USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Gorham > History of Gorham, Me. > Part 13
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Daniel Gammon,
66
Thomas Thompson,
Pearsonstown. Gorham.
David Gammon,
66
Daniel Whitmore,
Nathan Hanscom,
66
Malachi Waterman,
66
John Harding,
66
Colman Watson,
William Harding,
66
Jeremiah Williams,
66
Joseph Jenkins,
66
Moses Whitney,
Solomon Lombard, Jr.,
66
William Wiswell, David Whitney,
66
Men were drawn from these militia companies as wanted for the Continental army. Following is a list of Gorham men who enlisted into the Continental establishment for three years out of parts of the 3d Cumberland County regiment :
(Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 27, P. 34.)
Austin Alden.
Ichabod Hunt.
Peletiah McDonald.
John Burnell, Jr.
Elijah Hamblen.
Abner McDonald.
Amos Brown.
William Hunt.
Matthias Murch.
Nathan Bangs.
John Haskel, Jr.
John Murch.
Josiah Black.
David Hatch.
Moses Poland.
Sylvanus Bramhall.
Ezekiel Hatch.
Ebenezer Phinney.
Silas Chadbourn.
Josiah Jenkins.
Josiah Peabody.
Joshua Davis.
Samuel Jenkins.
Thomas Pote.
Josiah Davis.
Jeremiah Jones.
Nathaniel Parker.
Elijah Davis.
John Knight.
Benjamin Rolfe.
Christopher Dunn.
Joab Libby.
Joseph Stone.
Timothy Dyer.
Reuben Libby.
William Smith. Tufts Thomas.
Bickford Dyer.
Caleb Lombard.
Daniel Eldridge.
Jedediah Lombard, Jr. David Watts.
John Foy.
Butler Lombard.
Abel Whitney.
John Greeley.
Nathaniel Lombard.
Jesse Whitney.
James Gilkey.
Ebenezer Morton.
William Weeks.
John Green.
Ebenezer Morton, Jr. Joseph Weston.
David Gustin.
Robert McFarling.
William Whitmore.
Philip Gammon.
Joseph Mclellan.
Joseph Weymouth.
Moses Gammon.
Thomas Millett.
Naphthali Whitney.
Benjamin Green.
John Melvin.
Paul Whitney.
66
Thomas Morton,
66
Paul Whitney,
66
Ephraim Hunt,
David Morton, John Pierce, James Ross,
Gorham.
66
Among other Gorham men who served in the Revolution, were Timothy Bacon, who was in Lt .- Col. Sprout's regiment, Patterson's brigade ; was with Gen. Green in the Carolinas, and at the surrender of Cornwallis; and served through the war. John Phinney enlisted
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in the American army as a private Mar. 5th, 1781, at Gorham, under Capt. Whitmore for three years, and marched to White Plains, N. Y., where he joined Col. Sprout's regiment in the fall of the year. He was afterwards transferred to Capt. Learned's company, Col. Shep- ard's regiment. He was again transferred to Capt. Pope's company, and was discharged in December, 1783. Samuel Davis served in the army with Phinney and Bacon. Jonathan Freeman was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was a soldier in the Revolution.
It was not only the white men, but the negro slaves who partook of the spirit of liberty. Mr. William McLellan was a lieutenant in the army at Cambridge. He left at home his slave, Prince, who took his liberty into his own hands. While his master was absent at Cambridge, Prince went to Portland, and enlisted on board a Conti- nental vessel commanded by Capt. Manley, and served over a year. He performed his duty like a hero, and when the time of his enlist- ment was out returned to his old quarters, and remained with his master till the slaves were liberated by law. Even then he did not leave, but remained in the family till the death of Mr. Mclellan, when he had a piece of land and a house secured to him by the will of his old master, where he lived with his wife Chloe until his death, when he was supposed to have completed over a hundred years. The last years of his life were made more comfortable and happy by a pension from Government for his services in the Revolution. Prince claimed every member of the Mclellan family as brother or relation. He was an honest old negro, and the bounty of Govern- ment was never bestowed on a more worthy man. Plato, who was the slave of Lieut. Cary Mclellan, enlisted in 1777 in Capt. Paul Ellis's company, Col. Bigelow's regiment.
