USA > Maine > York County > History of York County, Maine, with illustrations and biographical sketches of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 65
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METHODIST CHURCHES.
Some years previous to 1829, Methodist preachers had filled appointments in York. In November of this year a class was formed, consisting of 73 members, by the preach- ers on the circuit, J. Spaulding and Gershom F. Cox. Meetings were held sometimes at school-houses, and at others at private houses about the neighborhood. Feb. 28, 1831, they were incorporated into a legal society. As they grew in strength efforts were made towards building a meeting- house. A proposition to lease a piece of ground of First Parish for that purpose was made to that society, but re- jected. The judicial court was removed from York in 1833, and the use of the court-house reverted to the First Parish. At a parish meeting in this year the use of the court-house was granted to the Methodists on the Sabbath for four months, provided " they do not disturb the peace or interrupt any other religious meetings," the temperance society having the privilege of holding meetings there Sab- bath evenings whenever they may order or direct. A piece of land was finally purchased, and the present church build- ing raised Aug. 30 aud 31, 1833. Oct. 15, 1834, it was dedicated by Rev. G. F. Cox ; text, Daniel ii. 44. From that time to the present Methodist services have been sus- tained here. The Rev. D. B. Randall is their present sta- tioned minister. Membership, 90. They have a neat church
Hannah Brandon Farnes a Braqueno
AF
RESIDENCE OF JAS. A. BRAGDON, YORK, ME.
231
TOWN OF YORK.
building and a comfortable parsonage. The estimated valne of both is $4900.
A METHODIST SOCIETY
was formed at Cape Neddick sehool-house, May 18, 1822, consisting of John Norton, Moses Brewster, llenry Tal- pey, George Phillips, Oliver Preble, Jonathan Talpey, Timothy Ramsdell, Richard Talpey, Obadiah Stone, Samuel Welsh, Hannah Clark, and George Norton, and a certificate served on clerk of First Parish of the above-named faet in order to exempt from payment of ministerial tax to said parish ; but there is no record that this society was ever embodied in a church or had an existence as a distinet society any great length of time. They united with the Baptists in building the meeting-house in 1823, and in the differences that arose as to the control of it they probably went to pieces, and some of their members united with the Baptists. Of the Baptist Church of Cape Neddiek, Rev. Henry Stetson is the present pastor.
THE METHODIST CHURCH
of Scotland was probably gathered about 1830. In this year Conference sent Rev. George Webber to preach to the people in this section. Meetings were held in the school- house, and some religious interest aroused. The meeting- house was built in 1833. Owing to the weakness of the society, preaching has not been continuonsly sustained.
MANUFACTURES.
The mannfactures are small and insignificant, and have never to any great extent occupied the attention of the people. Chase's woolen-mill, at the ontlet of Chase's Pond (J. Chase & Son), turns out a limited amount of flannel. Numerons saw- and shingle-mills cut considerable quanti- ties of lumber. Step-ladders, etc., are turned out by H. Moulton & Co .; and the York Brick Company on the York River make an excellent quality of brick, which find ready sale in Boston market. D. Sewall & Co., doors, sash, and blinds ; George Roberts, J. K. Plaisted, carriages ; William G. Moulton & Son, carriages and machinery.
SCHOOLS.
The first recorded action taken in regard to schools was in 1701, when Nathaniel Freeman was employed by the selectmen for £8 per year, with 3d. per week for teaching reading, and 4d. per week for writing and eiphering. His year began May 5th. The next year he was engaged for £10, with same price for other branches as he had the previous year. In the year 1709-10 the selectmen were instructed by vote of the town to hire a schoolmaster for seven years, to teach all in the town to read, write, and cipher. The next year Nathaniel Freeman was engaged for the term of years mentioned. He was to teach from eight A.M. to twelve M., and from one to five P.M. for £30 per year, paid quarterly, one-third in provisions and balance in money of New England. In addition the town was to build him a house 22 by 18, with a brick chimney. The school was to be free to all from five years old and upwards. In 1717 a vote passed for the employment of a grand schoolmaster for one year, to instruet the children in the learned things, who
was to be paid and subsisted at town expense. Kindred action was taken from time to time, showing the inhabitants were not indifferent to the benefits of an education. The last report of the State superintendent presents the field and common school interests thus : Number of districts, 15; graded school, 1; number of houses, 15, estimated value, 85000; number of children between the ages of 4 and 21, 895 ; average attendance, 4293 ; average length of summer terms, 66 days ; average length of winter terms, 60} days ; number of teachers employed, 15 ; amount of money voted, $2800; amount raised per scholar, $3.10; male teachers employed in winter, 11; average wages per month, $35; females employed in winter, 3; summer, 15 ; average wages per week, $5.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
GEORGE DONNELL,
sixth ehild and fourth son, in a family of nine children, of John and Deborah (Dunning) Donnell, was born in the town of York, York Co., Me., March 12, 1810.
