USA > Maine > Oxford County > Paris > History of Paris, Maine, from its settlement to 1880, with a history of the grants of 1736 & 1771, together with personal sketches, a copious genealogical register and an appendix > Part 12
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1807.
Alanson Mellen was elected clerk. Five hundred dollars exclu- sive of interest money, were raised for schools and twelve hundred for roads. A committee reported :
"Your committee have agreed with Cyrus Hamlin, Esq., to fence 21 rods on the west side of the Meeting House corner, for the sum of seventy-one cents per rod, and forever after to indemnify the town of Paris from any expense in fencing the same." The vote on
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the question of separation from Massachusetts stood 38 in favor, 43 opposed. Abraham Bolster was allowed sixty-seven cents for bring- ing up the town's weights and measures from Portland. Lemuel Jackson. Josiah Bisco and Ebenezer Rawson were made a committee "to wait on the location committee appointed by the Legislature to establish county buildings in this county."
The following new names appear in town : Hector Fuller, Geo. Edwards, James Noyes. Thos. Carver, Daniel Knight, Luther Dud- ley and Charles Reniff, all of whose taxes for 1806 were in part abated. Voted to choose an agent to defend the town against an action brought for the support of Job French while he was in Port- land jail. An agent was also chosen to defend the town against suits commenced for not keeping the roads in repair ; another agent to procure the town a stock of powder; he was instructed to pur- chase one hundred and fifty pounds of powder and fifty pounds of lead.
1808.
Fifteen hundred dollars were raised for roads and five hundred for schools. Bartholomew Cushman was permitted to draw his pro- portion of school money and pay it over to Buckfield. At the annual election James Sullivan for Governor had 114 votes and Christopher Gore 67. This was much the largest vote ever before polled, and was a very good showing considering that the property qualification was still in force. For Lt. Governor, Levi Lincoln had 111, David Cobb 59, Amasa Fobes 3 and "Little" Amasa Fobes 3. For Senators, Levi Hubbard and James Means had 101 each and Ammi R. Mitchell and Lothrop Lewis each 60. Levi Hubbard had 72 votes for county treasurer. Job French again appears, in the choice of an agent to defend the town against the suit of Mr. March brought for his support.
The following new names appear this year in the doings at the several meetings : Abner Blake, George Doughty, Daniel Haney, Thomas Crocker, Levi Crockett, Isaac Ham, John Packard, Asa Ricker and Patrick House. At the December meeting, voted to raise seven hundred dollars for the support of poor and other town expenses. The selectmen were instructed to assist Job French in obtaining some useful employment. Among the accounts allowed was one of seventy dollars to Jonathan Bemis for boarding Job French 35 weeks, and one of $34.50 to Josiah Bisco for expense in going to Portland to defend the town in the suit of Edmund March
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for the support of French. John True was set off from the Center school district and annexed to the first.
1809.
Among the new town officers this year, were John G. Crawford, Amariah Harris, Moses Hodgdon, Geo. Ryerson, Abraham Hutch- inson, Benj. Cooper, Amos Amsbury, Ichabod Bryant, Nathaniel Howe, John Braily, Alvan Boyden and Noah Deane. Sixteen hundred dollars were raised for roads and five hundred for schools. Jonathan Shurtleff, for keeping his brother, was allowed sixty dol- lars. Caleb Benson was chosen collector and was excused. Nathan- iel Howe's account of $24.00, as an attorney, was allowed. Voted that Elias Tubbs, Isaac Record, John Record, Benj. Churchill, Caleb Benson, Seth Gurney, Arodus Bryant, Ichabod Bryant, Wins- low Record and James Dunham be made into a separate school dis- trict. Elias Stowell was unanimously elected representative. Sixty dollars were raised to bridge over the river at Bemis' Mills. Joshua Glover's tax was abated.
1810.