The army was not the only place where the citizens of this town served for the defence of the country. Scarce one of the few national vessels fitted out at that time but had a citizen of Gorham on board. During the war a privateer sloop was fitted out at Boston to cruise against the enemy, and on account of the scarcity of men she came into Portland to complete her complement. Meeting with poor success the Lieutenant came to Gorham. His business soon became known, and there was quite an assembly of men : after a consultation, some ten of them proposed going if Lieut. Cary McLellan would go with them. Accordingly, Mclellan was offered the birth of lieutenant of marines, which he accepted, and on the next morning the sloop left Portland harbor. The cruise was not successful ; they took one or two small prizes, but soon fell in with
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
Capt. Mowatt, in a large vessel of very superior force. They were captured, and carried into New York, and confined on the, ever-to-be- remembered by Americans, prison ship Jersey. Here they, in com- mon with the other American prisoners, were insulted, and assailed by hunger, disease and sickness. But at a time when the prospect was dark and gloomy they found a friend, which was to them as unexpected as it was welcome. Col. Tyng, then in New York, hear- ing accidentally of the capture of the sloop, and that she was from Portland, went on board to ascertain if there was any one there with whom he was acquainted, when what was his surprise to meet some of his old neighbors from Gorham. Col. Tyng had left that part of the country on account of his loyal principles, but returned to Gorham after the close of the war. Madam Tyng continued on his estate in Gorham during the war, and as the property was in her name it was not confiscated. Col. Tyng lived and died in Gorham much respected and beloved by a large circle of acquaintances, and it is with pleasure that I can here make known his kindness and attention to the pris- oners in that loathsome prison ship. He not only furnished them money, but sent them many things which contributed greatly to their health and comfort. His kindness was never forgotten by these men ; and not only the citizens of Gorham, but others often received com- forts from his liberal hand.
When this capture was made it was in the winter. The weather was cold, and the prisoners were deficient in comfortable clothing, and fires had to be kept to keep the men from freezing. The British captors made the wooding of the prison ship the work of the prison- ers. They were compelled to go in boats a long distance on the Jersey shore, and under a guard of soldiers with loaded muskets and fixed bayonets, cut the wood, not only for their own use, but also for the use of the officers and crew of the ship. The treatment of slaves at this labor would have been good compared with what they received, and it is not to be supposed that the prisoners worked with a will; the wooding was a hard business, and they made it a slow one. A boat would be gone two days, with a strong gang of men, and when she returned the result would probably be as much wood as one of the same men would have procured in two hours, if allowed to work on his own account.
One afternoon, on the return of the boat with its load of wood, McLellan was looking over the side of the ship, and carelessly made the remark in the hearing of a stripling of an officer, that he did not think much of men that could not procure more wood in that time;
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THE REVOLUTION.
they must be lazy. The officer immediately turned to him and said, " Well, you rebel, do you think you could do any better?" The reply was " I think I could if I could have a good crew, and sharp axes." The officer at once told him sarcastically that he should have a chance to try his hand on the morrow, and that he might take the axes and grind as much as he pleased. This was precisely what McLellan desired. The axes were ground with a will; and when the morning came, and the prisoners were mustered, and he was ordered to select his men, he chose Jedediah Lombard, Jonathan Simpson and William McLellan, Jr., son of Dea. James Mclellan, all of Gor- ham, and wished to take two other men, but the officer told him he had enough. With two privates and an orderly for their guard, the boat started on its voyage, which voyage Lieut. Mclellan had deter- mined should be a voyage for liberty or death for some of them. They landed at the usual wooding place, at some miles from New York, in a region of country occupied by many tory families. Before the landing no one of the crew had been made aware of Lieut. Mclellan's plan. During the day, however, the wooding went on well, and he had an opportunity of making known his plan to his companions.
