USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Harpswell > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 69
USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Brunswick > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 69
USA > Maine > Sagadahoc County > Topsham > History of Brunswick, Topsham, and Harpswell, Maine, including the ancient territory known as Pejepscot > Part 69
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DUNLAP, REVEREND ROBERT.
The Reverend Robert Dunlap was a zealous divine of the Presbyte- rian order. He was born in the North of Ireland, in the province of Ulster, county of Antrim, and parish of Barilla, within nine miles of Scotland. in the month of August, 1715. His father's name was John Dunlap and his mother's Jane Dunlap. They had but two children. - a son and daughter. Robert was the son ; the daughter, whose Chris- tian name is not known, was married to William Livingston, of Ireland.
As he had a peculiar relish for scientific pursuits, having passed through the elementary part of education, he entered as a student of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, at an early age. During his connection with this institution he sustained an excellent reputation, and made rapid progress in the natural sciences.
Ilaving completed his collegiate course, he commenced the study of divinity. At the age of nineteen he was admitted to the degree of Master of Arts, and was immediately afterward licensed to preach the gospel, having been occupied for a considerable time in the study of theology. In the spring of the year 1736, with a number of his coun- trymen, he embarked for America, and arrived in this country on the nineteenth day of June following. During the voyage they were overtaken by a violent storm, and were shipwrecked on the Isle of Sable, an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, ninety miles southeast of Cape Breton. There were on board about two hundred souls, ninety-six of whom, in the very bloom of life, perished in the waters. From some flax and candles that were washed on shore from the wreck the survivors were enabled to repair the long boat, in which they went to the Isle of Canso, twenty-seven leagues distant, and about forty leagues east by north of Halifax. By the direction of Governor Shelby they were taken in a small fishing-vessel, then at that place, and carried to Cape Ann in New England.
Reverend Mr. Dunlap went immediately to Boston, where he became acquainted with the Reverend Mr. Moorehead and the Reverend Mr. McGregor, two eminent divines of that day, and joined the Presbytery of which they were members. He soon left Boston, and was for a time at Dracut, Massachusetts ; from there he removed to Noblebor- ough, Maine. After this he resided for a time at Boothbay, then at Sheepscot Bridge in Newcastle, from which place he removed to Bruns-
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
wick. After some time spent on probation, the town agreed, in Decem- ber. 1746, to settle him as their minister, offering him an annual salary of two hundred pounds, old tenor. and to hire him a house during the war. It was agreed between Mr. Dunlap and the people that he should be ordained in Boston, and Deacon Samuel Hinkley and Mr. Ebenezer Stanwood were appointed as commissioners to repair to Boston on behalf of the town, and receive Mr. Dunlap as their minister. Accord- ingly. during the summer of 1747, Mr. Dunlap was ordained in Boston in the meeting-house of Reverend Andrew LeMercier, a small brick church on School Street, by a Presbytery composed of Reverend Mr. LeMercier, of Boston, Reverend Mr. Morton, of Coleraine, Reverend Mr. Davidson, of Londonderry, Reverend Mr. Wilson, and Reverend Mr. MeLothlin. He was the first regularly settled minister in the town, though there had been other preachers there before him. He dwelt at first in the garrison-house of McFarland, where Day's Block now is, and afterwards on the lot granted to the first settled minister, near the old meeting-house.
Mr. Dunlap continued the minister of Brunswick about thirteen years. Some difficulties having arisen between him and the people respecting the payment of his salary, a council was proposed to advise in the case. Reverend Messrs. Smith, of Falmouth, Morrill, of Bidde- ford, and Lorrain were invited.
The result of this council is not now known, but it led to his dismis- sion, which took place in October, 1760. Reverend Mr. Dunlap was never again settled in the ministry. He is said to have been vehement and persuasive in his style of preaching, and to have taken somewhat as a model the celebrated George Whitefield, whom he became acquainted with soon after his arrival in this country. IIe resided in Brunswick until his death, which took place June 26, 1776.
DUNLAP, CAPTAIN JOHN.
