USA > Maine > Cumberland County > History of Cumberland Co., Maine > Part 108
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May 14, 1733, the first election of town officers for the old town of North Yarmouth was held in the meeting- house. A second drawing of land was had June 20th, embracing the north part of the town.t
Capt. Solomon Loring and Cushing Prinee built a block- house west of the meeting-house.t A second was occupied by the minister, a hundred feet to the east.
Aug. 9, 1746, Ebenezer Eaton was wounded and sealped
alive by Indians. Philip Greely was killed. David True was killed by a party about to surprise Capt. Weare's gar- rison, and their object defeated by the barking of his dog. Jacob, afterwards Deacon Mitchell, was pursued while re- turning from an evening visit to his lady, and barely es- caped by dashing inside the stockade enclosure of the Whitcomb house, on horseback, § June 20, 1748. Joe, son of Capt. Weare, became famous as a seout and Indian- fighter during this war.
In 1739, Uriah Mason opened a tannery at Larrabee's Landing, on Royall's River, and a grant of 6 120-acre lots was given to John Powell, to encourage the erection of a refinery and forge, for the manufacture of iron from ores obtained on Toddy Brook, ucar Walnut Hill, North Yar- mouth. The refinery and forge were immediately erected near the present furnace of Mr. Weston, and were in opera- tion subsequent to 1753.||
June 20, 1748, Mr. Eaton was killed on the old road south of the ledge, after dragging an Indian who clung to him down the hill, and refusing to surrender, and Benja- min Lake was captured. Three others were pursued, one killed, and another wounded. Joseph Chandler, Solomon and Daniel Mitchell, boys, were captured while after their cows, below the meeting-house, in 1751. Daniel Mitchell remained a prisoner ten years ; the others, three. It was not until after 1760 that it was sufficiently safe for settlers to venture back into the woods more than an hour's walk from salt water. The settlement increased more rapidly afterwards. In 1769, Richard Bray bought and settled on one-half of Cousins' Island.
In 1774 the towu's people took a firm stand against the British Government. Garrisons were repaired, muni- tions of war secreted, and troops early furnished for both land and sea. Great excitement was occasioned by the appearance of a vessel at the entrance of the harbor, one Sunday in autumn of 1775. The sentries about the meeting-house discharged their guns. The services were suspended, and women fainted, while the ringing voices of Capt. Mitchell and Lieut. John Drinkwater were heard calling their men from among the congregation, and form- ing them for action. Marching to Gray's wharf, they found her to be a privateer, sent by Gen. Washington, in quest of spruce, for the medieal department of the army. The people turned out en masse, and soon supplied them
¿ The Whitcomb house is still standing a short distance below the Riverside Cemetery. It was erected in 1728-29, and is the oldest building in Yarmouth.
| Dr. Jackson, iv report of Geological Survey of Maine, says, " Specimens of magnetic iron ore from Davis' llill, in Raymond, hav- ing been sent me for analysis, . . . at my request several gentlemen accompanied me to the spot, which is a mountain situated in the northeast part of Raymond, six miles from Sebago Lake, and three- fourths of a mile from the head of Great Rattlesnake Pond. The hill is an abrupt, precipitous mass of rocks, covered with a seanty soil, hearing a few small forest trees, and attains an elevation of 371 feet above the level of Rattlesnake Pond. The rock which contains the iron ore is a huge bed of green epidote rock, containing also many scattered crystals of black hornblende, and the iron ore occurs in sheets or veins, closely implanted, measuring from one to four inches iu thickness. Owing to its being vory closely attached to the rock, it is difficult to quarry without taking out large portions of the matrix within which it is inclosed." lle estimates it as yielding 50 per cent. if wrought in a blast furnace.
* Joseph Drinkwater was a part of this garrison in 1735.
t This comprised a part of " two miles on each side of the Wesen- stogo River from the first falls to the head of the river, and every branch aud ercek thereunto belonging," purchased of Robin Hood and other sagamores, in 1673, and sold to B. Gedney, of Salem, Mass., and Henry Saward, of York, Oet. 12, 1674. They began to erect a mill with two saws and a corn-mill, which were burned by the In- dians. Mr. Gedney became sole proprietor. Capt. Gendall purchased the mill-site of Mr. Gedney, to whom it reverted in 1681, together with a saw- and grist-mill, house, and 4 acres of cleared land on each side of the river. After Gedney's death, Nathaniel Weare, who had a one-third claim, built the third mill.