His father, John, was the son of Nathaniel, who was the son of Nathaniel, son of Thomas, who was the son of Henry, the original settler of the Donnell family in Maine.
GEORGE DONNELL.
The farm upon which Mr. Donnell resides has been in the family for about two hundred years, and the buildings on it were erected by his great-grandfather.
George Donnell had limited opportunities for an educa- tion from books; his father being a seafaring man, he spent his early life fishing and coasting, and has spent most of his manhood on the sea. He married, July 2, 1861, Carrie H., daughter of Joseph S. Simpson, of York. They have no children. In politics he is a Republican. He has been for many years a member of the Methodist Church. Is a man of correct habits, and of high moral worth as a citizen.
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HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
JAMES A. BRAGDON,
of English descent, was born in York, Dec. 24, 1824,-a descendant of Arthur Bragdon, who was an alderman in 1641, when York was a city called Gorgeana; one of the seleetmen of York in 1648, and who signed the submission to Massachusetts in 1652. Arthur had sons Thomas, Arthur, and Samuel, all of whom had land granted them in 1666. Thomas had a son Arthur, born about 1668, who married Sarah, daughter of Arthur Came, and had a son Thomas, born Feb. 20, 1703, who married Mary, the daughter of Samuel Came, and had a son Daniel, born Aug. 25, 1740, who married Hannah, the daughter of John Parsons. Daniel had a son Elihu, born May 3, 1767. who married Abigail, daughter of Cotton Bradbury, and had a son James, born Oct. 9, 1789, who married Maria, daughter of David Baker.
James was the father of the subject of this sketch, and one of six children born in the following order : Catharine, Louisa, Sophia B., James A., Abbie M., and Joseph D.
Nearly all the foregoing have been officially interested in the affairs of the town. Arthur was selectman for several years, besides having other important trusts. The second
Thomas was selectman every year from 1734 to 1773, ex- cepting the years 1748 and 1758, and during the same period was elected representative to the Legislature thir- teen times. Elihu was also selectman for several years, and several times eleeted as representative to the Legislature. James, the son of Elihu, was also selectman, sheriff, jailer, and representative eleet to the Legislature at the time of his death, Nov. 6, 1831.
The subject of this sketch was married, June 9, 1870, to Hannah, daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Leavitt) Preble ; is a farmer by occupation, and now lives upon the premises occupied by Arthur, the original ancestor. He holds the office of justice of the peace, has been elected representa- tive to the Legislature, was elected seleetman in the year 1876, and continues in office to this date (1880). He has always sustained a high reputation for honesty, candor, and integrity. He is of the eighth generation from Arthur, the ancestor above named. His children are as follows :
(1) Joseph P. Bragdon, born July 5, 1811 ; (2) James E. Bragdon, born Dec. 16, 1873 ; (3) Marion A. Bragdon, born Dec. 2, 1875; (4) Arthur E. Bragdon, born May 21, 1879.
KENNEBUN K.
INCORPORATION AND BOUNDARIES.
THE town of Kennebunk was taken from Wells in 1820. Its boundaries, as defined by act of the first Legislature of Maine, are as follows :
" Beginning at the sea at the mouth of Little River, thence running up the middle of said river to the middle of the Branch River, thenee up the middle of said Branch River to the line between said Wells and Sanford." This territory then contained 2145 inhabitants. At the first meeting, August 14th, Benjamin Titeomb, Jr., Timothy Frost, and James Dorrance were chosen selectmen, Timothy Frost town clerk, and Joseph Moody treasurer.
SOIL AND PRODUCTS.
The soil of Kennebunk is of the most varied qualities which mark the surface of the State. In some portions it is very good; in others, sandy ; in others, of little worth for culture. But still there are but few aeres of it where tem- perance, industry, and perseverance will not cause it to yield a comfortable support for man and beast. In the last century farmers gave their exertions to the raising of corn, and sel- dom failed to receive an encouraging return for their labors. But of later years many of them have looked to the West to supply their needs in this respect. A great deal of flax was also raised ; but these products of the land have ceased to be relied upon for income. Ilay and potatoes absorb most of the attention of the farmers.
