History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 138

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100

USA > Maine > Penobscot County > History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 138

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Sunday, 11 [August]. A Mr. Loomis preached. A young man. A good preacher. A candidate for settlement. A Congregationalist and Calvinist also. Old Elder Snow, of Thomaston, preached a lecture; he holds the Savior died for a part, not for the whole.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

Rev. Professor Shepard gives this account of Mr. Loomis's advent into Bangor :

Father Sewall had an appointment to preach in Bangor on a certain Sabbath in - ", 18II. . But he could not come, and falling in with Mr. Loomis, who had just preached a Sabbath or two in engaged him to come. He came, making his first introduction Satur- day eve to Mr. Crosby's family, of Hampden. Sunday morning he presented himself to the assembled congregation in Bangor-greatly to the disappointment of the people. A stranger, a young man, in the place of him they loved to hear ! But they thought better of it at the close. Mr. Snow, a shipwright and a Methodist professor, rose in his place and said, Amen to the doctrine-and all the people said, Amen to the man. They cared little for the doctrine, but they were struck with the man. He was fine-looking-had a sweet voice-was a taking speaker-to crown all, he evidently was an agreeable man, and every heart and voice said, "he is the one for our minister." They settled him, and he was a wonderful fit.

He preached several Sundays in August, September and October, and on October 19 the town assembled and appointed Joseph Carr, John Barker, and Moses Patten a committee to wait upon Rev. Mr. Loomis, and make these propositions: That the town would give him $600 a year for the first two years of his ministry; $700 a year for the next two years; and $800 a year during the residue of his ministry; that the term of his ministry should not expire until two-thirds of the male members of his society should wish the connection dissolved, and that they would then give him six months' salary. Mr. Loomis wished for time to consider the matter and to consult his friends. Thought the salary offered " gener- ous considering the present situation of the town," though he should expect, in case his "situation required it, and the prosperous condition of the town permitted it, some eight or ten years hence, to receive additional salary."

On November 23, the committee reported Mr. Loomis's answer accepting the call. Whereupon the town appointed Samuel E. Dutton, Jacob McGaw, and William D. Williamson a committee to execute an agree- ment with Mr. Loomis and to provide for his ordination. The agreement was made on the basis of the proposition first made to the gentleman, and was executed on the 20th of November, 1811. On the same day an eccle- siastical council convened for the purpose of establishing a church and ordaining Mr. Harvey Loomis as their pas- tor.

There were present, from the church in Belfast, Deacon Goddard and Mr. Benjamin Poor. From the church in Bluehill, Rev. Mr. Fisher. From the church in Cas- tine, Rev. Mr. Mason. From the church in Buckstown, Rev. Mr. Blood and Mr. Enoch Page. From the church in Penobscot, Rev. Mr. Spaulding and Mr. Samuel Was- son.

Mr. Blood was chosen scribe, and Rev. Mr. Johnson, of Belfast, Moderator, who opened the council with prayer.

Rev. Mr. Sawyer was invited to assist in the council.

Upon a platform there adopted, Deacon William Boyd, Stephen S. Crosby, and William D. Williamson were re- ceived and acknowledged as the Church of Bangor.

The council being satisfied with the call, credentials and examination of the candidate, voted to proceed with his ordination on the morrow. The ordination took place accordingly. Rev. Mr. Fisher made the introduc-

tory prayer. Rev. Mr. Gillett, of Hallowell, preached the sermon. Rev. Mr. Sawyer made the consecrating prayer. Rev. Mr. Johnson gave the charge. Rev. Mr. Blood gave the right hand of felowship. Rev. Mr. Mason made the concluding prayer. Mr. Leavitt says: "The whole was conducted with much decorum. The text was from Jeremiah, 61, 2: "'To proclaim the ac- ceptable year of the Lord.' The discourse was exultant."

Prior to the settlement of Mr. Loomis, the Sabbath was little observed. The streets were thronged with idlers, whose disregard of the day was shameful. This was gradually changed after the establishment of regular meetings, and the town became as well ordered on that day as any New England town.

The non-intercourse act of Mr. Jefferson's administra- tion went into effect on the 2d of March of this year. It was designed to operate against England. The Berlin and Milan decrees had been revoked by the French Em- peror, and the American restrictive measures ceased to operate against France nearly simultaneously with that revocation November 1, 1810. Great Britain, however, had not repealed the obnoxious Orders in Council, hence the enforcement of the non-intercourse act. But there were many attempts to evade it. A vessel from Martin- ique with a cargo of molasses was seized at Bangor in March. Several other vessels had been seized in the river, but bonded.