¿ Mary Loring, mother of Capt. John Young, was born in this bonse in August, 1753, and lived there until June, 1843.
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410
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
with a cargo. A redoubt was erected on Prinee's Point, and mounted with a ship's gun, for a coast defense .*
After the war, population and business increased. A pot- ash-factory was opened by Mr. Shepard ; hat-factories, by Nathan Spafford and others; salt-works, by Nathaniel Jenks; a cloth-earding and fulling-mill, in 1790, by Jonathan True ; a scythe- and axe- factory, by Joseph C. Batchelder ; a paper-mill, by Hawes & Cox, succeeded by a mahogany- mill, by Mr. Kimball ; brick-making, moroceo- and leather- dressing, carding-machinery, by Solomon Winslow; and the famous "Grandfather's" clocks, by Lebbeus Bailey. A Mr. Tailor walled in a roek-bound cove, on the north side of Prince's Point, to catch the tide, and evaporate salt water on a gigantic scale, but only succeeded in giving to the locality the name of " Tailor's Folly." The channel of Cousins River was changed, to facilitate navigation, in 1794.
By 1820, ship-building had become a leading enterprise. The two villages were busy with traffic in hay, wood, pota- toes, lumber, and produce, for export in the coasting-vessels which crowded the wharves. The business then comprised six stores, saw, grist, fulling, carding, and paper mills, jew- elry, clock, cabinet, saddle, chaise, and wagon, and three blacksmith-shops, two tanneries, a brick-yard, a ship-yard, two taverns, and a busy stage-line.
The Pilot, a Universalist weekly paper, was published in Yarmouth, by Capt. James C. Hill & Son, in 1835-36, and printed on paper made in the village.
Ou the re-incorporation of the town in 1859 a farm was purchased for the support of the town poor, the fire-engine repaired and placed in a new building, and the schools re- organized. The manufacture of oil from porgies was eom- menced on a large scale in 1869, but abandoned in 1871. This industry has been profitable for fishermen with small presses for many years. In 1877 the old engiue was sold and the proceeds used to erect street-Jamps, which were first lighted November 1st of that year. The Maine Central crosses the Grand Trunk Railway a mile north of the vil- lage, where is also the Maine Central Depot. Ship-build- ing has been a leading enterprise. In 1874 eight vessels, with an aggregate of 4618 tons burden, were launched.
YARMOUTH VILLAGE,
a seaport and station on the Grand Trunk Railway, orig- inally comprised two separate hamlets, a mile apart, known as the Upper and Lower village. These have since grown to one continuous village, still known by the old local names. The place contains over 200 dwellings, 4 churches, the town-house, 2 school-houses, the academy buildings, Masonic ITall, and the following
MANUFACTORIES AND BUSINESS HOUSES.
Machine-shops : C. II. Weston, manufacturer of leather- working machinery, water-wheels, Weston's anti-friction screw baling-presses ; established in 1876, near the site of the old foundry and smelting-works established by John Powell in 1739.
" this earthwork, crescent-shaped, and now on the extreme edge of the bluff, is still plainly defined. It is some 50 feet between points, and 30 inches above the inelosed surface. It did good service at one time, resening a sloop belonging to Capt. Drinkwater, by cansing the captors to run it aground on Cousins' Island.
Royal River Manufacturing Company, Freeman & Shaw : seamless bags, warp-yarn, and twine; established in 1869 by Barnabas Freeman, Esq .; employs about 50 operatives, and makes about 1000 bags per day. Formerly F. O. and H. J. Libby's cotton-factory.
Flouring- and Plaster-Mill, A. J. Loring : merchant and custom, six run of stones; established in 1863 at the upper falls, burned in 1870, and rebuilt on the site of the first mill, built by Capt. Walter Gendall, in 1681.
Forest Paper Company : paper pulp; established in 1870; conducted sinee 1877 by Wilfred Barnes, agent.
Ship- Yards : Blanchard Bros., Union Wharf; Giles Lo- ring ; Hutchings & Stubbs.
Boat-Buildling: W. C. & E. Seabury ; established 1849
Corn-Canning: J. Winslow Jones; established in 1870.
Granite-Works: C. P. Jones & Taylor, 1879; estab- lished by Joseph W. Jones in 1855.
Wagons and Carriages : P. L. Allen, established in 1864; W. Scott Brown, established in 1868; Wm. Lunt, established in 1855.
Haruess : George H. Jefferds ; established by Benjamin Jefferds in 1837.
