USA > Maine > Androscoggin County > Wales > History of Monmouth and Wales, V. 1 > Part 10
USA > Maine > Kennebec County > Monmouth > History of Monmouth and Wales, V. 1 > Part 10
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH,
settle the plantation accounts. It was "voted that this committee be empowered to discharge Thomas Gray from sixteen pounds, eleven shillings and a penny on his tax bills, which he paid in orders drawn on him by the Treasurer." The meeting was then adjourned. The tax payers convened again, a few days later. and voted not to recall the plantation tax bills committed to Mr. Allen to collect, and adjourned without further action. The tax bill in question was the one com- mitted to Mr. Allen for collection in 1786. "Allen," says Dr. Jas. Cochrane, in his manuscript history, "was a very clever man, and too easy for being a smart collector." Being naturally tender-hearted and sympa- thetic, he probably was not inclined to force a settle- ment with the poor and unfortunate, of whom there were many in the plantation, consequently quite a por- tion of the bills committed to him for collection remained unpaid. He was allowed an abatement of eight pounds, five shillings and four pence.
The petition to the General Court was presented in due time, but that august body, instead of granting an act of incorporation, passed a resolve that the officers of the plantation should define the bounds of the con- templated town, make a plan of the same, and take a valuation of the real and personal estate of the inhabi- tants. These requirements deferred the incorporation until the year 1762.
CHAPTER VI.
NEW ADMINISTRATION,-CONCLUDED.
While the settlers in the center of the plantation were talking and thinking of nothing but the incorpor- ation, there was one man in the territory who cared but little whether he lived in a town, plantation or unincorporated wilderness. Sometime while the events of which I have been writing were taking place, Gail Cole had wormed his way along the narrow water-shed between the Cobbossee-contee and Annabessacook, and, finding a spot where he fancied he would be con- tent to spend the remainder of his days, built a cabin and began to clear away the heavy forest. It was a wild and dreary life. No path had been cut through from the settled district to that part of the plantation, and it is doubtful if he knew anything of the men who were his nearest neighbors on one side. Occasionally an Indian, attracted by the smoke from his cabin, called at the door, and by going to Winthrop, which was probably the only settled point with which he had any communication, he could catch a more agreeable
I34
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
glimpse of humanity. When his house was ready and he had his family with him, he was a happy man. And why should he not be? Had he not the first choice of lots? And with youth and vigor in his favor what a beautiful home he could prepare for his old age on that hill overlooking the sparkling Cobbossee- contee! Alas for his hopes! Ten years more would find other hands gathering the harvest for which he had prepared the soil; while the pines which he fan- cied he would some day fell and erect into a commo- dious dwelling, would silently guard his lonely grave.
Cole was, undoubtedly, the first settler on the Neck. and with the exception of Daniel Allen and Reuben Brainerd, who had entered the forest a long distance below him on the pond, was the only person living in what we now term East Monmouth. Allen and Brainerd were professional hunters. They built their log cabins on the shore of the pond, where the re- mains of stone chimneys may still be seen, but did not immediately take up lots and begin clearings, as was the custom of the pioneers. Their purpose was to gather harvests of furs from the unexplored banks of the Cobbossee-contee. rather than corn from the untilled lands. Like all hunters and trappers, they were sturdy, courageous men, inured to every kind of hardship, and dauntless in the face of any danger.
Daniel Allen was born in the vicinity of New Vine- yard, Mass. He was one of many children, one of whom married Reuben Brainerd; another. Timothy Foster of Winthrop; and a third, William Rice, who cleared, and settled on, the Geo. Macomber farm. When Daniel was about twelve years old, his father
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A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
moved to Hallowell and took up a farm at the point now called Manchester Forks. While living there he became acquainted with Sarah Delano of Winthrop, whom he married and by whom he had nine children.