Captain John Dunlap was a son of the Reverend Robert Dunlap, and was born JJune 19, 1738. His parents were poor, and when quite young he resolved that if energy and perseverance would accomplish it he would become rich. With this object in view he enlisted as a soldier in Fort George, but the remuneration was too small to satisfy his ambition, and he accordingly abandoned that calling and adopted that of a hunter. In this he was quite successful. He made long journeys into the wilderness, and brought back huge packs of furs, which yielded him a handsome remuneration for his labor, and gave him a fair start in the world. During one of these excursions he
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
became. acquainted with the famous Indian chief Sabattis, who piloted Arnold and his army to Canada. Sabattis in his latter days made frequent visits to Brunswick for the purpose of seeing Captain Dunlap. Later in life Captain Dunlap was a trader, and still later he was largely interested in the lumber business and in navigation, accumulating wealth, and fulfilling the ambition of his youth. In 1803 he had become the richest man in the then District of Maine. His personal property was estimated at $200,000. He was an active, enterprising business man and a man of unquestioned ability. He represented the town of Brunswick for six years in the General Court of Massachu- setts, from 1799 to 1805 inclusive. He married, for his first wife, Jenette Dunning, by whom he had five children, Robert, John. David. Samuel. and Mary. His second wife was Mary Tappan, whom he married in 1788, and by whom he had four children, Richard T., Rob- ert, Robert P., and Marcia Scott, who became the wife of the late Doctor Isaac Lincoln. Captain Dunlap died July 30, 1824.
DUNLAP, DAVID.
David Dunlap was the third son of Captain John Dunlap, and was born in Brunswick, January 21, 1778. He married, in 1821, Nancy McKeen, daughter of Reverend Joseph McKeen, the first president of Bowdoin College. Mr. Dunlap represented the town of Brunswick in the General Court of Massachusetts five years, between 1810 and 1817, and in the legislature of Maine in 1820 and subsequently. He was also called to fill various other public offices. He was for a long time a member of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College, and a member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- sions. He was a highly respected citizen, and was noted for his char- ities to benevolent objects. He died February 5, 1843.
DUNLAP, GENERAL RICHARD T.
General Richard T. Dunlap, son of Captain John Dunlap, was born in Brunswick, June 28, 1789. During the earlier part of his life he was engaged in mercantile business, and later in shipping and bank- ing. He was president of the old Brunswick Bank for a number of years. He was a remarkably clear-headed man, was well posted in the news of the day, well read in history, and familiar with the antiq- uities of Brunswick and vicinity. He was exact and methodical in business. In politics he was an old-line Democrat, but a firm and unyielding Union man. He never, however, took an active part in
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
political life. He died in Brunswick, October 26, 1863, at the age of seventy-four.
DUNLAP, HONORABLE ROBERT PINCKNEY.
The subject of this sketch was born in Brunswick, August 17, 1794, in the house now owned and occupied by the family of the late Doctor Lincoln, in which he lived until 1800, when his parents moved into a new house, now the residence of Honorable C. J. Gilman. He fitted for college under the direction of Esquire Hasey, of Topsham. He graduated from Bowdoin in 1815. He then studied law in Brunswick, with Honorable Benjamin Orr, and in Newburyport, Massachusetts. under Ebenezer Morely, Esquire, and was admitted to the bar in 1818. He continued in the practice of his profession for many years, but his preference was for political life. He was an old-school Democrat. He served in both branches of our legislature, was a member of the exec- utive council, and in 1834 was elected governor of Maine. He served four terms in the latter capacity. He served also for two terms -- 1843 to 1847- as a representative to Congress. He was warmly interested in the welfare of his Alma Mater, and filled for many years the office of president of the Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College.
He had a strong regard and affection for the Order of Freemasonry, of which he was a distinguished member and in which he attained emi- nence. He clung to Masonry even during its darkest days. He was several times Master of United Lodge, of Brunswick, was Grand Mas- ter of the Grand Lodge of Maine, and was for nine years the General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter of the United States. On retiring from the last-named office he was pre- sented by the Masons of Charleston, South Carolina, with an elegant pitcher and salver. He was also a Knight Templar, and it is said that he attained the highest degree under the Scottishi rite that had, at that time, ever been conferred in America.
" As a presiding officer, whether in the Senate. the Board of Over- seers, the town meeting, or in political or philanthropic conventions, Mr. Dunlap was hardly surpassed, conducting business with great accuracy, promptness, and despatch, and at the same time with a dig- nified impartiality."
Governor Dunlap was generous-hearted and liberal in his disposi- tion, kindly in his feelings to all, honest in his opinions, upright in his intentions, and manly and just in his conduct. For twenty-five years he was a consistent member of the Congregational Church, and was always friendly to the cause of temperance. He married, in 1825,
.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Lydia Chapman, who died January 29, 1868. At the time of his death, October 20, 1859, he was the oldest surviving member of the American Bible Society.
