years.
[1870.] On January 29, 1870, the society was reorganized by the choice of Thomas Alexander as moderator ; David Pennell, clerk ; Alcot S. Pennell, Benjamin F. Randall, and Joshua Stover, standing committee ; B. F. Randall and A. S. Pennell, collectors ; and A. S. Pennell, treasurer. The last entry in the records is dated May 8, 1875. Between 1870 and 1875, Reverend William R. French, of Brunswick, preached a portion of the time in summer, in addition to his services at Brunswick. There is at present no settled minister, but the society is still in existence.
CENTRE CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
[1843.] This society or parish originated in 1843 by certain indi- viduals combining for the purpose of building a new meeting-house. It was formed, and the first meeting was held agreeably to the war- rant for the same. on September 27. Daniel Randall was chosen
452
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
moderator, and William C. Eaton, clerk. The following constitution was adopted at this meeting : -
" We the undersigned having organized ourselves into a parish under the name of the Centre Congregational Parish, in Harpswell, for the promotion of good morals, for religious teaching and instruc- tion, and for sustaining and propagating the truths of the Gospel as held by the Orthodox Congregational denomination in this State, do adopt the following constitution : -
·· Article Ist. This parish shall consist of those whose names are affixed to the application for a warrant for organization, together with such other persons as they may from time to time elect, and who shall sign this constitution.
" Art. 2d. The officers of this parish shall be a clerk, two or more assessors, a treasurer, a collector, and a standing committee of three, who shall be elected at the annual meetings.
" Art. 3d. The annual meeting of this parish shall be held in the month of April in each year, on some day to be specified by the assessors.
" Art. 4th. In case the annual meeting shall not be held at the time specified, the officers of the preceding year shall retain their offices until others are chosen and qualified in their stead.
" Art. 5th. This parish agree in the settlement of a minister, and in the support of the ordinances of the Gospel, to proceed upon the established principles of the Orthodox Congregational denomination in this State and to act in concert with the church in Harpswell of like order and faith.
" Art. 6th. A majority of two thirds of all the legal voters in this parish shall be necessary to alter or amend this constitution."
The original subscribers to the above constitution were : -
Silvester Stover, Joseph Eaton, James Stover, Simeon Orr, Jacob Meryman, Benjamin Dunning, George S. Dunning, Arthur Orr, Thomas U. Eaton, Lemuel HI. Stover, Shubal Merryman, William C. Eaton, Daniel Randall, Henry Barnes, Joseph Stover, James Mery- man, James Dunning, Jeremiah Meryman, Angier H. Curtis, Albert Stover, Paul C. Randall, Dominicus Jordan, William Barnes, James Curtis, Joseph Curtis, John Durgin, H. C. Martin, Ralph Johnson, Joseph A. Stover, Elisha S. Stover, and Isaac Merryman.
It was also at this meeting voted to accept the meeting-house offered by the proprietors, and to assume all the liabilities and duties of the latter.
The next day the new meeting-house was dedicated with the follow- ing services : -
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL.
Reading of Scriptures, by Reverend Elijah Kellogg, then on a mis- sionary tour ; prayer, by Reverend Daniel Sewall ; sermon, by Rever- end J. W. Chickering ; address to the church, by Reverend George E. Adams ; prayer, by Reverend Mr Parsons.
At a meeting of the church on November 12, it was voted : -
" That the Centre Congregational Church in Harpswell would tender their united thanks to the individuals in Bath, Freeport, Brunswick, and High Street Church, Portland, for their liberal donations to assist them in the erection of a house of worship ; also to the Widow D. Dunlap, for the liberal present of a sofa ; to the president and profes- sors of Bowdoin College, for their services in supplying the pulpit ; and to Professor Upham, for his unwearied exertions in our behalf."
[1844.] On April 25, 1844, the church voted, in concurrence with the parish, to extend an invitation to Reverend Elijah Kellogg to set- tle as their pastor for three hundred dollars per year, for four years. This invitation was accepted, and was subsequently renewed for an indefinite period.