As soon as the battle cry from Lexington penetrated the Maine forests, Daniel and all of his brothers shoul- dered their flint-locks and marched for the seat of war. The long and wearisome journey through the pathless wilderness was made entirely on foot. Al- though constantly facing danger in his hunting rounds, his greatest adventure and most miraculous escape from death was connected with his army life. The regiment to which he belonged was one day divided into sections and ordered to prepare for a drill. It was known that the enemy were not far distant, but no immediate action was expected, and it was with the utmost sense of security that the officers led their men into a field, which, from its being flanked on two sides by heavy woodland, and bordered on a third by a soft meadow, would hardly have been chosen for the drill- ground had it been known that, even then, the British troops were lying in ambush watching their movements. All at once, while engaged in their evolutions, they saw a company of cavalry charging down upon them from the open space. They immediately assumed a defensive attitude and awaited, with fixed bayonets. the result. The horsemen had almost reached them, when out of the woods rushed a large body of red- coated infantry. The sight of such an overwhelming force was too much for American valor, and the over- powered troops broke ranks, and, confused and frenzied by the sudden surprise, rushed about excitedly, or
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
crouched and huddled together, in either case only to fall on the swords of their exultant antagonists. Allen made his way toward the meadow brook, which he leaped at a bound. A horseman just behind was swinging his sabre and urging his steed alongside for the fatal blow, when it occurred to the fugitive that his gun had not been discharged. "I'll never die with a loaded gun in my hands," said he, and wheeling, he discharged his musket at his pursuer's breast, killing him instantly. In speaking of this exciting episode, Mr. Allen used to say he did not know that he ever killed a man. He always took deliberate aim, and the man at whom he aimed always fell, but he could not say that he killed him. Out of the whole company, or com- panies engaged in the drill, only Allen and one other es- caped. It is claimed by some of our citizens that Mr. Allen never settled permanently in Monmouth; that his home was always in Winthrop, and that as soon as game was scarce, he returned to that place, where he spent the remainder of his days.
While it is undoubtedly true that he returned to East Winthrop, it is erroneous to suppose that he did not have a fixed residence in Monmouth. Before me, as l write, lies a copy of a deed which I found at the Wis- casset Court-house, giving the bounds of the land he purchased, and at my right hand are transcriptions of records which show that he was more than once elected to office in the plantation-an impossiblity unless he was a resident and "freeholder" in lands.
His son, Luther Allen, settled on Monmouth Neck. and at one time had charge of Gen. Dearborn's saw and grist mills at that place. He married Clarissa
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A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
Shaw, daughter of John Shaw, who settled on the Til- lotson Chandler place.
The annual meeting for 1790 was held at the house of Capt. Levi Dearborn, on Monday, the 5th day of April. Capt. Peter Hopkins was chosen moderator; John Chandler. clerk; Capt. Peter Hopkins, Lieut .: Simon Dearborn and Ichabod Baker, assessors. Capt. James Blossom bid off the collection of the taxes, at one shilling and ten-pence on the pound. Lieut. Simon Dearborn was his bondsman. Capt. Levi Dearborn was elected treasurer; Joseph Allen, Benj. Dearborn and John Chandler were chosen a committee to examine the accounts, and William Titus, Dearborn Blake and Daniel Allen were chosen a committee on fish-ways. Capt. Hopkins was vested with authority to "settle with Esq. Cony" for assistance received in apportioning the taxes. "Agreeably to order of Court" it was "voted to raise fifteen pounds to defray plantation charges ; voted not to raise any school money; voted to comply with the Resolve of Court and raise the bounds of the town petitioned for to be incorporated by the name of Monmouth." John Chandler, Daniel Gilman and Ichabod Baker were accordingly chosen a committee to "raise" the bounds of the town. It was voted "to empower the said Committee to employ a surveyor to raise the bounds; also, take the valuation and make return thereof to Court; voted to buy a Plantation book." Previous to this the records had been kept on sheets of paper stitched loosely together, which ac- counts for the loss of the valuable records of the years 1785 and 1786. Next it was "voted, that all sledges within this Plantation be four feet wide, within boards;"
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
and following this it was "voted, To choose a commit- tee of three men to cut all ox-sledges under that width to pieces." Levi Dearborn, Gilman Moody and Nath- aniel Smith were appointed to serve on that committee. Doubtless the object of this movement against narrow sledges was to secure a wider road. It is apparent that uniformity of guage would conduce to a better condition of the roads, especially as breaking out the roads was then an unthought-of occurrence. At the annual election, thirty.two votes were thrown for John Hancock, Esq., candidate for governor; five, for Sam- uel Adams. For lieut. governor, Samuel Adams re- ceived thirty votes; For senator, Daniel Cony, Esq .. received thirty votes, and Samuel Thompson, Esq .. seven.
Daniel Cony, Esq., the candidate for senator, was the well-known Doctor and Judge Cony, of Augusta. He was a man of great executive ability and keen in- sight; he was an officer in the Continental Army. where he was conspicuous for his bravery, and after the declaration of peace, served in many prominent civil appointments. He represented the towns of IIal- lowell and Augusta in the General Court seven years before the incorporation of Maine as a state; was a senator in that body, and a member of the Executive Council; a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, and Judge of Probate for Kennebec County.
