USA > Maine > Knox County > South Thomaston > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 35
USA > Maine > Knox County > Rockland > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 35
USA > Maine > Knox County > South Thomaston > History of Thomaston, Rockland, and South Thomaston, Maine, from their first exploration, A. D. 1605; with family genealogies, Vol. I > Part 35
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49
Equally prosperous were commerce and navigation. The manufacture of lime was considerably extended ; yielding to the burner from $1 to $1,08 in the early part of the year, and from 84 to 92 cents in the latter portion. This, with other freight, gave ample employment to the many sloops and schooners then running from this port (especially from the George's River side) to Boston and other places along the coast, and several of them, together with sundry brigs and perhaps some larger vessels to the South and to the West In- dies. Two, the brig Adams, of Owl's Head, Capt. Emery, and the sch. Ann, Capt. Webb, made European voyages and returned with cargoes of salt. The great number of pas- sengers transported to Boston, the large amount of merchan- dise brought back, and the speedy trips made by the small
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coasters, rendered them a profitable investment, and a fine nursery for seamen, from which many a poor man's son and penniless orphan have since come to command ships of a thousand tons and to circumnavigate the globe. The number of merchants or traders licensed to sell liquor, (and at this time nearly every store-keeper was thus licensed,) was about twenty-two ; to supply whom, a large and greatly increased quantity of goods was brought from Boston, where they were easily obtained, credit being now well re-established. Most of the vessels at this time sailing from W. Thomaston had been built in Warren or at Mill River; of the five this year added to the port, three were built in Warren, one at the shore, and one at Wessaweskeag. The fees to measurers of wood and bark as this year prescribed for the first time by the selectmen, were 5 cents per cord by the wagon load, and 3 cents by gondola, raft, or vessel load.
The high duties at this time levied upon W. I. Goods, more especially upon ardent spirits, gave great temptation to clan- destine importations as well as profits to their detecters, - which led to some sharp and ludicrous conflicts. On the 2d of Sept. 1822, General McCobb, collector, was informed of the arrival at the mouth of the Wessaweskeag of a small schooner named the Fox, with smuggled goods on board. With an order from him for its seizure, H. Prince, Jr., the Inspector of the port, had a search-warrant filled out, and with Asa Coombs, as constable, and Ephraim Bartlett, as as- sistant, hastened to the place, arriving rather suddenly and unexpectedly, before the actors had completed their arrange-
ments. Taking possession of the schooner in behalf of the United States, and placing two men on board as keepers, the officers then went on shore, and, after searching among out- buildings, haylofts, cellars, and bushes, 34 barrels of rum were found, -nine-of them under what appeared on the sur- face to be a barrel of soap, which was unfortunately spilled in the search, and one other dug up from a potato-field with no tool but a ram's-horn. These were all put on board the schooner again, and, though obliged to arm themselves to prevent a rescue, they got safely up the river about midnight. " The next day," writes Mr. Prince, " we unladed the vessel and had her stripped ; stowing the rum, sails, and rigging in Esq. Snow's store, and came home that night well tired, not having had any sleep for about forty hours." Two days af- terwards, the rum was hauled over and stored at Mill River, till it could be legally disposed of. It was subsequently con- demned; and, Oct. 26th, was sold at auction for about $651,
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and the vessel, for $94, to Capt. Ambrose Snow. The schoon- er First Attempt, owned by E. Merrill, was also seized not long after ; but the owner had her appraised, gave security for the amount, set her going again, and, at the trial, made no defence.
Independence was not formally celebrated this year in the place ; but the old soldiers of the Revolution came out to en- joy its reminiscences, and the younger classes in different parts of the town, contrived to burn, in course of the day, some fifteen kegs of powder. The Regimental muster was held in this town, Sept. 24th, in a field near Dr. I. Bernard's at Blackington's corner. The day was fine, the martial ar- ray imposing, the exercises and evolutions skilfully perform- ed, attracting a large collection of interested spectators.
