History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 142

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

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Given under my name and seal-at-arms, at Castine, the 31st day of October, in the 54th year of his Majesty's reign, Anno Domini, 1814. GERARD GOSSELIN, Major-General Commandant. [CIRCULAR. ] CASTINE, Ist November; 1814. GENTLEMEN :- It being deemed expedient to require the male inhab-

itants above sixteen years of age, residing within the territory lying to the eastward of the Penobscot River and the boundary of New Bruns- wick, to take the oath of allegiance to his majesty or an oath of neu- trality, I hereby enclose our authority to administer such oaths to the inhabitants of your township, with the form of the oath of neutrality, and have to acquaint that you will carry these instructions into effect as soon as possible, and report to me within one month from the date hereof, a list of such persons with their places of residence, as refuse to take the oath of neutrality; that in case they do not immediately leave the country, measures may be taken to apprehend them as pris- oners of war.

I am, gentlemen, your humble servant,

G. GOSSELIN, Major-General Commandant. To the Selectmen of the town of Sullivan.

It may be well to note here that a great deal of patriot- ism and bravery (?) were manifested in the bar-rooms and shops after the British had disappeared. And this "bravery" expanded as the years progressed. It was not unusual to hear the remark, "If the British were to come here now, they would not get off so easily." Or, after some enthusiasm was generated by a good nautical sing- er with the popular song of the day, called "Constitution . and Guerriere:"* "Let them come once more, and they'll never come again! They'll get a taste of Yankee courage that 'll put their pipes out forever!"

AIR.

TTO

BASS.

* As this song was in all mouths, it ought not to be permitted to die yet; therefore it has a place here:

CONSTITUTION AND GUERRIERE.

I often have been told that the British seamen bold Could beat the tars of France so neat and handy, O;

But they never found their match till the Yankees did them catch - For the Yankee tars for fighting are the dandy, O.

O, the Guerriere so bold on the foaming ocean roll'd, Commanded by Dacres, the grandee, O,

With as choice a British crew as a rammer ever drew; They could beat the Frenchmen two to one so handy, O.

When this frigate hove in view, "O," said Dacres to his crew,

"Prepare ye for action and be handy, O;

On the weather-guage we'll get her, and to make the men fight better, We'll give to them gunpowder and good brandy, O."

Now this boasting Briton cries, "Make that Yankee ship your prize You can in thirty minutes do it handy, O;

Or in twenty-five, I'm sure; if you do it in a score,

I will give you a double share of good brandy, O.

"When prisoners we've made them, with switchel we will treat them, We'll welcome them with Yankee Doodle dandy, O;"

O, the British balls flew hot, but the Yankees answered not, Until they got a distance that was handy, O.

"O," cries Hull unto his crew, "We will try what we can do; If we beat these boasting Britons we 're the dandy, O;" The first broadside we poured bro't the mizzen by the board, Which doused the Royal Ensign quite handy, O!

O, Dacres he did sigh, and to his officers did cry, "O, I didn't think the Yankees were so handy, O;" The second told so well that the fore and mainmast fell; That made this lofty frigate look quite handy, O.

"O," says Dacres, "we're undone," so he fires a lee gun, And the drummers struck up Yankee Doodle Dandy, O! When Dacres came on board, to deliver up his sword, He was loth to part with it, it look'd so handy, O.

"You may keep it," says brave Hull; "What makes you look so dull ? Have you drank too much of your brandy, O?"

O Britons, now be still, since we've hook'd you in the gill; Don't boast upon your Dacres the grandee, O!

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

CHAPTER IX.

Town Officers of 1815- Tythingmen-Desecration of Lord's Day-In- temperance - Profanity - Money raised - The Schools - Benjamin Bussey-Gives a Ball to the First Religious Society-Anecdote of him -Court House occupied as a Place of Worship-First Sunday School -Charles Hanan; his death-The Court House-A high Quarrel- Tythingman's Association-First Newspaper in Bangor-Peter Edes-Anecdote of him-Attempt to Court-martial-General Blake's failures-Court-martial of Colonel Grant et al., 1816-Town Officers- Appropriations -- Vote on Separation of State-Fire Company-An- nual Meeting and Dinner-The Moral Society -- Public Sentiment- Extreme Cold and Snow in June-Murder of Knight-Arrest and Trial of Peol Susep-John Neptune's Speech-Susep Convicted of Manslaughter-Afterwards Becomes Insane-Advertisement-Judy Brown's Advertisement-Philanthropic Movement of Ladies-Sur- vey of the River- Penobscot a Half Shire- Its Officers-Zadock Davis-Captain John Perkin's Packet-Dr. Dickinson Comes-Cap- tain Isaac Hutch-Anecdote of him-Proceedings for Separation- Mr. Leavitt a Delegate - Greenleaf's Map of Maine - Phenomenon -Military and Religious-The Goodrich Affair-Joseph Carr Ap- pointed Inspector of Customs.