After he was appointed Probate Judge, it was his custom to visit Monmouth once a year to hold a ses- sion of court at Capt. Prescott's tavern. Ile usually appeared, riding in a chaise drawn by an old yellow mare, about the first week in July, when strawberries,
I39
A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
of which he was very fond, had commenced to ripen. Cony's native egoism, a characteristic as prominent as his long pointed nose, was augmented to an alarm- ing degree by his association with men of eminence. The pomposity and ostentation that he assumed made him an object of ridicule. He considered it a breach of dignity to speak to a person in ordinary standing. especially in the presence of others. Once while rid- ing from Augusta to Waldoboro' to attend court, he overtook a poor neighbor who was journeying toward the same destination. The Judge was in an affable mood. He chatted and joked with his companion with evident zest until near the village of Waldoboro'; then his manner underwent a radical change. Turn- ing to his companion, he informed him that it was not in keeping with his station to be seen in company with a common yeoman, and that he would favor him by falling to the rear. The man complied, and the judge assumed his most dignified attitude preparatory to entering the village. But what was his discomfiture, and the amusement of the spectators, to hear a voice from the rear constantly calling, "Be I fur enough be- hind ye, Judge Cony? Be I fur enough behind?"
A turkey gobbler, for whom official position had no terrors, attracted by a large, bright-hued bandanna that graced the Judge's hand as he pompously paced the length of his veranda. ventured to join him in his prom- enade.
Ruffling his feathers, and spreading his tail to its full extent, he strutted back and forth the walk in perfect pace with his companion, occasionally arching his neck and emitting a gobble that denoted complete
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
self-satisfaction. At the completion of two or three rounds, the Judge turned on the presumptuous gobbler, and haughtily exclaimed, "Begone vile beast." But the "vile beast," perhaps realizing that a promenade with a real U. S. senator was a privilege of infrequent oc- currence, continued his stately march, and, after futile attempts to rout him with his cane, the Judge retired precipitately, vanquished on his own ground.
Mr. North, the author of the admirable history of Augusta, speaks of seeing him come into church ar- rayed in a bright colored dressing-gown and gorgeous smoking cap, and carrying a cane over his shoulder in such a manner as to show the silver head.
Samuel Thompson, the opposing candidate for sen- ator in 1790, resided at Little River village in Lisbon. He was generally know as "Brigadier" Thompson. He owned the ferry way at Little River, and traded there. He was a favorite with the settlers who came from New Meadows. Here is an account between Ichabod Baker and the "Brigadier":
"WALES, JULY, YE 10, 1787.
Credits to Bridger thompson.
£ s d
To one fearridge
0 O S
July 12.
1 gill of Rum, o 0 4
Aug. 5,
" one fearridge, O ()
O
2
Sept. 1, " one fearridge,
0 0
8
8
Nov. 22,
" One half a pound of tea,
O 2 O
and one fearridge,
O O S
" one pint of Rum, 0 0 9
1
0 7 3
0 0 S
S
" one half gill of Rum, 0
.. .. o 0
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A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
About this time a potash manufactory was estab- lished by Peter Hopkins. In connection with this he opened a store. It is uncertain whether the enterprise was started in 1789 or 1790. As he pur- chased large quantities of ashes, it is probable that his object in starting a store was to gain a percentage on the cost of his purchases, by paying in staple supplies. An account drawn by Hopkins against Ichabod Baker, contains the following items :
Ichabod Baker to Poter Hopkins, Dr.
April 23d yr 1790 to a half a pound of tea O 2 6
to one quart Rum
O
1 6
to two ounces Snuff
0
0 S
June
July 14
to two ounces of Snuff 0
O
7
15
to one penknife 0
1
6
.. 19
to one bushel of salt O
4 O
Aug. 26
to one gill of Rum 0
o
4
Dec. 10
to one quire of Paper O
2 0
to one pair of Spirs
1 6
"February 23d 1791. this day Reckned and All our acountes from the dae hereof and found due to Peter Hopkins ten shillings and four Pence, this from our hands-Ichabod Baker-Peter Hopkins."