Gustavus Adolphus Goss was one of the selectmen and also treas- urer. Other new names mentioned were Alfred Gates, Elias Part- ridge and Simeon Walton. The usual amount of money was raised. Another generation had come to the stage of action, for Ebenezer Hutchinson, Jr., Edward Deane, Jr., Asa Deane, Jr., and James Broke, Jr., were among the Hogreeves ; also Albion K. Parris. Daniel Fobes, Jr., was surveyor and John Record, Jr., was school committee. Henry Rust, Jr., received 120 votes for county treas- urer. Rev. James Hooper was allowed the interest on the minis- terial fund. At an adjourned meeting, Joseph Rust was chosen clerk pro tem. Jacob Twitchell was chosen sexton. Seven hun- dred dollars were raised for town charges. "Voted to choose a com- mittee to advise with the selectmen respecting poor prisoners who hath been committed to jail in this town and hath taken the benefit of law and whose expenses hath become chargeable to the town." A committee to number the school districts, reported as follows :
Daniel Stowell's,
1 Samuel Hammond's, 8
Lemuel Holmes',
2
John Record's, 9
Jairus Shaw's,
3
Samuel King's, 10
John Robinson's, 4 Caleb Prentiss',
11
Jonathan Shurtleff's,
5 Benj. Cooper's, 12
Benj. Hammond's,
6 Geo. Ryerson's, 13
Job Lurvey's, 7 Simeon Walton's, 14
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
January 19. there was a violent northern gale, which unroofed several buildings and blew down Joseph Bessey's barn. Feb. 15, Lawyer Howe was attacked by Benaiah Dow and badly injured, (see account elsewhere. )
1811.
Among the new names in the list of town officers, are Stephen Blake, Jr., Micah Walker, Rufus Brett, Thomas Farrar, Isaac Cum- mings, Jr., Haven Hall, Isaiah Whittemore and Isaac Knight. Albion K. Parris was chosen agent for the town "to transact business under the direction of the selectmen." Voted to receive lots 2, 3, 4 and 5, in the first range in the town of Buckfield, into Paris. Voted to build a powder house, and the selectmen were made a committee for that purpose, the house to be built within one hundred rods of the meeting. house. Jairus Shaw was directed to look up the old plan of the town which showed the division into school districts. Jonathan Shurtleff was allowed seven shillings per week for the sup- port of his brother. The town declined to abate the taxes of Den- nis Haskell and Mannasseh Powers. Four hundred dollars, in addi- tion to the regular appropriations, were raised to be expended on roads, under special agents. The overseers were directed to pro- vide for the support of James Churchill.
The following statistics of the town, compiled from returns made to the General Court at Boston, this year, are of interest : Number of polls between 16 and 21 years, 48 ; ratable polls over 21, 196; number of polls not ratable and not supported by town, 8; num- ber not ratable, supported by the town, 2; number of dwelling houses, 142 ; shops. 3 ; distill houses, 2 ; potash, 1 ; grist mills, 3 ; saw mills. 2; barns, 173 ; other buildings, 27; money on hand, $1,600 : ounces plate, 75 ; acres tillage, 384; wheat crop, 1,384 bushels ; corn crop, 137 ; peas and beans, 53 ; acres upland mow- ing, 984 ; tons of hay, 984 ; aeres of pasturing, 1,160 ; unimproved lands, 18,373 ; acres used for roads, 640 ; covered with water, 530 ; horses, 174 ; oxen, 260 ; steers and cows, 633 ; swine, 393.
1812.
The new names among the town officers were, Caleb Besse, Reu- ben Favor, David Bolster, John Whitehead, Ebenezer Tuell, David Marshall, Jr., Benaiah Hanson and William Beals. The Rev. John Willis was chosen Pound keeper. Alanson Mellen was allowed $17.24 for recording births and deaths. Capt. Samuel Stephens, $4.50, for casting balls. Among the abated taxes were those of
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Darius Andrews, Daniel Brett, Oliver Colburn, Jeremiah Howe, Nathaniel Hutchinson, John Knight, Micah Thomas and Abner Fos- ter, Among the accounts, Hannah Walton was allowed $16.82, for boarding and nursing Hannah Littlehale, and Dr. Benj. Chandler, $3.30, for medical treatment for same; also $4.50 to Abraham Walton for cash paid to Dr. Seth Chandler for treating same. This year the town chose Levi Hubbard and Elias Stowell, representa- tives. Benj. Chesley was allowed $6.25, for warning twenty-five town meetings from March 20, 1810 to May 4, 1812. The next item savors of the war: "Voted that the wages of the detached troops of this town be made equal to ten dollars per month per man, for the time they shall be in actual service, provided government. does not make it equal to that." A committee to report resolves in favor of the General Government, consisting of Albion K. Parris, Josiah Bisco and Elias Stowell, submitted the following, which was accepted :
PREAMBLE.