1815-1816. At the annual meeting Moses Patten Joseph Carr, and William Rice were made Selectmen : James Bartlett, Town Clerk ; Thomas A. Hill, Treasurer ; Jacob McGaw, Town Agent; Harvey Loomis, Samuel E. Dutton, Jacob McGaw, Eliashib Adams, Superintend- ing School Committee, and twenty-eight Tythingmen were elected, all of whom, excepting William Hasey, John Ham, Abner Taylor, and Francis Carr, Jr., were qualified, while the number of Hog-reeves was reduced to five. Men had, by reason of that laxness in morals always consequent upon war, become more wicked than swine. "Many excellent essays were written, sermons delivered, and at length an additional statute passed to check the profanation of the Lord's day. Tythingmen in towns were multiplied, and only those chosen who were expected to do their duty. The intemperate use of ardent spirits was another prevailing sin. Equally lamentable and, perhaps more heinous, was the increas- ing profaneness in conversation."* Great exertions were made to effect a reform. The then future historian of Maine was one of the Tythingmen who qualified, and must be supposed to have done his duty.

The moneys raised this year were $900 to pay debts and current expenses; $250 for the Bridge Company; $700 for Mr. Loomis's salary; $600 for schools; $950 for highways.

A vote was passed that no scholar be admitted into a inan's school who was not qualified to read in a class. A committee, consisting of Mr. Williamson, Mr. Loomis, and Eliashib Adams, was appointed to prepare a plan for the better regulation of the schools, and for the appropri- ation of the school moneys. They reported that there were in Districts 1 and 2 about 250 scholars,-a large number for three schools,-that a third of them, at least, ought to be under the tuition of a master qualified to teach the ordinary and higher branches of education and the languages, while the two other schools might be made the instruction of mistresses; that the master's school should be supported principally by subscription, but each scholar be entitled to draw his school money; and that in each of the other three districts a third of the school

money should support a school taught by a female in the summer and two-thirds for a master in the winter.

The report was adopted. Mr. McGaw resigned as committee of the Second District, and Philip Coombs was substituted. The vote adopting the report was re- considered at an adjourned meeting April 3d.

The taxes on the vessels burnt by the British, assessed in 1814, were abated. Columbia and Cross streets were accepted.

Benjamin Bussey, Esq., of Roxbury, who was large proprietor of lands in Bangor and neigh- a

borhood, gave Mr. Loomis's Society a fine-toned bell, that could be heard at the distance of five miles in favorable weather, weighing one thousand and ninety-five pounds. It was put into the belfry of the Court-house, at the corner of Hammond and Columbia streets, which was used by that Society as a church, in July of this year ; and one of the. votes .of the town was that the Selectmen employ some person to ring it at certain hours of each day. In passing, it may not be amiss to repeat an anecdote of Mr. Bussey, which is recorded by Professor Shepard. He belonged to the class denominated Liberal Christians. He liked Mr. Loomis as a man and a gentleman, and socially was on very good terms with him. Calling upon him at one time, he said : "I don't believe your doctrine of future damnation, Mr. Loomis, myself; but it is just what is wanted by the villains who steal my timber. Go on and preach it, and I will give you a hundred acres of land to begin with." "A good speculator," the learned Doctor adds, "for he knew that his other hundred acres would be nearly doubled in value, if Mr. Loomis's doctrine could be put into the hearts of the people."*

The votes for Governor were for Caleb Strong, 65 votes ; for Samuel Dexter, 46. William D. Willliamson had 41 votes for Senator and Counsellor, against 62 for Benjamin Hasey. Jacob McGaw and Martin Kinsley were also candidates, the former having 13 votes, and the latter 3 votes. John Wilson had 56 votes for Repre- sentative to Congress ; James Carr, 46. Amos Patten had 50 votes for Representative to the Legislature, and was declared elected; Jacob McGaw had 32 votes ; Joseph Carr, 4 ; Nathaniel Burrill, I.

The First Congregational Society occupied the Court- house as a place of worship for the first time in the sum- mer of 1813. Its first meetings were in the Hadlock House, which stands in the northerly angle of York and Exchange streets. It was in a store-room of this build- ing that Deacon Boyd, Deacon Adams, and Miss Martha Allen, at the instance of Mrs. Jacob McGaw, com- menced the first Sabbath-school in town, early in the summer of 1814. The number of scholars at first was eight or nine. Deacon Adams was Superintendent, and, with others, continued the school there until the autumn of 1815.