His burial was accompanied with more ceremony and was more fully attended than that of any other which has ever occurred in town. Hle was buried with Masonic ceremonies, and there were present two com- manderies of Knights Templars,1 with Chandler's Band, Montgomery Royal Arch Chapter, representatives of the Grand Lodge and ten sub- ordinate Lodges,2 with delegations from two others.3
DUNNING, ANDREW.
Andrew Dunning came from Ashburton, county of Devonshire, Eng- land. He married Susan Bond. In 1717 he arrived at Georgetown, Maine, and came to Brunswick the same year and settled at Maquoit on the lot formerly occupied by Master Samuel Dunning and now owned by Patrick McManus. He was a Presbyterian in his religious belief, and was much respected for his integrity and uprightness of character. His children were all born before he emigrated to this country. He is said to have been a blacksmith. He was buried in the old graveyard, and his gravestones are the oldest in the yard. (See epitaphs. ) They were wrought and engraved by his son James. A few years before his death, his house was burned, and his wife, in endeavoring to save some money she had laid aside, fell through the floor into the cellar and was burned to death. A negro slave, who was asleep in an arch in the cellar, was with difficulty rescued by being dragged through the cellar window.
DUNNING, ANDREW.
Andrew Dunning, of Harpswell, was the son of William Dunning of York, and was born in 1727. In early life he followed the sea and was master of a vessel. He afterwards abandoned this calling, and set- tled in Harpswell about 1758. He was a prominent man in Harps- well, and was town clerk for twenty-five years, 1758-82, and select- man in 1758, 1759, 1760, and 1764. June 17, 1767, he was chosen deacon of the church in Harpswell, and held the office until his death, which took place March 27, 1808. The following incident illustrates the energy and determination of his character : -
1 Maine Commandery, No. 1, and Portland Commandery, No. 2.
2 Portland Lodge, No. 1 ; Kennebec, No. 5 ; Solar, No. 14 ; Freeport, No. 23 ; Tem- ple, No. 25 ; Village, No. 26 ; Hermon, No. 32 ; Casco, No. 36 ; Lafayette, No. 48 ; Richmond, No. 63 ; besides United, No. 8, to which he belonged.
3 Tranquil, No. 29 ; Cumberland, No. 12.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
He once went to Halifax with a cargo of provisions, etc., and was to take a cargo of coal from thence to Virginia. A wharf was to be erected, and the coal was to be on the wharf upon his arrival. The wharf was not, however, completed, in fact, it was but just begun when he arrived. Not wishing to wait the slow movements of the wharf- builders, he took a part of his crew, went into the woods and cut and hauled out logs and assisted in building the wharf, which was the first ever built in Halifax.
DUNNING, BENJAMIN.
Benjamin Dunning, of Harpswell, was town clerk in 1791 and 1792, justice of the peace, representative to the General Court in 1781, 1782, 1785, 1791, 1793, 1797, 1800, 1801, 1803, and 1806, and lieutenant in the Revolutionary war, and an overseer of Bowdoin College, the location of which at Brunswick he was instrumental in securing. He was a man who took a prominent part in the affairs of the town and a strong interest in education.
DUNNING, DAVID.
David Dunning was the son of Andrew Dunning, who came over from England. He married first a daughter of John Farren,1 and after- wards Mrs. Adam [Lithgow] Hunter, when she was over eighty years old.
He owned a large part of the land where the village of Brunswick now is, and erected a block-house where the post-office now stands. Ile received the command of a company of soldiers about 1740, and scoured the wilderness up and down the Androscoggin in pursuit of the Indians. He was one of the most active, enterprising, and respect- able men of his day. He died in 1799.
EATON, REVEREND ELISHA.
Reverend Mr. Eaton was ordained over the Third Parish in Brain- tree, now Randolph, Massachusetts, June 2, 1731, and was settled there until 1750. Of his previous life but little is known, or in regard to his pastorate in Randolph. From the length of his settlement there, it is fair to presume that he gave good satisfaction. He came to Merriconcag by recommendation of Mr. Alden, the first minister of Cape Elizabeth, and was installed in 1754 over the First Parish of Harpswell, which was then the Second Parish of North Yarmouth. His salary was £450 old tenor, or £60 lawful money.2
1 McKeen.
2 Pejepscot Papers.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Of Mr. Eaton's abilities as a preacher, or of his characteristics as a man, scarcely anything is known. That he zealously followed his chosen career is not to be doubted, but from the specimen of his Muse which was found in a book of records of baptisms performed by him, and which is the only literary specimen of his that we have seen, his theology would appear to have been of a very gloomy cast, unless the sentiment conveyed was that of an anatomist or artist, rather than of a theologian. We insert this poetical production as a fitting conclusion to this sketch.