It was usual for the wooding party to remain on the ground over night, and occupy an old log house near by; one of the guard stand- ing sentry, while the others slept; and they took sufficient provisions with them to last the two days. Toward night on the first day, Lieut. McLellan told the orderly that he felt tired and should like a glass of something good to drink. The orderly replied that there was a store about a mile out, and if money could be raised, they could have some. Mclellan said he had money enough, and if he would send a guard with him, he would go and purchase some ; he wanted what he was accustomed to drink, and would prefer to go and purchase his own liquor. This appeared quite reasonable, and the orderly said he liked good liquor too, and made no objection to the reason- able proposition. Accordingly one of the guard was ordered to accompany Lieut. McLellan to the store, which was kept by a tory. Here he bought a new pail, and a gallon of the best West India rum the store offered. As the pail was so full of rum, he thought it was not prudent to add any water, but put molasses in to make it sweet and palatable. The guard tasted and as well as himself pronounced it good. For this treat Mclellan paid ten silver dollars, but counted the money of no value as it was to him the price of liberty. The now cosy friends went on their way toward the camp, and he at once saw that the soldier would stick to him like a brother while the rum
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
lasted, for he even insisted on changing burdens, Mclellan to take the gun, and he to carry the rum; this was agreed to the more readily to lull all suspicion. When they arrived at the camp, their compan- ions had left off work, as it was about dark. A fire was soon blazing on the hearth of the old house. As the windows were only small holes through the logs, a guard at the door was thought to make all perfectly safe for the prisoners. Supper was prepared, and the rum went round. Mclellan had cautioned his men to drink sparingly, if at all, but appearances at least must be kept up. Young William he knew he could depend upon; Simpson was a man addicted to drinking, but he promised to be on his guard; Lombard loved his glass, but was not called an intemperate man, and being the oldest of the party, he, by arrangement, was to give in first and go to sleep, or at least appear to.
The orderly was cautious about his prisoners and their safe keeping, and himself dealt out the liquor to the guard at the door ; as for the one off duty and himself, he appeared to think it of less consequence if a few glasses more or less were drank by them. The evening passed merrily enough with drinking and talking. . A looker- on would hardly have believed that in that company there were prisoners and their guard. Before the evening had far advanced, Simpson, Lombard and young William, were to all appearances under the influence of the liquor, and fast asleep. One of the guard was asleep, and there could be no mistake in him; he was drunk. Lieut. Mclellan, the orderly and the man on duty were all of the party that had not retired. The two officers were social and happy, drank often and talked much. At last Mclellan thought it time for him- self to be under the influence of his drink, and to retire; soon his head fell on one side, he dropped on the floor and laid himself out as respectably as he could, but he and young Mclellan only closed one eye. The orderly sat some minutes talking, in a thick and hardly intelligible voice, about the d -- d drunken rebels asleep on the floor, and if they escaped, of some one gracing a rope at the yard arm, which must have made a deep impression on the guard, who was not much behind his officer in his approach to glory. With something of an effort the orderly got on his feet, replenished the fire, took some liquor and gave it to the guard, took another tot him- self, put the pail in the farthest part of the room, at the same time telling the guard on no account to touch the liquor, and with an oath tumbled himself on to the floor, much to the satisfaction of his anx- ious prisoners.
*
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THE REVOLUTION.
Lieut. Mclellan supposed that the four prisoners might have overpowered the guard, even had they been awake, but he deemed it more prudent to attempt the escape when they were asleep, for as they were all three of them armed, bloodshed must have inevitably been the result, even in their drunken state, as the prisoners had no weapons whatever, their axes being put away when they went into the house. This was an anxious moment for the two Mclellans ; the other two prisoners had not only feigned, but had really fallen, asleep. The orderly had been on the floor but a few minutes before his sonorous snoring made it evident that he slept in earnest. Scarce had his nocturnal music commenced before the guard on duty made his way to the pail, took a good drink, and with a dipper-full in his hand returned to his post. All this was carefully noticed by the watchers, to whom the time seemed longer, probably, than it really was. The guard, after some time, made his way into the room, took a good, and to himself, satisfactory look at the prisoners, and mut- tering to himself that the d-d rebels were drunk as hogs and fast asleep, made his way back again to his post, and sat himself down in the door-way with his gun across his knee and his back against the side of the door; thus comfortably fixed, he put the dipper-full of rum to his mouth, and at one draught made a finish of it. Its effect was not slow ; soon it was evident that he too was asleep ; thus the three guards were apparently at the mercy of the prisoners. Still Lieut. Mclellan deemed it prudent to act cautiously. They were all three, smart, athletic men, and were they sober, he deemed them every way a match in a fair scuffle for his force, and intoxicated, they might wake and use their arms. His plan was to make the guard prisoners, and if possible deliver them up to the American army. They were within the enemy's lines, and in the neighborhood of tories, and should a gun be fired or noise made in the night, he could not foresee the consequences.