Custom Shoes: IJ. D. Brackett, Thaxter P. Gooding ; established in 1879, T. G. Cleaves.
Coffins and Cabinet Work : Gad Hitchcock ; established in 1834.
Printer : Lewis Gurney.
Publication : Old Times, a historical magazine, quarterly, by Capt. Corliss, 8th U. S. Infantry ; established in 1876.
Dealers in General Merchandise : James R. Hopkins, since 1879; Rogers & Co., established by Sumner Sea- bury in 1869; Wm. C. Sweetser, 1879, established by R. R. York, 1842; Richards & Corliss, established by Wm. Richards, 1876 ; Gooch Bros., established in 1866.
Dry-Goods and Clothing : Wm. H. Marston, established 1863.
Groceries : J. Parsons & Son, established in 1874; Wright Bros., established 1876; J. N. Merrill, established 1878.
Drugs : M. C. Merrill, established in 1872; L. R. Cook, established in 1878.
Jewelry : W. M. Walker, since 1876, established by Elbridge Thoit, 1859; Artimus Felt, established in 1877.
Tailors : Augustus D. Storer, established in 1859 ; Brad- bury True, established in 1856.
Stoves and Tinware : J. V. R. Coombs, established 1854. Lumber Dealer : J. L. Craige.
Paint-Shops : Henry B. Hitchcock, established in 1839; Gad Hitchcock, established in 1834
Coal: S. & L. F. Walker, established in 1873.
Fancy Goods : Geo. II. Lovell, established in 1876.
Saloon and Barber-Shop: C. L. Blake.
Hotel : Baker House, D. S. Moody.
Coal : Lyman Walker & Son.
Blacksmiths : Alexander Grover, L. Dennison.
Mails are daily by railroad; postmistress, Lucy Groves.
BURYING.GROUNDS.
The old Chapel Burying-place, laid out on the church common in 1727, was used also as a training-field. Here were erected the stocks and whipping-post, in obedience to
& TTLE
CAPT. WILLIAM BUCKNAM
was born at North Yarmouth, Dec. 22, 1806. He was the oldest in a family of six children of Samnel and Phoebe (Chandler) Bucknam.
He spent his youth at sea with his father, and at an early age became master of a vessel, which posi- tion he filled for several years.
Feb. 19, 1835, he was married to Mary, daugh- ter of Edward and Elizabeth True, of Yarmouth. Of this union five children were born to them, as follows: Horace, born June 2, 1836. Alvan F., born Nov. 27, 1837, who graduated at Bowdoin College in 1860, and is now practieing medicine in Warren, Ill. Lizzie T., born Ang. 3, 1840; died Nov. 10, 1858. William E., born Feb. 17, 1844. Mary Ellen, born March 1, 1846.
After his marriage he purchased a farm in Yar-
month, upon which he resided till his death, which veenrred July 12, 1851. About twelve years pre- vious to his death he united with the Baptist Church of Yarmouth, and his subsequent life proved the sincerity of his faith, and adorned the profession he had made. In youth and early manhood he had gained many friends, and won the esteem of all by his qualities as a man and citizen. In his latter years, blessed with a competence, enjoying the society of an affectionate companion and interesting children, dwelling in the midst of a circle made up of beloved parents, brothers, sisters, Christian and other friends, the ties which bound him to earth were numerous and strong; but faith taught him that to die was gain, and sustained by a cheerful hope in Christ he has gone to a blissful and eternal reward.
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411
TOWN OF YARMOUTH.
a law which, in this case, was unnecessary. Among the dim, dark, weather-beaten old slates marking the graves of the hardy pioneers no modern white stone has intruded. Here are the graves of Capt. James Parker, the first to resettle upon the foreside, who died in " 1732}" (so reads the inscription) ; Ebenezer Eaton, Capt. Peter Weare, Capt. Stephen Larrabee, Ensign Benj. Ingersoll, and many whose names are connected with the early history of the town. The ground also contains eighteen unmarked graves.
Two hundred yards to the west a larger and later ground, still unfilled, dates back to the death of John Powell and Jesse Soule, who died in 1742. Rev. Ammi R. Cutter, the first minister, died 1746, aged forty-four, and Stephen Moulton, who died in 1769.
An old burying-ground on Cousins' Island was enlarged in 1879.
The Baptist church-yard, at the upper village, contains the early dead of the more northern part of the town, many of whom have unmarked graves, and date back to the last century. Near the town farm in the east a family ground contains early members of the Davis, Grant, and Lawrence families.