Mr. Leavitt's ship, built by the Websters, was launched on the 12th of October. It was the first ship ever built in Bangor. It measured 264 tons.

On December. 19, the town chose Jeremiah Dudley, Robert Parker, and Thomas Bradbury a committee to endeavor to procure a division of the county of Han- cock, and to communicate with the towns within the lines of the contemplated county, in which Bangor was, to aid in procuring the division and to petition the next Legislature for it. This was the beginning of the meas- ures which ultimately secured the establishment of Pe- nobscot county, with Bangor for its shire town.

The year 1812 opened with severely cold weather. The month of February was remarkable for cold and snow; it was said to have been the coldest February ever known here.

The annual meeting was held on March 9. Mr. Brad- bury was re-elected Town Clerk. He was also elected third Selectman, with Moses Patten and Joseph Carr. Mr. Williamson was re-elected Treasurer; Samuel E. Dutton, Town Agent. Rev. Mr. Loomis, Samuel E. Dutton, and William D. Williamson were elected Super- intending School Committee; John Ham, Newell Bean, John Reynolds, Thomas Bradbury, and others, Consta- bles. Mr. Bradbury held this office very late in life. He gives a list of the Hog-reeves, composed of many of the most influential citizens, "making," as he says, "only twenty-seven." They appeared to take their election as a serious matter, for they were all sworn; $600 were raised for schools; $600 for Rev. Mr. Loomis; $200 for the Bridge Company; and $1,000 for highways. It was found that it would be necessary to raise $450 to make up the deficiency of the year 1811. April 6, Fish street,

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which had been laid out in 1808, was accepted; it ex- tended from Broad street to Water street, and was afterwards Wall street, and is now merged in Pickering Square.

Elbridge Gerry had seventy-four, Caleb Strong sixty- seven, and William King two votes for Governor, Benja- min Gannet having resigned his seat, at a special election held on March 27. For Representative to Congress, Francis Carr had sixty-four votes, Pitt Dillingham forty- seven votes, and David Cobb nine votes. Mr. Carr was elected.

Mr. Leavitt sold half of his ship to James Penniman, of Boston, and purchased of him his house (which is the larger portion of that at the right hand corner of State and Brown streets), and the lot whereon he built a brick block of two stories, which has been converted into of- fices for the . European & North American Railway Company. For the house he gave $1,500; for the one- fourth acre water-lot, with a small store thereon, $1,000.

An embargo was laid, on April 4, by Congress, on all vessels within the harbors of the United States for ninety days. During its existence ship-owners in Bangor were employed in having their vessels ready for service at its expiration; but they were destined to disappointment. On June 18, war was declared by Congress between the United States and Great Britain. This the Federalists considered an impolitic and cruel measure, especially those in the maritime States. Mr. Leavitt said, "all is confusion, disorder, and dismay;" but business experi- enced very little change in Bangor this year.

The Pushaw road, laid out by Samuel E. Dutton, was accepted. An attempt to convert the Second District School-house into a place of permanent public worship fell through; but the town hired of General John Crosby and Benjamin Joy, of Boston, a large hall in a frame building standing upon the spot. now occupied by the last two warehouses at the foot of Exchange Street, on the stream side, for the term of five years, at the rate of fifty dollars per annum, to be expended in fitting up the hall for religious services, and the first choice of a seat to Mr. Crosby for himself and family. This hall was known as Union Hall, and was occupied by Mr. Loomis's society until the court-house was completed. Mr. Cros- by had the first choice of sittings for himself and family, and Mr. Loomis the second.

On the 20th of July the town authorized the contract for the hall, and on the 23d and 24th leases were taken in accordance therewith, and a committee was appointed to fit up the hall with pews and other conveniences; but at several meetings in August the whole matter was re- considered, and the town voted that it was not expedient to take any further measures for fitting up the hall. They appointed a committee consisting of Moses Patten, Samuel E. Dutton, William Boyd, and James Drummond to provide a location for a public building that the town proposed to erect, which committee reported that they could not agree.

A company this year commenced the erection of a building at the corner of Hammond and Columbia Streets, intending it for a court-house permanently and

for public worship temporarily. The company tendered the use of the house, when it should be completed, to the town for three years or more for public worship, free of expense. The town readily voted to accept the build- ing for three years "so soon as the proprietors shall, on their own expense, have rendered the same convenient for meeting therein for public worship, provided the said building be furnished as aforesaid within one year from the date hereof."