[1847.] At a parish meeting, held November 1, this year, it was decided that Mr. Kellogg might go "to Orr's Island the coming win- ter, and preach three Sabbaths, if he see fit."
The church records are wanting entirely between the years 1844 and 1855, and from the latter date down to 1870 they contain only the admissions to church fellowship and lists of those baptized.
[1854.] In 1854, Mr. Kellogg gave up the immediate charge of the parish, in order to devote more time to literary pursuits, but his pastoral connection with the church has never been dissolved.
[1866.] At a meeting of the parish, held April 28 of this year, three hundred dollars was raised for repairing and painting the meet- ing-house.
[1870.] At a church meeting held on the twenty-eighth of August, it was voted that the thanks of the church "be hereby given to Honorable A. D. Lockwood, of Lewiston, for a highly valued, beau- tiful communion service, generously presented by him for our use. And our prayer is that the Great Head of the church will accept the act as done to himself, and bountifully reward the giver." On Sep- tember 24 a church meeting was held on Orr's Island, the first one mentioned in the records as being held on that island.
[1874.] At a meeting of the parish, held April 23, 1874, it was voted to allow the sewing circle " to enlarge the stove-rooms by tak- ing in the pews in front of each." The latest entry in these records is dated the sixth of the following September, at which time Paul C. Randall was chosen a deacon.
-
454
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
There has been no settled minister over this parish since Mr. Kellogg left, but the pulpit is supplied a good part of the time, and nearly every summer, by Mr. Kellogg himself, who makes Harpswell the place of his summer residence.
THE METHODIST CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
The introduction of Methodism into Harpswell dates back only to 1854, although as early as 1814 Fathers Lombard and Bennett, and perhaps others, had preached in town.
[1854.] In May, 1854, Reverend George C. Crawford, of Bruns- wick, was, at the solicitation of a number of people of West Harps- well, appointed to that field of labor. At that time there was not a member of the Methodist church on Harpswell Neck, with the excep- tion of Sidney Bailey and wife. Mr. Crawford commenced his labors about the first of June, holding the meetings in the school-house near Mr. Simeon Webber's. On the third Sabbath of his ministry here, he read in public the " Doctrines, Discipline, and General Rules " of the Methodist Episcopal Church. A small " class " was then formed, consisting of Captain Norton Stover, Nathaniel Pinkham and wife, and Sidney Bailey and wife. A few weeks later Mr. William Gillam and wife, then of Orr's Island, joined. After two or three meetings it was decided to build a church at once. A suitable lot was secured in a central location. Captain Stover was chosen an agent to pur- chase lumber and other material ; and W. W. Douglass, of Brunswick, was chosen to superintend the erection of the building.
[1855.] The work was hastened, and in less than one year from the time of the first meeting in the school-house, a beautiful and graceful chapel was dedicated. On the day of dedication people flocked to town from all directions, and Reverend William F. Farring- don. then of Portland, delivered the dedicatory address from the words, "Searching what, or what manner of time, the spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the suffer- ings of Christ and the glory that should follow." The sale of pews took place in the afternoon of the same day. The society is largely indebted to Captain Norton Stover and Nathaniel Pinkham, who assumed the entire financial responsibility in the erection of the church.
At the Conference of 1855 Reverend Heman Nickerson was ap- pointed to succeed Mr. Crawford. He was succeeded by Reverend Mr. Russell. Then followed, in succession, Reverends N. Andrews, John Collins, HI. B. Mitchell, Alpha Turner, George C. Crawford ( a
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF HARPSWELL.
second time), J. C. Perry, H. Briggs, Thomas Hillman, N. C. Clif- ford, D. Dudley, N. Andrews (a second time), and M. C. Baldwin. Under these preachers there were several revivals and a large number were added to the church. The society is now in a flourishing condi- tion, and is composed in a large part of the wealth, intelligence, and refinement of that section of the town.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
CHAPTER XV.
EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
BRUNSWICK, the seat of Maine's oldest and most favored college, has generally shown herself fully mindful of the claims of education. So far, however, as the early introduction of schools is concerned, no especial credit attaches itself to the carly settlers, who simply acted in accordance with the laws of the Commonwealth, and had, indeed, before the incorporation of the town, no volition in the matter. In all proba- bility it has been well for the town that the establishment of -schools was not left to the discretion of the earlier settlers, for they were, with a few notable exceptions, extremely ignorant as to all knowledge usually acquired from books. As an illustration of the average attain- ments of the time, it is related of Thomas Atkins, one of the earliest settlers in this vicinity, that he had ten daughters, of whom not one could sign her name to a deed.1 Even so late as Judge Minot's time it was considered a rare accomplishment for one to be able to read, and it is given as a tradition among his descendants that on one occasion, when he had received a newspaper at the village, he stopped on his way home and read from it to some workmen on the road, who were greatly astonished that the judge should be able to read. The judge was not, however, the only man hereabouts at that time who could read, for there were then a number of educated people in town, one of whom (Thomas Skolfield) was a graduate of Dublin University.
Ample excuse is to be found for the neglect of the earlier settlers to provide means for education in the fact that they were few in numbers, constantly exposed to the incursions of a savage foe, and were obliged to till other fields than those of an intellectual kind, - to break up the rough soil of the wilderness, and raise the scanty crops absolutely required for their physical existence. It is simply another example of the fact that, in the order of time, physical must precede mental activity.
The first action looking to the establishment of a school in Bruns-
1 Reverend Dr. Ballard's Notes.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
wick was in the year 1715, at which time the Pejepscot proprietors voted that the ministerial, minister's, and school lots should be the centre lots of the town.1
In 1717 provision was made by the General Court of Massachusetts for a school-master to reside at Brunswick, and fifty dollars was voted for books and rewards for the young Indians who might become his pulpils.2 This school was a part of the mission to the Indians. Who was sent as teacher has not been ascertained.
At the November session of the Court of General Sessions this year, Benjamin Larrabee, Esquire. appeared in behalf of the town of Bruns- wick, to answer to the " presentment of the town for not having and maintaining a school-master in said town to teach children and youth to read and write as the law directs and requires." Larrabee's excuse for the delinquency was accepted, but the town was required to pay sixteen shillings, the fees of court.
At a meeting held February 23, 1743, the proprietors voted :-
" That Lott number six on the southeasterly side of the Road adjoyning to the Ministry Lott be and hereby is granted to the Town of Brunswick for a school Lott containing one hundred acres, to be and Continue for said use." 3
At a town meeting in 1739, a proposition to employ a school-master was " voted for and past in the negative," but the town afterwards reconsidered its action, and at a meeting in September chose a com- mittee to secure the service of a school-master.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
The first school-teacher employed by the town was James McCash- len, who was employed in the year 1740, and was paid £10 4 for his services. In 1741 it appears from a statement in the Pejepscot Papers that Reverend Mr McClanethan taught a school here.
In 1742 a committee was appointed by the town to secure the ser- vices of a school-master, and they were authorized " to appoint him the time and places for keeping the Schoole in the Sevarel partes of the Town as they shall Think proper." Samuel Maffitt was selected as a teacher, and received £17 10s. as his pay, but the length of time he taught is not stated.5
About the year 1752, Mr. George Harwood was employed to teach by the year.6 In order to give equal privileges of schooling to all, he
1 Pejepscot Records. 2 Varney, History of Maine, p. 123.
4 Town Records 1, pp. 23, 49, 50, 51. 5 Ibid.
8 Pejepscot Records.
6 Pejepscot Pupers.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
taught in three different parts of the town, - at the upper part of New Meadows, at the old west meeting house, and at lower New Meadows.