The fire was still burning, and gave sufficient light for the intended operations. All kept still till well into the night, when Lieutenant Mc- Lellan got up and gave William a gentle touch which immediately brought him to his feet. The two at once procured the axes, and Lieut. Mclellan going to the guard at the door, gently took his gun from his lap where it lay, and giving it to William, told him to shoot the guard at the door at the least movement he made in resistance. He then went to Lombard, and took hold of him; he sprang to his feet with a bellow equal to any bull, evidently dreaming that the English had taken him again, and were about to murder him. His
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
fright was intense. The McLellans were fearful that trouble would come of this noise, but Lombard immediately came to himself so far as to know his friends and keep still, but was evidently under the influence of some dreadful fear; he trembled like an aspen. Con- trary to the expectation of Mclellan, none of the guard was awakened by Lombard ; the rum had done its work to a charm.
The orderly and the soldier in the room had fallen directly across their guns in such a manner that they could not remove them, and as the orderly was much the most athletic and powerful man, Lieut. McLellan thought it best to secure him first. Accordingly an axe was put into Lombard's hands, with orders to split open the head of the drunken soldier if he moved to resist. Lieut. Mclellan had provided himself, while on board the ship, with a ball of good spun- yarn prepared expressly for this expedition ; from this he cut a piece of sufficient length, and laid it across the back of the orderly, then gently raised his arms and laid his wrists across the line. The cord was then taken up, a knot made and drawn home with a will which immediately waked the now prisoner. His first words were "For God's sake do not kill me." The reply was "One word from you and you die; be quiet, and your life shall be spared." He was properly secured, without waking his companions. The man at the door was next secured by placing his hands in the same position. He was much alarmed when he was aware of his situation. At first he was under the impression that his orderly was confining him for neglect of duty, but when he found himself in the hands of the rebels, he was sure his throat would be cut and his scalp taken immediately ; but he was soon assured of his safety on condition of his giving no trouble to his captors. The third prisoner was so much under the influence of liquor that he was hardly aware of his situation at all. The task of securing the three was but the work of a few minutes. When all was right, Simpson was waked up, and the arms having changed hands, the new prisoners were marched to the boat, which had been partly loaded the previous afternoon. But what was their disappointment to find it aground, the tide having left it high and dry. The intention was to have passed the shipping in the harbor under cover of the darkness of the night. They threw out the wood, and tried their united strength, but found it impossible to move the boat : there was no help for it, but the tide, fortunately, was on the flood, and they might possibly get off before daylight. If not, their chances of escape would be much diminished; they might run the gauntlet through the tory country and the British lines, with the
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almost sure chance of being taken ; remain where they were, and be taken ; or go into the harbor with more than the same chance, for the boat would be recognized and known at once.
With this fine prospect before them, they returned to the house, and like prudent men took food, and fed the prisoners, as they were not sure where they would take their next meal. When the tide had risen sufficiently to float the boat, the prisoners were made to lie flat in the bottom, and some green bushes were piled over them. As the boat was a man-of-war's boat, and on that account would be recog- nized immediately if seen in the light, it was necessary to disguise it in some way. Soft mud was taken, and the boat completely smeared over with it. The bushes were allowed to hang over the side, and everything was done to make it appear like a country boat. When all was ready, the boat unmoored and the sail hoisted, it was nearly daylight, and as it was fast growing light their situation was critical in the extreme. Simpson had thus far done nothing, but as he was a sea-faring man and sailor, he was now ordered to perform his part, which consisted in handling the sail.
In order to reach the American lines it was necessary to pass directly by one of the enemy's ships. They knew that no boat would be allowed to pass without being hailed, but to attempt to pass farther off would ensure their having a boat sent for them, and make capture certain. Consequently it was thought best to put a bold face on the thing and steer directly for New York, which path lay directly past the ship which lay at anchor about three miles from the city. The wind was fresh and the course was laid to leeward of the vessel. They expected to be ordered alongside, and Simpson was ordered to take care of the sail, and to loose the sheet and let it fly, thus making the boat unmanageable ; consequently, as the wind blew from the ship, it would render it more impossible to obey the order from the ship. As anticipated they were hailed, to which the answer was made, " A country boat going to market with vegetables." As it was somewhat duskish the green boughs favored and proved the answer. When the orderly found his proximity to the ship he made an attempt to call for help, but Lieutenant Mclellan put the heel of a stout boot into his mouth, which, with the loss of a tooth by the operation, caused him to groan and at once remain quiet. They were then ordered to come alongside as vegetables were wanted on board. This was the chance for the display of their seamanship ; the sail blew out of Simpson's hands; all sprang about to try and catch the sheet, while the boat drifted off, and Lieutenant Mclellan
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HISTORY OF GORHAM.