The town voted to accept one hundred square rods of land situated between the school-house and land of John Barker, sixteen rods on the country road, running back forty-five rods, with a three-rod street to run in the mid- dle of the sixteen rods, "for the setting a meeting- house on," offered by Richard Pike, Philip Coombs, and Benjamin Wyatt, but declined to make any provision for erecting a meeting-house.

This year there was a great revolution in the politics of Bangor, in the Representative District, and throughout the North. Francis Carr, the Democratic sitting member, who, when elected in place of Mr. Gannett last year, re- ceived sixty-four votes to fifty-six opposition, at the regu- lar election, on November 2, this year, received but forty votes to seventy-two votes for John Wilson, Federalist, who was elected by a majority of about five hundred votes in the district. Judge William Crosby, Federalist, had seventy-two votes for Elector, and was chosen. Judge James Campbell, Democrat, had twenty-two votes. There were but six votes for Madison for President north of Pennsylvania-those of Vermont. Mr. Madi- son's strength was in the South, and it was predicted that this opposition of the two sections would sooner or later lead to a separation.

On November 12 a proposition was made "to expung from being placed on their records all the doings of the town respecting furnishing Union Hall." That proposi- tion was dismissed. At the same meeting the town "set up at auction Mrs. Gregg and Philip Lovejoy, town pau- pers, and they were struck off-the former to William Seward, to keep for $2.50 per week; the latter to Elisha Crane, to keep for $2.33 per week."

On February 3, 1813, the town voted that " setting off the northern section of the settled part of Hancock county as a new county would be highly beneficial to this part of the county, particularly by inducing a great in- crease of settlement, and would be a great relief to that portion of the inhabitants who are compelled to travel an unreasonable distance to the present shire town of the county," and appointed Charles Hammond, Joseph Leavitt, Thomas Bradbury, John Barker, and James B. Fiske, a committee to draft and forward to the Legisla- ture a petition to that effect, and to furnish the Repre- sentative with "documents and reasons to further the ob- ject."

March 8, 1813, at the annual town meeting, the follow- ing officers were elected : Moses Patten, Joseph Carr and Thomas Bradbury (Town Clerk), Selectmen; Rev. Harvey Loomis, Jacob McGaw, Charles Hammond, Superintending School Committee; William D. William- son, Treasurer; and $1,200 were raised for highways,

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$600 for Mr. Loomis, $250 for the bridge company, and $450 for town charges.

The first and second school districts were united, that the inhabitants in both districts might have "equal bene- fits from the schools alternately."

The votes for Governor were: For Caleb Strong, 74; Joseph B. Varnum, 62. Charles Hammond, 72 votes to James Carr 54, and was elected Representative to the General Court. Mr. Strong was elected Governor of Massachusetts for the eighth time.

The subject of the fisheries became prominent. There were no regulations relating to them upon the Penob- scot River and its tributaries. A meeting was held at Frankfort to determine upon a law to regulate the taking fish in the rivers, streams, and ponds connected there- with. Charles Hammond was appointed an agent to at- tend the meeting. Asa Davis was appointed to procure depositions, Joseph Carr to take them, and Asa Davis, Abner Taylor, Amos Patten, Thomas Bartlett, and sev- eral others to make suggestions for proper alterations in existing laws upon the subject.

A meeting was held February 2 Ist to consider whether the town would "memorialize in form of petition, resolu- tion, or otherwise, the General Court of this Common- wealth, expressing to them the views of said inhabitants in respect to the administration of the Government of the United States and requesting them to take measures, such as in their wisdom shall seem meet, to afford said inhabitants and the other citizens of this Commonwealth relief from the operation of some of the unnecessary and iniquitous laws passed by the Congress of the United States," by the request of nine citizens of Bangor.

This ill-advised proposition, which evidently originated with the strong partisans, in their excitement occa- sioned by the certainty of war from which the nation was suffering, was read, and the good sense of the citizens assembled would not allow the subject to be discussed, deeming it improper; and it was dismissed on motion of Jacob McGaw, who was one of those who signed the re- quest for the meeting at the instance of a friend without reading it, understanding it contained nothing objection- able.

Mr. Leavitt was an enterprising man and contributed much to the business of Bangor, particularly by ship- building and navigation. But the war was a great annoy- ance to him, and the occasion of much loss.