EARLY HISTORY.
The early history of this town, as well as that of Wells, in which it was included till 1820, has been elaborately written by the late judge, Hon. E E. Bourne, whose work is not only our authority in the preparation of the following sketch, but the souree from which we have liberally drawn, often using the language, as well as the facts, of the author. The history of Wells being given in its appropriate place, we have endeavored to sift out of Judge Bourne's work that which relates exclusively to Kennebunk. In some partic- ulars the latter was not the scene of such terrible devasta- tions in the early wars as came over the older part of the town. Kennebunk can hardly be considered as settled till the principal Indian wars were ended. Though mills were erected on the Mousam River in 1670, they were then almost the only monuments of civilization on the whole ter- ritory ; and, as was the fate of many of the buildings in the inhabited part of the town of Wells, these mills became a prey to the ravages of the red men in the second war, so that Kennebunk, with the exception of one or two houses by the beach, was an entire wilderness, There was little opportunity here for the firebrand or the tomahawk.
In 1718 a permanent settlement was commenced on the banks of the Mousam. William Larrabee was the pioneer in this enterprise. Soon he had four or five companions, who built their houses near him. A few years afterwards a house was built on Great Hill, and two or three houses at what was called the Landing.
233
TOWN OF KENNEBUNK.
Mr. Larrabee had been one of the most energetic and fearless defenders of the old town during the war. March 30, 1706, he married Catharine Adams. His house, which he built in 1714, stood on the point of land about forty rods below the Roundabout, on the castern side of the river. It was a small tenement, built of timber. The same year John Look built a house a short distance below Larrabce's, and the year following Thomas Wormwood built a house about forty rods farther down. These two last were garri- soned houses, surrounded by palisades of large timber as high as the eavcs, with sufficient space to carry on work inside. The palisades were erected a few years after the houses were built, when a renewal of Indian hostilities was apprehended. The Harding House, which stood near the beach, and although a one-story building, was a famous pub- lic-house for the entertainment of travelers and seamen who came into the river in coasters, was palisaded in the same manner. This house was taken down more than a hundred years ago, and nothing but the old cellar remains.
A few years after Larrabee located on the Mousam others took up land below him, near the sea, in the vicinity of public travel. John Webber built a small house in 1721, and about the same time Richard Boothby built a house on the Robert S. Smith place. A house was also built on what has since been called Gillespie's Point, originally Great Neck, afterwards called Grandfather's Neck, from Ephraim, otherwise " Grandfather," Poke, who married Miss Marga- ret Mclellan in 1731. He and his horse were subsequently drowned in attempting to cross the river when the tide was higher than he supposed. The Neck was occupied by Nathaniel Spinney, and then by John Gillespie, from whom it took its last name.
A saw-mill was built upon Gooch's Creek in 1718, timber then being very abundant in the immediate vicinity, and vessels came up near the mill to take away the lumber. The selling of timber, however, was much more lucrative, and in about ten years the mill was abandoned. These were all the buildings in what is now Kennebunk previous to the fourth, or Lovell's Indian war. Before 1717 no particular designation had been given to the land lying between the Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers; but from about that time the name of Kennebunk was applied to it, there being upon it a sufficient number of houses to render a distinction be- tween it and Wells village necessary.
In 1715, when the selectmen of Wells were using their endeavors to obtain a schoolmaster, "Kennebunk was not sufficiently settled to be noticed as a material part of the town. Not more than five or six families lived within what are its present limits."
In addition to the Indian wars, the doubts which existed as to the title to lands were a serious impediment to early settlement. The part of the town lying between the Ken- nebunk and Mousam Rivers was held by Dauiel and Simon Eppes, respectively, of Salem and Ipswich, by virtue of an Indian deed made to John and Robert Wadley in 1659. On receipt of the notice that the Messrs. Eppes intended to prosecute their claims, a town-meeting was called Sept. 14, 1819, " then and there to adjutate and debate what may be done in that matter concerning Maj. Eppes laying claim to the land lying between Kennebunk River and
Little River." The claim was adjusted by the people of the town giving to the Eppes' a grant of a mile square between the Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers, and to John Wadley a grant of 200 acres adjoining that of Eppes.