This year was not without some distressing casualties. Lieut. O. Robbins, Jr., having gone with Isaac Spear to serve some process as constable on Sheep Island, on his return home, July 9th, a short distance from Owl's Head, was cap- sized in a small sail-boat whilst jibing, and went immediately down. He rose again, however, and by the strenuous exer- tions of Mr. Spear was brought to the boat; but he seemed to have lost his senses and all activity, and, being unable to keep his head above water, soon let go his hold and disap- · peared. Spear with difficulty kept his hold on the boat, which was now water-logged and too heavy to bear his weight, and, partly by swimming and partly by aid of the oars, was enabled to support himself several hours until he was picked up by a vessel and landed at Owl's Head. On the morning of Aug. 19th, Ormond, youngest son of Leonard Fales, was seen floating in the water at Mill River village; where, it was judged from the circumstances, he must have been nearly an hour. Every attempt was made to resuscitate him, but to no purpose. He was about three years old.
In the North Parish, the pastor's talents and assiduity con- tinued to be eminently successful in gaining converts and in- creasing the activity of the church; although his indiscreet zeal, in rebuking the younger members of the parish for danc- ing, had caused a reaction in favor of that amusement, and offended some. The following extracts from a letter of Mrs. Swan, Knox's youngest daughter, to a young friend, dated April 29, 1822, may give the aspect of society in one part of the town, and awaken pleasant reminiscences in some who then moved in its gayer circles. "The young people of our village have passed a gay winter, frolicking from house to house continually, and most indefatigably dancing away dull
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care; but the married folks have been very sedate and orderly. There is great excitement at present among the religious com- munity, -in other words, there is a reformation, as they ex- press it. I sincerely hope there may be truth and justice in the expression. Your Aunt is, T believe. wholly absorbed. She is, I am told, a never-failing attendant at all the meet- ings; which, to people less interested in the good work, would be considered a most arduous undertaking." . . . " Mrs. S. has another great homely boy; which is really provoking. Why will she not have children to resemble her pretty self ? But you will be glad to hear that, though she continues incor- rigible on this subject, yet that she is well, and happy, and her husband makes a good living. No person whom I see appears more completely happy than Mrs. Merrill, and no person certainly has more reasonable cause. Her husband has become a very general favorite, which you know is a con- siderable change. I truly think him the most agreeable man in the country. But I must not go on specifying individuals in this way, or I shall never have done." Again, Aug. 16th, she writes in a more sombre mood, to her husband's niece, Miss Howard of Boston; " Elizabeth says you intend making a visit at Nahant, during the college vacation. I had thought that you and John intended making a trip to Thomaston at that time. It is selfish to ask you to change your destination from so desirable a place to one which offers so few attrac- tions as a retired country village. But I should indeed re- joice to meet you, and so would your Uncle. My Mother likewise would be happy to see you here, but she appears to think it impossible for you to be amused." But I tell her you would amuse yourselves. If you will keep in mind 'that the Glory of Israel has departed,' that the days of show and parade and profusion have all gone by, and that we are a plain retired country family, we will promise you a sincere welcome, and, if we cannot offer you any entertainment you can be assured of the liberty of doing as you please; and the state of society and manners which are so different from any-
* Mrs. Knox at this time was, no doubt, hard pressed for amusements, herself. Continuing to make no visits here, and finding it inconvenient to keep up an equine establishment, she refused to leave her house till she could do so in her former style and in her own carriage, which she re- tained unused in the carriage house till it became powder-posted by time ; and she is said to have never left the mansion till carried out, for burial. Her favorite diversion was, however, still a resource ; and Messrs. Snow Paine, C. Pope, and J. Ruggles, usually made it a point to drop in weekly to join her in a quiet game of whist which always closed with a snug little supper at eleven o'clock.
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thing you have ever been accustomed to, may, from their novelty, afford you some amusement."
The following extract is given, also, as an illustration of the change of feeling which, with the change of circumstances, now nervaded the mansion on lately the refuge of the cvile and the envied abode of generous hospitality, convivial hi- larity, and uninterrupted enjoyment. "I beg of you, my dear girl, to write to me, and tell me what are your occupations and amusements. I know almost as little of Boston and its inhabitants as I do of London or Paris. I suppose your Grandmamat has removed to town. Uncle James seems pretty much resolved to go to Boston when his mother removes. I wish he could be gratified by seeing you all, but I anticipate no good from his going to town under present circumstances. He would have to encounter too much of mortification and vexation, and I greatly fear the consequences would not be advantageous to himself or pleasing to his friends. But he is at the same time so painfully situated here that I am at a loss what to advise.