FINIS LAVATIONIS. REV. E. EATON. NAM MORTE CORREPITUR. Ah! lovely Appearance of Death, No Sight upon Earth is so fair ; Not all the gay Pageants that breathe, Can with a dead Body compare.
With solemn Delight I survey The Corpse when the Spirit is fled ; In Love with the beautiful Clay. And longing to lie in its stead.
EATON, REVEREND SAMUEL.
The subject of this sketch, a son of Reverend Elisha Eaton, was born in Randolph in 1736. He was fitted for college at York, by Master Moody, and entered Harvard. One of his Latin exercises while there was dated "Cambridge Collegge, 10 of November 1762, Wednesday eleven o'clock at night." He was graduated in 1763, and for the next year he taught school in Scarboro', boarding during the time at Mr. King's, the father of Honorable Rufus King.1 Rufus attended his school.
While at Cambridge, Samuel Eaton not only attended the theologi- cal course of study, but also attended medical lectures, and obtained a knowledge of the healing art that his excellent judgment afterwards enabled him to put in practice for the benefit of his people.
Hle was ordained in 1764, and preached his first sermon at Mr. Elwyn's meeting-house in Scarboro'. He afterwards preached at Harpswell and New Gloucester, and had a call to settle at both places. He accepted that from Harpswell, and was ordained October 24, 1764, with a salary of £66 13s. 4d. besides a settlement.
Reverend Samuel Eaton was, prior to 1820, the only resident of
1 United States Senator in 1821.
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND IIARPSWELL.
Harpswell who had ever received a collegiate education. He was never married, but in his later years he lived with a nephew whom he had brought up and educated at Fryeburg Academy. He was a man of remarkable energy, and when eighty-six years of age he not only attended to his ministerial duties, but also attended to the care of a barn containing eleven head of cattle, which he always fed before sun- rise in the morning.
Samuel Eaton was a ripe scholar and a man of thought. His knowledge of religious doctrines was both thorough and discriminat- ing. He possessed great eloquence, and people flocked from all quar- ters to meeting to hear him, notwithstanding his sermons were written with all the old scholastic divisions and repetitions. " IIe never sepa- rated religion from morality in his catechisings, which all the children attended in the different school-houses. He impressed upon them not merely the doctrines of religion, but the practical duties of it. Ile was of most commanding presence, and possessed a natural dig- nity which was not diminished by the old dress and wigs that he never laid aside. For this reason and on account of a rare executive talent that he possessed, he was generally chosen to preside in all deliber- ative assemblies where he was present. His own people were justly proud of his abilities and fame. He was possessed of a keen wit and was never at a loss for a reply." He was also peculiarly. fearless in the expression of his opinions. What he thought he never was afraid to abide by. In the war of the Revolution he was an ardent patriot, and exerted all his abilities in the cause of his country. In that struggle he had the sentiment of the people with him, but in the war of 1812, he was in the minority, and opposed the war and its abettors with all his might.
During the Revolutionary war a recruiting officer came to Harps- well, but failed to obtain any men. On Sunday morning he called at the parsonage and said, "Mr. Eaton, cannot you do something for ine and the cause?" Mr. Eaton replied, " It is my communion Sab- bath, sir. I can have nothing to do with secular subjects, but if you will remain till night I will call the people together on the Common, and I will speak to them from the horse block."
In 1812, when he was being looked upon with some suspicion as regarded his patriotism, he referred to this meeting on the Common, in conversation with Reverend Elijah Kellogg, of Portland, and said, " When the services of the day were over I went to my house, opened the Bible, and my eye fell upon the words, 'Cursed be he that hold- eth back his sword from blood.' I spake an hour from those words,
·
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
and there were thirty men ready to march the next morning, and yet now they call me a Tory." Though like the rest of his party patriotic at heart, he was a Federalist in his political belief, and bitterly op- posed the embargo and the war of 1812. Preaching about that time at Freeport. he began his prayer thus, " Lord, thou hast commanded us to pray for our enemies, and we will commence with Tom Jeffer- son, if he is not beyond the reach of mercy." He proceeded in like manner to pray for each member of the Cabinet. According to the traditionary account of this service, the Secretary of State was pres- ent, being accidentally detained there over the Sabbath, while on a journey.