In 1720 an accession was made to the population of the town by the immigration and settlement of several persons from Ireland. Some of these were ancestors of valuable citizens now living in the town. Thomas Boothby, Heory Boothby, and William Jepson, came from Magwater ; An- drew and George Simington, from Strabarre; Thomas Gilpatrick and Robert Page, from Donaghadce; John Ross, from Sligo; and Bryce Mclellan, from Ballymena. They brought wives and families with them. Anne Wcer came also as one of the company. These all became good and valuable citizens.
SERGEANT LARRABEE'S GARRISON.
In Judge Bourne's history will be found an interesting cut of this structure. It was built by Sergt. Stephen Lar- rabee, as a protection for the settlers in Kennebunk during the fourth Indian war. Sergt. Larrabee was the son of William Larrabee, a brave and resolute man, who had been bred to danger, and when necessary could look it fairly in the face. At the outbreak of the war he saw the necessity of preparing for those Indian raids which so often came suddenly and unexpectedly upon the settlements; of pro- tecting the few who were pioneers with him in the wilder- ness ; and of providing a refuge for others who might be driven from their homes to the eastward. Hc, therefore, planned a grand fort on the Mousam River, the "upper road" having been laid out that way to Saco. He built a garrison covering an acre of ground, constructing it of timber, which was then abundant close at hand. The walls were about 14 feet high, of large, square timber, set in the form of a parallelogram, fronting southeast, or down the river. On the four corners were four flankers, so project- ing that the persons within might have a view of the ope- rations going on without on the side and one end of the fort. They were in an angular shape, with a kind of port- hole in the angle, but not sufficiently large for a person to enter. There was also on the lower side a large flanker in the fashion of a portico, though built, as were the others, 6 feet from the ground, so that one could pass directly under it. There were three gates, one at each end, and one on the side of the fort flanker. Within the walls were five houses. That of Sergt. Larrabee was very large, wide, and of one story, and stood in the corner of the fort; in the north corner was the house of Edward Evans; in the eastern, that of Ebenezer Bayridge; the other two-one at the western, the other at the southern end-were occupied by Nathan Morrison and the soldiers stationed there under his command, and by those who found refuge there from the neighborhood in eases of alarm, or when Indians were known to be in the vicinity. All the houses were of one story, and had what were called " block-windows," or square holes to let in the air and light.
At the northeastern end of the garrison was the house of Samuel and Anthony Littlefield, built of logs, the same house which had been erected and occupied by William Larrabee.
30
234
HISTORY OF YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
It is said that in this fort, exclusive of the dwelling- houses, there were used 13,000 cubic feet of timber,-a great work, certainly, for the small number of men en- gaged in it. Within its walls were frequently gathered all the inhabitants in the early days of Kennebunk, to- gether with refugees driven thither by the terrible exigen- cies of Indian war,-in all, sometimes, over two hundred souls.
For an account of the Indian troubles at this period we must refer the reader to the chapters ou that subjeet in our general history. We may add here that William Worm- wood, who was killed by the Indians in 1724, was the son of Thomas Wormwood, who lived at the Larrabee village on the Mousam River, and whose descendants are still living in Kennebunk.
In 1748, during the French war, an attempt was made to surprise Larrabee's garrison, at a time when fears of an invasion were somewhat allayed. A dark, stormy night was chosen for the purpose, by Wawa, the chief, who was acquainted with every part of the garrison and knew how to effect an entrance. As soon as it was dark, the Indians crept up and lay down under a cart, which stood a few feet from the wall, intending to wait till after all had gone to sleep, when they would scale the walls and gain posses- sion by stealth, and then murder the unsuspecting inmates. But the keen eye of Sergt. Larrabee discovered uuusual objects under the cart, and bringing his large gun to bear, loaded heavily with buckshot, effeeted a sudden seattering of the foe, whom the flash of the gun revealed more clearly, and whose discomfiture was indicated by traces of blood seen next morning about the cart, and in several places near it. Wawa, himself, afterwards acknowledged that the effectual admonition there received deterred him from any further attempt to surprise the garrison.