"Wales, December 2Sth ve 1791. A account of Peter Hopkins to Ichabod Baker to hauling Goods up from River of 4s od"
Ashes were then a lawful tender, and were considered the best of pay. Here is an order and a note establish- ing the fact:
"Friend Baker-be please to pay Peter Hopkins ten shilin it beign for valiur reseaved by me-John Grey. April 3d 1789. Please to pay Ashes."
"For value received I promise to pay Nathaniel and Jeremiah Dummer, or the order, Twenty-two bushels and three pecks, good
to one Bushel of corn 0
5 0
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HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
merchantable Ashes, by the first day of February next-also three bushels more. ICHABOD BAKER."
Hallowell, 11th Nov. 1790.
The "potash", where ashes were converted into "pearl- ash" and "soda-ash" was an industry of considerable importance in all the New England towns where, from burnt timber-land and large, open fireplaces, a vast amount of ashes accumulated. It did not cease to exist until within the recollection of generations now living. The process of manufacturing was simple.
A wooden vat was filled with ashes, to which a small quantity of quick-lime had been added. Water was poured over this, and the mixture stirred thoroughly. After settling a few hours, the liquid was carefully drawn off and evaporated in large pans until it became a hard, dry substance. This was potash. When a sufficient quantity had been evaporated to fill a barrel. it was melted by heat, and poured into the cask, where it solidified by cooling, and, in this form, was shipped to Boston, New York, and other ports. to be used in the manufacture of soap. A refining process, which consisted of calcining the crude potash in a reverbera- tory furnace, then mixing it with water, and, after fil- tering through straw, evaporating it again to a dry sub- stance, produced "pearl-ash," and a further refining process, "soda-ash," which was used for making bread. as saleratus is used by modern cooks. Pearl-ash and soda-ash had a high commercial value. Not only were they used in making bread, but in medical practice. the fine arts, and everywhere that the presence of a mild alkali was required.
In 1790 Nathan Gove Prescott, of Epping. N. H ..
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A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
purchased a tract of land containing about 100 acres of General Dearborn, in the new Boston district, where he settled. Mr. Prescott was a brother of Capt. Sewall Prescott. He married a lady by the name of Wells.
Not far from this time. Asahel Blake came from Epping, N. H,. on horseback, bringing a bag full of bricks with which to top out his prospective chimney. Of Mr. Blake's career very little is known. He was accompanied by his son, Asahel Blake, jun., who settled on the place where his grand-daughter, Mrs. Clarence Thompson, now lives. Asahel Blake jun., was a farmer and shoe-maker, and probably was the first tanner in town. His tan vats stood a little north of his house, near the road, and his bark mill, directly in front of it. Later it was moved back and to one side of the house. The old Morrill store that stood in the corner east of M. M. Richardson's was joined to it afterwards.
Mr. Blake bears the reputation of being a man of more than ordinary ability. He, like a majority of the men of his day, lacked the advantages of a good edu- cation, but possessed great freedom of speech and a good insight. Although he fostered characteristics that won him enemies, yet even those who were at variance with him were free to confess that nature de- signed him for a higher calling than that of a tanner. Said one of his opponents, whose good judgment the people have attested by placing him more than once on our board of selectmen. "Asahel Blake's native endow- dowments ought to have placed him in Congress." He was quite zealous in religious work, and sometimes entered the pulpit as a lay preacher.
144
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
The first annual meeting for the year 1791, was held at the house of John Welch, on Monday, the fourth day of April. Capt. Peter Hopkins was chosen mod- erator; John Chandler, clerk; and Simon Dearborn. John Chandler, and Matthias Blossom, assessors. John Welch bid off the taxes, naming Capt. James Blossom as his bondsman. Joseph Allen. Benjamin Dearborn. and Robert Withington were chosen a committee to examine the accounts against the plantation, and Ben- jamin Dearborn, Daniel Gilman and Nathaniel Smith. fish committee. It was "voted that Captain Peter Hopkins shall settle with Esq. Cony." It will be re- membered that Hopkins was authorized at a previous meeting to effect this settlement. "Voted to raise twelve pounds to defray plantation charges;" "voted not to raise any money for schooling; "voted not to raise any money for preaching.".