Oh Thou who driest the mourner's tear, How dark this world would be, If, when deceived and wounded here, We could not fly to Thee !
. There is an oppression at my heart I can by no means · shake off. It is true a long habi of suffering in silence still enables me to prevent much of this appearing on the surface. . But this very restraint is unnatural and helps to wear me out, and I forcibly feel that it cannot last much longer. Forgive me, Elizabeth, for this egotism, possibly the unbur- dening my oppressed spirit to you may do me good, and I know you too well to think you will need any apology."
1823. The arrival in Thomaston of the gifted and ac- complished Mellen seems to have had a cheering influence on the mind of Mrs. Swan, as will appear from the following, written Jan. 14, 1823, to the niece before mentioned, then recently married to a Mr. Sage. "I have heard of you sev- eral times lately, through the medium of Mr. Grenville Mel- len, who has been passing some weeks here, and thinks of making this his place of residence. If such should be his conclusion, he will assuredly be an immense acquisition to our society. Indeed, I think him one of the most agreeable and companionable persons I have ever met with. He seems
t Mrs. Swan of Boston; whose son, the Uncle James spoken of, was the writer's husband.
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to have that blessed disposition which is disposed to make the best of circumstances, and to look on the bright side of things. He speaks of Elizabeth and yourself with much in- terest, nay, with enthusiasm. He said he would give half of à year's income to be present at the wedding, and he desired me, when writing you, to say from him that "the Sagest thing you can possibly do, will be, not to forget him," and a variety of compliments which I think I had best not repeat. He is now gone home on a visit, but will probably return in a few days. My dear Hepsy, will you let me know who the Mr. Everett is who corresponds with Mr. Mellen, and who, it would appear, is a constant visitor at your house. Some hints have reached me of a strong partiality which this gen- tleman has for a little white rose-bud in whom I have the strongest interest."
To this " rose-bud," (Miss Elizabeth Howard,) about the same time, after some further bantering, she writes-" In case you should be at a loss, I will mention that I allude to a certain travelled gentleman of splendid talents, and great acquirements, who, when in Europe, fell in love with a Ger- man countess, who exactly resembled your ladyship. I wrote to the bride by Mr. Gleason and mentioned the acquisi- tion which our society had received, by the addition of your old acquaintance, Mr. Mellen. His vivacity and agreeable qualities have operated like a cham, and roused the faculties of the good people here to some degree of emulation. We are about establishing a Friendly Society, who are to meet at each other's houses weekly, during the cold weather. You may form some idea of the growth of our village when I tell you that there are fourteen places of meeting. Mr. Mellen requested me to remember him particularly when writing you, and I hope you will send the poor youth some message in return. He is expected back daily from a visit to Portland and his dear Mary. The girls think it monstrously provok- ing that he should have engaged himself before coming here. but I tell them to take comfort and remember the old adage, " there's many a slip" - you know the rest. My dear girl, I must perforce break off. Some time since you offered to send me 'Love and Time.' I was then in such a gloomy frame of mind that I wished there had never been any such personage as Love, and was wholly indifferent to old Time and all his ravages. But, as it is the present fashion to be cheerful, I should now be glad to see them."