called at the top of his voice that he could not get to the ship but wished they would send after the vegetables. At this the Lieutenant of the ship, with an oath, told them to go to the devil with their cab- bages, and look out they did not get drowned. This was the order desired. At a proper time the boat was again under way, and made off in another direction, which if seen from the ship was doubtless attributed to their good seamanship.
It was now light. They had passed the point from which the most danger was to be apprehended. Confidence and boldness would probably now carry them through. Without hesitation they kept directly up the North River till they arrived within the American lines, and were hailed from the shore by one of the Continental guards, when they landed with their prisoners, and were marched to White Plains, the headquarters of General Washington, where they gave up their prisoners to the army, and sold their boat.
Simpson and Lombard remained with the army, and the two McLellans came home on foot through the country. They were obliged, most of the way, to beg their victuals and to sleep in barns, as they had no money. They were absent from home about four months.
Philip Horr, of Gorham, who married Elder Joseph Cates's daughter Sarah, enlisted in Capt. Traffam's company, in a Rhode Island regi- ment commanded by Col. Topham. While he was engaged in rowing a boat, containing Col. Topham and two of his officers, across the bay from Howland's ferry to Bristol, the boat was captured by the enemy. Horr was confined on one of the prison ships, where he suffered untold miseries before being released. From the effects of the hard- ships endured while a prisoner, he never recovered. When the pension acts were passed, Mr. Horr was one of the recipients of this bounty from the Government.
On the 20th of May, 1776, the town of Gorham made choice of Caleb Chase, Esq. as a Representative to the Great and General Court to be held at Watertown on the 29th of May; and at the same time, the inhabitants being generally met, agreed then and there, that they would abide by, and with their lives and fortunes support the Honorable Congress in the measure, if they think fit for the safety of these United Colonies, to declare them independent of the King- dom of Great Britain.
No town in the Colonies entered more fully into the spirit of the thing, nor was more unanimous in approving, heart and soul, of the Declaration of Independence when made, than was Gorham. In
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accordance with the order of the Council it was inscribed upon the town books, "there to remain as a perpetual Memorial thereof."
Nor was it an idle boast that Gorham made when it declared that it would support Congress with its lives and fortunes. It voted to give to Capt. Samuel Whitmore and Lieut. Cary Mclellan, each, six shillings a day for eight days, while after powder. Benjamin Skil- lings, Prince Davis and James Gilkey were chosen a committee to provide the families of the non-commissioned officers and private soldiers, who had entered the service in the Continental army, with the necessaries of life ; agreeable to a resolve of the General Court, passed Sept. 29, 1777. On the January following, the town voted one hundred pounds, lawful money, for the support of these families ; in November, 1778, four hundred, and in March, 1779, one thousand pounds for the same purpose. The town was not slack, either, in voting bounties to encourage enlistment.
Gorham also furnished its full share of beef and clothing for the army. In taxing themselves, the inhabitants who had such to dis- pose of, were allowed so much : for instance in procuring clothing, they were allowed 20 shillings for a shirt, 12/ for a pair of shoes, 7/ for a pair of stockings, and 42/ for a blanket; the quality to come up to the requirement of the General Court.
The town was determined that, if it could help it, there should be no traitors within its limits, and in May, 1777, it made choice of Capt. Bryant Morton to procure and lay before the Court, described in an Act passed in the General Court in 1777, the evidence that may be had of any person's inimical disposition towards this, or any of the United States in America. They then voted, "That Capt. John Stephenson be entered on the Selectmen's list as a person inimical to this, and to the United States in America." Voted, "That Mr. McIntosh, now living in the house formerly Samuel Jones', is ditto. Likewise, Adam Shallon, ditto." In June, however, a special town meeting was called to reconsider the vote in regard to Capt. John Stephenson.
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