In 1750, when Kennebunk was formed into the Second Parish, the inhabitants were living between the site of the present village and the sea, in the vieinity of the Littlefield Mills. The territory which the village now covers was almost an entire wilderness. The western side of the river had scarcely been touched by the hand of man. For a few years after the Sayward mill was built, the axe of the lum- berman had unrestrained liberty in its vicinity, and many of the magnificent pines, which had seen the years of a century, fell before it, till the Indian wars stayed its de- structive action. A new growth had sprung up along the banks of the Mousam, so that now, apparently, the forest had been untouched. A small house built by Thomas l'ousens was standing on the westerly coruer of the home- stead of Dr. N. E. Smart. Another, built by Jedediah Wakefield, stood on the northerly side of the old road, a short distance beyond the house of John Curtis. Johu Wakefick], Jr., had built a third house on the place of Miss Elizabeth W. Hatch. The fourth house, built by Ichabod Consens, son of Thomas, stood in the field on the site of the old factory barn. The last named was a rude eabin, with- out glass windows. It had a sort of flanker attached to it, and in time of alarm one soldier was stationed here by gov- ernment. At this time, what was subsequently known as the " old saw-mill," was standing, six or eight rods above the bridge; the privilege, having been occupied for nearly
half a century, eame into the hands of John Storer, by whom it was rebuilt in 1730.
From a letter of Hon. Hugh MeLellan, now in possession of Mr. John C. Baker, of the Mousam House, it appears that there was a tavern kept on, or not far from, the site of the present hotel, at which troops on their way to join the Louisbourg expedition stopped for entertainment. This was in 1745. The hotel now on the spot is a very old building, but probably not the one then standing, nor do we know that any traee of the first hotel is known to any one now living. No meution is made of it by Judge Bourne, and we rest the fact solely upon the authority of Mr. Mclellan's letter, which we think furnishes unquestionable evidenee that such a tavern existed here at the date referred to.
On the eastern side of the Kennebunk River stood the house of Richard Kimball, on the site of the brick resi- dence of Aaron Ricker. It was a two-story building, fin- ished as a garrison-house, at which was stationed one soldier. Kimball kept a small stock for trade, and was the first mer- ehant in Kennebunk. Next beyond this was the house of Nathaniel Kimball, on the Edward Haney place; to the westward lived Thomas Kimball, on the place of the late Isaae Peabody ; and a few rods northward was the house of Samuel Shaekley. John Gilpatriek had a house on the eastern side of the road, near the Owen E. Burnham plaee. On Keunebunk River, just below the bridge, was the Lit- tlefield saw-mill, and below it another built by John Storer. On the Mousam below was the Larrabee village, Littlefield's and Look's houses, the latter occupied by John Butland, Look being moved to Saeo. Below was the house of Thomas Wormwood, and forty rods farther down that of John Freeze. Samuel Emmons lived in a house up the river, opposite the gravel-bed. On the western side of the river was the house of Thomas Wormwood, Jr., where the late Abner Wormwood lived, and above, at the foot of the pasture of the late Hon. George W. Wallingford, was the house of Edward Evans. Samuel Sawyer had built a house below ou Great Hill, sinee occupied by John Burks. On the east side of the river, a little below the Wentworth House, was the residence of John Webber, and beyond was a small house occupied by Richard Boothby.
On the road leading to the landing was the house of John Wakefield, on the upper corner of Titeomb's ship- yard, and James Wakefield's two-story house about three rods above the Lord House. Next below was the meeting- house, and then the house of Nathaniel Wakefield, a little below the site of the old school-house. Stephen Titeomb had a small house, between the river and the house of George Dresser, which he moved from the next year, hav- ing built the Dresser house, which was garrisoned. Just above the Upper Falls was the house of Jesse Towne, near the spring ; and below, towards the sea, were the houses of John Mitchell and Stephen Harding. Mitchell's house was also a garrison. On the Alewife road was the house built by Joshua Kimball, a little below the former residence of Ezra Smith, near the junction of the roads, which was at that time occupied by John Maddox, who married Kimball's widow. The house of Jonathan Taylor (late Thacher Jones') and that of David Thompson were the others.
These were all the residences in Kennebunk in 1750.
Joner
HORACE PORTER, son of Joseph and Olive (Beek- ley) Porter, was born in Berlin, Conn., Nov. 25, 1788. The family removed to Kennebunk in 1800, where he carried on tanning.
Horace learned the tanner's trade of his father during his minority, but received limited oppor- tunities for obtaining an education. He first formed a partnership for general trade with Timothy Kezer (Porter & Kezer), and in 1809 with Benjamin Smith (Smith & Porter). This firm carried on a large business, engaging in not only local, but a foreign trade with the West Indies until 1839, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual con- sent, and Mr. Porter lived retired from active busi- ness until his death, Oct. 13, 1864. He was a Whig in politics; was a member of the State Senate, and a candidate for member of Congress. In re- ligious belief he was a Unitarian. Mr. Porter was
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