RIVERSIDE CEMETERY,
near the village, was purchased by the town in 1869, and tastefully laid out with granite borders and shrubbery. It contains many fine monuments. A beautiful pavilion over- looks the river, and near the entrance a monument "IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES" commemorates the heroes of Yarmouth in the war of 1861.
PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST.
Among the places of interest are the old redoubt on Prince's Point, behind which the grass-covered lawn is sue- ceeded by a beautiful grove, the annual resort of Indians in early days. The high bank to the left of the redoubt is for many rods composed of shells intermixed with the soil, the accumulation of these annual feasts. To the right the falling banks occasionally disclose an Indian skeleton.
The oldest house in the town stands just below the River- side Cemetery. It was built at the same time with the old church. It was into this house Deaeon Mitchell rode to escape from his savage pursuers. An old house south of the road, near Prince's Point, long known as the " Granny Millet house," was built by Mr. Ring some years before the Revolution, and purchased by Capt. Millett with prize- money obtained from privateering. The Corliss house, at the upper village, was built by Jotham Byrom, in 1776-77. The Gooding house, now owned by E. P. Gurney, is sup- posed to conceal within its modern finish the walls of one of the old garrison-houses from whence Capt. Gendall went forth to meet his death.
LIST OF TOWN OFFICERS.
The first regular election was held at the meeting-house of the First Parish, Aug. 20, 1849. Dr. E. Burbank was chosen moderator. Rev. David Shepley opened the meeting by prayer, and the following officers were elected : Dr. Sam- uel W. Blanchard, Town Clerk ; Edward II. Smith, Treas- urer ; Jeremiah Baker, J. G. Loring, David Seabury, Se- lectmen, Assessors, and Overseers of the Poor ; Rev. David
Shepley, S. W. Blanchard, A. W. Burbank, School Com- mittee ; James C. Ilill, Town Agent; Jacob B. Lufkin, Collector ; B. Freeman, Philip Young, Daniel L. Mitchell, Police Officers ; Isaac G. Loring, Clerk of the Market; Jos. Gooding, Edward Bachelder, Charles Moxey, Jos. Drenhabe, Thomas Pratt, William Roberts, Jos. G. Davis, Reuben Ilayes, Edward Preble, Surveyors of Highways, Fence-Viewers, and Hog-Reeves.
SELECTMEN.
1849-51 .- Jeremiah Baker, Jacob G. Loring, David Seabury. 1852 .- Capt. Thaxter Prince, Jeremiah Brown, John Young. 1853 .- Jeremiah Baker, John Young, Samuel W. Blanchard. 1854 .- John Young, S. W. Blanchard, Daviel L. Mitchell. 1855 .- Elbridge G. Wagg. James M. Bneknam, Thomas Pratt. 1856-58 .- Elbridge G. Wagg, James M. Bucknam, Thos. J. Brown. 1859 .- Sylvanns O. Blanchard, Stephen Pratt, Nicholas Drinkwater. 1860 .- Nathaniel Gooch, Nicholas Drinkwater, Octavius A. Ilill. 1861-63 .- Nathaniel Gooch, Nicholas Drinkwater, Albion Seabury. 1864-65 .- Perez N. Blanchard, Percz B. Loring, Elkanah II. Walker. 1866-68 .- Perez N. Blanchard, Daniel L. Mitchell, Samuel Baker. 1869 .- Joseph R. Curtis, Daniel L. Mitchell, Jeremiah Buxton, Jr. 1870 .- Joseph R. Curtis, Henry Hutchins, Henry C. Greenleaf. 1871-73 .- Perez N. Blanchard, Elbridge G. Wagg, James M. Buck - nam. 1874 75 .- Perez N. Blanchard, Elbridge G. Wagg, Henry C. Green - leaf. 1876-79 .- Perez N. Blanchard, Charles T. Grant, Edward J. Stubbs.
TOWN CLERKS.
Samuel W. Blanchard, 1849-51; A. II. Burbank, 1855 ; Samuel W. Burbank, 1856; Benj. Gooch, Jr., 1857-58 ; Rufus M. Thaxter, 1859; Charles Ilumphrey, 1860; Reuben Cutter, 1861-64; R. Ilarding, 1865-66 ; Elbridge Thoits, 1867-72; Richard Harding, 1873-75; George E. Thoits, 1876-78; E. P. Gurney, 1879.
TREASURERS.