Seventeen years had now passed away since the death of Gen. Knox, during which, a double contrast had taken place
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in the condition of things, alike in the town at large, and that illustrious family in particular. The many branches of business then carried on by Knox, which overshadowed and in some degree repressed all minor efforts, had now passed away ; and individual enterprise, which attained but a sickly growth while in the shade, was now expanding itself to the light and air, making up in numbers what it lacked in capital. New buildings had been erected and old ones repaired, new quar- ries were worked, new kilns constructed, new ship-vards laid down, wharves built or extended, and new men of business were now floating on the flood-tide of prosperity. But great and pleasing as was the change thus wrought in the commu- nity around, not less great, painfully great and melancholy, was the contrast made in this interval at the chateau and in the affairs of its occupants. "Time's effacing fingers " had been at work, and left their traces on and about the mansion. The fences, gates, and outbuildings were dilapidated. The piazza, colonnade, and balconies which surrounded it, had become so ruinous that about this time they were removed; and with them went the greater portion of the exterior beauty and magnificence of the structure. The estate of the Gen- eral had been administered upon by his widow, and proved to be insolvent ; the debts as allowed by the commissioners, amounting to $165,107,19, whilst the inventory of the real estate amounted to $105,388, and the personal to $15,758,81. There was a large amount of litigation, and several thousand dollars expended in lawyer's fees. Eight years were occu- pied in its settlement; and it would doubtless have been the occasion of much mortification and regret could the once busy proprietor have foreseen that two dividends only, one of five and the other of three and a half per centum, were all his creditors ever received. The widow, although an allowance of $9299,10 was made her out of the personal property in addition to her dower in the real estate and one-fifth part of the Patent held in her own right, had not been able to adapt her style of living to her income, and was now involved in debt and pressed by creditors. What remained of the for- est growth in the park between the mansion and Mill River, had, seven or eight years after the General's death, been sold standing to John Blackington, who cut it off for the manufac- ture of lime. The land itself she had mortgaged to Benj. Buzzy of Roxbury; and Saml. Parkman of Boston, under an old mortgage from the General, had come into possession of most of the vacant or unsold wild lands of this and the neighboring towns. Her only surviving son, who, as the
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General used to say, had cost him his weight in gold, now separated from an amiable wife, was a penniless dependent on his mother's bounty; her eldest daughter, with a numerous family, was by no means in affluent circumstances ; and the younger daughter, amiable, affectionate, and self-sacrificing, had been, at the age of sixteen, and by the influence, it was said, of two scheming mothers, united to a spoilt child of wealth and dissipation, who had no business, no capacity, lit- tle taste, and no means of gaining a livelihood but by a yearly allowance made him by his mother out of an estate which, as rumor has it, was saved by the perpetual imprisonment of her husband in Paris. In addition to all this, Mrs. Knox's health began to fail her. Her daughter writes in January, 1823, "I should have been extremely unwilling to have been absent from my Mother, during this winter. She is so far from well, that I should have been continually anxious and unhappy on her account.
Oh welcome, though with care and pain, The power to glad a parent's heart, To bid a parent's joys remain, And life's approaching ills depart.
We thank you much for the books. To you, who live in so different a scene, it is, perhaps, scarcely credible how valua- ble books are, to us secluded beings."
The situation of the property and the peculiar trials of this worthy member of the family, may be judged of by the following, addressed by her to the Hon. James Sullivan of Boston, brother-in-law of her husband. "Thomaston, - 14, 1823. Dear Sir: It was the wish and intention of my mother to have answered your letter respecting Mrs. Swan's business herself, but illness has rendered her incapable of the exertion of writing, and she has therefore desired me to ad- dress you on her behalf. My mother was in hopes that the security already given was sufficient; but it would seem that the very person who selected the property, and told her he considered it ample, has thought proper to say very differently elsewhere. This, however, was to be expected. But as great- er security is required, my Mother is perfectly willing to give any in her power. What this shall be, however, remains to be determined. She has several large sums to raise within a short time, and she can only raise them by a great sacrifice of what little property mistaken views and faithless agents have left in her possession. Under existing circumstances, would it not be better for Mrs. Swan to pay off the incum- brance now existing upon this property, namely, the house