But Mr. Loomis was ordained in Union Hall. The pulpit was a table with a chair. The seats were of rough plank. Notwithstanding the ardor with which the town

* Williamson's History of Maine, II., 660.

*Sermon on the Religious History of Bangor.

#Autobiography of Eliashib Adams, 63.

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Hon. George W. Ladda

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

commenced making arrangements for putting it in a proper condition for public worship, there was a sudden abate- ment of zeal in the people. But during nearly two years the society worshipped in it as fervently and sincerely, no doubt, as it ever did afterwards in a more elegant house. The attendance on Mr. Loomis's ministrations, in good weather, numbered from one hundred and fifty to two hundred. Mr. Leavitt says that this year (1815) there appeared to be "a general awakening and a serious at- tention to religion" in the society, and expressed the wish that it might " prove sincere and effectual to the conver- sion of many, nay all."

On the 13th of April Charles Hammond died. He had been an enterprising and prominent citizen. Was born in Newton, Massachusetts, September 6, 1779, and was a brother of William Hammond. He purchased lot No. 70, Holland's plan, which extended from the stream at a point nearly opposite the head of Mercantile Row to the north of Thomas's Hill, and included the City Hall lot, being bounded on its easterly side by the Ken- duskeag. The City Hall lot proper he contracted to sell to proprietors. It was divided into sixty shares, which were not all conveyed at the time of his death. His administrator, Moses Patten, conveyed several of them afterward under a special act of the Legislature. Mr. Hammond was captain of the Bangor Artillery Com- pany, which he was instrumental in raising, and held several offices of trust in town. - He left a widow, who afterward became the wife of Caleb C. Billings. Mr. Leavitt, in recording his death, added: "The brightest ornament we have in point of talent and usefulness."

A quarrel commenced in the early part of the season between two of the leading men of the town in relation to some brandy of which they were joint proprietors. It was stored in the cellar of one of them, and when they were making arrangements for a division the other charged the "one" with watering it, which was denied. The quarrel grew bitter. The "one" pulled the nose of the other, whereupon the other procured an indictment against the "one" for watering the brandy. The case was tried before the Court of Common Pleas in April. After a long examination, the testimony being insufficient, the "one" was acquitted. Both the parties, with their families, being of the first respectability, there was much excitement among them, as well as interest in the com- munity. A brother-in-law of the "one" called the other a rascal and names of similar import not agreeable to him, and the latter being a man of deliberation, determination, and some vindictiveness, proceeded to get his revenge within the pale of the law for the slander, and recovered $500 of the brother-in-law. This, however, he offered to remit if an apology were made. This was refused, and the father of the mulcted person paid it. Mr. Leavitt says of the original parties, the one is "of high standing in point of property, and so in the opinion of many who have dealt much with him;" the other "is of unexcep- tionable character in point of honesty. Both my friends."

This year there was organized, by the Tythingmen, an association for bettering the morals of the town, called "The Bangor Moral Society and Tythingmen," which

proceeded to business. Deacon William Boyd was its President. The object was to enforce the "laws against vice, and more particularly against profane swearing and Sabbath-breaking." The members were zealous. They patroled the streets on Sunday to see that it was not pro- faned by unnecessary perambulation, and it is said "rep- rimanded, among others, citizens who happened to be abroad, that were as much opposed to the violation of the Sabbath as themselves." The perversity of man was manifested now, as usual when there is an undue at- tempt to enforce sumptuary laws, "the old offenders renewed their old practices," boys were slyly coasting upon their sleds and skating during public worship, while the older irreverent class looked on approvingly.

In this year an enterprise was commenced in Bangor which has never been discontinued, and which has been of more benefit to its citizens in many respects than any other. On the 25th of November Peter Edes issued from his printing-office the first number of the first news- paper that was ever published in Bangor, called Bangor Weekly Register. Mr. Edes was the son of Benjamin Edes, a newspaper publisher and printer in Boston. He had published successfully the Kennebec Intelligencer, Gazette and Herald of Liberty, in Augusta, since 1795, at a loss; and with the hope of better success in the new town upon the Penobscot, which was becoming known, he made up his mind to remove thither. He employed Mr. Ephraim Ballard, with his team of six oxen, to re- move his press and types, which weighed about four tons. The roads were next to impassable, but in the course of three weeks the four tons of material were taken to Ban- gor at an expense of $143. The Kennebec bridge was so frail a structure that the whole could not be taken over at one time .*