"Whereas, our departed Washington, in his last address to his fellow citizens, declared : That the constancy of their support was the essential prop of his efforts and guarantee of his plans ; that respect for the author- ity, compliance with the laws and acquiesence in the measures of Govern- inent are duties enjoined by the fundamental maxims of true liberty ; that all obstructions to the executing of the laws, all combinations and asso- ciations under whatever plausible character with a design to direct, coun- teract or control the deliberations, and action of the constituted author- ities, are of fatal consequences, serving to organize faction and to put in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party ; that party spirit serves always to distrust the public councils, enfeeble the pub- lic administration, foment riot and insurrection, and open the door to for- eign influence and corruption.
"It is therefore by the inhabitants of the town of Paris, in public town meeting assembled,
"Resolved, That being sensibly impressed with the importance of the advice of our political father, and considering the very important situation of our public concerns, that we are now in open hostilities with a powerful nation, and have already just cause for a similar declaration with another not less powerful, we view it as the duty of all the friends of our com- mon country, by whatever party they may be classed, to support the Gov- ernment under which we live, comply with its laws and acquiesce in its measures.
"Resolved, That common and continued mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of all wise people to discour- age and restrain it, particularly at this crisis when the rage and violence of political dissension are kindling the animosity of one part of our citizens
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against another, and fomenting those collisions that subvert the order, destroy the peace and endanger the liberty of a Republican government.
"Resolved, That we highly estimate the immense value of our national union, considering it as the palladium of our political safety, and as it was the opinion of our Washington that against this union, the batteries of internal and external enemies would be most constantly and actively, though often secretly directed, so we with him consider it the duty of every man to watch for its preservation with jealous anxiety ; to discountenance whatever may suggest even a suspicion, that it can in any event be aball- doned, and to frown indignantly upon the first dawning of every attempt to sever or weaken that chain by which we are united."
"And whereas, under the order of the commander-in-chief of this con- monwealth of the 25th of April last, certain persons were detached from the companies of the militia in this town, and were ordered to hold them- selves constantly in readiness to march at a moment's warning, and where- as their compensation allowed by Government is inadequate, Therefore
Resolved. That the selectmen of the town of Paris be and they are here- by authorized and directed to draw on the treasurer of said town in favor of each person detached under and by virtue of the order aforesaid, to the amount of a sum which together with what each person so detached shall receive from Government, will be equal to ten dollars per month each of the persons aforesaid, so long as they shall be held in actual service in consequence of said detachment."
The action of the town upon this report was as follows : "Voted that the foregoing preamble and resolves be signed by the moderator of said meeting and the town clerk, and forwarded to the editors of the Eastern Argus and Portland Gazette for publication." The poll taxes of Dea. John Willis and of Jacob Twitchell and Jacob Twitch- ell. Jr., were abated. In April of this year, James Lebroke fell from a building and was killed. He was a native of Paris, France, and came to this country in the French fleet, after which he served three years in the Continental army. Dea. John Willis died in July of this year, aged 56. He was one of the very first settlers.
1813.
Benj. Chandler was chosen clerk, Thomas F. Chase, Collector, and among the other new officers were Daniel Cole, Moses Allen, Moses Marshall, Isaac Allen and James Putnam. . The usual amount of money was voted. Seth Carpenter and Alfred Gates were two new selectmen. Two hundred and twenty-three votes were thrown for Governor. James Churchill was put up at auction, or rather his support, and was struck off to Stephen Robinson at $1.08 per week. Among the taxes abated were those of Jonathan Brown, Joel Fuller, Jeremiah Winslow, John Nason, Jr., Charles Hale,
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Joseph Wing, Jonathan Johnson and Adoniram Blake. A commit- tee was chosen to petition the General Court to make valid the doings of the town. At a meeting January 1, 1814, it was "voted to instruct our representatives to use their influence in General Court to have this commonwealth assume its proportion of the direct tax and pay the same into the treasury of the United States agree- ably to the provisions of the act laying said tax, and petition the Legislature for that purpose." This certainly shows commendable loyalty to the General Government, on the part of the voters of Paris.