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and twenty acres of ground adjoining, and take a new mort- gage of the same, herself ?. As a mere matter of speculation, I should think this an advisable step. This estate is now valuable, and must every year be becoming more so. It in- ciudes by far the most important water lois in the town; and, as yet, my mother has not disposed of one foot bordering on the water. It also includes a new wharf and two stores, with 3 excellent lime-kilns, all of which have lately cost more than $5000. I do not mention the house as an inducement, but $800 were, the last summer, expended in repairing it. I ought to add that the wharf, stores, and lime-kilns, now rent for $400 per annum. The amount for which the estate is now mortgaged is exactly $2000, and no more. I have ob- served that, for those who have money, it would be a good speculation to employ it in this way. But Mrs. Swan would doubtless be interested by purer and higher motives. Could she see things as they are, she would be disposed to recollect that Gen. Knox was her valued and esteemed friend, and could she see my mother at this moment, she would discard all prejudice and resentment, and see in her only the intimate companion of former days, the widow of her former friend, and now an afflicted, infirm woman, who in all probability has. but a short time to remain in this world. It is even so, my kind friend, and I repeat with anguish of heart it is the con- viction of her children and indeed of all who behold her. At such a moment as this, it is our first wish that her mind should be at peace, and that she should be undisturbed by business or cares of any kind ; but it seems to be our hard fate that the very reverse of all this should be the case. There is scarce a possibility that my mother's heirs would have it in their power to redeem this property, and she, fore- seeing this, would much rather it should be in possession of Mrs. Swan than of a stranger, under the idea, as I frankly tell you, that it might eventually prove a benefit to one of her children. James is attached to this spot, and if he ever ob- tains a respectable station in life, it will be as a country gen- tleman and in no other way. Should Mrs. Swan, however, refuse to listen to this proposition, it only remains to endeavor to find her satisfactory security in some other form ; and anoth- er difficulty here presents itself. Mr. Thatcher has just set off for Washington on pressing business ; and he appears to be the only individual on whose judgment and fidelity my moth- er can rely to act as her agent in the business. He will probably return in the course of a month, and Mrs. S. may rest assured that should the above proposal not meet her approba-
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tion, she shall then be satisfied in some other way. I felt strongly tempted to address myself directly to Mrs. Swan, but the fear of giving offence deterred me. The signs of heart and feeling which, when last in Boston, I observed in her, in- duced me to think that she will regret to see the family man- sion of my dear Father pass into the hands of strangers. Have the goodness to present my warmest regards to Mrs. Sullivan, and believe me, dear Sir, sincerely yours,
" Caroline F. K. Swan."
To Mrs. Sage, she also writes, April 2, 1823, among other matters, -" There seems at present to be an opening for our having an establishment which we might call our own. The feeble state of my mother's health renders her wholly unable to sustain the cares of a family, and she has determined not to burthen herself with one any longer. Indeed, her only chance for a restoration to tolerable convalescence, must be derived from the use of air and exercise, and some little change of scene. To this end she has come to the resolution of passing the greatest part of the next summer in journey- ing; and she has offered your uncle the use of her house and all that it contains, rent free, during her life. Whenever she is here, she will pay her board, &c. This certainly is a lib- eral offer, and much to our advantage. It is time your uncle had a home; and it is truly highly important that he should feel himself of some consequence in the world. Your Mother and your Aunts will understand me, and it is to secure their interest in his behalf that I trouble you with this statement. This scheme cannot go into effect without some assistance from your Grandmama. Indeed it rests with her altogether. If this tide in his affairs is neglected, I see no chance of his ever having a home, and consequently there is no hope of his ever becoming what his mother and all his friends doubtless would rejoice to see him. You will find uncle James not a little rusticated by his long sojourn in the widerness. But I trust your society will polish him, and send him back quite a pattern for the Thomaston gents." These and other affect- ing appeals to her mother-in-law seem to have had no effect, as in another letter to Mr. Sullivan, dated the 15th of Sept., 1823, she says "my mother's situation is indeed a painful one. The incumbrance upon her property still remains, and the time for redemption will expire on the first of December. There appear to be difficulties as respects raising the money, which could hardly have been anticipated. The property un- der mortgage has lately been appraised by three impartial men at $9500, and this estimate is by most persons consider-
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ed much too low. The sum required is only $2000. Is it utterly impossible to prevail with Mrs. Swan to assume this mortgage ?- Considering the improbability of its ever being finally redeemed, my sister and the other members of the family would much rather it should be in the possession of Mrs. S. than of a stranger. By so doing she would provide a home for her unfortunate son, which would be the most likely means of preserving him from error, and even should he persist in his present course his mother and family will at least be spared the pain of witnessing it. But, my dear Sir, if Mrs. S. remains deaf to our solicitations, will you not assist my mother with your advice and prevent the necessity of hav- ing recourse to so ruinous and desperate a measure as raising the money by means of the Brokers?"
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