Edward 11. Smith, 1849-51 ; S. W. Blanchard, 1852; Jacob Loring, 1853 ; Capt. Jacob G. Loring, 1854-55; Ferdinand Ingraham, 1856-58; Reuben Cntter, 1859-63; Elbridge Thoits, 1864-65; Samuel Fogg, 1866-67 ; Charles Humphrey, 18GS-79.
COLLECTORS.
Jacob B. Lufkin, 1849; Perez B. Loring, 1850-51; Giles Loring, 1852; Jonathan P. Rowe, 1853; Nathaniel Baker, 1851 ; Cushing Prince, 1855-56 ; eons, and eol., 1857 : Charles Humphreys, 1858 ; George A. Ilumphrey, 1859-61; Benjamin R. Gouch, 1862; Daniel L. Mitchell, 1863-78; David M. Lawrenco, 1879.
CONSTABLES.
1849 .- B. Freeman, Philip Young, Daniel L. Mitchell. 1850 .- Philip Toney, B. Freeman, Daniel L. Mitchell. 1851-53 .- Ammi M. Loring, Perez B. Loring, George Lewis.
1854 .- Charles Humphrey, Joel Brooks, Perez B. Loring.
1855 .- George Lewis, Joel Brooks, Reuben Hayes.
1856 .- George Lewis, Joel Brooks, Ammi MI. Loring. 1857 .- Ammi M. Loring, Joel Brooks, Cushing Prince.
1858 .- Ammi M. Loring, Joel Brooks, Charles Humphreys.
1859-61 .- Ammi M. Loring, Robert E. Corliss, George A. Ilumphreys. 1862 .- Ammi M. Loring, Robert E. Corliss, Benjamin R. Gooch.
1863 .- Georgo A. Ilumphrey, William T. Baker, J. G. Skillin, Daniel L. Mitchell.
1864 .- George A. IIumphrey, Ammi M. Loring, Robert E. Corliss, Daniel L. Mitchell.
1865-68 .- Joel Brooks, Ammi M. Loring, Robert E. Corliss, Daniel 14. Mitchell.
1869 .- Joel Brooks, Robert E. Corliss, Daniel L. Mitchell.
1870-73,-Daniel L. Mitchell, Robert E. Corliss, Giles Loring. 1874 .- Daniel L, Mitchell, Robert E. Corliss, Perez B. Loring. Į875-79 .- Daniel L. Mitchell, Robert E. Corliss, Charles T. Grant.
412
HISTORY OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
RELIGIOUS.
CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH.
The first minister of Yarmouth was Rev. Samuel Sea- bury, who preached from 1727 to November, 1729. The meeting-house was commenced in 1727, and accepted April, 1729. It was finished six years later, by a tax of .£312, by Richard Houghton, Joseph Jones, and John Owen, carpenters. This house, 40 by 50 feet in size, and 22 feet
high at the eaves, was strongly built of oak, with ceiled walls, plastered overhead, clapboarded outside, and sur- mounted by a steeple and copper vane. The entrance was by three doors, with " shells" over them. There were two seats apiece in the side galleries, and three in the front gal- lery, reached by two pairs of stairs. Twenty-four of the pews were drawn with the lands, and the rest went to the minister. Two seats were afterwards added, near the pulpit, for deaf people. In 1762 forty feet were added to its length, a porch added, and the interior arrangements changed. Capt. John Young's house now occupies the site of the western end, while the stone step of the eastern en- trance remains in his garden, surrounded by a cedar hedge.