His ship Alpha sailed on January 13th for Alexandria, Virginia, to take a cargo of flour to Cadiz, Spain, for $2.50 per barrel, under British license. The ship arrived at Alexandria February 9th, and was loaded on March Ist and ready to sail, but a blockade had been estab- lished and the vessel remained all through the summer and fall, at a very heavy expense, together with the out- fits, amounting to upwards of $6,000, including $1,300 worth of flour, which was owned by Mr. Leavitt and his copartner, Mr. James Bartlett. When Washington was captured the ship was burnt. Mr. Leavitt's loss was be- tween $9,000 and $10,000.

But he had a schooner called the Experiment, whose history was more eventful. He chartered her to Mr.

Samuel Stone, and then sold half to him. She sailed for Charleston, South Carolina, February 23d; arrived after a very rough passage on May 25th. On June 7th she sailed for Boston and was taken by the Tenedos frigate. She was released, however, and arrived in Boston June 25th, and soon returned to Bangor.

The British cruisers Tenedos, Shannon, Liverpool Packet, Emulous, Rattler, Boxer, and Curlew, were hov- ering along the coast, and the Bay, from the mouth of the Penobscot, was under their constant surveillance. Notwithstanding this, Mr. Leavitt must try to do some- thing with his vessel. In July the Experiment sailed for Boston, and on her passage up ran upon a rock called the " Londoner," and was much damaged. She was not troubled by the enemy before she arrived in Boston, but on her return passage she was captured by the British privateer Matilda. Her captors took from her about $200 worth of property, and seeing that she was too much damaged to be of any value to them, they released her. She again returned to Bangor, took in a cargo, and sailed for Boston on the Ist day of August. On her passage down the river she struck upon a rock, was driven ashore, listed off, and filled with water. The owners thought at first to condemn her, she was so much injured; but finally concluded to try her again. Leavitt and Stone agreed with each other to buy or sell, and the former proposing to give $300 for Stone's half, he again became the owner of the whole vessel. He repaired her, and taking passage in her himself, she sailed for Boston. On August 27th, when off George's Island, she was cap- tured by the British privateer Weazel.

Mr. Leavitt was treated well, personally, but his captors appropriated his bed and shoes, the captain's boots, and clothes of some of the sailors; then set them all, ex- cepting two hands, on shore at the mouth of George's River, about eighty miles from Bangor. Mr. Leavitt reached home on the Ist of September, and on the next day was surprised by the news that the Experiment had been recaptured by the American privateer Superior, and carried in to Camden. He then proceeded to Camden, paid $225 salvage and $50 expenses, and ar- rived with her in Bangor on September 12th.

Mr. Leavitt had arrived at a point when, in his opinion, forbearance ceased to be a virtue. As the chronicle has it, he was "disappointed and a little saddened, but prevailing- ly angry."* He was fit for "stratagems and spoils." He found no difficulty in getting up an expedition to make reprisals. There were enough of his neighbors idle, and disposed to appropriate the goods and chattels of the enemy to their own use, if they could find them. A schooner of about fifty tons burthen was fitted out and sent into the bay, with a force of forty men with small arms, to capture British vessels and re-capture their prizes. It would have been a very profitable business, if there had been any British vessels or prizes to capture. But, unfortunately for Captain Cary and the rest, they were all either too far distant or of too great force to be encountered voluntarily by the Bangor adventurers. The schooner, therefore, was navigated back to Bangor with

*McGaw's Sketch.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

a supposed smuggler's boat, which Captain Cary brought as evidence that he had an eye to the well being of the revenues of the country, if he had not the ability to humble the proud Briton. Thus ended this patriotic expedition. A "good time," perhaps, was compensation for those engaged in it.

Several of the vessels of the Penobscot were captured and recaptured. Among these was one commanded by Captain Joshua Jordan, another by Captain Barker, and carried into Halifax.

The fight between the American brig Enterprise, six- teen guns and one hundred and two men, under Captain Burrows, and the British brig Boxer, one hundred and four men and eighteen guns, took place in sight of Mon- hegan on September 5th. The battle continued thirty- five minutes, when the Boxer, Captain Blythe, surren- dered and was carried into Portland. Both commanders were killed. The killed and wounded of the Enterprise were fourteen; of the Boxer, forty-six.

The risk to navigation from capture had become so great, and the restrictive laws being still in force, the vessels of Bangor in Boston were hauled up, and the masters and crews found their way home as best they could. Goods were transported from Boston to Bangor by horse- or ox-teams.