In 1753 a committee was chosen to secure a school-master at the rate of £220 old tenor. In 1754 another committee was raised for the same purpose, and £13 6s. 8d. voted for the salary. The committee were instructed to station the teacher in the several parts of the town, according to the amount paid by each part.
In 1755 the same amount was paid as salary, with the board addi- tional. This year John Blake was employed as a school-master for six months from November 5. His engagement was probably not renewed, as the town in May, 1756, authorized the selectmen " to provide a school-master when they see the times to be convenient."
In 1759, John Farrin was employed as a.teacher, the town paying him at the rate of £26 13s. 4d. per annum. He was re-engaged the next year at the same salary, and continued to teach until October 1, 1761, when his time expired. He is known to have taught again in 1776, because he that year gave the town £15 6s. 8d. of his salary, in consequence of the public distresses and the burdensome taxes. Whether he taught between 1761 and 1776 is not known, but it is to be presumed that he did.
In 1762 the town was virtually divided into two districts, by the employment of separate teachers for the eastern and western parts. Probably Mr. Farrin was one of the teachers employed.
In 1763, George Harwood was chosen as school-master, by vote of the town, " if he accepts of the same." He did accept, for in. 1767 he was paid for four years' teaching.
In 1790 the town was, for the first time, legally divided into school districts, a committee being chosen at a regular meeting to divide the town into two districts.
In 1797 a vote was passed by the town, " that the school money be divided in future according to the number of scholars in each class,1 the scholars to be numbered, all between four and twenty-one years of age, but if any others in any class are disposed to go, he or she shall have a right to do so, whether they are over or under the above age."
In 1798 the town voted, for the first time, to choose a school com- mittee, and the selectmen were chosen to act in that capacity. The town also voted that no person should be allowed to teach in any dis- trict without the approbation of the committee.
1 Districts were then called classes.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
Previously to this time the red school-house at the foot of the mall was built.1 It was afterwards moved to the Cove. Who the other teachers may have been, besides those already named, prior to 1800, is unknown. Mr. Richard Flaherty is mentioned as having taught here some time in the last century, but neither the date of his teaching is known, nor whether his school was a public or private one.
In 1810 the town was divided into nine school districts. About this time Mr. Dorman Perkins taught in the district schools of the town. He kept a school one term in Benjamin Larrabee's house, at New Meadows, near where Mrs. Thomas now lives. He kept school another term in the upper New Meadows district, and another term at Maquoit.
In 1820, if not before, the' number of districts must have been increased, as there were this year twenty-three public or district schools.2
In 1820 the school committee were directed to report at the annual town meeting the names of two scholars " from each class, one boy and one girl, that shall have made best improvement and sustained good moral characters."
On November 29, 1824, the greater portion of the " school lot" was sold at auction. This was the origin of the school fund. A. Bourne, the auctioneer, was the chairman of the trustees of the school fund. The remainder of the school lot was sold in 1833.
At a town meeting, held in March, 1826, a petition of Benjamin Peterson and others, " that this town set off the colored people of School District Number 14, into a district by themselves," was referred to the selectmen. This district was at New Meadows, where there were quite a number of negroes, and the white citizens of that dis- trict had then the same feeling in regard to commingling with those of a darker race that is. even now prevalent in some quarters. At another meeting, held on the eleventh of September following, the town voted that the money for District Number 14 should be divided, the white people to have a school summer and winter, and the colored population to have a school at the other seasons. The division of money was to be made according to the proportion of scholars in the separate schools.
Of the different districts of the town we have succeeded in obtain- ing the records of but two, viz., of District Number 5 (Growstown) and of the Village District.
1 The red school-house on School Street was of a later date.
2 Putnam, " Letters to a Gentleman in South Carolina."
460
HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
The records of District Number 5 commence February 11, 1817. At this meeting a district school committee were chosen to superintend the school, and it was voted to have the school-inistress "board round."