The second meeting for this year was called to con- vene at the house of John Welch, on Friday, the 27th day of May, for the purpose of consulting in relation to having the plantation incorporated, and to act upon the question of having the District of Maine incorpo- rated as a free. separate, and independent State. Si- mon Dearborn, Esq., was chosen moderator. It was "voted to appoint a man to get the voice of the inhabi- tants between Bowdoin and what is petitioned for to be incorporated into a town by the name of Monmouth. whether they wish to be incorporated with said Mon- mouth or not." John Chandler was appointed to visit and ascertain the minds of the people on this question. It was furthermore "voted to appoint a committee and get the voice of the people of the plantation with re-
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A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
gard to a separate State, and get their yeas and nays signed to a paper drawn for that purpose," John Welch was appointed to act as this committee.
The "inhabitants between Bowdoin and what is pe- titioned for to be incorporated into a town by the name of Monmouth" were the settlers in what is now Wales. Bowdon originally comprised, in addition to its present limits, the entire townships of Webster and Lisbon. The fact that Monmouth was incorporated without this territory is a conclusive demonstration of the fact that "the inhabitants between Bowdoin and what is peti- tioned for to be incorporated by the name of Mon- mouth," had too much sense to fall into the trap that was set for them. They were separated from the nearest settlement in Monmouth by a belt of solid for- est not less than three miles in width, at its narrowest point; had never taken any part, or received any nom- inations, in the annual meetings, and from the course that had been pursued in relation to them while the territory was numbered among the plantations, they had no reason to expect any recognition as citizens of Monmouth, except when the tax collector made his annual rounds.
In 1791, Joseph Small and Bartholomew Jackson settled in the center of the territory now comprised in the town of Wales. They were both from Limington. Mr. Small took up the farm now owned by Thos. W. Ham. He had eight sons and five daughters. He was a prominent man in plantation and town affairs, and often held places of trust in the gift of his townsmen. Thirteen years he held the office of plantation clerk and nineteen, that of town clerk.
146
HISTORY OF MONMOUTH.
He was followed in about a year by his father, Dan- iel Small, and Ebenezer Small, the former of whom settled on the lot next to his son's, on the south. Daniel Small's life had been one of more than ordinary interest. At the age of nineteen, while living with his parents at Castine, he was taken by Indians, and held in captivity eleven months. He was then sold to a French Colonel at Quebec and remained there until its capture by Gen. Wolfe.
Joseph Day, another immigrant of this period, settled on the Levi Butler farm, near Monmouth Ridge. He is described as a person of questionable character, smart and industrious in the extreme, "with a big,short body, held up on a pair of stilt-like legs, a round red face, dark eyes and all 'tee hee.'" His wife was a character worthy of more than passing mention. Her familiarity with the "black art" made her a prominent and much-sought person in the community. And
many were the shekels that rolled into her private ex- chequer in exchange for her predictions. Young men and maidens, old men and matrons, love-cracked cranks and money seeking misers, sought her advice, and hung with intense expectancy on the slowly drawled, "Ef nothin' happens more'n we raly specs," that inva- riably preceded her prognostications. She had lived with a former husband whose name she found it diffi- cult to drop even after her marriage to her second and third consorts; and by his name she was known to the day of her death. This husband was not less of an anomaly than his help-mate. In appearance he was half Indian and half something that scientists have never been able to classify. On a knoll about thirty
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A NEW ADMINISTRATION.
rods south of the trotting park, the cellar of his cabin may still be seen. It stood in Phineas Kelly's pasture. and was as nondescript as its owner. His cow-he called it a cow, and, as it resembled nothing else in nature. it was generally conceded that it was, or had been, one-was the most useful functionary of his house- hold; and, indeed, she was as much a member of his household as his wife and cat. She furnished milk for the family, she ploughed the garden, she drew limbs from the neighbors' woods for fuel, and harnessed to a sled with old ropes and elm-rind thongs, she made as safe a steed as one would ask to ride after.
Benj. Clough of Deerfield. N. H., was born Oct. 7, 1764. At a very early age he was left alone in the world by the death of his parents. Although a mere boy, he enlisted in the American army sometime during the progress of the Revolution, and faithfully served his country. The termination of the war brought him back to his old home. A little later, we find him starting on a long trip through the wilderness to visit an uncle in Readfield. It is probable that he was accompanied by Samuel King, who was coming to found a home in the edge of Winthrop. A large por- tion of the route lay through dense forests in which neither signs of road nor path was to be seen. From Lewiston to Winthrop was an almost unbroken stretch of woodland. With the exception of Zadoc Bishop's. neither cabin nor clearing appeared in all the twenty miles that lay between these points. The Epping men mentioned in the last chapter had not yet appeared. They skirted the west shore of Cochnewagan, passing near the spot where Mr. Clough subsequently erected
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