CHAPTER VIII.

Contribution for Portsmouth-Bangor Bank Chartered-Maine Charity School Chartered-Death of Jonathan Lowder-Death of William Hammond-Members of Mr. Loomis's Church-School Districts I and 2-Hay Scales and Burial Grounds-James Crosby, Town Clerk -House Carpenters build a Vessel for Employment-Other Vessels Built-Smuggling-United States Ship Adams-Visit of the British --- Lieutenant Lewis and Lieutenant Little at Castine-Their March with Americau Commands to Hampden-Preparations there for the Reception of the British-Captain Morris-General Blake-Position of. the Americans-Approach of the British Forces-Flight of the Militia-The "Adams" Destroyed-Retreat of her Men-Anecdotes -Pluck and Panic-Pursuit of the British-Depredations in Hamp- den-American Thieves-Parole of Citizens of Bangor-Vessels Burned-Proceedings of Selectmen-Representatives and Petition to Sir John Sherbrook -Delegation Sent-British leave the River-Ter- ritory East held as Conquered-Amusements of the British at Cas- tine-Special Session of the Legislature-County Erected-Registry of Deeds removed from Castine to Bangor-Recollections of Eye- witnesses-Explosion of the " Adams."

1814. The year 1814 commenced under circumstances as depressing as the year 1813. The information reached Bangor that a great conflagration had occurred in Ports- mouth, New Hampshire, December 22, 1813, in which four hundred buildings were destroyed, besides various wharves. Eighty dollars were immediately contributed and forwarded as Bangor's mite in this time of general distress.

A charter was obtained in the name of Joseph Leavitt

for the Bangor Bank, with a capital of $100,000 ; the first instalment to be paid in on January 1, 1814.

A charter was obtained February 25, for the Maine Charity School, to be established in Hampden.

Captain Jonathan Lowder died this month, at the age of eighty years. His residence was at the angle of the two roads running through Veazie, near Mount Hope. He had, before the Revolution, performed services for the Government as a courier, and was a sergeant in the French and Indian war. He was gunner at Fort Pownall in 1774, and April 7, 1776, was allowed by the Massa- chusetts Government 29 4s for his services.

After the dismantling of that fort he became a clerk for Major Treat, at the head of the tide in Bangor. He had the confidence of the Indians and performed various services for them. They made great efforts to have him appointed truck- master. Orono died on his farm in about 1777, being poor at the time of his death.

Captain William Hammond died in March at the age of about seventy-five. He came from Newton, Massa- chusetts, and was here in the latter part of the century. He held important positions in the town and was highly esteemed. He had a large family of daughters, who married prominent business men, and his descendants are numerous and of the first respectability.

March 14, at the annual meeting, the last year's Board of Selectmen were re-elected, and same Town Clerk ; Joseph Leavitt, Treasurer; Jacob McGaw, Town Agent ; Rev. Harvey Loomis, Allen Gilman, and John Barker, Superintending School Committee; $800 were raised for schools; $700 for town charges ; $250 for Bridge Com- pany ; $900 for highways, and $700 for Mr. Loomis's salary.

Mr. Loomis's church at this time had the following members: Deacon William Boyd, Deacon Sewall S. Crosby, William Hasey, William D. Williamson, Stephen S. Kimball, Mrs. Boyd, Mrs. Timothy Crosby, Mrs. Joseph Kendrick, Mrs Mary Gould, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Hutchins, Mrs. Low, Mrs. Dresser, Mrs. Samuel E. Dut- ton, Mrs. Almira Carr, Mrs. Nathaniel C. Little, Mrs. Eben Crosby, Anna Adams, Deacon Eliashib Adams. Deacon Adams came from Bucksport to Bangor to re- side May 22, 1813.

At the annual meeting of the town this year the First and Second School Districts were separated and placed under the regulations which existed prior to March, 1813.

The Selectmen were instructed to procure "a lot of dry measures."

The subjects of hay-scales and a burial ground were again agitated. A committee consisting of Joseph Leavitt and William D. Williamson reported favorably to the erection of two hay-scales, where the Selectmen should determine, by such persons as would erect them at their own expense and keep them in repair for ten years, for the exclusive use and benefit of them during that term, provided they should not exact for weighing more than two and one-half cents per hundred-weight.

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 138

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio) Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co. Number of Pages: 1100

Author: Williams, Chase & Co., Cleveland (Ohio)
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Cleveland, Williams, Chase & Co.
Number of Pages: 1100