The population of Bangor at this period was about one thousand. Mr. Edes had reason to believe that his paper would meet with reasonable encouragement. He was an ardent Federalist, and had been threatened with personal violence on account of his sometime exhibitions of fervor. Experience had convinced him that it would be better to pursue a more conciliatory course in his new location; he therefore made his paper the organ of no party. As Mr. Edes was a printer and publisher merely, and unable to employ what is now so important to a newspaper, an editor, his editorials were few and far be- tween. But there were persons in the town who assisted him by their contributions. The separation of Maine from Massachusetts had been long agitated; and now its friends, having an opportunity to express their views, used the columns of the Register very freely. But Mr. Edes did not meet with the encouragement he anticipa- ted. He expected subscribers in Buckstown, Castine, and Belfast, but the people of these places had begun to foster feelings of jealousy towards the upstart town away up at the head of the tide that thought itself equal to a newspaper, and they were not disposed to lend it any as- sistance. About two years' experience with the Register was sufficient for Mr. Edes. He then disposed of the establishment to James Burton, Jr., from Augusta. In

* North's History of Augusta, 385.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

taking leave of his patrons he said that, although he had occasionally appeared to complain of want of patronage and punctuality, yet he felt a pleasure in acknowledging "that for such a period of profound peace and tranquilli- ty throughout the world, the paper had received a decent support." Mr. Burton wanted seventy-five new sub- scribers to enable him to renew the publication of the Register. Subscription papers were left with Messrs. Williamson, Dutton & Hill, and Hill & McLaughlin, and Mr. Burton was enabled to renew the publication of the paper December 25, 1817. Mr. Edes took up his con- nection with it on the 23d of August previous.

Mr. Edes was small in stature, industrious, possessed of energy, and was much respected in Bangor. He con- tinued the fashion of small clothes and long stockings pretty late, and having thin legs and being unused to artificial calves, the fashion was not altogether becoming to him. His residence in Bangor being during the Tyth- ingmen's reformatory era, he had some experiences which were not agreeable. James Orrock, his appren- tice, was one of the Sabbath-breaking boys, and became the subject of legal discipline. Mr. Edes in a letter says: "You must know the people are very strict on this day, and will not let men walk out, much less boys. James was strolling about and was ordered home by the tythingmen, but he would not obey them. A complaint was lodged against me on the next day, and I should have been obliged to pay a fine had not Judge Dutton pleaded in my behalf that I did not approve of such conduct, and so got clear." Mr. Edes afterwards resided in Baltimore, Maryland, with Benjamin Edes, his son. He spent his last days in Bangor, however, with his daughters, Mrs. Rider and Mrs. Michael Sargent. He died March 29, 1840, at the age of eighty-three.

Some of the fugacious Hampden multitude, mortified by the reproach that was cast upon them for the result of the "Hampden Battle" (which no one, acquainted with the quality and equipment of the three or four hundred raw militiamen got together there to oppose the war- worn British regulars, could have expected to be other- wise), earnest for a scapegoat to bear the whole stigma of the catastrophe, procured a Court of Inquiry, to deter- mine whether a Court-martial should not declare the commanding General, John Blake, to be the one. Ac- cordingly on May 15, 1815, orders were issued by Gov- ernor Strong for such Court of Inquiry. The result will be found in the following papers :

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS. GENERAL ORDERS- HEADQUARTERS, BOSTON, January 8, 1816.

The Court of Inquiry, whereof Major-General Henry Sewall is Pres- ident, appointed by the Orders of 15th day of May last, to examine into the grounds of a complaint exhibited against Brigadier-General John Blake, of the First Brigade and Tenth Division of the militia, by Lieu- tenant-Colonel Andrew Grant and sundry other officers of the Third Regiment of said Brigade, having assembled at Bangor, conformably to said orders, and having deliberately and carefully examined into the grounds of complaint, and the evidence adduced in support thereof, as well as that which was adduced to rebut the same, and also the writ- ten defense and replication, which are made part of the record of the case, has reported to his Excellency, the Commander-in-chief, as the opinion of the Court, which opinion he approves, "that the charges do not appear to be so far supported as to render a reference of them to a Court Martial expedient or proper."

The Court of Inquiry, of which Major-General Sewall is President is dissolved. By his Excellency's command.

J. BROOKS, Adjutant General.

There was much delay in making known the conclu- sion to which the Court had arrived, but at length the following communication reached General Blake with the foregoing orders :

ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, BOSTON, Jan. 10, 1816.