In old times it was customary for judges of court to ride together over the circuit. Upon one occasion they reached Brunswick on Sat- urday evening, and concluded to remain until Sunday afternoon, and then proceed to Wiscasset, where the court was to be held. The First Parish in Brunswick was at that time without a pastor, and Parson Eaton was therefore sent for to preach in the forenoon. He did so, preaching a powerful sermon, and at the close of his remarks, knowing the intention of the judges was to proceed on their way in the afternoon, he alluded to their presence in his prayer, and thanked the Lord " that the magistrates of the Commonwealth cherished such respect for the laws and the Sabbath, that they would not violate either by travelling on the Lord's day."
The judges were so much interested by the sermon they had heard, and were so amused by the palpable hit given them by the pastor in his prayer, that they resolved to remain and attend service in the afternoon. During the intermission they sought an introduction to Mr. Eaton, and were much pleased with his conversation. On their way to Wiscasset they made a contribution, and sent to Boston and purchased the wig, a very fine one, of Judge Lothrop, who had recently died, and sent it to Mr. Eaton, as a testimonial of their esteem. The parson was buried with this wig on his head.
As has been said, Mr. Eaton was a man of very commanding pres- ence, especially with this wig upon his head. He was once taken for an English judge, by an Irishman in the employ of President McKeen. This man, seeing him approaching with his cane, wig, and cocked hat, and fearing an arrest, dropped an axe which he held, and ran, and was never again seen in Brunswick.
The following anecdote will serve to display his ready wit. Upon one occasion he was chosen moderator of a public meeting. He declined, and nominated " Father" Scott, who was a man of small 47
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HISTORY OF BRUNSWICK, TOPSHAM, AND HARPSWELL.
stature, feeble voice, and very retiring manner, in his place. Mr. Scott declined, saying, " Mr. Eaton, there is more dignity in your wig than in my whole body." "Take the wig then," replied Mr. Eaton, catching it off his own head and placing it upon Father Scott's.1
ELLIS, REVEREND JONATHAN.
The subject of this sketch was born in Franklin, Connecticut, April 11, 1762. His father was Reverend John Ellis, a graduate of Har- vard, class of 1750, and a chaplain in the Revolutionary army.
Jonathan fitted for college at New London, and graduated at Yale in 1786. In his Senior. year he received a prize for excellence in writing. He came to Topsham on probation in July, 1788 ; was ordained over the church and society of the First Parish, September 16, 1789, and was the first settled minister in Topsham. He remained over this society ten years, being obliged a portion of the time to teach school in addition to his parochial duties, in consequence of the inadequacy of his salary. He was informally dismissed in Sep- tember, 1799. He remained in town, however, teaching school and occasionally preaching, until August, 1811, when he left his home and went to New York State, and afterwards to Delaware to teach.
During his residence in Topsham, Mr. Ellis took a warm interest in educational matters and in town matters generally .. He fitted quite a number of young men for college, among them John McKeen, Lithgow Hunter, Dean Swift, John Patten, of Bowdoinham, Joseph Sprague, Benjamin Randall, and others. He was a member of the original Board of Overseers of Bowdoin College, the first secretary of this board, and a member of the examining committee until he resigned these offices in 1811.
Very little is known of him as a preacher, but he must have been, on the whole, pleasing to the majority of his people, or he could hardly have maintained his position for the length of time he did, over a society made up of somewhat discordant elements. In his theological views he was an Orthodox Congregationalist. Some of his leading parishioners were Presbyterians, and it was doubtless chiefly due to this fact that his connection with the parish as its pastor was sev- ered.
His reputation as a writer and a scholar was excellent. He was a superior Latin scholar. He was also considerably interested in his- torical researches, and wrote an historical sketch of Topsham which
1 Pejepscot Pupers and Kellogg's MS. Lecture on Harpswell.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
was printed in the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Soci- ety. In February, 1800, he delivered an elogy on Washington at the old First Parish Church in Topsham. The manuscript of that elogy is now in the possession of his son, Doctor Asher Ellis, of Brunswick, and it shows that its author had a poetical talent of more than ordinary merit. He was a member of the Massachusetts Gen- eral Court in 1806, and that year he delivered an oration on the Fourth of July, at the Court House in Topsham, " before the Federal Republicans of Brunswick and Topsham." The audience passed a vote of thanks, and the oration was afterwards published at the office of the Portland Gazette.
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