Messengers from the churches of Wells, Falmouth, Sear- borongh, and Biddeford met at the meeting-house, Nov. 18, 1730, and the Church of North Yarmouth was there incor- porated, with Samuel Seabury, Jacob Mitchell, and Jede- diah Southworth, deacons; and Joseph Chandler, Ebene- zer Eaton, Samuel Fisher, Samuel Totman, and Benjamin Price, members. Rev. Ammi Rahamah Cutter became the first settled minister, Oct. 21, 1730, remaining five years, and receiving the ministerial lot, besides his salary of 120 ounces of silver a year, or its equivalent in bills of eredit. He lived in a house ninety feet east of the meeting-house, built in 1734, of hewn timbers of hard wood, loop-holed, surrounded by a wall of hard timber ten feet high, sixty feet wide, and eighty feet long, with two watch-boxes for rifles on its walls, and called the Cutter fort. One hun- dred and ninety feet to the west was the Loring fort. Am- munition was stored in the loft of the meeting-house. The men came armed, and took seats at the outer end of their pews. During service armed sentinels were posted on the ledge, on Gilman Rock, and on the bluff to the northward. There was no bell. A bass-drum was beaten from the ledge every Sunday morning and noon. Fires were carried in foot-stoves in cold weather. The building was never warmed nor lighted. Rev. Mr. Cutter was dismissed Dec. 12, 1735, practiced medicine until 1742, and removed to Saco River. The parish was supplied by Rev. Ephraim Keith, of Bridgewater, until the settlement of Rev. Nich- olas Loring, Nov. 10, 1736. Ile remained until his death. July 13, 1763. Rev. Edward Brooks was ordained with great rejoicing, July 4, 1764, at an expense of $116 for the ordination dinner. He was succeeded by Rev. Tris- tram Gilman, who was pastor from his ordination in Novem- ber, 1769, until his death, in 1809. Rev. Francis Brown was ordained January, 1810, succeeded by Joseph Waite Curtis, ordained June, 1816, resigned in 1817 ; Rev. Samuel Woodbury, the last settled pastor, installed Nov. 5, 1817, died July 6, 1819. The church became divided over the erection of a new house, and a new one was erected at the village. Rev. Asa Cummings was ordained in the
new house, in February, 1821, and remained pastor until 1824, when he beeame editor of the Christian Mirror. Rev. Noah Cressy succeeded as pastor of the old meeting- house, where the old members continued to worship under the name of the Chapel Church, until the fall of 1829, when he left them. The members united with the village church in 1833. The last great gathering in the old meet- ing-house was May 14, 1833, the anniversary of the first town election, when Gen. Edward Russell, one of the lead- ing citizens of the county, delivered an address to his towns- men. The building was torn down by the town authorities in 1836, and its timbers built into three ships, which were all lost at sea. The old vane, thirty feet in height, stands upon the granite ledge where Seth Mitchell beat the drum for meeting a hundred and fifty years ago.
The succeeding ministers have been Revs. David Shepley, ordained April 18, 1849; Edward P. Allen, settled Feb- ruary, 1850; Rev. Charles A. Aikin, settled October, 1854; George A. Pinkham, 1860, discharged 1870; Leavitt Bart- lett, installed 1871, discharged 1875; Joseph Torrey, in- stalled March, 1875.
The deacons have been Samuel Seabury, appointed 1730, died 1763; Jacob Mitchell, appointed 1730, died 1744; Jedediah Southworth, appointed 1730, died 1741 ; Jonas Mason, appointed 1737, died 1801; Jacob Mitchell, ap- pointed 1745, died 1784; Jacob Mitchell, appointed 1796, died 1848; John White, appointed 1745, died 1747 ; John Lewis, appointed 1796, died 1803; Thomas Seales, ap- pointed 1770, died 1786; David Mitchell, appointed 1770, died 1796; John Southworth, appointed 1786, died 1814; Ammi R. Mitchell, appointed 1803, died 1824; John Hayes, 1803-4, died 1820; John Webster, appointed 1824, died 1838 ; Thomas Chase, appointed 1837 ; Allen II. Weld, removed 1846; Philip Greely was killed by In- dians Aug. 9, 1746, and Ebenezer Eaton was killed on the ledge near the old spire June 20, 1748,-both were men- bers of this church.
A new church was embodied under the name of the C'en- tral Congregationalist Church, at a meeting held by some of the members at the Academy Ilall, April 4, 1859. Cush- ing Prince was chosen Moderator; Barnabas Freeman, Scribe ; and Rev. Charles A. Aikin was invited to preach an organization sermon. The organization comprised 20 members ; a house of worship was immediately erected. Rev. John G. Butger was chosen pastor in 1860. Rev. J. J. Abbott, in September, 1865; Rev. R. W. Jenkins, 1876-78; Rev. F. W. Sanborn, settled 1878-79. Present membership, 60. Officers: E. D. Freeman, Society Clerk ; Geo. Lovell, Treasurer ; Dr. J. M. Bates, Parish Treasurer.
BAPTIST CHURCH.
Rev. Hezekiah Smith preached in Yarmouth, in 1780, on invitation of Capt. Davis, a coaster, who took him to his home on Davis' Island, and was baptized by him soon after. Elder James Potter preached at the Falls in 1793, and bap- tized Jeremiah Stubbs, Mrs. Judith Winslow, John Drink- water, and Samuel York. A church was organized by Elder Thomas Green, who became the first pastor, at his house, Jan. 18, 1797. Sylvanus Soule was one of the first members. The church was incorporated in that year, and
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