1814.
Five hundred dollars was still the amount raised for educational purposes, and fifteen hundred for highways. It was voted to dis- continue the road between Edward Andrews' and William Leth- bridge's. Two hundred and sixty-six votes were thrown for Lt. Governor. Among the bills allowed was one to the town of Sid- ney for the support of Robert Wightman's family. The half-shire town question was again agitated, and a committee was chosen to remonstrate against it. Seventy-five dollars were raised for build- ing a bridge across the river to Little's Grant, (Woodstock) by John Robinson's. A committee of three consisting of Joseph Rust. Benj. Chandler and Henry Prentiss was chosen to draft an address to the Legislature, and also to take into consideration the expediency of passing resolves on the political situation of the United States, the State of Massachusetts and the District of Maine.
The following draft of an address was presented and accepted :
"To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of Massachu- setts, in General Court assembled in Boston, in January, 1815.
The inhabitants of Paris in the county of Oxford in legal town meeting assembled the twenty-first day of January, 1815, to take into consideration the very critical and alarming situation of our country and particularly the District of Maine, on account of the enemy being permitted to occupy a part of said District-deem it one of their inalienable privileges in com- mon with the other citizens of this commonwealth, in an orderly and peace- able manner to assemble to consult upon the conmon good ; give instrne- tions to their representatives, and to request of the Legislative body, by way of address, petition or remonstrance, redress of the wrong done them and of the grievances they suffer.
We view with regret the opposition of the government of this State to the United States ; believing it has a most pernicious effeet and will, if per- sisted in, ultimately end in our total discomfiture and recolonization. We feel it a duty incumbent upon us to declare that we believe the General
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
Government acted prudently and wisely in making war against the British Nation : that had they continued to attempt to treat with them till the present time, not only our commerce would have been captured and con- demned. but that a larger number of our seamen would have been prisoners and deprived of employment.
We are sensible that it is the duty of every citizen of the union, to sub- mit to privations which result from a state of war, and cheerfully con- tribute towards its support, but on reflecting on the suffering, and diffi- culties with which the necessaries and comforts of life are obtained, we view with astonishinent the conduct of the Executive and Legislature of this State. in the waste of public money at this time of calamity and gen- eral distress.
We humbly beg leave to ask, why has this State not assumed the direct tax: Why the expense of the Hartford convention? Are we not fully represented in the Legislature? Have not the northern states a full and respectable number of representatives in the Congress of the United States? Is this a proper time to alter the constitution or even intimate a dissolution of the union ? Or have we been deceived and elected men unable to legis- late and do honor to themselves and country, and justice to their con- stituents? We are of opinion that the enemy could not have obtained and kept quiet and peaceable possession of a portion of the District of Maine, had it not been for the opposition of the government of this State to the government of the United States-and that a speedy termination ought to be put to the frequent correspondence, trade and commerce now carried on between our internal and external enemies, and that if a force of militia which is in the power of this State to call into operation were embodied and stationed near the posts of the enemy, it would discourage them from holding any of our territory they now possess in this district, and prevent their merchandize from being smuggled into any other part of this State, and the disgrace of those citizens who are tempted by the prospect of gain, to visit and traffic with them.
We therefore request the Honorable Legislature of the State aforesaid, to unite with the general government, and support such measures as they recommend to free the seacoast from every invasion of the enemy, and show to the world that notwithstanding party divisions about the adminis- tration of the general government, the people in this State are deter- inined to support their rights and liberties as freemen, against every for- eign invader."
The same committee reported on the "Political Situation" the following preamble and resolves :
"Whereas it is the opinion of the inhabitants of Paris aforesaid that the war declared by the United States against Great Britain was just and right in the sight of God and our country, and deserves the unanimous support of every American belonging to the union and the approbation of all neu- tral nations-
Therefore, Resolved, That as citizens of the United States we will no longer consider ourselves bound by the commands and orders of the State
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
of Massachusetts, than the State shall comply with the constitution and the laws, and support the government administered by the congress of the United States chosen by the people.
Resolved, That in case of an open rebellion of the State of Massachusetts or the New England States in general or any of them, against the United States, we will support with all the means in our power the General Gov -. ernment of our country.