In 1839 the district committee were instructed to visit the school every four weeks, and were to have three dollars each for their services if they attended to their duty.
On January 29, 1848, the district decided to build a new school- house, to be located " at the corner of the road on land owned by James Otis and occupied by E. T. Parsons, on the north side of the road leading by said Parsons's house ; with the understanding that it be given gratis." Stephen Snow, George Woodside, and Harvey S. Otis were chosen a building committee, and at a meeting held the next month, it was voted to give them discretionary power to build a suitable school-house and to dispose of the old one.
On January 25, 1849, a new committee was chosen, and the build- ing of a school-house was set up at auction to the lowest bidder, the old house to be given to the successful bidder, " except the stove and funnel." James Otis agreed to build it for two hundred and fifty dollars, and the district voted to raise two hundred. The school- house was built this year.
On April 11, 1857, the district voted to admit pupils . from other districts, at the discretion of the agent, "at twenty-five cents per week and board of teacher a proportionate part of the time." This permission appears not to have worked well, or to have given dissatis- faction, for two years later the district voted not to admit pupils from other districts on any consideration.
The following are the early teachers in this district so far as known : Mary Noyes, Mary Merryman, and James McKeen, in 1814 ; Priscilla Melcher and John Winslow, in 1815; Margaret Ransom and John Winslow, in 1816 ; Deborah Small and Benjamin Thompson, in 1817 ; Mary Snow, in 1818 ; Mary Stanwood and Benjamin Thomp- son, in 1819.
THE VILLAGE SCHOOL DISTRICT.1
Brunswick village was formerly divided into three school districts, known as Numbers " 1, 2, and 20." In the winter of 1848 several informal meetings of the inhabitants of the village were held, to take into consideration the condition of the village schools.
1 For this account we are largely indebted to MSS. of the late A. C. Robbins, Esquire, from which we have copied freely.
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EDUCATIONAL HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK.
A committee was appointed to collect information upon the subject of schools in other places, and to see what could be done for the im- provement of the public schools in the village.
This committee proposed the plan of uniting Districts Numbers 1, 2, and 20 into one district, to be called the Village District, for the purpose of grading and classifying the schools, and of adopting the " high-school system."
On March 24, 1848, Benjamin H. Meder and fifteen others peti- tioned the selectmen to insert in their next annual warrant for a town meeting an article to so alter the school districts that Districts Numbers 1, 2, and 20 should constitute one district.
About the same time John C. Humphreys and Leonard C. Merrill presented to the selectinen a similar petition, except that it contained in addition the words "provided such shall be the wish of said dis- tricts respectively."
In the warrant for the annual town meeting, April 3, 1848, an article was inserted in accordance with the latter petition, and the town at that meeting voted : " That School Districts Numbers 1, 2, and 20 be discontinued and to be constituted one district, to be called the Village District, provided such shall be the wish of the several · districts respectively."
At a meeting of the legal voters of District Number 1, on April 24, 1848, a committee of five were chosen to take measures for building a new school-house. This committee were Allen Colby, Ward Coburn, John Rogers, William H. Hall, and Benjamin H. Meder. It was also at this meeting voted : " To join District Number 1 and District Num- ber 20, to form a High School." The meeting adjourned to May 6, at which time the district proceeded to act on sundry matters as though no vote to join the other district had been passed. The following votes were passed : 1. To accept the report of the committee, which was in favor of building a school-house on Bow Street, to be two stories high. 2. To choose a prudential committee of three. 3. To raise three hundred dollars by tax towards building a school-house. 4. To pay the agent and clerk each five dollars. 5, 6. To compel the chil- dren of the district, who were between the ages of four and fourteen years, to go to the summer school, and to forbid those between the ages of four and ten years to attend the winter school. 7. To require pupils between the ages of ten and twenty-one years to go to the school kept by a male teacher. This was the last meeting ever held by District Number 1.
The legal voters of District Number 2 held a meeting at the red
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