SIR: I have the satisfaction now to forward to you the result of the Court of Inquiry appointed by the orders of the 15th of May last; at the same time regretting that any circumstances should have occurred to occasion so tedious a delay in the publication of that result. By a com- munication I have received from Major Wilson, the Judge Advocate of the 6th Division, I learn that the delay was accidental and not to be avoided. I transmit to you at the same time thirty copies of the Orders for distribution in the 10th Division, intending that every field officer and the Judge Advocate should receive one each.

I am, respectfully, sir, your obedient servant, Brigadier-General John Blake. J. BROOKS, Adj. Gen. A court-martial, consisting of Major-General Alfred Richardson, President, two Brigadier-Generals, four Col- onels, and six Majors, with John Wilson, Esq., as Judge Advocate, and Major A. W. Atherton (aid-de-camp of General Richardson), Marshal, assembled for the trial of Colonel Andrew Grant, of Hampden, and Major Joshua Chamberlain, of Brewer (grandfather of Gen- eral Joshua L. Chamberlain, late Governor), of the Third Regiment, First Brigade, Tenth Division, for offenses al- leged to have been committed in presence of the enemy at Hampden, in September, 1814, and adjourned finally April 9. Major Chamberlain was honorably acquitted.

1816. Joseph Leavitt was chosen Town Clerk this year, in place of Mr. James Bartlett, his copartner in business, whose records show him to have been a well-qualified scribe. The Selectmen of the last year were all popular enough to gain a re-election. Thomas A. Hill was made Treasurer, and Rev. Harvey Loomis, Joseph Leavitt, Al- len Gilman, and Joseph Carr, Superintending School Committee. The Tythingmen were reduced to fifteen, and the Hog-reeves inereased to that number, "indicat- ing a growing sentiment more favorable to anthropomor- phous, and less favorable to pachydermatous, offenders." The appropriations were, for schools $1,200, for highways $1,200, for the Bridge Company $250, for Mr. Loomis's salary $800, and $600 for the support of the poor. This is the first sum ever directly raised for the poor in Ban- gor.

The votes for Governor were for John Brooks, 73; Samuel Dexter, 50; William King, I.

The votes for Register of Deeds were, for John Wil- kins, 42; Charles Rice, 40. For Representative to the Legislature Robert Parker 61 votes, and was elected.

The town voted this year to pay the Assessors two dol- lars a day each for their services.

On April I the shore road from Mt. Hope to William Thompson's, and the continuance of Broad street to a pine-tree near the ferry-way, laid out September 30, 1808, were accepted.

On May 20 the town voted on the question of the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, 66 yeas, 29 nays ; Hampden, 43 yeas, 32 nays ; Brewer, 36 yeas, 7 nays.

The people of Bangor were proud of their fire-engine.

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HISTORY OF PENOBSCOT COUNTY, MAINE.

It was a little tub, but effective, and was housed in a fif- teen by twenty-foot building, painted yellow, which stood at the corner of State and Exchange streets, near the easterly corner of the Kenduskeag bridge. In its latter days it was known as the "Old Settler." On the Ist of May the Engine Company held their annual meeting at the Hatch Tavern, and with the Selectmen and other invited guests partook of a dinner in the great Hall. "The greatest unanimity and harmony prevailed, and nothing occurred to mar the pleasures of the day ;" and this sentiment, with others, was drunk with the greatest enthusiasm: "Ourselves; should any member of our company take fire, we'll quick put him out!"

On May 7 the President of "The Bangor Moral So- ciety and Tythingmen," Deacon Boyd, gave notice that the society had made its annual election of officers and entered into arrangements for enforcing the laws against vice, and more particularly those against profane swear- ing and Sabbath-breaking, and that they would be faith- fully and duly executed the ensuing year, and that the society congratulated the friends of good order and mo- rality on the favorable change effected by the successful exertions of last year.

This pronunciamento of the society had a different ef- fect from that anticipated. The opposers of the move- ment came to another conclusion from that announced by the President. They alleged that the course pursued by the society had had an effect detrimental to the cause of morals ; that, prior to the erection of a house for pub- lic worship in 1812, the appearance of the village on Sunday was really degrading; disorderly boys and other persons were seen at all times of the day assembled in groups in direct violation of the Sabbath ; but from that time, like terrapins, they had drawn themselves into their shells on that day, and until this new movement its ob- servance was regarded; but now the old offenders had returned to their old practices, and the disregard of the day was becoming as bad as before. Some wag travestied Deacon Boyd's notice in the following lines :--

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History of Penobscot County, Maine; with illustrations and biographical sketches, Part 142

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