Resolved, That measures ought immediately to be taken to expose to con- tempt all persons who may be known to communicate directly or indirectly with our hostile enemy except by command or permission of the United States Government.
Resolved, That we will not trade directly or indirectly with any merchant, trader, or other person for goods or merchandize of any name, nature or quality when we have sufficient reason to believe that he was knowing to said goods or merchandize being brought into this State contrary to the laws of the United States.
Resolved, That should the federal towns in this commonwealth prevent the collection of the direct taxes and internal duties, as some of theni have threatened, it will become the duty of republican towns to suspend the payment of the State taxes, till they can ascertain whether the money is to be made use of for the public good, or in support of rebellion."
This report was accepted, and it was voted that the resolutions be adopted and a copy furnished the Eastern Argus for publication.
1815.
An article in the warrant was "to see if the town will vote to petition the County commissioners to discontinue the road begining in Rumford, leading through No. 3 and entering the north end of Paris near Samuel Hammond's to Capt. Jonathan Bemis' farm, and Mr. Simeon Pond's to the guide board leading to Rumford, or at anything thereof." It was voted so to petition. It was also voted to build two bridges, one across the cove east of Stowell's mills so called ; this with earth ; and one across the river below Stowell's mills. The width of each was to be 24 feet. At a meeting holden January 16, a petition to the Legislature was presented and adopted, asking for the separation of the District of Maine from Massachu- setts, as follows :
"To the Honorable, the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, in General Court assembled, January, 1816.
"The inhabitants of Paris in the county of Oxford in legal town meet- ing assembled, beg leave in their corporate capacity, to represent that the time has now arrived when the District of Maine ought to assume the management of its own affairs; when the citizens of the District ought to
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
exercise those rights secured to theni by the constitution of the United States, and be erected into an independent State; that right we now claim. We now respectfully ask your honorable body, to dissolve our political connection with Massachusetts proper ; we do it from a sincere conviction that our interests most imperiously demand it; we do it from the belief that you will most cheerfully grant our request when satisfied that it is the wish of the people ; that wish we now express to you, and this expression of our opinion we are confident coincides with that of the District in gen- eral; one sentiment now prevails on this subject without regard to party politics : there exists with all classes, an unusual degree of interest ; those sectional objections which have heretofore existed, are in a great measure done away, and a most zealous determination is manifested to persevere until the great object is effected.
We have long been sensible that however desirous Massachusetts may be of administering our affairs for our best good, it is beyond her power; it is utterly impossible for any legislature to manage so distant and extensive a territory so advantageously as could be done by itself. Our local situation requires a different policy. We know of no reason why this right should be denied us ; we in vain seek some cause why a District separated by the ocean and an independent State, from Massachusetts, having an extent of territory equal to all the rest of New England, a population exceeding two hundred and seventy thousand, and resources equal to any State this side of the Hudson, should be denied the privilege of governing itself ; it is incon- sistent with the spirit of our republic.
We are therefore called by a sense of equity and justice, by a sentiment of honor and independence, by a solemn duty we owe ourselves and our posterity, to pray your honorable body for immediate separation. It has ever been held as a self-evident proposition, "that the District of Maine ought to become a State whenever its population and property should be sufficient to render its government respectable." Again we say, that time has arrived. We have the population, the means and the talents to make Maine one of the most "respectable" States in the union.
And we humbly pray that you will take the subject into serious delibera- tion, that you will, at your present session, adopt some measure which will effect the object of your petitioners and which will the most promptly secure to us the establishment of a separate and independent State."
Four inches of snow fell this year, the 19th of May.
1816.
Job Lurvey was permitted to draw his school money and pay it out at such place as he could best be accommodated. The interest of the ministerial fund was voted to Elder Hooper, as usual. A vote on the question of separation stood 129 in favor and 55 opposed. At a meeting September 1st, delegates were chosen to attend the convention called at the church near the college in Bruns- wick, agreeable to an act of the Legislature, to consider the subject.
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HISTORY OF PARIS.
of separation. Rev. James Hooper and Hon. Albion K. Parris were chosen. Another vote on the question of separation stood 157 to 59. Several roads were accepted and others discontinued but the town business as a whole was of minor importance. The direct tax prayed for by the town came upon them this year, and the names of the tax payers, amount of taxable property and amount of tax are given in the next chapter.
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